10 Teams in High School Football America Preseason Rankings highlight 2021 GEICO ESPN Kickoff

The 2021 ESPN GEICO Kickoff will shape this year’s national championship chase. 10 teams in the High School Football America Preseason Rankings will battle during the seven game, four-day card that starts Thursday, August 26.

Three of the seven games feature head-to-head matchups between teams in the High School Football America 100 powered by NFL Play Football, the NFL’s initiative to provide fun and engaging experience for players of all ages and skill levels.

Kicking-off the weekend will be No. 6 Southlake Carroll and No. 85 Highland Park at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. The biggest question about this matchup is who will be Southlake Carroll’s quarterback. Earlier this week, Yahoo Sports reported that 5-star recruit Quinn Ewers may skip his senior season to enroll at Ohio State.

Last year, Ewers led the Dragons to a runner-up finish in the state’s largest classification.

Saturday afternoon, No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) will host No. 33 St. Frances Academy from Maryland. STA will be seeking its third straight Florida 7A title.

The third Top 100 head-to-head will be later on Saturday when No. 25 Oakland, Tennessee’s defending 6A champ, plays at No. 84 Madison-Ridgeland Academy in Mississippi. MRA has won back-to-back Mississippi Association of Independent Schools 6A titles.

Friday night’s feature game is No. 48 Milton taking-on No. 110 North Cobb in a Georgia 7A showdown.

Other Top 100 teams appearing on ESPN will be No. 56 Bridgeland against Klein Cain in a Texas showdown and No. 5 IMG Academy (Florida) taking-on Bishop Sycamore from Ohio. IMG is the defending High School Football America national champ.

Related: IMG named 2020-21 High School Football America national champ

According to an ESPN news release, the seven game slate features 37 players ranked in the ESPN 300 and ESPN Junior 300, including the No. 1 junior Lebbeus Overton – DE (Milton, Ga.). Three other Top 100 ESPN ranked senior quarterbacks join Ewers in leading their teams this kickoff weekend: No. 36 Connor Weigman (Bridgeland, Texas), No. 39 AJ Duffy (IMG Academy, Fla.) and No. 100 Gunner Stockton (Rabun County, Ga.), as well as junior quarterback No. 275 Malachi Singleton (North Cobb, Ga.).

Of the athletes participating, 12 have already committed to top Division I college football programs including Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M, TCU and UCLA.

Below is more from the ESPN release:

2021 ESPN GEICO High School Football Kickoff Schedule
*All times are ET.
*Player rankings from ESPN 300 (seniors in the Class of 2022) and ESPN Junior 300 (Class of 2023)

Thursday, August 26
Southlake Carroll (Texas) vs. Highland Park (Texas)
8 p.m. on ESPNU from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas

• Carroll has eight previous state titles and will look to get over the hump again after a runner-up finish in the 6A Division I finals last season. Ohio State commit Quinn Ewers is the No. 1 ranked QB in the country.
• Highland Park has the most all-time wins in the state of Texas. The Scots have won six state titles, including three straight from 2016-2018. Last season their only loss was to eventual 5A state champ Denton Ryan

Friday, August 27
Milton (Ga.) vs. North Cobb (Ga.)
7 p.m. on ESPN2 from North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Ga.

• Milton is led on defense by No. 1 ranked junior Lebbeus Overton. The Eagles were 11-1 in 2020 and look to push past their third round 7A playoff appearance last season.
• North Cobb is also coming off a strong 2020 season, going 10-2 in the second round of the 7A playoffs. The Warrior’s offense will look to the connection between No. 292 senior De’Nylon Morrissette – WR (Georgia commit) and No. 275 junior Malachi Singleton – QB to lead the way on offense.

Saturday, August 28
St. Frances (Md.) vs. St Thomas Aquinas (Fla.)
Noon on ESPN from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

• Defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas is a national contender every year. No. 176 senior Julian Armella – OT will set the tone on offense up front, while No. 201 junior King Mack – S will sure up the defensive backfield for the Raiders
• Frances’ defense is deep on talent with four ESPN 300 ranked seniors: No. 22 Derrick Moore – DE (OU commit), No. 71 Jaishawn Barham – OLB, No. 150 Cam Johnson – CB and No. 262 Nasir Pearce -DT.

Oakland (Tenn.) vs. Madison-Ridgeland (Miss.)
3 p.m. on ESPN2 from Madison-Ridgeland Academy Madison, Miss.

• Oakland is coming off a 15-0 state championship season with no signs of slowing down. Their offensive firepower comes from No. 203 senior Jordan James – RB (Georgia commit) and No. 273 senior Isaiah Horton – WR, while No. 227 junior Robby Washington – ATH adds depth.
• Madison Ridgeland was also undefeated last season, claiming its second straight Mississippi 6A title. No. 219 senior Stone Blanton – LB anchors the defense.

Pace Academy (Ga.) vs. Rabun County (Ga.)
6 p.m. on ESPN2 from Rabun County High School in Tiger, Ga.

• Rabun County was 12-2 last season and will look to improve on a 2A semifinal appearance behind the play of No. 100 senior Gunner Stockton – QB (Georgia commit).
• Pace Academy’s season ended last year in the first round of the 2A playoffs. Xavier Agostino (Harvard commit), will try to put the pressure on Stockton up front.

Bridgeland (Texas) vs. Klein Cain (Texas)
9 p.m. on ESPNU from Klein Memorial Stadium in Spring, Texas

• Bridgeland survived this season-opening meeting last year 47-42 on their way to a third round 6A playoff appearance with only one loss. No. 36 senior Conner Weigman (Texas A&M commit) is the No. 2 ranked pocket passer in the nation.
• Klein Cain suffered only two other losses after the Bridgeland opener last season, advancing to the second round of the 6A playoffs. No. 257 senior Mathew Golden – WR (TCU commit) returns as their top offensive weapon.

Sunday, August 29
IMG Academy (Fla.) vs Bishop Sycamore (Ohio)
1:30 p.m. on ESPN from Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio

• IMG reloads as one of the top teams in the country, with an incredible 20 players ranked in the ESPN 300 and ESPN Junior 300 player rankings.
• Bishop Sycamore is a new program with young talent and several players on both sides of the ball have multiple Division 1 offers including QB Trillian Harris and OL Justin Daniel.

ESPN 300 Participants

ESPN Junior 300 Participants

*Please note: No player has signed with a school
All ESPN 300 and ESPN Junior 300 Rankings and Verbal Commitments are up-to-date as of July 28, 2021