IRVING, Texas (June 25, 2025) – Selected from a pool of 3,500 scholar-athletes identified by the nationwide NFF Chapter Network, the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the 82 members of the 2025 NFF Team of Distinction. Part of the NFF's mission to promote the scholar-athlete ideal, the initiative honors the top high school football players from across the country for their all-around excellence—while also highlighting the vital work of the NFF Chapter Network at the grassroots level.
 
The members of the team all played their final high school football season during the 2024-25 school year. Criteria to make the team include (but are not limited to) academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement. Each chapter is limited to one honoree, distinguishing them as the top scholar-athlete from all the high schools covered by the chapter.
 
"Each year, the NFF Team of Distinction represents the very best of what high school football has to offer — young men who lead with character, perform with excellence, and give back to their communities," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "These 82 honorees exemplify the scholar-athlete ideal that is at the heart of our mission, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements. We are equally grateful to our NFF Chapter Network leaders, whose tireless efforts ensure that the values of football continue to thrive at the grassroots level."
 
Since 1954, the NFF Chapters have played an integral role in supporting and promoting the game of football at the amateur level while honoring the top scholar-athletes in their local areas. With more than 12,000 members, the nationwide NFF Chapter Network impacts more than 500,000 student-athletes at 5,000 high schools across the country each year.
 
The centerpiece of the NFF Chapter Network's efforts are the annual chapter awards banquets, which recognize more than 3,500 of the nation's top scholar-athletes and distribute more than
$1 million in scholarships.
   

• 82 Honorees
• 40 States Represented
• 4.15 Average GPA
• 74 Team Captains
• 44 All-State Selections
• 10 Valedictorians
• 54 National Honor Society Members
• 1 National Merit Finalist and Honoree

 
   
Xavier Ali – QB, Walt Whitman High School in Huntington Station, NY.
Submitted by the NFF Suffolk County Chapter.

• 100 Grade Avg.
• Honor Roll member, James Metzer Top Scholar-Athlete Award winner
• Team captain, First Team All-NY State, First Team All-Long Island

Rich Belin – QB, Cardinal Hayes High School in New York, NY.
Submitted by the NFF New York City Chapter.

• 3.8 GPA
• National Honor Society, McQuade Honors Program
• Three-year Team Captain, Three-time All-State, League Offensive POY

 
Michael Berkery – RB/DB, Garden City High School in Oceanside, NY.
Submitted by the NFF Nassau County (NY) Chapter.

• 99.34 Avg.
• National Honor Society, Academic All-Conference
• Team captain, two-time All-County, Finalist for Thorp Award for top player in Nassau County

 
Terrance Hanratty – RB/LB, Bernards High School in Bernardsville, NJ.
Submitted by the NFF Denny RFBL/Central NJ Chapter.

• 3.33 GPA
• Honor Roll, STEM Club
• Team captain, First Team All-State, First Team All-County, NJ Super 100

 
Jayden Lee – WR/DB, Montclair High School in Montclair, NJ.
Submitted by the NFF Essex-Hudson County (NJ) Chapter.

• 3.55 GPA
• National Honor Society, Peer Leadership
• Team captain, two-time First Team All-Conference

 
Matthew McSherry – OL/DL, Bronxville High School in Bronxville, NY.
Submitted by the NFF Westchester (NY) Chapter.

• 3.85 GPA
• Honor Roll, Student Sage College Award, Class Officer
• Team captain, First Team All-State, All-State OL, Offensive POY

 
Isaac Ramsey – QB/DB, Oakland Mills High School in Columbia, MD.
Submitted by the NFF Greater Baltimore Chapter.

• 4.56 GPA
• National Honor Society President, Math Honors
• Two-year Team Captain, Howard County Offensive POY, Second Team All-Metro

 
Daniel Russo – QB/RB/LB, Delsea Regional High School in Franklinville, NJ.
Submitted by the NFF South Jersey Chapter.

• 98.15 Avg.
• National Honor Society, Superintendent List, Principal List, Class President
• Team captain, USA Today Network First Team All-NJ, NJFCA Super 100 All-State Team

 
Wyatt Spackman – TE/LB, Bald Eagle Area High School in Wingate, PA.
Submitted by the NFF Central Pennsylvania Chapter.

• 4.64 GPA
• National Honor Society, Distinguished Honor Roll every semester
• Team captain, two-time All-Conference at both positions

 
Samuel Spolski – RB/LB, Nativity BVM High School in Pottsville, PA.
Submitted by the NFF Schuylkill County-Pottsville (PA) Chapter.

• 4.3 GPA
• National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Bishop's Catholic Scholar Award
• Three-year Team Captain, All-Eastern PA Football Team, PA Football News All Academic

 
Andrew Stickley – OL/DL, Kinnelon High School in Kinnelon, NJ.
Submitted by the NFF Greater Morris County (NJ) Chapter.

• 3.93 GPA
• National Honor Society, Math & Spanish Honor Society
• Team captain, three-time First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-State

 
Vincenzo Stigliano – WR/CB, Pompton Lakes High School in Pompton Lakes, NJ.
Submitted by the NFF Passaic County (NJ) Chapter.

• 4.68 GPA
• National Honor Society, ranked 10th in class, STEM Club
• Team captain, Second Team All-State, three-time First Team All-County, Passaic County Coaches Association Male Student-Athlete Award

 
Liam Thorpe – WR/S, The Hun School in Princeton, NJ
Submitted by the NFF Delaware Valley (NJ) Chapter.

• 94.0 Avg.
• Three-year Honor Roll member, full scholarship to Stanford
• Team captain, three-time First Team All-State prep league, four times First-Team All-League

 
Josh Williams – OL, Haverford High School in Havertown, PA.
Submitted by the NFF Philadelphia Chapter.

• 4.0 GPA
• Class President, Main Line Student of the week
• First Team All-Delaware County, First Team All Inter-AC

 
Eli Zimmerman – RB/S, Northwestern Lehigh High School in, New Tripoli PA.
Submitted by the NFF Lehigh Valley (PA) Chapter.

• 94.84 Avg.
• National Honor Society, High Honor Roll
• Team captain, two-time All-State, Mr. PA Football finalist

 
   
Will Aitchison – RB/WR/S, Regina Catholic High School in Iowa City, IA.
Submitted by the NFF Iowa Chapter.

• 4.5 GPA
• AP Scholar with Distinction, Gold Honor Roll
• Team captain, First Team All-State LB, two-time First Team All-District LB

 
Alex Amburgy – QB, Waynesville High School in Waynesville, OH.
Submitted by the NFF Greater Cincinnati Chapter.

• 4.0 GPA
• National Honor Society, Student Council
• Three-year team captain, First Team All-State QB, two-time First Team All-League

 
Jude Ballinger – TE/LB, Marquette University High School in Wauwatosa, WI.
Submitted by the NFF Wisconsin Chapter.

• 4.44 GPA
• National Honor Society, National Merit Finalist, Student Body President
• Two-year team captain, First Team All Greater Metro Conference TE

 
Madden Beriault – DB, Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, IN.
Submitted by the NFF Central Indiana Chapter.

• 4.19 GPA
• Valedictorian, National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction
• Team captain, First Team All-County & All-Conference

 
Leo Dellinger – WR/S, Twin Lakes High School in Monticello, IN.
Submitted by the NFF Joe Tiller/NW Indiana Chapter.

• 12.49 GPA
• National Honor Society, IFCA Academic All-State
• Team captain, two-time Lafayette All-Area, two-time County All-Area

 
John Kruse – C, St. Louis University High School in St. Louis, MO.
Submitted by the NFF Tom Lombardo/St. Louis Chapter.

• 4.6 GPA
• All AP and Honors Courses, Class President
• Team captain, two-time First Team All-Conference, First Team All-District, Third Team All-State

 
Chase Loftin – TE, Millard South High School in Omaha, NE.
Submitted by the NFF Nebraska Chapter.

• 3.7 GPA
• High Academic Honors, Great Omaha Sports Committee Scholar Athlete
• All-State, Top 6 player in state

 
Conner Loveless – WR/TE, Pike Central High School in Petersburg, IN.
Submitted by the NFF Southern Indiana Chapter.

• 4.1 GPA
• National Honor Society, Class President, Academic All-State
• Two-year team captain, First Team All-Conference

 
Jake Marzich – OL/DL, Olentangy Berlin High School in Delaware, OH.
Submitted by the NFF Columbus, OH Chapter.

• 4.75 GPA
• National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Honors, Second Team All-State, First Team All-District
• Team captain, First Team All-OCC

 
Bravin Powell-Brown – QB, Gardner-Edgerton High School in Gardner, KS.
Submitted by the NFF Bill Snyder Family/Sunflower (KS) Chapter.

• 4.18 GPA
• National Honor Society, four-year Honor Roll
• Two-year team captain, First team All-State, State Offensive POY, two-time state champion

 
Blake Schlitz – TE/LB, Pine Island High School in Pine Island, MN.
Submitted by the NFF Minnesota Chapter.

• 3.94 GPA
• National Honor Society, Academic All-State, Honor Roll every semester
• Team captain, First Team All-District, District Defensive POY, First Team All-Section

 
Anthony Schmok – RB/DE, James Whitcomb Riley High School in South Bend, IN.
Submitted by the NFF Moose Krause (IN) Chapter.

• 4.71 GPA
• Valedictorian, National Honor Society, four-year Honor Roll
• Team captain, First Team All-Conference Offense & Defense

 
Joe Seney – RB/LB, Perrysburg High School in Perrysburg, OH.
Submitted by the NFF Wistert-Toledo Chapter.

• 4.1 GPA
• National Honor Society, High Honor Roll every semester
• two-year team captain, District POY, First Team All-State

 
Olav Taylor – OL/LB, Century High School in Bismark, ND.
Submitted by the NFF Roughrider State (ND) Chapter.

• 3.9 GPA
• Three year Academic All-State, Student of Distinction
• Team captain, First Team All-State LB, First Team All-West Region

 
   
Brogan Donnelly – WR/DB, Inter-Lakes Middle/High School in Meredith, NH.
Submitted by the NFF Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter.

• 4.85 GPA
• National Honor Society President, High Honor Roll every semester, Top 10% of class
• Team captain, First Team All-State WR, East-West All-Star Game

 
Mason Frey – RB/LB, Fairfield College Preparatory in Fairfield, CT.
Submitted by the NFF Casey-O'Brien/New Haven (CT) Chapter.

• 4.0 GPA
• Four-year Summa Cum Laude, CHSCA All-Academic Team
• Team Captain, First Team All-State, two-time First Team All-Conference

 
Darien Jenkins – QB/S, Windham High School in Willimantic, CT.
Submitted by the NFF Southeastern Connecticut Chapter.

• 3.98 GPA
• Valedictorian, National Honor Society, four-year Honor Roll member
• Two-year team captain, two-time ECC All-Star

 
Sean Kennedy – OL/DL, Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, VT.
Submitted by the NFF Vermont Chapter.

• 3.89 GPA
• National Honor Society, top 20% of class
• Team captain, First Team All-State, Shrine Game and All-Star Game participant

 
Henry Mahoney – OL/DL, Thornton Academy in Saco, ME.
Submitted by the NFF Howie Vandersea/State of Maine Chapter.

• 4.12 GPA
• Top 5% of class, AP scholar
• Team captain, All-State, All-Conference

 
Max Marek – DE, Greenwich High School in Greenwich, CT.
Submitted by the NFF DeSantis-McDougall/Fairfield County (CT) Chapter.

• 4.3 GPA
• National Honor Society, four-year top honor roll
• Team captain, State Championship, FCIAC Honorable Mention

 
Benjamin Newman – QB, East Rochester High School in East Rochester, NY.
Submitted by the NFF Rochester Chapter.

• 4.0 GPA
• National Honor Society, AP Scholar
• Team captain, First Team All-State, Section V Offensive POY, Rochester POY

 
John Nicoll – QB/LB, Lincoln High School in Lincoln, RI.
Submitted by the NFF Emo DiNitto/Rhode Island Chapter.

• 4.1 GPA
• National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction, High Honors
• Two-year team captain, First Team All-Division LB, Second Team All-State

 
Sampson Onuoha – OL/DL/TE, Belmont Hill School in Belmont, MA.
Submitted by the NFF Jack Grinold/Eastern Mass Chapter.

• 4.04 GPA
• National Honor Society, Honor Roll, Boston Herald All-Scholastic
• Two-time All-ISL, All-NEPSAC, No. 2 ranked recruit in Mass

 
Camden Righi – QB, Wethersfield High School in Wethersfield, CT.
Submitted by the NFF Doc Boisoneau/Northern CT Chapter.

• 3.98 GPA
• National Honor Society, High Honors all four years, youth camp volunteer
• Two-year Team Captain, two-time All-State, two-time All-Conference

 
Jack Smith – C/DL, West Boylston High School in West Boylston, MA.
Submitted by the NFF Joe Mewhiney/Central Mass Chapter.

• 5.39 GPA
• Valedictorian, National Honor Society
• Team captain, Central Mass All-Star

   
Jaden Avery – RB, Apex Friendship High School in Apex, NC.
Submitted by the NFFCHOF Bill Dooley (NC) Chapter.

• 4.48 GPA
• National Honor Society, Honor Roll, Academic All-Conference
• Team captain, SWAC Offensive POY

 
Mitchell Baum – OL/DL, New Home High School in New Home, TX.
Submitted by the NFF Texas Tech Chapter.

• 4.2 GPA
• National Honor Society, First Team Academic All-State, Superintendents Honor Roll
• Team captain, First Team All-District

 
Desmond Beasley – DB, Salmen High School in Slidell, LA.
Submitted by the NFF Allstate Sugar Bowl (LA) Chapter.

• 4.35 GPA
• National Honor Society, Honor Roll, AP & Honors Courses
• Team captain, First Team All-District, All St. Tammany Parish Team

 
Jackson Christian – OL, Port Neches-Groves High School in Port Neches, TX
Submitted by the NFF Golden Triangle (TX) Chapter.

• 3.81 GPA
• Honor Roll
• Team captain, First Team All-District, State Championship Junior Year

 
Brady Clark – DT, Naples High School in Naples, FL.
Submitted by the NFF Collier County (FL) Chapter.

• 5.1 GPA
• National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction
• Team captain, All-District

 
Russell Cole – DB, Tuscaloosa Academy in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Submitted by the NFF University of Alabama Chapter.

• 4.14 GPA
• National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish & Computer Science Honor Society
• Team captain, Football America Academic All-America Team, First Team All-Region

 
Elias Franks – OL/DL, Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, TN.
Submitted by the NFF Middle Tennessee Chapter.

• 5.2 GPA
• National Honor Society, AP Scholar, Class President, Gold Medal National Latin Exam
• Team captain, First Team All-Region

 
Dean Gee, Jr. – DE/LB, Jule F. Sumner High School in Riverview, FL.
Submitted by the NFF Tampa Chapter.

• 3.96 GPA
• National Honor Society, 10 Time Principal's Honor Roll
• Two-year team captain, First Team All-Conference, HSFA Academic All-American

 
Sam Greer – LB, C.E, Byrd High School in Shreveport, LA.
Submitted by the NFF SM McNaughton (LA) Chapter.

• 4.69 GPA
• National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction, LA All-Academic Team
• First Team All-District, First Team All-Metro

 
Crawford Grow – TE/DL, Athens Academy in Athens, GA.
Submitted by the NFF University of Georgia Chapter.

• 4.32 GPA
• National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction
• Team captain, two-time All-Region

 
Brady Hughes – QB, Memphis University School in Memphis, TN.
Submitted by the NFF Memphis Chapter.

• 4.2 GPA
• National Honor Society, Dean's Scholar List all four years
• Team captain, three-year starter, First Team All-District, All-Region

 
Jaxson Jewell – QB, Deerfield Beach High School in Deerfield, FL.
Submitted by the NFF Brian Piccolo/Ft. Lauderdale Chapter.

• 5.33 GPA
• National Honor Society, International Baccalaureate candidate, ranked 14th of 435 in class
• Two-year team captain, BCAA All-Star, US Marine Corp Distinguished Athlete Award

 
James Johnson – OL/DL, Homestead Senior High School in Homestead, FL.
Submitted by the NFF Miami Touchdown Club Chapter.

• 3.1 GPA
• Multiple Honor Roll
• Three-year team captain, Miami-Dade County Offensive Lineman of the Year

 
Xavier Johnson-Hairston – LB, North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem, NC.
Submitted by the NFF Corrigan-Faircloth (NC) Chapter.

• 3.52 GPA
• Honor Roll, Student Body President
• Team captain, All-State, All-Region, All-Area

 
Noel Lewis – RB/LB, Little Rock Catholic High School in Little Rock, AR.
Submitted by the NFF Arkansas Chapter.

• 4.00 GPA
• National Honor Society, Top 20 in class, Math & Science Tutor
• 6A All-State, two-time Player of the Week

 
Adonis McCrary – WR/TE, Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta, GA.
Submitted by the NFF Touchdown Club of Atlanta Chapter.

• 4.1 GPA
• Valedictorian, National Honor Society, Principal's Honor Roll
• Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Boys Football Academic Award, Fox 5 Team of the Week

 
Baylor Necessary – RB/LB, Science Hill High School in Johnson City, TN.
Submitted by the NFF Mountain Empire (TN) Chapter.

• 3.1 GPA
• Honor Roll member
• Team captain, Region 6 POY, TN Sportswriters All-State

 
Randy Reed – WR/S, William Blount High School in Maryville, TN.
Submitted by the NFF East Tennessee Chapter.

• 4.31 GPA
• Summa Cum Laude graduate, 36 on ACT, FCA
• Three-time All-Region

 
Aiden Grant Roche' – TE/DE, Adams County Christian School in Natchez, MS.
Submitted by the NFF Miss-Lou Chapter.

• 4.1 GPA
• National Honor Society, Presidents List
• Team captain, multiple sports all-star

 
Joshua Tang – LB, Grand Oaks High School in Spring, TX.
Submitted by the NFF TD Club of Houston Chapter.

• 5.25 GPA
• National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction, Summa Cum Laude
• Team captain, First Team All-District Linebacker

 
Preston Tarpley – QB, Gunter High School in Gunter, TX.
Submitted by the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter.

• 4.62 GPA
• Valedictorian, National Honor Society, Academic Excellence Award
• Team captain, All-District, three-year state champion

 
Barrett Travis – RB/LB, Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma City, OK.
Submitted by the NFF Oklahoma Chapter.

• 3.3 GPA
• Honor Roll, FCA, Peer Leadership Council
• Team captain, First Team All-State RB, Little All-City POY, leading rusher in state

 
Bennett Wilkin – OL, Austin Westlake High School in Austin, TX.
Submitted by the NFF Greater Austin Chapter.

• 102.8 Avg.
• National Honor Society, Academic All-State, National Society of HS Scholars nominee
• Team captain, First Team 6A All-State Center, First Team All-District

 
   
Brock Buak III – RB/S, Union Mine High School in El Dorado, CA.

Submitted by the NFF Sacramento Valley Chapter.

• 4.46 GPA
• National Honor Society President
• Four-year team captain, First Team All-League RB, First Team-League Safety

 
Kevin Burke – LB, Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, HI.
Submitted by the NFF Hawaii Chapter.

• 3.51 GPA
• 3 Year Honor Roll member, CTE Honors
• Three-year team captain, Second Team All-State, First Team OIA

 
Sam Connelly – OL/DL, Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, CA.
Submitted by the NFF Northern California Chapter.

• 4.0 GPA
• Dean's List every semester, President's List
• Team captain, Redwood Empire Lineman of the Year, First Team All-League

 
Reese Dahlke – RB/S, Gallatin High School in Bozeman, MT.
Submitted by the NFF Montana Chapter.

• 4.2 GPA
• National Honor Society, four-time Academic All-State
• Two-year team captain, First Team All-State RB, led state in rushing TDs

 
Soren Gaston – OT/DT, Jesuit High School in Portland, OR.
Submitted by the NFF Oregon Chapter.

• 3.86 GPA
• National Honor Society, Numerous AP & Honors classes, Metro League Academic All-Star
• Team captain, Second Team All-State Offense, First Team All-League Offense

 
Emerson Geilman – QB, Bountiful High School in Bountiful, UT.
Submitted by the NFF Utah Chapter.

• 4.0 GPA
• National Honor Society, National AP Award, Eagle Scout
• Two-year team captain, 5A POY, Utah Male Athlete of the Year, Broke school passing record for yards and TDs

 
Mitchell Gibbens – K/P, Charter Oak High School in Covina, CA.
Submitted by the NFF Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley Chapter.

• 4.52 GPA
• National Honor Society, Principal's Honor Roll all four years, International Baccalaureate
• Team captain, two-time First Team All-League, SoCal All-Star

 
Henry Hurd – TE/WR/LB, Aspen High School in Aspen, CO.
Submitted by the NFF Colorado Chapter.

• 4.71 GPA
• Valedictorian, AP Scholar, National Honor Society
• Team captain, First Team All-State, Colorado Gold Helmet Finalist

 
Nik Husarik – DB, Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup, WA.
Submitted by the NFF Tacoma/Pierce County (WA) Chapter.

• 4.0 GPA
• Valedictorian, AP Scholar with Distinction
• Team captain, All-League Honorable Mention, Top 5 in league in tackles

 
Alex Kiernan – WR/DB, Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, CA.
Submitted by the NFF Orange County (CA) Chapter.

• 3.59 GPA
• Honor Roll
• First Team All-League, All-CIF

 
Anderson Kopp – C, Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, AZ.
Submitted by the NFF Valley of the Sun (AZ) Chapter.

• 4.04 GPA
• Honor Roll, Student Government
• Team captain, First Team All-State, All-Arizona First Team

 
David Lindler – OL, Yreka High School in Yreka, CA.
Submitted by the NFF SYF Nor-Cal Chapter.

• 3.17 GPA
• Four-year honor roll
• Two-year team captain, First Team All-League, Senior Yr OPY

 
Draven Lopez – QB, Hemet High School in Hemet, CA.
Submitted by the NFF Riverside County Chapter.

• 4.57 GPA
• Salutatorian, four-year Honor Roll, Golden State Seal Merit Diploma
• Two-year team captain, First Team All-League, All-CIF

 
Isaiah Reed – LB, Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, ID.
Submitted by the NFF Southern Idaho Chapter.

• 4.0 GPA
• Four-year honor roll, First Team All-Academic
• Two-year Team Captain, First Team All-State, two-time First Team All-SIC

 
Ryan Stadtherr – RB/LB, Scripps Ranch High School in San Diego, CA.
Submitted by the NFF Walter Zable/San Diego Chapter.

• 4.34 GPA
• AP Scholar, four-year All-Academic Team, Eagle Scout, Student Body President
• Team captain, First Team All CIF Defense, First Team Offense Eastern League

 
Scott Taylor – LB, Loyola High School in Los Angeles, CA.
Submitted by the NFF Los Angeles Chapter.

• 3.77 GPA
• Honor Roll, AP and Honors Courses
• Team captain, First Team All-State, League MVP, First Team All-Mission League

 
Christian Thatcher – LB, Arbor View High School in Las Vegas, NV.
Submitted by the NFF Bill Ireland/Las Vegas Chapter.

• 3.37 GPA
• National Honor Society, Student Council
• Three-year team captain, three-year First Team All-State, all-time state leader in tackles

 
Jayden Thoreson – QB, Mica Mountain High School in Tucson, AZ.
Submitted by the NFF Southern Arizona Chapter.

• 4.78 GPA
• Valedictorian, Principal's Honor Roll
• Two-year team captain, First Team All-Region, Regional POY

 
Boaz Yoo – QB, East Valley High School in North Hollywood, CA.
Submitted by the NFF Coastal Valley (CA) Chapter.

• 4.65 GPA
• Valedictorian, National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction, Congressional Gold Award
• Two-year team captain, All-League, All-LA City