For those interested in maybe catching a glimpse of some top prospects in action, ESPN will be airing live HS games as part of their High School Football Kickoff schedule. The ESPN family of networks will air 10 games from Aug. 26-28.
The f
irst week's airing's begin 8/26.
Highlights:
- 3 Days, 10 Games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU
- 35 Ranked Players in the ESPN 300
- Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State and USC Commits to Participate
- 10 States Represented, Including Six 2015 State Champions
The 8/26 weekend schedule:
Friday, August 26
Hillsboro (TN) vs. Oakland (TN)
8 p.m. on ESPNU from Ray Hughes Stadium, Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Oakland was a semifinalist (6A D1) and Hillsboro was a quarterfinalist (5A D1) in 2015 TSSAA playoffs
- Oakland ATH JaCoby Stevens is the No. 24 ranked player in the country
- This game is a rematch of a 2015 regular season game after Oakland defeated Hillsboro 36-28
Basha (AZ) vs. Pinnacle (AZ)
11 p.m. on ESPNU from Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Ariz.
- Basha quarterback Ryan Kelly is the No. 94 ranked player in the country and the No. 5 DT QB
- Pinnacle boasts at least 8 D1 prospects in their 2017 class, and are led by Sophomore QB Spencer Rattler who has offers from UCLA, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and others
Saturday, August 27
Pine-Richland (PA) vs. St. Edward (OH)
Noon on ESPN from Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Ohio
- Edward finished #6 in the USA Today 2015 rankings after finishing 14-1 and winning the OHSAA D1 title
- Pine-Richland was a PIAA 4A state semifinalist who features junior QB Phil Jurkovec, a Notre Dame commit
Heritage (TX) vs. Lone Star (TX)
1:30 p.m. on ESPNU from The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas
- Lone Star was 14-2 in 2015 and was the UIL 5A D2 state runner-up
- This game will be played at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, which is a first-of-its-kind venue shared by the Dallas Cowboys (practice facility and world headquarters) and Frisco Independent School District
Saguaro (AZ) vs. Valor Christian (CO)
3:30 p.m. on ESPN from Valor Stadium, Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo.
- Matchup between defending state champions from Arizona and Colorado
- Valor Christian has won the CHSAA 5A state title five of the past six years and is led by the No. 19 ranked player, QB Dylan McCaffrey, who is committed to Michigan and is the younger brother to Stanford RB and 2015 Heisman Trophy runner-up Christian McCaffrey
- Last year Saguaro won its third straight AIA D2 state title
St. John Bosco (CA) vs. St. Xavier (OH)
5 p.m. on ESPNU from Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio
- John Bosco is the CIF Southern Section Pac 5 runner-up and were ranked No. 11 in the country last year
- John Bosco returns the No. 35 and 184 ranked players, OG Wyatt Davis (Ohio St.) and WR Terrell Bynum (Washington)
- Xavier is led by QB Sean Clifford, ranked No. 79 (Penn St.) and No. 102 OG Matt Bockhort (Clemson)
IMG Academy (FL) vs. Grayson (GA)
6 p.m. on ESPN2 from Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga.
- IMG Academy currently has twelve ranked ESPN 300 ranked players, including No. 5 Robert Beal, the No. 1 ranked DE in the country
- Grayson was a GHSA 6A semifinalist last year and currently has five ESPN 300 ranked players including No. 10 DeAngelo Gibbs, the No. 2 ranked ATH in the country
American Heritage (FL) vs. Colquitt County (GA)
8 p.m. on ESPNU from Mack Tharpe Stadium in Moultrie, Ga.
- American Heritage is led up front by two OT’s, No. 43 Tedarrell Slaton and No. 106 Kai-Leon Herbert, as well as No. 249 CB Marco Wilson
- Colquitt County has won back-to-back GHSAA 6A state titles, finishing ranked #2 in the country according to USA Today at 15-0; they enter the season with a 30 game win streak
Bishop Gorman (NV) vs. Cedar Hill (TX)
9 p.m. on ESPN2 from Longhorn Stadium at Cedar Hill High School in Cedar Hill, Texas
- Bishop Gorman is the two-time repeating “National Champion,” ranked No. 1 by USA Today; they enter the season with a 39-game win streak
- No. 72 QB Tate Martell returns for Bishop Gorman, along with No. 112 DE Haskell Garrett, No. 151 CB Alex Perry and No. 208 S Bubba Bolden (USC)
- For Cedar Hill, No. 140 QB Avery Davis (Notre Dame) leads a talented team that looks to make another state finals appearance after missing out last year for the first time in the last four years
Sunday, August 28
Trinity Christian (FL) vs. Cocoa (FL)
2 p.m. on ESPN2 from Tiger Stadium at Cocoa High School in Cocoa, Fla.
- Trinity Christian Academy finished the 2015 season ranked No. 24 by USA Today with a 14-0 record and the FHSAA 3A State Title. They return with a talented senior class including No. 13 CB Shaun Wade (Ohio State) and No. 68 WR DJ Matthews (Florida State)
- Cocoa was an FHSAA 4A semifinalist and they return No. 286 ATH (QB) Bruce Judson
ESPN 300 Participants
Rank Position Player High School College Commitment*
No. 5 DE Robert Beal IMG Academy
No. 6 ATH Dylan Moses IMG Academy
No. 10 ATH DeAngelo Gibbs Grayson
No. 13 CB Shaun Wade Trinity Christian
Ohio State
No. 18 DE Joshua Kaindoh IMG Academy
Maryland
No. 19 QB Dylan McCaffery Valor Christian
Michigan
No. 24 ATH JaCoby Stevens Oakland
No. 35 OT Wyatt Davis St. John Bosco
Ohio State
No. 37 CB Jamyest Williams Grayson
No. 43 OT Tedarrell Slaton American Heritage
No. 48 S Isaiah Pryor IMG Academy
Ohio State
No. 49 QB Kellen Mond IMG Academy
Texas A&M
No. 53 OT Tony Gray Grayson
No. 57 S Grant Delpit IMG Academy
No. 68 WR D.J. Matthews Trinity Christian
Florida State
No. 72 QB Tate Martell Bishop Gorman
Ohio State
No. 79 QB Sean Clifford St. Xavier
Penn State
No. 80 OG Robert Hainsey IMG Academy
No. 89 OC Cesar Ruiz IMG Academy
No. 94 QB Ryan Kelly Basha
Arizona State
No. 102 OG Matt Bockhorst St. Xavier
Clemson
No. 106 OT Kai-Leon Herbert American Heritage
No. 112 DT Haskell Garrett Bishop Gorman
Ohio State
No. 122 ATH Jordan Anthony IMG Academy
No. 124 CB Marcus Williamson IMG Academy
Ohio State
No. 139 WR Jhamon Ausbon IMG Academy
LSU
No. 140 QB Avery Davis Cedar Hill
Notre Dame
No. 145 OLB Breon Dixon Grayson
Georgia
No. 151 CB Alex Perry Bishop Gorman
No. 184 WR Terrell Bynum St. John Bosco
Washington
No. 191 QB Chase Brice Grayson
Clemson
No. 208 S Bubba Bolden Bishop Gorman
USC
No. 246 TE Tre’ McKitty IMG Academy
No. 249 CB Marco Wilson American Heritage
No. 286 ATH Bruce Judson Cocoa
*Please note: No player has signed with a school
All ESPN 300 Rankings and Verbal Commitments are up-to-date as of June 30, 2016