Video: Early Contenders - No. 23 Oxford (MS)
See the announcement for Oxford's inclusion in the Top 25 Early Contenders.A member of the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Early Contenders list, Oxford (Miss.) begins the season as the No. 1 medium schools football team in the country for the 2015 season.
The No. 1 preseason ranking comes on the heels of the national No. 1 medium school ranking for the Oxford baseball team, which also finished the 2015 season ranked No. 1 overall in the nation by the MaxPreps Computer Rankings.
Oxford is one of three Mississippi teams in the Top 10, which also includes Laurel (which defeated Oxford for last year's Class 5A championship) and Noxubee County.
Florida has four teams in the rankings, including Washington (Miami), last year's No. 1-ranked medium school team.
The rankings are based on the MaxPreps Preseason Computer Rankings. Each team is listed with its record from last year.
Medium schools preseason national football rankings
1. Oxford (Miss.), 13-2 last season
The Chargers are ranked No. 23 in the Xcellent 25 after reaching the Class 5A state championship game last season. The team returns a potential all-American in wide receiver
Dekaylin Metcalf (6-foot-3, 195 pounds) while
Jack Abraham returns at quarterback after throwing for 3,304 yards and 35 touchdowns as a junior.
2. Lake Taylor (Norfolk, Va.), 15-0
The Titans captured a Class 4A state title in Virginia last season with an unbeaten record. Lake Taylor will be solid in the defensive backfield where potential all-state candidates
Wayne Davis (5-11, 185) and
Keyvone Bruton (6-0, 200) return.
3. Laurel (Miss.), 13-2
Laurel defeated Oxford 29-26 last season in the Class 5A state championship game. The Golden Tornadoes could once again face Oxford for a state title. Having quarterback
Keon Howard (6-2, 205) back will help. He threw for 3,631 yards and 38 touchdowns last season.
4. Webb City (Mo.), 15-0
The Cardinals have won 28 straight games entering the 2015 season and have won five straight Division 4 state championships in Missouri. Coach John Roderique figures to have one of the state's top offensive linemen in
Trystan Castillo (6-4, 280).
5. Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.), 13-2
Harley Kirsch, Eastside Catholic
Photo by Vince Miller
The Crusaders ended Bellevue's 67-game win streak last year with a 35-13 victory in the Class 3A state championship game. Eastside Catholic also took on Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.) in the Burger King State Champions Bowl Series last December. Quarterback
Harley Kirsch, who threw for 3,100 yards and 38 touchdowns last year, returns along with all-American candidate
Matt Laris (72 catches, 1,394 yards) at receiver.
6. Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 14-0
The Sabercats will miss all-American Christian Kirk, who led Saguaro to a 14-0 record and a Division II state championship. But quarterback
Karé Lyles returns after throwing for 3,420 yards and 40 touchdowns. All-American candidate
Byron Murphy (six interceptions) returns in the defensive backfield.
7. Noxubee County (Macon, Miss.), 14-2
A winner of three Class 4A state titles in the past seven seasons, including a 48-27 win over St. Stanislaus (Bay St. Louis) last year, Noxubee County enters the 2015 season as the favorite to repeat. The Tigers have one of the state's top defensive players in defensive end Jeffery Simmons (6-4, 260).
8. Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.), 14-1
The Vikings have three Class AAA state championships to their credit over the past four seasons, including the last two in a row. With six starters back on both sides of the ball and an undefeated JV team moving up, the Vikings are the favorite again in Pennsylvania. Quarterback
Anthony Russo returns after throwing for 1,550 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior, and he also participated in the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp this summer.
9. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 12-3
A winner of two straight Class 5A state championships in Florida, the Patriots have a slew of Division I prospects, led by senior defensive end
Brian Burns (6-5, 210), senior receiver
Brandon Johnson (6-3, 170) and senior tight end
Nick Eubanks (6-6, 215).
10. Navasota (Texas), 16-0
The Rattlers won the Class 4A-1 state championship last year and the 3A-II title in 2012. Navasota also returns the record-breaking duo of
Shelton Eppler at quarterback and
Tren'davian Dickson at receiver. Eppler set a state record for touchdown passes with 71 while Dickson set a national record for touchdown receptions with 39.
11. Sedro-Woolley (Wash.), 13-1
The Cubs avenged their only loss from last year by defeating Lynden 42-13 in the Washington Class 2A state championship game. Quarterback
Devin Willard (1,174 yards, 18 touchdowns) and running back
Quinn Carpenter (1,146 yards) both return.
12. St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), 12-2
Ranked No. 1 in the state by the MaxPreps Computer Rankings to start the season, St. Mary Prep won the Division 3 state title last year. The top prospect for the Eaglets is senior defensive lineman Cameron Kolwich (6-5, 270).
13. DePaul (Wayne, N.J.), 8-4
The Spartans lost four times last year, but they came against four of the top teams in New Jersey – Bergen Catholic, Paramus Catholic, Don Bosco Prep and St. Joseph Regional. DePaul still won a Non-Public II section championship and it returns 17 starters, including 5-star running back
Kareem Walker (6-1, 210).
14. Red Bank Catholic (N.J.), 11-1
Winner of the Non-Public III section championship in New Jersey, Red Bank Catholic returns seven starters, including quarterback
Eddie Hahn (6-3, 195). The offensive line will be an asset for the Caseys with
Liam Smith (6-5, 270) and
Ryan Oneidas (6-3, 265) returning.
15. Wakulla (Crawfordville, Fla.), 8-3
The War Eagles finished 8-3 last year, falling to West Florida (Pensacola) in the class 5A state playoffs. However, Wakulla returns one of the state's top signal callers in
Feleipe Franks, who threw for 2,249 yards and 28 touchdowns last year. Wakulla reportedly did not have a senior on its roster last year, meaning that every starter returns in 2015.
16. Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, Tenn.), 15-0
The Tennessee Class 3A state champion returns quarterback
Zack Weatherly (1,765 yards, 29 touchdowns), along with the top two receivers from last year in
Joseph Richard (6-2, 185) and
Price Perdue (6-3, 175).
17. Bellevue (Wash.), 13-1
The winner of the Class 3A state championship in Washington from 2008 to 2013, Bellevue fell to Eastside Catholic in last year's state final to end a 67-game win streak. The Wolverines return five Division I athletes, including defensive back Isaiah Gilchrist and quarterback Justus Rogers.
18. Benedictine (Cleveland), 14-1
The Bengals won the Ohio Division III state championship last year with a 21-14 victory over Archbishop Alter (Kettering). Benedictine returns one of the state's best receivers in
Justin Layne (6-3, 180), while
Dontez Rash (5-7, 175) will lead the way at running back.
19. Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.), 13-1
American Heritage (Plantation) handed Bishop Moore its only loss last year. The Hornets have won six straight league championships and return four Division I prospects, including all-American candidate Parker Boudreaux (6-4, 285) on the offensive line.
20. Midview (Grafton, Ohio), 12-1
Dropping down to Division III in Ohio this year, the Middies lost just once at the Division II level last year (12-1). Junior quarterback
Dustin Crum returns after throwing for 3,323 yards and 39 touchdowns and rushing for 1,175 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore. Top receiver
Logan Bolin (87 catches, 1,410 yards) is also back.
21. Gilmer (Texas), 16-0
The Buckeyes won the Class 4A-II state championship in Texas last year while averaging nearly 60 points per game. Look for the defense to be the key for Gilmer this year, as seven starters return on that side of the ball, including Division I prospect
Demarco Boyd (5-11, 220) at linebacker.
22. Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.), 12-1
This ranking may change now that returning starting quarterback Shea Patterson has announced his transfer to IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). Patterson led Calvary Baptist Academy to back-to-back state championships and recently was named the winner of the Elite 11 competition. Still, the Cavaliers have several Division I prospects remaining, including defensive backs
Andreaz Williams (6-2, 165),
Chanse Sylvie (6-0, 185) and
Rodarius Williams (6-0, 170).
23. Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio), 13-2
Central Catholic won the Ohio Division III state championship last year and drops to Division IV this year. The Fighting Irish have a pair of Division I prospects in linebacker Zach Sandwisch (6-3, 220) all-purpose back Tre'Von Wade (5-10, 170).
24. Booker T. Washington (Miami), 15-0
The three-time defending Class 4A state champions have won 41 straight games, but they've also lost 12 Division I players to graduation. Coach Tim Harris Sr. returns several key skill players, however, including
Darrius Scott (5-10, 175) at wide receiver.
25. Redlands East Valley (Calif.), 15-1
The winner of the California Division II Bowl Game and the Southern Section Inland Division champion last year, REV returns 13 starters from last year, including junior quarterback
Armando Herrera (3,866 yards, 42 touchdowns).
