BENSALEM, Pa. – Seven teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 preseason football rankings, including three head to head matchups, highlight the ESPN High School Football Kickoff series which returns for its 15th year, running from Aug. 16–25.
The schedule is as follows (All times are Eastern Daylight Time) will be shown live on ESPN or ESPN2 over five dates:
August 16
No. 10 Carrollton (Ga.) at Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.), 8 p.m., ESPN2
Carrollton QB Julian Lewis reclassified and is now the No. 2 ranked player in the senior class. Lewis is headed to Southern California next season along with senior DB Shamar Arnoux. No. 19 ranked junior Zelus Hicks – S leads a stacked junior class. Woodward Academy was the Class 6A runner-up in Georgia last season. The War Eagles return senior ATH Josiah Abdullah (fielding over 20 offers) and senior WR Jerome Bettis Jr. is committed to Notre Dame (following in the footsteps of his NFL HOF father Jerome Bettis Sr.).
August 22
Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) at Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.), 8 p.m., ESPN 2
Grayson is regularly one of the most talented teams in Georgia, making deep playoffs runs in one of the country’s toughest divisions. Last season was no different as the Rams advanced to the 7A semifinals. The defense will again be stout, with senior DE Andre Fuller committed to Georgia Tech and senior DT Josiah Victor headed to Boston College. The defensive line will be reinforced by two ESPN Junior 300 LB’s: No. 11 Tyler Atkinson and No. 258 Anthony Davis Jr.
Thompson has been a state champion in Alabama four of the past five seasons. They lost by just two points in the state final last season but look to get back to championship form with and No. 28 senior Jared Smith – DE and No. 36 senior Anquon Fegans – S (Auburn commit). Sophomore QB Trent Seaborn already has over 20 offers.
August 23
No. 12 Milton (Ga.) vs. No. 19 American Heritage (Fla.), 7 p.m., ESPN
Last season, Milton won the Class 7A state title, one of the most competitive playoff brackets. The Eagles return most of their state championship team, including No. 50 ranked senior Ethan Barbour – TE (Georgia commit) and No. 174 senior C.J. Wiley – WR (Florida State).
American Heritage features one of the most talented young rosters in the country, including No. 8 ranked junior, QB Dia Bell (Texas). No. 70 ranked junior WR Brandon Bennett will be Bell’s main target, while RB Byron Louis balances the offense.
August 24
No. 5 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) at No. 7 St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 4 p.m., ESPN
Bishop Gorman finished last season undefeated and Nevada large-class state champions. The Gaels will be hard to beat with a dominant offensive line and six total ESPN ranked players: No. 10 senior S.J. Alofaituli – OG (Miami), No. 13 senior Douglas Utu – OT (Tennessee), No. 103 senior Alai Kalaniuvalu – OC (Oregon), No. 187 senior Derek Meadows – WR (LSU); No. 17 junior Jett Washington – ATH, and No. 46 junior James Carrington – DE.
No. 27 junior Justice Fitzpatrick is the highest ranked recruit on the team, but the Raiders have seven players already committed to Division 1 programs and several more recruits fielding multiple offers.
No. 2 St. John Bosco (Calif.) vs. No. 11 Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), 8 p.m., ESPN2
St. John Bosco typically reloads as one of the most talented teams in the country, and that continues with over ten recruits receiving multiple offers, including senior WR Kamryn Jones (Georgia, Michigan, Oregon offers) and No. 174 junior WR Daniel Odom.
CM features No. 274 senior CB Chris Ewald (Miami), as well as three junior ranked players: No. 13 Jabari Brady – WR, No. 54 Derrek Cooper – RB and No. 273 Denarius Gray – WR (Auburn).
August 25
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, (Ga.) at Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tenn.), 1 p.m., ESPN
Rabun Gap was 13-1 last season with key wins against out of state opponents: Baylor (Tenn.) Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Charlotte (N.C.) Christian (N.C.), and Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.). The Eagles return No. 220 senior Justin Hasenhuetl – OG (Georgia Tech commit), while five other seniors are already committed to Division 1 programs. Baylor features No. 108 senior Cameron Sparks – ATH, in addition to five recruits receiving multiple offers in their
Editor’s Note: Player rankings from ESPN 300 (Seniors in the Class of 2025) and ESPN Junior 300 (Class of 2026).
