With California high school football season on deck, here’s a look at who we believe to be the top 25 statewide Defensive Player of the Year candidates entering 2025.
(The list is in alphabetical order.)
Oscar Aguilar, LB, Downey (Downey) – Sr.
The 3-star Arizona state pledge enters his senior year with career totals of 258 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two blocked kicks. His junior season was his best yet, as he registered 102 tackles, 14 TFLs, four sacks, and five forced fumbles to help Downey go 9-2 with a CIF-SS D2 playoff berth. Aguilar is at his best against the Vikings’ top opponents and should again be the top defensive star of a state-ranked team.
Davon Benjamin, DB, Oaks Christian – Sr.
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A 5-star Oregon commit and, per 247Sports, “the most versatile defensive back out West.” Benjamin was already one of the state’s top DBs as a junior with six picks (three returned for touchdowns), 45 tackles, five TFLs, and two forced fumbles. Despite his ability to make plays on the ball, some see him as a more of a corner prospect than safety because he’s equally good in coverage. Benjamin has a chance to lift the Lions to some of the highest heights in program history in 2025.
Marcus Fakatou, DE, Orange Lutheran – So.
Fakatou is the only sophomore on this list, but the 6-foot-6.5, 275-pound DE is the third-ranked prospect in the entire Class of 2028. He totaled 28 tackles, 10 TFLs, and five sacks against a Trinity League schedule as a freshman and has the tools to make the proverbial leap as a sophomore.
Dash Fifita, LB, Santa Margarita – Sr.
The 3-star Arizona commit is already the reigning co-DPOY of the nation’s toughest league. Fifita recorded 100 tackles, 11 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception against arguably the most difficult schedule in high school football, and is now a 3-star Arizona commit.
J.D. Hill, DE, Mission Viejo – Sr.
One need only look at the 3-star NAU commit’s junior stat line playing for one of the nation’s better teams to see that he’s clearly on a shortlist of top DPOY candidates. Hill registered 101 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, 15 QB-hurries, a team-high three forced fumbles, and an interception in 2024.
Leki Holani, LB, Santa Margarita – Sr.
Holani broke out for 72 tackles, 19 TFLs, six sacks, six QB-hurries, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four pass break-ups as a junior. And the 3-star Sacramento State commit did it all against one of the toughest schedules in high school football. This year he could be the statistical leader of one of the best defenses in not only the state but in fact the entire nation.
Dutch Horisk, DE, St. John Bosco – Sr.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Horisk is one of only a few high school players in the country outside of Mater Dei who can say that they contributed to a national championship. The high 3-star Oregon commit broke into the Braves’ rotation as a freshman in 2022 and heads into his senior year with 160 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 17 sacks, and nine pass break-ups for his career.
Mikhal Johnson, DL, Sierra Canyon – Sr.
The reigning Most Valuable Lineman of the vaunted Mission League, which is usually known for having an abundance of standout linemen. Johnson totaled with 69 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, five sacks, and nine QB-hurries as a junior, and is a 3-star prospect with 20 offers including Arizona State, Sacramento State, UNLV, and Utah.
Taylor Johnson, LB, Cajon – Sr.
One of the state’s top breakout stars as a junior, Johnson erupted for 174 tackles (82 solo), nine TFLs, and four sacks for a Southern Section D3 playoff team that averaged fewer than 18 points a game allowed. The 3-star USC commit can also cover at quite a high level for a linebacker that predominantly plays inside. Johnson has a chance this fall to contend for a statewide tackles crown as the star of a strong defense.
Jeron Jones, CB, Mission Viejo – Sr.
A lightning-quick cornerback with length and ball skills, Jones totaled nine interceptions, 129 tackles, 16 pass break-ups, and two forced fumbles between 2023 and 2024. He’s a 4-star Washington commit whose other offers include Texas, Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, and USC. It isn’t easy getting DPOY consideration as a cornerback at the high school level, even on a nationally-ranked team. But with Jones’ ability to show his impact on the stat sheet, don’t put it past him.
CJ Lavender, DB, Mater Dei – Sr.
A rare four-year starter for the No. 1 team in high school football, Lavender totaled 41 tackles, two interceptions, five pass break-ups, and two fumble recoveries as a junior on the national champion. While he’s mostly known as a corner, Lavender has seen increasing snaps at safety and nickel due to his physicality and ability to make plays on the ball.
Jonathan McKinley Jr., LB/DE, Corona Centennial – Sr.
The most productive defensive player for one of high school football’s top programs, McKinley was the Big West League (Upper) Defensive Player of the Year with 10.5 sacks, 21 QB-hurries, 57 tackles, and a pick. Fluid between OLB and rush end, he’s a 3-star Cal commit with 10 other offers including Boise State, SMU, Arizona State, Arizona, and UNLV.
Devohn Moutra Jr., S/LB, Serra (Gardena) – Sr.
One of California’s top breakout stars last year, Moutra led one of the state’s top defenses with 93 tackles, 13 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, and three interceptions to earn Mission League co-DPOY honors. The 3-star Sacramento State commit also totaled 26 QB-hurries, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.
Isaiah Phelps, LB, Pacifica (Oxnard) – Jr.
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As just a sophomore, Phelps racked up 174 tackles (eight for loss), five sacks, and two interceptions to help lead Pacifica to a CIF-SS D4 title and 2-AA state finals appearance. While it’s not relevant to this list, he was a big factor at RB too. Phelps, a 4-star recruit, enters his junior year with 268 tackles, 16 TFLs, and four picks.
Madden Riordan, DB, Sierra Canyon – Sr.
With an incredible 10 interceptions against a national schedule, Riordan was named co-MVP of the vaunted Mission League and a MaxPreps All-American as a junior. The high 3-star USC commit starts his senior season with career totals of 16 interceptions, 29 pass break-ups, 127 tackles, and three forced fumbles. Riordan has been primarily featured at safety for the Trailblazers but is considered more of a cornerback prospect at the next level.
Shaun Scott, LB/DE, Mater Dei – Sr.
The 4-star USC commit was second on the national champion with 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and two interceptions as a junior. He’s a pure edge who can slot in equally as an OLB or DE. With a chance to be the top producer on a national champion, Scott might see his stock rise even higher in the coming months.
Prince Tavizon, DE, Lincoln (San Diego) – Sr.
Tavizon was one of the top sophomore defensive linemen in California last season for the San Diego Section champion, and he’s still ranked as a 4-star recruit after reclassifying to 2026. The Oregon pledge made 90 tackles and team-highs of 15 TFLs, 13 sacks, and two forced fumbles, and is poised to have a monstrous senior campaign.
Ezaya Tokio, LB, Oceanside – Sr.
As a junior, Tokio totaled 28 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles – all in just four games. The previous season at St. Augustine, he registered 98 tackles (4.5 for loss). With a full senior season in his second year at Oceanside, Tokio could easily emerge as a statewide DPOY candidate. He’s a 4-star Washington commit who has considerable upside at 6-4, 220 with speed and motor.
Tomuhini Topui, DT, Mater Dei – Sr.
The statewide – and perhaps nationwide – DPOY conversation has to start here. Topui broke out for 42 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, and an interception and was voted Trinity League MVP as a junior. He was also named First Team All-State by Sporting News and CIF-SS Defensive Player of the Year by High School On SI. Topui is a 4-star USC commit and uncommon physical specimen lineman at 6-3, 320 with agility.
Richie Wesley, DE, Sierra Canyon – Sr.
Formerly a 5-star prospect in the Class of 2027, Wesley is now a 5-star prospect in the Class of 2026 after reclassifying in March. The recent Texas commit is the state’s most feared edge rusher, totaling 94 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, 23 QB-hurries, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in his first two seasons on an elite defense.
Khary Wilder, DL, Serra (Gardena) – Sr.
After breaking out for 14 sacks as a sophomore, the 4-star Ohio State was a walking triple team as a junior on one of the state’s top defenses. Wilder recorded career-highs of 86 tackles, 40 QB-hurries, and six passes defensed in addition to 11 TFLs and 4.5 sacks last year. No defensive lineman in the state can play both inside and outside on the line as well as Wilder.
Josh Williams, LB/DE, Palos Verdes – Jr.
Williams is already the reigning Southern Section D5 DPOY after totaling 76 tackles, 21.5 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles to lift Palos Verdes to a section title and 2-A state title. And that was just the 3-star recruit’s sophomore year.
Isala Wily-Ava, S, St. John Bosco – Jr.
One of the premier DPOY candidates after notching a program record of seven interceptions and team-high 72 tackles as a sophomore. Now a 4-star recruit with more than two-dozen offers, Wily-Ava is a lock for statistical production no matter how opposing offenses scheme for him. With so many other defensive stars on the Braves, there’s only so much opponents can do to avoid such a versatile playmaker.
Jasen Womack, S, Oak Ridge – Sr.
A 3-star ATH prospect, Womack is one of the top all-purpose players on this list and did some of everything to help lead Oak Ridge to the CIF-SJS D1 finals in 2024. On defense, Womack totaled 75 tackles (six for loss) and seven interceptions, including 14 tackles and two picks against Folsom in the section finals.
Ronen Zamorano, LB, Sierra Canyon – Sr.
Last but not least is the reigning Mission League co-DPOY. Zamorano had team-highs of 113 tackles (four for loss) and 71 solo tackles as a junior. That makes four Trailblazers on the list and it still doesn’t include some of their biggest names.
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