BLACK HAT FOOTBALLS TOP 20 OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: ERCED QB TYRONE WILLIAMS AND TRACY RB NATE JONES TOP LIST The high school football season in The 209 kicks off in four weeks, so let’s take a look at the top 20 Offensive and Defensive players in the region. We’ll roll ‘em out four at a time, alternating sides of the line so no one feels overshadowed. The countdown starts from #20 and works its way to #1 (and yes, well say it now, were going to overlook someone we ought not to have overlooked): OFFENSE #1 QB Tyrone Williams, Merced – Stepped in as the starter last season and his skills convinced coach Rob Scheidt to roll out a no-huddle offense. He threw for 2,060 yard and 19 TDs, but has plenty of room to grow: Williams also tossed 16 INTs and hadjust 51 yards rushing. The 6-2, 185-pounder threw 10 of those INTs the first three weeks – just six over the last eght games – and he should be more of a run threat this year. The Bears’ offense should be electric, with kids like Jabar Byrd, AJ Stewart, Nick Camper and Bryce Bernat surrounding him. #2 RB Nate Jones, Tracy – You say you want Nate in the #1 slot? Can’t argue to much on that point – it’s just as easy to make a case for Williams as for Jones. The Tracy senior is an elite RB for The 209, quick and strong, yet another RB who probably doesn’t get the ball enough – 1,174 yards as a junior, with a 10.4-yard average and 19 TDs, but just nine carries a game. We think he gets closer to 18 touches a game this year, and catches some balls, and that makes for a great senior year. #3 OL Tristen Taylor, Stagg-Stockton – The top offensive linemen in The 209, the 6-foot-6, 320-pounder continues to improve his footwork and his strength. He plays left tackle, which usually means protecting the QB’s blind side – one mistake and the QB is helped to the sideline.There are a handful that are fun to zero in on during a game, and Taylor is definitely one of them. #4 QB Jonathan O’Brien, Hilmar – The last time the ‘Jackets had a QB this versatile , the kid ended up going to play for Oregon (Nate Costa). O’Brien’s skillset can’t match the high ceiling of Costa’s, but Black Hat Football’s Junior of the Year is a talented thrower (64% completion, 2,110 yards. 25 TDs, 2 INTs) and will be more of a running threat this fall (506 yards, 3.6-yard average, 9 TDs as a junior). He loses his top receiver, though, and that’s always a challenge for a QB. #5 RB Aundre Sherman, Buhach Colony-Atwater – It’s a gamble to put Sherman this high: Not because there is any question on his speed or skills, but the Thunder offense rarely allows one RB to pile up stats. Good size at 5-11, 175 pounds and averaged 9 yards a carry, but had only nine carries a game. He caught 14 balls – averaging 19 yards a catch with 5 TDs. He rivals Oakdale RB Darus Nelson as the biggest receiving threats out of the backfied. We’d love to see Sherman get 18-20 touches a game. #6 QB Hunter Petlansky, Central Catholic-Modesto – He was the critical late-season addition that helped the Raiders to their second straight state title. The St. Mary’s transfer sat the first half of the season and took over the QB job in Week 10 (534 yards, 5 TDs passing and averaging 6.6 yards and scoring 4 TDs in his 38 carries in the playoffs). He was 7 of 10 for 135 yards and a TD in the NorCal Bowl win over McClymonds. He’s now 6-2, 230 – yet still has good quickness when getting out of the pocket. #7 WR/RB Lester Williams, Stagg-Stockton – He could be in for an interesting senior season: Stagg’s expected QB is sitting five games after transferring, so Williams could be more of a runner than a receiver early – then a deep-ball threat the second half of the season. Excited about these junior numbers: 43 catches, 21.3-yard average and 13 TDs. #8 QB Dakarai Charles, Manteca – The Buffaloes aren’t sweating their graduation losses because they’ve got talent coming up from a potent JV program. Charles showed this summer that he’s quickly adjusting to the varsity game, and coach Eric Reis says the junior could provide an evolutionary step in Manteca’s offense – a QB who can run as well as throw. We got some tape of Charles from the Delta College 7-on-7 Tournament.v=FPVb2XcMRqA&index=13&list=UUq_Rt2woTZHH2dz16VSyP6A #9 OL Colton Mallette, Lincoln-Stockton – The San Joaquin Athletic Association Linemen of the Year as a junior, Mallette will be the centerpiece of an offense that will try to control the ball and the clock. He’s big and beefy, and the Trojans will look to run behind him. #10 WR Hunter Johnson, Sierra-Manteca – He’s got the (6-foot-3) and the hands, and showed during the 7-on-7 season that he’s agile enough to cut under the DB if he’s playing too tight. Might not be a receiver in The 209 who will be more difficult to stop on a route to the back corner of the end zone. He caught 46 balls and scored 12 TDs, averaging 19 yards a catch in 2013 – and he was the No. 3 option in the T’olves’ spread offense. #11 WR Josh Lowe, Downey-Modesto – Might have made the catch of the year in 2013 – check out this one - and had a great 7-on-7 season this summer. Follows older brother Caleb Lowe in a growing line of talented Downey WRs, averaging 16 yards and scoring 4 TDs on his 24 catches as a junior. He’ll be QB PJ Wilson’s first choice much of this season. #12 OL Nate Brown, Tracy – What’s not to love here? You watch his tape and you see Brown locking up on his defender and often drive him off the line or into the ground. He’s a big part of the reason Tracy RB Nate Jones is ranked high on this list. #13 WR Demetrius Ferguson, St. Mary’s-Stockton – He had some drops in 2013, but he’s headed toward a big senior year with QB Noah Righetti if he’s got sticky hands this fall. He had three TD catches of at least 73 yards. His TD against was a short catch and an impassive run down the sideline, had a catch-and-long-run vs. De La Salle, as well. #14 WR AJ Stewart, Merced – Played varsity as a sophomore and then-junior QB Tyrone Williams loved throwing the ball his direction. Wonderful speed, averaged 19 yards and scored 4 TDs in his 20 catches. After a year in the no-huddle and Williams being schowcased as a prospect, we’d love him with 40-50 catches, 20-yard average and 10 TDs – serious numbers given the quality of the schedule. #15 RB Darus Nelson, Oakdale – Produced some big games, his Sonora tape include a handful of impressive plays, and he also catches balls out of the backfield and lines up in the slot. With a planned combination of Brock Whiting and Landon Ichord – he was an all-Black Hat defensive linemen in 2013 – Oakdale will move Nelson all around the field and he becomes a real threat. #16 QB Damien Paulo, Patterson – He threw 29 TDs in 11 games last year, completing 57 percent for 2,011 yards. His 7 INTs, are a good number, considering the strength of those other stats. He’s got Demarrio Hammonds and junior Malik Lawson catching passes in the spread, so his percentage total should go up – which pushes up his yardage. Black Hat will get to see Paulo the first week when the Tigers visit Escalon on Friday, August 29. #17 RB Montel Bland, Central Catholic-Modesto – Sure, this sophomore could be higher based on his spot games last year and his performance in place of injured started Matt Ringer in the state championship win. But let’s see how the Raiders use him this season – if he gets 20 touches a game, you’ll see him on the all-Black Hat Football Team at the end of the season.If that happens, look for the Raiders to be raising their third straight state title trophy. Here’s a taste of what we’re hoping to see from Montell this fall. #18 RB Priest Jennings, Chavez-Stockton -- This spot was going to be Jennings or teammate/QB Julius Davila. We went with Jennings because coach John Ward would love to have an offense that controls the ball. That means feeding Jennings and picking up first downs – he had 791 yards and averaged 5.7 yards a carry as a junior. Wed love to see his carries climb from 14 to 18 a game and his receptions double from 14 to 28. #19 RB Christian May, Escalon – Another one of those Cougar kids who doesn’t fit it one precise position, but he’ll run, catch – and even throw passes out of the halfback option this fall. He won’t but up the huge stats, but he’s a kid every coach wants. #20 (tie) WR Mark Russell, Lincoln-Stockton & QB Nick Price, Ripon – Yeah, we cheated by sticking two kids here. Price was the Black Hat Football Sophomore of the Year last fall, but with so may pieces having graduated, we fear every defense will focus on Price this fall. Russell will be one of the most dynamic players in The 209 – imagine a Lester Williams-type slot – so long as Lincoln will get him the ball 12-13 times a game.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 06:08:36 +0000
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