Preview: San Diego’s top 25 high school football players … and 100 more to watch

The 2025 high school season begins this week throughout San Diego County. The Union-Tribune’s John Maffei, Don Norcross and Steve Brand deliver their picks for the top 25 players in the San Diego Section … and 100 more who could make an impact.

Position/Name/School/Year/Notable

WR/DB Brandon Arrington, Mount Miguel, Sr., All-CIF pick and a Texas A&M commit.

QB Zac Benitez, Granite Hills, Jr., All-CIF player who threw for 2,410 yards and 27 TDs a year ago

WR/DB Romeo Carter, Point Loma, Sr., Boise State commit.

LB Rocky Cummings, Carlsbad, Sr., 6-4, 215, Cal commit.

RB Junior Curtis, Lincoln, Sr., Averaged 7.7 yards per carry last year.

WR/DB Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, Cathedral Catholic, Jr., One of the section’s best two-way players.

RB/WR Coby Herman, La Costa Canyon, Sr., All-CIF pick with 1,478 total yards and 18 TDs last year.

QB Cash Herrera, Bishop’s, Sr., Indiana commit who threw for 2,033 yards, 24 TDs last year.

QB Troy Huhn, Mission Hills, Sr., All-CIF pick and Penn State commit who threw for 2,511 yards and 19 TDs last year.

RB Luke Jorgensen, Poway, Sr., All-CIF pick who had 1,201 yards, 19 TDs last year.

DL Bronx Letuligasenoa, Cathedral Catholic, Sr., The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder is explosive.

WR AJ Logan, Mount Miguel, Sr., All-CIF pick had 67 catches for 1,197 yards and 12 TDs last year.

QB Eli MacNeal, Carlsbad, Sr., Threw for 2,189 yards and 21 TDs last year.

OL Lincoln Mageo, Oceanside, Jr., The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder is a 4-star recruit.

QB Kreet Makihele, San Marcos, Sr., Threw for 3,456 yards and 44 TDs.

OL Jeremiah Maze, Granite Hills, Sr., All-CIF pick listed at 6-4, 305.

RB/DB Pai Polamalu, St. Augustine, Jr., Intercepted eight passes as a sophomore.

QB Brady Palmer, Cathedral Catholic, Sr., Cal commit.

DB Cammeron Purnell, Lincoln, Sr., Oregon State commit.

WR Brayden Roberson, Mission Hills, So., Speedster had 39 catches as a freshman.

WR/DB Marcus Rocha, San Pasqual, Sr., Caught 83 catches for 1,367 yards and 12 TDs last year.

QB Quinn Roth, La Costa Canyon, Sr., All-CIF. Threw for 2,235 yards and 31 TDs last year.

EDGE Ty Sagaser, San Marcos, Sr., Navy commit had 11 sacks a year ago.

LB Prince Tavizon, Lincoln, Sr., Oregon commit.

QB/DB Gaige Weddle, Rancho Bernardo, So., All-CIF pick had 1,750 total yards, 90  tackles as a freshman.

100 more to watch

OL Nathan Allen, Carlsbad, Sr., A 6-foot-5, 275-pound, three-star recruit.

QB Trey Arnold, Mission Bay, Sr., Threw for 1,815 yards and 17 TDs last year.

QB Jett Astephen, La Jolla Country Day, Sr., Threw for 1,194 yards and 13 TDs in seven games last yar.

DE Braeden Bartocci, Point Loma, Sr., Drawing college interest after leading Pointers with nine sacks last year.

TE/DL Keoki Becerra, Vista, Sr., Had 54 tackles and six sacks a year ago.

OL Wyatt Britt, San Marcos, Sr., The 6-4, 270-pounder is a two-time all-leaguer.

WR Ian Brooke, Patrick Henry, Sr., Caught seven touchdown passes last season.

RB/DB Shane Brushie, Mission Bay, Sr., Explosive, high-IQ player in his fourth season on varsity squad.

QB Gavin Caha, Steele Canyon, Jr., Threw for 1,760 yards and 20 TDs a year ago.

QB/DB Bowyn Cannon, Escondido, Sr., Takes over at QB this season.

WR Quentin Cesaire, La Jolla Country Day, Sr., Has multiple college offers.

TE/DE James Clifford, Poway, Sr., A 6-7 prospect with multiple college offers.

TE/DB Kye Cooper, San Diego, Jr., Two-way star is the son of former Chargers LB Stephen Cooper.

LB Matteo Correia, Point Loma, Sr., Led Pointers in tackles, second in sacks a year ago.

DL Ashawn Cranford, Carlsbad, Sr., All-CIF player had 66 tackles, 11 sacks a year ago.

TE/LB Parker Cresswell, St. Augustine, Sr., Expected to play defensively at the college level.

QB Quentyn DeMara, University City, Sr., Threw for 2,856 yards and 36 TDs a year ago.

OL Chase Deniz, Cathedral Catholic, Sr., The 6-7, 290-pound tackle has committed to USC.

RB/TE/LB Kawika Devore, Madison, Sr., Is the Warhawks’ most well-rounded player.

WR/DB Carson Diehl, La Jolla, Sr., A San Diego State commit.

WR Tristen Diaz, Granite Hills, Sr., Averaged 15 yards a catch last year.

OL Aiden Dixon, El Cajon Valley, Sr., An all-leaguer last year.

FB/LB Ty Drews, Ramona, Sr., A three-year starter.

RB Atticus Enriquez, Mt. Carmel, Sr., Air Force commit rushed for 618 yards in six games last year.

DB Maddox Esoo, Santana, Sr., All-leaguer has a nose for the ball.

OL Sua Faleagafua, Mount Miguel, Sr., The 6-4, 280-pounder is a Boise State commit.

DL Frank Fanua, Mount Miguel, Sr., Headed to Cal.

RB/DB Ma-Kahi Fields-Cook, Canyon Hills, So., Rushed for 1,300 yards as a freshman.

RB/LB Kingston Filo, El Camino, Sr., Has committed to Northern Arizona.

WR Rahshawn Florence, Monte Vista, Sr., Had 55 receptions for 1,035 yards a year ago.

RB Willie Flores, Cathedral Catholic, Jr., A 5-10, 200, reminds some of former Dons star Shawn Poma.

LB Dylan Garcia, Southwest-SD, Jr., Is the reigning league Defensive Player of the Year.

OL Jesus Garcia, Lincoln, Sr., The 6-5, 285-pounder is a UNLV commit.

DB Jonah Garcia, Bishop’s, Jr., Intercepted seven passes a year ago.

ATH Superior Garror, Morse, Sr., Moves to QB after rushing for 1,211 yards last year.

OL Aiden Gilliam, El Camino, Sr., The 6-4, 240-pounder has multiple college offers.

WR/DB Josh Gonzales, Mission Hills, Sr., Caught 144 passes in two years at Escondido.

PK Carson Hackett, San Marcos, Sr., Kicked 54 PATs and had 30 touchbacks on 79 kickoffs a year ago.

QB Leo Holquin, Southwest-SD, Jr., Threw for 1,351 yards with only six interceptions a year ago.

RB Deren Hueso, Imperial, So., Gained 1,067 yards as a freshman.

DL Patrick Knight, Army-Navy, DL, Sr., Had 52 tackles a year ago.

TE/DL Grant Kuykendall, Mission Hills, Sr. A first-team all-league pick a year ago.

OL/DL Dylan Jackel, Steele Canyon, Sr., Has multiple college offers.

TE/LB Kevin Jackson, Torrey Pines, Sr., Has multiple college offers.

OL/DL Derek Kanuha, Mira Mesa, Jr., The 6-4, 275 tackle is expected to be a power-conference recruit.

QB Dax Labrum, Santa Fe Christian, Jr., Threw for 1,638 yards and 21 TDs a year ago.

QB/DB Kelle Leuck, Mt. Carmel, Sr., Threw for 1,453 yards last year, but may change positions.

WR Teague Lucy, Fallbrook, So., Played varsity sports as a freshman.

RB/LB Gio Limon, Del Norte, Sr., Had 105 tackles a year ago.

TE Braiden Linder, El Capitan, Jr., Caught 27 passes and five TDs a year ago.

QB Jake Locker, Maranatha Christian, Sr., Had 1,911 yards, 27 TDs in eight games a year ago.

LB Landen Lockwood, San Pasqual, Sr., Had 140 tackles and five picks a year ago.

WR Ezekiel McIntyre, San Marcos, Jr., Escondido transfer had 42 catches last season.

WR/PK Jackson Maggiore, La Costa Canyon, Sr., Caught 33 passes and averaged 32.8 yards per punt as a junior.

TE/DE Wyatt Mallinson, Ramona, Sr., First-team all-league pick as a junior.

QB Kainan Manna, Lincoln, Sr., Arizona transfer threw for 2,366 yards and 22 TDs last season.

QB Isaiah Mena-Malijan, Montgomery, So., Threw for 1,819 yards and 17 TDs as a freshman.

ATH Courtney Miller-Thompson, Lincoln, Sr., Few receivers come up with more big plays.

QB Braylon Mitchell, Valley Center, Sr., Threw for 1,755 yards and 19 TDs a year ago.

OL Esteban Morales, Classical Academy, Sr., The 6-3, 290-pounder is a college prospect.

WR/DB Julian Moran, Hilltop, Sr., Averaged 23.4 yards on 19 catches.

QB Jackson Newman, Valhalla, Sr., Had 746 passing yard and 861 yards rushing yards a year ago.

RB Ryan Niguidula, Maranatha Christian, So., Had 1,097 all-purpose yards and 10 TDs as a freshman.

QB Lee Norman-Lester, Helix, Sr., Good arm and fast.

WR/DB Kymani Nua, Oceanside, Sr., An Army commit.

WR/DB Mekhi Oluwa, Mater Dei Catholic, Sr., Committed to Cornell.

WR/DB Larell Parker, Mater Dei Catholic, Sr.,  All-leaguer caught 44 passes a year ago.

OL Manuel Quintero, Vincent Memorial, Sr.,  The 6-2, 260-pounder was an all-leaguer.

QB Robert Renteria, San Pasqual, Sr., Threw for 2,358 yards as a junior.

WR Gio Robles, Imperial, Sr., Big target at 6-5.

LB Blake Robinson, Fallbrook, Sr., Team MVP had 72 tackles a year ago.

TE/LB Jackson Rochet, Scripps Ranch, Sr., Four-year starter makes sideline-to-sideline tackles.

WR/DB Kai Rosier, Christian, Jr., Three-way player led Patriots in catches and receiving yards.

QB Kaleb Runkle, Christian, Jr., Threw for 1,528 yards with 21 TDs a year ago.

LB Sammy Ruvalcaba, Imperial, Sr., Had 64 tackles a year ago.

QB Noah Schuback, Poway, Sr., Texas transfer threw for 2,563 yards and 25 TDs a year ago.

TE/DL Broc Schweikhard, Vista, TE-DL, Sr., Rushed for 505 yards and had 71 tackles a year ago.

WR/DB Braden Scott, Santa Fe Christian, Sr., Boise State commit is also an All-American rugby player.

WR/DB Landon Scrum, Army-Navy, Sr., Had 50 catches and 70 tackles a year ago.

FB/LB Ryan Scully, La Costa Canyon, Sr., All-CIF player with 58 tackles and six sacks a year ago.

OL/DL Kale Searles, Scripps Ranch, Sr., Few linemen are quicker.

LB David Smith, Otay Ranch, Sr., A three-year starter.

QB Hudson Smith, La Jolla, Sr., Threw for 2,145 yards and 22 TDs a year ago.

QB Jayden Smith, San Diego, So., Threw for 1,633 yards and 14 TDs a year ago.

QB Vincent Smith, St. Augustine, Sr., Big left-hander has committed to USD.

OL Trey Stunkel, Carlsbad, Sr., Transfer from Texas is 6-4, 270.

QB Carson Tamopeau, Mt. Carmel, Sr., Threw for 957 yards in four games before breaking his leg.

LB Aaron Tasio, Maranatha Christian, Sr., Has 327 career tackles.

QB Caden Thompson, Helix, Jr., Escondido transfer threw for 2,058 yards and 25 TDs a year ago.

TE/LB Ezaya Tokio, Oceanside, Sr., Dynamic Washington commit.

LB Vili Trollinger, Montgomery, Sr., All-CIF player with 140 tackles.

OL/DL Maximus Tufugafale, Grossmont, Sr., Has multiple college offers.

LB Gavin Valencia, Rancho Bernardo, Sr., Had 132 tackles a year ago.

WR Parris Vernon, Mount Miguel, Sr., Caught 32 passes for 523 yards last year.

WR Noah Walker, Granite Hills, Sr., Had 114 catches and 26 TDs at Grossmont.

LB Braydon Wells, Granite Hills, Sr., Had 80 tackles in ‘24.

WR Thomas Wentzel, Classical Academy, Sr., Had 68 tackles and 231 receiving yards a year ago.

OL Dristan Williams, Mount Miguel, Sr., Northern Arizona commit.

TE/LB Xavier Wilson, San Diego, Jr., Led Cavers with 130 tackles a year ago.

OL/DL Lucas Winkler, Rancho Bernardo,Sr., 6-5, 270. Committed to UC Davis.