Mater Dei, St. John Bosco: Top 15 prospects to watch

A look at the top 15 prospects to watch in the matchup between Mater Dei and St. John Bosco

No. 1 St. John Bosco will take on No. 2 Mater Dei on Friday in a matchup of the nation's top two high school football programs.

The game itself will feature 76 Division I prospects, including some of the country's top recruits.

In truth, SBLive Sports was going to take a look at the top 10 prospects in this game, but it left off several all-American candidates with major national offers.

So, here's a look at the top 15 prospects in the game: 

5-star edge-rusher Matayo Uiagalelei (St. John Bosco, 2023) — The nation’s No. 8 overall prospect and No. 2 edge-rusher is the highest-rated recruit in the matchup.

Once labeled "D.J.'s younger brother," Matayo Uiagalelei has carved his own path and established himself as one of the nation's best edge-rushers.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound athlete has kept his recruitment close to the vest, but Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon and USC are among the programs still in the hunt. 

Photo by Joe Bergman

5-star running back Jordon Davison (Mater Dei, 2025) — Mater Dei sophomore Jordon Davison still has two-and-a-half years of high school remaining, but is already one of the most coveted recruits in America.

Rated the nation's No. 1 running back, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound ball-carrier already holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, USC and many more. 

He recently visited both Ohio State and USC, and had high praise for both programs. 

Davison has a chance to become one of the most heavily-recruited running back in California state history.

He's got that kind of potential. 

5-star safety Peyton Woodyard (St. John Bosco, 2024) — The younger cousin of NFL first-round draft pick Kyle Hamilton, Peyton Woodyard is one of the nation's top young safeties.

The 6-foot-2, 188-pound defensive back is rated the nation's No. 24 overall prospect and he already holds more than 30 scholarship offers.

Woodyard recently visited USC, but has also spoken glowingly of several schools, including Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA and others.  

5-star edge-rusher Nasir Wyatt (Mater Dei, 2025) — Already established as a special defender, as well as a national recruit, Nasir Wyatt earned a five-star distinction early from 247Sports. 

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound outside linebacker holds offers from Georgia, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, USC and more. 

He's a blazing-fast 'backer who already reminds some of elite defender David Bailey, particularly after registering two first-half sacks against nationally-ranked Bishop Gorman earlier this season. 

Wyatt's stock seems likely to continue to climb, as he's put together a stellar sophomore campaign thus far. 

4-star offensive lineman DeAndre Carter (Mater Dei, 2024) — You know a game is loaded with talent when the nation's No. 1 interior offensive lineman isn't one of the top-four highest-rated recruits on the field Friday night. 

That's the case for DeAndre Carter, who is flirting with five-star status and is among the best junior linemen in the country. 

The 6-foot-4, 340-pound mauler holds more than 20 offers, highlighted by Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State Texas, USC and many more.

Carter has a chance to play on Sundays. 

Photo by Heston Quan

4-star quarterback Elijah Brown (Mater Dei; 2024) — Mater Dei junior quarterback Elijah Brown is a special prospect.

Rated the nation's No. 5 quarterback, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound passer still has a chance to earn a fifth star as he develops.

Brown, who is 23-0 as a starter at the varsity level, holds 13 early offers, highlighted by Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and USC.

In a good college system - likely given his offer sheet - he could develop into a Heisman Trophy contender.

Photo by Heston Quan

4-star linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (St. John Bosco, 2024) — Rated the nation’s No. 47 overall prospect and No. 2 linebacker, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa could climb much higher in the rankings.

Why?

After a stellar freshman campaign, Viliamu-Asa missed his entire sophomore season with a knee injury.

Despite only have freshman film coming into this year, he already holds offers from Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M, USC and others.

To have generated that much attention with so little exposure is truly remarkable.

He's a special, special talent. 

4-star cornerback Marcelles Williams (St. John Bosco, 2024) — Another Williams defensive back, another elite prospect.

Max and Macen committed to USC and Arizona State, respectively, out of high. school, but Marcelles may end up being the best of the bunch.

He's rated the nation’s No. 60 overall prospect and No. 6 cornerback in the class of 2024. 

Williams holds 30 offers, highlighted by Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Stanford, Texas, USC and many others. 

4-star defensive lineman Aydin Breland (Mater Dei, 2024) — Rated the nation’s No. 65 overall prospect and No. 7 defensive lineman, Aydin Breland is one of two elite California DL prospects in the class of 2024.

The other? Recent Los Alamitos transfer T.A. Cunningham, arguably the top young defensive lineman in the country.

Both have a chance to be truly special players at the collegiate level.

Breland, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound lineman has offers from Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, USC and others.

Photo by Joe Bergman

4-star offensive tackle Brandon Baker (Mater Dei, 2024) — Another sign of the remarkable depth of top-end talent in this game, Brandon Baker is rated the nation's No. 2 offensive tackle in the 2024 recruiting class and barely cracks the top-10 highest-rated players in Friday night's contest. 

Still, the nation’s No. 64 overall prospect projects as a future NFL player and a potential All-American selection. 

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound lineman holds nearly 20 offers and just recently took a visit to Oregon. 

4-star wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. (St. John Bosco, 2023); Committed to Louisville — Louisville made California a massive priority in the 2023 recruiting cycle and it paid off big-time, as the Cardinals secured a trio of bluechip St. John Bosco players.

The highest-rated addition? DeAndre Moore Jr., who is rated the nation’s No. 66 overall prospect and No. 11 wide receiver.

4-star cornerback Zabien Brown (Mater Dei, 2024) — The nation's No. 11 cornerback holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, USC and others.

The 6-foot, 180-pound athlete is part of a loaded Mater Dei secondary that is loaded with players who will return for at least another year.

4-star cornerback Aaron Williams (St. John Bosco, 2023); Committed to Louisville — The former Centennial star transferred to St. John Bosco to help bolster the outside cornerback position.

Aaron Williams is rated the nation’s No. 157 overall prospect and No. 17 cornerback.

4-star quarterback Pierce Clarkson (St. John Bosco, 2023); Committed to Louisville — A third St. John Bosco prospect committed to Louisville, Pierce Clarkson is a four-star recruit who is rated the nation’s No. 208 overall prospect and No. 14 quarterback.

The 6-foot, 190-pound signal-caller is not only a leader for the St. John Bosco program, but has also been a leader in Louisville's recruiting effort.

4-star cornerback Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins (Mater Dei, 2024) — Rated the nation’s No. 214 overall prospect and No. 23 cornerback, Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back with more than 20 scholarship offers.

Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M and USC are just a few of the programs in pursuit. 

Honorable mention*

4-star linebacker Jordan Lockhart (St. John Bosco, 2024); Committed to Ole Miss — Nation’s No. 287 overall prospect and No. 19 linebacker; 4-star safety R.J. Jones (St. John Bosco, 2023) — Nation’s No. 336 overall prospect and No. 33 safety; 4-star cornerback Jshawn Frausto-Ramos (St. John Bosco. 2023) — Nation’s No. 379 overall prospect and No. 36 cornerback; 4-star linebacker Leviticus Su’a (Mater Dei, 2023) — Nation’s No. 393 overall prospect and No. 33 linebacker 

*Both programs are loaded with young freshmen who will go on to be highly-rated prospects