USA Today Releases Preseason Super 25

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

USA Today was the first media outlet to put out national high school football rankings way back in 1982.

Since then, many other media outlets have jumped into the who's #1 game.  However, many coaches, fans, players and teams consider USA Today the authority when it comes to crowning the "mythical" national champ.

Today, USA Today writer Jim Halley released his 2011 Preseason Super 25.

At the top of USA Today's list is Don Bosco Prep from Ramsey, New Jersey.  The Ironmen were also tapped as the #1 team in MaxPreps.com's preseason poll.

Right behind DBP is St. Thomas Aquinas from Florida.  The Raiders are no strangers to national championships, having won the USA Today national title in 2008.  This year, STA begins the Rocco Casullo-era.  Casullo, the Raiders' former defensive coordinator, takes over the reigns of the program from the legendary George Smith, who resigned earlier this year.

2010 USA Today national champ South Panola could be back in the hunt this year.  The Tigers begin the season ranked #12 in the Super 25.

BTW...the only time a team has repeated as USA Today national champs was in 2001, 2002 and 2003 when De La Salle (Concord, CA) was on its national record 151-game win streak.  The Spartans begin 2011 ranked #6 by U

Below is the rest of the poll:

USA Super 25 Preseason High School Football Rankings

1. Don Bosco Prep (NJ)
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL)
3. Prattville (AL)
4. St. Edward (OH)
5. Allen (TX)
6. De La Salle (CA)
7. Mullen (CO)
8. Servite (CA)
9. Byrnes (SC)
10. Armwood (FL)
11. Mission Viejo (CA)
12. South Panola (MS)
13. Bishop Gorman (NV)
14. Grayson (GA)
15. Oaks Christian (CA)
16. Camden County (GA)
17. Good Counsel (MD)
18. Katy (TX)
19. Miami Central (FL)
20. Warren Central (IN)
21. Miramar (FL)
22. Maine South (IL)
23. Bellevue (WA)
24. Desert Ridge (AZ)
25. Daphne (AL)