RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The 2026 high school football season is right around the corner, with the season kicking off on Thursday, Aug. 20, when Buena plays Castaic at Valencia High.
The Star unveils its annual preseason top 65 players in the area:
1. Isaiah Phelps, Pacifica: The Star's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, now committed to San Diego State, led the state in tackles with 232 as he powered the Tritons to Marmonte League, CIF-Southern Section Division 3 and CIF-State Division 1A regional titles as a junior. He's also a powerful running back for the Tritons.
2. Taylor Lee, Pacifica: The 6-foot-2, 189-pound quarterback, who committed to Portland State in June, broke the Ventura County records for TD passes in a single season (53) and single game (8) as a junior.
3. Alifeleti Tuihalamaka, Oaks Christian: The 6-foot-4-260-pound defensive lineman, who committed to USC in May, had a team-high eight sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss as a junior.
4. Charles Davis, Westlake: The 6-foot-5, 210-pound receiver caught 30 passes as a junior, but 11 of them were touchdowns. The four-star recruit had more than 25 offers when he committed to UC Berkeley, joining his brother Niles, in April.
5. Caleb Pasina, St. Bonaventure: Matt Perez may be in Reno, but the Seraphs can still move some bodies. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound junior, who arrived from Las Vegas before last season, as already one of the most physical linemen in the county. He has more than 15 offers, including UCLA, Cal and Texas A&M.
6. Demare Dezeurn, Westlake: The wicked fast senior wideout amassed 1,372 receiving yards and 27 total touchdowns last year at Palisades High and will see plenty of open field opposite fellow Cal commit Charles Davis.
7. Tony Dargan, St. Bonaventure: The electric three-phase playmaker, who already has offers from Oregon and UCLA, had 1,142 all-purpose yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions as a freshman. He also set the county freshman record in the 100 meters.
8. Kingston Celifie, Calabasas: The 6-foot sprinter brings 111 receptions for 1,584 yards and 19 TDs, plus four return TDs, into his senior season. He committed to UCLA in May.
9. Alijah Royster, Pacifica: The fleet-footed playmaker enters his senior season with 41 touchdowns, 10 more than any other returning player. That figure includes eight in CIF-State play.
10. Darrien Johnson, Newbury Park: The Panthers’ multi-tool flashed his immense talent as a sophomore, when he threw for a TD, ran for eight TDs, caught a TD pass, had two interceptions, blocked a punt and also returned kicks and punts in just six games. Offers from Sacramento State and Georgia State are just the beginning.
11. Micah Hannah, Simi Valley: The 6-foot-2 junior corner, who has offers from UCLA, USC, Florida, Notre Dame and 13 other schools, had three interceptions in six games as a sophomore.
12. Malaika Sione, Pacifica: The 6-foot, 235-pound edge rusher had 97 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, five sacks and 12 hurries a sophomore.
13. Tristan Savage, Ventura: Whether as a bulldozing running back or an acrobatic jump-ball threat, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior finds the end zone. He scored 25 of Ventura’s 90 TDs last fall.
14. Dominik Hardy, Calabasas: The 6-foot-2 senior returns as the area's most experienced quarterback, leading in career completions (381), attempts (586) and passing yardage (4,457).
15. Jaxson Carper, St. Bonaventure: The 6-foot-3, 160-pound quarterback, who has offers from UCLA, Nebraska and Iowa, enters his junior season having already attempted more than 400 varsity passes.
16. Bryson Kennedy, Oak Park: The 6-foot-3 sophomore quarterback’s arrival from Little Rock, Arkansas — by way of Duncanville, Texas — has been the news of training camp. Offers from Arkansas, Auburn and Missouri herald a promising talent.
17. George Hastings, Agoura: Linebacker or safety? Running back or quarterback? The biggest question is what roles the Chargers will fill with their star senior this fall.
18. Anthony Jacobs Jr., Pacifica : Perhaps the most consistent of Taylor Lee’s trio of elite targets, the 5-foot-10 senior speedster hauled in 54 catches for 1,202 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has offers from Georgia State and New Hampshire.
19. Davis Benson, Moorpark: A multi-event star on the track in springtime, the 6-foot wideout arrived on the gridiron in electric fashion last fall, reeling in 11 TDs and gashing opposing teams on kickoff returns.
20. Apisai Fifita, Oaks Christian: The 6-foot-6, 235-pound tackle who transferred from Mountain View-St. Francis this offseason has offers from Washington, Notre Dame, BYU, Arizona, Cal and UCLA.
21. Zayne Reed, Agoura: The 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive end, who has offers from Washington and Colorado, will miss the first half of the season after transferring from Oaks Christian to Agoura.
22. Ford Green, Westlake: The 6-foot-2 quarterback w...
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