The 2026 high school football season is right around the corner, with the season kicking off on Thursday, Aug. 20, when Buena plays Castaic at Valencia High.
The Star unveils its annual preseason top 65 players in the area:
1. Isaiah Phelps, Pacifica: The Star's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, now committed to San Diego State, led the state in tackles with 232 as he powered the Tritons to Marmonte League, CIF-Southern Section Division 3 and CIF-State Division 1A regional titles as a junior. He's also a powerful running back for the Tritons.
2. Taylor Lee, Pacifica: The 6-foot-2, 189-pound quarterback, who committed to Portland State in June, broke the Ventura County records for TD passes in a single season (53) and single game (8) as a junior.
3. Alifeleti Tuihalamaka, Oaks Christian: The 6-foot-4-260-pound defensive lineman, who committed to USC in May, had a team-high eight sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss as a junior.
4. Charles Davis, Westlake: The 6-foot-5, 210-pound receiver caught 30 passes as a junior, but 11 of them were touchdowns. The four-star recruit had more than 25 offers when he committed to UC Berkeley, joining his brother Niles, in April.
5. Caleb Pasina, St. Bonaventure: Matt Perez may be in Reno, but the Seraphs can still move some bodies. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound junior, who arrived from Las Vegas before last season, as already one of the most physical linemen in the county. He has more than 15 offers, including UCLA, Cal and Texas A&M.
6. Demare Dezeurn, Westlake: The wicked fast senior wideout amassed 1,372 receiving yards and 27 total touchdowns last year at Palisades High and will see plenty of open field opposite fellow Cal commit Charles Davis.
7. Tony Dargan, St. Bonaventure: The electric three-phase playmaker, who already has offers from Oregon and UCLA, had 1,142 all-purpose yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions as a freshman. He also set the county freshman record in the 100 meters.
8. Kingston Celifie, Calabasas: The 6-foot sprinter brings 111 receptions for 1,584 yards and 19 TDs, plus four return TDs, into his senior season. He committed to UCLA in May.
9. Alijah Royster, Pacifica: The fleet-footed playmaker enters his senior season with 41 touchdowns, 10 more than any other returning player. That figure includes eight in CIF-State play.
10. Darrien Johnson, Newbury Park: The Panthers’ multi-tool flashed his immense talent as a sophomore, when he threw for a TD, ran for eight TDs, caught a TD pass, had two interceptions, blocked a punt and also returned kicks and punts in just six games. Offers from Sacramento State and Georgia State are just the beginning.
11. Micah Hannah, Simi Valley: The 6-foot-2 junior corner, who has offers from UCLA, USC, Florida, Notre Dame and 13 other schools, had three interceptions in six games as a sophomore.
12. Malaika Sione, Pacifica: The 6-foot, 235-pound edge rusher had 97 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, five sacks and 12 hurries a sophomore.
13. Tristan Savage, Ventura: Whether as a bulldozing running back or an acrobatic jump-ball threat, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior finds the end zone. He scored 25 of Ventura’s 90 TDs last fall.
14. Dominik Hardy, Calabasas: The 6-foot-2 senior returns as the area's most experienced quarterback, leading in career completions (381), attempts (586) and passing yardage (4,457).
15. Jaxson Carper, St. Bonaventure: The 6-foot-3, 160-pound quarterback, who has offers from UCLA, Nebraska and Iowa, enters his junior season having already attempted more than 400 varsity passes.
16. Bryson Kennedy, Oak Park: The 6-foot-3 sophomore quarterback’s arrival from Little Rock, Arkansas — by way of Duncanville, Texas — has been the news of training camp. Offers from Arkansas, Auburn and Missouri herald a promising talent.
17. George Hastings, Agoura: Linebacker or safety? Running back or quarterback? The biggest question is what roles the Chargers will fill with their star senior this fall.
18. Anthony Jacobs Jr., Pacifica: Perhaps the most consistent of Taylor Lee’s trio of elite targets, the 5-foot-10 senior speedster hauled in 54 catches for 1,202 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has offers from Georgia State and New Hampshire.
19. Davis Benson, Moorpark: A multi-event star on the track in springtime, the 6-foot wideout arrived on the gridiron in electric fashion last fall, reeling in 11 TDs and gashing opposing teams on kickoff returns.
20. Apisai Fifita, Oaks Christian: The 6-foot-6, 235-pound tackle who transferred from Mountain View-St. Francis this offseason has offers from Washington, Notre Dame, BYU, Arizona, Cal and UCLA.
21. Zayne Reed, Agoura: The 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive end, who has offers from Washington and Colorado, will miss the first half of the season after transferring from Oaks Christian to Agoura.
22. Ford Green, Westlake: The 6-foot-2 quarterback won his first 10 starts as a freshman, throwing for 2,195 yards and 31 TDs. He already has offers from Ohio State, Michigan and Florida State.
23. James Watson, Ventura: The junior running back was just the backfield jolt the Cougars needed on last year's playoff run, amassing 964 yards and eight TDs rushing in eight games after transferring from St. Bonaventure.
24. Finn Ward, Agoura: The 6-foot-3, 285-pound tackle and reigning Tri-County League Lineman of the Year holds a Division I offer from Dayton. Adding 30 pounds of muscle and keeping up with new teammate Zayne Reed was the senior’s focus this offseason.
25. Will Jones Jr., Pacifica: The 6-foot-2, 175-pound multisport star, who had a pivotal 61-yard TD catch in the Division 3 final, emerged from a sophomore season as a football prospect. Boston College and Utah have already offered.
26. Gabriel Goroyan, Westlake: The Stanford commit nailed 50 of 51 extra-point attempts and seven of 12 field-goal tries, including a 45-yarder, as a junior.
27. Miguel Ledezma, Simi Valley: The 6-foot-3, 310-pound guard is a three-year starter who will anchor the Pioneers up front.
28. Simon Mekari, Newbury Park: The 6-foot-1, 195-pound outside linebacker, the cousin of NFL lineman Patrick Mekari, is a budding star with an Oregon State offer.
29. Riley Williams, Grace: The highest-volume passer in Ventura County not named Taylor Lee, the senior threw for 3,668 yards and 48 touchdowns last year for the Division 12 section champions in his first year playing the position.
30. Will Gelt, Agoura: The 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive end amassed 11 sacks last fall — the most of any returner. The senior has been offered by the University of San Diego.
31. Gary Ferguson, Oak Park: The 6-foot-3 Sacramento State commit, formerly the quarterback at St. Bernard, will try his hands at receiver as a senior.
32. Sal Villa, Simi Valley: If the 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior is over the shoulder injury that hampered him a year ago, he'll be pivotal to the Pioneers’ ground game.
33. Denver Smith, Simi Valley: The 6-foot, 205-pound linebacker, who had 11 tackles for a loss and five sacks as a junior, will combine with the Samon brothers — Brody and Landon — to form the strength of the Pioneers defense.
34. Jason Homan, St. Bonaventure: The 5-foot-9 tackling machine had 150 tackles, including nine for a loss, as a junior.
35. Cole Ziegler, Agoura: The reigning Tri-County League Linebacker of the Year was prolific in 2025, logging 129 total tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, two sacks and two interceptions. The 6-foot, 190-pound senior will see his offensive role expand this season.
36. Gael Flores, Santa Paula: The 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior was a disruptive force for the Cardinals defense, with 21 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks along with 102 tackles — 47 of them solo.
37. Landon Stuart, Newbury Park: The 6-foot, 260-pound defensive lineman, the son of former Westlake High legend Michael Stuart, will play all three spots on the defensive line for the Panthers.
38. Tristan Dottin, Westlake: The 6-foot senior cornerback has offers from Minnesota, Cal and San Diego State.
39. Tadd Mitchell, Pacifica: The 6-foot-2 senior cornerback, who transferred from Carlsbad High, is committed to Montana.
40. Saul Fraga, Fillmore: About every third reception the 6-foot-1 wideout caught last season went for a touchdown. The senior with a 10.79 100-meter dash time also had three interceptions and three rushing TDs.
41. Anthony Loreto, Pacifica: The6-foot, 275-pound guard transferred from St. Bonaventure last year and made an immediate impact. The junior had four pancake blocks in the Tritons’ CIF-SS final win at Palos Verdes.
42. Michael Dennie, Nordhoff: The Rangers offense is firmly in the 6-foot senior quarterback’s hands. The dual-threat weapon threw for 1,849 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for another 565 yards and seven TDs last fall.
43. Dylan Bruns, Westlake: The 6-foot-6, 228-pound edge rusher picked up his first Division I offer from Northern Arizona this spring.
44. Antonio Spann, St. Bonaventure: The 5-foot-10 receiver, with offers from UNLV, Western Michigan and Sacramento State, should be worth the wait for the Seraphs.
45. Cooper Moir, Oaks Christian: The 6-foot-5, 325-pound tackle, a transfer from Chaminade last season, anchors the Lions up front.
46. August Gibbs, Westlake: A standout tight end for Simi Valley, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior will play middle linebacker at Westlake.
47. Charlie Martinez, Grace: Heir apparent to Landon Cooper as the Lancers' top receiver, the 6-foot senior caught seven touchdown passes last year while averaging 21.4 yards per catch.
48. Nevada Ford, Oak Park: The 5-foot-8 running back amassed 1,054 total yards last season and 10 touchdowns. The senior brings real track speed with a 10.88 100-meter personal best.
49. Drew Estrada, Fillmore: The senior spent last year on the sidelines after transferring from St. Bonaventure but brings blazing speed to the Flashes secondary. He will also be a top target for quarterback Nate Perez in the passing game.
50. G Abellera, Rio Mesa: The offensive line should be the strength for the Spartans this fall. That group is anchored by its 6-foot-1, 295-pound center.
51. Hector Villaseñor, Del Sol: The Jaguars' offensive centerpiece toted the ball 165 times for 1,086 yards and seven touchdowns last fall.
52. Miles Lewis, Thousand Oaks: The 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior defensive back is the Lancers’ lone returning starter on either side of the ball.
53. Isaiah Giesea, Nordhoff: The 6-foot-1 deep-ball threat had 27 catches for 607 yards and six TDs last season, eclipsing the 100-yard mark three times.
54. Colby Cronquist, Moorpark: The 5-foot-10, 170-pound receiver had 20 catches for 279 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore, adding a pair of interceptions on defense.
55. Imari Carveth, Santa Paula: The 5-foot-9 senior built synergy with quarterback Rene Vega last fall, hauling in 40 catches for 503 yards and two TDs.
56. Jack Norton, Camarillo: The 6-foot, 175-pound free safety is the brain of the Scorpions defense.
57. Landen Murray, Royal: Once a wideout, the 6-foot-1 senior morphed into a prolific running back in Adam Brubaker’s run-heavy system. The brother of quarterback Preston Murray ran for 821 yards and nine TDs.
58. Donald Penn III, Calabasas: The 6-foot-3, 270-pound tackle, the son of the former NFL lineman of the same name, has offers from Colorado State, Nevada and UNLV.
59. Brandon Lane, Fillmore: The 6-foot-4, 245-pound left tackle is one of six returning offensive linemen who anchored one of the most prolific rushing offenses in the county last year. The Flashes amassed 2,561 yards and 34 touchdowns on the ground.
60. Kelechi Ofoego, Hueneme: The 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior popped off with 22 carries for 140 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Brentwood last year. The running back will be at the heart of the Vikings’ offensive attack.
61. Josh Tyler, Oaks Christian: The 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior safety, who has offers from Southern University and Delaware State, may have a bigger offensive role as a senior.
62. Aaron Salazar, Oxnard: The running back scored five of the Yellowjackets’ 13 TDs as a junior.
63. Alex Severiano, Buena: The 6-foot-1 junior wide receiver broke out for the Bulldogs this summer and looks to be one of quarterback Ryder Bucy’s top targets heading into the 2026 season.
64. Andrew Chavez, Channel Islands: The Raiders’ versatile weapon, who also stars on the baseball field, scored TDs throwing, running and receiving as a junior.
65. Jaxx Martinez, Santa Clara: The senior linebacker and team captain led the Saints in tackles last season.
Joe Curley covers football for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcsjoecurley on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.
Dominic Massimino is a staff writer for The Star. He can be reached at dominic.massimino@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcsdominic on Twitter and Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: The Star ranks the top 65 players heading into the 2026 football season