It’s high school football playoff time in Florida. Seven Pensacola area teams have made it to the state playoffs, while four other teams that just missed the field will play in the Florida Invitational Tournament.

There will be plenty of talent on the field on Thursday and Friday night, from Division I commits to high impact players trying to extend their high school careers another week.

Here are 20 area players we’re keeping an eye on in the postseason.

Keep with all the action from the FHSAA playoffs on NFHS network.

David Aboya, Milton

Panthers David Aboya (1) punts during the Milton vs Pace football game at Pace High School on Oct. 31, 2025.

A Southern Miss commit, Aboya has been a playmaker on both sides of the ball for the Panthers. He’s recorded 33 tackles, three interceptions and three pass deflections as a defensive back as well as 129 receiving yards and 59 rushing yards on offense. He's also the Panthers punter.

Charles Benson, West Florida

West Florida running back Charles Benson (No. 20) dances his way past the Tate defense for a significant gain during their Week 5 gridiron matchup.

A true iron man player, Benson has run for 1,028 yards and 14 touchdowns at running back and recorded 41 tackles (7 TFL) and four sacks at linebacker.

Jaylin Brown, Pensacola Catholic

Crusaders quarterback Jaylin Brown (4) passes during the South Walton vs Catholic football game at Pensacola Catholic High School on Oct. 24, 2025.

The signal caller for an offense averaging 35.1 points per game, Brown has completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 1,247 yards, 22 touchdowns and three interceptions and run for 218 yards and five touchdowns.

Josiah Brown, Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington's Josiah Brown (5) takes down Denver Boyett (2) but not before he picks up the first down during the Booker T. Washington vs Gulf Breeze football game at Gulf Breeze High School on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.

The Memphis commit has been a big playmaker in the Wildcats secondary, recording 65 tackles, 14 pass deflections, an interception and a forced fumble.

Tanner Clark, Tate

Tate's Tanner Clark (No. 23) looks for a break in the Escambia defense during Thursday's last regular season football game on Oct. 25. 2025.

Clark has played both running back and wildcat quarterback for the Aggies this fall, running for 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Ethan Crandall, Pensacola Catholic

Crusaders Ethan Crandall (6) carries the ball during the South Walton vs Catholic football game at Pensacola Catholic High School on Oct. 24, 2025.

Crandall has made a big impact this fall after transferring from Gulf Breeze, running for 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 8.9 yards per carry.

Kaiden Hall, Milton

Panthers quarterback Kaiden Hall (3) keeps the ball during the Milton vs Pace football game at Pace High School on Oct. 31, 2025.

The Florida commit is playing quarterback for the first time and excelling at the position for a team that’s gone from 0-10 to 7-3. Hall’s completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 601 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions and ran for 761 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s also spent time at his future college position of safety, recording 15 tackles and three interceptions.

Noah Hamlin, Pace

Bulldogs Manwell Robinson (7) loses a shoe as he is tackled by Patriots Noah Hamlin (18) during the Crestview vs Pace football game at Pace High School on Sept. 26, 2025.

An Arkansas State commit, Hamlin’s played a key role in a Patriots defense that’s improved tremendously throughout the season. After transferring from Pensacola Catholic, Hamlin has 60 tackles (9 TFL), four quarterback hurries, two sacks, an interception, a pass deflection, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

Trent Henderson, Pine Forest

Escambia's Cashon Downs (No. 4) outruns Pine Forest defender Tristain Henderson (No. 20) while defensive end Trent Henderson (No. 7) closes in during Friday night's District 1-4A gridiron matchup.

The LSU commit has 35 tackles (8 TFL), 4.5 sacks, a pass deflection, blocked punt and blocked field goal while facing double and triple teams throughout the season. Henderson transferred from Pensacola Catholic to Pine Forest for his senior season.

Kaleb Johnson, Pensacola Catholic

Pensacola Catholic's Kaleb Johnson (11) tackles South Walton's Gabe Parenton (4) during their football game at Pensacola Catholic High School on Oct. 24, 2025.

Johnson recorded a team-high 87 tackles (4 TFL), three pass deflections, two forced fumbles and an interception.

Mason Mathis, Pace

Pace's Mason Mathis (78) competes in a drill during a spring practice on Monday, May 12, 2025, at Pace High School.

Towering over many of his opponents at 6 foot-6, the USF commit has 63 pancakes and has been a lynchpin for a run-heavy Patriots team that averages 305.3 rushing yards per game.

Maliek North, Tate

Washington quarterback Caden Osborn (No. 11) gets flushed out of the pocket by Tate's Maliek North (No. 8) and John Flynn (10) for a loss of yards during Friday night's District 1-6A football game.

North has been one of the most disruptive defenders in the area, recording 43 tackles (18 TFL), 14 quarterback hurries and five sacks.

Jamarcus Kitt, Pensacola

Wildcats Da'Sean Bohanan (2) is taken down by Tigers Jamarcus Kitt (6) during the Booker T. Washington vs Pensacola Mayor's Cup football game at Blue Wahoos Stadium in downtown Pensacola on Oct. 3, 2025.

Kitt has made a big impact in his first year on varsity, recording 50 tackles (13 TFL) and four sacks.

Kolby Saladino, Booker T. Washington

Milton quarterback Kaiden Hall (No. 3) gets gang tackled by Washington's Kolby Saladino (No. 34), Leroy Murphy (No. 33), and Walt Baker (No. 31) for a loss of yards during the first half of Thursday's non-district game on Sept. 4, 2025.

Saladino has been the leader for the Wildcats on defense, posting team highs in tackles (97) and tackles for loss (20).

Kayden Samelson, Northview

Samelson continues to be a disruptive forced for the Chiefs, recording 59 tackles, including a team-high eight tackles for loss, and six sacks.

Aiden Spratt, Milton

Panthers Aiden Spratt (15) celebrates a sack during the Gulf Breeze vs Milton football game at Milton High School on Oct. 9, 2025.

The leader of a physical Milton defense, Spratt has 106 tackles (15 TFL), two sacks and two pass deflections.

Elijah West, Tate

Aggies Elijah West (7) returns a kickoff during the Pace vs Tate football game at Tate High School in Cantonment on Oct. 10, 2025.

A Florida Atlantic commit, West has caught 18 passes for 329 yards and five touchdowns. The Aggies have struggled to throw the ball since losing starting quarterback Miles Delarosa to a torn ACL, but defenses still have to respect West as a big play threat.

Makael Williams, Pace

Pace's Makael Williams (20) takes the handoff during the football game against Milton at Pace High School on Oct. 31, 2025.

Despite missing two games due to an injury, Williams has run for 1,226 yards and an area-best 25 touchdowns. He’s just as comfortable running away from defenders in the open field as he is fighting for extra yards.

Grant Wise, Pace

Pace's Grant Wise runs through a drill during a spring practice with the Patriots in May 2025.

The Clemson commit is the dominator on Pace’s outstanding offensive line. He has 130 pancakes and was named the Florida Athletic Coaches Association District 1 MVP.

Jaymes Youngblood, Jay

Jaymes Youngblood Jay Royals

The 2024 PNJ Newcomer of the Year picked up where he left off this fall, running for an area-best 1,319 yards and 16 touchdowns despite missing two games.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola area football players to watch for FHSAA playoffs