2023 Preseason MaxPreps All-America Football Team

By Zack Poff Aug 7, 2023, 10:00am

Elijah Brown, Brandon Baker headline five players selected from No. 1-ranked Mater Dei.

Elijah Brown of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Jeremiah Smith of Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.), Colin Simmons of Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) and Ellis Robinson IV of IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) headline the 54 high school football players selected to the 2023 Preseason MaxPreps All-America Team.

In addition to Brown, preseason No. 1 Mater Dei landed offensive linemen Brandon Baker and DeAndre Carter on the first team while Zabien Brown and Nasir Wyatt were second-team selections. The Monarchs open the season Aug. 18 against Centennial (Corona, Calif.).

Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and IMG Academy tied for the second most selections with four. Buford (Ga.) had three while Duncanville, Lipscomb Academy (Nashville, Tenn.) and St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) each had two.

In total, 39 schools had at least one player selected. Read on for a complete look at the preseason All-Americans.
First team offense



Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
Status: Committed to Stanford | Class: Senior (2024)
Owns a 29-1 during his career while throwing for 6,339 yards and 76 touchdowns.

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 170
Status: Committed to Hawaii | Class: Senior (2024)
Last year's MaxPreps National Junior of the Year threw for 3,575 yards and 54 touchdowns while completing 75.8 percent of his passes.

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 205
Status: Committed to Oklahoma | Class: Senior (2024)
The top-ranked back in the country rushed for 1,800-plus yards and 33 touchdowns last season.

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 200
Status: Committed to Texas | Class: Senior (2024)
Leads the way in a backfield loaded with talent.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200
Status: Committed to Ohio State | Class: Senior (2024)
The top-rated wide receiver in the nation racked up over 1,000 yards receiving and 20 touchdowns as a junior.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 165
Status: Committed to Alabama | Class: Junior (2025)
Led the Spartans to school's first state title, accounting for 2,341 total yards and 39 touchdowns.

TE Elija Lofton, Bishop Gorman
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220
Status: Committed to Miami | Class: Senior (2024)
Averaged better than 25 yards per reception and had 18 total touchdowns.

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 255
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2025)
Top-rated player in his class led the Chargers to their second consecutive NCISAA Division 1 state title last season.

OL Brandon Baker, Mater Dei
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 285
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2024)
Dominated as a junior playing against the best competition.



Height: 6-6 | Weight: 365
Status: Committed to Georgia | Class: Senior (2024)
The former Centennial (Roswell) standout will play a huge role in the trenches for one of the best teams in the Peach State.

OL Douglas Utu, Bishop Gorman
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 270
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2025)
Helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 57.1 points per game.

OL DeAndre Carter, Mater Dei
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 340
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2024)
Joins Baker and Brown as three first-team selections from the top-ranked team in the MaxPreps Top 25.

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Status: Committed to Tennessee | Class: Senior (2024)
Two-way standout is a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive backs and is one of the best ball-hawking safeties in the country.

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Status: Committed to Clemson | Class: Senior (2024)
Has made at least 20 field goals in each of the last two seasons.

First team defense



Height: 6-3 | Weight: 225
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2024)
Led the Panthers to first state title since 1998 racking up 33 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks.

DL David Stone, IMG Academy
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 270
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2024)
Dominated in the trenches playing against the best competition during his first season at IMG.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 250
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2024)
Led the Broncos to their first state championship game appearance posting 56 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 250
Status: Committed to Arizona | Class: Senior (2024)
Finished his junior season with 73 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 230
Status: Committed to Clemson | Class: Senior (2024)
The multi-sport standout was named the 2022-23 MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year and piled up 113 tackles to go with 1,449 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns on offense.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 230
Status: Committed to Notre Dame | Class: Senior (2024)
Played a huge role on defense for the 2022 MaxPreps National Champs racking up 111 tackles.



Height: 6-2 | Weight: 240
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2024)
Led the Tornados to their first state title and was the 2022 MaxPreps Washington Player of the Year.

DB Ellis Robinson IV, IMG Academy
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
Status: Committed to Georgia | Class: Senior (2024)
The top-rated defensive back in the country shuts down one side of the field.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Status: Committed to Tennessee | Class: Senior (2024)
Intercepted nine passes as a junior for the No. 13 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 180
Status: Committed to Ohio State | Class: Senior (2024)
Led the Tarblooders to their first state title while not allowing a touchdown reception all season.

DB Marcelles Williams, St. John Bosco
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 185
Status: Committed to USC | Class: Senior (2024)
Played against the best competition and was the leader for one of the best secondaries in the country.

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
Status: Committed to Florida State | Class: Senior (2024)
Two-way standout is the top-rated safety in the Class of 2024.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 195
Status: Committed to Georgia | Class: Senior (2024)
Averaged 48 yards per punt as a junior.



Second team offense

QB Dylan Raiola, Buford
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220
Status: Committed to Georgia | Class: Senior (2024)
The top-ranked player in his class has thrown for 5,776 yards and 54 touchdowns over the last two years.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195
Status: Committed to Ohio State | Class: Senior (2024)
Threw for 4,095 yards and 55 touchdowns while leading the Panthers to an undefeated season and the school's first state championship.

RB Caden Durham, Duncanville
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 180
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2024)
Rushed for 1,960 yards and 36 touchdowns for the 6A Division 1 state champs.

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 195
Status: Committed to Michigan | Class: Senior (2024)
Finished his junior campaign with 1,951 yards rushing and 34 touchdowns.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190
Status: Committed to Texas A&M | Class: Senior (2024)
Accounted for 1,760 total yards and 24 touchdowns in 2022.



Height: 6-5 | Weight: 215
Status: Committed to Alabama | Class: Senior (2024)
Led the AAAAAAA runner-up in receptions (64), receiving yards (1,121) and receiving touchdowns (13).

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 235
Status: Committed to Florida State | Class: Senior (2024)
Hauled in 44 receptions for 753 yards and eight touchdowns for one of the best teams in Georgia.

OL S.J. Alofaituli, Bishop Gorman
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 250
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2025)
Helps give the No. 2 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 one of the top offensive lines in the country.

OL Jordan Seaton, IMG Academy
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 290
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2024)
The former St. John's (Washington, D.C.) standout will be a key piece for the fourth-ranked Ascenders.

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 280
Status: Committed to South Carolina | Class: Senior (2024)
Selected as the best player in the Palmetto State heading into the 2023 season.

Height: 6-7 | Weight: 320
Status: Committed to Michigan | Class: Senior (2024)
Has played a huge role in the trenches for the back-to-back Division 1 state champs.



Height: 6-3 | Weight: 285
Status: Committed to USC | Class: Senior (2024)
One of the most talented players in the trenches is just scratching the surface.

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 180
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2024)
Put up video game numbers as a junior accounting for 4,773 yards of total offense and 72 touchdowns to go with 115 tackles and five interceptions.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
Status: Committed to Arizona | Class: Senior (2024)
Connected on 12 of 14 field goals as a junior.

Second team defense

DL Eddrick Houston, Buford
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 255
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2024)
Joins Bolden and Raiola as one of three selections from the 10th-ranked team in the MaxPreps Top 25.

DL Nasir Wyatt, Mater Dei
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2025)
Finished his sophomore season with 27.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.



Height: 6-5 | Weight: 285
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2025)
Posted 82 tackles, 30 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 250
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2025)
The former Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) standout has racked up 29 sacks over the last two years.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220
Status: Committed to Florida | Class: Senior (2024)
Had a very productive junior season playing against elite competition accounting for 74 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205
Status: Committed to Georgia | Class: Senior (2024)
Sideline-to-sideline linebacker racked up 95 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

LB Edwin Spillman, Lipscomb Academy
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215
Status: Committed to Tennessee | Class: Senior (2024)
Led the Mustangs to their second straight Division II Class AA state title posting 129 tackles for the 13th-ranked team in the final MaxPreps Top 25.

DB Zabien Brown, Mater Dei
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Status: Committed to Alabama | Class: Senior (2024)
The leader of one of the most talented secondaries in high school football.



Height: 6-0 | Weight: 170
Status: Committed to Ohio State | Class: Senior (2024)
The top-rated player in Ohio checks all the boxes at the cornerback position.

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2024)
Two-way standout is a big-time playmaker on both sides of the ball.

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Status: Committed to USC | Class: Junior (2025)
The top-rated safety in the Class of 2025 had 67 tackles and nine interceptions as a sophomore.

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170
Status: Committed to Alabama | Class: Senior (2024)
Rarely gets tested on defense and is a standout performer on offense.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 165
Status: Committed to Texas | Class: Senior (2024)
Averaged over 41 yards per punt with half of his punts landing inside the opponent's 20 yard line.