Oregon
Oregon’s top high school football players: Meet the state’s best guards
By René Ferrán, Mike Wilson, Bob Lundeberg, Mitchell Forde and Paul Valencia
Over the subsequent week, we’ll be taking a position-by-position have a look at among the prime returning gamers in Oregon highschool soccer. Our subsequent listing focuses on the offensive guards.
IMPORTANT NOTE: These lists have been compiled early within the season and are primarily based totally on final yr’s performances and what occurred within the first few weeks of this season. Earlier than the season ends, we will likely be highlighting lots of the new stars who’ve emerged this fall.
There are a whole bunch of standout soccer gamers in Oregon and these lists will not be meant to be complete. Tell us about another gamers you suppose must be added!
Devin Brooks (Clackamas) photograph by Naji Saker
State leaders by means of Week 5:
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Imyas Aguilar, North Salem, senior
Aguilar is a gritty senior who made first-team all-NWOC West on the offensive line a season in the past. Aguilar strikes very nicely for his body, placing his wrestling background to make use of. “He’s such match for us at guard and linebacker,” coach Jeff Flood stated. “He’s one other child who has been a multi-year starter for us.”
Alex Armas, Sherwood, senior
Armas final season made the all-Pacific Convention first crew on the offensive line and earned honorable point out on protection. “He has an important motor and works tirelessly,” Bowmen coach Mark Gribble stated.
Jarrett Armstrong, La Grande, senior
Armstrong was a two-way all-GOL first-team choice final fall and anchors a veteran group this season. “He’s not the largest child, however he’s an explosive athlete and hard-hitting soccer participant,” coach Wealthy McIlmoil stated. “He loves contact and isn’t afraid to get his nostril into issues.”
Luke Bellamy, Santiam Christian, senior
Bellamy, a 5-foot-11, 205-pounder, made the 3A all-state honorable point out listing final season at heart and is a three-year starter for the Eagles who moved to protect this fall. “Along with his quickness, he makes us higher at that place, and he has simply run with it,” stated first-year coach Justin Carley. “He simply has a powerful work ethic and does a variety of main by instance.”
Colby Biddix, Rainier, junior
Biddix final season was a 3A all-state honorable point out choice — considered one of 4 Columbians on the offensive line to obtain all-state recognition and the one one again this season — from a unit that helped the crew amass greater than 2,700 speeding yards final fall.
Devin Brooks, Clackamas, junior
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Brooks has obtained scholarship affords from a lot of the Pac-12 faculties and Miami (led by former Oregon coach Mario Cristobal), amongst different faculties. “Credit score to him, as a result of he’s put within the work to be in that place,” coach James Holan stated. Brooks is ranked among the many nation’s finest guard prospects within the class of 2024 and has a feel-good success story about remodeling his physique to 1 faculty coaches can’t ignore. He was first-team all-Mt. Hood on offense final season as a part of a entrance line that allowed the Cavaliers to steamroll most opponents.
Sam Diaz, Tillamook, senior
Diaz is as a four-year starter, having been introduced up late his freshman yr to start out on the offensive line, then serving to the Cheesemakers make a run to the state quarterfinals. “Unsure the place he’s going to wind up, however he’ll be a man who will proceed enjoying soccer after this yr,” coach Kye Johnson stated.
Spencer Elliott, Summit, senior
An all-league choose on either side of the ball as a junior, Elliott has bulked as much as 240 kilos on his 6-foot-3 body. “That child in all probability had the largest progress I’ve seen from a sophomore to a junior,” Storm coach Spencer Hyatt stated. “I coached him within the Les Schwab Bowl, and from the suggestions I acquired, I feel Spencer will likely be our breakout man this yr.”
Camden Ferguson, Lakeridge, senior
Ferguson is a three-year starter who earned 6A all-state honorable point out final fall for the Pacers. He has drawn curiosity from a number of small schools within the Northwest. “A really savvy, sensible participant,” coach Spencer Phillips stated.
David Fuiava, North Medford, senior
Rated the state’s No. 35 senior by 247Sports, Fuiava is an enormous two-way lineman who has come into his personal. Black Twister coach Nathan Chin stated Fuiava has matured after receiving first-team all-league and 6A all-state honorable point out honors as a junior. “He’s actually beginning to determine tips on how to play the sport within the trenches,” Chin stated. “He has gone to a variety of camps, so his ability set has gotten higher.”
Aiden Giles, Astoria, senior
Giles has a tireless work ethic, in accordance with his coach. Plus, Giles has an important soccer IQ and will likely be on the level of assault. And due to his smarts, he will likely be like a coach on the sector. “He’ll be capable to assist guys be certain that they perceive their assignments. He’s a key chief for us,” coach Howard Rub stated.
Raegan Gowen, Crater, sophomore
Gowen stepped in as a starter at guard from Day 1 and earned second-team all-Midwestern honors as a freshman. Comets coach Berk Brown stated he’ll turn into a two-way starter after spending the offseason dedicating himself to the burden room.
Kyan Hidde, St. Mary’s (Medford), senior
Hidde, a 6-2, 245-pounder, was a first-team all-Far West choice, anchoring a unit that powered the Crusaders’ run sport final season (156 yards per sport).
Mike Hiller, St. Paul, senior
As a junior, Hiller was a second-team all-state choice in serving to lead the Buckaroos to yet one more 1A semifinal look.
Dylan Howell, Barlow, junior
Howell was first-team all-Mt. Hood as a sophomore, considered one of two Bruins linemen to obtain that honor final season after the crew averaged 321 yards speeding per sport.
Finn Irvine, Weston-McEwen, senior
Irvine was a first-team all-Blue Mountain and third-team 2A all-state choice for the TigerScots final season.
Izzy Jantes, Seaside, junior
Jantes was a two-way starter as a freshman and once more as a sophomore. He earned all-league honors each seasons, too, and made the 4A all-state honorable point out listing on offense final fall. He lived within the weight room this offseason, altering his physique. Now, he’ll get to show a brand new bodily power to go together with the sensible soccer IQ he has already proven. “He can play all 5 (offensive line) positions. He is aware of the offense inside and outside,” coach Aaron Tanabe stated. “He’s a tricky, bodily child.”
Jesse Jones-Nguyen, McMinnville, senior
Jones-Nguyen obtained all-Pacific second-team recognition on either side of the ball final season, and coach Ty Tomlin raves that “he’s going to be a stud lineman for us this yr. He’s a tremendously hard-working child and has put the time within the weight room this offseason.”
Kekoa Kahookaulana, Ashland, sophomore
Kahookaulana made the all-Midwestern honorable point out listing as a freshman left guard. “He at all times works arduous and at all times has angle,” coach Beau Lehnerz stated. “He’s a pacesetter on and off the sector and devoted within the weight room.”
Sean Khouri, Jesuit, senior
Khouri is a three-year starter up entrance. Crusaders coach Ken Potter referred to as the first-team all-state choose “considered one of our greatest technicians on the offensive line. He will likely be superb for us.” Khouri is No. 47 in 247Sports’ state recruiting rankings.
Deakon Looney, Mountain View, junior
A second-team all-league choose on offense as a sophomore, Looney is also the captain of Mountain View’s protection at center linebacker. Coach Brian Crum stated Looney is aggressive and has a nostril for the soccer. “He’s one other child who bodily belonged as a sophomore however form of struggled and is only a totally different soccer participant this yr,” Crum stated.
Elijah Markowitz, Westview, senior
The Wildcats added the Liberty switch over the offseason after he earned first-team all-Pacific honors as a junior.
Caleb Moran, Mazama, senior
Moran is the lone returning starter on Mazama’s offensive line. As a junior, he obtained honorable point out all-Skyline at guard. Vikings coach Vic Lease is counting upon Moran to be a pacesetter for the offensive line group.
Logan Proffitt, Powder Valley, senior
Profitt final season was a first-team all-state choice on the offensive line for the Badgers. He labored on his velocity in the course of the offseason, with coach Josh Cobb describing how he wore a weight vest on daily basis whereas transferring irrigation water. His summer time efforts resulted in him changing into a two-way starter this season.
Jackson Sager, Westview, senior
Sager earned second-team all-Metro honors on the offensive line final season. “Jackson has been a giant a part of our success on the offensive line,” coach Ryan Atkinson stated. “He’s a team-first man and at all times provides his finest effort.”
Sam Schaffers, Silverton, senior
An enormous-bodied senior, Schaffers made an instantaneous impression on first-year coach Dan Lever. Schaffers was a star performer in the course of the offseason and is the anchor of Silverton’s offensive line. “He’s an absolute highway grader,” Lever stated. “He’s very bodily and has actually good ft. We’re actually going to lean on him in short-yardage conditions.”
Jackson Stiles, Mountainside, senior
Stiles took over at heart final season for the Mavericks and made the all-Metro third crew. He moved this season to protect and hasn’t missed a beat. “He has actually progressed properly and turn into an important chief,” coach John Mannion stated.
Matt Studer, Tigard, senior
Studer took over one of many beginning jobs as an offensive guard final season and made the all-TRL second crew. “He’s a giant physique who’ll be arduous to maneuver out of there,” Tigers coach John Kemper stated.
Kamalu Swift, Camas Valley, senior
Swift final season was an all-state 1A second-team choice on either side of the ball, being named the state lineman of the yr. The Faculty of the Siskiyous in Weed, Calif., introduced him in for a go to in April. “Malu performs with a excessive motor and a variety of depth,” coach Keri Ewing stated. “He’s what each coach desires in a lineman — fierce and aggressive, but a pacesetter who will sluggish issues down to assist out the freshmen and sophomores.”
Andrew Turner, Estacada, senior
Certainly one of 4 returning starters on the offensive line, Turner has spectacular mobility to go along with his measurement. “He’s only a tremendous fast, athletic linebacker sort child,” Rangers coach Andy Mott stated.
Luke Wolgamott, Elmira, senior
Wolgamott was a second-team all-Sky Em choice for the Falcons final season. He tore an ACL at crew camp in the summertime however is being recruited by Willamette College. “He’s working arduous to get well and be capable to play subsequent season in faculty,” coach Justin Peeler stated.
Ryan Yakovich, Sheldon, senior
At 6-foot-5 and 275 kilos, Yakovich has slimmed down a bit after making the all-Southwest second crew final fall. “He’s pretty much as good of a participant as we’ve had,” Irish coach Josh Line stated. “Quite a lot of our youngsters have focused on having good weight as an alternative of weight, and I feel that’s been good for him. His ft have improved a bunch.”
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