Each year since
2006, MaxPreps has recognized the nation's top high school football
players at the conclusion of the season. Past MaxPreps Junior
All-America Team selections include Jayden Daniels (2017), Caleb Downs
(2021), Travis Hunter (2020), Jeremiah Smith (2022), Amon-Ra St. Brown (2016), Caleb Williams (2019) and Bryce Young (2018).
Atkinson earned MaxPreps National Junior of the Year honors after racking up 166 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and 13 sacks for Georgia's AAAAAA state champs. Through his first three years, he has 475 tackles, 79 tackles for loss and 31.5 sacks.
Cantwell led Nixa to a 13-1 record and finished with 158 pancake blocks while not allowing a sack. The five-star offensive tackle is the top-rated player in the Class of 2026 according to 247Sports.
Brandon was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country, throwing for 35 touchdowns against just two interceptions while completing nearly 80 percent of his passes. He led Grimsley to a 16-0 record and spot at No. 21 in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Read on for a complete look at the best juniors in high school football from the 2024 season.
First team offense
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
North Carolina Player of the Year threw for 2,814 yards
and 35 touchdowns while completing 77.1 percent of his passes. He added
625 yards rushing and nine more scores.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 225
Tennessee Player of the Year threw for 2,830
yards and 40 touchdowns for the Division II-A state champs. He also
rushed for 637 yards and 18 more scores.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 215
Accounted for 3,596 yards of total offense (3,011 passing, 585 rushing) and 60 touchdowns.
Height: 6-0 |
Weight: 220
Mississippi Player of the Year led the Golden Wave to
their first state title in 32 years, rushing for 2,262 yards and 34
touchdowns.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 200
Two-way
standout accounted for 1,897 total yards and 29 touchdowns to go with
56 tackles, seven sacks, four tackles for loss and one interception on
defense.
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 185
Helped Bulldogs win 10th state title, rushing for 1,791 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Height: 6-2 |
Weight: 180
Grabbed 111 passes for 1,868 yards and 19 touchdowns for 6A Division 2 state runner-up.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185
Five-star wideout hauled in 58 receptions for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns for 6A state runner-up.
Height: 6-0 |
Weight: 165
Two-way standout had 83 catches for 1,565 yards and 18 touchdowns to go with 26 tackles and three interceptions on defense.
Height: 6-6 |
Weight: 210
Posted 56 receptions for 1,203 yards and 22 touchdowns for Class A Division II state champs.
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 305
Missouri Player of the Year was one of 14 juniors to earn state POY honors.
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 285
Led the way in the trenches for the wire-to-wire No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 275
Dominated opposing defensive lineman for an offense that averaged 54 points per game.
Height: 6-8 | Weight: 295
Lined up against the best competition in the country and had another stellar season.
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 320
Did not allow a sack during his junior campaign.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195
Made
a huge impact in all three phases, hauling in 54 receptions for 1,045
and 13 touchdowns to go with 39 tackles and eight interceptions (four
pick sixes) on defense. He also returned a kickoff and a punt for a score.
K — Asher Murray, Byrd (Shreveport, La.)
Height: 5-11 |
Weight: 165
Made 12 of 14 field goals with his longest coming from 56 yards.
First team defense
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 320
Was
also a first team selection on the MaxPreps All-America squad after a
dominant season for the top-ranked team in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 315
Capped dominant season by racking up six tackles for loss and a sack
in a 53-8 win over Alexandria in the Division I Select state
championship.
Height: 6-3 |
Weight: 230
Wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks playing against elite competition.
Height: 6-3 |
Weight: 265
Led Eagles to best season since Travis Hunter was there, posting 114 tackles, 30 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.
MAXPREPS NATIONAL JUNIOR OF THE YEAR
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 205
Led Rams to a spot at No. 7 in the final MaxPreps Top 25 after helping
them win AAAAAA state title, the school's first since 2020.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 245
Standout linebacker was one of three players nominated for Alabama 6A Lineman of the Year.
Height: 5-11 |
Weight: 200
Had
a huge year on both sides of the ball racking up 62 tackles, 39 tackles
for loss and 16.5 sacks to go with 1,449 total yards and 23 touchdowns
on offense.
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 200
Nevada Player of the Year posted 38 tackles and
five interceptions for No. 4 team in MaxPreps Top 25.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 165
Had 10 interceptions playing against the best competition in Southern California.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 195
Hard-hitting defensive back had a monster year for one of the best defenses in the country.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
Shutdown cornerback helped Raiders win sixth consecutive state title.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190
Michigan Player of the Year made a huge impact in all three phases for Division 1 state champs.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220
Top-rated
punter on Kohl's for the Class of 2026 averaged 47.9 yards per punt. He
also led the team in rushing with 1,152 yards and tackles with 116.
Second team offense
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 165
Threw for 3,449 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 73 percent of his passes for 4A state runner-up.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Led Panthers to first section title since 1993, accounting for 3,956 yards of total offense (3,521 passing, 435 rushing) and 60 total touchdowns.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200
Season was cut short because of an injury in the playoffs but still threw for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns to go with 561 yards rushing and five more scores.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190
Rushed for 2,004 yards and 29 touchdowns for Class 6A runner-up.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 185
Oregon commit accounted for 1,794 total yards and 25 touchdowns while leading Tigers to 12-1 record.
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 185
Finished second in the country with 3,542 yards rushing and accounted for 40 total touchdowns.
Height: 6-2 |
Weight: 185
Hauled in 50 catches for 851 yards and 13 touchdowns while leading Braves to a spot at No. 5 in the final MaxPreps Top 25.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 180
Was consistent all season in an offense that went through four quarterbacks, finishing with 87 receptions for 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 195
Had 81 catches for 1,432 yards and 21 touchdowns for Class 5A Division 1 quarterfinalist.
Height: 6-8 | Weight: 235
After starting season at Providence Day (Charlotte), the five-star
Oregon commit made a huge impact for Rams posting 33 catches for 555
yards and eight touchdowns in eight games after transferring back to
Reidsville.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 280
Five-star offensive tackle did not allow a sack during his junior season.
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 305
All-state offensive tackle helped Technichians win first Division 1 state title since 2016.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 305
Played a huge role for one of the best offensive lines in high school football.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 295
Helped keep Julian Lewis' jersey clean for AAAAAA state runner-up.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 310
Four-star offensive lineman did not allow a sack while helping team to 10-2 record.
Height: 6-1 |
Weight: 200
Led a very talented backfield with 905 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns while racking up 46 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and one interception on defense.
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 170
Was a huge weapon for Todd Dodge during his first season at Lovejoy as he led all juniors with 17 field goals.
Second team defense
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 260
Headlined a talented defense, piling up 57 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks for No. 12 team in MaxPreps Top 25.
Height: 6-4 |
Weight: 235
Posted 62 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 13 sacks for AAAAAA semifinalist.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 275
Racked up 61 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 10 sacks for 2A state semifinalist.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 255
Led the No. 4 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 in tackles (74), tackles for loss (28) and sacks (11).
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220
Leader on defense for No. 13 team in MaxPreps Top 25.
Height: 6-1 |
Weight: 210
Finished season with 57 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks for back-to-back Open Division state champs.
Height: 6-4 |
Weight: 220
Two-way
standout led Bulldogs to 13-0 record and 1A state championship after
racking up 117 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and two interceptions. He
added 2,582 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns on offense.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 165
Finished with 42 tackles and five interceptions for Southern Section Division 3 semifinalist.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175
All-around playmaker made an impact on all three phases for 3A state champs.
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 175
Five-star cornerback had four interceptions and also scored seven touchdowns for Division II semifinalist.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 175
Versatile defensive back made a huge impact for one of the best defenses in the country.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 185
Had 36 tackles, 13 pass break-ups and one interception to go with 68 receptions for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns on offense.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Averaged 48.8 yards per punt and connected on 12 of 17 field goals.
