Based on last season’s success and their returning players, the Tri-Cities Bulldogs appear to be ahead of the rest of the competition in South Fulton.

The offensive line is clearly where the Bulldogs have a size advantage with Georgia Tech commits Shamire DeVine, who is listed at 6-foot-6-inch and 360 pounds, and Jeremi Hall, who is listed at 6-foot-4-inch and 335 pounds.

Along with the rest of the line, these two will try to make Karim Wallace’s transition to the varsity level smoother now that Oscar Ross has graduated.

“He’s going to be a good, solid quarterback,” Tri-Cities coach Kenneth Miller said. “He is kind of under the radar but he helped the junior varsity go undefeated the last couple of years.”

The Bulldogs are large and skilled on defense as well with 6-foot-2-inch, 294-pound defensive tackle Dominique Threatt and Marcus Adams, who play the same position but plan to attend South Florida and Western Kentucky, respectively.

“Mainly they recruit these kids on potential because of their body style and structure,” Miller said. “But the kids can play and they work hard. They are program kids and have been here four years. They deserve everything they get.”

Rather than just being projected as the area’s best, the Bulldogs will have the chance to prove it due to scheduled contests against Banneker, Creekside, and new sub-region 3B-AAAAAA opponents Westlake and Langston Hughes.

This will be Tri-Cities first match-up with Langston Hughes and first since 2007 against Westlake.

“We should be a 4-A school, but we are not afraid of the competition or anything like that,” Miller said. “But when you think of most 6-A programs they have numbers. In the past, we’ve had numbers but not now.”

The Bulldogs will also play Newnan, East Coweta and Douglas County after a road trip to Alabama to face Carver-Montgomery.

In 2011, Tri-Cities advanced to the Class AAAA quarterfinals.

“In order to go further, we are going to have to stay all the way healthy,” Miller said. “Every Friday night just take it game by game and make sure the guys are prepared and the coaches are prepared.”