The MaxPreps Top 25 is out for the rapidly approaching 2023 high school football season, and you'll never guess who's at the top.
Perennial power Mater Dei out of Santa Ana, Calif., tops the poll, while defending national champion St. John Bosco out of nearby Bellflower, Calif., checks in at No. 3. After Mater Dei won the regular season meeting 17-7 last October, Bosco struck back with a 24-22 victory in the CIF Division I Southern Section championship game.
Mater Dei lost legendary coach Bruce Rollinson to retirement but returns 10 starters on defense. The Monarchs have 11 players listed in the 247Composite for the 2024 or '25 classes.
One thing is certain: if Mater Dei is to retain its No. 1 ranking through the fall, it'll have to earn it. The Monarchs face St. John Bosco in district play along with No. 6 St. Frances and No. 15 Centennial in non-district play. Mater Dei also visits Utah and hosts teams from Hawai'i and Georgia.
The highest-ranked public school team in the country is Miami Central, checking in at No. 5, followed by Duncanville (Texas) at No. 8 and Buford (Ga.) at No. 10.
Top 25 by state:
6: Florida
4: Georgia
3: California, Texas
2: Maryland
1: Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee
Metro areas with multiple representatives:
5: Miami
3: Los Angeles
2: Atlanta, Dallas
By my count, the closest Top 25 members are Duncanville and DeSoto, who sit just 8.6 miles apart just south of Dallas. The Panthers and Eagles share UIL District 11-6A (Duncanville won 41-17 in October), but both teams will look to defend state championships in 2023 -- Duncanville won the 6A Division I championship, while DeSoto claimed 6A Division II.
Six of the top seven players in the 247Composite play for top 25 teams: No. 1 Dylan Raiola (QB, Buford), No. 3 Jeremiah Smith (WR, Chaminade-Madonna), No. 4 Ellis Robinson IV (DB, IMG Academy), No. 5 David Stone (DL, IMG Academy), No. 6 Collin Simmons (DL, Duncanville) and No. 7 KJ Bolden (S, Buford).
Without further ado, the top 25:
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
3. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
4. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
5. Miami Central (Fla.)
6. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
7. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)
8. Duncanville (Texas)
9. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
10. Buford (Ga.)
11. St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia)
12. Carrollton (Ga.)
13. North Shore (Houston)
14. Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Ga.)
15. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
16. St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
17. DeSoto (Texas)
18. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)
19. Lipscomb Academy (Nashville)
20. Colquitt County (Ga.)
21. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
22. Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)
23. Miami Columbus (Fla.)
24. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
25. Belleville (Mich.)