Where every College Football Playoff starter went to high school

By Thomas Frey Dec 30, 2025, 1:00pm

Florida, Texas, Georgia and Ohio combine to produce nearly 100 quarterfinal starters.

The College Football Playoff has reached the quarterfinal stage and MaxPreps is breaking down where starters for the eight remaining teams went to high school. 

Florida leads the way with 32 starters, including 13 who stayed in-state and went to Miami. The Hurricanes will take on Ohio State, which has four players from the Sunshine State including elite wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate.

Texas is second with 25 led by unanimous All-American Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech, who hails from Rider (Wichita Falls) and is one of 14 starters for the Red Raiders from the Lone Star State.

Georgia takes the third spot with 21 starters, 10 of which play for the Bulldogs. 

IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) leads all schools with nine alums starting in the College Football Playoff. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.) has five and Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) has four.

Daylen Everette of IMG, David Bailey, Zabien Brown and Domani Jackson of Mater Dei, and Matayo Uiagalelei and Earnest Greene of St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) all won national titles in high school and now have a chance to win a title in college as a starter.

Starters from each team's last game were recognized for list purposes.
(Graphic: Ryan Escobar)
(Graphic: Ryan Escobar)
Florida (32)
Bear Alexander, Oregon, IMG Academy (Bradenton)
Rueben Bain Jr., Miami, Central (Miami)
Carson Beck, Miami, Mandarin (Jacksonville)
Wesley Bissainthe, Miami, Central
Jadon Canady, Oregon, Sandalwood (Jacksonville)
Michael Carroll, Alabama, IMG Academy
Carter Davis, Miami, Western (Davie)
Daylen Everette, Georgia, IMG Academy
Amare Ferrell, Indiana, Columbia (Lake City)
Jayden Fielding, Ohio State, IMG Academy
Bryce Fitzgerald, Miami, Columbus (Miami)
Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami, American Heritage (Plantation)
Rolijah Hardy, Indiana, Lakeland
Gabe Harris Jr., Georgia, IMG Academy
Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Ohio State, Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood)
Xavier Lucas, Miami, American Heritage
Francis Mauigoa, Miami, IMG Academy
Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, Columbus
Akheem Mesidor, Miami, Clearwater Academy International (Clearwater)
Matthew McCoy, Miami, Creekside (St. Johns)
Ahmad Moten, Miami, Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale)
D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana, Chaminade-Madonna
Zechariah Poyser, Miami, Wildwood
Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia, IMG Academy
Keon Sabb, Alabama, IMG Academy
Jamari Sharpe, Indiana, Northwestern (Miami)
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, Chaminade-Madonna
Carnell Tate, Ohio State, IMG Academy
JaCorey Thomas, Georgia, Boone (Orlando)
Malachi Toney, Miami, American Heritage
Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech, Mount Dora Christian Academy (Mount Dora)
Raylen Wilson, Georgia, Lincoln (Tallahassee)

Texas (25)
Dillon Bell, Georgia, Kinkaid (Houston)
Jaylon Braxton, Ole Miss, Lone Star (Frisco)
James Brockermeyer, Miami, All Saints (Fort Worth)
Terrance Carter Jr., Texas Tech, Harker Heights
John Curry, Texas Tech, Coronado (Lubbock)
Kam Dewberry, Alabama, Atascocita (Humble)
Cameron Dickey, Texas Tech, Crockett (Austin)
Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech, Fort Bend Hightower (Missouri City)
Coy Eakin, Texas Tech, Stephenville
Aaron Flowers, Oregon, Forney
Alex Harkey, Oregon, Hays (Buda)
Stone Harrington, Texas Tech, Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville)
A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech, Westfield (Houston)
Brenden Jordan, Texas Tech, Mansfield
Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss, Lancaster
Bray Lynch, Indiana, Westlake (Austin)
Louis Moore, Indiana, Poteet (Mesquite)
Behren Morton, Texas Tech, Eastland
Jacob Ponton, Texas Tech, Dripping Springs
Nico Radicic, Indiana, Coppell
Jordan Renaud, Alabama, Tyler Legacy (Tyler)
Ben Roberts, Texas Tech, V.R. Eaton (Fort Worth)
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, Rider (Wichita Falls)
Howard Sampson, Texas Tech, Humble
Sheridan Wilson, Texas Tech, Argyle

Georgia (21)
C.J. Allen, Georgia, Lamar County (Barnesville)
K.J. Bolden, Georgia, Buford
Nick Cull, Ole Miss, Seminole County (Donalsonville)
C.J. Daniels, Miami, Parkview (Lilburn)
Oscar Delp, Georgia, West Forsyth (Cumming)
Rasean Dinkins, Georgia, Warner Robins
Caleb Downs, Ohio State, Mill Creek (Hoschton)
Dontrell Glover, Georgia, Langston Hughes (Fairburn)
Romello Height, Texas Tech, Dublin
Quintavius Johnson, Georgia, Mays (Atlanta)
Cayden Lee, Ole Miss, Kennesaw Mountain (Kennesaw)
Keelan Marion, Miami, Grayson (Loganville)
Kayden McDonald, Ohio State, North Gwinnett (Suwanee)
Christen Miller, Georgia, Cedar Grove (Ellenwood)
Micah Morris, Georgia, Camden County (Kingsland)
L.T. Overton, Alabama, Milton
Brice Pollack, Texas Tech, Shiloh (Snellville)
Gunner Stockton, Georgia, Rabun County (Tiger)
Malachi Toliver, Georgia, Cartersville (Cartersville)
Noah Whittington, Oregon, Peach County (Fort Valley)
Dae'Quan Wright, Ole Miss, Perry

Ohio (13)
Phillip Daniels, Ohio State, Princeton (Cincinnati)
Bo Jackson, Ohio State, Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland)
Will Jados, Texas Tech, Westerville Central (Westerville)
Isaiah Jones, Indiana, London
Max Klare, Ohio State, St. Xavier (Cincinnati)
Jermaine Mathews Jr., Ohio State, Winton Woods (Cincinnati)
Luke Montgomery, Ohio State, Findlay
Arvell Reese, Ohio State, Glenville (Cleveland)
Austin Siereveld, Ohio State, Lakota East (Liberty Township)
Carter Smith, Indiana, Olentangy Liberty (Powell)
Lorenzo Styles Jr., Ohio State, Pickerington Central (Pickerington)
Sonny Styles, Ohio State, Pickerington Central
Tegra Tshabola, Ohio State, Lakota West (West Chester)

California (12)
David Bailey, Texas Tech, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Zabien Brown, Alabama, Mater Dei
Kaleb Edwards, Alabama, Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)
Nate Frazier, Georgia, Mater Dei
Earnest Greene III, Georgia, St. John Bosco (Bellflower)
Domani Jackson, Alabama, Mater Dei
Jamari Johnson, Oregon, Inglewood
Jerry Mixon, Oregon, Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (San Francisco)
Ethan O'Connor, Miami, Los Alamitos
Julian Sayin, Ohio State, Carlsbad
Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon, St. John Bosco
Isaiah World, Oregon, Lincoln (San Diego)

Alabama (11)
Anez Cooper, Miami, Pleasant Grove
T.J. Dottery, Ole Miss, Montgomery Catholic (Montgomery)
Wilkin Formby, Alabama, Northridge (Tuscaloosa)
Lee Hunter, Texas Tech, Blount (Eight Mile)
Tim Keenan III, Alabama, Ramsay (Birmingham)
Antonio Kite, Ole Miss, Anniston
Deontae Lawson, Alabama, Mobile Christian (Mobile)
Red Morgan, Alabama, Central (Phenix City)
Yhonzae Pierre, Alabama, Eufaula
Harrison Wallace III, Ole Miss, Pike Road
Ryan Williams, Alabama, Saraland

Mississippi (8)
Markel Bell, Miami, Cleveland Central (Cleveland)
Davion Carter, Texas Tech, Pearl
Will Echoles, Ole Miss, Houston
Kam Franklin, Ole Miss, Lake Cormorant
Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss, Germantown (Madison)
Daniel Hill, Alabama, Meridian
Bray Hubbard, Alabama, Ocean Springs
Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss, Raleigh

Tennessee (8)
Charlie Becker, Indiana, Father Ryan (Nashville)
Isaiah Horton, Alabama, Oakland (Murfreesboro)
London Humphreys, Georgia, Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville)
Justin Jefferson, Alabama, Bartlett
Patrick Kutas, Ole Miss, Christian Brothers (Memphis)
Brycen Sanders, Ole Miss, Baylor (Chattanooga)
Ty Simpson, Alabama, Westview (Martin)
Jakobe Thomas, Miami, Tullahoma

New Jersey (5)
Alex Bauman, Miami, Red Bank Catholic (Red Bank)
Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State, Union
Tywone Malone, Ohio State, Bergen Catholic (Oradell)
Jaylen McClain, Ohio State, Seton Hall Prep (West Orange)
Mohamed Toure, Miami, Pleasantville

Indiana (4)
Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana, Lawrence North (Indianapolis)
Caden Curry, Ohio State, Center Grove (Greenwood)
Zen Michalski, Indiana, Floyd Central (Floyds Knobs)
Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, Westfield

Maryland (4)
Brandon Finney, Oregon, McDonogh (Owings Mills)
Roman Hemby, Indiana, John Carroll (Bel Air)
Ify Obidegwu, Oregon, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
Elijah Sarratt, Indiana, St. Frances Academy

Virginia (4)
Stephen Daley, Indiana, Handley (Winchester)
Aiden Fisher, Indiana, Riverbend (Fredericksburg)
Mikail Kamara, Indiana, Stone Bridge (Ashburn)
Tyrique Tucker, Indiana, Life Christian Academy (Chester)

Wisconsin (4)
Drew Evans, Indiana, Fort Atkinson
Carson Hinzman, Ohio State, St. Croix Central (Hammond)
Riley Nowakowski, Indiana, Marquette University (Milwaukee)
Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech, Sparta

Arizona (3)
Amier Boyd, Texas Tech, Mountain Pointe (Phoenix)
Parker Brailsford, Alabama, Saguaro (Scottsdale)
A'Mauri Washington, Oregon, Chandler

Hawaii (3)
Kapena Gushiken, Ole Miss, Kamehameha Maui (Pukalani)
Iapani Laloulu, Oregon, Farrington (Honolulu)
De'Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss, Kapolei

Illinois (3)
Pat Coogan, Indiana, Marist (Chicago)
Justin Scott, Miami, Saint Ignatius College Prep (Chicago)
Conor Talty, Alabama, St. Rita (Chicago)

Louisiana (3)
Andrew Jones, Ole Miss, John Ehret (Marrero)
Wydett Williams Jr., Ole Miss, General Trass (Lake Providence)
Peyton Woodring, Georgia, Ascension Episcopal (Lafayette)

Michigan (3)
Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids)
Dante Moore, Oregon, King (Detroit)
Delano Townsend, Ole Miss, Hamady (Flint)

Oregon (3)
Bryce Boettcher, Oregon, South Eugene (Eugene)
Atticus Sappington, Oregon, Central Catholic (Portland)
Teitum Tuioti, Oregon, Sheldon (Eugene)

Colorado (2)
Blake Doud, Alabama, Legend (Parker)
Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon, Jefferson (Edgewater)

Missouri (2)
Will Kacmarek, Ohio State, MICDS (St. Louis)
Jeremiah McClellan, Oregon, Christian Brothers (St. Louis)

Nevada (2)
Germie Bernard, Alabama, Liberty (Henderson)
Zachariah Branch, Georgia, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

North Carolina (2)
Lucas Carneiro, Ole Miss, Community School of Davidson (Davidson)
Diego Pounds, Ole Miss, Millbrook (Raleigh)

South Carolina (2)
Xzavier McLeod, Georgia, Camden

Arkansas (1)
Jayden Williams, Ole Miss, Conway

Idaho (1)
Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon, Skyline (Idaho Falls)

Iowa (1)
Kadyn Proctor, Alabama, Southeast Polk (Pleasant Hill)

Kansas (1)
Malik Benson, Oregon, Lansing

Pennsylvania (1)
Mario Landino, Indiana, Emmaus

Washington (1)
Dave Iuli, Oregon, Puyallup

Australia (7)
Oscar Bird, Ole Miss
Jack Burgess, Texas Tech
James Ferguson-Reynolds, Oregon
Dylan Joyce, Miami
Mitch McCarthy, Indiana
Joe McGuire, Ohio State
Brett Thorson, Georgia