Friday Night Lights: Best High School Football Prospects in 2022
With football season fast approaching this fall, it’s a great time to brush up on much-needed knowledge of the top high school football prospects in the United States of America. As these star prospects are preparing to hear their names someday, sooner than later, be called during the NFL Draft.
With today’s article, I will be highlighting key players you don’t want to miss when evaluating this year’s college football season.
I will provide three tiers when addressing these prospects: The Good, The Great, The Best. This is to provide our outlook of these star prospects and my guesses of how their careers will become down the line.
To all these prospects, congratulations, you’re going to do big things in college and even perhaps, The NFL in the near future!
The Good
Hykeem Williams – Wide Receiver, Stranahan High School (Florida)
At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds heading into his senior year of high school, Hykeem has major potential of being the next Tyreek Hill, possessing the important tools of speed and size to be an electric piece in any type of offense he’s in.
During his 2021 season as a Junior for Stranahan High School, Hykeem Williams had 40 receptions for 750 receiving yards, achieving a 11 receiving touchdowns season for the star receiver.
Career Achievements: A Multi-sport athlete (Basketball and Football), Williams maintains a 3.9 GPA in class, Sun Sentinel All-Broward 5A-1A first-team selection, and nationally ranked as the 19th best football player in the country by 247Sports.
College Commitment: Uncommitted; leaning towards Texas A&M
Player Comparison: Jaylen Waddle
OffGrid NFL Prospect Score: C+
Duce Robinson – Tight End, Pinnacle High School (Arizona)
The No. 1 tight end in the country, Duce Robinson possesses excellent speed for a player this size along with burst off the line of scrimmage, and is an tremendous vertical threat anytime he steps on the field.
During his past three seasons for Pinnacle High, Robinson caught 91 receptions for 1,392 receiving yards, totaling an impressive 10 receiving touchdowns.
Now heading to the University of Southern California for 2024, He’s set to still be the big play option like Robinson was for Pinnacle, an absolute star with the ball in his hands.
Career Achievements: A Multi-sport athlete (Baseball, Basketball, and Football), Polynesian Bowl invite, 2020 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Team, 2020 Arizona High School Football All-State Team, and Ranked as the No. 1 tight end in the nation and the No. 20 overall prospect in the 2023 college football recruiting rankings according to 247Sports.
College Commitment: University of Southern California (USC)
Player Comparison: OJ Howard
OffGrid NFL Prospect Score: B-
The Great
Richard Young – Running Back, Lehigh Senior High School (Florida)
Standing at 5’11, 200 pounds, Richard Young is the complete package for today’s pro running back. A running back that possesses amazing vision and overall explosive play that makes any football fan ecstatic watching him play ball.
When evaluating his three seasons with Lehigh Senior High School, Young rushed for 33 career touchdowns, 3,591 rushing yards, and did that with only 407 rushing attempts.
Putting a star running back like Richard Young behind Alabama’s offensive line in the near future is a scary sight, don’t be surprised if his name is mentioned in Heisman consideration in the near future.
Career Achievements: Multi-sport athlete (track-and-field and football), MaxPreps Freshman All-American in 2019, Nationally ranked the 24th best player in the country according to 247Sports.
College Commitment: University of Alabama (UA)
Player Comparison: Leonard Fournette
OffGrid NFL Prospect Score: B
Zachariah Branch – Wide Receiver, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
During his three varsity seasons with Bishop Gorman High School, Branch made 73 receptions, 1,619 receiving yards, and 22 career touchdowns due to his playmaking ability.
Speed Kills – there’s a reason why Zachariah Branch is considered the best WR in the recruiting class of 2023. He will easily become Malachi Nelson’s number one target heading into the University of Southern California for 2024.
Career Achievements: Multi-sport athlete (track-and-field and football), Branch maintains a 3.16 GPA in class, Ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver in the nation and the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2023 college football recruiting rankings according to On3 Sports.
College Commitment: University of Southern California (USC)
Player Comparison: Tyreek Hill with Chase Claypool football IQ
OffGrid NFL Prospect Score: B+
Anthony Hill – Linebacker, Ryan High School (Texas)
You want a violent football high school player? There’s no better man among boys than Anthony Hill from Ryan high school, leading Ryan’s high defense to a state championship in 2021 with his awesome and dominating playmaking ability.
According to 247Sports scout Gabe Brooks, Hill can be “Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability.” When it comes to great players, numbers don’t lie.
During his two seasons at Ryan High School as a Sophomore and Junior, Anthony Hill accumulated 236 tackles (29 for loss), 11 sacks, 2 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 defensive touchdowns – All in just two years of varsity play in Texas.
Career Achievements: District 5-5A-I Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore, Texas District 5-5A-I Co-MVP as a junior, first-team MaxPreps Junior All-American, Class 5A first-team all-state selection by the Texas Sportswriters Association, first-team MaxPreps Sophomore All-American, 5A-I state champion, & Nationally ranked as the 15th best player in the country by 247Sports.
College Commitment: University of Texas A&M (TAMU)
Player Comparison: Patrick Willis
OffGrid NFL Prospect Score: A-
Dante Moore – Quarterback, Martin Luther King High School (Detroit)
Michigan’s Mr. Football, Dante Moore is an absolute rockstar on-and-off the football field, throwing for 103 passing touchdowns and 7488 passing yards while accumulating a 4.0 GPA during his past three years at Martin Luther King High School.
As a junior in 2021, Moore led Detroit’s Martin Luther King to a 13-1 record, becoming the Michigan Division III state championship.
With more ambitions to achieve to becoming the greatest QB in Detroit high school football history, The five-star prospect wants to repeat winning another championship for MLK high before heading to the University of Oregon.
Career Achievements: Sports Illustrated’s Elite 11 MVP, Mr. Football (Mich.), Division III State Champion (2021), playing in Army’s All American Bowl, Moore maintains a 4.0 GPA in class, Ranked the number one college football prospect by Sports Illustrated.
College Commitment: University of Oregon (UO)
Player Comparison: Jameis Winston with higher football IQ
OffGrid NFL Prospect Score: A-
The Best
Nicholaus Iamaleava – Quarterback, Warren High School (California)
The former volleyball player turned football star, Iamaleava has the ability to throw absolute bombs on the gridiron.
As a junior last season, Iamaleava threw for 2,244 yards, 33 TD, and only ONE INT (Yes, you read that right), helping lead Warren High to an 8-1 record and an CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoff appearance.
The kid can play, I truly believe that he can bring the University of Tennessee back to College Football relevance, with his high-arching throws and unbelievable accuracy that will shake up the college football world.
Career Achievements: Multi-sport athlete (volleyball and football), Polynesian Bowl invite, Iamaleava maintains a 3.5 GPA in the classroom, Nationally ranked the 4th best player in the country by 247Sports.
College Commitment: University of Tennessee (U.T.)
Player Comparison: Aaron Rodgers
OffGrid NFL Prospect Score: A
Caleb Downs – Safety, Mill Creek High School (Georgia)
Tools are off the charts with Caleb Downs, widely regarded as the hardest working player in the class of 2023, He truly loves the game of football and an absolute dominant force in the high school football scene.
During his career at Mill Creek High School, Downs locked down the Georgia competition with 186 tackles, 33 pass deflections, and 14 career interceptions.
I think after his career at the University of Alabama, Caleb Downs will be one of the most feared and remembered symbols in Alabama football history, he’s that good.
Career Achievements: Multi-sport athlete (basketball & baseball), Downs maintains a 3.95 GPA in class, Sophomore All-American first-team selection on defense, MaxPreps Junior All-American first-team, & the 8-AAAAAAA Defensive Player of the Year. Ranked the 12th best prospect in the country by 247Sports.
College Commitment: University of Alabama (UA)
Player Comparison: Sean Taylor playing ability with Ed Reed dedication to the game of football
OffGrid NFL Prospect Score: A+
Arch Manning – Quarterback, Isidore Newman High School (New Orleans)
His grandfather, Archie Manning, is regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. He had an outstanding 13-year NFL career with the New Orleans Saints, Houston Oilers, and the Minnesota Vikings.
Safe to say, Arch Manning has a great football lineage. During his three-year high school football career with Isidore Newman High School, the next generation Manning put up 5,731 passing yards, 72 passing touchdowns, 17 rushing touchdowns, and a QB passer rating of 113.6.
As a junior, the star quarterback led New Orleans Isidore Newman to a 7-3 record and a Louisiana Division III state semi-final appearance.
After verbally committing to the University of Texas on June 23rd of this year, Keep an eye on the younger Arch Manning because the talent is literally generational especially with his unbelievable throwing ability.
Career Achievements: Multi-sport athlete (basketball & football), 2020 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Team, Nationally ranked the 2nd best recruit in the nation by ESPN.
College Commitment: University of Texas (UT)
Player Comparison: Eli Manning (with Trevor Lawrence speed)
OffGrid NFL Prospect Score: A+
Malachi Nelson – Quarterback, Los Alamitos High School (California)
Malachi Nelson is considered by most experts to be the best all-around offensive player in the entire country for high school football & could make him a top-five selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
During his three years so far while at Los Alamitos High School, Nelson has accumulated 5,086 passing yards, 70 passing touchdowns, with an impressive 117.3 QB passer rating heading into his senior year this season.
As a high school junior last season, Malachi Nelson helped lead the Los Alamitos Griffins to a 9-2 record with a 39-9 TD-INT ratio. The goal his senior season is to leave with a state championship.
Heading into the University of Southern California as a true freshman, Nelson will be walking into a star-studded situation with head coach Lincoln Riley in charge of the program for the 2024 College Football season.
Career Achievements: 2020-21 Gatorade California Football Player of the Year, Golden Gun Accuracy Challenge winner for Elite 11 Los Angeles, Polynesian Bowl invite, Nelson maintains 3.72 GPA in class, Nationally ranked the best recruit in the nation by ESPN.
College Commitment: University of Southern California (USC)
Player Comparison: Taller Bryce Young
OffGrid NFL Prospect Score: A+
