Latest news with #footballrankings
Washington Post
12-08-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
AP Top 25: With a logjam at top of poll, a bunch of early marquee matchups may help sort things out
The Associated Press Top 25 poll is out. Let the sorting out process begin. Only two first-place votes and five points separate No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Penn State. Each of the top five teams, and six of the top seven, received at least one No. 1 vote.
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Football Roundtable: Our hardest players to rank in 2025
There are so many fantasy football rankings flying around this time of year, stacking those lists of players might seem easy to the untrained eye. And sure, we know Ja'Marr Chase and Bijan Robinson should rightly, obviously be ranked at the top. But not every player finds their slot so simply. Here, Scott Pianowski, Matt Harmon, Chris Allen and Justin Boone reveal the players who've been giving them headaches this draft season. When situation ruins talent Chris Olave is a WR1 trapped in a WR3's situation. From a volume perspective, he belongs in the "fringe top-12" category of receivers. His target shares of 24.1%, 23.8% and 25.0% have been top-20 marks each season. Olave's seen no less than 30.0% of air yards every year. The opportunity that the former Buckeye commands has had our attention for the last three seasons. But then his situation lessens our excitement. The Saints have primarily deployed Olave in the intermediate and deep parts of the field. With receiving aDOTs of 13.3 and 14.2 during his first two seasons, Olave played like Mike Evans (14.0 aDOT) and DeAndre Hopkins (14.1) but with a smaller frame. More importantly, he played like that with worse QB play. His 72.0% and 71.0% catchable target rates were outside the top 40 amongst his peers. Of course, the one season that things changed for the better (e.g., lower aDOT, higher-quality looks), multiple concussions sidelined him. Now, we not only have his health to consider, but the state of the Saints offense with an underwhelming QB battle and a new playcaller, too. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Olave's shown the talent to overcome a poor environment. But the uncertainty makes it difficult to find the right value for him in 2025. Crowded room of weapons causes conflict for veteran receiver DJ Moore amassed at least 95 receptions in both of his seasons in Chicago and is just one year removed from being the WR10 in fantasy points per game. However, he failed to top 1,000 yards in 2024 despite catching 98 balls — while posting career lows in yards per route run (1.44) and yards per touch (9.3). Since then, the Bears have brought in a new coaching staff and added more target competition with highly drafted rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III. Beat writers have also speculated that Rome Oduze could overtake Moore as the team's top pass-catcher. Even though Moore has been a fantasy star in the past, it's hard not to be concerned about the 28-year-old's ceiling moving forward, given all the young talent around him. For the moment, I've moved Moore down into the fantasy WR3 range, with Odunze one spot ahead of him. Volatility becomes an issue when approaching speedster Jameson Williams has been someone I can't quite get a handle of where I want to rank him. He fits somewhere in my fourth tier of wide receivers — a group I very much want to be drafting into this year — that usually start coming off the board in Round 5 and can last all the way into Round 7. I just tend to move him around that tier often when updating my rankings. He's a good player who had a breakout season last year and is an excellent complement to Amon-Ra St. Brown as the No. 2. However, his is a volatile archetype of receiver and my bet is that role in the offense is a bit more sensitive to the changes in the Lions' ecosystem with Ben Johnson and upheaval on the offensive line. This ain't a fade the player call; I want to be in on an ascending explosive receiver who has week-winning upside in what should still be a strong scoring unit. However, I just can't figure out where he belongs in his tier and someone in the draft room usually has a higher imagination when it comes to his theoretical ceiling. One of the greatest fantasy running backs is also one of the biggest question marks It's definitely Christian McCaffrey for me. Look at his past seven seasons: He's been a league winner four times and he's been a team wrecker three times. It's a little ironic that he got hurt last year while the RB injury rate around the league was shockingly low. Now, don't misunderstand, McCaffrey is a tough and proud athlete and maybe he's been unlucky with these maladies. But now that he's entering his ninth season and running behind an ordinary San Francisco offensive line, I find it difficult to know how to play this.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Top 20 linebackers in California high school football entering 2025
Top 20 linebackers in California high school football entering 2025 originally appeared on The Sporting News The Sporting News' preview for California's 2025 high school football season rolls on with a look at the state's top 20 linebackers. Following the top 20 are the names of 10 more LBs who were heavily considered for a top-20 ranking. With only 30 players mentioned, there are future Division 1 college players who are current high school standouts who didn't even make the cut – that's how deep the talent pool is. The primary criteria are production and team success relative to strength of schedule, awards for the 2024 season from other sources, and recruiting rankings/accolades. For two-way stars, contributions on offense may be noted but were not factored into the selections. 1. Dash Fifita, Santa Margarita – Sr. One of the toughest pound-for-pound defensive players in California and probably the whole nation. Fifita, a 3-star Arizona commit, won DPOY last year in the nation's toughest league as a 5-foot-10, 185-pound junior linebacker with 100 tackles, 11 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception against arguably the most difficult schedule in high school football. 2. Shaun Scott, Mater Dei – Sr. The 4-star USC commit was second on the national champion with 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and two interceptions as a junior. Scott might project better as an EDGE than a pure OLB going forward and could just easily make the defensive line list instead of linebackers. His other 22 offers included Ohio State, Michigan, Miami, Penn State, Texas, and Tennessee. 3. Jonathan McKinley Jr., Corona Centennial – Sr. The most productive defensive player for one of high school football's top programs, McKinley was the Big West League (Upper) Defensive Player of the Year with 10.5 sacks, 21 QB-hurries, 57 tackles, and a pick. Fluid between OLB and rush end, he's a 3-star Cal commit with 10 other offers including Boise State, SMU, Arizona State, Arizona, and UNLV. 4. Isaiah Phelps, Pacifica (Oxnard) – Jr. JOE LUMAYA/VENTURA COUNTY STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn As just a sophomore, Phelps racked up 174 tackles (eight for loss), five sacks, and two interceptions to help lead Pacifica to a CIF-SS D4 title and the 2-AA state finals. He also managed to play a major role at running back with 767 yards and seven touchdowns rushing to go with four catches for 33 yards and a TD. Phelps is a 4-star recruit with 23 offers that include Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas, and USC, and enters his junior year with 268 tackles, 16 TFLs, and four picks. 5. Tristan Phillips, Ventura – Sr. JOE LUMAYA/VENTURA COUNTY STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn California's top-ranked senior linebacker per 247Sports. The 4-star Oregon commit enters his senior year with career totals of 182 tackles, 20 TFLs, and five sacks after recording career-highs in most categories as a junior. Greg Biggins of 247Sports wrote, " Long, athletic 6-foot-3, 215 pound frame and shows the ability to play inside or outside 'backer at the next level. Might be best suited as a will 'backer because of his athleticism, ability to play in space and strong cover skills." 6. Taylor Johnson, Cajon – Sr. Photo courtesy of Taylor Johnson One of the state's top breakout stars as a junior, Johnson erupted for 174 tackles (82 solo), nine TFLs, and four sacks for a Southern Section D3 playoff team that averaged fewer than 18 points a game allowed. He can also cover at quite a high level for a linebacker that predominantly plays inside. Johnson's recruiting took off shortly after the 2024 season, as he's now a 3-star prospect who chose USC out of a dozen offers. 7. Taven Epps, Tustin – Jr. While Epps' No. 7 ranking is based more on potential and recruiting accolades than 2024 production, we are confident that he will live up to and perhaps exceed it. The 4-star Texas commit was a Cal-Hi Sports Second Team All-State (Sophomores) selection with 38 tackles, nine tackles for loss, seven sacks, 11 QB-hurries, one interception, six pass break-ups, and a blocked punt for a CIF-SS D3 playoff team. At upwards of 6-4, 220 with standout athleticism, Epps has played both linebacker positions and safety, and might eventually land at weak-side defensive end. He has at least 33 more offers including Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame. 8. Ronen Zamorano, Sierra Canyon – Sr. The reigning Mission League co-DPOY and the top unranked linebacker in California. At 6-2, 225 Zamorano looks and produces the part of a bone-crushing Mike, leading a nationally-ranked program with 113 tackles (four for loss) and 71 solo tackles as a junior. Zamorano has been offered by Colorado State, San Diego State, and San Jose State. 9. Leki Holani, Santa Margarita – Sr. Holani broke out for 72 tackles, 19 TFLs, six sacks, six QB-hurries, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four pass break-ups as a junior. And the 3-star Sacramento State commit did it all against one of the toughest schedules in high school football. He makes up the top returning linebacker tandem in California with Dash Fifita. 10. Ezaya Tokio, Oceanside – Sr. As a junior, Tokio totaled 28 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles – all in just four games. The previous season at St. Augustine, he registered 98 tackles (4.5 for loss). With a full senior season in his second year at Oceanside, Tokio could easily emerge as a statewide DPOY candidate. He's a 4-star Washington commit who has considerable upside at 6-4, 220 with speed and motor. 11. Balen Betancourt, Newbury Park – Sr. JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK One of the most underrated linebackers in all of high school football. Betancourt helped lead the Panthers to a CIF-SS Division 2 title last year with 122 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles. It was the second season in a row that he eclipsed 120 tackles and 17 TFLs. 12. Josh Williams, Palos Verdes – Jr. An athletic edge rusher who could be listed at OLB or DE and the reigning Southern Section D5 DPOY. Williams racked up 76 tackles, 21.5 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles to lift Palos Verdes to a section title and 2-A state title. He's a 3-star recruit with offers from Akron, Marshall, and Georgia State. 13. Oscar Aguilar, Downey (Downey) – Sr. Patrick Breen/The Arizona Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn The 3-star Arizona state pledge enters his senior year with career totals of 258 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two blocked kicks. His junior season was his best yet, as he registered 102 tackles, 14 TFLs, four sacks, and five forced fumbles to help Downey go 9-2 with a CIF-SS D2 playoff berth. Aguilar is at his best against the Vikings' top opponents and is reportedly still growing after checking in at 6-3, 215 a year ago. 14. Chase Cahoon, Saint Francis (Mountain View) – Sr. Despite missing a bit of time both seasons, Cahoon was quite productive as a sophomore and junior against one of Northern California's toughest schedules. In 17 combined games, he totaled 172 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 16 QB-hurries. Cahoon is a 3-star Stanford commit whose other offers include Boise State, UNLV, Washington, and Arizona State. 15. Kenneth Goodwin III, Bishop Montgomery – Sr. Goodwin's ranking here is watered down by the fact that he missed his junior season at Narbonne after transferring from Desert Pines (NV). But he's definitely not a 4-star SMU commit with two-dozen offers by accident. While he's already a star in the recruiting world thanks to impressive camp performances and athleticism, look for Goodwin to break out as one of one California's top defensive players on the field this fall. 16. Isaiah Leilua, Servite – Jr. Leilua exploded out of the gate as a freshman in 2023 to help lead Servite to the CIF-SS D2 title game, and as a sophomore he was already the focal point of opponents' game plans, earning First Team honors in the Trinity League and on Cal-Hi Sports' All-State Sophomores teams. He enters his junior year with totals of 158 tackles, 10 TFLs, five sacks, five passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. Leilua is a high 3-star recruit with Arizona State, USC, and Washington considered the favorites among 16 schools to offer him. 17. John McClellan, Rancho Cotate – Sr. The top-ranked senior linebacker prospect in Northern California per 247Sports, McClellan wreaked havoc with 157 tackles and five sacks in 10 games as a junior. The 3-star recruit committed to Colorado State shortly after visiting in June and also has offers from NAU, UNLV, Sacramento State, and Nevada. 18. Ryder Smith, Great Oak – Sr. Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn One of California's top returning two-way stars and a recent Idaho State commit, Smith somehow went under the radar despite putting up ungodly numbers as a junior. He went off for 133 tackles (80 solo), 22 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and 15 QB-hurries seeing action pretty much everywhere in the front seven, and he also emerged as a standout running back with 1,369 yards and 16 touchdowns on 8.2 yards per carry. 19. Aidan Dagher, Burbank – Jr. In just seven games as a sophomore, Dagher ran wild for 86 tackles, 15 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. In the seven games he played, Burbank went 6-1, losing only in the second round of the CIF-SS D9 playoffs to eventual champion Highland (Palmdale) following a 3-2 start. Dagher is a 3-star prospect with offers from SMU, Sacramento State, Campbell, Western Kentucky, and Arkansas Baptist. 20. Landon McClendon, St. Mary's (Stockton) – Sr. CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn A versatile outside backer who thrives in space, McClendon is more impactful than his merely solid junior year numbers show. He totaled 48 tackles (35 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception, and a blocked field goal for one of NorCal's top programs, and some of his best work was in coverage. McClendon also brought his A-game in most of the Rams' biggest games while also seeing his numbers deflated by sitting in the second half of a few total blowout victories. He's a 3-star prospect with offers from Portland State and Sacramento State. ALSO IN CONSIDERATION: Jeremiah Brown, San Jacinto – Sr. (Oregon State) DJ Clanton, Mater Dei – Jr. Aiden Gomez, Downey (Downey) – Sr. Maxwell Mapstone, Portola – Sr. Matthew Muasau, St. John Bosco – Sr. (UCLA) Josiah Poyer, St. John Bosco – Jr. Weston Reis, Palos Verdes – So. Ezekiel Su'a, Mater Dei – Jr. Fifita Tauteoli-Moore, Corona Centennial – Sr. (Princeton) Philip Wilson III, Pacifica (Oxnard) – Jr. RELATED: SN's preseason California All-State teams Top 20 QBs in California entering 2025 Buford (GA) unveils $62 million high school football stadium
