The smallest high schools in the nation produced some of the biggest stars of the 2020 season as MaxPreps All-Americans Jonathon Brooks, Amarius Mims and Corey Kiner are among the 52 players select to the 2020 MaxPreps Small School All-America Football Team.
Brooks, who tied a Texas state record with 70 touchdowns this fall, is the Small School Player of the Year. He helped Hallettsville (Texas) to the Class 3A-Division 1 championship game and rushed for 3,530 yards on the year, good for second in the nation. The Texas commit also earned a place on the MaxPreps All-America first team, which was released last week.
Mims, a mammoth tackle from Bleckley County (Cochran, Ga.) made the first team with Brooks while Kiner, from Roger Bacon (Cincinnati), landed on the second team. All three are on the Small School All-America first team.
Players named to the Small School All-America team play in enrollment divisions that generally have less than 1,000 students. The players also come from among the 33 states that played football during the fall season. Selections are based on postseason honors and statistics, not necessarily next-level potential.
Coach of the Year honors go to Jim Roth, the longtime leader at Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.). Roth became the all-time winningest coach in the Keystone State with 456 career wins after leading the Tigers to a 12-0 season and a fourth straight Class 2A state championship. Southern Columbia Area also upped its active win streak to 60 games in a row — the second longest streak in Pennsylvania history and currently the second longest active streak in the nation. MaxPreps also recently named Southern Columbia Area as the No. 1 small school team in the country, based on the MaxPreps ratings.
Texas leads the team with nine selections while Georgia has eight players. Tennessee Class 3A state champion Alcoa has the most players on the team with three.

Jonathon Brooks, Halletsville
File photo by Lester E. Rosebrock
MaxPreps Small School High School Football All-America Team
First Team Offense
QB Brock Vandagriff, Prince Avenue Christian (Athens, Ga.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 205
Status: Signed with Georgia | Class: Senior (2021)
Named the National High School Quarterback of the Year by the National Quarterback Club, Vandagriff led Prince Avenue Christian to the Georgia Class 1A Private state championship while completing 252-of-356 passes for 4,169 yards and 46 touchdowns. He also rushed for 503 yards and 17 touchdowns. In his career, Georgia's Mr. Football threw for 10,087 yards and 107 touchdowns.
RB Jonathon Brooks, Hallettsville (Texas)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Status: Signed with Texas | Class: Senior (2021)
Tied a Texas record for touchdowns in a season with 70 while rushing for 3,530 yards and 295 carries. He finished his career with 6,497 yards and 118 touchdowns. He is headed to play at the University of Texas. He was named the Player of the Year by the Victoria Advocate and he was the MVP of District 12-3A Division 1.
RB Corey Kiner, Roger Bacon (Cincinnati)
Height: 510 | Weight: 210
Status: Signed with LSU | Class: Senior (2021)
The Ohio Division V Offensive Player of the Year rushed for 1,869 yards on just 168 carries with 34 touchdowns. In his career, he ranks No. 6 all-time in Ohio with 120 touchdowns and he is No. 10 in career rushing with 7,130 yards.
WR Adriel Clark, Rabun County (Tiger, Ga.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 185
Status: Committed to East Tennessee | Class: Senior (2021)
Set a state record for touchdown catches in a season with 28. He grabbed 73 passes for 1,558 yards to earn Class 2A all-state honors by Georgia High School Football Daily. His 43 career touchdowns rank second all-time in state history behind former Rabun County teammate Braxton Hicks, who had 46.
WR Jordan Wallace, Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.)
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 160
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2021)
A Class 1A all-state selection, Wallace caught 55 passes for the Division IV champions, gaining 1,539 yards with 17 touchdowns. He also made the All-City team by the Shreveport Times.
TE Reagan Cochran, Canadian (Texas)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 205
Status: Committed to West Texas A&M | Class: Senior (2021)
The defensive MVP for District 15-3A Division II, Cochran was also the team's second-leading receiver at tight end with 47 catches for 832 yards and 13 touchdowns. He helped Canadian win the Class 3A Division 2 state championship with a 15-1 record and he finished the season with 130 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions.
OL Amarius Mims, Bleckley County (Cochran, Ga.)
Height: 6-8 | Weight: 340
Status: Signed with Georgia | Class: Senior (2021)
The No. 7 recruit in the country by 247Sports and the No. 3 offensive tackle, Mims earned Class 2A all-state honors from Georgia High School Football Daily and All-America honors from MaxPreps.
OL Tate Williams, Wall (Texas)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 264
Status: Signed with Baylor | Class: Senior (2021)
Williams earned District 3-3A Division 1 lineman MVP honors and he is ranked as the No. 19 guard in the nation by 247Sports.
OL William Parker, Pearl-Cohn (Nashville, Tenn.)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 330
Status: Signed with Tennessee | Class: Senior (2021)
Parker landed on the Nashville Tennessean All-MidState Team and he earned a spot on the Tennessee Coaches all-state team. He ranks as the No. 11 overall player in Tennessee by 247Sports.
OL Aden Kelley, Thomas-Fay-Custer (Thomas, Okla.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 275
Status: Signed with Oklahoma State | Class: Senior (2021)
Regarded as one of state's top two-way linemen, Kelley earned a spot on the Oklahoman's All-Super State Team on the offensive line.
OL Makylan Pounders, Byhalia (Miss.)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 295
Status: Signed with Memphis | Class: Senior (2021)
A member of the Clarion Ledger's Dandy Dozen, Pounders made the Clarion Ledger's All-State team and the Mississippi Association of Coaches Region 3 all-state team.
AP Gunner Stockton, Rabun County (Tiger, Ga.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220
Status: Committed to Georgia | Class: Junior (2022)
One of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the Class of 2022, Stockton was the Class 1A Public Player of the Year in Georgia while completing 213-of-317 passes for 3,128 yards and 45 touchdowns and rushing for 1,581 yards and 26 touchdowns.
K Brooks Sturgeon, Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 180
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2022)
Sturgeon earned Class A Private all-state honors while kicking 15 field goals and 35-of-36 extra points. He had a long field goal of 44 yards and also averaged 41.2 yards per punt.
First Team Defense
DL Owen Ostroski, Holland Hall (Tulsa, Okla.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 245
Status: Committed to Tulsa | Class: Senior (2021)
An all-state pick by the Oklahoma City Oklahoman and the Tulsa World, Ostroski helped Holland Hall win a state title by registering 94 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and five forced fumbles.
DL Travion Ford, Lutheran North (St. Louis)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 235
Status: Signed with Missouri | Class: Senior (2021)
The Class Division 3 Defensive Player of the Year by the Missouri Football Coaches Association, Ford had 46 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and six sacks. He is also the No. 3 ranked player in the state according to 247Sports.
DL Grey Carroll, Alcoa (Tenn.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 260
Status: Signed with Georgia Tech | Class: Senior (2021)
Carroll earned Tennessee Titans Mr. Football for Class 3A after helping Alcoa win its sixth straight state championship. He had 67 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. The Knoxville News also named Carroll to its all-area team.
DL Austin Martin, Jim Ned (Tuscola, Texas)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 235
Status: Committed to Southern Nazarene | Class: Senior (2021)
After leading Jim Ned to the Class 3A Division I state championship, Martin earned defensive MVP honors in District 3-3A Division I.
LB Reid Carrico, Ironton (Ohio)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 235
Status: Signed with Ohio State | Class: Senior (2021)
Carrico made the MaxPreps Ohio All-State Team and was the Associated Press Division V Defensive Player of the Year. The Buckeye recruit had 56 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and four sacks. He also rushed for 1,544 yards and 25 touchdowns.
LB Laquize Gilbert, Callaway (Hogansville, Ga.)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190
Status: Georgia Military College | Class: Senior (2021)
Picked by GHSFD as the Class 2A state defensive Player of the Year, Gilbert helped Callaway win the state championship. The Georgia Military College signee averaged over 10 tackles. As a wrestler, he is a two-time place winner, including second place at 160 pounds last year.
LB Cade Gibson, Metro Christian (Tulsa, Okla.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 192
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2021)
Gibson helped lead Metro Christian to a state championship in Oklahoma and was named all-state by the Oklahoman and the Tulsa World. He had 191 tackles, nine sacks and three interceptions on the season.
DB Dane Jentsch, Grandview (Texas)
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 170
Status: Committed to Lamar | Class: Senior (2021)
After leading Grandview to a state championship as a junior, Jentsch led the team to 11 straight wins in 2020 before falling in the second round of the playoffs. Jentsch had 81 tackles on defense while also completing 169 of 258 passes for 2,530 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also rushed for 725 yards and eight scores. For his career, Jentsch had 9,444 yards passing, 3,514 yards rushing, 167 total touchdowns and 406 tackles and 10 interceptions.
DB Bud Holloway, Oak Grove (La.)
Height: 5-8 | Weight: 130
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2021)
The Monroe News Star's defensive Player of the Year and the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A defensive Player of the Year had seven interceptions and 44 tackles on the season.
DB Jahqir Haley, St. Joseph (Hammonton, N.J.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 190
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2022)
Named the South Jersey Defensive Player of the Year, Haley was one of the national leaders in interceptions with 10 to go along with 22 tackles and four forced fumbles. He was also third team all-state by NJ.com.
DB Cooper DeJean, Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove (Ida Grove, Iowa)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
Status: Signed with Iowa | Class: Senior (2021)
DeJean was the Class 1A state Player of the Year while doing just about everything for the Falcons. He completed 199-of-331 passes for 3,447 yards and 35 touchdowns. He also rushed 131 times for 1,235 yards and 24 scores. He intercepted three passes, had 53.5 tackles and returned one kickoff and two punts for touchdowns. For his career, he had 7,020 yards passing with 77 touchdowns, 2,527 yards rushing with 48 touchdowns and 67 catches for 1,021 yards and 12 scores.
P Jace Feely, Gilbert Christian (Gilbert, Ariz.)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 170
Status: Committed to Oregon | Class: Senior (2021)
The son of former NFL kicker Jay Feely, Jace earned all-state honors from the Arizona Republic after averaging 42.8 yards per punt with 12 placed inside the 20 yard line.
AP Sage Ryan, Lafayette Christian Academy (Lafayette, La.)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 193
Status: Signed with LSU | Class: Senior (2021)
Ryan has helped Lafayette Christian win four state championships and has been named all-state four times. He was the Class 2A offensive Player of the Year while rushing for 576 yards on 57 carries with 13 touchdowns. He also caught 18 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned three kicks for touchdowns. He is ranked as the No. 2 safety in the nation by 247Sports.
Second Team Offense
QB Ty Keyes, Taylorsville (Miss.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200
Status: Signed with Southern Miss | Class: Senior (2021)
If not for COVID, Keyes would have likely become the state's all-time career passing leader with 14,565 yards, just 570 yards behind Myles Brennan. Keyes ends up tied for No. 9 on the national yardage list. He also had 155 career touchdowns. He finished his career with four state titles and he was named the Class 2A state MVP three seasons. As a senior, he threw for 2,546 yards and 30 touchdowns.
RB Trevion Sneed, Mineola (Texas)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220
Status: Signed with SMU | Class: Senior (2021)
Sneed was the third-leading rusher in the nation in 2020, gaining 3,082 yards on 337 carries with 36 touchdowns. He was the District 5-3A Division 1 MVP. He also had 144 tackles on defense with 11 tackles for loss.
RB Gavin Garcia, Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.)
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 190
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2022)
The Class 2A state Player of the Year after leading Southern Columbia Area to an undefeated season and a state championship, Garcia rushed for 1,921 yards on 113 carries for 30 touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 168 yards and two scores and added three touchdowns on returns. For his career, Garcia has 317 carries for 4,800 yards and 81 touchdowns. He is averaging 15.1 yards per carry for his career, including 17 per carry as a junior.
WR Xavier Franks, Magee (Miss.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180
Status: Signed with Southern Miss | Class: Senior (2021)
And all-state selection from the Class 3A state champions, Frank caught 72 passes for 1,143 yards and 14 touchdowns. For his career he caught 168 passes for 2,680 yards and 32 scores.
WR Mehki Flowers, Steelton-Highspire (Steelton, Pa.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 195
Status: Committed to Penn State | Class: Junior (2022)
The Class 1A state Player of the Year by Pennsylvania Football News, Flowers led his team to the state championship. He caught 62 passes for 1,089 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also had two punt returns and three kickoff returns for touchdowns and had five interceptions on defense.
TE Brayden Evertsen, West Marshall (State Center, Iowa)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 195
Status: Committed to University of Mary | Class: Senior (2021)
The Class 2A state Player of the Year excelled as a receiver and on defense. He caught passes for 447 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had 71 tackles as a defensive end with 30.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks.
OL Jacob Eichorn, Beaver (Utah)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 255
Status: Committed to Weber State | Class: Senior (2021)
Headed to Weber State, Eichorn was the Class 1A state Player of the Year by the Deseret News while helping Beaver win the state championship.
OL Tyler Jeffries, Alcoa (Tenn.)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 305
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Sophomore (2023)
Jeffries is one of the top linemen in the Class of 2023 and earned a spot on the Knoxville News All-Area team after helping lead the team to a sixth straight state championship.
OL Lance Williams, Alcoa (Tenn.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 300
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Sophomore (2023)
A state heavyweight wrestling champion as a freshman, Williams earned region sophomore player of the year honors in football this year while also making the Knoxville News all-area team. He has already fielded SEC offers.
OL Adam Winn, Ballinger (Texas)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 250
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2021)
Winn excelled on the offensive and defensive lines for Ballinger and was named the 2-3A Division 2 district MVP. On defense, he had 88 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and three sacks.
OL Hunter Ousley, Paintsville (Ky.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 385
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2021)
Ousley was the largest player on an offensive line unit that averaged 288 points and had three linemen over 300 pounds. Ousley helped Paintsville win the Class 1A state championship and he earned a spot on the Courier Journal's all-state second team.
AP Bryce Drummond, Pawhuska (Okla.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 210
Status: Signed with North Texas | Class: Senior (2021)
Drummond earned all-state honors by the Oklahoman after completing 256-of-353 passes for 4,015 yards and 59 touchdowns. He also rushed for 713 yards and 18 touchdowns. For his career, Drummond threw for 9,059 yards and 111 touchdowns and rushed for 1,946 yards and 48 scores.
K Kelen Meyer, Ord (Neb.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170
Status: Committed to Nebraska | Class: Senior (2021)
Meyer was among the national leaders in field goals and interceptions while helping Ord win a Class C2 state championship. He earned all-state honors from the Journal Star after booting eight field goals and 59-of-60 extra points. He also set a state record with a 58-yard field goal. He had eight interceptions on defense as well.
Second Team Defense
DL Rylan Wooldridge, Lamar (Mo.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 330
Status: Committed to Pittsburg State | Class: Senior (2021)
Woolridge helped lead Lamar to a Class 2 state championship and was named the defensive state Player of the Year for that division with 71 tackles, three sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
DL Cayden Winter, Andale (Kan.)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 220
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2021)
A member of the Topeka Capital Journal and Wichita Eagle all-state teams, Winter excelled on both sides of the line with 98 pancake blocks on offense and 60 tackles and four sacks as a defensive tackle.
DL Doug Brooks, Shiner (Texas)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 265
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2022)
Brooks was the 13-2A Division I MVP for the state champion Comanches. He was also the all-area defensive MVP by the Victoria Advocate after racking up 108 tackles, 8 sacks and 22 tackles for loss. Cousin to Jonathon Brooks.
DL Hugh Laughlin, Athens Academy (Athens, Ga.)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 290
Status: Signed with Virginia | Class: Senior (2021)
Excelled on offense and defense for Athens, earning all-state honors on the defensive line two years running.
LB Caden Harrell, Cashion (Okla.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 225
Status: Committed to Oklahoma Baptist | Class: Senior (2021)
Harrell earned all-state honors by the Oklahoman after helping Cashion win the Class A state championship. He had 112 tackles on defense with eight sacks and two interceptions while rushing for 1,745 yards and 30 touchdowns on 199 carries on offense.
LB Luke Marsh, Western Boone (Thorntown, Ind.)
Height: 5-8 | Weight: 180
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2021)
Named to the all-state team by the Indy Star, Marsh was the leading tackler for the Class 2A state champions. He had 184 tackles and 26.5 tackles for loss to go with 4.5 sacks. He had 381 tackles in his career.
LB Cruz Temple, Abbeville (La.)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 195
Status: Signed with East Carolina | Class: Senior (2021)
The No. 25 player in the state of South Carolina, Temple is headed to East Carolina next year after leading Abbeville to a Class 2A state championship. He had 75 tackles and two defensive touchdowns as a senior.
DB Ja'Quez Cross, Fordyce (Ark.)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 170
Status: Signed with Purdue | Class: Senior (2021)
Cross helped Fordyce win the Class 1A state championship while rushing for 1,100 yards and 23 touchdowns, catching 35 passes for 751 yards and nine touchdowns and making 48 tackles with eight interceptions.
DB Myles Blasingame, Coldwater (Ohio)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 190
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2021)
The Ohio Division VI offensive MVP, Blasingame also excelled on defense. He ran for 1,091 yards and 19 touchdowns, passed for 1,614 yards and 21 touchdowns and had 44 tackles and three interceptions on defense while leading Coldwater to a Division VI state championship.
DB Ahmari Harvey, Florida State University High School (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 171
Status: Signed with Auburn | Class: Senior (2021)
A three-time member of the Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend Team, Harvey had 25 tackles and three interceptions. He is headed to play at Auburn.
DB Nathan McDaniel, Post (Texas)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 162
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2021)
McDaniel earned District 2-2A Division I defensive MVP honors after making 63 tackles with eight interceptions for the Class 2A Division I runners-up.
P Marshall Nichols, Holy Innocents Episcopal (Atlanta)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 198
Status: Committed to Mississippi State | Class: Senior (2021)
Nichols ranks as one of the nation's top punters, according to the Chris Sailers Kicking School rankings. He also made the GHSFD Class 1A Private all-state team.
AP Dalton Witherspoon, Windsor (Mo.)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 160
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2022)
In leading Windsor to the Class 1 state championship and a 15-0 record, Witherspoon earned state offensive MVP honors by the Missouri Football Coaches Association. He rushed for 2,533 yards on 243 yards with 34 touchdowns and also caught 19 passes for 439 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had 129 tackles on defense.