The high school football season in Virginia kicks off next week with 117 games scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 18-20. After going 13-1 and winning its second consecutive state title last season,
Oscar Smith (Chesapeake) debuts at No. 1 in this year's preseason MaxPreps Top 25.
The Tigers notched a 42-17 victory over
James Madison (Vienna) in the Class 6 state title game last season behind 290 rushing yards from running back Kevon King, who is now a freshman at Norfolk State. Oscar Smith's top returning players include West Virginia commit
Tory Johnson (6-foot-4, 210 pounds, WR) and junior
Asaad Brown (5-11, 165, CB), regarded as a top defensive back prospect in the Class of 2024.
Coming in at No. 2 in the state is
Highland Springs, which fell to eventual state champion
Stone Bridge (Ashburn) 28-26 in the Class 5 semifinals last season. The Springers are expected to be led by seniors
Braylon Johnson, a safety committed to Virginia Tech,
Miles Greene, a defensive lineman committed to Virginia and
Takye Heath, an athlete committed to Virginia Tech among others.
The top two prospects in the Class of 2023 in Virginia are both Penn State-bound.
Alex Birchmeier of
Broad Run (Ashburn) is regarded as the No. 1 inside offensive lineman prospect in the nation while
Tony Rojas of
Fairfax is regarded as the No. 7 overall linebacker prospect.
Read on for a complete look at Virginia's preseason top 25 for 2022.
Oscar Smith celebrates its second consecutive VHSL Class 6 state championship in 2021.
Photo: Joe Barnes
