Past No. 1 players in South Hampton Roads’ Top 50 high school football recruits since 2004, including their college choice. NOTE: The list started to include the Peninsula and Bay Rivers districts in 2020.
Class of 2023 – WR Paul Billups Jr., Western Branch (undecided)
Class of 2022 – WR Tychaun Chapman, Landstown (North Carolina)
Class of 2021 – DB Tony Grimes, Princess Anne (North Carolina)
Class of 2020 – DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Indian River (Florida)
Class of 2019 – ATH Tayvion Robinson, Cox (Virginia Tech)
Class of 2018 – LB Teradja Mitchell, Catholic (Ohio State)
Class of 2017 – RB Khalan Laborn, Catholic (Florida State)
Class of 2016 – DB Levonta Taylor, Ocean Lakes (Florida State)
Class of 2015 – DE Josh Sweat, Oscar Smith (Florida State)
Class of 2014 – DB Quin Blanding, Bayside (Virginia)
Class of 2013 – RB Taquan Mizzell, Bayside (Virginia)
Class of 2012 – DE Eli Harold, Ocean Lakes (Virginia)
Class of 2011 – DB Demetrious Nicholson, Bayside (Virginia)
Class of 2010 – QB Phillip Sims, Oscar Smith (Alabama)
Class of 2009 – LB Jerod Askew, Oscar Smith (Tennessee)
Class of 2008 – OL Vinston Painter, Maury (Virginia Tech)
Class of 2007 – WR Jay Smith, Lake Taylor (N.C. State)
Class of 2006 – WR Percy Harvin, Landstown (Florida)
Class of 2005 – LB Deveon Simmons, Landstown (Virginia Tech; never played)
Class of 2004 – QB Ryan Pond, Western Branch (N.C. State – baseball)
Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com