- From August 18th to 27th, you can watch seven games on different ESPN channels.
- These games will showcase 54 players who are ranked in both the ESPN 300 and ESPN Junior 300 lists.
The 14th edition of the GEICO ESPN High School Football Kickoff is making its return, taking place from Friday, August 18th to Sunday, August 27th. This series of seven games will showcase 54 players who are featured in the ESPN 300 and ESPN Junior 300 rankings. These matches will be broadcasted on ESPN, ESPN2, and the ESPN App. Out of the athletes within the ESPN 300 list, 32 of them have already committed to leading Division I college football programs. These programs include well-known names such as Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and USC.
Here’s the schedule for the 2023 ESPN GEICO High School Football Kickoff:
- (Note: All times are in Eastern Time)
- (Note: Player rankings are based on the ESPN 300 for seniors in the Class of 2024 and the ESPN Junior 300 for the Class of 2025)
On Friday, August 18th,
- match between Langston Hughes (from Georgia) and Carrollton (also from Georgia) at 6 p.m.
- This game will be shown on ESPN2 and will take place at Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Georgia.
Langston Hughes happens to be the reigning champion of the Georgia 6A state, having an undefeated record in 2022. They’re expected to perform strongly again this season with Air Noland returning as their quarterback. Noland, who’s committed to Ohio State, is ranked as the 28th best senior player in the nation. He’s supported on the offensive line by Dontrell Glover, a junior ranked 162nd, who has committed to Alabama.
Carrollton, on the other hand, came close to winning a state title last season, only falling short against Mill Creek in the Georgia 7A finals. Their tight end, Caleb Odem, who is ranked 112th among seniors and has committed to Alabama, will be receiving passes again from quarterback Julian Lewis. Lewis, a sophomore, is highly regarded and is considered one of the top recruits in the class of 2026, possibly even the best overall high school prospect in the entire country
On Friday, August 25th,
- game between Lipscomb Academy from Tennessee and Saraland from Alabama, starting at 8 p.m.
- It will be broadcasted on ESPN and will take place at Saraland High School in Saraland, Alabama.
Lipscomb Academy secured the Tennessee Class II-AAA state championship in the previous season, boasting a perfect 13-0 record. They achieved remarkable victories against teams from outside their state, such as Milton (Georgia) and Thompson (Alabama). The Mustangs have a formidable secondary defense, led by senior Kaleb Beasley at cornerback (committed to Tennessee) and junior C.J. Jimcoily at safety, ranked 251st. Additionally, junior Chauncey Gooden, ranked 221st, contributes as an offensive guard.
Saraland, the reigning Alabama 6A state champions, are determined to maintain their position at the top. They feature three players ranked in the ESPN Junior 300: Ryan Williams, ranked 3rd, is a standout wide receiver committed to Alabama and a member of the class of 2025; junior QB K.J. Lacey, ranked 48th, is headed to Texas; and No. 220 Antonio Coleman, a defensive tackle, provides crucial support on the defensive front.
On Saturday, August 26th,
- matchup between St. Frances from Maryland and Chaminade-Madonna from Florida.
- The match is scheduled for 12:00 PM and will be broadcasted on ESPN. The location is Brian Piccolo Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
St. Frances, a team that only suffered one loss (against IMG) in the previous season, has seven players ranked by ESPN returning to their roster. Among the seniors are two Oregon commits: No. 23 Michael Van Buren as the quarterback and No. 129 Ify Obidegwu as a cornerback. Additionally, No. 261 DeJuan Williams has chosen Maryland for his college football journey. Their junior players include No. 30 Blake Woodby at cornerback, No. 167 Trent Wilson on the defensive line, No. 196 Carlton Smith as an outside linebacker, and No. 223 Kevyn Humes at cornerback.
Chaminade-Madonna had an almost flawless previous season, with just one loss to Bishop Gorman, NV in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series. They clinched their fifth state title in seven seasons. The Lions field six ESPN-ranked players, four of whom are seniors: No. 9 Jeremiah Smith, a wide receiver committed to Ohio State; No. 11 Joshisa Trader, a wide receiver committed to Miami; No. 76 Zaquan Patterson at safety; and No. 299 Davion Gause, a running back committed to North Carolina. Their junior players include No. 129 Chris Ewald, a cornerback committed to Michigan, and No. 219 Kamare Williams, a wide receiver.
St. John Bosco (from California) will face off against St. Thomas Aquinas (from Florida) in a game set for 4 p.m. and airing on ESPN2.
- This exciting match will take place at Brian Piccolo Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Last season, St. John Bosco earned the top spot in the national rankings. The Braves are bringing back four ESPN 300 ranked seniors from that impressive team: No. 98 Marcelles Williams, who is committed to USC and plays as a cornerback.
St. Thomas Aquinas, on the other hand, secured their fifth consecutive Florida state title last season and consistently ranks among the nation’s top ten teams. Their offense is bolstered by No. 212 Chance Robinson, a wide receiver committed to Miami, and No. 284 James Madison II, a wide receiver committed to Missouri. Additionally, junior No. 247 Julian Marks plays a vital role as a defensive tackle on the front lines of the defense.
The game between IMG Academy (Florida) and St. Joseph’s Prep (Pennsylvania) is set for 7 p.m., airing on ESPN2 from Carey Stadium in Ocean City, New Jersey.
IMG is bringing back 15 players ranked by ESPN, including the top-ranked senior Ellis Robinson IV as a cornerback committed to Georgia (No. 1), and senior David Stone as a defensive tackle (No. 6). The team suffered only one loss last season, against Miami Central, and enters this season as one of the top five nationally ranked teams.
St. Joseph’s Prep secured their seventh state title within the past ten years in the previous season,.Leading as quarterback is Samaj Jones, a senior ranked 250th and committed to Cincinnati. Additionally, senior Omillio Agard, ranked 264th, has committed to Wisconsin. The Hawks’ junior class stands out with three players ranked in the ESPN Junior 300: No. 124 Anthony Sacca as an outside linebacker, No. 161 Maxwell Roy as a defensive tackle, and No. 297 Isaiah West as a running back.
Mater Dei Catholic, a team from California, will be facing off against Carlsbad, also from California.
- The game is scheduled for 10 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2. This match will take place at Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, California.
Carlsbad boasts the No. 3 overall player in the senior class, Julian Sayin. Julian holds the top spot among DT-QBs and is committed to Alabama. Another standout senior is Luke Ferrelli, who leads the defense and is committed to Stanford.
Mater Dei Catholic, on the other hand, secured their second consecutive CIF-San Diego Section title last season. The Crusaders have notable returning players including RB Anthony McMillian, who has committed to San Diego State, and DB Isaiah Buxton, committed to Arizona. Last year’s contest between these two teams was a closely-fought battle, with Carlsbad winning 36-35 early in the season by just a single point.
On Sunday, August 27th
- game between Our Lady of Good Counsel from Maryland and St. Edward from Ohio.
- The match is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcasted on ESPN. The location is First Federal Lakewood Stadium in Lakewood, Ohio.
Good Counsel, a well-known team from Maryland, will be hitting the road for this exciting top 25 national matchup. They consistently bring a strong roster, and this season is no exception. Key players include senior Aaron Chiles at inside linebacker (No. 57), who has committed to Florida; senior Dilin Jones at running back (No. 123), committed to Wisconsin; and junior Faheem Delane at safety (No. 53).
St. Edward, the two-time consecutive Division 1 state champions in Ohio, prides themselves on their consistency. This starts with their exceptional offensive line, featuring talents like Ben Roebuck (committed to Michigan) and the Armstrong twins, Deontae and Devontae (both committed to Ohio State), who are returning to anchor the line upfront.
2024 ESPN 300 Participants (Seniors)
| Rank | Player | Pos. | High School | College Commitment |
| 1 | Ellis Robinson IV | CB | IMG Academy (FL) | Georgia |
| 3 | Julian Sayin | QB-DT | Carlsbad (CA) | Alabama |
| 6 | David Stone | DT | IMG Academy (FL) | |
| 9 | Jeremiah Smith | WR | Chaminade-Madonna (FL) | Ohio State |
| 11 | Joshisa Trader | WR | Chaminade-Madonna (FL) | Miami |
| 23 | Michael Van Buren | QB-PP | St. Frances Academy (MD) | Oregon |
| 28 | Air Noland | QB-PP | Langston Hughes (GA) | Ohio State |
| 31 | Jerrick Gibson | RB | IMG Academy (FL) | Texas |
| Rank | Player | Pos. | High School | College Commitment |
| 1 | Ellis Robinson IV | CB | IMG Academy (FL) | Georgia |
| 3 | Julian Sayin | QB-DT | Carlsbad (CA) | Alabama |
| 6 | David Stone | DT | IMG Academy (FL) | |
| 9 | Jeremiah Smith | WR | Chaminade-Madonna (FL) | Ohio State |
| 11 | Joshisa Trader | WR | Chaminade-Madonna (FL) | Miami |
| 23 | Michael Van Buren | QB-PP | St. Frances Academy (MD) | Oregon |
| 28 | Air Noland | QB-PP | Langston Hughes (GA) | Ohio State |
| 31 | Jerrick Gibson | RB | IMG Academy (FL) | Texas |
| 54 | Jonathan Echols | ATH | IMG Academy (FL) | Tennessee |
| 57 | Aaron Chiles | ILB | Our Lady of Good Counsel (MD) | Florida |
| 76 | Zaquan Patterson | S | Chaminade-Madonna (FL) | |
| 91 | Jordan Seaton | OG | IMG Academy (FL) | |
| 94 | Jordon Johnson-Rubell | CB | IMG Academy (FL) | Texas |
| 98 | Marcelles Williams | CB | St. John Bosco (CA) | USC |
| 107 | Peyton Woodyard | S | St. John Bosco (CA) | Georgia |
| 112 | Caleb Odom | TE | Carrollton (GA) | Alabama |
| 123 | Dilin Jones | RB | Our Lady of Good Counsel (MD) | Wisconsin |
| 129 | Ify Obidegwu | CB | St. Frances Academy (MD) | Oregon |
| 157 | Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa | OLB | St. John Bosco (CA) | |
| 162 | NiTareon Tuggle | WR | IMG Academy (FL) | Georgia |
| 166 | Kaleb Beasley | CB | Lipscomb (TN) | Tennessee |
| 192 | Jerrae Hawkins | WR | IMG Academy (FL) | Florida |
| 212 | Chance Robinson | WR | St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) | Miami |
| 230 | Joseph Stone | ATH | Langston Hughes (GA) | LSU |
| 236 | Jason Mitchell | S | St. John Bosco (CA) | |
| 250 | Samaj Jones | QB-DT | St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) | Cincinnati |
| 261 | DeJuan Williams | RB | St. Frances Academy (MD) | Maryland |
| 264 | Omillio Agard | CB | St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) | Wisconsin |
| 275 | Jimothy Lewis | OT | IMG Academy (FL) | Mississippi State |
| 284 | James Madison II | WR | St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) | Missouri |
| 299 | Davion Gause | RB | Chaminade-Madonna (FL) | North Carolina |
2025 ESPN Junior 300 Participants
| Rank | Player | Pos. | High School | College Commitment |
| 3 | Ryan Williams | WR | Saraland (AL) | Alabama |
| 30 | Blake Woodby | CB | St. Frances Academy (MD) | |
| 40 | Anthony Rogers | RB | IMG Academy (FL) | Alabama |
| 48 | K.J. Lacey | QB-PP | Saraland (AL) | Texas |
| 53 | Faheem Delane | S | Good Counsel (MD) | |
| 55 | Donovan Johnson | RB | IMG Academy (FL) | |
| 87 | Winston Watkins | WR | IMG Academy (FL) | Colorado |
| 88 | Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng | OLB | IMG Academy (FL) | |
| 124 | Anthony Sacca | OLB | St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) | |
| 129 | Chris Ewald | CB | Chaminade-Madonna (FL) | Michigan |
| 161 | Maxwell Roy | DT | St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) | |
| 162 | Dontrell Glover | OG | Langston Hughes (GA) | Alabama |
| 167 | Trent Wilson | DT | St. Frances Academy (MD) | |
| 196 | Carlton Smith | OLB | St. Frances Academy (MD) | |
| 209 | Kaden Strayhorn | OG | IMG Academy (FL) | |
| 219 | Kemare Williams | WR | Chaminade-Madonna (FL) | |
| 220 | Antonio Coleman | DT | Saraland (AL) | |
| 221 | Chauncey Gooden | OG | Lipscomb (TN) | |
| 223 | Kevyn Humes | CB | St. Frances Academy (MD) | |
| 229 | Gavin Nix | ILB | IMG Academy (FL) | |
| 247 | Julian Marks | DT | St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) | |
| 251 | C.J. Jimcoily | S | Lipscomb (TN) | |
| 297 | Isaiah West | RB | St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) |
