High school football: 2024 Preseason MaxPreps Sophomore All-America Team

By Zack Poff Aug 16, 2024, 9:30am

Mater Dei, DeSoto, IMG Academy, St. Thomas Aquinas among six schools ranked in MaxPreps Top 25 to have multiple selections.

Trent Seaborn of Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.), Ethan Feaster of DeSoto (Texas), Mark Bowman of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Richard Wesley of Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) and D.J. Jacobs of Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.) headline the 56 players selected to the 2024 Preseason MaxPreps Sophomore All-America Team.

Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), DeSoto, Guyer (Denton, Texas), IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Mater Dei, Sierra Canyon and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) were the only schools to have two players selected.

In total, 17 different states were represented.

Texas had the most selections with 12 followed by California with 11. Florida (8), Alabama (5) and Georgia (5) were the only other states to have at least five players chosen. 



Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania had two apiece while Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon and Utah all had one.
First team offense

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 190
Last year's MaxPreps Freshman of the Year threw for 2,601 yards and 27 touchdowns while completing 72 percent of his passes for 7A state runner-up.

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 210
The top-rated prospect in the Class of 2027 finished his freshman campaign with 2,846 yards of total offense (2,205 passing, 641 rushing) and 47 touchdowns.

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 215
Rushed for 1,700-plus yards and 25 touchdowns as a freshman.

Height: 5-8 | Weight: 185
Named District MVP as a freshman after rushing for 1,944 yards and 23 scores.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185
Helped Eagles win second straight 6A Division 2 state title hauling in 32 passes for 634 yards and nine touchdowns.

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 160
Dynamic playmaker is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball.



Height: 5-10 | Weight: 180
Former Lamar (Arlington, Texas) standout is a huge addition for back-to-back 6A Division 1 state champs.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 220
Top-rated tight end in 247Sports initial rankings for Class of 2027 checks in at No. 5 overall.

OL Lex Mailangi, Mater Dei
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 330
Made a huge impact on offensive line as a freshman playing against elite competition.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 275
Helped Norland (Miami) to a 14-1 record last season and will be a nice addition for No. 11 team in MaxPreps Top 25.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 275
Top-ranked offensive lineman in Class of 2027.

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 315
Has landed eight offers and will be a key player for one of the best teams in Peach State.

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 285
Had a successful freshman campaign and has already reached double-digit offers.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
Top-ranked athlete in Class of 2027 impacts the game at a high level on all three phases.

Height: 5-9 | Weight: 160
Top-ranked kicker according to Chris Sailer Kicking for Class of 2027 takes over for Ryon Sayeri, who is now at USC.



First team defense

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 255
Second-rated prospect in Class of 2027 had a standout freshman season racking up 50 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks for one of the best teams in California.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 210
Had a stellar freshman campaign accounting for 82 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 215
Third-rated player in Class of 2027 had 81 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks last season.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 230
Committed to Oklahoma in April and is the third-ranked defensive lineman in Class of 2027.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220
Two-way standout plays multiple positions at a high level and expect him to line up everywhere for top-ranked team in Texas.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195
Had a standout freshman season for Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.) and should make an immediate impact for third-ranked Ascenders.



Height: 6-0 | Weight: 215
Finished as the second-leading tackler for last year's MaxPreps National Champs.

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 180
Has landed over 30 offers and was a huge addition for defending 4A state champs after outstanding freshman season for Central Catholic (Pittsburgh).

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170
Started as a freshman playing against elite competition for CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinalist.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175
Next great prospect from Oregon showed why he is one of the top-rated cornerbacks in the Class of 2027 as a freshman.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 170
Has already reached double-digit offers and has all the tools to be the next great cornerback from the Golden State.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170
Next big-time playmaker from Serra flashed on both sides of the ball as a freshman.

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 160
Averaged better than 46 yards per punt as a freshman.



Second team offense

QB Zachary Katz, Chaminade-Madonna
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 200
Threw for 2,973 yards and 38 touchdowns last season at True North Classical Academy (Miami).

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185
The top-ranked quarterback in Texas from the Class of 2027 should put up big numbers this year as he takes over as QB1.

Contributed as a freshman for No. 2 team in MaxPreps Top 25 rushing for 731 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 200
Rushed for 173 yards and two scores in Longhorns season-opening 29-15 win over North Atlanta (Atlanta) in Corky Kell Classic.

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
Hauled in 49 receptions for 1,110 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.



Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175
Has already landed over 20 offers and finished freshman campaign with 36 grabs for 708 yards and seven scores.

WR Julius Jones, St. Thomas Aquinas
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 160
Son of former NFL running back Julius Jones showed flashes as a freshman and should make an even bigger impact in 2024.

TE Judah Lancaster, IMG Academy
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 215
Expect the talented playmaker to make some key plays for Ascenders after transferring from Tolleson (Ariz.).

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 275
Started on the offensive line as a freshman for one of the best teams in Florida.

Height: 6-4.5 | Weight: 305
Helped Coyotes win 4A Division 1 state crown as a freshman.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 290
One of the most physical offensive lineman from Class of 2027 has already landed offers from Arizona, Penn State, Washington and a handful of others.



Height: 6-4 | Weight: 260
Played a big role in the trenches for the defending 5A state champs.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 295
Top-rated prospect in Pennsylvania for Class of 2027 checks in as No. 3 offensive tackle.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Can play multiple positions at a high level and accounted for 825 total yards and 12 scores to go with 62 tackles during his freshman season at St. Augustine (San Diego).

Height: 5-9 | Weight: 185
The nephew of Garrison Hearst had a stellar freshman season for Lincoln County (Lincolnton, Ga.) racking up 375 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns to go with 75 tackles and two interceptions on defense. 

Second team defense

DL Cameron Pritchett, Thompson
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 230
Racked up 40 tackles, seven tackles for loss and six sacks as a freshman.

DL Khyren Haywood, Guyer
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 270
Has already landed 18 offers and will help form one of the best defensive lines in Texas along with Rowe.

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 230
Helped Big Reds win Division 2 state title after accounting for 50 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.



Height: 6-4 | Weight: 240
Stood out as a freshman on a very talented Chargers squad posting 60 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 225
Committed to Alabama a few weeks ago and had a standout freshman campaign racking up 79 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 220
Was a tackling machine as a freshman accounting for 146 tackles to go with eight sacks and an interception.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215
Committed to Alabama in July and checks in as the No. 43 player overall in 247Sports initial list for the Class of 2027.

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 180
Alabama, Florida State, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M and USC are among the schools that have already offered the talented cornerback.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Son of head coach and 11-time Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten stood out as a freshman for TAPPS Division II state champs accounting for 82 tackles and two interceptions.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 170
Top-rated prospect in Maryland in Class of 2027 will help give Panthers one of the best secondaries in the country.



Height: 6-3 | Weight: 175
Auburn, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M and USC among the 18 offers for the four-star defensive back.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 230
Two-way standout made a huge impact for one of the best programs in Ohio as a freshman.

Height: 5-9 | Weight: 160
Shifty wide receiver starred on both sides of the ball last season and has 40-plus offers according to his 247Sports page.