JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Varsity 4 and News4JAX has been counting down the days to the high school football regular season with a player each day. We started the countdown at 25 days out and are slowly making our way to kickoff on Aug. 22 by spotlighting a different player each day.
Counting down the top 25 players of the high school football season
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Rank, Position, Player, Height, Weight, School, Class
1. LB/S Simeon Caldwell, 6-3, 190, Bolles, Sr.
A four-year starter for the Bulldogs, the safety/linebacker hybrid has 245 tackles in his career, 23 tackles for loss and a scoop and score. Caldwell is quick and can lay the hammer. The son of former NFL player and current Buccaneers assistant Mike Caldwell, Simeon is the area’s highest-rated recruit by ESPN and 247 Sports, and a top 15 recruit in the state by the four major recruiting services. He’s committed to Ohio State.
2. WR Somourian Wingo, 6-3, 185, St. Augustine, Sr.
A Varsity 4 All-News4JAX selection last year, Wingo had 1,040 receiving yards and 12 TDs as a junior. The ultra-athletic pass catcher has 18 TD grabs over his last two seasons and shines on the basketball court, too (13.8 ppg career average). Wingo is a consensus four-star player and Miami commit.
3. WR Naeem Burroughs, 6-0, 180, Bolles, Sr.
A soon-to-be four-year starter, Burroughs has been a problem for defenses since his freshman season. Burroughs is a two-time Varsity 4 All-News4JAX selection who has 2,507 receiving yards and 34 receiving touchdowns in his career. He’s a consensus four-star prospect and committed to Clemson.
4. QB Timothy Cole, 5-10, 175, Raines, Sr.
The reigning All-News4JAX offensive player of the year racked up 52 total touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards in leading the Vikings to the Class 3A state championship game last season. He’ll have a major bullseye on his jersey this year, but Cole wasn’t fazed by that as a junior.
5. WR Brysen Wright, 6-3, 200, Mandarin, So.
There may be no more well known underclassmen in the country than Wright. Nicknamed “BFye,” Wright has been putting up spectacular plays since middle school. As a freshman last year, Wright had 31 catches and 646 yards (eight TDs). He’s had an unbelievable offseason, headlined by making highlight reel grabs during a national title run with the Jaguars flag football team.
6. Edge Jarius Rodgers, 6-5, 225, Fleming Island, Sr.
He’s big and fast, and that’s a bad combination for opposing offensive linemen. Rodgers is an edge-bending edge who had 51 tackles, 7.5 for loss and nine sacks as a junior to lead the Golden Eagles to the regional finals. The four-star player is committed to Syracuse.
7. DL Asher Ghioto, 6-5, 245, Bolles, So.
One of the dynamic Class of 2028 players in the area, Ghioto had a big time freshman season. He had 66 tackles and 21 tackles for loss in his first year with Bolles. Ghioto added seven sacks and recovered a fumble. He’s already one of the most sought-after prospects in the country, named a five-star player just this week in the 247 Sports Composite and another big season will only bolster Ghioto’s credentials.
8. QB Jack McKissock, 6-2, 200, Oakleaf, Sr.
Talk about making an impact. McKissock arrived at Oakleaf last year and was an instant impact. He passed for 3,163 yards and 31 touchdowns. McKissock was like a marksman, too. He was picked off just four times and completed 66% of his passes for a Knights team that reached the regional finals.
9. RB Arthur Lewis IV, 5-10, 190, Bartram Trail, Sr.
Lewis has one speed — blazing fast. The UCF commit chews up massive yardage at every touch. Last season, the Varsity 4 All-News4JAX selection racked up 1,666 yards on the ground and led the area in touchdowns (21) and yards per carry (11.2).
10. LB Tony Williams, 6-1, 215, Raines, Sr.
In his first season with the Vikings following his move from Ed White, Williams posted a team-best 104 tackles, 16 for loss and six sacks. He also forced three fumbles. In his career, Williams, nicknamed “Ducie,” has 198 tackles, 24 for loss, nine sacks and five interceptions. A three-star prospect, Williams is committed to Illinois.
11. Edge Brian Harris, 6-4, 290, Creekside, Sr.
He’s a player who opposing offensive linemen don’t like to see across from them. Harris is a massive player on the line. If he’s healthy and on his game, he’s a problem to account for. Harris had 29 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles last season at Mandarin before his summer transfer to Creekside.
12. WR Diondre “Stix” Smith, 5-11, 180, Fletcher, Sr.
He’s fast. Very fast. And Smith has an excellent radar for the football. Last season, Smith had 473 yards receiving on 39 catches and six touchdowns for the 5-5 Senators. He’s a consensus three-star prospect and has already committed to Iowa.
13. QB Eddie Jordan, 6-0, 195, Beachside, Sr.
It’s never easy to come in on the ground floor of a program and thrive, but that’s exactly what Jordan has done. Now in his third season as starter, Jordan is the all-time leading passer in Barracudas history. He’s thrown for 5,403 yards and 62 touchdowns in his career and rushed for seven more scores. He’s committed to Lafayette.
14. DB Elijah Keys, 6-2, 175, Fletcher, Sr.
He’s a lockdown corner with the Keys at the Beach and this player is it. Keys had six passes defensed during his junior season and enters this year as a three-star player who is committed to UCF.
15. OL JJ Sparks, 6-4, 300, Bolles, Sr.
The big left guard graded out at 95% as a junior and was credited with 64 knockdowns during the Bulldogs’ 10-2 season to earn Varsity 4 All-News4JAX first-team honors. Sparks is a three-star prospect who has committed to Miami.
16. DL Ge’Terius Brown, 6-1, 285, Raines, Sr.
Agent 0 had a big time junior season, racking up 60 tackles, including 13.5 for loss, as the Vikings went 13-1 and reached the state championship game last year. It’s difficult to miss Brown on the line. He’s a mover and pocket crusher, and currently committed to Charleston Southern.
17. DB Brody Jennings, 6-2, 175, Mandarin, Sr.
The lean and athletic cornerback comes from one of the most athletic families around, and ‘Spiderman’ is keeping that tradition rolling along. His father, Bradley Jennings Sr., shined at Florida State. His brothers, Bradley Jr. and Branden, both went to play in college at major schools. His sister, Brittney, is an excellent hurdler at the University of Miami, a program where Brody is currently committed to. Jennings is a sticky coverage man who had 29 tackles and an interception in his junior season. He added three passes defended and recovered a couple fumbles. Jennings is a four-star prospect by 247 Sports Composite and committed to Miami.
18. LB Jacob Curry, Nease, Sr.
A Northwestern commit, Curry was a central force in a wicked tough Panthers defense last season. He had 101 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and a couple forced fumbles. Curry is a consensus three-star prospect.
19. WR Julio Santiago, 5-9, 160, St. Augustine, Sr.
He played at Tocoi Creek last year and is now a Yellow Jacket, a place where he should thrive at. Santiago had 525 yards and six TDs in just six games. He’s up to 13 TD catches in his career. And don’t be surprised to see St. Augustine line him up all over the field to take advantage of his playmaking abilities.
20. WR Trace Burney, 5-9, 165, Oakleaf, Sr.
At Fleming Island last season, Burney was an elite playmaker. He had 1,158 yards on 69 catches and an area-best 17 TDs. In his career, Burney has 25 TD grabs and is approaching 2,000 yards receiving.
21. TE Corbyn Fordham, 6-4, 210, Bolles, Sr.
The playmaker comes from a football family. His father, Todd, was an offensive lineman for the Jaguars. One of his brothers, Cooper, is an offensive lineman at Louisiana. Caden plays linebacker at NC State. The Ohio State commit had a big junior season (23 catches, 234 yards, 4 TDs) and should be an even bigger part of the Bulldogs offense this year.
22. ATH Tony Kennedy, 6-0, 190, First Coast, Sr.
Kennedy has been a do-it-all player throughout his career. A three-sport athlete, Kennedy will continue to have a hand in everything at his new program, First Coast. As Parker’s QB last year, Kennedy rushed for 1,666 yards and 18 TDs and passed for 1,444 yards, 13 TDs to earn third team Varsity 4/All-News4JAX honors.
23. S Sebastian Cruz, 5-11, 180, Fleming Island, Sr.
Cruz had a phenomenal junior season for the Golden Eagles, racking up a team-best 114 tackles for the 8-4 Golden Eagles. He also contributed on offense and special teams (655 all-purpose yards, 3 TDs). But defense is Cruz’s forte. He picked off five passes, had 12 passes defended and forced a fumble. Cruz is a three-star prospect who is committed to Rutgers.
24. DL Reece Beck, 6-6, 255, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Beck played on a stout defensive front last season for the Sharks, who went 9-3 and went two rounds deep into the postseason. He finished with 22 tackles, 12 hurries, four tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Beck’s eight sacks ranked second on the team to All-News4JAX first-team selection Ryker Kemp. The three-star prospect has committed to Rutgers.
25. Edge Desmond Malpress, 6-4, 212, Atlantic Coast, Jr.
Malpress shapes up to be one of the highest-recruited players in program history. He’s quick off the edge and, along with fellow junior Israel Hayward, gives the Stingrays pass rush some juice. Uncommitted as of now, Malpress has an offer list that includes programs like Florida, Miami, South Carolina and more.