The School Soccer Playoff has arrived, and with it a smaller stage the place a handful of elite gamers can resolve video games. This checklist is pulled straight from our full High 150 participant rankings — which shall be printed later this week — and narrows that broader analysis to the very best gamers nonetheless competing for a nationwide championship.
That strategy produces some telling outcomes. Group of 5 representatives Tulane and James Madison don’t place a single participant within the High 150 or on this checklist. Oklahoma, regardless of internet hosting a playoff recreation Friday night time, has simply two gamers within the High 150 and none among the many prime 25. Ohio State accounts for seven of the 25 gamers ranked right here, whereas seven extra shall be on the sphere when Miami performs Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon, a matchup assured to remove probably the most talent-rich groups within the bracket.
And the way unusual is it that Georgia and Alabama, which have probably the most expertise in school soccer, positioned only one participant apiece in these prime 25 rankings?
With all that context in thoughts, listed below are the 25 finest gamers within the School Soccer Playoff area.
1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Mendoza takes dwelling the Heisman Trophy and practically each nationwide participant of the yr and quarterback award after an excellent season that led Indiana to the No. 1 seed coming into the School Soccer Playoff. He was on level all yr, finishing 71.5% of his passes whereas offering precisely what the Hoosiers wanted in management, poise and late-game execution. Mendoza persistently confirmed the arm energy to ship the ball on time and thru tight home windows with accuracy. He processes shortly pre-snap and takes benefit of favorable matchups. Mendoza threw for 33 touchdowns with solely six interceptions.
2. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
Reese is an off-the-ball linebacker who does the whole lot at an elite stage. A uncommon expertise, he served as a serious chess piece on a formidable Buckeyes protection. Lengthy and powerful with wonderful change of course and velocity, Reese matched up towards operating backs and tight ends whereas not permitting a landing in protection all season. He additionally excelled as a cross rusher when given alternatives, exhibiting the power to transform velocity to energy. Reese completed with 6.5 sacks and 11 hurries and appears like a top-10 NFL Draft decide.
3. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Uncommon abilities like Smith don’t come round typically, and he has the power to take over video games each time he touches the soccer. He pairs distinctive size with velocity and the energy to run via defenders after the catch. Smith’s presence opens alternatives for teammates, and when focused, he persistently delivers. He completed the season with practically 1,100 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
4. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Rodriguez gained practically each nationwide defensive award and shined regardless of being surrounded by a much-improved roster. He completed with 117 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions and 6 cross breakups. Rodriguez exhibits wonderful instincts in each run and cross protection and is a bodily, dependable tackler within the field.
5. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
Moore performed like a seasoned veteran, finishing 72.5% of his passes on the season. He remained calm beneath strain and persistently delivered in clutch conditions, recording 24 big-time throws and 24 passing touchdowns. Moore additionally has the power to run round or via defenders when performs break down and might create successfully on the transfer.
6. Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
Howell is a twitchy edge rusher with an explosive first step who put the whole lot collectively this season, main the SEC with 11.5 sacks. He added 31 hurries and 14 tackles for loss. Howell wins with velocity, a robust long-arm transfer and the power to counter inside when tackles overset. He performs with a relentless motor and pure pass-rushing instincts.
7. David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
Bailey is a pure edge rusher who wins with velocity and exhibits distinctive quickness in tight areas. He’s a dynamic defender able to wrecking video games. Bailey completed with 13.5 sacks, 48 hurries and 17.5 tackles for loss. He was a game-changer for a Texas Tech protection that powered this system’s success for the primary time in many years.
8. Malachi Toney, WR, Miami
Toney was probably the most electrical freshmen within the nation and a risk to attain each time he touched the ball. An all-purpose weapon, he carried the Hurricanes offense for a lot of the season. Toney completed with 84 receptions for practically 1,000 yards and likewise threw for 2 touchdowns. He brings velocity, burst and wiggle in tight areas that go away defenders spinning. He’s additionally a ferocious blocker and a dynamic punt returner.
9. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Chambliss was one of many greatest surprises of the season as a dual-threat quarterback who delivered week after week. He by no means regarded overwhelmed by the second and persistently got here via in clutch conditions. Chambliss threw for greater than 3,000 yards with 18 touchdowns and solely three interceptions, whereas including 470 dashing yards and 6 dashing touchdowns.
10. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
Mauigoa is a bodily presence within the run recreation who can displace defenders and exhibits fast toes in cross safety to achieve landmarks and stone rushers. He served as a frontrunner and alpha on a robust Miami offensive line. An All-American with the precise mentality, Mauigoa is a troublesome, dependable participant who brings it each week.
11. Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
Bain was probably the most dominant gamers within the nation, controlling the road of scrimmage in each phases. He overwhelmed opponents weekly with relentless effort and a strong mix of velocity and energy. Bain completed the season with 4.5 sacks, 50 pressures and seven.5 tackles for loss.
12. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
Sadiq is a fluid mover who runs like a giant huge receiver and naturally catches the ball away from his physique earlier than turning upfield. He elevated his play when Oregon handled accidents at huge receiver, ending with 40 receptions and eight touchdowns. Sadiq persistently finds tender spots in protection and is a reliable playmaker with big-play potential after the catch. He’s additionally a greater blocker than marketed.
13. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
Downs is a high-IQ defender and true alpha who excels in protection and run help. He has the power to erase tight ends, play successfully within the field and sort out in area. Downs completed the season with 60 tackles and two interceptions. He gained the Jim Thorpe Award.
14. Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State
Sayin continued to enhance weekly and settled in as a extremely environment friendly passer, finishing greater than 79% of his throws whereas taking excellent care of the soccer. He threw for 31 touchdowns and excelled beneath strain, exhibiting contact and accuracy on deep balls. Sayin additionally layers throws nicely between defenders.
15. Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss
Lacy was a game-changer for the Rebels, dashing for practically 1,300 yards and 20 touchdowns with 37 explosive runs. He excels as a north-south runner with sturdy contact steadiness and efficient cutback capacity for chunk features. Lacy additionally caught 25 passes and initiatives as one of many prime operating backs within the nation in 2026.
16. Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
Mesidor combines wonderful bend and motor with refined method as a cross rusher. He completed the season with seven sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 32 pressures. Mesidor makes use of his palms and hips successfully to complete performs and has an excellent first step off the ball. He was probably the most disruptive defenders within the nation.
17. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate stays underrated nationally regardless of the power to win at each stage of the sphere. He tracks the soccer nicely and excels at high-pointing contested catches. Tate completed the season with 838 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns with no drop. He’s a reliable route runner with sturdy palms who persistently strikes the chains.
18. Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M
Reed had an amazing season main one among Texas A&M’s most explosive offenses because the Johnny Manziel period. He threw 25 landing passes and confirmed marked enchancment as a passer whereas remaining a risk as a runner. Reed rushed for 466 yards and 6 touchdowns regardless of utilizing his legs much less in the course of the 2025 season.
19. Sonny Kinds, LB, Ohio State
Kinds is an athletic, every-down linebacker who excels in all phases. He completed the season with 80 tackles and confirmed fluidity in protection, understanding leverage and matching up successfully with operating backs and tight ends. Kinds didn’t enable a landing in protection and added an interception. He has wonderful vary within the run recreation and persistently works via visitors to achieve the ball service.
20. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Concepcion is explosive on screens and slants, breaking tackles and maximizing features, whereas additionally stretching defenses vertically. He completed with practically 900 receiving yards and 9 receiving touchdowns, added two punt-return touchdowns and scored as soon as on the bottom. Concepcion accelerates shortly after the catch, assaults the soccer within the air and is a continuing scoring risk each time he touches the ball.
21. Caden Curry, EDGE, Ohio State
Curry is a flexible defender who disrupts from a number of spots alongside the defensive position, together with his finest work coming at left defensive finish. He performs with relentless effort, excels on motion and stunt ideas and understands the scheme at a excessive stage. Curry can strain the quarterback and brings a lunch-pail work ethic each snap. He completed the season with 11 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and 18 hurries.
22. Romello Peak, EDGE, Texas Tech
Peak is a twitchy edge rusher who units the whole lot up with velocity off the sting whereas possessing a full arsenal of pass-rush strikes. He affected the quarterback at a excessive price, ending with 9 sacks and 42 hurries. Peak performs with a robust motor and types a harmful edge tandem with teammate David Bailey.
23. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Simpson was a first-year starter who opened the season on a heater earlier than cooling off late behind a porous offensive line and restricted operating recreation. He throws an correct ball with the arm energy to ship strikes and brings worth as a runner. Simpson performs with a killer mentality, processes shortly and anticipates nicely, exhibiting the power to layer throws throughout the sphere. He completed with 26 landing passes and solely 5 interceptions.
24. Carter Smith, OT, Indiana
Smith delivered constant play in each phases on an underrated Indiana offensive line that handed each weekly take a look at. He exhibits sound run-blocking method that generates motion and excels in cross safety. Smith didn’t enable a sack this season and shows the footwork and hand utilization to reflect and stone defenders whereas various his cross units.
25. Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia
Stockton’s numbers could not overwhelm, however his make-up mirrors that of Georgia Tech’s Haynes King as a competitor for whom the second isn’t too large. He persistently delivered in high-leverage conditions, finishing 71% of his passes for 23 touchdowns and solely 5 interceptions. Stockton added practically 450 dashing yards and eight dashing touchdowns.
