2023 Preseason MaxPreps Junior All-America Football Team

By Zack Poff Aug 9, 2023, 10:00am

IMG Academy, Mater Dei, Miami Central tie for the most selections with three each.

Bryce Underwood of Belleville (Mich.), Ryan Williams of Saraland (Ala.), David Sanders Jr. of Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.) and Nasir Wyatt of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) headline 54 players selected to the 2023 Preseason MaxPreps Junior All-America Football Team.

Wyatt was one of three Mater Dei selected, which was tied for the most of any school. Jordon Davison was a first team selection at running back and Marcus Harris was a second team choice at wide receiver.





In total, 45 different schools had at least one player selected. Fifteen different states had at least one selection.
First team offense

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 205
Has been the MaxPreps Freshman and Sophomore Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons while leading the Tigers to a pair of Division 1 state titles.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 195
Has racked up 6,620 yards passing and 100 touchdowns in first two seasons.

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 205
Rushed for 1,514 yards and 17 touchdowns playing against elite competition.

Height: 5-8 | Weight: 185
Had two great years at Pike Road (Ala.) and will be an impact player for a loaded Ascenders squad this season.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 165
Put up video game numbers as a sophomore, accounting for 2,700 all-purpose yards and 42 touchdowns.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 175
Helped the Panthers win a 6A Division 1 state title and is the top-ranked player in Texas from the Class of 2025 according to 247Sports.

Height: 6-7 | Weight: 235
The top-rated player at his position has the perfect combination of size and speed.



Height: 6-6 | Weight: 255
The No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2025 was listed as our top offensive lineman regardless of class heading into the 2023 season.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 270
Gives the Gaels one of the top offensive lines in high school football as the Las Vegas power begins the year at No. 2 in the MaxPreps Top 25.

OL S.J. Alofaituli, Bishop Gorman
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 250
Played a huge role in the trenches as a sophomore for the No. 4 team in final MaxPreps Top 25.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 315
The 2025 Georgia pledge is one of the most dominant offensive tackles in the country.

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 320
Made a huge impact in the trenches as a sophomore for one of the best teams in the nation.

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 185
Finished last season with over 2,000 yards rushing and 34 total touchdowns to go with three interceptions.



Height: 5-11 | Weight: 175
Connected on 13 of 14 field goals in 2022.

First team defense

DL Nasir Wyatt, Mater Dei
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Finished his sophomore season with 27.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks playing against elite competition.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 250
Racked up 29 sacks over the last two years at Dillard (Fort Lauderdale).

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 285
The top-rated defensive lineman in his class posted 82 tackles, 30 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks last season.

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220
Finished last year with 108 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 22 sacks, three forced fumbles and blocked three field goals.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220
The top-rated linebacker in his class helped Wildcats make their first state championship game appearance in 2022.



Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200
The 2025 Georgia commit will play a key role on defense for the No. 10 team in MaxPreps Top 25.

LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, IMG Academy
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205
The former DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) standout will make a huge impact for one of the most talented teams in the country.

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Intercepted nine passes as a sophomore for the four-time defending 7A state champs.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170
Will play a key role for the No. 13 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170
Posted 39 tackles and four interceptions while hauling in 43 receptions for 886 yards and 12 touchdowns on offense.

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
The top-rated cornerback in the Class of 2025 checks all the boxes.

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 180
Versatile two-way standout made huge plays on both sides of the ball for one of the best teams in the country last season.



Height: 6-4 | Weight: 250
The top-rated punter among juniors, according to Kohl's, averaged better than 40 yards per punt.

Second team offense

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
The former Ingelwood standout led the Sentinels to a 13-1 record throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 215
Finished with over 3,600 yards and 40 TDs through the air as a sophomore.

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 180
Racked up 2,600-plus yards on the ground and 47 touchdowns.

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 175
Rushed for over 2,200 yards and 37 touchdowns.

WR Winston Watkins Jr., IMG Academy
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 175
Expect an even bigger role after being the team's second-leading receiver in 2022.



WR Marcus Harris, Mater Dei
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 180
Averaged 25.8 yards per reception and hauled in 12 touchdowns playing against the best competition.

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 230
The 2025 Notre Dame pledge had 33 receptions for 705 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 290
The 2025 Alabama commit will play a crucial role in the trenches for the No. 14 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 305
Joins Glover as 2025 Alabama commits and is one of the most dominant offensive lineman in the country.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 280
The fourth-rated prospect in the Sunshine State checks in as the 21st-rated player overall in his class, according to 247Sports.

OL Brayden Jacobs, Buford
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 310
The son of two-time Super Bowl winning running back Brandon Jacobs will be an impact player for the No. 10 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.



Height: 6-5 | Weight: 290
Helped the Mariners go 14-0 in 2022 as the NJSIAA Group 5 champs broke the state record for most points in a season with 660.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170
Finished his sophomore campaign with 64 receptions for 1,057 yards and 15 touchdowns to go with 36 tackles and two interceptions on defense.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 155
The top-rated kicker on Kohl's for his class made eight field goals last season and had 42 touchbacks of 61 kickoffs.

Second team defense

DL Trent Wilson, St. Frances Academy
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 270
Will play a key role in the trenches for the No. 6 team in MaxPreps Top 25 after a standout sophomore season at St. John's (Washington, D.C.).

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195
Racked up 74 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks for 6A Division 2 state champs.



Height: 6-6 | Weight: 220
The top-rated edge rusher in his class, according to 247Sports, is one of the toughest defensive lineman to block in the country.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 245
Finished his sophomore campaign with 85 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

LB Ezekiel Marcelin, Central
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190
Made a huge impact for the No. 2 team in final MaxPreps Top 25 in 2022.

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 215
Flies around on defense and posted 97 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and forced three fumbles last season.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 205
Sideline-to-sideline linebacker racked up 112 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and forced three fumbles.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 180
Four-star cornerback will play a crucial role for one of the best teams in California.



DB Amari Wallace, Central
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170
Helped Rockets finish undefeated for the first time in school history in 2022.

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 160
Should make a huge impact during his first year in South Florid after a couple of good seasons at Orange (Calif.).

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 160
The 2025 Michigan commit will be one of the best players for the No. 7 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180
Accounted for 2,876 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns to go with 98 tackles and eight interceptions on defense.

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 160
Averaged 40.5 yards per punt with 37.5 percent of them landing inside the opponent's 20.