12 Games
33 Recruits in the ESPN 300, Including Four Top Ranked Senior Quarterbacks
17 Verbal Commitments to the Power Five Conferences
10 Ranked Teams
11 States and Washington, D.C. Represented
ESPNU and ESPN2 will televise 12 premier games in the 2014 GEICO High School Football Showcase beginning Friday, August 29. No. 2 St. John Bosco (CA) vs. No. 1 Bishop Gorman (NV) on Friday, Sept. 26, highlights a slate involving 10 ranked teams, 33 players in the ESPN 300, and 17 recruits which have verbally committed to Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Southern California, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and UCLA.
Combined with the previously announced 2014 ESPN High School Kickoff, ESPN networks will televise 22 high school football games this season.
2014 GEICO High School Football Showcase Highlights:
No. 1 pocket-passer quarterback Josh Rosen (St. John Bosco (CA)) vs. No. 1 Bishop Gorman (NV) on September 26. Rosen has verbally committed to UCLA
No. 3 dual-threat quarterback Jarrett Stidham (Stephenville (TX)) vs. Lubbock Cooper (TX) on September 18. Stidham has verbally committed to Texas Tech
No. 4 dual-threat quarterback Deondre Francois (IMG Academy (FL)) vs. Trinity Christian Academy (FL) on October 16. Francois has verbally committed to Florida State
No. 5 dual-threat quarterback Brandon Wimbush (St. Peter’s Prep (NJ)) hosts Bergen Catholic (NJ) on September 11. Wimbush has verbally committed to Penn State
Four seniors in the top 20 of the ESPN 300: No. 5 Kevin Toliver II (CB) on Trinity Christian Academy (FL), No. 17 Mitch Hyatt (OT) on North Gwinnett (GA), No. 19 Josh Rosen (QB) on St. John Bosco (CA), and No. 20 Chuma Edoga (OL) on McEachern (GA)
First high school football telecast from Levi’s Stadium, new home of the San Francisco 49ers, kicks off the 2014 GEICO ESPN High School Football Showcase on Friday, August 29
Eleven states, and Washington, D.C., will be represented: California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia
ESPN 300 Participants (Seniors)
Rank and Player
Pos.
High School
Verbal College Commitment
No. 5 Kevin Toliver II
CB
Trinity Christian Academy (FL)
LSU
No. 17 Mitch Hyatt
OL
North Gwinnett (GA)
Clemson
No. 19 Josh Rosen
QB
St. John Bosco (CA)
UCLA
No. 20 Chuma Edoga
OL
McEachern (GA)
USC
No. 27 Minkah Fitzpatrick
CB
St. Peter’s Prep (NJ)
Alabama
No. 30 Damien Harris
RB
Madison Southern (KY)
No. 33 Preston Williams
WR
Lovejoy (GA)
Tennessee
No. 38 Jarret Stidham
QB
Stephenville (TX)
Texas Tech
No. 41 Jeffery Holland
LB
Trinity Christian Academy (FL)
No. 50 Taj Griffin
RB
McEachern (GA)
Oregon
No. 52 Alize Jones
TE
Bishop Gorman (NV)
UCLA
No. 55 Deondre Francois
QB
IMG Academy (FL)
Florida State
No. 70 DaMarkus Lodge
WR
Cedar Hill (TX)
Texas A&M
No. 71 Brandon Wimbush
QB
St. Peter’s Prep (NJ)
Penn State
No. 78 Kendrick Norton
OL
Trinity Christian Academy (FL)
No. 99 Hjalte Froholdt
DT
IMG Academy (FL)
Arkansas
No. 130 Richie Petitbon
OL
Gonzaga (DC)
Alabama
No. 133 Cordell Broadus
WR
Bishop Gorman (NV)
No. 152 Marcus Lewis
S
Gonzaga (DC)
No. 157 Ben Edwards
S
Trinity Christian Academy (FL)
No. 161 Shaun Crawford
ATH
St. Edward (OH)
Notre Dame
No. 196 Deontai Williams
S
Trinity Christian Academy (FL)
Georgia
No. 234 Tyree St. Louis
OL
IMG Academy (FL)
Miami
No. 268 Zach Robertson
OL
St. John Bosco (CA)
ESPN 300 Participants (Juniors)
Rank and Player
Position
High School
No. 56 Boss Tagaloa
DT
De La Salle (CA)
No. 100 Julian Rochester
DT
McEachern (GA)
No. 112 Ellison Jordan
DT
Gilman (MD)
No. 140 Jarrett Guarantano
QB
Bergen Catholic (NJ)
No. 162 Josh Imatorbhebhe
WR
North Gwinnett (GA)
No. 174 Kyle Taylor
LB
Gonzaga (DC)
No. 205 Tavares Chase
WR
IMG Academy (FL)
No. 288 Devin Asiasi
TE
De La Salle (CA)
No. 289 D.J. Morgan
ATH
St. John Bosco (CA)
2014 GEICO ESPN High School Football Showcase Matchups:
Note: Team Rankings are from USA Today. All game times ET
Week 1
No. 26 De La Salle (CA) vs. Jesuit (CA)
Friday, August 29: 11 p.m. on ESPN2 from Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
First high school football telecast from the San Francisco 49ers new stadium
De La Salle (CA) finished 14-1 last season and return two players in the ESPN 300: Junior defensive tackle Boss Tagaloa (No. 56) and junior tight end Devin Asiasi (No. 288)
Jesuit (CA) finished last season 9-4
Gilman (MD) vs. No. 12 St. Edward (OH)
Sunday, August 31: 4 p.m. on ESPNU from St. Edward High School, Lakewood, Ohio
Gilman (MD) finished the 2013 season at 7-3
Junior defensive tackle Ellison Jordan, No. 112 in the ESPN 300, returns for Gilman (MD)
St. Edward (OH) advanced to the 2013 Ohio Division 1 State Semifinals, finishing 11-2
Senior athlete Shaun Crawford, No. 161 in the ESPN 300 and Notre Dame verbal commit, returns for St. Edward (OH)
Week 2
No. 25 Gonzaga (DC) vs. No. 5 Centreville (VA)
Friday, September 5: 8 p.m. on ESPNU from Centreville High School, Clifton, Va.
Gonzaga (DC) returns three players in the ESPN 300: Senior offensive guard Richie Petitbon (No. 130 and Alabama verbal commit), senior safety Marcus Lewis (No. 152), and junior linebacker Kyle Taylor (No. 174)
Centreville (VA) went undefeated (15-0) last season, capturing the Virginia 6A State Championship
Week 3
Bergen Catholic (NJ) vs. No. 10 St. Peter’s Prep (NJ)
Thursday, September 11: 7 p.m. on ESPNU from St. Peters Prep, Jersey City, N.J.
Bergen Catholic (NJ), a traditional state power, returns junior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, No. 140 in the ESPN 300. Guarantano has received more than 15 Division 1 offers
St. Peter’s Prep (NJ) finished last season at 10-2, advancing to the New Jersey State Playoffs Championship
St. Peter’s Prep (NJ) returns the top two players in the state, both in the ESPN 300: Senior cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick (No. 27 and Alabama verbal commit) and senior quarterback Brandon Wimbush (No. 71 and Penn State verbal commit)
Byrnes (SC) vs. No. 26 De La Salle (CA)
Friday, September 12: 10:15 p.m. on ESPNU from De La Salle High School, Concord, Calif.
This game will be the second appearance on ESPN for both teams in the 2014 season
Byrnes (SC) advanced to the semifinal round of the 4A I South Carolina Playoffs and finished 12-2 last season
Byrnes (SC) has won eight South Carolina State Championships since 2002
Week 4
Lubbock Cooper (TX) vs. Stephenville (TX)
Thursday, September 18: 9 p.m. on ESPN2 from Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas
A rematch of the 2013 Texas 3A Division 1 State Playoffs, which Stephenville won
Lubbock Cooper (TX) finished last season 11-3
Stephenville (TX) advanced to the state finals last season
Senior quarterback Jarret Stidham, No. 2 dual-threat QB and No. 38 in the ESPN 300, returns for Stephenville (TX). Stidham has verbal committed to Texas Tech
No. 15 McEachern (GA) vs. Lovejoy (GA)
Friday, September 19: 8 p.m. on ESPNU from Lovejoy High School, Lovejoy, Ga.
McEachern (GA) advanced to the Georgia 6A State Semifinals last season, finishing 11-3
McEachern (GA) features three players in the ESPN 300: Senior offensive lineman Chuma Edoga (No. 20 and Southern Cal verbal commit), senior running back Taj Griffin (No. 50 and Oregon verbal commit) and junior defensive tackle Julian Rochester (No. 100)
Lovejoy (GA) advanced to the second round of the Georgia 6A State Playoffs last season, finishing 10-2
Wide receiver Preston Williams, No. 33 in the ESPN 300 and Tennessee verbal commit, returns for Lovejoy (GA)
Week 5
No. 2 St. John Bosco (CA) vs. No. 1 Bishop Gorman (NV)
Friday, September 26: 9 p.m. on ESPNU from Bishop Gorman High School, Las Vegas, Nev.
Battle of 2013 State Champions
St. John Bosco (CA) won the CIF Open Division Title last season, finishing 16-0
Senior Josh Rosen, No. 1 pocket-passer quarterback, No. 19 in the ESPN 300 and UCLA verbal commit, leads St. John Bosco (CA) along with senior offensive tackle Zach Robertson, No. 268 in the ESPN 300, and junior athlete DJ Morgan, No. 289 in the ESPN 300
Bishop Gorman (NV) won the Nevada Division 1 State Championship last season, finishing 13-2
Senior tight end Alize Jones, No 52 in the ESPN 300 and UCLA verbal commit, and senior wide receiver Cordell Broadus, No. 133 in the ESPN 300, return for Bishop Gorman (NV)
Week 6
Norcross (GA) vs. North Gwinnett (GA)
Friday, October 3: 7 p.m. on ESPN2 from North Gwinnett High School, Suwanee, Ga.
Rematch of the Georgia 6A State Championship which Norcross (GA) won
North Gwinnett (GA) finished 13-3 last season and returns senior offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt, No. 17 in the ESPN 300 and Clemson verbal commit, and junior wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe, No 162 in the ESPN 300
Week 7
Pulaski County (KY) vs. Madison Southern (KY)
Friday, October 10: 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU from Madison Southern High School, Berea, Ky.
Rematch Kentucky Class 5A State Playoffs third round, which Pulaski won
Pulaski finished 15-1 last season
Senior running back Damien Harris, No. 30 in the ESPN 300, returns for Madison Southern (KY)
Week 8
Trinity Christian Academy (FL) vs. IMG Academy (FL)
Thursday, October 16: 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU from IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
Rematch from the 2013 regular season which Trinity Christian Academy (FL) won
Trinity Christian Academy (FL) won the 3A Florida State title and returns five players in the ESPN 300: Senior cornerback Kevin Toliver II (No. 5 and LSU verbal commit), senior linebacker Jeffery Holland (No. 41), senior offensive lineman Kendrick Norton (No. 78), senior safety Ben Edwards (No. 157), and senior safety Deontai Williams (No. 196 and Georgia verbal commit)
Suiting up for IMG Academy (FL) are four players in the ESPN 300: Senior quarterback Deondre Francois, (No. 55 and a Florida State verbal commit), senior defensive tackle Hjalte Froholdt (No. 99 and Arkansas verbal commit), junior wide receiver Tavares Chase (No 205) and senior offensive tackle Tyree St. Louis (No. 234 and Miami verbal commit)
Week 9
No. 6 Cedar Hill (TX) vs. No. 38 DeSoto (TX)
Thursday, October 23: 8 p.m. on ESPN2 from Eagle Stadium at DeSoto High School, DeSoto, Texas
Cedar Hill (TX) won the Texas 5A Division 2 State Title last season, finishing 14-2
Senior wide receiver DaMarkus Lodge, No. 70 in the ESPN 300 and Texas A&M verbal commit, returns for Cedar Hill
DeSoto (TX) advanced to the Texas 5A Division 1 semifinals last season
RecruitingNation.com:
ESPN’s recruiting site will provide fans with in-depth analysis of the entire ESPN 2014 GEICO High School Football Showcase, including features on teams and recruits, as well as updated player profiles.
The 2014 GEICO ESPN High School Football Kickoff and 2014 GEICO ESPN High School Football Showcase are produced in conjunction with Paragon Marketing Group.
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Media contact: Derek Volner at 860-384-9986; Derek.Volner@ESPN.com and @DerekVolner