Best High School Football Player in Every State
It’s no secret that the talent coming out of high school football hotbeds like California, Texas and Florida produces some of the best players in the nation. But that leaves a big ol' country of high school football players, all chasing that same brass ring. Altogether that's 50 states and the District of Columbia.
So how do you determine who the best of the best are — the top player in each state? The logic is easy. You’re building a team of high school players, state by state, via 51 different drafts. Your team gets the No. 1 pick all 51 times. Now, here comes the hard part. Who do you take?
These are the best high school football players in the country by state.
Alabama: Dylan Brooks, Defensive End
High school: Handley (Roanoke, Ala.)
Graduation year: 2021
Accolades/key stats: Class 4A All-State (2018). 247Sports No. 18 overall recruit (2021). Under Armour All-American Game (2021).
College list: Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech
Bottom line: The Roanoke native and 6-foot-5, 210-pound defensive end led his team with nine sacks in 2018 and has continued to climb the recruiting rankings since his varsity debut.
By the time his senior season rolls around Dylan Brooks could end up a top 10 national recruit.
He seems to be leaning toward Auburn — where his cousin Jeris McIntyre played as a standout wide receiver — but the top 15 list of schools Brooks put out in July almost added more confusion to the process.
Alaska: Leroy Manogiamanu, Defensive End
High school: Bartlett (Anchorage)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: 2020 Polynesian Bowl. USA Today All-State (2018). Division I All-State (2018).
College list: Utah (no offer)
Bottom line: Leroy Manogiamanu is the top-rated high school football player in Alaska, according to 247Sports.
The 6-foot-4, 231-pound standout comes from one of the more football-barren states in the country, and it’s rare for an FBS or FCS programs to recruit there.
He’s only the second player in Alaska history to be selected for the Polynesian Bowl, and his size could make tight end an option at the next level.
Arizona: Kelee Ringo, Cornerback
High school: Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 6 overall recruit (2020). Class 4A state champion (2018).
College list: Georgia, Texas, USC, Alabama, Ohio State
Bottom line: Kelee Ringo, at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, could step in and be an immediate starter and impact player as a true freshman wherever he lands.
The top-ranked cornerback in the country in the Class of 2020, he projects as a first-round NFL draft pick but isn’t considering in-state Arizona or Arizona State.
Ringo was suspended for a "code of conduct" violation for the latter half of the 2018 season, but he appears to have learned from his mistake.
Arkansas: Chris Morris, Offensive Guard
High school: West Memphis (West Memphis, Ark.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Memphis Commercial Appeal Dandy Dozen (2019). Under Armour All-American (2020).
College List: Texas A&M, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn
Bottom line: Chris Morris was part of a mass exodus of FBS recruits to transfer from Freedom Prep to Memphis Central before the 2019 season, but he was ruled ineligible and landed at West Memphis.
At 6-foot-4 and 287 pounds, he’s a prototype offensive guard who should be able to beef up to 320 pounds for college and, someday soon, the NFL.
California: Korey Foreman, Defensive End
High school: Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
Graduation year: 2021
Accolades/key stats: 247 Sports No. 1 overall recruit (2021). The Opening Los Angeles Defensive MVP (2019).
College list: Oregon, USC, UCLA, Arizona, Alabama
Bottom line: The Corona native has drawn comparisons to Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and projects as a high first-round NFL draft pick in the future.
The pressure is squarely on USC and UCLA to land Foreman and end the mass exodus of top in-state talent flocking to SEC schools over the last decade.
At 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, Foreman could still put on 30-40 pounds of muscle in college.
Colorado: Gavin Sawchuk, Athlete
High school: Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Graduation year: 2022
Accolades/key stats: Class 5A All-State (2018). Class 5A state champion (2018).
College list: Oregon, Arizona State, Michigan, Penn State, Colorado
Bottom line: Gavin Sawchuk burst onto the scene in 2018, helping lead Valor Christian to a state title while racking up 1,177 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns in his first year on varsity.
At 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Sawchuk is likely a slot receiver or cornerback in college but still has two years to pack on muscle.
His speed is already elite. He’s reportedly run a laser-timed, low-4.0 40-yard dash.
Connecticut: Wilfredo Aybar, Defensive End
High school: Cheshire Academy (Cheshire, Conn.)
Graduation year: 2022
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 4 overall recruit (Class of 2022)
College list: Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Miami, Nebraska
Bottom line: Wilfredo Aybar could be the best football prospect to come out of Connecticut since Bristol Central tight end Aaron Hernandez in 2006
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Aybar compares favorably to NFL defensive end Carlos Dunlap and could easily carry another 20-30 pounds of muscle.
Aybar also is talented on the offensive side of the ball and saw time at fullback in 2018. He could end up as a tight end on the college level.
Delaware: Darryl Wiliams, Linebacker
High school: Smyrna (Smyrna, Del.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Division I All-State (2017, 2018). Division I state champion (2016, 2017).
College list: Austin Peay, Coastal Carolina, Delaware, Elon, Kent State
Bottom line: Darryl Williams, 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, set the school record with 134 tackles in 2017 as Smyrna High won its third consecutive state title.
He could be a steal for a mid-major or low Power Five team come signing day.
The level of competition could be a concern for some colleges, as Delaware isn’t exactly a hotbed for prep football talent.
District of Columbia: Mekhail Sherman, Outside Linebacker
High school: St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: The Opening Finals (2018). 247Sports No. 9 overall recruit (2020).
College list: Georgia (committed)
Bottom line: Mekhail Sherman, who missed all but a few plays of 2018 with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, committed to Georgia in May, picking the Bulldogs over Ohio State, Alabama and Arizona, among others.
He’s 6-foot-3, 234 pounds and runs a sub-4.6 40-yard dash.
Sherman ranked as the No. 2 outside linebacker in the country by 247Sports, which is a bit deceiving because he’s just as much of a problem for teams when he lines up at defensive end.
Florida: Elias Ricks, Defensive Back
High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: All-American Bowl (2020). The Opening Finals (2019). USA Today All-American (2018).
College list: LSU (committed)
Bottom line: Elias Ricks, 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, transferred from California power Mater Dei to IMG Academy in order to earn his high school diploma early and enroll at LSU for the 2020 spring semester.
Ricks’ physical, pounding style of play and drive to win have earned him comparisons to NFL All-Pro and possible future Hall of Famer Richard Sherman.
Another offseason of workouts should drop Ricks' 40-yard-dash time into the 4.4-second range.
Georgia: Myles Murphy, Defensive End
High school: Hillgrove (Powder Springs, Ga.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 (2019). Class 7A quarterfinals (2018). 16 tackles for loss, 7 sacks (2018).
College list: Clemson (committed)
Bottom line: The No. 6 overall player in the nation for the Class of 2020 is 6-foot-5, 260 pounds and runs a stunning 4.6-second 40-yard dash.
With that type of size and speed in high school, it’s not hard to see Myles Murphy playing on the interior or on the edge for Clemson.
He led Hillgrove High to a school-record 12 wins in 2018, when they lost to eventual state champion Milton in the Class 7A quarterfinals.
Hawaii: Jordan Botelho, Linebacker
High school: St. Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Polynesian Bowl (2020). USA Today Preseason All-American (2019). 50 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 13 sacks (2018).
College list: Notre Dame (committed)
Bottom line: Notre Dame went back to Honolulu to land another elite, once-in-a-generation linebacker with Jordan Botelho, who the Irish think will follow in the footsteps of Heisman finalist Manti Te’o, another St. Louis High product.
Botelho, 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, picked the Irish over LSU, Washington State, Washington, Oklahoma and Hawaii, among others.
He is the No. 6 inside linebacker in the country but is just as comfortable coming off the edge and rushing the quarterback.
Idaho: Gaard Memmelaar, Offensive Guard
High school: Middleton (Middleton, Idaho)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: All-USA Today Idaho (2018). Class 4A All-State (2018).
College list: Washington (committed)
Bottom line: Former Boise State and current Washington coach Chris Petersen’s Idaho connections paid off in a big way.
Gaard Memmelaar committed to the Huskies in June 2018 — with two seasons of high school football remaining and right after an unofficial visit to LSU.
He’s remained sold on Washington ever since, and at 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, the big offensive lineman could be on the two-deep chart or start immediately as a true freshman.
Illinois: JJ McCarthy, Quarterback
High school: Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park, Ill.)
Graduation year: 2021
Accolades/key stats: Class 7A All-State (2018). Class 7A state champion (2018). 247Sports No. 4 pro-style quarterback (Class of 2021).
College list: Michigan (committed)
Bottom Line: JJ McCarthy received his first Power Five offer when he was in the eighth grade and has drawn comparisons to Drew Brees because of his size (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) and ability to make every throw on the field.
In 2018, he threw for 3,448 yards, 39 touchdowns and four interceptions.
The only five-star recruit in Illinois, it will be interesting to see if his Michigan commitment holds up should coach Jim Harbaugh leave before McCarthy gets to Ann Arbor.
Indiana: Joe Strickland, Defensive End
High school: Brebeuf Jesuit (Indianapolis)
Graduation year: 2022
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 26 national recruit (Class of 2022)
College list: Boston College, Cincinnati, Purdue, Indiana, Notre Dame
Bottom Line: Joe Strickland comes from an interesting athletic pedigree. His father, Vern, played basketball at Auburn alongside Charles Barkley, who also was his roommate.
At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, Joe already has shown why he’s the top recruit in the state of Indiana and one of the top recruits in the country for his class.
In one game alone, he registered 4.5 sacks in a 20-15 win over Guerin Catholic on Sept. 13.
Iowa: Logan Jones, Defensive End/Defensive Tackle
High school: Lewis Central (Council Bluffs)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Class 3A All-State (2018). 247 Sports No. 12 SDE (Class of 2020).
College list: Iowa (committed)
Bottom line: Logan Jones is a big young man at 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, and he made in-state fans ecstatic by committing to the University of Iowa.
Jones has been able to dominate playing both on the edge and interior of the defensive line in high school. In college, he likely will find a home at defensive tackle as he packs on more muscle.
Jones also finished second in the shot put and fifth in the discus at the 2019 state track meet.
Kansas: Turner Corcoran, Offensive Tackle
High school: Free State (Lawrence, Kan.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: All-American Bowl (2020)
College list: Nebraska (committed)
Bottom line: Turner Corcoran, a Lawrence native, looks like he could be a legitimate NFL prospect one day at 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, and has drawn comparisons to NFL All-Pro Lane Johnson, an offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Corcoran had over 20 Power Five offers, but chose Nebraska over Oklahoma.
Scouts believe Corcoran can put on 30-40 pounds of muscle in college and could play multiple positions on the offensive front.
Kentucky: Michael Mayer, Tight End
High school: Covington Catholic (Park Hills, Ky.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Class 5A All-State (2018). Class 5A state champion (2018). The Opening "Alpha Dog" (2019).
College list: Notre Dame (committed)
Bottom Line: It’s not hard to figure out why Michael Mayer, at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, is ranked as the No. 1 tight end recruit in the country by 247Sports.
In 2017, he helped lead Covington Catholic to the Class 5A state title, and in 2018, he led them to a runner-up finish with a staggering 46 catches for 1,029 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
Mayer should be able to make an immediate impact for the Irish in 2020.
Louisiana: Jaquelin Roy, Defensive Tackle
High school: University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Under Armour All-American Game (2020). USA Today All-Louisiana (2018). Class 3A All-State (2018).
College list: LSU (committed)
Bottom Line: Jaquelin Roy, a four-star recruit, has NFL written all over him and is already 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds.
The Baton Rouge native chose to stay in his native home and play for LSU, but nothing is set in stone. He originally committed to LSU before decommitting in June 2018, then picking the Tigers again in July 2019.
He could start as a true freshman for LSU.
Maine: Gavin Rawstron, Defensive Back and Quarterback
High school: Oak Hill (Wales, Maine)
Graduation year: 2021
Accolades/key stats: Providence Journal All-State (2018). USA Today All-State (2018).
College list: None
Bottom line: Gavin Rawstron, 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, racked up 100 tackles and five interceptions and started to turn heads on defense as a sophomore in 2018.
He had just as big of a role on offense, passing for 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns to go with 1,000 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
He has been starting both ways for Oak Hill since his freshman year.
Maryland: Bryan Bresee, Defensive Tackle
High school: Damascus (Damascus, Md.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 1 recruit (Class of 2020). All-American Bowl (2020). The Opening (2019).
College list: Clemson (committed)
Bottom Line: Bryan Bresee is the No. 1 recruit in the nation for the Class of 2020 and the No. 15 recruit of all time for 247Sports, which is pretty rare air.
The 6-foot-5, 290-pounds defensive tackle is headed to play for defending national champ Clemson and could be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft in the near future.
He has the talent and skill to play any position on the defensive front, but might need to slim down slightly to play the edge.
Massachusetts: Kalel Mullings, Outside Linebacker
High school: Milton Academy (Milton, Mass.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Polynesian Bowl (2020). ISL All-State (2016-2018).
College list: Michigan (committed)
Bottom Line: There are some concerns that Kalel Mullings, at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, may have topped out physically, but it’s impossible to deny his production and ability to make tackles.
His size matches up well for an elite outside linebacker at the Power Five level, as does his speed. He’s been timed at 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash and also was heavily recruited at running back.
Michigan: Justin Rogers, Defensive Tackle/Offensive Guard
High school: Oak Park (Oak Park, Mich.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Detroit News Dream Team (2018). OAA White Division champion (2018).
College list: Kentucky (committed)
Bottom Line: Justin Rogers, who received his first Power Five offer in the eighth grade, could step in and make an impact on the college level right away at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds — on either side of the ball.
Rogers is a major recruiting coup for Kentucky, though he continued to take official visits to Alabama and LSU.
His development to play defensive line might take some time, but he could quickly become a viable NFL prospect at offensive guard.
Minnesota: Kaden Johnson, Outside Linebacker
High school: Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Class 4A All-State (2018). Class 4A State Champion (2018).
College list: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Cal, Iowa
Bottom line: At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Kaden Johnson could be a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end when he packs on 20-30 pounds of muscle after getting to college. On the other hand, he also could be a dominant inside linebacker.
He racked up 75 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in 2018 on the way to a state championship.
He's also an elite receiver/tight end and basketball player.
Mississippi: McKinnley Jackson, Defensive Tackle
High school: George County (Lucedale, Miss.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: USA Today All-American (2018). Clarion Ledger All-State (2018). Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen (2019).
College list: Alabama, Texas A&M, LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss
Bottom line: McKinnley Jackson, a one-time LSU commit, is a monster up front at 6-foot-2 and 327 pounds. He dominated the competition in 2018, racking up 91 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.
He’s been on recruiting radars since middle school and received his first scholarship offer from Louisiana-Lafayette when he was just 12 years old.
His weight is deceiving. He moves really well and even runs a 4.9-second 40-yard dash.
Missouri: Jordan Johnson, WR
High school: De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis, Mo.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: All-American Bowl (2020). Missouri Football Coaches Association All-State (2018).
College list: Notre Dame (committed)
Bottom Line: The No. 4 wide receiver for the Class of 2020 has talent that translates well on the college level. He catches everything thrown his way and has decent size at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds.
The St. Louis native is the highest-rated wide receiver recruit to come play for the Irish since Michael Floyd, who was a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft.
Montana: Carson Rostad, Quarterback
High school: Hamilton (Hamilton)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Gatorade Montana Player of the Year (2018). Class A All-State (2018). Class A State Runner-Up (2017, 2018).
College list: Montana (committed)
Bottom line: Carson Rostad is a dual-threat quarterback who threw for 2,794 yards and 43 touchdowns to go with 694 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2018.
He also was the first player in Montana to be named Gatorade Player of the Year outside of Class AA since 2007, and the first non-senior since 2014.
At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Rostad is a potential FBS All-American if he can drop a few tenths of a second off his 4.9-second 40-yard dash time.
Nebraska: Zavier Betts, Wide Receiver
High school: Bellevue West (Bellevue)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: The Opening Finals (2019). Class A All-State (2017, 2018). Class A state semifinals (2018).
College list: Nebraska (committed)
Bottom line: Zavier Betts, who is 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, turned heads with a standout performance against the nation’s best recruits at The Opening Finals in 2019, where he was the first Nebraskan to earn an invitation.
His physical numbers were off the charts, including a 38.5-inch vertical and 4.59-second 40-yard dash.
Betts had 48 catches for 856 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2018.
Nevada: Darnell Washington, Athlete
High school: Desert Pines High
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/Key Stats: 247Sports No. 11 overall recruit (2020). Under Armour All-American Game (2020).
College list: Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Arizona, Miami
Bottom Line: Darnell Washington was born to play football. At 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds, he is the No. 1 athlete in the nation and possibly the most coveted recruit to ever come out of Las Vegas.
He plays tight end and defensive end, won the Class 3A state shot put title and started at forward on a state championship basketball team as a junior.
It’s almost a lock he will play tight end — in college and the NFL — because of his 4.7-second speed in the 40-yard dash.
New Hampshire: Parker McQuarrie, Quarterback
High school: St. Paul’s School (Concord, N.H.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: The Opening New Jersey (2019)
College list: UCLA (committed)
Bottom Line: Parker McQuarrie is headed west to play for a fellow New Hampshire native in UCLA head coach Chip Kelly, who got the pro-style quarterback to pick UCLA over Michigan, Miami, Rutgers and Boston College.
The 6-foot-7, 205-pound McQuarrie has drawn comparisons to another tall quarterback, former Arizona State star and second-round pick Brock Osweiler.
But McQuarrie needs to focus almost primarily on improving his strength to become a Power Five starter.
New Jersey: Tywone Malone, Defensive Tackle
High school: Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
Graduation year: 2021
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 35 overall recruit (2021). Star-Ledger All-State (2018).
College list: Alabama, Boston College, Tennessee, Miami, Rutgers
Bottom Line: Tywone Malone, the No. 7 defensive tackle in the nation (according to 247Sports), has elite size at 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, and has drawn NFL comparisons to Philadelphia’s Malik Jackson.
But football may not be the only thing in Malone's future. He’s also the No. 1 first baseman prospect in the country (according to Perfect Game) and has expressed several times that baseball is his preferred sport.
New Mexico: Connor O’Toole, Tight End
High school: La Cueva (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Class 6A All-State (2018). Class 6A state champion (2018). District Offensive MVP (2018).
College list: Baylor, Washington State, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado
Bottom line: Connor O’Toole is one of the most underrated recruits in the country.
He has the size, at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, to grow into either an elite wide receiver or tight end on the next level.
He helped lead La Cueva to an undefeated season and state title as a junior, catching 43 passes for 867 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He also finished second in state in the 100-meter dash and first in the 300 intermediate hurdles.
New York: Tirek Murphy, Running Back
High school: Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: AAA All-State (2018). 247Sports No. 18 overall recruit (2020).
College list: Purdue (committed)
Bottom line: Tirek Murphy has a college-ready body at 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, and could end up being a multiple-year starter for the Boilermakers.
His numbers don’t jump off the page — he had 627 rushing yards and six touchdowns in just eight games as a junior.
But he’s ranked by 27Sports as a Top 20 running back in the nation for his class and has elite speed in the 4.5-second range for the 40-yard dash.
North Carolina: Payton Page, Defensive Tackle
High school: Dudley (Greensboro, N.C.)
Graduation year: 2021
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 5 overall recruit (2021). Associated Press All-State (2018).
College list: Clemson, North Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, Colorado
Bottom line: Anybody want a future NFL defensive tackle?
That’s Payton Page, a five-star recruit who is already 6-foot-4, 315 pounds. He's ready to start wherever he decides to play college football.
Page dominated the competition as a junior with 80 tackles, 12 sacks and 26 tackles for loss. At Dudley, he’s playing next to another future college star in defensive end Myles Murphy, a North Carolina commit.
North Dakota: Elijah Klein, Wide Receiver
High school: Mandan (Mandan, N.D.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: USA Today All-State (2018). NDHSCA Class AAA All-State (2018).
College list: North Dakota (committed)
Bottom line: It will be interesting to see how Elijah Klein develops when he can turn all of his attention to football since he’s also a talented basketball player.
At 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, Klein could put on up to 20-30 pounds of muscle and still retain his athleticism and speed as a tight end.
He led the state with 40 catches for 1,074 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2018.
Ohio: Jack Sawyer, Defensive End
High school: Pickerington North (Pickerington, Ohio)
Graduation year: 2021
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 2 overall recruit (2021). Ohio Division I All-State (2018).
College list: Ohio State (committed)
Bottom line: Jack Sawyer, a five-star recruit, grew up watching Ohio State with his father and looks like the next great Buckeye defensive end, following top-three picks Joey and Nick Bosa and potential No. 1 overall pick Chase Young.
Sawyer, at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, already racked up 11 sacks through the first five games of the 2019 season and seems to have a preternatural understanding of techniques and pass-rush moves.
Oklahoma: Gentry Williams, Quarterback
High school: Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.)
Graduation year: 2022
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 7 overall recruit (2022). Class 6A 400-meter champion (2019).
College list: Oklahoma, Baylor, Michigan, Memphis, Oklahoma State
Bottom Line: If you’re looking for the next Kyler Murray, it might be Gentry Williams. He’s only a sophomore and already is considered one of the top recruits in the nation for his class.
Though he's just 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, he has shown world-class speed. He ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, won the Class 6A state title in the 400-meter dash and finished second in the 200 as a freshman.
Oregon: Andy Alfieri, Outside Linebacker
High school: Jesuit High
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Class 6A All-State (2018). Polynesian Bowl (2020).
College list: Cal (committed)
Bottom line: Andy Alfieiri turned his back on Oregon State, where one older brother is an assistant coach and the other plays wide receiver, to commit to up-and-coming Cal.
At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Alfieiri ahs drawn comparisons to NFL linebacker and former Oregon star Kiko Alonso and also was an All-State pick at running back in 2018.
Pennsylvania: Julian Fleming, Wide Receiver
High school: Southern Columbia (Catawissa, Pa.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Class AA Player of the Year (2017, 2018). Gatorade Player of the Year (2018). Under Armour All-American Game (2020).
College list: Ohio State (committed)
Bottom line: Ohio State won a fierce recruiting battle against Penn State to land a commitment from Julian Fleming, the top wide receiver recruit in his class.
It’s not hard to imagine Fleming as an NFL All-Pro within the next five years. His numbers jump off the page — 62 catches for 1,497 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in 2018.
He also has prototype size for a wide receiver at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds.
Rhode Island: Matt Gacioch, Quarterback
High school: Tiverton (Tiverton, R.I.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Providence Journal Division IV All-State (2018). USA Today All-State (2018). Division IV state champion (2018)
College list: None
Bottom line: Matt Gacioch may have ended up a much more heavily recruited prospect if he was anywhere but Rhode Island, as he looks the part of a quarterback at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds.
He's also shown he’s good under pressure. Trailing 22-0 late in the second quarter of the Division IV state championship game in 2018, Gacioch engineered a 43-29 come back win by throwing for 304 yards and four touchdowns.
South Carolina: Jordan Burch, Defensive End
High school: Hammond School (Columbia)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Under Armour All-American Game (2020). 247Sports No. 2 overall recruit (2020). SCISA Class 3A state champion (2017, 2018).
College list: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, South Carolina, Duke
Bottom line: Jordan Burch already is considered a first-round pick in the NFL draft and compares favorably to former Ohio State star Joey Bosa.
At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Burch could easily put on 20-30 pounds of muscle and still keep his quickness.
It shouldn’t be overlooked that he’s also an elite basketball player with Division I talent.
South Dakota: Nash Hutmacher, Defensive Tackle
High school: Chamberlain (Chamberlain, S.D.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Argus Leader Athlete of the Year (2019). Class 11B All-State (2018). National freestyle wrestling champion (2018, 2019).
College list: Nebraska (committed)
Bottom line: Nash Hutmacher, at 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, has one of the best nicknames of any high school football player — "The Polar Bear." And he could be a dominant force for Nebraska sooner than later.
Also a state champion wrestler, Hutmacher is the No. 1-ranked 285-pounder in the nation, has a 123-match win streak and is attempting to win an unprecedented fourth state title in 2020.
Hutmacher went 33-0 in wrestling in 2019, with 32 pins and one forfeit.
Tennessee: Reggie Grimes, Defensive End
High school: Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 39 overall recruit (2020). 48 tackles, 3 tackles for loss (2018).
College list: Alabama, South Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, LSU
Bottom line: Reggie Grimes is the son of former Alabama and New England Patriots defensive tackle Reggie Grimes Sr.
The younger Grimes initially was ruled ineligible after transferring from Mt. Juliet to Ravenwood for his senior season before the order was reversed.
He is the No. 1 recruit in Tennessee, and at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds with a 4.58-second 40-yard dash, the sky’s the limit.
Texas: Tommy Brockermeyer, Offensive Tackle
High school: All Saints Episcopal (Tyler, Texas)
Graduation year: 2021
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 3 overall recruit (2021). TAPPS Class 6A All-State (2018).
College list: Texas, Alabama, Michigan, Arkansas, Auburn
Bottom Line: See if you can guess where Brockermeyer might end up after reading just this little bit of family history.
His father, Blake, was an All-American offensive tackle at Texas and a first-round NFL draft pick. His older brother, Luke, currently plays for the Longhorns. His brother and teammate, James, is the No. 1 center in the Class of 2021 and just received an offer from Texas.
And Tommy has the chops to be the best of them all.
Utah: Noah Sewell, Linebacker
High school: Orem (Orem, Utah)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 21 overall recruit (2020). The Opening Finals (2019). All-American Bowl (2020).
College list: Oregon, Georgia, Texas A&M, Alabama, LSU, Ohio State
Bottom Line: To put it in the words of his generation — Noah Sewell is a problem.
The five-star recruit is 6-foot-2 and 266 pounds and runs a 4.7-second 40-yard dash. He could probably knock a few tenths of a second off that time if he dropped 10 pounds — or put on 20 pounds and became a dominant defensive lineman, a la Aaron Donald.
Either way, catch Sewell on Saturdays and Sundays playing on the television in your living room for the next decade or so.
Vermont: Hunter Palmieri, Linebacker
High school: St. Johnsbury Academy (St Johnsbury, Vt.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: USA Today Vermont Defensive Player of the Year (2018). Division I All-State (2018) .
College list: N/A
Bottom line: Hunter Palmieri, 6-foot and 185 pounds, can do just about everything on a football field.
In 2018, he racked up 97 tackles playing middle linebacker to go with 70 catches for 1,310 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns as St. Johnsbury made it to the state semifinals, and he was named all-state at wide receiver.
Palmieri and quarterback Jake Cady swept the USA Today Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year Awards for Vermont in 2018, and Palmieri is the odds-on favorite to follow Cady as Vermont’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
Virginia: Chris Tyree, All-Purpose Back
High school: Thomas Dale (Chester, Va.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: The Opening Finals (2019). Under Armour All-American Game (2020). Polynesian Bowl (2020).
College list: Notre Dame (committed)
Bottom line: Chris Tyree is always going to have to answer questions about his size — he’s 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds. But he's been up to the challenge so far.
What sets him apart from the pack is his toughness and speed. He registered a laser-timed, 4.38-second 40-yard dash at The Opening Finals and is almost impossible to arm tackle.
In 2018, he produced 1,883 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns.
Washington: Sav’ell Smalls, Outside Linebacker
High school: Kennedy Catholic (Burien, Wash.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Under Armour All-American Game (2020). Polynesian Bowl (2020). 247Sports No. 9 overall recruit (2020).
College list: Washington (committed)
Bottom line: Sav'ell Smalls is the prototype outside linebacker on the next level at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds and should start right away for the Huskies.
His high school journey has been full of drama in and of itself. He played his freshman year at Kennedy Catholic, transferred to public Garfield High for his sophomore and junior seasons, then transferred back to Kennedy Catholic for his senior season.
West Virginia: Isaiah Johnson, Cornerback
High school: Bluefield (Bluefield, W. Va.)
Graduation year: 2021
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 23 overall recruit (2021). FBU Freshman All-American (2017).
College List: West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma
Bottom line: Isaiah Johnson, 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, might end up being the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the nation by the time his senior season rolls around.
He could bulk up to 200 pounds and likely increase his speed, which is already elite at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
How much will it hurt if the in-state Mountaineers miss out on this once-in-a-generation recruit? That’s a rhetorical question.
Wisconsin: Trey Wedig, Offensive Tackle
High school: Kettle Moraine (Wales, Wis.)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: 247Sports No. 76 overall recruit (2020). WFCA Large School All-State (2018).
College list: Wisconsin (committed)
Bottom line: Who would’ve guessed the top high school football player in Wisconsin was an offensive lineman?
Trey Wedig, 6-foot-8 and 320 pounds, picked the in-state Badgers over Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame and USC, among others.
He should be a multiple-year starter for Wisconsin and could end up being an early-round NFL draft pick in the near future.
How sold was he on the Badgers? He committed to them in February 2018, just months after his sophomore season ended, and has remained loyal.
Wyoming: Garrett Coon, Linebacker
High school: Sheridan (Sheridan)
Graduation year: 2020
Accolades/key stats: Class 4A All-State (2017, 2018). Class 4A state champion (2017). Casper Star-Tribune Super 25 (2018).
College list: Montana State (no offer)
Bottom line: Garrett Coon already is a two-time all-state pick and perhaps the most complete player in Wyoming, making an impact at running back, linebacker and kicker.
If he ends up playing in college, he'll likely play linebacker and needs to put on 20-30 pounds of muscle — he’s 6-foot and 205 pounds.
In 2018, he filled up the stat sheet on defense with 99 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.