20 best sophomores in the nation during the 2023 high school football season

These 20 10th-graders have thrived at the varsity level this fall

High school football is usually dominated by juniors and seniors, but some underclassmen have what it takes to excel against older players.

As the high school football playoffs get underway in several states, SBLive Sports set out to find the best sophomore football players in the nation this fall.

Here are 20 10th-graders who are making a big impact at the varsity level during the 2023 high school football season.

Who did we miss? Email bob.lundeberg@gmail.com to give a shout-out to other sophomores across the country who are showing out this season playing varsity football.

Note: All stats are current through Oct. 17.

Austin Buescher, West Jefferson (Ohio)

Buescher threw for 2,139 yards and 25 touchdowns last season and has been even better as a sophomore. The 6-foot-4 quarterback has 2,899 yards passing and 30 touchdowns with just five interceptions while also running for a pair of TDs. 

Helaman Casuga, Timpview (Utah)

Casuga recently topped 5,000 passing yards for his Timpview career, including 2,801 yards and 24 touchdowns this fall. He is a four-star prospect with offers from BYU, Tennessee and USC, among others. 

Tony Cumberland, Desert Mountain (Arizona)

Cumberland, a five-star defensive tackle prospect, committed to Oregon in September. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound behemoth has seen action on both sides of the ball as a sophomore. 

KJ Ford, Duncanville (Texas)

The No. 1 sophomore recruit in Texas, Ford’s offers include Penn State, Texas and Texas A&M. He is a key member of Duncanville’s overpowering defensive front. 

Kaden Gebhardt, Olentangy (Ohio)

Gebhardt is averaging nearly 10 tackles per game this fall from the free safety position. He also has a pair of interceptions and a kick return touchdown. 

Hezekiah Harris, Jemison (Alabama)

Already one of the nation’s best edge rushers, Harris is a five-star recruit whose offers include Alabama, Auburn and Florida State. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound phenom is also a star basketball player for Jemison.

Keisean Henderson, Legacy School of Sports Sciences (Texas)

Henderson has passed for 1,337 yards and 17 touchdowns this fall while also running for three more scores. Oregon, Penn State and Texas A&M are among the schools that have already extended offers to the four-star prospect. 

Dutch Horisk, St. John Bosco (California)

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Horisk is an elite edge setter for national power St. John Bosco. He has seven sacks this season and is averaging north of six total tackles per game. 

Ke’von Johnson, St. Edmund (Louisiana)

Johnson ran for 1,676 yards and 18 touchdowns as a freshman and is on pace to blow past those totals this fall. In seven games, the 5-foot-9 speed back has 187 carries for 1,559 yards and 21 TDs. 

Anthony Jones, St. Paul’s Episcopal (Alabama)

Nicknamed “Tank,” Jones is a two-way force as a linebacker and pass-catcher for St. Paul’s Episcopal. The five-star recruit is one of the nation’s most sought-after sophomores with offers from Alabama, Auburn and Texas, among others. 

Blaise Lavista, Libertyville (Illinois)

Lavista has been a big-play threat for Libertyville this season, catching 40 passes for 991 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has also run for a TD and picked off a pass on defense. 

Julian Lewis, Carrollton (Georgia)

The nation’s No. 1 overall prospect for the class of 2026, Lewis has thrown for 1,920 yards and 29 touchdowns with just one interception this fall. The USC commit has already topped the 6,000-yard mark through the air during his Carrollton career. 

Jaylen McGill, Broome (South Carolina)

McGill has averaged more than 150 yards per game as a sophomore, turning 143 carries into 1,219 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has scored 42 total TDs at the high school level. 

Matthew McKitrick, Western (Indiana)

McKitrick was an impact player as a freshman who has gone up a level this fall for Western. He is averaging 13.3 tackles from the strong safety position while running for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns. 

Sabby Meassick, Tohopekaliga (Florida)

Already one of the most productive quarterbacks in the Sunshine State, Meassick has thrown for 2,881 yards and 33 touchdowns as a sophomore. Florida extended an offer to the talented quarterback back in January. 

Bryce Perry-Wright, Buford (Georgia)

A five-star prospect, Perry-Wright has the size and athleticism to play anywhere on the defense line. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound game-wrecker has six sacks and 10 quarterback hurries this season.  

D’Antae Sheffey, State College (Pennsylvania)

Sheffey is an offensive weapon who has accumulated 514 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns during his sophomore season. His early offers include Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech. 

Brady Smigiel, Newbury Park (California)

Smigiel leads the state of California with 37 touchdown passes this fall. The five-star recruit also ranks second in total passing yards at 2,550. 

Jordan Thomas, Bergen Catholic (New Jersey)

Thomas plays both ways for Bergen Catholic at receiver and cornerback, but the sophomore has been particularly effective on defense as a sophomore with four interceptions. Miami, Michigan and Penn State are among the schools courting the four-star prospect.  

De’Shun Tipton, McCallie (Tennessee)

Tipton is another standout defensive back with four interceptions this season. He also competes in basketball and track for McCallie. 

(Brady Smigiel photo by Joe Lumaya/USA Today Network)

—

-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports