Early Contenders: Top 10 high school football players in new places

Video: Top 10 players in new places
Zack Poff breaks down the top 10 players wearing a new jersey this fall.

MaxPreps will release preseason high school football rankings next month. Until then, whet your appetite for prep pigskin with our Early Contenders Top 10 series.

We've already taken a deep dive on the biggest games and storylines of the upcoming season, as well as the Top 10 players in the country. Now we shift focus to the game-changers who will be in a new jersey this fall. Read on for a look at the Top 10 high school football players playing at new schools.

Eight of the 10 players are rated in the Top 100 on 247sports player composite rankings from the 2018 and 2019 class, including Kayvon Thibodeaux, the top recruit in the 2019 class, and Xavier Thomas, the second-rated player overall in the 2018 class.

The state of California leads the way as half of the list features players from the Golden State. 10. Brandon Gray, Cass Tech (Detroit) — WR

It's never easy replacing the top-rated wide receiver from the 2017 class in Donovan Peoples-Jones, but if anyone can it's Gray. The 6-foot-5 Southfield A&T (Southfield) transfer is poised for a big-time senior season at Cass Tech. There is a good chance the 3-star wide receiver is the breakout player of the 2017 season.

9. Kirby Bennett, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) — RB

Former Allen (Texas) star Bennett moves from one powerhouse program to another and will battle for the starting running back position in Las Vegas. Over the past two seasons, while splitting carries with Brock Sturges, Bennett ran for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Eagles. He enters his senior season with nearly 50 Division-I offers, but only cares about extending Bishop Gorman's 54-game winning streak and helping the Gaels win their ninth consecutive state championship.

8. Mycah Pittman, Calabasas (Calif.) — WR

His father, Michael, was the starting running back for the Super Bowl winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003, his older brother is poised for a breakout sophomore season at USC and now the former Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) star is on track for a big-time junior year at his new school — Calabasas. Mycah Pittman checks in as a Top 40 player overall in the 2019 class on 247sports player composite rankings and the No. 6 player from California.

7. Solomon Tuliaupupu, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) — LB

The former Claremont (Calif.) star was named a first team MaxPreps Junior All-American after finishing the year with 126 tackles and 18 tackles for loss. The new leader on Mater Dei's defense is a Top 100 recruit overall on 247sports player composite rankings and the No. 3 inside linebacker in the 2018 class.


6. T.J. Pledger, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) — RB

The No. 3 all-purpose back in the 2018 class is going from coast to coast to finish out his high school career. Pledger was second team MaxPreps Junior All-American after rushing for nearly 2,000 yards and 32 touchdowns for Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.) in 2016. The 2018 Oklahoma commit is one of the top playmakers in all of high school football. Another player that could be on this list is a first team MaxPreps Sophomore All-American — Noah Cain. The former Guyer (Denton, Texas) star gives IMG Academy arguably the best running back duo heading into the 2017 season.

5. Jalen Hall, Long Beach Poly (Calif.) — WR

Hall, the former Hawkins (Los Angeles) 5-star wide receiver, is the top rated player from California in the 2018 class, according to the 247sports player composite rankings. The No. 2 wide receiver among all rising seniors had nearly 1,200 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns during his junior season. His former Hawkins' teammate Aashari Crosswell also transferred to Long Beach Poly for his senior year and the 4-star defensive back also will be a name to watch in 2017.

4. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) — DE

Thibodeaux, the newest face at Oaks Christian and the nation's top-rated player in the class of 2019 according to 247sports, racked up 17 sacks and 27 tackles for loss during his sophomore year at Dorsey (Los Angeles). Expect those same types of numbers during his first season at his new school.

3. Brendan Radley-Hiles, IMG Academy — CB

One of the newest IMG Academy additions is one of the best all-around players in high school football. The former Bishop Gorman and Calabasas star is a 2018 Nebraska commit and Top 70 recruit overall. There is a good chance Radley-Hiles makes the biggest jump in 247sports player composite rankings during the 2017 season.

2. Matt Corral, Long Beach Poly — QB

The nation's second-rated pro style quarterback will be playing for Antonio Pierce and Long Beach Poly his senior season. The addition of Jalen Hall gives Poly the top two players from California in the 2018 class, according to 247sports player composite rankings. Corral has thrown for at least 3,000 yards in back-to-back seasons and don't expect things to change in 2017.

1. Xavier Thomas, IMG Academy — DE

The No. 2-rated player overall in the 2018 class, according to 247sports player composite rankings, is one of the most physical defensive players in the country. The 2018 Clemson commit was a MaxPreps Junior All-American first-team pick after posting some big-time stats at Wilson (Florence, S.C.) — 131 tackles and seven sacks. IMG Academy is loaded defensive playmakers but Thomas is the best of the bunch.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Shortly after the publication of this article Justin Emerson (@J15Emerson) reported that Kirby Bennett has been dismissed from the team at Bishop Gorman.