High school football: Kaegan Ash, Kirk Clifton headline Small Town All-Americans

Choosing the Small Town National Player of the Year has never been more daunting because the 2025 season delivered a plethora of contenders from coast to coast. From record-shattering stat lines to weekly highlight-reel moments, the list of worthy candidates runs deep. 

Start with Myles McLaughlin of Knox (Ind.), who captivated the nation with his drive to break state rushing and scoring records in Indiana and ultimately the national single-season rushing record with 4,846 points.

Then there is Ezavier Crowell of Jackson (Ala.), who earned state player of the year honors in Alabama from while leading the Aggies to a state championship with 2,632 yards rushing.

Add in Kaiden Prothro of Bowdon (Ga.), who ranks as one of the nation's top tight ends and led his team to a fourth-straight state championship.

Ultimately the award goes to Kaegan Ash of Mt. Enterprise (Texas), who not only broke the national record for touchdowns (77) and points (528) in a single season, but he also broke single-season and career rushing yardage records in Texas that were established by Ken Hall of Sugar Land over 70 years ago. Ash rushed for 4,562 yards during the season, breaking Hall's mark of 4,045. He also broke Hall's Texas career rushing record of 11,232 yards by finishing with 11,382 and the single-game record, tying the mark of 599 yards which is held by two others.

Thanks in large part to Ash's efforts, Mt. Enterprise (14-1) notched the most wins in the school's 70-year history. The undefeated regular season was also the second in school history.

Ash, a Texas Tech commit, heads a list of 60 players on the Small Town All-America Team as selected by MaxPreps based on season stats, state and regional honors, team success and recruiting rankings. To be eligible, players must attend a school with under 1,000 students in a town with a population under 10,000.

Kirk Clifton of Sonora (Calif.) is the Small Town National Coach of the Year. Clifton had the unenviable task of replacing Bryan Craig as the head coach of the Wildcats in 2024. Craig concluded his career as the school's winningest coach with a record of 109-50. 

Clifton is off to a great start. In two seasons, the 1991 Sonora graduate has a 28-2 record with 22 straight wins, a pair of Sac-Joaquin Section championships, two state bowl game wins and a No. 1 ranking in the Small Town Top 25.

Sonora went undefeated during the regular season and topped Ripon Christian 56-18 for the section title. The Wildcats finished their season with a 35-10 win over Rio Hondo Prep (Arcadia).

Small Town All-Americans

First Team Offense

QB — Jett Surratt, Carthage (Texas)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175 | Year: 2026
The son of coach Scott Surratt, Jett led Carthage to back-to-back Conference 4A Division 2 state championships and 31 straight wins. He completed 250 of 344 passes for 3,720 yards and 52 touchdowns. For his career, Surratt threw for 10,918 yards.

QB — Myles McLaughlin, Knox (Ind.)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 190 | Year: 2026
Capturing the nation's attention during his run to the national record for single-season rushing yards, McLaughlin led Knox to 13 straight wins before falling in the state semifinals. McLaughlin rushed for 4,846 yards on a national-best 486 carries. He also broke the state record for scoring with 71 touchdowns and 496 points. He finished his career with 11,839 yards on 1,213 carries, 177 total touchdowns and 1,214 points.

RB — Kaegan Ash, Mt. Enterprise (Texas)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 210 | Year: 2026
In leading Mt. Enterprise to the state semifinals, Ash broke national records for touchdowns and points in a season with 77 and 528, respectively. He also broke the Texas state record for rushing yards in a season with 4,562, surpassing the mark established by Ken Hall in 1953. Ash  finished his career with 11,382, breaking Hall's record of 11,232 yards.

RB — Christian Villarreal, Ozona (Texas)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200 | Year: 2026
Villarreal was on pace to break Hall's record as he led Ozona to a 10-0 record season record. However, Ozona lost in the first round of the playoffs and Villarreal finished the year with 3,667 yards on 246 carries with 55 touchdowns. The rushing total ranks eighth all-time in state history.

RB — Ezavier Crowell, Jackson (Ala.)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 215 | Year: 2027
WR — Demarcus Belton, Alvarado (Texas)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 200 | Year: 2026
WR — Zamaurious Robertson, Dillon (S.C.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 165 | Year: 2026
Signed with North Carolina, Robertson grabbed 58 passes for 1,206 yards and 13 touchdowns. For his career, he had 141 receptions for 2,505 yards and 26 touchdowns.

WR — Colt Matlock, Brock (Texas) 
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170 | Year: 2026
On a team that went 14-1, Matlock caught 71 passes for 1,489 yards and 23 touchdowns. He added two rushing touchdowns, two scores on interception returns and two punt returns for touchdowns.

TE — Kaiden Prothro, Bowdon (Ga.)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 205 | Year: 2026
Led Bowdon to the Class A Division 2 state championship for the fourth year in a row. He caught 58 passes for 1,115 yards and 27 touchdowns. He concluded his career with 157 catches for 3,365 yards and 66 scores.

OL — Kelvin Obot, Fruitland (Idaho)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 290 | Year: 2026
Posted 85 pancake blocks on offense and had 75 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 27 tackles for loss on the defensive line, leading Fruitland to the Class 4A state title.

OL — Evan Goodwin, Bauxite (Ark.)
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 275 | Year: 2026
Headed to play at SMU, Goodwin earned all-state honors for the second year in a row. He led Bauxite to nine wins and a spot in the state quarterfinals for the first time in nearly two decades. He was also the winner of the Willie Roaf Award presented by the Little Rock Touchdown Club recognizing the state's best offensive lineman.

OL — Emanuel Tucker, New Albany (Miss.)
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 325 | Year: 2026
Signed by Ole Miss, Tucker earned all-state honors by the Clarion Ledger and Mississippi Association of Coaches.
 
OL — Andrew Trout, Rocori (Cold Spring, Minn.)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 290 | Year: 2026
Missed most of his junior season due to a foot injury but returned as a senior to reportedly average six pancake blocks per game. He will play at Minnesota next year.

OL — Ben Congdon, Tuscarawas Valley (Zoarville, Ohio)
Height: 6-8 | Weight: 300 | Year: 2026
Committed to play at the University of Miami, Congdon earned a spot on the Associated Press Division V All-State team in Ohio.

AP — Roman Voss, Jackson County Central (Jackson, Minn.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220 | Year: 2026
The MaxPreps Player of the Year for Minnesota, Voss led his team to a Class 2A state championship. Headed to Minnesota, Voss threw for 1,902 yards and 21 touchdowns and also rushed for 1,893 yards and 30 touchdowns. For his career, Voss threw for 5,661 yards and 58 touchdowns and rushed for 4,686 yards and 65 touchdowns. He also caught 17 passes for 383 yards and 10 touchdowns.

K — Cooper Heimbach, Wheelersburg (Ohio)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175 | Year: 2026
Among the national leaders with 19 field goals, including a long of 53, Heimbach landed on the MaxPreps All-American Team. Heimbach also converted 56 of 58 extra points and was named to the Ohio Division V all-state first team.

First Team Defense

DL — Jaquez Wilkes, Wadley (Ala.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220 | Year: 2026
A two-way standout for the Class 1A state runner-up, Wilkes rushed for 2,068 yards on 166 carries with 38 touchdowns. He also had 135 tackles on defense with 24 tackles for loss, four sacks and two interceptions. For his career, Wilkes rushed for 8,703 yards and 116 touchdowns. He also had 501 tackles in his five years on the varsity.

DL — Malachi Brown, Corbin (Ky.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 225 | Year: 2027
One of the top defensive linemen in the nation for the Class of 2027, Brown led Corbin to a 10-4 record while posting 66 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

DL — Zach Groves, East Robertson (Cross Plains, Tenn.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220 | Year: 2026
Tennessee signee posted 77 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 20 hurries.

DL — Wyatt Graffin, Columbus (Wis.)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 250 | Year: 2026
Piled up 74 tackles, 35 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Headed to Central Michigan. 

LB — Tra Lewis, Columbia (Miss.)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 210 | Year: 2026
Led Columbia to a state championship with 157 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 22 touchdowns scored.

LB — Laquon Whisenhunt, Jackson (Ala.)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 225 | Year: 2026
Paced the Jackson defense with 176 tackles. He also had nine tackles for loss and two sacks for the state champions.

LB — Carson Crawford, Carthage (Texas)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 215 | Year: 2026
The top defensive player for the Conference 4A Division 2 state champions, Crawford had 121 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He also added an interception, six passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.

LB — Garrison Kruse, Liberty Center (Ohio)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210 | Year: 2027
Led the Tigers to a 15-0 record and Division V state championship. Ran for 1,914 yards and 32 touchdowns on 145 carries while also posting over 100 tackles and 22 tackles for loss.

DB — Cash Byington, Sonora (Calif.)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 185 | Year: 2026
The top player for the back-to-back state bowl game champions, Byington rushed 104 times for 1,225 yards and 17 touchdowns, caught 12 passes for 364 yards and seven scores and he also had 93 tackles and an interception on defense.

DB — Isaiah Washington, Haynesville (La.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 165 | Year: 2026
Put up over 1,000 total yards on offense and accounted for 26 touchdowns while tallying 47 tackles and four interceptions on defense.

DB — Jaedyn Terry, Manchester (Ga.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 165 | Year: 2026
Back-to-back all-state selection is ranked as one of the top 25 defensive backs in the nation by 247Sports. Also a standout on the track where he has broke school records in the hurdles and jumps. Has committed to play at Georgia Tech.

DB — Trae Stevenson, Brooks County (Quitman, Ga.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175 | Year: 2026
Stevenson recorded 37 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions while leading Brooks County to the Class A Division 2 quarterfinals.

AP — Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry (McDonald, Pa.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180 | Year: 2026
The WPIAL all-time leader in career total yardage with 12,592 yards, Sieg had 4,634 yards passing his career and 7,958 yards rushing. As a senior, he ran for 1,774 yards and threw for 403. He scored 131 rushing touchdowns in his career including 27 as a senior. He also had 59 passing touchdowns along with five touchdowns on punt returns and three on interception returns.

P — Connor Anstadt, Hughesville (Pa.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180 | Year: 2027
Averaged 50.5 yards per punt and had 17 punts inside the 20-yard line. He had five punts of over 60 yards. 

Second Team Offense

QB — Landon York, Wall (Texas)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200 | Year: 2026

QB — Landen Griffith, Talihina (Okla.)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175 | Year: 2028

RB — Tylan Keys, Poplarville (Miss.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205 | Year: 2027

RB — Kip Brigham, Wahoo (Neb.)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 175 | Year: 2026

RB — Grady Kinsey, Indian Valley (Gnadenhutten, Ohio)
Height: 5-8 | Weight: 195 | Year: 2026

WR — Brad Mossor, Princeton (W.Va.)
Height: 6-11 | Weight: 190 | Year: 2026

WR — Tripp Palmer, San Juan (Blanding, Utah)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 198 | Year: 2026

WR — Dayon Cooper, South Pittsburg (Tenn.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175 | Year: 2026

TE — Wesley Summersett, South Adams (Berne, Ind.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180 | Year: 2027
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 335 | Year: 2027

OL — Channce Davis, Sonora (Calif.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 287 | Year: 2026

OL — Sully Garvin, Allegan (Mich.)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 303 | Year: 2026

OL — Cameron Wagner, St. Joseph-Ogden (St. Joseph, Ill.)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 290 | Year: 2027

OL — Bo Wolford, Belfry (Ky.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 265 | Year: 2026

AP — Lane Brown, Winters (Calif.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185 | Year: 2026

AP — Landon Duckworth, Jackson (Ala.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195 | Year: 2026

K — Cade McCollough, Peaster (Texas)
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 150 | Year: 2026

Second Team Defense

DL — Troy Bowens, Sutter (Calif.)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 247 | Year: 2027

DL — Sam Duke, Tipton (Mo.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 230 | Year: 2026

DL — Kyler Ingram, Hawthorne (Fla.)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 225 | Year: 2026

DL — Jason Davis Jr., Gridley (Calif.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 270 | Year: 2026

LB — Keenan Mowery-Shields, South Putnam (Greencastle, Ind.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 235 | Year: 2027

LB — Colby Jendrzey, Yoakum (Texas)
Height: 5-8 | Weight: 190 | Year: 2026

LB — Roman Miller, Seneca (Mo.)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 200 | Year: 2026

DB — Brody Schaffer, Winneconne (Wis.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 184 | Year: 2026

DB — Brayden Mescher, Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 195 | Year: 2026

DB — Shea Stevenson, Royal (Royal City, Wash.)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 205 | Year: 2026

AP — Sam Harp, Andale (Kan.)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 155 | Year: 2026

P — Bryce McDaniel, Hughson (Calif.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 190 | Year: 2026