Semaj Stanford Named First Team Elite All-American
Oregon Commit Earns National Recognition as One of America's Most Complete Defensive Playmakers
Elite All-American recognizes only twenty-two First Team selections nationwide following a comprehensive evaluation of the country's premier high school football players.
Selection is based upon on-field production, performance against elite competition, football character, leadership, positional excellence, versatility, and long-term projection.
Being named First Team Elite All-American represents one of the highest honors awarded annually by Elite All-American.
The nation's best defensive backs don't simply cover receivers.
They change football games.
Semaj Stanford has built his reputation doing exactly that.
Following a dominant junior season at Broken Arrow High School and outstanding performances against elite national competition, Stanford earned First Team Elite All-American recognition as one of the country's premier defensive back prospects.
Already committed to Oregon, Stanford enters his senior season recognized as one of the nation's most complete defensive playmakers.
Why Elite All-American Selected Him
Elite All-American evaluates far more than recruiting rankings.
Stanford earned First Team recognition because of his football intelligence, versatility, physicality, range, ball skills, and ability to impact every phase of the game.
Whether making plays in the secondary, contributing on offense, or changing momentum on special teams, Stanford consistently demonstrated elite instincts and competitive toughness.
His ability to create turnovers while also producing offensively made him one of the most complete defensive evaluations in the inaugural Elite All-American class.
Friday Night Football
Stanford enjoyed one of the most productive seasons of any defensive back in the country while helping Broken Arrow reach the Oklahoma Class 6A-I state semifinals.
2025 Junior Season
Defense:
- 109 tackles
- 5 interceptions
- 2 interception return touchdowns
- 5 pass breakups
- 2 forced fumbles
- 2 blocked kicks
- 1 tackle for loss
Offense:
- 743 all-purpose yards
- 11 total touchdowns
Few defensive backs in America matched Stanford's production on both sides of the football.
His ability to consistently create takeaways while also contributing offensively established him as one of the nation's elite overall athletes.
National Evaluation
Elite All-American evaluators closely followed Stanford throughout national offseason competition.
Against many of the country's premier athletes, he consistently demonstrated:
- Outstanding range
- Elite closing speed
- Excellent ball skills
- Physical tackling
- Positional versatility
- Exceptional football instincts
His ability to diagnose plays before they developed repeatedly separated him from an outstanding national defensive back class.
Whether playing deep safety, covering receivers, or making open-field tackles, Stanford consistently impacted winning.
Elite Athleticism
Stanford's athletic profile reinforces everything seen on the football field.
His verified track performances include:
- 10.71 seconds (100 meters)
- 22.06 seconds (200 meters)
- 7.00 seconds (60 meters)
That combination of speed and explosiveness allows him to close throwing windows quickly while possessing the recovery speed needed to eliminate big plays.
His athleticism, combined with outstanding instincts, makes him one of the country's premier defensive prospects.
Recruiting Journey
Stanford attracted national attention throughout the recruiting process.
Programs across the country pursued him before he announced his commitment to Oregon on April 23, 2026.
The Ducks secured one of the nation's premier defensive backs after a recruiting process built upon relationships, player development, and Stanford's belief in Oregon's defensive vision.
His commitment represents another major addition to Oregon's nationally respected recruiting class.
Looking Ahead
Semaj Stanford enters his senior season recognized as one of the country's elite defensive playmakers.
His versatility, production, leadership, athleticism, and football intelligence provide every opportunity to become an impact player at the collegiate level.
Elite All-American proudly recognizes Semaj Stanford as a First Team Elite All-American, honoring both his accomplishments and the complete defensive skill set that distinguishes him among the nation's premier defensive backs.
Player Snapshot
- Position: Defensive Back
- Elite All-American Team: First Team
- Primary Position: Safety
- High School: Broken Arrow High School
- City, State: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
- Height: 5'11"
- Weight: 190 lbs
- Graduation Class: 2027
- College Commitment: Oregon
Elite All-American Evaluation
Semaj Stanford earned First Team Elite All-American recognition because he consistently demonstrated one of the most complete defensive skill sets evaluated during the 2026 national selection process.
His elite instincts, physical tackling, outstanding ball production, positional versatility, and ability to impact games on defense, offense, and special teams repeatedly separated him from an exceptional national defensive back class. His complete body of work established him as one of the country's premier defensive prospects.
Elite All-American proudly recognizes Semaj Stanford as one of eight defensive backs selected to the inaugural First Team, honoring a player whose versatility, production, and football intelligence exemplify elite defensive football.
