USA TODAY Sports ranks Maryland’s St. Frances Academy and DeMatha Catholic at top of East region preseason list
The publication’s latest regional assessment places two Maryland institutions at the summit, followed by contenders from North Carolina and New Jersey, as the East region continues to gain traction in national scouting circles.
USA TODAY Sports has published its preseason Super 15 rankings for high school football teams in the East region, positioning the list ahead of the 2026 season. The assessment identifies St. Frances Academy and DeMatha Catholic from Maryland as the dominant forces in the region, with both institutions already featuring in the publication’s national Super 25 rankings.
The East region, which encompasses 15 states and the District of Columbia, includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. While the region has historically received less national attention than Southern and Western states, USA TODAY Sports notes that it is gaining prominence and making its own impact on the national stage.
Following the Maryland pair, the rankings highlight strong showings from Hough and Grimsley in North Carolina, as well as Don Bosco Prep from New Jersey. The publication details key players for the top-ranked teams, including Jermaine Smith Jr., Raylaun Henry, Anthony Sweeney, and Denari Hill for St. Frances Academy, alongside Langston Pridgeon, Kynair Crumb, Tristan Sabb, and James Pace III for DeMatha Catholic.
Hough’s roster features notable talents such as Ethan Royal, Joshua Dobson, and Davion Jones. The rankings also list key returning players and emerging talents across the top 15, such as OT Gavin Milton and QB Brody Lowe, reflecting the depth of talent available within the region’s secondary schools.
USA TODAY Sports will expand its coverage by unveiling its national Super 25 rankings on Tuesday, 21 July. This release will provide a broader comparative framework for the East region’s top teams against their counterparts from other parts of the country.
