High school football rankings: Bergen Catholic headlines New Jersey Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

Crusaders are 28-2 over the past three seasons with back-to-back state championships.

Last year's National Freshman of the Year Julian Lewis, California record breaker Brady Smigiel among selections.

2023 Preseason MaxPreps Sophomore All-America Football Team 900,018 views 1:03

The 2023 high school football season in New Jersey kicks off later this month and MaxPreps has your look at the state's top teams. Two-time defending state champion Bergen Catholic (Oradell) owns the No. 1 spot in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25.

Bergen Catholic captured the program's 19th state championship with a 45-0 victory over Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey) in the Non-Public A state championship game last season.

Expected standouts for the Crusaders this season include four-star Georgia commit Nyier Daniels, three-star Rutgers commit Kaj Sanders, three-star West Virginia commit Elijah Kinsler, four-star Class of 2025 wide receiver Quincy Porter and three-star Class of 2025 athlete Naiim Parrish.

In addition to Bergen Catholic (Oradell) in Non-Public A, other defending state champions include DePaul Catholic (Wayne) in Non-Public B, Woodbury in Group 1, Caldwell (West Caldwell) in Group 2, Northern Valley (Old Tappan) in Group 3, Millville in Group 4 and Toms River North (Toms River) in Group 5.

Quincy Porter is expected to have a strong junior campaign after leading the team with 34 receptions for 682 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. (Photo: Pete Hagedoorn)

New Jersey Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

1. Bergen Catholic (Oradell), 11-1 record in 2022

2. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 9-3

3. St. Joseph Regional (Montvale), 6-5

4. Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank), 10-2

5. Toms River North (Toms River), 14-0

6. DePaul Catholic (Wayne), 7-5

7. Delbarton (Morristown), 6-6

8. St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City), 7-4

9. Northern Valley (Old Tappan), 12-1

10. Seton Hall Prep (West Orange), 6-6

11. Donovan Catholic (Toms River), 6-4