MaxPreps' 2011 high school football kickoff guide

With states like Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina getting underway this weekend, it's safe to say that high school football is officially back.

While every season brings its own magic, the 2011 season — chock full of rare talent, tremendous games and intriguing storylines — has a chance to be truly special.

MaxPreps has compiled a comprehensive guide to the season, for high school pigskin fans and recruiting followers alike.

Welcome back, football.

Team Rankings
Xcellent 25
Freeman Ratings
Top 25 small schools

Player Ratings
2012 Top 100
2013 Top 100 watch list
2014 Top 100 watch list

2010 Review
MaxPreps All-Americans
Junior All-Americans
Sophomore All-Americans
Freshman All-Americans
Final Xcellent 25
Top 10 longest winning streaks

National Player of the Year candidates
Favorite: Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo (Texas)
Gray, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound running back, is the clear favorite to win this year's National Player of the Year award. He has already achieved tremendous personal and team success, gaining 7,000 yards and capturing two state titles. He enters the season with tremendous momentum, rushing for eight touchdowns in the 4A-II state final against La Marque.

Contenders: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.)
The nation's No. 1 player had a strong argument for player of the year honors as a junior, hauling in 78 passes for 1,706 yards and 17 touchdowns. He is the Missouri leader for career receiving yards (4,154) and touchdowns (51), and as a senior, he'll only add to his records. The 6-6 Green-Beckham has the potential to post a 2,000-yard season.

Maty Mauk, QB, Kenton (Ohio)
Already a three-year starter, Mauk is primed for an epic senior campaign. In 35 high school games, Mauk has thrown for 13,519 yards and 151 touchdowns, ranking in the Top 10 in both categories. Kenton has a chance for another deep playoff run. A Division IV state title and record-setting stats could make Mauk a major threat for the award.

Mario Edwards, DE, Ryan (Denton, Texas)
While it's rare for defensive players to win wards like this, Edwards certainly has a legitimate shot. He's the reigning 4A Defensive Player of the Year in Texas after totaling 32 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. If he notches those honors again and leads Ryan to another state final, he'll certainly be in the discussion.

Sleepers
1. Rushel Shell, RB, Hopewell (Aliquippa, Pa.)
2. Jameis Winston, QB, Hueytown (Ala.)
3. Connor Brewer, QB, Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
4. Shaq Roland, ATH, Lexington (S.C.)
5. Stefon Diggs, ATH, Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)

10 Juniors to Watch
1. Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
The absurdly gifted Nkemdiche is already among the best players in the country, regardless of great or position. He'll be a force on the Grayson defensive line as a junior.

2. Derrick Henry, RB, Yulee (Yulee, Fla.)
Last year's National Sophomore of the Year is superbly athletic and could likely play most positions on the field. For Yulee, he's a workhorse running back whose stats could reach new heights this year.

3. Reuben Foster, LB, Troup County (LaGrange, Ga.)
Another top recruit from the Peach State, Foster is a punishing linebacker who already has two years of varsity football under his belt.

4. Jalin Marshall, QB, Middletown (Ohio)
A dynamic threat behind center, Marshall calls the shots for one of Cincinnati's most potent offenses.

5. Shane Morris, QB, De La Salle Collegiate (Warren, Mich.)
Morris is an early Michigan commit who will lead the offensive attack for one of the state's top programs.

6. Tyrone Swoopes, QB, Whitewright (Texas)
The huge dual-threat quarterback accounted for a whopping 2,600 yards of total offense a year ago and is shooting up colleges' big boards.

7. Jonathan Allen, DL, Stone Bridge (Ashburn, Va.)
In his first season at Stone Bridge, Allen burst onto the scene with 20 sacks and emerged as a top recruit.

8. Max Browne, QB, Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.)
Tall, talented, and highly accomplished already in his high school career, Browne has gotten the attention of opposing coaches and college scouts alike.

9. Ricky Seals-Jones, ATH, Sealy (Texas)
Seals-Jones will be one of the most coveted recruits in the Lone Star State in 2013. He has the physical tools to be an All-American as a junior.

10. James Quick, WR, Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)
Quick is an electric wide receiver and will be a key part of a Shamrocks team that could potentially go down as the best in state history.

10 Sophomores to Watch
1. Jabrill Peppers, DB, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
The National Freshman of the Year will once again play a key role for Don Bosco Prep, the nation's No. 1 team.

2. Sony Michel, RB, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
Michel is one of the best running backs in Florida as a sophomore. The sky is the limit for him as he continues to develop.

3. Braden Smith, OL, South (Olathe, Kan.)
It's rare to find a sophomore with Smith's size: 6-6, 275 pounds. He's also an accomplished discus thrower.

4. Elliot Berry, LB, Creekside (Fairburn, Ga.)
One of Eric's younger brothers, Vols fans are hopeful Elliott and twin Evan will make their way to Knoxville.

5. Leonard Fournette, RB, St. Augustine (New Orleans)
Fournette had as big of an impact as any freshman in the country last season and is already a well-known commodity among college coaches.

6. K.C. McDermott, OL, Palm Beach Central (Wellington, Fla.)
Palm Beach Central coach Rod Harris loves McDermott's size and agility. As he continues to add strength, he'll be a punishing tackle.

7. Dashawn Hand, LB, Woodbridge (Va.)
The 6-5, 230-pound Hand has played outside linebacker and nose guard for Woodbridge, a testament to his athleticism and versatility.

8. Zach Whitley, LB, North Shore (Houston)
Whitley is one of several key young players for a talented North Shore defense.

9. Todd Kelly, ATH, Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.)
A key contributor as a ninth grader, Kelly looks very impressive on film and enjoyed a fine offseason.

10. Gerald Willis, DL, Karr (New Orleans)
A strong freshman season earned Willis second-team all-district honors.

10 Freshmen to Watch
Tucker Beirne, QB, Aspen (Colo.)
Kody Wilstead, QB, Pine View (St. George, Utah)
Reno Rosene, OL, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Javon Patterson, OL, Petal (Miss.)
Najee Clayton, WR, Paramus Catholic (N.J.)
Shaun Crawford, RB, St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
C.J. Sanders, RB, Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tenn.)
Harry Lewis, DL, Phoebus (Hampton, Va.)
David Sills, QB, Red Lion Christian Academy (Bear, Del.)
Brad Mayes, QB, Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.)

10 more freshmen to follow
Nicholas Brossette, RB, University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.)
Kyle Phipps, RB, Linden (N.J.)
Danny Hong, QB, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Cassius Peat, ATH, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.)
Bobby O'Leary, ATH, Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
Benning Potoa'e, OL, Lakes (Lakewood, Wash.)
Shane Stafford, QB, Belton (Texas)
Regan Murray, OL/DL, West Monroe (La.)
Dontae Jones, WR, Louisville (Miss.)
Quan Shaw, DE/TE, Roosevelt (Dallas)

Other names to learn: Trent Irwin, Donald Brooks, Jordan Scarlett, Dan Bongiorno, Cinjun Erskine

10 Biggest Out-of-State Games
1. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Two of the top programs in the country bar none, De La Salle and Aquinas will meet in one of the more hyped games in the last few years.

2. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at Prattville (Ala.)
While fans are excited about De La Salle vs. Aquinas, the Raiders' season opener against Prattville is also a highly anticipated affair.

3. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
This will be a matchup of St. Edward's irresistible force, its offensive line, and Don Bosco Prep's unmovable object, its defensive front.

4. Armwood (Seffner, Fla.) at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Armwood needs this game to support its high national ranking. Bishop Gorman needs this game to support its ascent into the realm of national football powerhouses.

5. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) at Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.)
Florida football fans are hungry to see the New Jersey powerhouse in action. This game was supposed to happen in 2010, and both programs are very excited it will come to fruition in 2011.

6. South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) at Hoover (Ala.)
This game may be one year too late, but it will still be an excellent matchup between two well-coached, talent-laden programs.

7. Cocoa (Fla.) at Colerain (Cincinnati)
This is the first stop on Cocoa's death row of out-of-state matchup list. A win against one of Ohio's Region IV powers would be a major statement on the national level.

8. Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) at St. Xavier (Cincinnati)
Trinity, another team with a brutal schedule, will look to score a big victory on the road against the always-tough Bombers.

9. Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Servite is coming off a drubbing at the hands of De La Salle. Opening with a victory against Bishop Gorman would set the tone for a strong 2011. A win for Gorman would add to its national title resume.

10. Yulee (Fla.) at Buford (Ga.)
For years, Georgia fans have wanted to see the Wolves test their mettle against out-of-state opponents. Yulee, a program on the rise, features Derrick Henry, a freak athlete who should test Buford's talented defense.

10 National Rankings Sleepers
Norland (Miami) - A defending state champion with plenty of talent to go around, Norland could emerge as the top team in South Florida.

DeSoto (Texas) - Always talented, this year's squad seems to be deep on both sides of the ball. If it can replace Ryan Polite behind center, it's a definite sleeper in the 5A playoffs.

Stephenson (Stone Mountain, Ga.) - Another squad brimming with talent, if Stephenson puts the pieces together it can be very dangerous.

St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) - Overshadowed recently by Trinity, the Tigers will soar up the rankings if they can beat Trinity and it plays well in its out-of-state games.

Oceanside (Calif.) - Last year's Oceanside squad was extremely young. This year, the Pirates will open with a game against Servite and could make a run at a CIF Bowl.

Plant (Tampa, Fla.) - One of the most well-coached teams in the country, Plant will test its mettle against opponents from near (Armwood) and far (Bergen Catholic).

Solon (Ohio) - While St. Edward has received most of the preseason attention from Region I, Solon returns 15 starters from a 12-1 team and could make a run at a Division I crown.

West Monroe (La.) - Following a disappointing end to the 2010 season, the Rebels have had a lower profile this offseason. That could work to their advantage, as they return a loaded defense and have an impressive schedule.

Oxford (Ala.) - The talent is in place for Oxford to have a breakthrough year. A preseason scrimmage with Prattville should be an indicator of how far Oxford could go in Alabama's 6A playoffs.

Cass Tech (Detroit) - Cass Tech would need to beat state title-favorite Harrison to open the season and continue to dominate the rest of the way to be considered for a No. 1 ranking.

5 Dream Playoff Matchups
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) vs. Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
The newly created 7A bracket could come down to these two South Florida juggernauts, both loaded with talent.

St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) vs. Colerain (Cincinnati)
These two Buckeye State powers could meet in the Division I playoffs with both teams being undefeated. It's a long shot, but if it happens, it'd make for one of the more highly anticipated games in recent years in the Ohio.

Trinity (Euless, Texas) vs. Katy (Texas)
Both nationally ranked and two of the more successful Texas programs of the 2000s, this dream matchup would require Trinity surviving a brutal Region I and Katy navigating Region III.

Aledo (Texas) vs. Ryan (Denton, Texas)
These two schools went into different playoff brackets last year, but watching Jonathan Gray line up in the backfield with Mario Edwards on the defensive line would be worth the price of admission.

Phoebus (Hampton, Va.) vs. Stone Bridge (Ashburn, Va.)
If Phoebus keeps its winning streak going into the playoffs, a showdown with Stone Bridge, the last team to down the Phantoms, would make for a classic.

Games for the college fans
Five games for Big 10 fans to check out
Columbus East (Ind.) vs. Columbus North (Ind.), Aug. 26
Harrison (Farmington Hills, Mich.) vs. Cass Tech (Detroit), Aug. 27
St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) vs. St. Francis de Sales (Columbus, Ohio), Sept. 31
Glenville (Cleveland) vs. St. Ignatius (Cleveland), Oct. 1
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) vs. St. Xavier (Cincinnati), Oct. 15

Five games for Big XII fans to check out
Kenton (Ohio) at Coldwater (Ohio), Aug. 26
Aledo (Texas) at Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), Sept. 9
Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.) at Joplin (Mo.), Sept. 10
Davis (Okla.) at Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City), Sept. 16
Dekaney (Houston) at Klein Forest (Houston), Oct. 28

Five games for Pac 12 fans to check out
Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Aug. 20
Long Beach Poly (Calif.) at Grant (Sacramento, Calif.), Sept. 3
Bellevue (Wash.) vs. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.), Sept. 3
Lakes (Lakewood, Wash.) at Capital (Olympia, Wash.), Sept. 16
Folsom (Calif.) at Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove, Calif.), Oct. 28

Five games for ACC fans to check out
King's Academy (West Palm Beach, Fla.) at North Florida Christian (Tallahassee, Fla.), Sept. 2
Bayside (Virginia Beach, Va.) at Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, Va.), Sept. 16
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) vs. Miramar (Fla.), Oct. 6
DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) vs. Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), Oct. 7
Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.) at Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.), Oct. 14

Five games for SEC fans to check out
Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.) at Butler (Matthews, N.C.), Aug. 19
Wooddale (Memphis, Tenn.) at Memphis East (Tenn.), Sept. 9
Yulee (Fla.) at Buford (Ga.), Sept. 10
North Marion (Citra, Fla.) at Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.), Sept. 30
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.), Oct. 6

Five games for Big East fans to check out
Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.) at Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.), Sept. 3
St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) at Montclair (N.J.), Sept. 9
Colerain (Cincinnati) at Middletown (Ohio), Sept. 23
Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), Sept. 30
Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.) at Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.), Nov. 4