These 25 Florida prep stars will shape the College Football Playoff

There's little debate that winning a college football national title requires elite players from Florida.

Fernando Mendoza (Columbus) won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to its first national championship last season. Most of the Hoosiers starting secondary, including All-American D'Angelo Ponds (Chaminade-Madonna), were from Florida.

Two of the past three national championship games featured starting quarterbacks from Florida high schools.

Just look at last year's playoff field for the importance of Florida's players. Miami's roster included home-grown talent such as Malachi Toney, Rueben Bain Jr. and Francis Mauigoa. Ohio State's entire starting wide receiver group of Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss are from Florida high schools.

Alabama, Georgia and Oregon all had starters in their secondary from Florida. Oklahoma's defensive line was deep with native Floridians.

You get the picture.

And this year should be more of the same. Here are 25 players from Florida high schools who could help determine the 2026 College football Playoff field.

Keep in mind, this isn't necessarily a list of the best players from Florida high schools, but the ones who should have a major impact on the postseason.

25. Michigan LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng

Michigan is counting on former Florida prep stars Owusu-Boateng (IMG) and Troy Bowles (Jesuit) to lead a revamped linebacker group. The true sophomore had four tackles last year but is in line for a starting role and a potential breakout season.

24. Missouri QB Austin Simmons

Simmons (Pahokee) started 2025 as Ole Miss' starting quarterback but lost his spot after suffering an ankle injury in Week 2. Simmons ended up playing in eight games, completed 60 percent of his passes (45 of 75) for 744 yards and four touchdowns.

23. Ohio State DB Earl Little Jr.

Little (American Heritage) was a standout for Florida State last season. He earned second-team All-ACC honors after leading the Seminoles with 76 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2025.

22. Alabama OT Michael Carroll

Carroll (IMG) earned All-American honors as a true freshman in 2025 after appearing in all 14 games with six starts. Carroll played both tackle and guard in 2025, but Alabama had the 6-foot-6, 318 pounder at right guard during the spring.

21. Florida WR Vernell Brown III

If Florida is going to make a playoff run in 2026, it will need its young receiving core — led by Brown (Jones) and Dallas Wilson (Tampa Bay Tech) — to take the next step in their development. Brown led the Gators with 40 catches for 512 yards as a true freshman in 2025.

20. SMU RB Kendrick Raphael

SMU was a playoff team two years ago and could rely on Raphael (Naples) to get back in 2026. Raphael was a workhorse at Cal in 2025, leading the ACC in carries (232), placing fifth in rushing yards (943) and third in rushing touchdowns (13).

19. Ole Miss CB Edwin Joseph

The Rebels have several young defensive backs from Florida, including Andy Jaffe (Clearwater Central Catholic), Ladarian Clardy (Escambia) and Keon Young (Lakeland). Joseph (Chaminade-Madonna) is a junior transfer from Florida State with starting experience who immediately steps into a starting role at Ole Miss.

18. LSU WR Jayce Brown

Brown (Choctawhatchee) is part of a new Florida-heavy wide receiver group — along with Winston Watkins Jr. (Venice) and Eugene Wilson III (Gaither) — in Baton Rouge. Brown had 115 catches for 1,972 yards and 13 touchdowns at Kansas State the past three years.

17. Miami DL Ahmad Moten Sr.

Moten (Cardinal Gibbons) is a rare player who waited his for his opportunity at the same school he signed with out of high school. The redshirt senior earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2025 when he had 31 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

16. Louisville RB Isaac Brown

Brown (Homestead) is a true home run threat and keeping him from entering the transfer portal was a big early win for the Cardinals. During his first two seasons, Louisville has rushed for 2,057 yards and 18 touchdowns and caught 43 passes for 200 yards.

15. Ohio State EDGE Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

Jackson (Chaminade-Madonna) is a key returner on a defense that lost many key 2025 contributors to the NFL Draft. He had 28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks last season.

`14. LSU CB DJ Pickett

The No. 1 player on the 2025 USA Today Florida Network top 100, Pickett (Zephyrhills) had 37 tackles and was sixth in the SEC with three interceptions as a true freshman last fall.

13. Miami EDGE Damon Wilson

A second-team All-SEC selection at Missouri in 2025, Wilson (Venice) transferred to Miami for his senior season. Wilson, who has 15.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in his career, joins a Miami squad that saw both of their edge rushers from 2025 selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

12. Alabama S Keon Sabb

Sabb (IMG) won a national title with Michigan in 2023 and is entering his third season at Alabama. Sabb started all 15 games in 2025, recording 54 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, three pass breakups and an interception.

11. LSU OT Jordan Seaton

Seaton (IMG) was the top-rated offensive lineman in the transfer portal. He started 26 games at Colorado the past two seasons and will be building block for the Tigers offensive line.

10. Georgia LB Raylen Wilson

Wilson (Lincoln) is one of the leaders of the Bulldogs defense and will be heavily counted on this season. The senior started 14 games in 2025, recording 74 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

9. Notre Dame WR Jordan Faison

Faison (Pine Crest) led Notre Dame in receptions (49) and receiving yards (640) and finished third on the team with four touchdowns in 2025. An elite lacrosse midfielder (he started on Notre Dame's 2024 national championship squad), Faison didn't play lacrosse in 2026 to focus on football.

8. Oklahoma DL David Stone

Stone (IMG) is one of the best interior run defenders in the nation and is constantly mentioned as a potential first round NFL Draft pick. He had 42 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries in 13 games last season.

7. Miami RB Mark Fletcher Jr.

Miami has a deep stable of running backs, but Fletcher (American Heritage) is the one who emerged as the leader last season. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder rushed for 1,192 yards, averaged 5.5 yards per carry and led the Hurricanes with 12 rushing scores.

6. Texas CB Graceson Littleton

Texas' 2025 season didn't go according to plan, but Littleton (Wiregrass Ranch) had a big true freshman season. He recorded 47 tackles, two interceptions, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Much like the Longhorns, Littleton enters 2026 with high expectations.

5. Penn State QB Rocco Becht

Becht arrived in Happy Valley from Iowa State along with coach Matt Campbell and brings with him a lot of experience. The 2023 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year had over 9,200 career passing yards and 64 touchdown passes.

4. Indiana S Amare Ferrell

Ferrell (Columbia) is the leader and backbone of the Hoosiers secondary. He's appeared in 41 games with 28 starts for the defending national champions. He had 48 tackles, four interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 2025.

3. Georgia CB Ellis Robinson IV

Robinson (IMG) had a breakout season in 2025, earning FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and second-team All-SEC honors. He was tied for the SEC lead with four interceptions, to go along with 20 tackles and seven pass breakups in 14 games.

2. Miami WR Malachi Toney

Toney (American Heritage) had one of the best true freshman seasons in history in 2025. He led the nation with 109 receptions for 1,211 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. He won ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and earned All-American honors last year.

1. Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith

Smith (Chaminade-Madonna) is considered by most to be the best player in the nation. The two-time All-American has 163 catches for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns in two dominant seasons. Smith and Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin might be the best QB-WR duo in the nation.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: These 25 Florida prep stars will shape the College Football Playoff