2010 high school football kickoff guide

Alaska and Hawaii have already kicked off.

On Friday, 10 mores states will join them.

Football fever is striking the country, and with each weekend, more states become affected with the pigskin bug.

As high school teams prepare to get their seasons underway, college teams similarly are working through summer practices with equal anticipation. On the professional level, training camps are wrapping up, scrimmages are beginning, and fans are following the progress of their teams through the dog days of summer.

While newsstands are littered with football preview magazines for college and the NFL, many more fans will attend a high school football game than an NFL game this season. With that in mind, MaxPreps has compiled a comprehensive guide to the major storylines, recruits, and title contenders for the 2010 high school football season.

Team Rankings
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Early Contenders
Freeman National Rankings

Player Rankings
Lemming 2010 Top 100
Class of 2013 Top 100 Watch List

2009 Review
MaxPreps All-Americans
Junior All-Americans
Sophomore All-Americans
Final Xcellent 25

National Player of the Year Watch
Favorite: Herschel Sims, RB, Abilene (Texas)

Sims was sensational a year ago, rushing for 2,346 yards and 35 TDs on 202 carries to lead Abilene to a 5A-II state title. He seemed to get better as the season went along, posting 200-yard rushing efforts against Cedar Hill and Arlington Bowie in the state playoffs, while later rushing for more than 100 yards against the vaunted Katy defense in the state finals.

In 2010, with three out-of-state games on the docket, Sims will have a chance to demonstrate to a national audience why he might just be the nation’s best player.

Contenders:

Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.)

The lone junior on the MaxPreps All-American Team last year, Clowney brutalized quarterbacks last year, totaling a whopping 23 sacks. His 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame overwhelmed most offensive linemen, but it was his quickness around the edge that was particularly deadly. He’s primed for an utterly dominant senior year.

James Wilder, LB/RB, Plant (Tampa, Fla.)
Wilder is the nation's No. 1 recruit according to Tom Lemming, and his play on both sides of the ball last season showed why. He compiled 19 sacks, six pass deflections, and four forced fumbles. Offensively, he carried a huge load for the Panthers, especially down the stretch, when Plant went up against the likes of Lakeland and Manatee.

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.)
It’s not always easy for a top wide receiver to have a big impact at the high school level, particularly when opposing coaches scheme to keep the ball out of his hands. Nonetheless, Dorial Green-Beckham unleashed a season for the ages in 2009, catching 66 passes for 1,616 yards and 23 scores.

He was named the MaxPreps National Athlete of the Year after similarly dominant efforts in basketball and track and field.

Dark horses:
1. Malcolm Brown, RB, Steele (Cibolo, Texas)
2. Justin Worley, QB, Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.)
3. Rushel Shell, RB, Hopewell (Aliquippa, Pa.)
4. Kenny Hilliard, RB, Patterson (La.)
5. Michael Brewer, QB, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)

Top 5 Events to Watch

One football game on Friday night not enough? Need more to satisfy your high school football fix? Check out these events, which feature numerous top teams, players, and match ups.

1. Herbstreit Varsity Football Series, Sept. 5-6
Taking place in both Columbus, Ohio and Arlington, Texas, the Herbstreit Varsity Football Series is already in its sixth season. Though it has taken on various locations and formats, one constant has always been present: great football games.

This year will be no different, as the Herbstreit Varsity Football Series will feature mega Trinity (Euless, Texas) vs. Shiloh Christian (Springdale, Ark.), Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) vs. Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio), Skyline (Dallas) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), and other mega matchups.

2. Gridiron Challenge, Florida vs. USA, Aug. 26
The inaugural Gridiron Challenge Florida vs. USA will feature four games in one day and highlight teams from Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, and, of course, Florida.

Mainland (Daytona Beach, Fla.) vs. West Point (West Point, Miss.), Center Hill (Olive Branch, Miss.) vs. Cocoa (Fla.), and Glades Central (Belle Glade, Fla.) vs. Skyline (Dallas) are all can't-miss games, but the marquee attraction could be reigning MaxPreps Freshman of the Year Kelvin Taylor, who will be put to the test when Glades Day (Belle Glade, Fla.) takes on Georgia's Twiggs County (Jeffersonville, Ga.).

3. I-95 Kickoff Classic, Sept. 4
Baltimore and Washington D.C., separated by roughly 40 miles on I-95 (or 295, depending on driving preference), have had a natural basketball rivalry for many years. Football-wise, the question of which city plays a better brand of pigskin has largely gone unanswered. The I-95 Kickoff Classic should change that.

Top teams from the Baltimore and D.C. areas will be pitted against one another in the five-game event to be held at Towson University. Cyrus Kouandjio and DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) will be in action against Loyola Blakefield (Towson, Md.). The most intriguing matchup involves Gilman (Baltimore, Md.), led by coveted recruit Darius Jennings, taking on defending WCAC champion Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.).

4. Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout, Aug. 26-29
No event offers a bigger slate of games than that Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout, which boasts 12 games over five days.

Teams from Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana will all do battle in an event that has become a Cincinnati tradition.

Headlining the Shootout is a matchup between St. Xavier (Cincinnati) and Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.). Both storied programs should field excellent teams in 2010; the outcome of this game will likely have major national rankings implications.

A game between Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), a threat to win Cincinnati's Greater Catholic League, and Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio), which features dual-threat quarterback Braxton Miller, is similarly intriguing.

5. Corky Kell Classic, Aug. 21
Last season, Georgia demonstrated why winning a state title in the Peach State is an accomplishment of epic proportions.  Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), Northside (Columbus, Ga.), Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.), Newnan (Ga.), and North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.) all had national-caliber squads in 2009, but it was defending champion Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.) that survived the loaded bracket and took home the AAAAA crown.

Three of those teams will take the field in a Gwinnett County vs. Cobb County affair that should be a good indicator of which teams could be tops in Georgia this season.

Others to watch: Rally in Death Valley, Texas Football Classic, Emerald City Kickoff Classic, Soldier Field Kickoff Classic, CNB Kickoff Classic, Verizon High School Football Kickoff Classic and the City of Champions Classic.

Top 5 Longest Winning Streaks

In recent years, several notable winning streaks have crumbled.

In 2004, Bellevue (Wash.) ended the De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) 151-game winning streak. In 2007, Elder (Cincinnati) snapped Independence (Charlotte, N.C.)’s 109-game winning streak. One year later, South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) saw its 89-game winning streak come to an end at the hands of Meridian (Miss.). Smith Center's 79-game winning streak concluded in 2009.

While no team is currently approaching any of the aforementioned streaks, several teams have rattled off impressive runs that are worth noting.

1. Plymouth (Plymouth, N.H.) - 55 games
The Bobcats have been utterly dominant in New Hampshire's Division IV. In 2009, they outscored opponents by a total of 351 to 101, including a 38-0 blanking of Laconia in the state final.

Head coach Chuck Lenahan will be without several key pieces from last year's team, including running back Kyle McAuliffe, but don't be surprised to see Plymouth run the table again in 2010.

2. Reidsville (N.C.) - 48 games
In 2009, Reidsville's high-powered offense scored less than 40 points just four times. The Rams overwhelmed opponents en route to their third consecutive 16-0, 2AA state title-winning season.

The program has won 18 state titles overall, and makes no bones about its expectation to win state titles. The team will have to replace quarterback Tyrell Houghton, which may not be easy. However, head coach Doug Robertson will have a year of experience under his belt, and should keep the Reidsville dynasty rolling.

3. Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) - 46 games
Lake Travis' 46-game winning streak may be the most impressive one in the country, as the Cavaliers have dealt with new head coaches, difficult 5A opponents, and 4A playoff runs seemingly with ease.

Defensive coordinator Hank Carter is now calling the shots for the Cavaliers, becoming the team's third head coach since 2007. He'll be fortunate enough to have Michael Brewer back lining up behind center. Brewer tossed for a Garrett Gilbert-like 4,450 yards as a junior.

Early season contests with Westlake (Austin, Texas) and Aledo (Aledo, Texas) will be major threats to the team's streak, but it's not unlike Lake Travis to surprise fans around the state with improbable victories.

T-4. Solon (Iowa) - 41 games
Navigating through the 2009 season unbeaten seemed to be easy for Solon, as its closest game was a 26-point victory over North Cedar on Sept. 25. The Spartans put a punctuation mark on their outstanding season with a 38-7 victory over Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley.

James Morris, who rushed for 2,256 yards last year, has moved on to Iowa, and without his outstanding production, Solon could be vulnerable to an upset.

T-4. Cascia Hall (Tulsa, Okla.) - 41 games
Defense was Cascia Hall's calling card in 2009, as the Commandos allowed a mere 104 points all season. Contrast that with the 481 points the offense put up, and it becomes clear just how good the 2009 team was.

The 2010 version of the Commandos is in great shape to repeat in Oklahoma's 3A classification and push the winning streak even longer. Linebacker Conner Sherwood and defensive lineman Hunter Hart are key pieces on a defense that should carry the team, at least initially.

Five National Title Sleepers

With the release of the MaxPreps Preseason Top 25 Early Contenders, we identified most of the teams in the discussion for a mythical national title.

Here's a look at some teams off the radar — some far off the radar — that could surprise fans when December rolls around.

1. DeSoto (Texas)
Claude Mathis has an extremely talented team. With quarterback Ryan Polite leading the way, the Eagles could be in the mix for a 5A Texas state title, which would almost guarantee a high finish in the Xcellent 25.

An early season contest with Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas), who many regard as one of the top teams in the Lone Star State, will be a good barometer for the Eagles.

2. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)
Head coach Bob Beatty is not a fan of national rankings. In fact, he once famously called out Don Bosco Prep as a team he'd play "without a game plan," suggesting the Ironmen did not deserve the national praise they were receiving. Then in 2009, Don Bosco Prep finished No. 1 in the Xcellent 25 and every other national ranking.

Beatty may not care about national rankings, or buy into their accuracy, but one thing's for sure: Trinity has the potential to finish near the top of the Xcellent 25. If the Shamrocks can knock off Elder and St. Xavier, and if St. Xavier knocks off Good Counsel, Trinity will have an impressive resume that will be hard to ignore.

3. Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.)
Under head coach Rush Propst, Colquitt County has steadily improved, and is now a threat to capture Georgia's AAAAA title. The Packers also are an outside threat to capture a national title.

First off, the Packers are in the historically brutal 1-AAAAA region. As part of their regular season schedule, they'll take on Valdosta, Lowndes, Northside, and Thomas County Central.

The team's biggest obstacle — and potential signature win — is defending Mississippi champion South Panola (Batesville, Miss.). The Tigers return one of their best teams ever, and if Colquitt County can knock them off, expect them to shoot up the rankings.

4. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
It's hard to ever truly consider De La Salle a darkhorse, given the success that the Spartans have enjoyed under legendary head coach Bob Ladouceur. After all, they are the defending CIF Open Division Bowl champions, and return many key pieces on defense.

However, De La Salle faltered in both of their games against non-California competition last season, dropping a 31-30 outcome to Lakeland (Fla.) at home while getting blown out in New Jersey against Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.).

A victory against Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) this season would be a nice early-season victory to notch on the belt. Another Bowl Game trip — and another victory over a top SoCal team — would also go a long way to make the Spartans a national contender once again.

5. Woodland Hills (Pittsburgh)
Finishing 12-2 in 2009, Woodland Hills enjoyed a fine season that was cut short by a 14-3 playoff loss to State College. Many people around Pennsylvania think that this Woodland Hills team returns enough to make another serious run at a AAAA title.

The team will open the season with another state title contender, Manatee, a threat to capture Florida's class 5A crown. If George Novak's team can hold off Manatee, it'll become the Hurricanes' biggest fans.

A victory over Manatee, coupled with a state title and a deep playoff run by Manatee would bode extremely well for Woodland Hills when it comes to national recognition.

10 Juniors to Watch

1. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.)
Green-Beckham may be the nation's best wide receiver. He's got a huge frame, tremendous quickness, solid hands and good leaping ability. Not to mention, he's somewhat inexperienced and his best football is still in front of him.

2. Rushell Shell, RB, Hopewell (Aliquippa, Pa.)
A star since his freshman season, Shell has drawn comparisons to former Hopewell great Tony Dorsett. He possesses all of the attributes that college coaches look for, and has been remarkably productive against stiff competition on the high school level.

3. Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo (Texas)
Gray had one of the best sophomore seasons around the state of Texas in recent memory last season, accounting for a total of 53 TDs. He's already a major recruiting target in the Lone Star State.

4. Maty Mauk, QB, Kenton (Kenton, Ohio)
Averaging over 387 passing yards per game in 2009, Mauk tore through opposing defenses with uncanny ease. He finished with 4,540 passing yards and 46 TDs.

5. Jamies Winston, QB, Hueytown (Hueytown, Ala.)
With two years of 6A starting experience under his belt, it's sometimes easy to forget that Winston is only a junior. He'll once again be one of the most explosive players in Alabama this season.

6. Jordan Payton, WR, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)    
Playing at one of the more high-profile programs in the country, Payton has managed to stand out in his two years as a varsity player. He'll have an even larger role in the team's offense in 2010.

7. Cayleb Jones, WR, Austin (Texas)
Jones could be the top junior in all of Texas. He hauled in 9 TD passes to go along with 1,140 receiving yards a year ago.

8. Davonte Neal, WR, Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Highly touted since he entered high school, Neal has been one of the most prominent players in Arizona over the last two seasons. Now playing at Chaparral and teaming with quarterback Connor Brewer, he could be in for a monster junior campaign.

9. Zach Banner, OL, Lakes (Lakewood, Wash.)
He may not receive as much hype because he plays on the offensive line, but Banner will be one of the top juniors in the country regardless of position. He's already being praised as a future NFL tackle.

10. Quay Evans, DT, Morton (Miss.)
Evans, who already holds several college offers, wreaks havoc on offensive linemen. In 2009, the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American made 103 tackles and 14 sacks. In a display of his speed and athleticism, he returned a fumble 98 yards for a score.

10 Sophomores to Watch

1.Kelvin Taylor, RB, Glades Day (Belle Glade, Fla.)
It’s scary that Taylor is only a sophomore. As a freshman, he set a state record with 47 rushing touchdowns. The son of New England Patriots running back Fred Taylor, he also accounted for 2,597 rushing yards.

As an eighth grader playing varsity football, Taylor showed signs of great things to come, torching defenses for 1,692 yards and 27 TDs.

2. E.J. Levenberry, LB, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
At such a talent-laden program, it's unusual for DeMatha to have ninth graders that suit up for varsity, let alone make much of a difference.

That's why making the varsity roster and earning a starting role really allowed Levenberry to stand out. His 6-3, 225-pound build already gives him elite size, and he should only get bigger and better.

3. Reuben Foster, LB, Troup County (LaGrange, Ga.)
Fosters' highlights are nothing short of outstanding, which is why he's already a target for several major programs. When all is said and done, he'll likely rank as one of the top players from the class of 2013.

4. Kelly Hilinski, QB, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)
There's been a buzz surrounding Hilikinsi since his was in middle school, as many have pegged him the next SoCal superstar groomed by quarterback guru Steve Clarkson.

Hilinski has been brought along slowly. With the graduation of Ryan Kasdorf, he'll assume the starting role for Notre Dame for the first time. He'll be going up against stiff competition, but should make an impact right away.

5. Laquintas Wallace, RB, Lee (Tyler, Texas)
Wallace made a big splash at the 5A level, something that seldom happens with freshmen. He tallied five rushing TDs but also made an impact on special teams.

Early on, he has the appearance of one of the top young running backs in Texas. With a year of varsity experience under his belt, look for Wallace to post a 1,000-yard season while continuing to be a threat on kick returns.

6. J.J. Green, DB, Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.)
The diminutive Green may be small, but he plays much larger than his frame. At 5-6, he cracked Camden County's starting line up as a ninth grader, and helped lead the team to its second straight AAAAA state title.

With a year under his belt, Green should be a more polished defensive back as a sophomore and assume a leadership role on Camden County's defense.

7. Antonio Connor, DB, South Panola (Batesville, Miss.)
If there was a more impressive freshman defensive back in the Southeast last year than Green, it may have been Connor. The 6-2 athlete started for the 6A champion Tigers, and should be an elite recruit in the class of 2013; he's already attracting interest from defending national champion Alabama.

8. Jaylen Miller, DE, Gaffney (S.C.)
Miller was as solid as any ninth-grade defensive end in the country last year, consistently disrupting plays by finding his way to the backfield. He finished with 13 sacks and 13 tackles for loss.

9. Khleem Perkins, DB, San Bernardino (Calif.)
A gifted athlete, Perkins was a two-way starter for an emerging San Bernardino program. His 6-4 frame makes him an imposing player on both sides of the ball, but defense is probably where he's best suited.

Classmate Chauntez Jackson, a 6-4, 225-pound defensive end, is also one to watch.

10. Troy Williams, QB, Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.)
There’s already major buzz around SoCal about Williams, who has impressed people with his athleticism and passing ability.

With the opportunity to start from day one this season, expect great numbers from Williams through the air and on the ground.

10 Freshmen to Watch

1. Sony Michel, RB, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
2. Elliot Berry, ATH, Creekside (Fairburn, Ga.)
3. Justin Nelson, LB, St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.)
4. Melvin Keihn, LB, Gilman (Baltimore, Md.)
5. Lorenzo Jones, DB, Hale County (Moundville, Ala.)
6. Leonard Fornet, ATH, St. Augustine (New Orleans, La.)
7. Peyton Newell, DE, Hiawatha (Kan.)
8. Hunter Boyett, QB, Gulliver Prep (Miami, Fla.)
9. Jabril Peppers, CB, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
10. Isaac Kay, QB, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)

10 Games For a College Fan to Watch
 
Madison (San Antonio, Texas) vs. Steele (Cibolo, Texas), Aug. 28

This projects to be a showdown between top running backs Aaron Green and Malcolm Brown.

South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.) at Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.), Aug. 28
The nation's top defensive end Jadeveon Clowney will try to disrupt one of the nation's best passing attacks, led by Top 25 QB Justin Worley.

Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) at Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.), Aug. 28
With Aundrey Walker, the nation's No. 46 player, along with Cardale Jones and Andre Sturdivant, Glenville will bring an extremely talented squad to do battle with one of Indiana's best. Warren Central will be led by Kiaro Holts and Kris Harley, a Top 25 offensive lineman and defensive tackle respectively.

Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at East St. Louis (Ill.), Sept. 5
This star-studded affair features one of the nation's best safeties, Wayne Lyons, and one of the nation's best cornerbacks, Anthony Pierson, who recently transferred to East St. Louis from Gateway Tech.

St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at Skyline (Dallas), Sept. 6
There's enough top-level talent on display to make some lower-level college teams jealous. Skyline linebacker Anthony Wallace will lead a defensive unit hoping to contain the Aquinas passing attack which will feature quarterback Jake Rudock and dangerous targets Phillip Dorsett and Rashad Greene.

Plant (Tampa, Fla.) at Abilene (Texas), Sept. 16
James Wilder, the nation's No. 1 overall player, will try to slow down the Abilene Eagles' prolific offense, led by Oklahoma State-bound Herschel Sims.

Gardner-Edgerton (Gardner, Kan.) at Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), Sept. 17
This projects to be a shootout between two of the country's most impressive signal callers: Bubba Starling and Max Shortell.

Springfield (Ohio) at Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio), Oct. 1
The nation's top dual-threat quarterback, Braxton Miller, will do battle with Trey DePriest, one of the country's top linebackers.

Westfield (Houston, Texas) at Klein Collins (Spring, Texas), Oct. 28
Defensive tackle Desmond Jackson will try to penetrate an offensive line led by Texas recruit Garrett Greenlea.

Mainland (Daytona Beach, Fla.) at DeLand (Fla.)
Clemson recruits Cortez Davis and Marlin Lane power Mainland against fellow 6A title contender DeLand and its star, De'Ante Saunders.