2024 Football Top 50 Rankings
1. There are eight newcomers in the Top 50 headlined by Bishop O’Dowd offensive lineman Berlin Lillard (Colorado State), Riordan OL/TE Kalolo Kaihea and Serra offensive lineman John Holthaus (Colorado State). They are ranked No. 28, No. 39 and No. 31 respectively. Kaihea is starting football this year with the potential for a big move up following this season.
2. Since we just noted it, let's take time to look at Colorado State having a pair of Top 50 recruits heading into the high school season. Head coach Jay Norvell is entering year two in Fort Collins after a successful run at Nevada along with Will C. Wood quarterback Carson Strong.
3. Acalanes wide receiver Trevor Rogers (California) and Wilcox offensive lineman Justin Hylkema (Arizona) both have jumped more than 20 spots since the spring and have given Pac-12 commitments. Granite Bay linebacker Frank Cusano (Washington State) and St. Mary’s-Stockton safety Omari Gayles (Harvard) also moved up five and four spots respectively.
4. Offensive line has been a position of strength for NorCal the past decade and 20% (10 of 50) of the rankings fit this category. One trend to note is only three of the top 13 are offensive linemen. The biggest group was wide receivers/tight ends combined at 12. Four of the Top 12 as pass catchers led by Windsor’s Ananias Walker.
5. Section supremacy in these rankings usually comes down to the Sac-Joaquin Section and the North Coast Section. The SJS leads the way with 20 prospects. They have five in the top nine and nine in the top 20. However, the Central Section came in second at 16 players with seven players from Serra. The NCS has 12 players in the rankings.
6. Many of the top prospects have given college commitments with eight of the top 13 players off the board and Central Catholic’s Manasse Itete expected to commit today. California has a pair of commitments in Acalanes’ Trevor Rogers and Central Catholic’s Brooklyn Cheek. The top unranked prospects are Armijo’s Jericho Johnson, Serra’s Maealiaki Smith, Windsor’s Ananias Walker and Palo Alto’s Ikinasio Tupou.
7. San Jose State enters the fall with three Top 50 commits including Serra teammates Jabari Mann (linebacker) and Joseph Bey (defensive back). They also secured a commitment from Overfelt linebacker John Stowers. The three players represent some of the best defenders in the Central Coast Section.
8. With commitments from Lincoln Stockton’s Jathyn Long and Del Oro’s Tommy Poe, Sacramento State is off to a good start in the receiver room. Poe is a big target who can stretch the field while Long is dangerous at catching short and making plays after the catch. In the resurgence for the Hornets, there have been numerous NorCal grads leading this position.
9. Northern California is a good recruiting territory for the academies and Army and Air Force already have a pair of Top 50 commits. Army went to two of the best programs in the region in landing Folsom wide receiver Brian Ray and Serra linebacker Marley Alapati. Air Force landed commitments from a pair of teammates at Vista del Lago with offensive weapon Matt Long and offensive lineman Brandon Nazworth.
10. Much like the academies, there is a history of Ivy Leagues being able to pull out Top 50 players. In 2024, St. Mary’s-Stockton defensive back Omari Gayles (Harvard) and Palma defensive end Tommy Ducker (Cornell). Both players are high motor defenders who are possible All-NorCal selections for their senior years.
1. There are eight newcomers in the Top 50 headlined by Bishop O’Dowd offensive lineman Berlin Lillard (Colorado State), Riordan OL/TE Kalolo Kaihea and Serra offensive lineman John Holthaus (Colorado State). They are ranked No. 28, No. 39 and No. 31 respectively. Kaihea is starting football this year with the potential for a big move up following this season.
2. Since we just noted it, let's take time to look at Colorado State having a pair of Top 50 recruits heading into the high school season. Head coach Jay Norvell is entering year two in Fort Collins after a successful run at Nevada along with Will C. Wood quarterback Carson Strong.
3. Acalanes wide receiver Trevor Rogers (California) and Wilcox offensive lineman Justin Hylkema (Arizona) both have jumped more than 20 spots since the spring and have given Pac-12 commitments. Granite Bay linebacker Frank Cusano (Washington State) and St. Mary’s-Stockton safety Omari Gayles (Harvard) also moved up five and four spots respectively.
4. Offensive line has been a position of strength for NorCal the past decade and 20% (10 of 50) of the rankings fit this category. One trend to note is only three of the top 13 are offensive linemen. The biggest group was wide receivers/tight ends combined at 12. Four of the Top 12 as pass catchers led by Windsor’s Ananias Walker.
5. Section supremacy in these rankings usually comes down to the Sac-Joaquin Section and the North Coast Section. The SJS leads the way with 20 prospects. They have five in the top nine and nine in the top 20. However, the Central Section came in second at 16 players with seven players from Serra. The NCS has 12 players in the rankings.
6. Many of the top prospects have given college commitments with eight of the top 13 players off the board and Central Catholic’s Manasse Itete expected to commit today. California has a pair of commitments in Acalanes’ Trevor Rogers and Central Catholic’s Brooklyn Cheek. The top unranked prospects are Armijo’s Jericho Johnson, Serra’s Maealiaki Smith, Windsor’s Ananias Walker and Palo Alto’s Ikinasio Tupou.
7. San Jose State enters the fall with three Top 50 commits including Serra teammates Jabari Mann (linebacker) and Joseph Bey (defensive back). They also secured a commitment from Overfelt linebacker John Stowers. The three players represent some of the best defenders in the Central Coast Section.
8. With commitments from Lincoln Stockton’s Jathyn Long and Del Oro’s Tommy Poe, Sacramento State is off to a good start in the receiver room. Poe is a big target who can stretch the field while Long is dangerous at catching short and making plays after the catch. In the resurgence for the Hornets, there have been numerous NorCal grads leading this position.
9. Northern California is a good recruiting territory for the academies and Army and Air Force already have a pair of Top 50 commits. Army went to two of the best programs in the region in landing Folsom wide receiver Brian Ray and Serra linebacker Marley Alapati. Air Force landed commitments from a pair of teammates at Vista del Lago with offensive weapon Matt Long and offensive lineman Brandon Nazworth.
10. Much like the academies, there is a history of Ivy Leagues being able to pull out Top 50 players. In 2024, St. Mary’s-Stockton defensive back Omari Gayles (Harvard) and Palma defensive end Tommy Ducker (Cornell). Both players are high motor defenders who are possible All-NorCal selections for their senior years.
