How does USA TODAY create their high school football rankings?
USA TODAY’s national high school sports reporter Logan Newman walks us through the factors considered in the selection process.
With the start of the high school football season fast approaching, USA TODAY Sports turns its attention to the Southeast for the preseason Super 15 regional rankings.
Arguably the deepest region in the country, the Southeast has plenty of familiar faces. IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL), St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Carol City (Miami, FL), and American Heritage (Plantation, FL) headline the Florida squads. Just across the state line, Buford (GA), Grayson (Loganville, GA), Carrollton (GA), and Creekside (Fairburn, GA) are all inside the top 10. Just west, Thompson (Alabaster, AL) could shake things up as well.
A total of 11 Southeast teams are set to be in the preseason Super 25 national rankings, with three of them earning a spot in the top 10 in the country.
It will be one of the most competitive regions in the United States. With our eyes to the start of the year, here are the opening 15 teams for the Southeast region, which consists of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
1. IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
2025 Record: 9-0
Key Players: EDGE Zyron Forstall, Sr.; WR Eric McFarland III, Sr.; QB Jayden Wade, Jr.
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
2025 Record: 14-1
Key Players: OT Mark Matthews, Sr.; WR Julius Jones, Sr.; EDGE Wyatt Smith, Sr.
3. Thompson (Alabaster, AL)
2025 Record: 11-3
Key Players: EDGE Cameron Pritchett, Sr.; QB Trent Seaborn, Sr.; S Junior Tu’upo, Sr.
4. Buford (GA)
2025 Record: 15-0
Key Players: EDGE Luke Nabors, Jr.; WR Seven Rashad, Jr.; LB Braden Watson, Sr.
5. Grayson (Loganville, GA)
2025 Record: 12-1
Key Players: IOL Jordan Agbanoma, Sr.; EDGE Elijah Tillman, Jr.; S Jalen Welch, Sr.
6. Baylor (Chattanooga, TN)
2025 Record: 12-0
Key Players: RB David Gabriel Georges, Sr.; QB Keegan Croucher, Sr.; S Antwaun Adams, Jr.
7. Carrollton (GA)
2025 Record: 14-0
Key Players: CB Tyler Boyd, Jr.; QB CJ Cypher, Soph.; OT Kweli Fielder, Jr.
8. Brentwood Academy (TN)
2025 Record: 11-1
Key Players: WR Kesean Bowman, Sr.; LB Kenneth Simon II, Sr., S Braylen Bedford, Jr.
9. Creekside (Fairburn, GA)
2025 Record: 15-0
Key Players: RB Gary Walker, Sr.; CB Darrius White, Sr.; IOL Jaylon Moore, Sr.
10. Carol City (Miami Gardens, FL)
2025 Record: 6-5
Key Players: WR Nick Lennear, Sr.; WR Za’kari Johnson, Sr.; CB Jailen Hill, Sr.
11. American Heritage (Plantation, FL)
2025 Record: 9-5
Key Players: QB Neimann Lawrence, Jr.; CB Amare Nugent, Sr.; S Khristian Anderson, Jr.
12. Gainesville (GA)
2025 Record: 12-3
Key Players: CB Jai’lil Gorley, Jr.; QB Kharim Hughley, Sr.; RB Nigel Newkirk, Sr.
13. Ruston (LA)
2025 Record: 11-3
Key Players: TE Ahmad Hudson, Sr.; RB Dalen Powell, Jr.; S Jayden Anding, Sr.
14. Dutch Fork (Irmo, SC)
2025 Record: 12-1
Key Players: DL Jaden Wuerth, Sr.; EDGE Peyton Bishop, Sr.; IOL Brody Lorenzo, Jr.
15. Edna Karr (New Orleans, LA)
2025 Record: 14-0
Key Players: EDGE Juelz Batiste, Sr.; OT Zyion Wesley, Sr.; RB Jermond Macklin, Sr.
Watch List
- Oakland (Murfreesboro, TN)
- Irmo (Columbia, SC)
- Oxford (MS)
- Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, AL)
- Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, FL)
USA TODAY Sports’ Super 25 national rankings
Wanting to see how the Southeast region’s top teams stack up against the rest of the country? Stay tuned for USA TODAY Sports’ preseason Super 25 national rankings, which will be unveiled on Tuesday, July 21.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.
