Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized the nation’s top high school football players at the conclusion of the season. Past MaxPreps Junior All-America Team selections include Rueben Bain (2021), Will Campbell (2020), Trevor Lawrence (2016), Jeremiah Smith (2022) and Caleb Williams (2019).

Georges became the fourth non-senior to be named MaxPreps National Player of the Year on Tuesday. He led the Red Raiders to their first undefeated season since 1973. 

Williams-Callis was named the MaxPreps Texas Player of the Year after rushing for 3,491 yards and 59 touchdowns. The five-star junior running back has piled up 7,543 yards and 125 touchdowns while leading the Lions to a 42-3 record over the last three years.

Haven took home MaxPreps Louisiana Player of the Year honors after throwing for 3,931 yards and a state-record 62 touchdowns. He was named the 2024 MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year after accounting for over 4,000 yards of total offense and 58 touchdowns. 

Read on for a complete look at the best juniors in high school football from the 2025 season.

First team offense

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 215

Accounted for 4,725 yards of total offense and a state-record 73 touchdowns while leading Tigers to first state title in 21 years.

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 190

Threw for 4,072 yards and 40 touchdowns for Class 4A state champs. 

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 200

Threw for 3,692 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading Warriors to their third Class 7A state title with him under center. 

MAXPREPS NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205

Rushed for 1,756 yards and 27 touchdowns as he became the first non-senior since 2017 to be named the MaxPreps National Player of the Year.

Height: 5-8 | Weight: 190

Five-star running back needs 3,835 yards next season to break the state record for most career rushing yards. 

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 195

Accounted for 3,917 yards of total offense and 50 touchdowns for Conference 6A Division 2 state champs. 

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 170

Explosive wide receiver is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball, led Warriors to Division 1 quarterfinals. 

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185

All-around playmaker racked up 1,950 all-purpose yards and 27 touchdowns to go with three interceptions on defense.

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 185

Hauled in 57 receptions for 1,374 yards and 19 touchdowns to go with 277 yards on the ground and five more scores. Added 438 return yards and four scores. 

Height: 6-7 | Weight: 230

Matchup nightmare for opposing defenses is also a standout basketball player. 

Five-star offensive lineman racked up 132 pancake blocks for 10-3 squad. 

OL — Jake Hildebrand, Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 295

Played a major role in trenches for Open Division state champs and No. 24 team in MaxPreps Top 25. 

Had another standout season while leading Raiders to 11-1 record and first state title since 2011. 

Set the tone on the offensive line for an offense that averaged over 60 points per game.

DL — Jabarrius Garror, Vigor (Prichard, Ala.)

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220

Posted more than 100 tackles and 20 sacks for the second straight year. 

DL — Wyatt Smith, St. Thomas Aquinas

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 245

Led the No. 10 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 in tackles (115), tackles for loss (24) and sacks (13). 

LB — Quinton Cypher, Millbrook (Raleigh, N.C.)

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220

Sideline-to-sideline linebacker flew around on defense accounting for 181 tackles, 48 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and four interceptions for Class 8A state runner-up. 

LB — Jake Godfree, North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.)

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 215

Finished year with 141 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks for Class AAAAAA semifinalist. 

Two-way standout had 200-plus tackles, 23 tackles for loss and four sacks to go with 979 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on offense. 

Lengthy corner eliminates one side of the field. 

DB — Jaden Walk-Green, Centennial (Corona, Calif.)

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 185

Ball-hawking safety had 125 tackles and 10 interceptions for No. 8 team in MaxPreps Top 25. He returned five interceptions for scores. 

Second team offense

QB — Peyton Houston, Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport, La.)

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205

Dual-threat quarterback accounted for 4,778 yards of total offense (3,836 passing, 942 rushing) and 54 touchdowns. 

QB — Gunner Rivers, St. Michael Catholic (Fairhope, Ala.)

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 205

Threw for 3,176 yards and 46 touchdowns for Class 4A semifinalist. 

QB — Andre Adams, Antioch (Tenn.)

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 180

Piled up 4,273 total yards and 48 touchdowns while throwing just one interception.

RB — Kemon Spell, McKeesport (Pa.)

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 205

Rushed for 1,755 yards and 28 touchdowns to go with three more return scores on special teams. 

RB — Connail Jackson, Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota, Fla.)

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 180

Had 217 carries for 2,452 yards and 39 touchdowns for Class 2A state champs. 

RB — Kingston Allen, Notre Dame Academy (Green Bay, Wis.) *

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185

Broke the state record for rushing yards (3,436) and rushing touchdowns (57). 

WR — Julius Jones, St. Thomas Aquinas

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170

Big play wide receiver was the key piece on offense for Class 5A state champs.

Had a huge junior campaign for Class 4A semifinalist. 

AP — Nick Lennear, Northwestern (Miami, Fla.)

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 165

Recently announced he was transferring to Carol City (Miami) but put together a special junior campaign on both sides of the ball for Class 3A state runner-up. 

K — Mikey Barth, Basha 

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 160

Made 14 of 16 field goal attempts with two coming from over 50 yards. 

Second team defense

DL — James Pace, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 235

Led the way for a defense that allowed 8.9 points per game and finished as the No. 14 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.

DL — Krew Jones, Ridgeline (Millville, Utah)

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 235

Racked up 80 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks for undefeated Class 4A state champs. 

DL — Keith Richmond, Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, Ala.)

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 225

Played a key role for one of the best defensive lines in the country piling up 50 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. 

DL — Ben’Jarvius Shumaker, Choctaw County (Ackerman, Miss.)

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 285

Four-star defensive lineman posted 113 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. 

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 235

Two-way standout had 102 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two interceptions and four forced fumbles to go with nearly 1,000 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns on offense. 

Finished his junior campaign with 79 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks for undefeated Class AAAA state champs.

LB — Tamatoa Gaoteote, Bishop Gorman

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 215

Bounced back in a big way after missing the majority of his sophomore season with an injury leading the Gaels with 117 tackles.

Didn’t allow a receiving touchdown and made a huge impact on defense for three-time defending Class 6A state champs. 

DB — Omarii Sanders, Franklin Road Academy (Nashville, Tenn.)

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205

Shined on both sides of the ball for Division II Class AA state runner-up. Had 73 tackles and two interceptions to go with 58 receptions for 1,064 yards and 12 touchdowns on offense. 

DB — Zayden Gamble, St. Thomas Aquinas

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180

The leader for one of the most talented secondaries posted 65 tackles and three interceptions. 

DB — Ace Alston, Anderson (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 175

Lockdown corner had 53 tackles, two interceptions and 17 pass break-ups for Division II state runner-up. 

AP — Xavier Sabb, Glassboro (N.J.)

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185

Led Bulldogs to second consecutive undefeated season accounting for nearly 1,000 total yards and 15 touchdowns to go with 15 tackles and four interceptions on defense. 

Flipped the field as well as any punter in the country averaging 48.6 yards per punt. Also made 10 of 14 field goals. 

Source link