Hs School Football Rankings: California Power House Mater Dei is No. 1 in Preseason Top 25

Our Preseason Top 25 high school football rankings put Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) in the top slot because of waves of talent, 10 returning defensive starters, and senior quarterback Elijah Brown. As the program’s starting quarterback, Brown is 29-1 and has helped the Monarchs continue five straight top-three finishes at the national level.

After 34 years on the Mater Dei coaching staff, Bruce Rollinson retired, and first-year head coach Frank McManus is now in charge. He guided the Monarchs to national championships in 2017 and 2021 and a 341-87-2 record. McManus has spent the last seven years as the defensive backs coach during his sixteen years at Mater Dei.

McManus will face enormous pressure right away because of a strong roster. One of the best offensive lines in the nation, with top 100 senior prospects Brandon Baker and DeAndre Carter, will defend Brown.

More than Ten returning defensive starters, including cornerback Zabien Brown and defensive lineman Aydin Breland, are among the top 100 players in the class of 2024. Chuck McDonald, Nasir Wyatt, and Darius Dixson are three of the Class of 2025’s top defensive prospects.

1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Head coach: Frank McManus
2022 record: 12-1 | Final ranking: No. 3

2. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Head coach: Brent Browner
2022 record: 14-1 | Final ranking: No. 4

3. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Head coach: Jason Negro
2022 record: 13-1 | Final ranking: No. 1

4. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Head coach: Billy Miller
2022 record: 8-1 | Final ranking: No. 5

5. Miami Central (Miami)
Head coach: Jube Joseph
2022 record: 14-0 | Final ranking: No. 2

6. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
Head coach: Messay Hailemariam
2022 record: 9-1 | Final ranking: No. 8

7. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)
Head coach: Dameon Jones
2022 record: 13-1 | Final ranking: No. 10

8. Duncanville (Texas)
Head coach: Reginald Samples
2022 record: 15-0 | Final ranking: No. 7

9. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Head coach: Roger Harriott
2022 record: 14-0 | Final ranking: No. 6

10. Buford (Ga.)
Head coach: Bryant Appling
2022 record: 11-1 | Final ranking: Not ranked

11. St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia)
Head coach: Tim Roken
2022 record: 12-1 | Final ranking: No. 19

12. Carrollton (Ga.)
Head coach: Joey King
2022 record: 14-1 | Final ranking: No. 22

13. North Shore (Houston)
Head coach: Willie Gaston
2022 record: 14-1 | Final ranking: No. 9

14. Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Ga.)
Head coach: Daniel Williams
2022 record: 15-0 | Final ranking: No. 15

15. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
Head coach: Matt Logan
2022 record: 9-2 | Final ranking: Not ranked

16. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
Head coach: Tom Lombardo
2022 record: 15-1 | Final ranking: No. 17

17. DeSoto (Texas)
Head coach: Claude Mathis
2022 record: 13-2 | Final ranking: No. 21

18. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)
Head coach: Chris McDonald
2022 record: 12-1 | Final ranking: No. 18

19. Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.)
Head coach: Kevin Mawae
2022 record: 13-0 | Final ranking: No. 13

20. Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.)
Head coach: Sean Calhoun
2022 record: 13-1 | Final ranking: Not ranked

21. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
Head coach: Mike Smith
2022 record: 13-2 | Final ranking: No. 12

22. Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)
Head coach: Andy Stefanelli
2022 record: 8-3 | Final ranking: Not ranked

23. Columbus (Miami)
Head coach: Dave Dunn
2022 record: 14-1 | Final ranking: No. 23

24. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
Head coach: Vito Campanile
2022 record: 11-1 | Final ranking: No. 20

25. Belleville (Mich.)
Head coach: Calvin Norman
2022 record: 14-0 | Final ranking: Not ranked