Best High School Football Games to Watch Top 2014 Recruits
High school football season is upon us, as it is now time for the top 2014 recruits to focus on actually playing football.
High school football teams are no longer satisfied by playing local competition, as many elite prep programs schedule games nationally against other powerhouses. This has led to many outstanding football games featuring top recruits, and the 2013 season will feature more of the same.
A school in Louisiana that features a great receiver faces a two-week gauntlet of juggernauts that have a tremendous amount of talent. Several schools in Florida will play in big games essentially every week, and two of the country's best defensive backs will be on the same field in November.
Miami Central (FL) at American Heritage (FL) on 8/30
1 of 22Top Recruits to watch for Central: Joseph Yearby, RB, Dalvin Cook, RB and Trevor Darling, OL
Top recruits to watch for American Heritage: Sony Michel, RB and Isaiah McKenzie, WR
This game will feature three of the best players in the country, as Cook and Michel are 5-star running backs, while Yearby is a 4-star back. Miami Central has its sights set on a national title, but Michel will look to run his team to a victory.
Look for Darling, a 4-star Miami commit, to dominate the line of the scrimmage as a blocker all night.
Coppell (TX) vs. Longview (TX) on 8/30
2 of 22Top recruit to watch for Coppell: Solomon Thomas, DL
Top recruits to watch for Longview: Zaycoven Henderson, DT and Dorian Leonard, WR
Leonard is a 3-star receiver headed to Texas who is 6'4" and 200 pounds. He is an intriguing prospect, but he will not be the focus of this game.
That honor will go to looking at who has a better night between Thomas, a 5-star defensive lineman, and Henderson, a 4-star defensive tackle who is committed to TCU.
Both players will be headaches for their opposing offensive lines, so look for them to play a game of "anything you can do, I can do better" during this contest.
St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) at Northwestern (FL) on 8/31
3 of 22Top Recruits to watch for St. Thomas Aquinas: Anthony Moten, DT, Corey Holmes, WR, Nick Linder, OL and Al Harris Jr., CB
Top Recruits to watch for Northwestern: Jojo Robinson, ATH and Mike Smith, DE
A pair of programs that annually compete for state titles, the Raiders and Bulls will have another anticipated tussle in 2013. The matchup to watch in this game is the 4-star battle between Holmes and Robinson.
Holmes is a 6'2" receiver headed to Notre Dame, but Robinson, a Florida State pledge, has the athleticism and confidence to cover anyone on the perimeter.
Curtis (LA) at Bergen Catholic (NJ) on 9/6
4 of 22Top Recruits to watch for Curtis: Malachi Dupre, WR, Kenny Young, LB, Mattrell McGraw, S and Terrence Alexander, CB
Top Recruits to watch for Bergen Catholic: Garrett Dickerson, DE, Kurt Holuba, DE and Cameron Queiro, LB
Curtis will head to New Jersey in early September to face a tough Bergen Catholic squad. They will try to get the ball to Dupre more this season, as the receiver is a 5-star prospect.
However, Bergen Catholic will have Dickerson crashing off the edges, as the 4-star prospect is a good defensive end. He will be flanked by Holuba, a 3-star recruit, and the 3-star linebacker Queiro will be in charge of stopping Curtis' potent rushing attack.
Booker T. Washington (FL) at Miami Central on 9/6
5 of 22Top Recruits to watch for Washington: Treon Harris, ATH/QB, Chad Thomas, DE and Nigel Bethel, DB
Top Recruits to watch for Central: Joseph Yearby, RB, Dalvin Cook, RB and Trevor Darling, OL
The city of Miami not only produces exceptional talent, but that talent also routinely faces each other on the field in the fall. This will be a game with a lot on the line, as it pits two juggernaut programs against one another.
Although the 4-star recruits will be teammates next year at Miami, Thomas and Darling will be involved in a heated matchup in the trenches. Thomas also will be trying to slow down Yearby, a 4-star running back also committed to the Hurricanes.
Harris, a 4-star athlete, will be looking to have a big game as a quarterback to continue his mission of showing observers that is his true position.
St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) at Curtis (LA) on 9/13
6 of 22Top Recruits to watch for St. Thomas Aquinas: Anthony Moten, DT, Corey Holmes, WR, Nick Linder, OL and Al Harris Jr., CB
Top Recruits to watch for Curtis: Malachi Dupre, WR, Kenny Young, LB, Mattrell McGraw, S and Terrence Alexander, CB
St. Thomas Aquinas always has excellent talent and is one of the top-tier programs in Florida. The Raiders will take on Curtis, a powerhouse from Louisiana, at the Superdome.
Harris, a 3-star cornerback, will look to increase his rating by having a good showing against Dupre, who is a 5-star receiver.
St. Thomas will counter offensively by trotting out 4-star Notre Dame commit Corey Holmes, but Curtis features McGraw and Alexander, a pair of 3-star defensive backs, in its secondary.
Centennial (CA) vs. Long Beach Poly (CA) on 9/13
7 of 22Top Recruits for Centennial: Barry Ware, WR, Austin Maloata, DE and Viane Talamaivao, OL
Top Recruits for Long Beach Poly: John Smith, WR/S and Iman Marshall, CB (2015 5-star recruit)
Southern California has an exceptional high school football scene, and Long Beach Poly and Centennial are two of the best programs in the country.
This will be a fun matchup to see, as Smith and Ware are two of the better skill-position players in the 2014 class. Smith is a 5-star athlete who is a dynamic safety on defense, while UCLA has a commitment from Ware, a 3-star receiver who stands 6'3".
Talamaivao, a 4-star offensive lineman, will be showcasing why Alabama ventured into California for him.
Karr (LA) vs. St. Augustine (LA) on 9/13
8 of 22Top recruits to watch for St. Augustine: Leonard Fournette, RB, Jermaine Roberts, CB and Joseph Paul, OG
Top Recruits to watch for Karr: Speedy Noil, ATH, Gerald Willis, DT and Donnie Alexander, OLB
New Orleans will be a divided city on September 13, as the Cougars will go to St. Augustine High School looking to come away with a big victory.
A trio of 5-star recruits will be on the field, as Willis will be looking to slow down Fournette, while Noil has aspirations of jetting by the Purple Knights' defense. Roberts, a 3-star cornerback, will likely get the call to match up with Noil on the perimeter.
Norcross (GA) vs. North Gwinnett (GA) on 9/13
9 of 22Top Recruits for Norcross: Lorenzo Carter, DE, Myles Autry, RB and Kevin Mouhon, LB
Top Recruits for North Gwinnett: Dante Sawyer, DE C.J. Leggett, RB and Nate Brown, WR
Carter is a 5-star defensive end who is regarded as one of the elite prospects in the country. He will be the leader for Norcross this year, as the Blue Devils also feature 4-star recruits Autry and Mouhon, who is committed to Tennessee.
Carter will be looking to stop Leggett, a 3-star running back with solid strength. Brown is a 6'3", 210-pound 3-star receiver who will looking to avoid Mouhon when going across the middle.
Curtis (LA) at Edna Karr (LA) on 9/26
10 of 22Top Recruits to watch for Curtis: Malachi Dupre, WR, Kenny Young, LB, Mattrell McGraw, S and Terrence Alexander, CB
Top Recruits to watch for Karr: Speedy Noil, ATH, Gerald Willis, DT and Donnie Alexander, OLB
The Patriots of Curtis will travel into New Orleans for the start of back-to-back games against two powerhouses in the Big Easy.
Karr features two 5-star prospects in Noil and Willis. Curtis' defense will have its hands full trying to stop the electric Noil, while its offensive line must contend with Willis in the trenches.
Also, keep an eye on Alexander, as the 3-star LSU commit will be looking to prove he belongs in the same breath as his 5-star teammates.
Hamilton (AZ) at Mountain Pointe (AZ) on 9/27
11 of 22Top Recruits for Hamilton: Casey Tucker, OL and Qualen Cunningham, DE
Top Recruits for Mountain Pointe: Jalen Brown, WR and Natrell Curtis, OL
Arizona is a state on the rise as far as college football recruiting. Football means a lot to many people in the state, and just because it gets scorching during the day does not mean players shy away strapping on their pads and working hard.
Four-star offensive tackle Casey Tucker will lead his Hamilton squad to Mountain Pointe to face 4-star receiver Jalen Brown.
Curtis and Cunningham, two 4-star prospects, could lock horns on several plays during this contest in the desert.
Our Lady of Good Counsel (MD) at DeMatha (MD) on 9/27
12 of 22Top Recruits for Our Lady of Good Counsel: Jesse Aniebonam, DE, Sam Mustipher, OL and Kobie Walker, S
Top Recruits for DeMatha: Chris Jones, WR, Cameron Phillips, WR and Taiwan Deal, RB
The Stags have two 3-star receivers in Jones and Phillips, but Aniebonam, a 4-star defensive end, will be looking to limit their effectiveness by pressuring the quarterback. This is a key game in the DMV area, as both programs are annually among the best in the country.
Curtis (LA) at St. Augustine (LA) on 10/4
13 of 22Top Recruits to watch for Curtis: Malachi Dupre, WR, Kenny Young, LB, Mattrell McGraw, S and Terrence Alexander, CB
Top recruits to watch for St. Augustine: Leonard Fournette, RB, Jermaine Roberts, CB and Joseph Paul, OG
In another huge game for Curtis, one has to wonder if the Patriots will be emotionally ready to play another juggernaut team after dealing with Edna Karr the previous week.
St. Augustine features Fournette, a 5-star running back who is the best prospect at his position since perhaps Adrian Peterson. Roberts, a 3-star Texas commit, will relish the opportunity to match up with Dupre, a 5-star receiver.
Miami Central (FL) vs. Homestead (FL) on 10/5
14 of 22Top Recruits to watch for Central: Joseph Yearby, RB, Dalvin Cook, RB and Trevor Darling, OL
Top Recruit to watch for Homestead: Ermon Lane, WR
The Rockets will host Homestead in early October, and this one will likely bring some offensive fireworks. Yearby and Cook will look to light up Homestead's defense, but when the Broncos have the ball, they will be able to challenge Central's secondary with 6'3" 5-star receiver Ermon Lane.
Not many high school football games feature three 5-star recruits and four of the best 100 players in America.
Hebron (TX) at Coppell (TX) on 10/11
15 of 22Top Recruit to watch for Coppell: Solomon Thomas, DL
Top Recruit to watch for Hebron: Jamal Adams, S
Not only are Thomas and Adams 5-star prospects, but they also are ranked No. 21 and No. 22 in the 247Sports composite rankings, respectively. If a Adams has a big game versus Coppell, he could overtake Thomas in the national rankings.
A program such as Texas will likely have interest in watching this game.
DeSoto (TX) vs. Mansfield Timberview (TX) on 10/11
16 of 22Top Recruits for DeSoto: None
Top Recruits for Mansfield Timberview: Edward Paris, DB and Brandon Simmons, S
DeSoto may not have any star recruits, but its team is greater as a whole than the sum of its parts. Mansfield Timberview features a star-studded secondary with Paris, a 5-star defensive back headed to LSU, and Simmons, a 4-star Stanford commit.
The Eagles routinely have a potent offense, so the pair of stud defensive backs will have their hands full.
Northwestern (FL) at Booker T. Washington (FL) on 10/12
17 of 22Top Recruits to watch for Northwestern: JoJo Robinson, ATH and Mike Smith, DE
Top Recruits to watch for Washington: Treon Harris, ATH/QB, Chad Thomas, DE and Nigel Bethel, DB
This will be a neat game to watch because all of the outstanding speed, quickness and explosive athleticism that will be on the field for both teams. Robinson, a 4-star athlete who is headed to Florida State, can impact the game as a runner, receiver, returner and defensive back.
However, it will be great watching Smith, a 3-star defensive end chase Harris around all night. A 4-star athlete, Harris plays quarterback for Washington and has flashed great accuracy at the position.
Miami Central (FL) at Northwestern (FL) on 10/18
18 of 22Top Recruits to watch for Central: Joseph Yearby, RB, Dalvin Cook, RB and Trevor Darling, OL
Top Recruits to watch for Northwestern: JoJo Robinson, ATH and Mike Smith, DE
The city of Miami may come to a screeching halt for this game. Robinson, a 4-star Florida State commitment, and Smith, a 4-star Miami pledge, will try to slow down the lethal running back duo in Yearby and Cook.
A key matchup in this game will be watching Smith and Darling, a 4-star Miami commit, battle in the trenches. Will Northwestern have the uber-athletic Robinson spy on Yearby every play?
Serra (CA) vs. Chaminade (CA) on 10/18
19 of 22Top Recruits for Serra: Adoree' Jackson, CB, Dwight Williams, LB Jordan Lasley, WR and Jalen Greene, QB
Top Recruit for Chaminade: Brad Kaaya, QB
Greene and Lasley are 3-star prospects who will be hungry to light up the scoreboard for the Cavs, but all eyes will be on Serra's two defensive stars.
Jackson is a 5-star cornerback, while Williams is a 4-star linebacker, and the pair will be charged with stopping 4-star Miami commit, quarterback Brad Kaaya. Chaminade's offense must know where Williams and Jackson are each play, or the pair of stud defenders will force several costly turnovers.
Friendship Collegiate Academy (D.C.) at Paramus Catholic (NJ) on 11/2
20 of 22Top Recruits for Friendship Academy: Jalen Tabor, CB, Jonathan Haden, ATH and DaeJuan Funderburk, S
Top Recruits for Paramus Catholic: Jabrill Peppers, ATH, Juwann Bushell-Beatty, OL and Tyrone Washington, WR
All eyes will be on the pair of 5-star recruits, Peppers and Tabor, for the duration of this game. Peppers can play receiver and running back, so Tabor will have to match up with New Jersey's best prospect for most of the night.
Funderburk, a 3-star prospect committed to Temple, will also be needed to help slow down Peppers.
Miami Central vs. University High School (FL) on 11/8
21 of 22Top Recruits to watch for Central: Joseph Yearby, RB, Dalvin Cook, RB and Trevor Darling, OL
Top Recruits to watch for University: Sean White, QB, Quincy Wilson, DB, and Richard Yeargin III, LB
White is a 4-star quarterback who is committed to Auburn. He will face college-level speed and athleticism during this game, which will be a great test for him.
Yeargin, a 4-star Notre Dame pledge, has the unenviable task of trying to track Yearby and Cook all night, as the two star running backs have exceptional speed and quickness. He will need help from Wilson, as the 4-star Florida commit has the skills to slow down the duo.
2014 Bleacher Report College Football Recruiting Heat Map
22 of 22The 2014 Bleacher Report College Football Recruiting Heat Map has many of the top recruits mentioned in this piece. It is a mobile-ready app that you can use while watching the top high school football games across the country this fall!
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