Oregon’s top high school football players: Meet the state’s best tight ends

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

Over the following week, we’ll be taking a position-by-position have a look at a few of the high returning gamers in Oregon highschool soccer. Our subsequent listing focuses on the tight ends. 

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 might be highlighting most of the new stars who’ve emerged this fall.

There are lots of of standout soccer gamers in Oregon and these lists aren’t meant to be complete. Tell us about some other gamers you suppose needs to be added!

Jace Swygard (Lakeridge) photograph by Naji Saker  

State leaders via Week 5:

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Richie Anderson, Tualatin, senior

Anderson lately dedicated to Colorado State after an outstanding junior season for which he earned all-state honorable point out on each side of the ball. He caught 10 passes for 132 yards at tight finish. “He’s an distinctive athlete, and I count on huge issues from him this yr,” coach Dominic Ferraro mentioned throughout camp. 

Brett Boen, Kennedy, senior

Boen was a first-team all-state choice for the 2A runner-up Trojans final season, catching 12 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns.

Gus Donnerberg, West Linn, junior

Donnerberg final season earned all-Three Rivers honorable point out on offense with 11 catches for 214 yards and three touchdowns. “He performs with leverage for an extended man,” coach Jon Eagle mentioned. “As a good finish, he’s in a position to set the sting, which we like, and understands how you can create his personal house. He can get soiled inside however also can get downfield in a rush, if wanted.” 

Preston Doran, Hillsboro, junior 

Spartans coach Dan Shuff mentioned the crew needed to get the ball extra to Doran this fall after he earned all-NWOC West recognition final season with a team-high 45 catches. “We’re looking for methods to get Doran the ball a heck of much more,” Shuff mentioned in August. “He may play fullback.” 

Oliver Fisher, Sherwood, senior

Fisher made his mark on protection final season, however it’s his potential as a good finish that led to his dedication to Boise State in the summertime. He caught solely 5 passes for 80 yards within the Bowmen’s wing-T final season, however with main receiver Cody Corridor graduated, the state’s No. 4 prospect in keeping with On3 Sports activities (No. 7 by 247Sports) is getting extra targets this fall. “Oliver might be a weapon for us within the passing recreation,” coach Mark Gribble mentioned final month. 

Kayden Gardner, Crater, junior

Gardner, a second-team all-Midwestern choice at tight finish final season regardless of lacking three video games due to harm, turned the focus of the offense with Caden Lasater’s commencement. He caught 13 passes (second to Lasater on the crew) for 256 yards and a team-high 4 touchdowns as a sophomore. “He’s a giant goal with mushy arms who we are able to line up everywhere in the discipline,” coach Berk Brown mentioned. 

Brock Hubert, Stayton, senior

The senior is in his third season as a starter at tight finish. His mixture of dimension — Eagles coach Randy Nyquist mentioned he’s as much as 6-foot-6 and 275 kilos — and agility makes him a matchup nightmare for opponents on each side of the ball. “That’s one factor I can cling my hat on, figuring out that individuals are going to have to determine how you can take care of him and defend him,” Nyquist mentioned. “I believe he’s an improved blocker, which can make us a greater soccer crew.” 

Brysen Kachel, West Albany, junior

Kachel is a particular athlete who stands virtually 6-foot-3 and weighs round 235 kilos. He caught 15 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns final season, making the all-state second crew. “Brysen is only a very distinctive soccer participant, the kind of child that doesn’t come round fairly often so far as being huge, robust, quick and sensible,” coach Brian Mehl mentioned. “His instincts are actually good, and he has big-time potential.” 

Luke Leighton, Sheldon, senior

Leighton was an all-state honorable point out choice on offense final season, when he caught 43 passes for 660 yards and eight touchdowns for the Irish. The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder holds provides from Air Power, Military and Portland State. “Luke is de facto clever, actually powerful, and he’s only a playmaker,” coach Josh Line mentioned. “Once we want one thing constructive to occur for us in a giant second, he usually comes up with it.”

Henry Masters, Tigard, senior

Masters didn’t get a lot motion at tight finish final season, however he was a purple zone weapon, catching two landing passes. This fall, the Tigers have given him extra duty on offense (he is also a returning all-TRL linebacker), and he’s rewarded them by posting huge performances throughout their undefeated begin. “We’ve all the time recognized he could possibly be a pressure on offense,” coach John Kemper mentioned. “He’s actually come alongside since he has realized the physicality that goes into it.” 

Ty Might, Philomath, senior

Philomath’s high weapon within the passing recreation is Might, a 6-foot-6 tight finish who represents a problematic matchup for opposing defenses. He earned first-team all-league honors a yr in the past. Search for the offense to fabricate methods to get the ball in Might’s arms. “We’re going to function him fairly a bit offensively,” coach Alex Firth mentioned throughout camp. 

Caden McGowan, Corvallis, senior

An all-league choice on each side of the ball as a junior, McGowan can play a number of positions for the Spartans. The senior is sturdily constructed at 6-2 and 220 kilos. “We line him up in every single place,” coach Chris McGowan mentioned of his son. “He performed numerous tight finish final yr, and I believe he might be extra of an H-back this yr since we’re going to be extra of an expansion crew based mostly on the personnel now we have.” 

Noah McIlmoil, La Grande, senior

The coach’s son had a giant junior season for the Tigers, making the all-GOL first crew (and all-state honorable point out) on offense. He spent the summer season on the camp circuit, and Wealthy McIlmoil thinks “he’s on the cusp of actually breaking out. He’s well-known as a blocker and a extremely bodily participant, however he’s been placing numerous further time into getting higher.”

Pete Pennington, Churchill, senior

Pennington was an honorable point out all-Midwestern choice final season. First-year coach Kirk Miller mentioned he “will certainly be one in all our huge weapons this fall. He’s a giant child who runs actually good routes, has good arms and could be very robust.” 

Colby Pope, Glide, senior

Pope was a first-team all-league and third-team 2A all-state choice for the Wildcats final season. 

Emmit Pratt, Putnam, senior

Pratt was second-team all-NWOC East as a junior and has been on an upward trajectory since, Kingsmen coach Tim Jacobs mentioned. “He’s actually put a while within the weight room,” Jacobs mentioned. “He’s improved his blocking; he’s improved his catching.”

AJ Pugliano, North Medford, junior

Pugliano acquired all-state honorable point out at tight finish as a sophomore, when he caught 20 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns. He’s rated the nation’s No. 92 recruit for the category of 2024 by 247Sports — No. 1 in Oregon — and holds provides from Arizona, Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State. “He’s labored actually exhausting on his physique, his velocity and his talent,” coach Nathan Chin mentioned. “Clearly, the expectation is for him to be a productive two-way participant for us. … It’s going to be enjoyable to observe him this yr.” 

Lucas Steffen, Summit, senior

Steffen is a gadget participant for the Storm who makes performs everywhere in the discipline. He’s a returning rotation participant at linebacker and will get time at fullback, slot receiver or tight finish, the place the place he earned all-Mountain Valley recognition final fall with 13 catches for 295 yards and three touchdowns. “He’s not tremendous imposing, however I do know when Linfield noticed him at crew camp, they completely liked him,” coach Corben Hyatt mentioned. “I believe he’s your typical actually good highschool soccer participant and is a Division III sort of child that’s going to offer you nice effort.” 

Jace Swygard, Lakeridge, senior

Swygard final season acquired all-TRL honorable point out for his two-way play at tight finish, catching 15 passes for 224 yards and a landing whereas additionally being a powerful run blocker. “Jace can do something on the sphere,” coach Spencer Phillips mentioned. “He’s a brilliant athlete, a really quiet and humble participant.”

Leithan Thompson, Sandy, senior

Thompson was an affect participant in all phases final season, making second-team all-Mt. Hood Convention on offense with 22 catches for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns. “He’s a extremely savvy soccer participant, a extremely sensible soccer participant,” Pioneers coach Josh Dill mentioned. “We’ll line him up outdoors and attempt to isolate him on a nook and have a matchup that we like. He catches the ball very nicely, and he’s confirmed to be an excellent blocker as nicely.” 

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State leaders via Week 5: