Newsday's Top 100 Long Island high school football players for 2025

Newsday's annual look at the top high school football players on Long Island, listed in alphabetical order, heading into the season. All statistics listed are from last season, unless otherwise noted. 

Christian Anaya, Carey, LB/OL, 5-11, 200, Sr.

Anaya did everything for Carey’s defense as a junior inside linebacker, totaling 53 tackles (15 1/2 for a loss) and one forced fumble. He also played some defensive end and recorded 5.5 sacks. In coverage, he deflected five passes and intercepted two.

Anthony Asaro, Garden City, RB/DE, 6-1, 180, Jr.

Asaro has big shoes to fill, as each of the last two starting Garden City running backs have won a Thorp Award as the best player in Nassau County. Asaro, a multi-sport athlete, showed his ability in flashes last season and with an expanded role, can be one of the top rushers on Long Island this fall.

Xavier Bala, St. Anthony’s, RB, 6-1, 215, Jr.

The shifty running back rushed for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns.

Aiden Barnes, Elmont, QB/DB, 6-3, 175, Sr.

A dual-threat quarterback with a big arm, Barnes completed 60% of his passes for 1,630 yards and 15 touchdowns, and also rushed for 268 yards.

Javon Barnwell, Connetquot, RB/DB, 5-11, 185, Sr.

Barnwell ran for 462 yards and seven scores on 96 carries. He also had 307 receiving yards and caught five touchdown passes.

Dylan Bayer, East Islip, OG/DT, 6-2, 275, Sr.

The All-Long Island first-team selection had 51 tackles, including 13 for a loss. He was a finalist for the Zellner Award, given to Suffolk’s most outstanding lineman.

Joe Benedetto, Ward Melville, RB/CB, 6-0, 175, Sr.

He rushed for 1,315 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the Patriots to the Suffolk I final.

Trevor Benjamin Jr., Long Island Lutheran, OL/DL, 6-2, 275, Sr.

He totaled 39 tackles and a sack. The strong two-way lineman holds multiple Division I college offers.

Brady Bermant, Roslyn/Friends Academy, K, 5-11, 205, Sr.

He is considered an offensive weapon as one of Long Island's top kickers with great range.

Chris Biondi, Kellenberg, DL, 6-3, 260, Jr.

Biondi was impressive on the defensive line as a sophomore, recording 16 tackles, including three for a loss.

Shreyan Biswas, Herricks/Wheatley, TE/DE, 6-3, 240, Sr.

Biswas has great hands and athleticism, especially for his size, and totally disrupts an opposing team’s rushing attack. His combination of size and speed makes him difficult to contain.

Simon Blissett, Northport, QB/LB, 6-1, 200, Sr.

Blissett was injured and missed last season. As a sophomore, he passed for 647 yards and five touchdowns.

Jovan Brewster, West Islip, RB/CB, 6-0, 180, Sr.

Brewster missed last season with a herniated disc but had a strong sophomore season. He will have a big role in the Lions’ offense.

Jayden Bryan, Half Hollow Hills East, RB/LB, 5-10, 170, Soph.

He totaled 91 tackles and eight sacks and rushed for 300 yards and two scores.

Danny Burgin III, Holy Trinity, DE, 6-1, 260, Sr.

He had 56 tackles and three sacks as a junior and can be expected to put up another impressive performance this season.

Jacob Butler, Long Island Lutheran, WR, 5-10, 175, Sr.

The Stanford commit had 1,614 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns. A track and field standout, Butler has blazing speed and impressive agility.

Jake Calloway, Westhampton, QB/SS, 5-10, 165, Jr.

Calloway threw for 600 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 400 yards and 10 scores in six games.

James Camardella, North Shore, QB/DB, 6-3, 190, Sr.

In limited passing opportunities, Camardella completed 64.2% of his passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns. He was used more often on the ground, where he averaged 8.7 yards per carry and totaled 476 yards and seven scores.

Michael Cascione, Smithtown West, RB/FS, 6-0, 180, Sr.

Cascione ran for 1,150 yards and 10 touchdowns, and had 51 tackles, including six for loss.

Bryce Ciancuielli, St. Anthony’s, OL, 6-3, 250, Sr.

Ciancuielli is a big presence on the offensive line, using his size and strength to protect the pocket.

Braydon Cipp, Bellport, QB/LB, 5-11, 175, Sr.

The dual-threat quarterback had 941 all-purpose yards, seven passing touchdowns and two rushing scores. He also had 31 solo tackles.

Malachi Collins, Elmont, OL/DL, 6-4, 300, Sr.

One of the best centers on Long Island, he enters his third year as a varsity starter. He creates clean pockets for quarterback Aiden Barnes and frequently opens lanes for his backs to follow through.

Patrick Coan, Sayville, QB, 6-4, 190, Sr.

The Lehigh commit threw for 2,288 yards and 29 touchdowns and ran for 428 yards and six scores to help Sayville win the Suffolk III title.

Trevon Cole-Jenkins, Half Hollow Hills East, OL/DL, 6-3, 265, Sr.

He was the main blocker for a team that rushed for over 4,000 yards and threw for 1,500 more. Cole-Jenkins had 45 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles.

Liam Cronin, Ward Melville, MLB, 6-0, 205, Sr.

Cronin had a school record 91 tackles, including six for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Alex Davis, East Hampton, RB/DB, 5-10, 185, Sr.

An explosive and shifty runner, Davis rushed for 896 yards and totaled 14 touchdowns. 

Jonathan Davis, Hempstead, RB/DB, 5-8, 155, Sr.

Davis scored 18 touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams. Offensively, he ran for five scores, caught five touchdown passes and threw four more. Davis also made three interceptions and is one of the most versatile players on Long Island.

Jake DeGennaro, Islip, RB/DB, 5-8, 170, Sr.

He caught 33 passes for 515 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 103 yards and two scores. DeGennaro also made two interceptions.

Justin DePietro, Carey, RB/LB, 6-0, 225, Jr.

One of the most dominant players on Long Island, DePietro rushed for 1,109 yards and 14 touchdowns. As an inside linebacker, he made 95 tackles (13 for a loss) and had six sacks.

Nick DeVito, Smithtown West, QB, 6-1, 180, Sr.

DeVito threw for 850 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 240 yards and four scores. He won the overall competition at the National Football Foundation QB Challenge in July.

Brian Falk, Seaford, RB/LB, 6-0, 185, Sr.

Both a workhorse and a home-run hitter out of the backfield, Falk rushed for 13 touchdowns, caught two touchdown passes and returned a kickoff for a score. As an outside linebacker, he made 89 tackles.

Patrick Fay, Westhampton, WR/FS, 6-1, 170, Sr.

Fay totaled 33 tackles and made an interception. He will take over as Westhampton’s top receiver.

Dylan Fella, Plainedge, RB/LB, 5-10, 190, Sr.

Fella averaged 7.6 yards per carry and rushed for 1,075 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 218 yards and three scores. At outside linebacker, he is a sure tackler and strong in coverage.

Vincent Feraca, Connetquot, QB, 6-3, 195, Sr.

He completed 62% of his passes for 2,242 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Max Ferraro, Eastport-South Manor, RB/LB, 6-1, 195, Sr.

Ferraro ran for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns as the Sharks’ quarterback. He will shift to running back this season.

James Galiano, East Meadow, RB/LB, 5-10, 190, Sr.

He rushed for 940 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a 191-yard performance against Herricks/Wheatley. Galiano has the size and speed to run between the tackles and bounce outside. He also has great defensive instincts to chase down opposing runners.

Jimmy Gaston Jr., Central Islip, RB/LB, 5-8, 186, Sr.

He rushed for over 600 yards and four scores.

Andrew Guida, Oceanside, OL/DL, 6-1, 245, Sr.

He’s made 19 straight starts as an anchor of the offensive and defensive lines. His size and physicality pave the way for Oceanside to move the ball efficiently.

Jacob Guzik, Huntington, QB, 6-1, 195, Sr.

Guzik had a break-out season as a junior, passing for 1,125 yards and nine touchdowns.

Aidan Ham, Glen Cove, OT, 6-7, 250, Sr.

Ham is an imposing presence at the line of scrimmage, while possessing the athleticism to block at the second level to create long running plays for Glen Cove.

Shane Harmon, Oceanside, QB, 5-10, 160, Sr.

Harmon completed 93 of 139 passes for a completion rate of 67%. The second-team All-Long Island selection passed for 1,842 yards and 20 touchdowns, with only two interceptions. The four-year starter was a Snyder Award finalist last season as Nassau’s top quarterback.

Ryan Healey, Baldwin, OL/LB, 6-2, 235, Sr.

Healey was nearly unstoppable at the line of scrimmage, recording eight tackles for a loss. He also anchors the offensive line at center.

Ryan Healey, South Side, OL/DL, 6-2, 310, Sr.

As a left guard, Healey consistently creates running lanes for his running backs. As a defensive tackle, Healey recorded 25 tackles (two for a loss), three sacks and a safety.

Izaiah Hill, Valley Stream North, RB/DB, 5-10, 175, Sr.

Hill has game-changing speed and showed that off as a junior, rushing for 933 yards and nine touchdowns. He also catches passes out of the backfield, and on occasion, splits out wide to the slot. Hill had 150 receiving yards and two touchdowns. As a starting cornerback, he made 45 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown.

Marcus Houghtaling, Locust Valley, LB/FB, 5-10, 175, Jr.

Houghtaling roamed the field effectively from his inside linebacker’s spot, totaling 87 tackles, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. On offense, he will be a lead blocker for running back Aidan Russo.

Kai Jankow, Babylon, QB/DB, 6-0, 185, Sr.

Jankow rushed for 1,007 yards and 16 touchdowns and threw for 482 yards and four scores.

Jayden Johnson, Floyd, DT, 6-3, 305, Sr.

He had 30 tackles and four sacks. His combination of size, speed and athleticism make opponents game plan to stop him.

Yasir Jones, Huntington, RB/LB, 6-2, 195, Sr.

Jones, who rushed for 737 yards and 11 touchdowns, possesses explosive speed.

Yiannis Kakavas, East Meadow, OL/DL, 6-1, 260, Sr.

Kakavas can block at the first and second level, paving the way for the Jets’ running backs. He’s also elite on the defensive side, with the ability to shed blockers and get into the backfield.

Josh Kama, Farmingdale, RB, 6-0, 205, Sr.

The Newsday All-Long Island first-team selection rushed for 1,717 yards and 29 touchdowns on 152 carries — an 11.3 average — in 10 games. He had one of his best performances in the Nassau Conference I title game, rushing for 313 yards and five touchdowns on 27 carries in a 35-34 overtime loss to Massapequa. He also had a 376-yard, seven-touchdown performance against Oceanside last October.

Joey Karpowicz, Ward Melville, WR/CB, 6-3, 175, Jr.

Karpowicz had 233 receiving yards and seven touchdowns and totaled eight interceptions and 43 tackles.

Shane Kiernan, Miller Place, QB, 6-1, 185, Sr.

The All-Long Island second-team selection completed 68% of his passes for 2,885 yards and 29 touchdowns to lead the Panthers to the Suffolk IV title game.

Matthew Kurz, Clarke, QB, 6-2, 180, Sr.

A dynamic quarterback, Kurz threw for 952 yards, rushed for 411 and totaled 11 touchdowns. Clarke will lean on his dual-threat talent even more this year.

Ryan Lane, Sachem East, QB/MLB, 6-3, 220. Sr.

The three-year starter missed last season with an injury sustained in the opener.

AJ Magaraci, South Side, RB/DB, 5-11, 175, Jr.

Magaraci will step into graduate Justin Singh’s role behind a talented offensive line anchored by Ryan Healey. Magaraci caught 15 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. He also picked off three passes at strong safety.

Jonathan Maio, Commack, OT/DE, 6-2, 215, Sr.

A standout two-way lineman, Maio had 54 tackles and two sacks.

Jack Martines, Sachem East, OL/DL, 6-6, 285, Sr.

Martines is a three-year starter and will anchor both the offensive and defensive lines.

Luke Martini, Wantagh, RB/LB, 5-11, 200, Soph.

The younger brother of reigning Thorp Award winner Dylan Martini, Luke Martini is explosive. As a freshman, he ran for 416 yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries. He had touchdowns on two of his three kickoff returns.

Keith McDowell, Half Hollow Hills East, OL/DL, 6-5, 340, Sr.

McDowell’s excellent size and agility have many colleges interested in him.

Niko Meyers, East Islip, HB/DE, 5-11, 190, Sr.

Meyers, a three-year starter on defense, is a disruptive force at defensive end.

Declan Miller, Chaminade, OG, 6-2, 290, Sr.

Miller is a third-year starter at guard and utilizes his size to protect his quarterback and create running lanes.

Wesley Moody, Mount Sinai, OL/DL, 6-4, 270, Sr.

Moody is a three-year starter who has drawn attention from several Division I colleges thanks to his size, strength and mobility. He is a standout on both sides of the ball.

Kevin Moore, St. Anthony’s, WR/DB, 6-1, 190, Sr.

He tallied 54 tackles (two for loss) and had four interceptions. Moore will have a larger role on offense this season.

Chace Morris, Oceanside, RB/DB, 5-10, 160, Jr.

Morris had 989 all-purpose yards, including 721 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He had some of his best games against the toughest competition in Nassau Conference I, rushing for 152 yards and four touchdowns against Farmingdale and 140 yards and three touchdowns against Freeport.

Colin Most, Bayport-Blue Point, WR/DB, 6-4, 180, Sr.

His size and quickness make him tough to guard. Most will be the primary target for the reigning three-time Suffolk IV champions.

Joe Nicholson, Wantagh, RB/LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.

While Luke Martini will handle some of the backfield’s responsibilities that his brother Dylan has left behind, Nicholson will get the majority of the touches. As the second option in the backfield last season, Nicholson totaled 656 scrimmage yards on 46 touches (14.3 yards per touch). He made 62 tackles at middle linebacker.

Xavier O’Brady, Long Island Lutheran, RB/LB, 6-1, 227, Sr.

A three-year starter at Floral Park, O’Brady had five rushing touchdowns and 68 tackles despite missing four games due to injury last season.

Zach Olson, Garden City, OL/DL, 6-5, 275, Sr.

Olson, who won the Martone Award as Nassau’s most outstanding lineman as a junior, was often the lineman Garden City ran its elite rushing attack behind. He could clear a running lane with the best on Long Island and was nearly impossible to block 1-on-1 on defense.

Ryan Pender, Oceanside, K, 5-11, 170, Jr.

Pender is one of the most reliable players on Long Island, regardless of position. He has made 11 of 13 field-goal attempts (84.6%) and 72 of 79 PATs (91.1%).

Cris Peralta, Brentwood, RB/LB, 6-0, 215, Sr.

Peralta, who rushed for 874 yards and 10 touchdowns, also had 100 tackles, including 9 1/2 for a loss.

Hudson Philbrick, Ward Melville, QB, 6-2, 185, Jr.

He passed for 1,230 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Valdey Pierre, Sachem North, OL/DL, 6-1, 265, Sr.

Pierre is a three-year starter and excels on the defensive side of the ball.

Joe Pistritto, Hauppauge, WR/CB, 6-0, 170, Sr.

Pistritto caught six touchdown passes and totaled 50 tackles and six interceptions.

Jack Poppe, Bethpage, OL/DL, 6-0, 225, Sr.

With Bethpage running a wishbone offense, Poppe’s run-blocking ability at left guard will be put to the test often.At defensive tackle, he had 33 tackles (three for a loss), one sack and one fumble recovery.

James Quilty, Mepham, WR/LB, 5-11, 170, Sr.

He had 94 tackles and two interceptions as both a physical and speedy linebacker who controls the defense.

Wilson Quintanilla, Farmingdale, DT, 5-9, 240, Sr.

Quintanilla makes the Dalers one of the toughest teams to run against. He had 61 tackles and three sacks.

Kaden Reid, Longwood, WR/DB, 6-0, 178, Sr.

He had eight interceptions and was the recipient of the Tom Cassese Award, given to the most outstanding defensive back in Suffolk. Reid will also get multiple touches per game as a running back and receiver.

Collin Reyer, Bayport-Blue Point, RB/LB, 6-1, 190, Sr.

Reyer’s speed, strength and vision make him incredibly tough to tackle in the open field.

Brody Riedel, Long Beach, RB/LB, 5-8, 175, Jr.

He rushed for 723 yards and 11 touchdowns and had 43 receiving yards and a score. Riedel also is a defensive leader and had 67 tackles (four for a loss). Riedel can run between the tackles with physicality, while possessing big-play ability.

Lukas Rinaldi, New Hyde Park, RB/LB, 6-1, 205, Sr.

The two-way standout had 55 tackles and rushed for 556 yards. He displayed his breakaway speed with 143 yards on eight carries (17.9 yards per rush) in a game against Baldwin.

Brayden Robertiello, Garden City, QB, 5-10, 165, Jr.

Robertiello entered his sophomore season as Garden City’s starting quarterback and had arguably his best game of the season in the Long Island Class II championship game, propelling the Trojans to their fourth straight Long Island title. Robertiello completed 11 of 13 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns in last season's final and will command the offense again this fall.

Peyton Robinson, Long Island Lutheran, QB, 6-1, 180, Sr.

He threw for 2,146 yards and 28 touchdowns and rushed for 527 yards and four scores. He was a runner-up at the National Football Foundation QB Challenge in July.

Kameron Roy, Long Island Lutheran, WR, 6-2, 190, Sr.

He only played in four games due to an injury, but he still had 367 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The strong-handed receiver has great size and speed.

AJ Rudolph, Miller Place, WR/DB, 6-1, 170, Sr.

Rudolph caught 42 passes for 450 yards and five touchdowns . He had 23 tackles and an interception.

Chase Samelson, Lynbrook, QB, 5-11, 195, Sr.

While playing as an injury replacement on the road in Week 8, Samelson led Lynbrook to a win over Bethpage to solidify a playoff spot. He is known for his arm strength but can run downhill effectively, once rushing for a 90-yard touchdown in backup duty.

Kyon Sarwari, Longwood, RB/OLB, 5-7, 160, Jr.

He rushed for 437 yards and five touchdowns on 53 carries.

Jayden Saunders, Cold Spring Harbor, LB/RB, 5-10, 200, Sr.

He had a sack, made 31 tackles (two for a loss) and recovered a fumble.

Connor Schmidt, MacArthur, OL/DL, 6-2, 240, Jr.

The returning two-way starter will set the tone for the Generals. His 6-2, 240-pound frame is a challenge to contain 1-on-1.

Jayden Smith, Half Hollow Hills West, RB/LB, 6-0, 195, Sr.

Smith is a strong tackler and will take over as the Colts’ starting running back.

Luca Smith, Chaminade, LB, 6-3, 230, Sr.

He had 52 tackles, two sacks, a blocked punt and three defensive touchdowns.

TJ Sonnenberg, West Islip, QB/CB, 6-1, 195, Sr.

The three-sport athlete has great mobility and a strong arm with the ability to make throws on the run.

Dontae Spadaro, Mount Sinai, RB/LB, 5-10, 175, Sr.

Spadaro missed most of last season with an injury, but the Marist lacrosse commit will bring his excellent athleticism to both sides of the ball.

Michael Spinella, Seaford, QB, 6-2, 170, Sr.

One of the more fundamentally-sound passers on Long Island, Spinella throws a very catchable ball. He passed for 1,243 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Tim Stanley, Division, QB, 6-0, 175, Sr.

Stanley showed promise through the air and on the ground as a junior. He completed 60.6% of his passes for 1,728 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 15 attempts.

Tristan Tarasi, Massapequa, OL/DL, 5-11, 220, Sr.

Tarasi secures the line of scrimmage and is an imposing force for Massapequa, which is coming off back-to-back Long Island Class I championship titles.

Ja’Quan Thomas, Floyd, RB/LB, 6-1, 220, Sr.

Thomas led Long Island in rushing and scoring as a junior with 2,594 yards and 37 touchdowns. He was the Division I MVP and a co-recipient of the Joe Cipp Award as Suffolk’s most outstanding running back.

Jaxson Torres, Plainedge, QB, 6-3, 180, Jr.

The big signal caller, who is also a dominant pitcher in baseball, is one of the most natural throwers on Long Island. He has a huge arm and threw for over 1,500 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Nazir Turner, Bellport, OL/DE, 6-4, 215, Sr.

Turner is an outstanding run blocker on offense. He also had 23 tackles (three for a loss), three sacks and two interceptions at defensive end.

Daniel White, Half Hollow Hills East, RB/DB, 5-9, 185, Sr.

White rushed for 2,306 yards and 25 touchdowns and led the RedHawks to their first Suffolk football title. He was a Newsday All-Long Island second-team selection.

Aidan Winter, Babylon, RB/LB, 6-0, 203, Sr.

A five-year varsity player, Winter ran for 1,758 yards and totaled 23 touchdowns. He enters the season as Babylon’s all-time rushing leader with 4,750 yards. The senior also totaled 62 tackles last season.