defensive

RTX (RTX 0.02%), best known for its defense business, also happens to be what’s known as a defensive stock. The recession-resistant nature of the company’s defense unit provides stability to earnings and dividends, making the stock defensive in nature.

But stability is not just another way of saying “low growth.” Over the past year, this stock has surged by 38% largely on enthusiasm for the strong growth it’s generating, particularly from the company’s commercial aerospace segment.

Even better, further growth could be just around the corner. Unlike last quarter, where commercial business was the growth driver, future growth could be led by RTX’s core defense business.

Image source: Getty Images.

RTX and its “magnificent” year-to-date gains

With its surge thus far in 2025, RTX has not only handily beaten major indices like the S&P 500, but it has also outperformed larger stocks that the markets have come to associate with strong returns, like the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants.

Interestingly enough, earlier this year, RTX’s shares delivered sideways price performance. Concerns about rising tariffs were top of mind among investors. This factor outweighed positives like RTX’s solid Q1 2025 results.

However, in June, following a sudden spike in Mideast tensions, share prices in RTX and its defense industry peers began to spike as well. Even as these tensions de-escalated, RTX’s rally persisted. Shares continued to rise ahead of and after the company’s Q2 2025 earnings release, hitting new all-time highs as a result.

Source: RTX earnings reports.

It’s no wonder. As seen in the chart above, during the quarter ending June 30, 2025, the company reported solid sales and earnings growth. This growth was driven largely by strong commercial sales growth from RTX’s Pratt & Whitney division.

There are still many chapters left in this growth story

For RTX last quarter, sales and earnings were not only up on a year-over-year basis. They were also up sequentially, or quarter over quarter, as well. During Q1 2025, RTX’s sales and adjusted earnings per share grew by only 5% and 10%, respectively.

Before you jump to the conclusion that last quarter’s growth was a “one and done” event, take a look at another key performance indicator: contract backlog. As of June 30, 2025, the company’s total backlog stood at $236 billion, up 15% compared to a year ago. Commercial backlog totaled $144 billion, while defense backlog totaled $92 billion.

A year ago, these figures stood at $129 billion for commercial and $77 billion for defense.Hence, with the defense backlog, up 20% over the past year, growing faster than the commercial backlog, up 11.6% over the past year, RTX’s defense segment could experience a greater growth resurgence in the coming quarters.

That’s not all. Strong growth in defense could make up for any turbulence among RTX’s commercial aviation businesses, if recent macro uncertainty gives way to an economic slowdown. Instead of stalling out within a quarter or two, this “growth story” may have many more chapters to go.

What this means for the stock moving forward

Currently, RTX trades for around 24.6 times forward earnings. Compared to peers like Lockheed Martin (LMT), which trades for around 16.8 times forward earnings, this valuation may sound steep.

However, if the growth story persists, I believe this valuation is sustainable. Wall Street loves a growth story, and this one continues to strengthen. That’s clear from RTX’s recent spate of contract wins, including a $1.7 billion air and missile defense radar contract with the U.S. Army.

Only time will tell whether shares experience further multiple expansion, but the stock could continue to rise in tandem with earnings growth. Coupled with its quarterly cash dividend, which was recently increased by 8% and provides shares with a 1.67% forward yield, RTX could deliver steady gains over the next year. The prospect of this appeals to me, given growing concerns about another stock market correction on the horizon.

Tim Skipper is tapping a trusted ally to help him steady UCLA’s football team for the rest of the season.

The interim coach is finalizing the hiring of veteran assistant Kevin Coyle as a member of his defensive staff in a move that could bolster the team after the departure of defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe, according to one person close to the situation not authorized to discuss it publicly because the hiring has not been completed.

The hope is that Coyle could join the Bruins before they open Big Ten Conference play at Northwestern on Saturday.

It would be a familiar pairing.

When Skipper served as Fresno State’s interim coach last season, Coyle ran a unit that ranked third in the Mountain West Conference in total defense and fourth in scoring defense to help the team reach the Idaho Potato Bowl.

The challenge could be far greater with the Bruins (0-3), who have given up 36 points and 431 yards per game to rank among the worst defenses in major college football. Coyle is expected to help the staff as part of what Skipper has described as a collaborative approach to running the defense.

Coyle, 69, started this season as a senior defensive analyst at Syracuse. He has made multiple stops as a defensive coordinator in college and the NFL, serving in that capacity at Holy Cross, the U.S. Merchant Marine, Maryland and the Miami Dolphins. In 2019, Coyle was head coach of the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football after winning a national title the previous season with Louisiana State as a defensive analyst under coach Ed Orgeron.

Coyle spent two stints as Fresno State’s defensive coordinator, first under coach Pat Hill from 1997-2000 before returning prior to the 2022 season and remaining through the last game of 2024. Coyle also spent 13 seasons with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals as a cornerbacks and defensive backs coach.

Coyle replaces Malloe, a universally beloved and respected assistant who left the team last week as part of what was described as a mutual parting of the ways after the team’s disappointing start. UCLA’s defense, filled with eventual NFL players such as Laiatu Latu, Carson Schwesinger, Oluwafemi Oladejo and Jay Toia, had been a strength in 2023 and 2024 before experiencing a steep decline early this season.

The fallout from UCLA coach DeShaun Foster’s dismissal deepened Wednesday when interim coach Tim Skipper disclosed that defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe had agreed to “mutually part ways” with the team, depriving the Bruins of one of their most respected assistant coaches.

Meeting with reporters for the first time since he was selected to coach the team for the rest of the season, Skipper said he didn’t know the specifics of Malloe’s departure. One person close to the coaching staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject, told The Times that Malloe couldn’t get past blaming himself for the team’s 0-3 start, even suggesting that he be fired instead of Foster, so it was agreed that it would be best if he took time to regroup and focus on himself.

UCLA interim head football coach Tim Skipper claps as players participate in practice at Drake Stadium on Wednesday.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

It’s believed that Skipper will be given the resources needed to bolster his coaching staff if he wanted to bring in another assistant. In the meantime, Skipper said the team would take a collaborative approach among remaining staff to coaching the defense.

Malloe was a favorite of players and was known for demanding as much from himself as anyone on the team, choking up early last season when he discussed the need to fix the Bruins’ defense. After Malloe made two personnel switches, moving Oluwafami Oladejo from linebacker to edge rusher while elevating linebacker Carson Schwesinger into the starting lineup, UCLA’s defense went on to be a team strength.

Even though UCLA’s defense struggled in the early going this season, giving up 36 points and 431 yards per game, Malloe remained universally adored by players.

“I know some of the defensive guys loved him so much, and sorry to see him go,” offensive tackle Garrett DiGiorgio said. “Initial reaction as a man, he’s a great person, great family person, and he brought so much value to this team. It’s just unfortunate that I feel like he felt somewhat responsible, along with Foster as well. All we can do is support him on his next step, and hopefully he can come back and see the guys at some point.”

There were no immediate roster defections, Skipper saying that every player was accounted for going into one of the team’s longest practices of the season. Players will have 30 days to enter the transfer portal after their coach bid them farewell during an emotional meeting Sunday morning.

DiGiorgio said Foster told the players who were able to attend the hastily arranged meeting early in the team’s bye week to keep their heads up and keep pushing. Making things all the more difficult was the culpability that some players beared for the team’s fortunes.

“I felt somewhat accountable as a player and as a captain,” DiGiorgio said, “of letting him down as head coach.”

UCLA interim head football coach Tim Skipper talks with media before practice at Drake Stadium on Wednesday.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Skipper acknowledged the strain of replacing a close friend who had visited his parents’ house and eaten his mother’s cooking, saying he considered Foster part of his family.

“It definitely wasn’t just great feelings and things like that,” Skipper said of the situation, “but we both know we’ve got to move on.”

This is the second time in as many seasons that Skipper will serve as an interim coach after taking over for Jeff Tedford in July 2024 and guiding Fresno State to a 6-7 record that included an appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Having served in an inconspicuous role since his arrival as special assistant to the head coach in the middle of July, Skipper spent part of the last few days introducing himself to players and letting them know about his history as a former middle linebacker at Fresno State who has made coaching stops at eight schools.

First impressions have been positive.

“His initial energy and just the way he is in meetings,” DiGiorgio said, “I think he’s trying to uplift us as athletes and he’s not really trying to focus too much on what happened but more on the future and what we can do.”

Skipper was upbeat in his first public remarks since taking over for Foster, shaking every reporter’s hand before encouraging them to call him “Skip,” his preferred nickname. He said he would treat this bye week as a sort of mini-training camp before shifting into game preparation mode for the Bruins’ Big Ten Conference opener against Northwestern on Sept. 27.

“We are completely resetting,” Skipper said. “We’re not going to dwell on the past, we’re not going to dream about the future. We’re going to worry about right now.”

How do the Bruins go from the Big Ten’s only winless team to one that can start having success?

“We need to change our style of play, as far as how hard and how fast and how physical we play, OK?” Skipper said. “Starting with me and the rest of the staff, we have to make sure we simplify things so guys can play full speed ahead and there’s less thinking. That’s kind of my whole motto.”

Rediscovering the joy in football is part of that new approach. DiGiorgio said players are starting to play music in the locker room again, the offensive lineman bringing in his own portable sound system for everyone to enjoy.

“We’ve got to be able to come out here and not treat practice as practice,” DiGiorgio said, “but more as something that we get to do and we have the ability to be on this team.”

DiGiorgio said players would also meet with athletic director Martin Jarmond every Sunday to talk about how things are going with the team and try to build momentum for the rest of the season. Jarmond received public support for the coaching change Wednesday in a statement from Chancellor Julio Frenk provided to The Times.

“At a top university like UCLA, a successful football program plays a powerful role in building community and strengthening connections,” Frenk said in the statement. “I support Martin Jarmond’s decision to replace the football coach. As the leader of our athletics program, he will oversee the process of hiring a new head coach who will elevate UCLA football to national prominence and uphold our commitment to ensuring the best experience for our student-athletes.”

As far as the rest of this season goes, Skipper said he wouldn’t measure success by wins and losses but style of play.

“We need to get out there and give a product that everybody’s proud of,” Skipper said, “that’s exactly all I’m worried about.”

LAS VEGAS — Welcome to Allegiant Stadium.

Remember to tip your Raiders.

The Chargers didn’t forget. They were the most generous tippers in town Monday night, with eight different players swatting away a total of 15 passes and intercepting three more in a 20-9 victory over their AFC West rivals.

It was a defensive masterpiece, one accomplished without star edge rusher Khalil Mack, whose arm was crunched on a tackle, and with linebacker Daiyan Henley — who at times appeared launched from a Circus Circus cannon — on the mend from a nasty stomach bug.

“At times it felt like there were more than 11 out there, especially in the secondary,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said.

Sometimes, a number is more than a number. For example, the Chargers are 2-0, but they’re even better than that because those two wins came against division opponents, counting the season-opening victory over Kansas City. The Chargers play their home opener Sunday against Denver with a chance to run the table on their first three of six division games.

Whereas quarterback Justin Herbert was in the spotlight in the win over the Chiefs, Monday’s game belonged to the defense — starting with Henley’s interception on the first play from scrimmage. He plucked a carom after teammate Alohi Gilman broke up Geno Smith’s first pass.

It was as if the supercharged stadium sprung a hissing leak.

“That’s deflating, bro,” Chargers safety Derwin James said. “It’s deflating to their coordinator — you’ve got your first 15 [plays] drawn up and the first play’s a pick? Very deflating.”

The play had the opposite effect on Henley, who felt so bad before the game his status was downgraded to questionable. He finished with a game-high 10 tackles and a sack.

“Saying I felt like crap is an understatement,” he said. “It was definitely a long game out there, but I got so much motivation just being part of this team, being with a group of guys that got my back no matter what.”

Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley celebrates after sacking Raiders quarterback Geno Smith in the fourth quarter on Monday night.

(Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

Tony Jefferson had an interception for the Chargers at the end of the first half, and Donte Jackson had one in the end zone near game’s end.

Raiders quarterback Geno Smith was 0 for 11 on passes thrown 10 or more yards downfield, the second-most attempts without a completion since ESPN began tracking the statistic in 2006.

Harbaugh heaped praise on James, calling him “the best safety I’ve ever seen in the history of the National Football League” and “Superman.”

“He was playing at the line of scrimmage, intermediate, deep half, blitzing off the edge,” the coach said. “He can play nickel, dime backer, corner — he’s a five-tool, maybe six-tool player. You’d have to compare him to Willie Mays.”

The Raiders generated 218 yards of offense, 171 fewer than their performance at New England the week before.

“What that really feels like is a real missed opportunity just in general,” Raiders coach Pete Carroll said.

“We didn’t play well enough on the offensive side with the turnovers that add up. … They covered us up pretty good. I’m anxious to see the film.”

That won’t be the feel-good movie of the summer.

The Chargers, meanwhile, spiraled in all the right ways. Herbert threw a laser to Keenan Allen in the back of the end zone, and a pristine rainbow to Quentin Johnston for a 60-yard touchdown. He spun his passes with mechanical precision.

“The guy is exactly what we thought he was for a long time now,” Henley said of Herbert. “He’s been out there controlling and commanding the game, not just the offense, but commanding the game. When we give him the ball, we understand that we can rest knowing that [he] is going to get the job done.”

If this was a yardstick game, the visitors measured up and the Raiders took a ruler-rap across the knuckles, losing to the Chargers for the fourth time in the past five meetings.

Allegiant Stadium crackled with energy for this opener, with Raiders minority owner Tom Brady wearing headphones in the coaches’ box, Lil Jon performing at halftime, and two football rockstars roaming the sidelines — Harbaugh and Carroll — longstanding rivals since their days at Stanford and USC, and San Francisco and Seattle.

Carroll became the first person to coach an NFL game at age 74, and youthful as he is, the game had to sap his spirit a bit. The Chargers were in control throughout.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and Raiders coach Pete Carroll shake hands after the Chargers’ win Monday.

(Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

Both teams are breaking in first-round running backs, rookies Omarion Hampton of the Chargers and Ashton Jeanty of the Raiders. Each made some impressive plays, yet neither was a true game-changer. Hampton absorbed a hit from Maxx Crosby and lost the ball on an exchange when the Chargers were trying to put the game on ice.

In the second half, the Raiders had a 19-play, 11-minute drive that resulted in a field goal, the crowd booing in frustration as the kicking unit ran onto the field. Like winning $5 on a $100 bet.

Two NFL teams have not allowed a first-half touchdown this young season: Green Bay and the Chargers.

Brady, a Fox NFL analyst on Sundays, was able to catch his team after working the Philadelphia-Kansas City game the night before.

He came a fairly long way, and his franchise has a fairly long way to go.

Pow! Bam! Whack!

Sierra Canyon has a defense in high school football that needs comic book treatment.

Call them “The Kaboom Squad.”

At any moment, whether it’s a lineman, linebacker or defensive back delivering the blow, be prepared to be wowed.

With size, quickness and depth, the Trailblazers have shut out opponents for 12 consecutive quarters. The opponents haven’t been bad: JSerra, Oaks Christian and Honolulu Punahou.

Will they go through their 10-game regular-season schedule unscored upon? Absolutely not. But the reason they have three shutouts in lopsided victories is that the second stringers are performing as well as first stringers when coach Jon Ellinghouse clears the bench.

Their 63-0 win over Oaks Christian broadcast on Spectrum only added to the Trailblazers’ reputation.

It’s kaboom time as Sam Amuti of Sierra Canyon High prepares to level a Punahou ballcarrier.

(Craig Weston)

A combination of returnees and transfers gives the Trailblazers a defense with few weaknesses.

Nobody is perfect, and perhaps Downey and star quarterback Oscar Rios will be the first to end the shutout streak on Friday, but this is Sierra Canyon’s best defense since the spring of the 2021 COVID season when the Trailblazers put together 18 consecutive quarters of allowing zero points and gave a scare to St. John Bosco.

All the Trailblazers’ positions are filled with talented starters and quality backups. The defensive line starts with Texas commit Richard Wesley, wearing No. 99, the number of Rams great Aaron Donald. The linebackers have a smart, fearless tackler in Ronen Zamorano. The secondary has so many college-bound players that the players’ NIL deals could pay for a trip to Hawaii. Madden Riordan (USC), Havon Finney Jr. (Louisiana State) and Brandon Lockhart (USC) lead the way. And coming soon when the sit-out period ends on Sept. 29 is kicker Carter Sobel, who was a standout at Chaminade and will add to bad field position for opposing offenses.

Sierra Canyon’s Spencer Parham gets emotional for a defense that hasn’t allowed any points in 12 quarters.

(Craig Weston)

Having seen the physicality of St. John Bosco’s offensive and defensive lines last week in a 21-14 win over Baltimore St. Frances, Sierra Canyon (3-0) still needs to keep progressing to be on the same level of the Trinity League powers needed to win a Southern Section Division 1 championship.

The Trailblazers are definitely closing the gap with the Braves and No. 1 Mater Dei. They get a good tune-up for the Division 1 playoffs with a matchup against Orange Lutheran on Sept. 18, a team they lost to last season 33-26.

Chris Rizzo, a former Taft head coach, is the Trailblazers’ defensive coordinator. He wears his baseball cap backward on the sideline with sunglasses and has many options for defensive packages.

Asked if the defense has any weaknesses, Rizzo said, “We have some weaknesses. We’re not perfect by any means. We’ve got some things we have to fix and keep getting better.”

The defense is also helping Sierra Canyon’s offense improve because it’s so difficult to move the ball during practices.

“It makes our guys better,” Ellinghouse said.

Rizzo declined to reveal which unit he thinks is best. “The secondary is pretty star-studded,” he said. “The defensive line is deep. They embrace the grind and play for each other.”

Only time will tell whether this defense is as good as some think. There’s plenty of games ahead to prove if the Trailblazers are truly The Kaboom Squad.

Sixth in a series of stories profiling top high school football players by position. Today, Mikhal Johnson, Sierra Canyon defensive lineman.

Mikhal Johnson, 6 feet 2 and 255 pounds, has played defense all his football life. Then came the moment last season when Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse gave him a chance to catch a pass from quarterback Wyatt Becker in a Mission League championship game against Gardena Serra.

Johnson called it “something out of a movie.”

“We practiced it a couple times during the week,” Johnson said. “Coach called me over, ‘We’re running the play.’ I lined up at tight end. I did a fake block. I go out, nobody is guarding me. This is it. Wyatt throws me the ball over my shoulder. I catch it. It was like, ‘Yes.’ I was so excited. My first ever touchdown the first time I played a skill position in my life.”

Nothing comes as a surprise for Johnson, who also had a baseball game in the spring in which he hit two home runs and had seven RBIs against Camarillo.

Ivy League football schools have been lining up trying to get him to consider their experience of academics and athletics. He had 16 tackles for losses last season.

“I think he’s almost unblockable,” Ellinghouse said. “I’ve seen him screw up several of my practices and go up against some the best high school players in the world. He’s a perfect combination of strength and twitchiness. He has long arms and deceptive strength.”

Johnson is one of many outstanding defensive linemen and edge rushers set to make an impact this season. The position might be the strongest of any in Southern California when considering talent and depth.

Richard Wesley of Sierra Canyon changed his classification to class of 2026 because he’s been a standout since freshman year and is a Texas commit. Mater Dei has the most dominant lineman in Tomuhini Topui, a 315-pound USC commit known for throwing around blockers and running backs.

Khary Wilder of Gardena Serra, an Ohio State commit, is coming off a junior season in which he recorded 11 tackles for losses. Andrew Williams of Fremont is a 6-5, 220-pound USC commit trying to prove you can still make it out of the City Section. Sophomore Marcus Fakatou of Orange Lutheran and junior ElijaHarmon of Inglewood are big, strong and intimidating young stars in the making. Anthony Jones of Crean Lutheran is a UCLA commit known for his pass-rushing skills.

Malik Brooks of St. Pius X-St. Matthias is a 330-pound tackle committed to USC who knows how to take apart double teams. Devyn Blake of Edison has the size to cause havoc. Elijah Staples of Marquez is a defensive end who had 13 sacks as a sophomore. Dutch Horisk of St. John Bosco is an Oregon commit who had four sacks last season.

There’s many defensive linemen this season ready to be difference-makers, and Johnson fits right in.

He has used baseball to help him excel in football.

“I feel they both help me,” he said. “Baseball is good hands-eye coordination and because I’m a defensive linemen I use my hands a lot. Seeing a baseball, the reaction time is like an offensive lineman using their hands.”

Sierra Canyon is still trying to find a way to get past Mater Dei and St. John Bosco in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, a roadblock that most teams in Southern California have failed to get through.

“It’s a fire under our butts to keep going,” Johnson said. “We practice hard.”

Monday: Ventura linebacker Tristan Phillips.

Defensive linemen to watch

Malik Brooks, St. Pius X-St. Matthias, 6-4, 330, Sr. USC commit is big roadblock in the middle

Marcus Fakatou, Orange Lutheran, 6-7, 265, So. His talent level is off the charts

Dutch Horisk, St. St. John Bosco, 6-3, 240, Sr. Four-year starter is Oregon commit

Mikhal Johnson, Sierra Canyon, 6-2, 255, Sr. Had 16 tackles for losses

Anthony Jones, Crean Lutheran, 6-4, 285, Sr. UCLA commit keeps building up strength

Simote Katoanga, Santa Margarita, 6-5, 250, Sr. JSerra transfer is physical specimen

Izak Simpson, Simi Valley, 6-3, 260, Sr. Sacramento State commit has 29 sacks the last two years

Tomuhini Topui, Mater Dei, 6-3, 320, Sr. USC commit could play for any college in the country

Richard Wesley, Sierra Canyon, 6-5, 250, Sr. Texas commit had nine sacks last season

Khary Wilder, Gardena Serra, 6-4, 260, Sr. Ohio State commit is four-year starter who shows up every game

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. The Times begins a nine-part series previewing Southern California’s top high school football players Tuesday. In a final sneak peek, let’s look at defensive backs and kickers/punters.

Secondary power

Oregon commit Davon Benjamin of Oaks Christian returned three interceptions for touchdowns last season.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

The hardest projection this coming season involves which school has the best secondary. That’s how much depth and talent some teams have at defensive back.

Sierra Canyon has two USC commits, Madden Riordan and Brandon Lockhart, plus an LSU commit, Havon Finney Jr., and a terrific junior safety, Myles Baker.

Gardena Serra is loaded with Duvay Williams, Marcellous Ryan, Wesley Arce and Devohn Moutra Jr. Mater Dei has Cory Lavender, Aaryn Washington and Ace Leutele. St. John Bosco counters with USC commit Josh Holland, standout junior safety Isala Wiley-Ava and improving junior cornerback Dorian Franklin.

Murrieta Valley has the Johnson brothers, Derrick Johnson Jr., an Oklahoma commit, and junior Darius Johnson. Long Beach Poly has juniors Julius Johnson and Donte Wright Jr. Rancho Cucamonga has cornerbacks Joshua Mensah and Justin Lewis, both committed to UCLA.

There’s top defensive backs throughout the region, from Jeron Jones of Mission Viejo to Davon Benjamin of Oaks Christian. Sophomore Jalen Flowers of Palos Verdes is coming off an exceptional freshman season and keeps getting better and better. Sophomore Jordan Slye Jr. of Salesian is someone to keep your eye on because of his athleticism and size. Sophomore Micah Hannah of Simi Valley already has proven himself as a freshman.

They can kick

San Pedro junior kicker Dylan Moreno was seven of nine on field goals last season.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

The band of kickers and punters keeps getting better aided by an army of private coaches.

Aiden Migirdichian of Orange Lutheran was nine of nine on field goals last season. Jacob Kreinberg of Loyola could be doing double duty after making 11 field goals.

Dylan Moreno of San Pedro is headed for All-City honors for his accuracy. Oscar Reyes Ramirez of Hemet returns after making 15 field goals as a junior. Jackson Shevin of Mira Costa is headed toward averaging better than 40 yards on punts. Washington commit CJ Wallace of St. John Bosco reaches his senior year ready for a big season.

Sophomore Jerry Shifman has left Agoura for Mater Dei and junior Carter Sobel has left Chaminade for Sierra Canyon. Each has shown strong kicking skills. Gabriel Goroyan of Westlake is a junior who figures to receive lots of kicking opportunities. Carter Montgomery of Claremont holds a school-record 48-yard field goal.

Top 25 preseason rankings

Mater Dei coach Raul Lara receives Division 1 championship plaque after win over St. John Bosco last season.

(Craig Weston)

Drum roll, please. The Times’ top 25 preseason football rankings are out, and Mater Dei starts out as the No. 1 team.

The Monarchs went unbeaten last season and there’s no reason they can’t go unbeaten again. Their receiving group is exceptional but there are top players throughout positions.

Here’s a look at the top 25 rankings.

Practice notes

Los Alamitos and Inglewood will open the football season on Friday night at Inglewood in an official game a week ahead of most schools. Los Alamitos has a game scheduled in Hawaii on Aug. 22, so it gets to have a double zero week game. Simi Valley is playing Spanish Springs at Simi Valley. Santa Monica is traveling to Honolulu to play Kaimuki on Saturday.

Long Beach Millikan is also opening on Friday in Nevada against Foothill in Henderson. Most schools will be playing scrimmages this week, such as Corona Centennial hosting Sierra Canyon on Thursday night. Scrimmages are considered practices, so players who won’t be eligible because of a sit-out transfer period are allowed to play.

The Moore League, led by Millikan and Long Beach Poly, held its first media preview session. Here’s a report.

The Meeker twins, quarterback Liam (left) and receiver Luke, are key players for Mira Costa.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Mira Costa is turning to twins Liam and Luke Meeker, surfer and football dudes. Here’s a report.

The Tri County League held a media day in Ventura. Here’s a report.

The Marmonte League held its media day at Oaks Christian. Here’s a report.

Narbonne is engaged in another rebuilding year after an exodus of players because the team is banned from the playoffs for the next three years. Here’s a report.

Dymally has canceled its scheduled season opener against Palisades on Aug. 22 for lack of players.

Orange Lutheran quarterback Makena Cook throws a pass.

(Steve Galluzzo For The Times)

The flag football season has begun with new rules and new pressure on quarterbacks to adapt to having defensive players only one yard away from the line of scrimmage to start a play instead of seven yards.

Here’s The Times’ flag football preview.

Panorama has some key players returning and could be a factor in the City Section. Here’s a report.

Anthony Barr retires

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Barr (51) warms up in 2022.

(Ashley Landis/AP)

Former Loyola High, UCLA and NFL linebacker Anthony Barr, 33, has retired from football.

His coach at Loyola in 2009, Jeff Kearin, said, “He was real pleasure to coach. High level and high profile and he knew his hard work would get him to where he wanted to be. Never felt a need to thump his own chest or transfer three times to feed his own ego. And believe me, the sharks were swimming around. His mom and family were well grounded. Different time. And different kind of guy.”

Here’s a look at Barr in a story from 2009 when he was a star running back.

Notes . . .

Transfers in California during the 2024-25 school year totaled 17,041, according to CIF stats. That’s down from the record 17,068 the previous school year. . . .

The CIF announced a record number of students — more than 820,000 — participated in high school sports during the last school year in California. . . .

Brock Livingston, Crespi’s long-time lacrosse coach, has resigned to move back east to take care of his family. . . .

Max Luchs is the new boys lacrosse coach at Chaminade. . . .

Mater Dei and Santa Margarita have won the Southern Section Commissioner’s Cup for boys and girls sports as the top athletic programs for 2024-25. . . .

Pitcher Grayson Martin of Temecula Valley has committed to Cal Baptist. . . .

The girls volleyball season begins this weekend with teams traveling to Hawaii for the Ann King Invitational. Top teams entered include Mira Costa, Sierra Canyon, Redondo Union, JSerra, Los Alamitos, Huntington Beach and Harvard-Westlake. . . .

Golfer Hill Wang from La Serna has committed to Pepperdine. . . .

Standout girls soccer and flag football quarterback Makena Cook of Orange Lutheran has committed to Georgia. . . .

Pitcher Juju Diaz-Jones from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame has committed to Cal. . . .

Junior pitcher Roy Kim from Great Oak has committed to Stanford. . . .

Softball pitcher Liliana Escobar of JSerra has committed to Florida. . . .

Outfielder Ethan Price of Harvard-Westlake has committed to Santa Clara. . . .

Cory Skinner is the new softball coach at Chaminade. . . .

Standout junior guard Grayson Coleman is leaving Calabasas for Milken. His father, Ryan, will take over the Milken program after being head coach for many years at Shalhevet. . . .

Incoming Harvard-Westlake freshman baseball players Louis Lappe and Mateo Mier have made the U.S. 15U national baseball team. Also selected was Mira Costa sophomore Kekoa Delatori. Lappe was the hero on El Segundo’s championship Little League team in 2023. They will compete at the U-15 Pan American Championship in Mexico Sept. 13-18. . . .

Former Mira Costa and UCLA third baseman Kyle Karros made his major league debut for the Colorado Rockies on Friday and got a single and RBI in his first at-bat.

From the archives: Giancarlo Stanton

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame baseball coach Tom Dill with his former pupil, Giancarlo Stanton.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Former Sherman Oaks Notre Dame standout Giancarlo Stanton continues to move forward in his pro baseball career with the New York Yankees. Last week he hit his 438th career home run, tying him for 46th on the all-time list.

Stanton will go down as one of the three greatest athletes in Southern California high school history, having been All-CIF in football, basketball and baseball.

Here’s a story from 2016 on Stanton talking about being a multi-sport athlete in high school.

Here’s a story from 2007 when Stanton’s first name was Mike and his skills were becoming known.

Recommendations

From FIBA basketball, a story that shows former Harvard-Westlake guard Robert Hinton playing for Taiwan.

From Gpb.org, a story on a high school in Georgia opening its $62 million stadium.

From Newstribune.com, a story on a high school football player in Tacoma who got too big to be a UFC fighter.

Tweets you might have missed

Until next time….

Have a question, comment or something you’d like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at [email protected], and follow me on Twitter at @latsondheimer.

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Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. With one week to go before The Times begins a nine-part series looking at the top players by positions on Aug. 12, let’s give a sneak peek at the strongest position in Southern California this season: defensive line. And look at some talented linebackers.

Big men, big hitters

Defensive end Richard Wesley of Sierra Canyon.

(Craig Weston)

Defensive line, in my opinion, is the strongest position in Southern California when it comes to elite players who could make an impact at the college and even NFL level one day.

Tomuhini Topui of Mater Dei is a 320-pound man among boys. He will be the crown jewel in the USC 2026 recruiting class. He’s so athletic he’ll also be seeing time on Mater Dei’s offensive line. But make no mistake about it — he causes havoc in the middle for the Monarchs.

Marcus Fakatou of Orange Lutheran is a 6-foot-7, 265-pound sophomore who continues to grow into his body and becomes meaner every game. Khary Wilder of Gardena Serra is an Ohio State commit who routinely sees double teams. Richard Wesley of Sierra Canyon is a Texas commit and part of a Trailblazers defense that might be best in the Southland. Don’t sleep on his teammate, Mikhal Johnson, a two-sport athlete who had 16 tackles for losses.

Dutch Horisk of St. John Bosco and Anthony Jones of Crean Lutheran are committed to Oregon and UCLA, respectively. Elijah Harmon of Inglewood is 280-pound junior with immense potential. Simonte Katoanga has transferred from JSerra to Santa Margarita and is committed to USC.

St. Pius X-St. Matthias has Malik Brooks, a 330-pound USC commit. JD Hill of Mission Viejo is a Northern Arizona commit with improving skills. Devyn Blake of Edison is a 275-pound Sacramento State commit. Elyjah Staples of Marquez had 13 sacks as a sophomore and is the younger brother of UCLA receiver Ezavier Staples. Corona Centennial defensive lineman Kingston Schirmer is a Cal commit.

Linebackers make impact

When it comes to linebackers, there’s an impressive list to admire.

Tristan Phillips of Ventura is an Oregon commit and tackling machine. Shaun Scott of Mater Dei is a USC commit with the speed to sack quarterbacks. Samu Moala of Leuzinger is a Texas A&M commit who keeps getting bigger and stronger.

Dash Fifita of Santa Margarita is an Arizona commit who fills up the middle better than anyone even though his 5-9. Isaiah Leilua of Servite and Isaiah Phelps of Oxnard Pacifica who are two juniors ready for big seasons.

Taylor Johnson of Cajon is a USC commit who averaged double-digit tackles. St. John Bosco is filled with quality linebackers, led by UCLA commit Matthew Muasau. Jackson Reach at Mira Costa is a top tackler and long snapper.

Practice begins

Quarterback Jeremy Pacheco of University is back after suffering a season-ending knee injury in first game last season.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Official football practice began on Monday. Senior quarterback Jeremy Pacheco of University was particularly happy. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opening game last season. To get back onto the field healthy was something he had worked hard to accomplish.

Here’s a report.

Bellflower went 0-10 last season but is ready for a big change under first-year coach Keith Miller. Here’s a report.

The City Section preseason top 10 rankings are in. Here’s the report.

Quarterback Brady Smigiel (left) and linebacker Balen Bentancourt have been teammates since fourth grade. They’re seniors at Newbury Park.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

The Conejo Coast League held its media day, with Newbury Park leading the way as the team to beat. Here’s the report.

The rule changes in flag football are immense, from allowing punting for the first time to figuring out screen blocking and what’s legal and what’s a penalty.

Then there’s the defense starting from only one yard from the line of scrimmage instead of seven yards last season. All these changes will make the early season game important for everyone — coaches, players, officials, parents.

Here’s a report from a City Section meeting in which coaches asked repeated questions to the official explaining the new rules.

Notes . . .

Brothers Marcus and Maximo Adams.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

The high school basketball player who has made big-time progress in terms of attracting attention from elite college programs this summer is Maximo Adams of Sierra Canyon, younger brother of Arizona State’s Marcus Adams. Duke is the latest program to offer Adams. . . .

Corona Centennial guard Isaiah Rogers has committed to Stanford. . . .

Left-handed pitcher Drew Slevcove of Cypress has committed to UC Santa Barbara. . . .

Oaks Christian cornerback Davon Benjamin has committed to Oregon. . . .

Southern Section high school football television games are moving to Spectrum this season. The first game will be Sierra Canyon vs. Oaks Christian. Bally Sports has been the primary TV channel in years past. . . .

Standout point guard Acen Jimenez from La Habra has committed to Dartmouth. . . .

Mater Dei’s football team will make an early appearance on ESPN, traveling to Florida to face St. Thomas Aquinas on Aug. 23 at 12:30 p.m. . . .

Mater Dei running back Justin Lewis has committed to Massachusetts. . . .

Nick Itkin, a Palisades grad, and Bryce Louie, a Campbell Hall grad, helped the USA Men’s Foil team claim a silver medal at the World Fencing Championship in Tibilisi, Georgia. . . .

Former Newbury Park distance star Nico Young won the USTA national championship in the 10,000 meters, running 29:02.12. . . .

Robert Prieto is the new baseball coach at Bishop Amat. He was an assistant at Mt. SAC. . . .

Girls volleyball teams begin official practice next week, but Mater Dei and Santa Margarita made it to the championship of the Queen’s of the Court summer tournament. Corona Centennial and JSerra were the other semifinalists. Mater Dei won. Long Beach Poly also won its divisional championship. . .

Audrey Flanagan from Mira Costa is playing for the U.S. Girls U19 national team at the Women’s U21 World Championships Aug. 6-17 in Indonesia.

From the archives: Jonah Mathews

Oregon State’s Gianni Hunt tries to get past USC’s Jonah Mathews in 2020.

(Amanda Loman / Associated Press)

Former Santa Monica and USC guard Jonah Mathews was a standout player for Besiktas in leading the team to the Turkish finals in June.

Mathews was a top scorer during his Santa Monica and USC days.

Here’s a story from 2016 when he led Santa Monica to the 1A championship.

Here’s a story from 2016 about the rise of Mathews.

Recommendations

From the Los Angeles Times, a story on former NFL punter Chris Kluwe suing the Huntington Beach Union School District.

From Oaks Christian, a story on Quentin Young starting his pro baseball journey.

From the Los Angeles Times, a story about renewed concerns about getting CTE playing football.

Tweets you might have missed

Until next time….

Have a question, comment or something you’d like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at [email protected], and follow me on Twitter at @latsondheimer.

Did you get this newsletter forwarded to you? To sign up and get it in your inbox, click here.

In a swap of former All-Pro defensive backs on Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a draft pick swap.

Ramsey posted about the trade, which includes the Steelers’ 2027 fifth-round pick to the Dolphins in exchange for a seventh-round pick, on social media. “Breaking my own news!” he wrote alongside a celebratory announcement video on Instagram.

The deal ended persistent speculation that Ramsey might be traded to the Rams, for whom he played from 2019-22. At the Rams’ mini-camp in Maui two weeks ago, coach Sean McVay downplayed the chance of acquiring the three-time All-Pro, who is due to earn $26.6 million this season. Ramsey’s salary-cap number will increase substantially in the next few seasons, according to Overthecap.com.

“Usually, those are scenarios and situations that you have to have plans in place prior to executing some of the decisions that have occurred,” McVay said, perhaps referencing the contract adjustment that quarterback Matthew Stafford received and the signing of free-agent receiver Davante Adams. “Definitely don’t want to rule anything out … but there would be some obstacles that are real that are in the place of maybe preventing that from occurring.”

Rams cornerbacks include returning starters Darious Williams and Ahkello Witherspoon, with Cobie Durant, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Josh Wallace and Derion Kendrick competing for playing time.

Smith — who enjoyed a career year in 2024 with 88 catches and eight touchdowns for the Dolphins — will receive a one-year contract extension worth $12 million. He joins returning starter Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington at tight end in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers have prioritized improving at cornerback this offseason, signing free agent Darius Slay Jr. in addition to trading for Ramsey, who has 24 career interceptions. Incumbent starter Joey Porter Jr. also returns.

The Steelers had grown disenchanted with Fitzpatrick, who was named All-Pro in 2019, 2020 and 2022 but had only one interception in the last two seasons after moving from free safety to strong safety.

Fitzpatrick was drafted 11th overall in 2018. The Dolphins traded him to the Steelers two games into the 2019 season along with fourth- and seventh-round picks for first-, fifth- and sixth-round picks.

Yet another exciting session of the ‘Understanding AI Program’ presented by the Silkroad 4.0 Platform, the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) and their consortium of partners (such as Modern Diplomacy, ICCD, D-8, IAF, THC, and the like), the focus turned to how AI is reshaping global security, defence strategies, and geopolitical power dynamics. This session, under the theme of “Defensive Modernisation as the Technology Driver”, offered timely and insightful discussions that bridged military innovation with ethical, legal, and global implications.

The 3rd round of mesmerising lectures explored various critical themes: how human presence-eliminating technologies are altering security doctrines, the geopolitical implications of multi-spatial tech reach, and the legal and ethical challenges in regulating AI across borders. Other discussion points included sovereignty and security in the digital age, the role of AI in major military confrontation theatres, and the urgent need for global governance frameworks to manage this transformation.

The first keynote guest, Ambassador Ali Goutali, of the Jeddah-based OIC, brought a diplomatic and scholarly lens to the conversation. With over two decades of ambassadorial service and a strong academic background, Ambassador Goutali reminded us of the dual nature of AI. He described AI as a force of promise — for knowledge-sharing among nations, early warning systems for pandemics, and enhanced surveillance — but also one of equal risk. Ambassador warned that AI, if unchecked, could dismantle governments and destabilise wisdom-based governance.

This top MENA diplomat from Tunisia called for the establishment of global conventions on AI use, similar to the Geneva Conventions, to protect humanity and maintain ethical boundaries. His conclusion was clear: more member states must actively engage in AI protocols to prevent future misuse.

Multi-spatial and multidimensional nature of future wars

In the second keynote, former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Croatia Admiral Davor Domazet-Lošo shared his insights on evolving military doctrines. A former combat commander, and later prolific author on military strategy, Admiral Domazet-Lošo explored the rise of information warfare. He warned that such warfare blocks a person’s ability to think independently — an effect that can be seen even among world leaders. He cited China’s AI capabilities as being significantly ahead of the United States and spoke of China’s “deep seek” AI system, which, in his words, embodies the true potential of artificial intelligence. He emphasised that AI-driven military strategy is now operating in hyper-real time, reducing detection and response time from one hour to mere seconds (doctrines of real time shifting to the network doctrines of hyper-real time). The goal for all militaries, he suggested, is to discover, decide, and destroy — faster than ever before.

Hyper-real time warfare naturally blurs the boundary between perception and action, where information dominance and computational speed become as critical as kinetic force. This doctrine will surely raise significant ethical, legal, and strategic challenges, including concerns over human oversight, escalatory dynamics and de-escalatory potentials, false data entries and accuracy and speed of mistake detection and correction – hence an entire reliability of real-time data streams.

Based on his previous exchanges (on the trajectory of Asian security) with the ‘Understanding AI’ program originator, prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic, Admiral Lošo singled out the military theatre more neuralgic than the current ones in Eastern European and Middle East: “The hyper real-time potential of combat in Indo-Pacific, so packed with mega-demographies and mega-economies, hence projection drives is possible yet still avoidable. It would be a sobering study in technological velocity and strategic ambiguity to analyse every perspective thoroughly. Unlike the Adriatic or even Mediterranean, where engagements are relatively constrained by geography and proximities of all sorts, the Indo-Pacific – especially Malacca Straits and South China Sea – is a volatile mesh of overlapping claims, promising yet imperfect unmanned systems, (inadequately tested) hypersonic threats, and AI-driven targeting loops.

In such an environment – including the inner seas of archipelagic states of Indonesia and the Philippines, but also Malaysia and VietNam, decision cycles will be compressed to seconds, not hours, with autonomous swarms and satellite-linked ISR platforms dictating the tempo. As a former Chief-of Staff, admiral and combat army officer of a historic naval country (right between Ancient Greece and Roman Empire, Phoenicians and Venetians), I would note with high concern how conventional naval doctrine falters when even milliseconds of latency could determine the survivability of a ship—raising critical questions about control, accountability, and escalation in a digitally saturated battlespace where the line between provocation and war is algorithmically blurred.“

Takeaways from Singapore