The stars reveal all: California's 20 most talented 2023 high school football teams

There’s one way to evaluate the most talented high school football teams in California: Look for the stars.

With August almost here and the 2023 season less than three weeks away for much of the state, preseason rankings will soon flood the web space and news print.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Based on the recruiting star system set by 247Sports, there are currently 20 teams heading into the 2023 season that boast at least five players with 3-star ranking or better from the Classes of 2024 and 2025.

At the top should be no surprise, the two teams that have combined to win the last six CIF California State Open Division titles — Mater Dei-Santa Ana and St. John Bosco-Bellflower.

Those two programs combine to claim 42 top-rated players, 15 apiece from the Class of 2024.

Sierra Canyon (14), Corona Centennial (13) and Los Alamitos (11) are the only other schools with double-digit players in that category.

Orange Lutheran may not be able to compete with Mater Dei and St. John Bosco in the Trinity League this season, but watch out for the 2024 season. The Lancers lead all California squads with nine incoming juniors (Class of 2025) who own top recruiting rankings.

Other fun facts:

Of the 20 who claim at least five, all but four are from the Southern Section.

All seven of Serra-San Mateo's top recruits are seniors.

Five of six star players for De La Salle-Concord and JSerra Catholic are juniors.

Twelve of Corona Centennial's 13 rated players are 3-star, with the exception of 4-star quarterback Husan Longstreet, a transfer from Inglewood.
The lone 4-star athlete from the four Northern California squads is Riordan junior athlete Chris Lawson, a transfer from Foothill of Pleasanton.

Rankings are as of July 29, 2023 and all listed below are uncommitted unless noted. Numbers tagged to players are where they are ranked in the state, according to 247Sports for the classes of 2024 and 2025.

BY THE RECRUITING STARS: BEST 2023 CALIFORNIA TEAMS

1. Mater Dei (22)

2024 (15) — 1. DL Aydin Breland, 5-star; 3. OT Brandon Baker, 5-star; 4. CB Zabien Brown, 4-star (Alabama commit); 6. DeAndre Carter, 4-star; 11. QB Elijah Brown, 4-star (Stanford); 16. RB Nate Frazier, 4-star; 39. CB Isaiah Buxton, 3-star (Arizona); 62. S Jeilani Davis, 3-star (Utah); 64. WR Jack Ressler, 3-star (Oregon); 78. LB Tanner Williams, 3-star; 90. DL Zeus Venegas, 3-star; 119. LB Ramere Davis, 3-star; 134. DL Kaho Tuihalamaka, 3-star (Arizona); 163. RB Ajon Bryant, 3-star; 192. WR Marcus Brown, 3-star.

2025 (7) — 1. DE Nasir Wyatt, 4-star; 2. CB Daryus Dixson, 4-star; 8. RB Jordon Davison, 4-star; 11. WR Marcus Harris, 4-star; 16. CB Chuck McDonald, 4-star; 68. LB Abduall Sanders Jr., 3-star; 116. OL Sione Tohi, 3-star.

2. St. John Bosco (20)

2024 (15) — 5. CB Marcelles Williams, 4-star (USC); 10. LB Kyngstonn Villiam-Asa, 4-star (Notre Dame); 17. S Peyton Woodyard, 4-star (Georgia); 21. S Jason Mitchell, 4-star, 42. RB Cameron Jones, 3-star (UCLA); 52. LB Jordan Lockhart, 3-star (Texas A&M); 60. LB Khmori House, 3-star (Washington); 94. OT King Large, 3-star (SMU); 112. LB Ashtin Kekahuna-Lopes, 3-star (Utah); 122. WR Hayden Eligon II, 3-star; 151. CB Frankie Edwards, 3-star; 153. RB Chauncy Sylvester, 3-star; 174. S Tamal Johnson, 3-star; 211. QB Caleb Sanchez, 3-star; 239. LB Sir Tyler Thomas, 3-star.

2025 (5) — 54. WR Tavian McNair, 3-star; 84. WR Kamryn Jones, 3-star; 117. DE Epi Sitanilei, 3-star; 124. OL Matai Jefferson, 3-star; 149. OL Matthew Perdue, 3-star.

3. Sierra Canyon (14)

2024 (8) — 8. WR Xavier Jordan, 4-star (USC); 27. S Marquis Gallegos, 4-star (USC); 31. WR Kwazi Gilmer, 3-star; 35. OL Eugene Brooks, 3-star (Oklahoma); 56. ATH Jaylen Sumlin, 3-star (Stanford); 77. ATH Terrell Cooks Jr., 3-star (San Diego State); 127. WR Cameron Mitchell, 3-star; 200. S Ruben Gamboa, 3-star

2025 (6) — 24. ATH Jae’on Young, 4-star; 42. QB Wyatt Becker, 3-star; 97. S Nevada Miller, 3-star; 99. RB Dane Dunn, 3-star; 129. OT Ashdon Wnetrzak, 3-star; 147. S Sean Jones, 3-star.

4. Corona Centennial (13)

2024 (8) — 59. OT Wade Helton, 3-star (Iowa State); 133. OL Brent Helton, 3-star (Iowa State); 148. LB Tye Smith, 3-star; 175. RB Cornell Hatcher, 3-star; 185. LB Syncere Brackett, 3-star; 187. CB Tayten Beyer, 3-star (San Diego State); 203. TE Jaxton Santiago, 3-star (Boston College); 243. LB Tye Tye, 3-star.

2025 (5) — 4. QB Husan Longstreet, 4-star; 40. CB LaRue Zamorano, 3-star; 44. WR Cory Butler, 3-star; 71. OL Drew Hill, 3-star; 93. CB Tahj Crutchfield, 3-star.

5. Los Alamitos (11)

2024 (6) — 9. TE Davon Mitchell, 4-star (Oklahoma); 19. LB Kamar Mothudi, 4-star (Oregon); 26. CB Isaiah Rubin, 4-star; 54. ATH Kobe Boykin, 3-star; 96. S Foster Slaughter, 3-star (San Diego State); 168. RB Hoi Amasio-Hansen, 3-star

2025 (5) — 31. CB Jett White, 3-star; 52. RB Anthony League, 3-star; 132. QB Alonzo Esparza, 3 star; 133. LB Sirr Bible, 3-star; 135. OL Kapono Mao, 3-star.

6. Orange Lutheran (9)

2025 (9) — 12. QB TJ Lateef, 4-star; 29. TE AJ La, 3-star; 73. S Benjamin Alefaio, 3-star; 79. QB John Gazzaniga, 3-star; 83. DL Jireh Moe, 3-star; 103. ATH Jakob Coleman, 3-star (LSU); 106. WR AJ Campbell, 3-star; 127. OL Arion Williams, 3-star; 155. OL Cole Principe, 3-star.

7. Mission Viejo (8)

2024 (5) — 36. OT Mark Schroller, 3-star (UCLA); 81. CB Treyvon Tolmaire, 3-star (Boise State); 156. ATH Travis Anderson, 3-star (Boise State); 190. OT Daxton Christman-Gourley, 3-star; 199. LB Jack Matranga, 3-star

2025 (3) — 6. CB Dijon Lee, 4-star; 10. WR Phillip Bell, 4-star; 115. DE Jaden Williams, 3-star.

8. Serra-San Mateo (7)

2024 (7) — 41. QB Maealiuaki Smith, 3-star; 75. S Joseph Bey, 3-star (San Jose State); 157. ATH Danny Niu, 3-star (San Diego State); 158. ATH Jabari Mann, 3-star (San Jose State); 179 TE Cole Harrison, 3-star; 216. LB Marley Alapati, 3-star (Army); 236. OT John Holthaus, 3-star (Air Force).

9T. De La Salle (6)

2024 (1) — 173. LB Drew Cunningham, 3-star

2025 (5) — 35. DE Matthew Johnson, 3-star; 41. S Robert Santiago, 3-star; 111. RB Dominic Kelley, 3-star; 142. RB Derrick Blanche Jr., 3-star; 146. QB Toa Faavae, 3-star.

9T. JSerra Catholic (6)

2024 (1) — 240. LB Clarence Chaney, 3-star.

2025 (5) — 3. LB Madden Faraimo, 4-star; 27. QB Michael Tollefson, 3-star; 56. OL Jake Flores, 3-star; 64. ATH Logan Christensen, 3-star; 138. DE Luke Webb, 3-star.

9T. Millikan (6)

2024 (5) — 12. WR Ryan Pellum, 4-star (USC); 111. ATH Gregory McClendon, 3-star; 116. ATH Loyall Mouzon, 3-star; 132. DL Ethaniah Steffany, 3-star; 193. DE Edmari Binion, 3-star (Colorado State).

2025 (1) — 114. OL Jessie Wishon, 3-star.

9T. Oaks Christian (6)

2024 (4) — 55. WR Justice Williams, 3-star (Washington); 76. WR Chase Farrell, 3-star (Stanford); 139. CB Prince Williams, 3-star; 141. QB Nate Bennett (Baylor)

2025 (2) — 34. LB Hayden Lowe, 3-star; TE Stevie Amar, 3-star

9T. Rancho Cucamonga (6)

2024 (5) — 46. ATH Stacy Bey, 3-star (San Diego State); 91. CB Kyren Condoll, 3-star (Duke); 121. WR Jonah Dawson, 3-star; S Elyjah Gordon, 3-star; 198. ATH Rahim Wright, 3-star (San Diego State).

2025 (1) — 88. DL Kal-El Togafau, 3-star.

9T. Santa Margarita (6)

2024 (4) — 25. WR Emmett Mosley, 4-star (Stanford); 33. WR Jason Robinson, 3-star (Washington); 71. LB LeVar Talley, 3-star (Nevada); 167. LB Gage Burnett, 3-star.

2025 (2) — 77. WR Jadyn Robinson, 3-star; 124. WR Sean Embree, 3-star.

15T. Archbishop Riordan (5)

2024 (2) — 107. WR Tyrone Jackson, 3-star; 188. OT Kalola Kaihea, 3-star.

2025 (3) — 14. ATH Chris Lawson, 4-star; 51. OL Peter Langi, 3-star; 92. OL Losipini Tupou, 3-star.

15T. Clovis West (5)

2024 (4) — 77. ATH Marshel Sanders, 3-star (Fresno State); 84. ATH Landon Wright, 3-star (Washington State); LB Tytus Khajavi, 3-star (Fresno State); 169. ATH Jordan Pierro (Fresno State).

2025 (1) — 150. WR Jonavon Darrington, 3-star.

15T. Etiwanda (5)

2024 (4) — 40. QB Demaricus Davis, 3-star (Washington); 137. WR Jaden Landrum, 3-star; 162. RB Jaiden Moss, 3-star; 245. OL Noah Tandy, 3-star.

2025 (1) — 50. ATH Cameron Jamerson, 3-star

15T. Inglewood (5)

2024 (4) — 123. WR Terrell Bradshaw, 3-star; 159. QB Damon Wrighster, 3-star; 201. LB Robert Paladines, 3-star; 213. WR Bain Eiseman, 3-star.

2025 (1) — 100. LB Venilaite Wolfgramm, 3-star.

15T. Long Beach Poly (5)

2024 (4) — 24. LB Dylan Williams, 4-star (Oregon); 53. QB Darius Curry, 3-star (Colorado State); 125. ATH Titus Bordeaux, 3-star; 143. ATH Jordan Malau’ulu, 3-star (Fresno State)

2025 (1) — 32. WR Caden Butler, 3-star.

15T. Warren (5)

2024 (3) — 32. WR Jordan Ross, 3-star (Colorado State); 105. DE JT Houston, 3-star; 244. DL Jordan Abarca, 3-star

2025 (2) — 23. QB Madden Iamaleava, 4-star; 72. WR Jace Brown, 3-star.