Top 25 high school football players in Florida

Florida continues to produce elite football players at a level that’s hardly rivaled.

The Sunshine State continues to take center stage in the high school football world alongside Texas, Georgia and California. Across the 2025 and 2026 classes, a total of 12 prospects are ranked inside the top 50 nationally.

Below are the top 25 football players in the state of Florida, based on the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Who are the best Florida high school football players?

1. CB DJ Pickett — 98.62

High School: Zephyrhills

If you look at his high school stats, you might think that DJ Pickett is poised to be an elite wide receiver at the next level. While the LSU commit certainly could serve as a weapon on the offensive side of the ball, it’s the secondary that he’ll be roaming for the next few years. The No. 6 overall prospect and No. 2 corner in the nation, Pickett claimed over 1,000 total yards as a junior and will once again be a force this fall, powered by his 6-foot-4 frame and outstanding athleticism.

2. IOL Solomon Thomas — 97.26

High School: Raines

Committed to Florida State since December, Solomon Thomas has continued to emerge as one of the nation’s top trench monsters entering the 2024 campaign. Checking in at 6-foot-3.5 and 315 pounds, Thomas is the No. 1 interior lineman in the land, which says plenty about his game given the shear amount of talent at the position this cycle. His 35.75-inch arms are a major plus as he continues to dominate defensive lineman and linebackers alike.

3. WR Jaime Ffrench — 96.61

High School: Mandarin

Jaime Ffrench broke out in a big way as a junior, tallying 62 receptions for 1,247 yards and 14 touchdowns. As he nears his college decision later this month, the 6-foot-1 pass-catcher sits at the top of his position in the Sunshine State and has also ran track and played basketball throughout his high school career. Capable of beating defensive backs at any spot on the field, Ffrench is as dynamic and versatile as they come. He ranks No. 18 overall and No. 4 at WR this cycle.

4. WR Dallas Wilson — 96.02

High School: Tampa Bay Tech

Dallas Wilson caught 89 passes for over 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns across his sophomore and junior campaigns, cementing his status as one of the best in the state on a rock-solid Tampa Bay Tech squad. Vaunted for his twitch and ability to rack up yards after the catch, the longtime Oregon commit measures in at 6-foot-2.75 with 32.5-inch arms and 10-inch hands. The No. 5 WR in the nation, Wilson is the No. 27 prospect overall.

5. WR Vernell Brown III — 95.33

High School: Jones

Another pass-catcher with an argument for best pure athlete in the state, Vernell Brown III brings a well-rounded skillset to the gridiron and is coming off an impressive junior season that witnessed 70 catches for 1,363 yards and 10 scores. The triple Florida legacy and current Gators commit also racked up 266 yards on punt and kick return. On the track, Brown ran a personal best of 10.91 seconds in the 100 meters as a junior. He ranks No. 33 overall and is right behind Ffrench and Wilson as the No. 6 WR in the nation.

6. EDGE Javion Hilson — 94.98

High School: Cocoa

Quarterbacks across the state are very familiar with Florida State commit Javion Hilson, as the 6-foot-3.5, 225-pounder has lived in opposing backfields throughout his high school career. His jaw-dropping stats as a junior include 94 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 44 hurries and a whopping 14 sacks. Across his last two seasons, Hilson is responsible for 151 lost yards. His ferocity coming off the edge is a sight to behold and he’ll continue to make his case for the best defensive player in the state this fall. Hilson is the No. 40 overall recruit and No. 3 EDGE in the nation.

7. ATH Derrek Cooper (2026) — 94.96

High School: Chaminade-Madonna

Entering the 2024 season as one of the top juniors in the nation, Derrek Cooper will continue to be a pain for opposing teams to deal with on both sides of the ball. Whether it be at receiver or in the secondary, the pure athlete has some of the best hands in the state and all the tools to excel at the next level. He collected 49 tackles and four interceptions last season as a sophomore. He ranks No. 14 overall in the 2026 cycle.

8. QB Dia Bell (2026) — 94.88

High School: American Heritage

Rated as the top quarterback in the state regardless of class, Dia Bell stamped his arrival as a sophomore last season, slinging 122 completions for 1,929 yards and 20 touchdowns. The son of former NBA guard Raja Bell, Dia has scored touchdowns for American Heritage since he was in eighth grade and has accounted for over 2,300 yards across three seasons at the varsity level. The 6-foot-3 Texas commit is ranked No. 16 overall and No. 4 under center in the junior class.

9. WR Calvin Russell (2026) — 94.87

High School: Northwestern

Calvin Russell will be a Swiss Army knife for new Northwestern head coach Teddy Bridgewater this fall. The 6-foot-5.5, 190-pound prospect will be a receiver at the next level, but he can do a little bit of everything on the offensive side of the ball. As a sophomore last season, Russell threw and ran for four touchdowns a piece. His development as a junior will be one to watch as he currently ranks No. 17 overall in the 2026 cycle.

10. S Hylton Stubbs — 94.25

High School: Mandarin

Hylton “Drake” Stubbs is the defensive headliner for Mandarin’s stacked 2024 roster and it’s easy to understand why. The Miami commit acquired 97 tackles and six interceptions last season and has racked up over 230 tackles and 10 picks across his first three campaigns for the Mustangs. The dynamic athlete ranks No. 55 overall and is also the No. 4 safety in the nation.

11. IOL Michael Carroll — 94.22
12. Safety Ivan Taylor — 94.07
13. LB Tarvos Alford — 93.80
14. WR Jabari Brady (2026) — 93.66
15. LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng — 93.45

16. OT Keenyi Pepe (2026) — 93.41
17. LB Ty Jackson — 93.36
18. WR Donovan Olugbode — 93.20
19. Safety Justice Fitzpatrick (2026) — 93.15
20. CB Ben Hanks Jr. — 93.12

21. DL Jalen Wiggins — 93.08
22. EDGE Jesse Harrold — 92.98
23. Safety Dallas Golden — 92.96
24. WR Cortez Mills — 92.92
25. DL Myron Charles — 92.80