St. Joseph’s Prep, which year-in and year-out play one of the toughest schedules in the nation, begins 2016 ranked #34 by High School Football America. The Hawks’ ranking was announced Tuesday as part of our The Other 25 poll that ranks teams from #26 to #50.
For those of you unfamiliar with our rankings, this is the fourth straight year that High School Football America will be using its proprietary algorithm to rank teams nationally, regionally and locally. What that means is, our computer does all the work, there’s no opinion involved. Over the past three seasons, our preseason poll included some opinion, but this year marks the first time that our algorithm is completely in-charge of determining our “mythical” national champ from start to finish.
The Hawks join Pittsburgh Central Catholic as one of two teams in the state to receive a preseason Top 50 ranking.
SJP is no stranger to our national rankings. Last season the Hawks began the year ranked #49. In 2013, St. Joe’s finished #25 in the nation after winning the first of two straight Class 4A titles.
The Hawks will be led on offense by running back D’Andre Swift, who is ranked as the 33rd best overall college football prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Swift is considered the top player in Pennsylvania in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports.
The Hawks have a challenging 2016 schedule that includes its annual game against nationally-ranked #16 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey). In addition, the Hawks will travel to Southern California to play Oaks Christian in The Honor Bowl in Mission Viejo.
Related: 2016 Preseason Top 25
High School Football America’s The Other 25 (teams #26 through #50)
#26 St. Edward Eagles (Ohio)
#27 Corona Centennial Huskies (California)
#28 Jenks Trojans (Oklahoma)
#29 La Salle Lancers (Ohio)
#30 Gonzaga Eagles (Washington, D.C.)
#31 De La Salle Spartans (California)
#32 American Heritage Patriots (Plantation, Florida)
#33 Mill Creek Hawks (Georgia)
#34 St. Joseph’s Prep Hawks (Philadelphia)
#35 Trinity Shamrocks (Kentucky)
#36 Bergen Catholic Crusaders (New Jersey)
#37 Booker T. Washington Tornadoes (Florida)
#38 Clinton Arrows (Mississippi)
#39 St. John’s College High School Cadets (Washington, D.C.)
#40 Euless Trinity Trojans (Texas)
#41 Warren Central Warriors (Indiana)
#42 DeSoto Eagles (Texas)
#43 Colquitt County Packers (Georgia)
#44 Cass Tech Technicians (Michigan)
#45 Fayetteville Bulldogs (Arkansas)
#46 Brentwood Academy Eagles (Tennessee)
#47 Armwood Hawks (Florida)
#48 Southlake Carroll Dragons (Texas)
#49 Union Redskins (Oklahoma)
#50 Archbishop Hoban (Ohio)
