Maryland Private School All-State: Breaking down Division I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recently, the 2025 Maryland Private School All-State Division I selections, chosen by Maryland media and coaches, were announced to the public.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the offensive and defensive teams that were selected.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='402003' first='Jae'Oyn' last='Williams'] — QB, St. Frances Academy, Sr., 5-10, 200; Virginia commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Jaelyn Burke — RB, St. Frances Academy, Sr., 5-10, 185</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1611529' first='Antonio' last='Ledbetter'] — RB, Archbishop Spalding, Sr., 5-9, 190</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='377619' first='Edward' last='Baker'] — OL, St. Frances Academy, Sr., 6-4, 315; Tennessee commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='377551' first='Lamarcus' last='Dillard'] — OL, St. Frances Academy, Sr., 6-2, 310; West Virginia commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1348739' first='Jaiden' last='Lindsay'] — OL, Good Counsel, Jr., 6-3, 275</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1313548' first='Kyle' last='Lucas'] — OL, Archbishop Spalding, Sr., 6-5, 275; Navy commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='418998' first='Zion' last='Smith'] — OL, DeMatha, Sr., 6-5, 295; North Carolina commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='756245' first='John' last='Watkins'] — OL, St. Frances Academy, Sr., 6-4, 315; Temple commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='707709' first='Aaron' last='Igwebe'] — WR, Archbishop Spalding, Sr., 5-10, 160; Towson commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='212349' first='Lavar' last='Keys'] — WR, DeMatha, Sr., 5-10, 165; Indiana commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='964935' first='Kam' last='Miller'] — WR, Archbishop Spalding, So., 5-10, 180</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Damon Hall — TE, St. Frances Academy, Sr., 6-5, 205; Maryland commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Josh Parker — ATH, DeMatha, Sr., 6-4, 195; Coastal Carolina commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1607603' first='Connor' last='Souryal'] — PK/P, Gilman, Sr., 5-10, 155</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thoughts on the offense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think St. Frances Academy quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='402003' first='Jae'Oyn' last='Williams'] deserves even more praise for the way he led St. Frances Academy to a wildly successful 2025 season. His teammate, running back [player_tooltip player_id='402007' first='Jaylen' last='Burke'], was one of the more steady performers for the Panthers this season. I think if he had a little more second gear at his size, his recruitment might be a little different. I think wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='707709' first='Aaron' last='Igwebe'] is a sleeper and should be very productive at Towson. Same for tight end Damon Hall once he gets to Maryland. He didn't get a lot of targets, but he is very talented. I think DeMatha wide receiver Laver Keys will get a lot of chances early in his career to showcase his explosiveness at Indiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Joseph Buchanan — DL, McDonogh, Jr., 6-4, 240</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1091984' first='Zion' last='Elee'] — DL, St. Frances Academy, Sr., 6-4, 220; Maryland commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='711671' first='David' last='Jackson'] — DL, Good Counsel, Sr., 6-3, 280; North Carolina commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>James Pace — DL, DeMatha, Jr., 6-4, 235</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='909849' first='Rodney' last='White'] — DL, Concordia Prep, Sr., 6-3, 295; Indiana commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='711670' first='Nick' last='Abrams'] — LB, McDonogh, Sr., 6-2, 220; Georgia commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cayton Kubah-Taylor — LB, Good Counsel, Sr., 6-0, 185; Army commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1314009' first='Jianni' last='Davis'] — LB, Bishop McNamara, Sr., 6-1, 230; Maryland commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1607598' first='Joey' last='Scheffers'] — LB, Archbishop Spalding, Sr., 6-3, 225</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='402013' first='Khmari' last='Bing'] — DB, St. Frances Academy, Sr., 6-0, 190; Ohio State commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kynair Crumb — DB, DeMatha, Jr., 6-0, 180</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='377575' first='Jireh' last='Edwards'] — DB, St. Frances Academy, Sr., 6-1, 210; Alabama commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='734784' first='Raylaun' last='Henry'] — DB, St. Frances Academy, Jr., 6-0, 180; Texas A&amp;M commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1223560' first='Sean' last='Johnson'] — DB, Archbishop Spalding, Sr., 6-2, 195; Maryland commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1314846' first='Jesse' last='Legree'] — KR, St. Frances Academy, Sr., 5-9, 170; Oregon State commit</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thoughts on the defense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maryland got a nice edge defender in Zahir Mathis in its 2025 class, and they've snagged another in 2026 edge [player_tooltip player_id='1091984' first='Zion' last='Elee']. I think his best football is ahead of him. [player_tooltip player_id='711670' first='Nick' last='Abrams'] should find his way onto the football field early in his career at Georgia. He's an every-down linebacker that can make plays all over the field. One of my favorite players to cover has been defensive back Khamari Bing. His performance during the first month of his senior year landed him the Ohio State offer (he enrolled early). [player_tooltip player_id='1314846' first='Jesse' last='Legree'] was named to the team as a kick returner, which makes a lot of sense. However, I would've given him that athlete spot. He was that good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>My thoughts on the underclassmen.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1348739' first='Jaiden' last='Lindsay'] — OL, Good Counsel, Jr., 6-3, 275</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Previous evaluation: Lindsay's highlights show a physical, quick-footed blocker with a strong finishing mindset. Although listed as an offensive tackle, much of his film comes at left guard, where he consistently shows power and mobility. He pulls effectively on run plays, gets out in space quickly, squares up defenders, and finishes with multiple pancakes. He blocks down with control, uses heavy hands to drive defensive tackles to the ground, and helps create running lanes inside. In pass protection, he plays with aggression and balance, delivering strong chip blocks to help the center, mirroring defenders laterally, and finishing reps by putting defenders on the turf while keeping the pocket clean. Lindsay shows good footwork when pulling, physicality at the point of attack, and a clear desire to finish blocks, projecting as a versatile lineman with the strength to play inside and the movement skills to develop on the edge, with additional true tackle pass-set reps and more second-level work helping to complete the full evaluation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='964935' first='Kam' last='Miller'] — WR, Archbishop Spalding, So., 5-10, 180</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Previous evaluation: Miller lines up at both X and Z and consistently wins downfield. He tracks the ball well, plays through contact, and finishes catches even with defenders in phase. He shows strong concentration in the red zone and excellent body control along the sideline, including a toe-tap score near the pylon. After the catch, he runs with long, smooth strides and enough wiggle to make defenders miss, turning slants and post-corner routes into explosive touchdowns. Miller is a tall, reliable target who catches the ball in stride, finds space versus zone coverage, and has proven big-play ability every time the ball is in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joseph Buchanan — DL, McDonogh, Jr., 6-4, 240</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Previous evaluation: His explosiveness off the ball and agility make him a nightmare for opposing linemen. At the high school level, he plays both on the edge and inside, but I see him transitioning to an interior lineman in college, depending on how his body develops. He's a high-ceiling prospect with the potential to be a dominant force in the trenches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>James Pace — DL, DeMatha, Jr., 6-4, 235</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Previous evaluation: Pace is lightning-fast off the ball and has a deep arsenal of pass-rush moves. He keeps offensive tackles off balance, using his hands well to keep them from engaging. He's physical, aggressive, and relentless, making him just as effective against the run as he is in the pass rush. He takes on and sheds blockers quickly, sets the edge well, and plays in attack mode at all times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Knyair Crumb — DB, DeMatha, Jr., 6-0, 180</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I haven't done a personal evaluation of Crumb just yet, but he was one of the top defensive backs in the WCAC that I saw in person this past season. He finished the 2025 season with 42 total tackles (17 solo), seven interceptions, two pick-sixes, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He recently picked up an offer from South Florida.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='734784' first='Raylaun' last='Henry'] — DB, St. Frances Academy, Jr., 6-0, 180; Texas A&amp;M commit</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Previous evaluation: Standing at 6-foot-2 with a big wingspan, he's a defensive back coach's dream. His length allows him to excel in press coverage, where he disrupts routes, contests passes, and recovers quickly. Henry is also willing to get physical against the run, providing solid perimeter support. As he continues to develop, adding weight to his frame will make him even more dominant at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The most dominant player among the underclassmen is edge James Pace. He is an absolute game disruptor that has impressed every time that I've watched him. DB [player_tooltip player_id='734784' first='Raylaun' last='Henry'] showed why he's one of the top defensive backs on the East Coast, going against top-notch competition all season. Explosive wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='964935' first='Kam' last='Miller'] will be one to continue to watch for the next two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->