By René Ferrán, Mike Wilson, Bob Lundeberg, Mitchell Forde and Paul Valencia

Over the following week, we’ll be taking a position-by-position take a look at among the high returning gamers in Oregon highschool soccer. Our subsequent checklist focuses on the cornerbacks.

IMPORTANT NOTE: These lists had been compiled early within the season and are based mostly totally on final yr’s performances and what occurred within the first few weeks of this season. Earlier than the season ends, we can be highlighting lots of the new stars who’ve emerged this fall. 

There are tons of of standout soccer gamers in Oregon and these lists usually are not supposed to be complete. Tell us about another gamers you assume needs to be added!

Roman Burrow (West Salem) photograph by Leon Neuschwander  

State leaders via Week 6:

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Devon Anderson, North Eugene, senior

Anderson was a triple risk for the Highlanders final season, incomes first-team all-Sky Em honors at cornerback, the place he was an all-state honorable point out choice (20 tackles, 4 interceptions, 5 move breakups). He has acquired curiosity from Oregon State, Nevada, Idaho and Japanese Washington. Coach Rick Raish known as him “some of the gifted athletes I’ve coached in 24 years of teaching highschool soccer.”

Justice Anthony, McKay, junior

An all-league choice on each side of the ball final season, Anthony is essentially the most aggressive participant in McKay’s program, coach Brandis Piper stated. “He’s began each sport for us since he’s been right here,” Piper stated. “He’s a particularly assured participant, and that permits him to play looser than most individuals.” 

Eli Brown, Stayton, senior

Brown was a two-way starter for the Eagles final season, incomes first-team all-Oregon West honors within the secondary.

Roman Burrow, West Salem, senior

A primary-team all-league defensive again final fall, Burrow possesses spectacular power regardless of his common measurement (5-foot-9, 180 kilos). “When he acquired the prospect to hold it final yr, it was fairly eye-opening,” coach Shawn Stanley stated. “He’s nonetheless going to play each methods. As an all-league defensive participant, I don’t assume we will simply completely shut him down on protection.”

Jace Burton, Jesuit, junior

Burton is the son of former Portland State coach and Crusaders defensive coordinator Nigel Burton. He made his presence recognized in the course of the COVID-shortened spring season, then broke via final fall as a two-way standout, incomes all-state honorable point out within the secondary. He ranks No. 11 on 247Sports’ class of 2024 recruiting checklist. “He performs larger than his measurement (5-9, 175 kilos),” coach Ken Potter stated. “He was wonderful within the secondary and was a giant plus for us final yr within the slot. He’ll be a key determine on our group.”

Owen Cheyne, Henley, senior

Cheyne was an all-Skyline choice at 4 positions final season, making the second group on protection (18 tackles, eight move breakups and an interception). He spent the summer season starring for the Klamath Falls Falcons baseball group, incomes the win on the mound within the regional ultimate that superior the Falcons to the Senior Babe Ruth World Sequence in Ephrata, Wash. “He’s that Swiss Military man for us, tremendous athletic and reliable,” coach Alex Stork stated. “We clearly challenge him to be a key contributor on each side of the ball.” 

Milan Clark, Grant, senior

After being chosen first-team all-PIL at defensive again final season, Clark additionally turned a starter at extensive receiver this yr. Generals coach Alex Melson stated the 6-foot-2 Clark is comparatively new to organized soccer, however that hasn’t saved him from making an influence. “The previous couple of years, we’ve all the time had a defensive again who has been capable of compete on the highest degree within the state,” Melson stated. “This yr, we discovered that in him.”

Trey Dieringer, Scappoose, senior

Dieringer is a three-year starter who excels on protection, receiving all-league honorable point out final season, when he made 72 tackles (4½ for loss), pressured 4 fumbles and intercepted two passes. “He’s not straightforward to dam, and he’s acquired a nostril for the soccer,” coach Sean McNabb stated. 

MyQuis Fesser, Roosevelt, senior

Fesser, second-team all-PIL as a defensive again final season, is the cornerstone of the Roughriders’ protection, coach Ryan McCants stated. “He can go one-on-one with the perfect of them. He has a excessive soccer IQ,” McCants stated. Fesser made two interceptions final season and returned one for a landing. 

Logan Fry, Oregon Metropolis, senior

Fry was an unknown commodity to start out his junior season, however he got here on robust by yr’s finish to earn second-team all-TRL recognition within the secondary. “A strong chief on and off the sector,” Pioneers coach Shane Hedrick stated. “He’ll contribute on each side of the ball.”

Boston Hodges, Dayton, junior

Hodges made the 3A all-state third group as a sophomore, making 16 tackles and breaking apart a team-high six passes. He additionally begins at quarterback for the Pirates (332 passing yards, 5 touchdowns). “He’s a lockdown nook whose pace and athleticism permit him to be matched up with most anybody within the state, and his vertical permits him to problem for any leap ball,” coach Jacob Peterson stated. “His stats gained’t be nearly as good as groups is not going to throw at him very a lot.” 

Demarcus Houston, West Albany, senior

A 3-star prospect and the state’s No. 3 senior within the 247Sports composite rankings, Houston is an electrical athlete who holds Division I gives from Oregon State and Portland State. He was a second-team all-league choose at defensive again as a junior, ending with 19 tackles and two interceptions. “Demarcus has plenty of capability,” coach Brian Mehl stated. “I believe he’s made nice strides going into his senior yr, and he’s undoubtedly a child on offense and protection that we’re going to depend on closely.”

Cory James, Estacada, senior

James not solely was the 2021 Tri-Valley offensive participant of the yr at quarterback, however he additionally earned honorable point out all-state recognition within the secondary, ending with 17 tackles and 4 interceptions. “He’s an excellent athlete,” Rangers coach Andy Mott stated. “He brings a ton to the desk on the sector, and so this can be one other huge season for him.” 

Benito Jennings, Pendleton, junior

Jennings is a do-everything dynamo for the Buckaroos, making the all-NWOC East checklist at three positions final fall — together with second group within the secondary (three interceptions). Western Oregon has curiosity in him as a cornerback. “Benito is a really gifted athlete with top-end ball abilities,” coach Eric Davis stated.

Keontae Johnson-Gibson, Clackamas, senior

Johnson-Gibson completed final season with 4 interceptions — two of which he returned for touchdowns — and made the all-Mt. Hood second group. “He’s an amazing soccer participant for us,” coach James Holan stated.

Hunter Layton, Coquille, senior

The second-team all-state choice had 14 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries for the 2A state champion Crimson Devils final season. “What Hunter lacks in measurement (5-10, 150), he makes up for with capability and know-how,” coach David Thomason stated. “It looks as if at any time when we now have a turnover, it’s Hunter, or he’s proper there across the motion. He has been and can proceed to be our quarterback on the protection.”

Jack Lyda, Banks, senior

Lyda acquired 4A all-state honorable point out final season, when he made 30 tackles and broke up 5 passes. He was voted a group captain this yr and is “one other man who by no means comes off the sector,” coach Cole Linehan stated. “He’s a workhorse and an excellent chief who works his butt off.”

Sanborne Melson, Jefferson, senior

Democrats coach Anthony Stoudamire known as Melson “most likely our greatest cowl cornerback.” Melson missed a few of final season whereas injured, and now that he’s wholesome, the state’s No. 14 recruit in 247Sports’ rankings might shock the remainder of the league, Stoudamire stated. “When he’s wholesome, he’s a lockdown nook,” Stoudamire stated. 

Tyler Moncrief, Tillamook, senior

An excellent pupil within the classroom and an excellent soccer IQ man, Moncrief led Class 4A with 5 interceptions final season and acquired all-state honorable point out. It wasn’t simply athletic abilities. He’s athletic, however he additionally makes use of that IQ to place himself in the perfect place to make a play, Cheesemakers coach Kye Johnson stated.

Malaki Myer, Baker, junior

Myer was a big-time playmaker for the Bulldogs final fall, main the group in receiving and intercepting 4 passes. He earned second-team all-GOL honors as a cornerback. He additionally was a first-team kick returner and had a sport during which he returned a punt and an interception for touchdowns. Within the spring, he gained district titles within the 200 and 400 meters and anchored the district champion 4×100 and 4×400 relays.

Jace Nagler, Ridgeview, senior

Nagler was a second-team all-league defensive again final season, when he had 27 tackles and broke up 16 passes. Ravens coach Patrick Pileggi stated the 5-foot-11 Nagler did an excellent job of containing 6-5 Thurston star Jacob Newell, who’s now at Arizona State. “They threw to him all sport and he solely had one or two catches,” Pileggi stated. “Lots of that was Jace. I believe he’s top-of-the-line cornerbacks I’ve ever coached.”

Kaden Nelson, La Grande, senior

Nelson turned a starter at cornerback final season and led the group in interceptions, incomes first-team all-GOL honors. “He’s only a pure athlete who’s labored to get to the place he’s at,” Tigers coach Wealthy McIlmoil stated. “I anticipate him to be a frontrunner for us.”

AJ Noland, Tualatin, junior

Noland solely scratched the floor of his expertise on each the gridiron and the hardcourt final season, serving to the Timberwolves attain the 6A soccer ultimate and win the basketball title. He made the all-Three Rivers second group within the secondary (56 tackles, three interceptions). He ranks No. 12 on 247Sports’ checklist of junior recruits within the state. “AJ is an explosive athlete and might, and can, play a number of positions for us,” coach Dominic Ferraro stated. “He can be a giant issue on each side of the ball.”

Trevor O’Leary, Glencoe, junior

O’Leary final season earned all-Pacific honorable point out as a kick returner and defensive again (19 tackles, seven move breakups and an interception), which Crimson Tide coach Ian Reynoso thinks could possibly be his faculty place regardless of taking on quarterback duties this season. “Trevor has actually good playmaking skills,” Reynoso stated. “It’ll be enjoyable to see him sort of develop up and develop these subsequent two years.”

Isaac Actual, South Umpqua, senior

As a junior, Actual was a first-team all-state choice within the secondary for the 3A runner-up Lancers, rating among the many state leaders with 5 interceptions. “He could make huge performs in all three phases of the sport,” coach Steve Stebbins stated. 

David Roberts, North Bend, senior

Roberts is a two-way starter who made the all-Midwestern honorable point out checklist as a cornerback final fall. He certified for the state golf match in Might, ending twenty eighth. “He’s an athletic receiver who we hope will catch plenty of footballs for us this season,” coach Gary Prince stated in August. “He additionally does an excellent job at cornerback.” 

Elijah Traeger, Kennedy, junior

Traeger was a 2A all-state honorable point out choice for the Trojans final season. He has added beginning quarterback duties this yr, taking on for all-state first-teamer Riley Cantu.

Andrew Walker, South Medford, senior

A senior speedster, Walker was a vivid spot for South Medford a season in the past. He made first-team all-league on offense and protection and proceeded to win the 100 (10.61 seconds) and 200 (21.33) meters on the 6A observe state championships. “Andrew has incredible top-end pace,” coach Invoice Singler stated. “We predict him to have an excellent yr on each side of the ball.”

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State leaders via Week 6: