Coming off an impressive albeit abbreviated spring season with a freshman under center,
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) gets the nod as No. 1 in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 high school football rankings. The Monarchs have won 24 of their last 25 games dating back to 2018 and have finished No. 1 or No. 2 in each of the past three seasons excluding the pandemic-delayed 2020 campaign.
Oklahoma-bound running back Raleek Brown and USC cornerback pledge Domani Jackson provide senior starpower, but Mater Dei's success will likely hinge on the development of sophomore quarterback Elijah Brown. As a freshman, he completed nearly 70 percent of his attempts for 973 yards and 15 touchdowns against one interception in five games.
Under legendary head coach Bruce Rollinson, Mater Dei was crowned MaxPreps National Champion in 2017 and also recognized as the final No. 1 by other media outlets in 1994 and 1996.
While Mater Dei's coaching situation is a model of stability, last year's MaxPreps National Champion
still doesn't have a head coach. Bobby Acosta announced his departure in April and
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) hasn't announced a replacement. Regardless of who fills those shoes, a roster loaded with Top 100 talent will make the Ascenders tough to beat once again.
Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) is scheduled to be the first Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 team to take the field this season, putting its 40-game win streak on the line Aug. 13 against Farmington.
Hawaii will be the first state to get underway Aug. 6, followed the next week by Alaska and Utah.
Read on for a complete look at the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25. Click on school links for complete team previews.
Head coach: Bruce Rollinson
2020-21 record: 5-0 | Final ranking: NR (Spring season)
Head coach: Pepper Johnson
2020-21 record: 8-0 | Final ranking: 1
Head coach: Jason Negro
2020-21 record: 5-1 | Final ranking: NR (Spring season)
Head coach: Todd Dodge
2020-21 record: 14-0 | Final ranking: 3
Head coach: Mark Freeman
2020-21 record: 14-0 | Final ranking: 6
Head coach: Roger Harriott
2020-21 record: 8-1 | Final ranking: 14
Head coach: Riley Dodge
2020-21 record: 12-2 | Final ranking: 15
Head coach: Adam Carter
2020-21 record: 14-0 | Final ranking: 2
Head coach: Patrick Surtain
2020-21 record: 11-2 | Final ranking: 21
Co-head coaches: Biff Poggi and Messay Hailemariam
2020-21 record: Season canceled
Head coach: Lenny Gregory
2020-21 record: 12-3 | Final ranking: NR
2020-21 record: 5-1 | Final ranking: NR
Head coach: Brent Browner
2020-21 record: 2-0 | Final ranking: NR (Spring season)
Head coach: Jon Kay
2020-21 record: 14-1 | Final ranking: 7
Head coach: Reginald Samples
2020-21 record: 10-2 | Final ranking: 16
Head coach: Roland Smith
2020-21 record: 8-1 | Final ranking: 18
Head coach: Justin Alumbaugh
2020-21 record: 6-0 | Final ranking: NR (Spring season)
Head coach: Eric Moore
2020-21 record: 14-0 | Final ranking: 12
Head coach: Rick Garretson
2020-21 record: 10-0 | Final ranking: 5
Head coach: Gary Joseph
2020-21 record: 13-1 | Final ranking: 17
Head coach: Troy Thomas
2020-21 record: 4-2 | Final ranking: NR (Spring season)
Head coach: Tim Roken
2020-21 record: 6-0 | Final ranking: 4
Head coach: Steve Specht
2020-21 record: 10-2 | Final ranking: 20
Head coach: Eric Kjar
2020-21 record: 14-0 | Final ranking: 9
Head coach: Dave Henigan
2020-21 record: 15-0
| Final ranking: 8
