SUPER 25 PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RANKINGS

1. DE LA SALLE, CONCORD, CALIF. (14-0)

The Spartans have won five state Open Division Bowl titles in the last six seasons by running the veer offense to perfection. To make things easier, De La Salle returns 12 starters, led by RBs Andrew Hernandez and Antoine Custer, who ran for 3,700 yards and 54 touchdowns between them. QB Anthony Sweeney, hurt for much of last season, is back, and he has elite TE Devin Asiasi to throw to. Senior Boss Tagaloa anchors a solid defensive line that includes three returnees.

2. IMG ACADEMY, BRADENTON, FLA. (9-1)

There will be Division I colleges that play this fall that don’t have the talent IMG has. The Ascenders have the No. 1 quarterback in the 2016 class in Shea Patterson, the No. 1 tight end in Isaac Nauta, the No. 1 defensive back in Saivion Smith, the Nos. 3 and 11 defensive ends in Shavar Manuel and Malik Barrow and the No. 4 linebacker in Rahshaun Smith. All those players, with the exception of Saivion Smith, transferred to the school since last fall. The Ascenders also added highly respected coach Kevin Wright, who won five state titles in Indiana and will be tasked with the enviable job of molding the separate pieces into a cohesive unit.

3. MIAMI CENTRAL (14-1)

The Rockets are shooting for their fourth consecutive 6A title and have a really nasty defense, led by four seniors: LB Donavan Thompson, a Florida International commit; DE Eric Mitchell, who has committed to Florida; and two Florida State commits, DE Keir Thomas and DB Jamel Cook. On offense, WR Darnell Salomon, a transfer from Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah), and RB Kenio Mike, a Coral Gables transfer, provide punch. Jerrod Thomas returns as the likely starting quarterback, but Anthony “Mo” Hasan, a transfer from Gulliver Prep (Miami), also could see time behind center.

4. BISHOP GORMAN, LAS VEGAS (15-0)

The Gaels won their sixth consecutive state title last season and were the Super 25 champions. They might not be taking any steps backward this year with an American Family Insurance All-USA quarterback in junior Tate Martell (2,537 and 40 TDs passing, 433 yards and eight TDs rushing), an elite junior receiver in Tyjon Lindsey (34 catches for 1,313 and 15 TDs) and a solid offensive line that includes two UNLV commits in Julio Garcia and Jaron Caldwell. Biaggio Ali-Walsh, the speedy grandson of Muhammad Ali, is at running back.

5. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, FORT LAUDERDALE (14-1)

The defending 7A state champion Raiders have two All-USA players in DL Nick Bosa and WR Sam Bruce. There are also two highly recruited juniors in QB Jake Allen, a Florida commit who transferred from Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), where he threw for 751 yards and seven TDs, and WR Trevon Grimes, a Miami (Fla.) commit.

6. DEMATHA CATHOLIC, HYATTSVILLE, MD. (9-3)

The two-time defending Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champions have a roster loaded with Division I talent. It includes OL Terrance Davis, an all-WCAC player who is 6-5 and 307 and being pursued by half of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference teams; DE Shane Simmons (68 tackles, 14 sacks), who has committed to Penn State; two four-star Maryland commits in WR Tino Ellis and DB-WR Darryl Turner; and junior RB Anthony McFarland (1,124 yards rushing and 312 yards receiving and 18 total TDs).

7. CENTENNIAL, CORONA, CALIF. (12-3)

QB Anthony Catalano (2,009 passing yards with 21 TDs) returns, as does his primary receiver, four-star WR Javon McKinley (97 catches for 2,062 yards and 25 touchdowns), and RB J.J. Taylor (1,921 yards and 27 TDs), who has committed to Arizona. The offensive line, led by California commit Daniel Juarez, is solid. The secondary includes three senior returnees in Kentrell Love (Washington commit), Chacho Ulloa and Camryn Bynum (California commit). LB Tyrel Dodson, who has committed to Texas A&M, is another standout.

8. DESOTO, TEXAS (10-2)

The Eagles have a new coach in Todd Peterman, but little else changes. Tristen Wallace, a senior quarterback and Ohio State commit, returns. He’ll be able to throw to West Mesquite transfer Dee Anderson (46 catches, 748 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns), who has committed to LSU. Speedster RB La’Darren Brown, who has committed to Oklahoma State, is another key returnee. The offense also features two Texas State commits: TE Brenden Rushing and OL Josiah Washington.

9. CEDAR HILL, TEXAS (14-2)

The defending 6A-II state champion Longhorns have made it to the state championship game in three consecutive years. Junior QB Avery Davis is getting big-time offers, and he has plenty of weapons to throw or hand off to: junior RB Kaegun Williams (a transfer from Stephenville); senior WR Josh Stewart and junior WRs Camron Buckley and Charleston Rambo, a transfer from Wilson (Dallas).

10. COLERAIN, CINCINNATI (8-4)

The Cardinals have plenty of talent returning, led by dual-threat senior QB Deshaunte Jones, who ran for 1,449 yards and 17 TDs and threw for 1,026 and 12 TDs. Junior Howard Watkins and senior Desmond Noel will provide plenty of protection for Jones up front. FB Monalo Caldwell, who ran for 787 yards and seven touchdowns, is also back. Junior LB Kyle Bolden, son of coach Tom Bolden, led the team with 106 tackles last season and is one of eight returning starters on defense.

11. ALLEN, TEXAS (16-0)

The three-time defending state champion Eagles lost the American Family Insurance All-USA Offensive Player of the Year, QB Kyler Murray, to Texas A&M but have a lot of talent returning, including the No. 2 player in the country in OL Greg Little. The defense, led by senior DE Levi Onwuzurike, is particularly stacked, including Mississippi recruit DB Jaylon Jones and Texas State commits LB Jakob Yandell and DB Anthony Taylor and junior DB Jaylen Ellis.

12. ARCHER, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. (11-4)

The Tigers return 10 defensive starters. S Dylan Singleton, LB Quinn Miller and DT Kobe Smith, a Kentucky commit, are the top returnees. Plus, the Tigers got deeper with the addition of senior LB Donta Evans II, a Mississippi commit who was an all-state player last season with Lake Marion (S.C.). Things are less settled on the offensive side. Will Bearden, who was a backup last season, is the team’s quarterback. He has an elite wide receiver, Kyle Davis, to throw to, but only C Taylor Stein returns as a starter on the offensive line.

13. ST. JOHN BOSCO, BELLFLOWER, CALIF. (12-2)

The Braves defense, led by the senior secondary duo of Traveon Beck and D.J. Morgan, will be likely improved. Beck, a senior California commit, had 97 tackles and three interceptions last season. Morgan (112 tackles, two fumble recoveries) is getting looks from big-time programs as well. Offensively, senior RB Sean McGrew (1,814 yards and 28 TDs), a Washington commit, is a key player, along with WR Jared Harrell and OL Wyatt Davis. With Josh Rosen competing for the starting job at UCLA, senior Quentin Davis gets his chance to show what he can do at quarterback. Sophomore Re-al Mitchell could also see time under center.

14. COCOA, FLA. (11-2)

The Tigers have been in the state semifinals or state finals since they won three consecutive state titles from 2008 to 2010 and have enough talent to be very dangerous. Junior QB Bruce Judson, an Ohio State commit (1,840 yards and 28 TDs passing, 755 yards and nine TDs rushing) leads an offense that averaged 39.9 points and 400 yards a game last season. Look for sophomore DE-RB Howard Stewart, who has an offer from Miami, to make a big impact on both sides of the ball.

15. PARAMUS CATHOLIC, PARAMUS, N.J. (9-2)

Begin with the consensus No. 1 player in the 2016 class in DT Rashan Gary and add DT Corey Bolds and LB Drew Singleton, and you have the makings of a really good defense. A lot however, is riding on sophomore QB Allan Walters. He has plenty of weapons, including senior WR Donald Stewart, senior RB-DB Ahmad Thomas, sophomore RB Jon Clark and sophomore TE-DE Henry Pearson.

16. COLQUITT COUNTY, MOULTRIE, GA. (15-0)

The core of last season’s AAAAAA state championship team is back, with two notable absences: RB Sihiem King, the state’s AAAAAA offensive player of the year, is at Kentucky, and his backup, RB Tykerious Jones, is out for the season after his arrest on murder charges. On offense, the Packers have an experienced quarterback in Chase Parrish (2,835 yards and 26 touchdowns passing) and a solid receiver in Kiel Pollard (66 catches for 830 yards and nine TDs). The top returnees on defense include LB Ja’Quain Blakely, a Tennessee commit, and LB Dee Walker.

17. OCEAN LAKES, VIRGINIA BEACH (15-0)

The defending Class 6A champions have the top defensive back in the country in Levonta Taylor, who has committed to Florida State. Sophomore QB Tyler DeSue is getting big-time offers, and his prime target will be junior WR Tahj Capehart, a transfer from Landstown (Virginia Beach). DL-RB Eric Crosby is a punishing runner, and RB-WR Khalan Laborn, a junior transfer from Cox (Virginia Beach), is receiving major offers. Speedy freshman Tayvion “Tank” Land will be used in several ways.

18. CLAY-CHALKVILLE, PINSON, ALA. (15-0)

The Cougars won the 6A title last season and have plenty of firepower on offense this season. Senior QB Ty Pigrome had 61 touchdowns (36 passing, 24 rushing, one receiving) last season and just picked up an offer by Missouri; junior WR Nico Collins is getting offers from ACC and SEC schools after making 15 touchdown catches last season; senior WR T.J. Simmons is an Alabama commit who caught 43 passes for 965 yards and scored 20 all-purpose touchdowns last season.

19. ST. EDWARD, LAKEWOOD, OHIO (13-2)

The Eagles won the Division I state title but have a new coach with Tom Lombardo replacing Rick Finotti, who became the director of football operations at Michigan. Top returnees include Indiana commit RB Cole Gest (1,854 yards, 25 TDs), CB Tony Butler, TE-DE Mike O’Malley and OL Kyle Tomshack. QB James Keefe, who was a backup last season, will have the benefit of an experienced offensive line to learn behind.

20. CHANDLER, ARIZ. (13-1)

The Wolves, looking to return as Division I state champion, will rely on a highly touted but largely untested quarterback in Oregon State commit Mason Moran. He has plenty of talent alongside him, including WR N’keal Harry and RB Chase Lucas. The defense is led by LB KT Tilini, who had 85 tackles last season. The defense, already experienced, could be even better this year with the additions of two transfers: LB Hamilcar Rashed Jr. from Cesar Chavez (Laveen) and S Teauntae Nash from Salpointe Catholic (Tucson).

21. WEBB CIT Y, MO. (15-0)

The Cardinals are shooting for their sixth consecutive state title. QB Tyson Roderique, the son of coach John Roderique, is a dual-threat with 17 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs. Missouri commit Trystan Castillo is Webb City’s top returning offensive lineman, and RBs Keaton Burroughs and Kaleb Potts rushed for a combined 1,359 yards and 28 TDs. All-state LB Kolesen Crane (81 tackles) anchors the defense.

22. MANVEL, TEXAS (13-1)

The Mavericks reached the state 6A-II quarterfinals and have a ridiculous amount of talent returning. TCU commit D’Eriq King (97 career passing TDs, 40 career rushing TDs) is the starting quarterback, but his backup, Kyle Trask, recently committed to Florida. OL Austin Myers is 6-5 and 290 and a TCU commit; WR Reggie Hemphill-Mapps (28 catches for 569 yards and 10 TDS) has committed to Texas. RB-WR D’Vaughn Pennamon, who has committed to Mississippi, had 13 touchdowns last season.

23. SOUTH PANOLA, BATESVILLE, MISS. (15-0)

The Tigers won the 6A title and will be even better on defense. Top players include Southern Mississippi commit DB-WR Demetrius Market, DE Dre Porter and WRs Cole Rotenberry and Donald Twilley.

24. BISHOP AMAT, LA PUENTE, CALIF. (9-4)

The Lancers have plenty of offense, including two elite receiver-defensive backs in Southern California commit Trevon Sidney and Tyler Vaughns. RB Torreahno Sweet (851 yards) is also back. Ryder Ruiz and Damian Garcia give the team two capable quarterbacks.

25. FLANAGAN, PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (13-1)

The Falcons are clearly on the rise after a Class 7A state semifinal finish last season. The defense is anchored by the coach’s son, linebacker Devin Bush Jr., an all-state player, and a secondary that includes Michigan commits Devin Gil and Josh Metellus.

The preseason Super 25 high school football rankings were compiled by USA TODAY Sports’ Jim Halley, in consultation with various coaches and are based on a team’s recent success, quality of players and quality of schedule. Records listed are from last season. The first regular-season rankings will come out Aug. 25.