All-State Football: Academic Teams

Clayton Stehr from Miramonte of Orinda and Eric Markes from Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth are among 30 named to the 2015 season All-State All-Academic football team. Photos: Dan Ting/mhsmirador.com & sierracanyonschool.org.

For the 2015 All-State Football Team Super Elites plus links to other all-state teams, CLICK HERE.

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Note: These honors were based on a combination of on-the-field and academic success. This is not a team of players in the state chosen strictly for GPA, SAT or ACT scores and going to Harvard, Yale or M.I.T. We realize there are players like that out there. We were looking for those who had significant honors as players in addition to the academics.

Many of those chosen came from nominations for the actual Cal-Hi Sports all-state teams, which were announced over a two-week period that ended on Feb. 5. Some also came from a coaches’ questionnaire, from responses to a tweet we sent out and others were researched from blurbs written about them from all of the newspaper honors’ squads that we collected.

CIF San Diego Section players probably have an advantage because of the San Diego Union-Tribune’s own academic honors program. It was somewhat easy to cross-check those players listed with GPAs in that program to what they did on the field.

For this year, we also have decided to make these teams just for seniors only. A separate juniors list, however, also has been included.

2015 SEASON CAL-HI SPORTS
ALL-STATE ALL-ACADEMIC FOOTBALL TEAMS

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

WR – J.P. Shohfi (San Marino) 6-1, 180
When he was named as the Pasadena Star-News Player of the Year for a season in which he broke the reported national record with 2,464 yards and caught 122 passes with 29 for TDs, Shohfi also was reported with a 4.3 GPA and a “perfect score” on the math portion of the SAT. He will play next at Yale. See below to see who one of his teammates will be and who might be lining up against him for Harvard.

WR – Devaughn Vele (Rancho Bernardo, San Diego) 6-4, 185
He made huge plays on both sides of the ball to spark Rancho Bernardo to the CIF Division III-A state bowl title. Vele, who has a 3.90 GPA, caught 52 passes on the season for 980 yards and 11 TDs.

Hogan Irwin signs letter of intent with family surrounding him last month. Photo: @KUSISports/Twitter.com.

OL – Jasaan Andrews (Skyline, Oakland) 6-5, 270
He had acceptances from at least one service academy, but ended up signing with Azusa Pacific. Andrews, a four-year varsity player and two-time All-Oakland Athletic League pick, was reported with a 4.3 GPA (4.21 cumulative).

OL – Donte Harrington (San Clemente) 6-3, 285
After being listed among the top juniors in this post last year, Harrington went on to have a solid senior season. He was All-Orange County and signed with Boise State. Harrington also was listed with a 4.0 GPA.

OL – Jake Kitten (Santana, Santee) 6-2, 275
Nasty enough on the field to be named second team on the All-CIF San Diego Section team, Kitten was even more of an animal devouring A grades. He has been reported with a 4.5 GPA.

OL – Sam Perkins (Fort Bragg) 6-2, 250
We’re going with a small schooler for one of these offensive line spots. Perkins has been All-Redwood Empire twice on the field and this year was the top lineman on a 11-1 team. Off the field, he has a 4.57 GPA and has been selected twice to participate in Rotary International’s Youth Exchange.

OL – Sterling Strother (Campolindo, Moraga) 6-5, 270
A key player on the Cougars’ team that won the 2014 CIF Division III title, Strother was an All-East Bay performer as a senior. He has had a 4.5 GPA this year with a 4.12 GPA overall. Oh, and by the way, he’s going to Yale.

QB – K.J. Costello (Santa Margarita, Rancho SM) 6-4, 215
Although Costello probably wishes he had a more successful senior season, he still put up great numbers considering the competition he faced and was still regarded by many as the state’s top QB prospect for the Class of 2016. As a student, the Stanford-bound Costello sported a 4.0 GPA and was on the presidential honor roll at Santa Margarita several times.

RB – Hogan Irwin (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego) 5-10, 180
He’s been among the top running backs in the San Diego Section for the last two seasons for one of the top teams. Academically, Irwin had one of the highest GPAs on the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Academic Honor Team at 4.22 and will attend college at Johns Hopkins in Maryland.

RB – Ryan Robards (Elk Grove) 6-0, 190, Sr.
The only one of our Mr. Football State Player of the Year finalists to be an all-state all-academic selection as well, Robards rushed for 2,884 yards and 43 TDs last season for the 13-1 Thundering Herd. He also scored three times on defense, twice on punt returns and kicked six field goals. As a student, Robards has been above 4.0 and was listed at 3.93 by his school. He will play baseball and go to college at Pacific.

PK – Jason Neiger (Corona del Mar, Newport Beach) 5-10, 160
An All-CIFSS selection for his division, Neiger made eight field goals during the season and was 56 of 57 on PATs. In the classroom, he’s had a reported 4.0 GPA for this year and was at 3.7 at a junior.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL – Tanner Baroni (Sutter) 6-0, 190
Here’s a top football player who’s ranked No. 1 in his senior class and has a 4.60 GPA. Baroni also had 82 tackles for the CIF Northern Section Division III champions and added 29 kicking points.

DL – Carter Hartmann (Mission Viejo) 6-3, 265
One of the top defensive players for 16-0 team that won CIF Division I-AA state title, Hartmann also was on the All-Orange County team. He’s been mentioned as a 4.0 student and will attend Harvard.

Linebacker Colton Forster of Napa hit the books as much as he hit opposing running backs. Photo: Mike Blom/NapaValleySports.com.

LB – Colton Forster (Napa) 6-3, 220
Named as the Defensive Player of the Year by the Napa Register for team that went 11-1, Forster also has a 4.3 GPA and will play in college at Dartmouth. He and the player listed right above him on this team probably should get along.

LB – Curtis Robinson (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-4, 210
A second team all-state overall selection and one of the top linebacker recruits in the state, Robinson also has been stout in the classroom with a listed GPA of 4.1.

LB – Quinn Seau (St. Augustine, San Diego) 6-1, 220
Nephew of the late, great Junior Seau had one of the highest GPAs on the San Diego Union-Tribune academic honor roll at 4.33. Seau also was one of the Saints’ leading tacklers.

LB – Terry Wambolt (Nipomo) 5-7, 165
When you’re at his size and have been involved in as many tackles as he’s been, the intensity must be off the charts. Wambolt applies himself similarly with the books. Head coach Russell Edwards reported he was on track to be valedictorian with a 4.70 GPA.

DB – Treyjohn Butler (Etiwanda) 5-11, 185
Selected three times for his school’s scholar-athlete honor roll, Butler has signed a letter of intent with Stanford. On the field, Butler had eight career interceptions and 125 career tackles.

DB – David Long (Loyola, Los Angeles) 5-11, 180
Probably the top cover corner in the state, Long had gotten 4.0 grades as well during his career with the Cubs. He had committed to Stanford last summer, but switched and in February signed with Michigan.

DB – Brad Mickey (Arroyo Grande) 5-11, 175
He was the San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune Player of the Year and was all-state medium schools on defense. Mickey, who will play next at nearby Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, also has a 3.92 GPA.

P – Andrew Nielsen (Hart, Newhall) 5-11, 175
The son of Hart principal Collyn Nielsen was one of the top kickers in Southern California, including a punting average of more than 43 yards. His GPA, amazingly with decimal point moved over, is even higher at 4.60.

It was a memorable senior year for Folsom QB Jake Jeffrey. Photo: Twitter.com.

FB/LB Matt Gates (Foothill, Pleasanton) 6-0, 200, Sr.
It’s already been announced that Matt is one of this year’s San Francisco Bay Area National Football Foundation chapter honorees for scholar-athlete skills. He was All-East Bay third team on defense, shined as a blocking back and helped Foothill go 12-1. Gates, who has 3.72 cumulative GPA, will play next at Penn.

QB/RB Jake Jeffrey (Folsom) 6-1, 180
The latest prolific QB for the Bulldogs (4,194 yds passing, 50 TDs, 974 rush yds, 11 TDs) also has been reported with a 4.0 GPA. He has signed with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

FB/LB Tristen Leonetti (Scotts Valley) 6-0, 195
He was already chosen as the Cal-Hi Sports Most Inspirational Player of the Year for the state for his constant battle with Type 1 Diabetes. One of the top fullback-linebacker combo players in Northern California, Leonetti also had 4.2 GPA. He has signed with UC Davis.

WR/DB Eric Markes (Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth) 6-0, 175
He was one of the top players for Sierra Canyon team that went 13-1 and had 36 catches for nearly 1,000 yards and 10 TDs. Markes also carried 4.20 GPA and will play next at Penn. Teammate Kohl Hollinquest (2nd team below) also is going to Penn.

QB/P Jack Richardson (Palma, Salinas) 6-5, 205
He also punted for the Chieftains so we can list him multi-purpose. He also passed for nearly 2,000 yards, will attend Stanford and had GPA reported at 4.60.

RB/LB Clayton Stehr (Miramonte, Orinda) 6-0, 190
Two-way star for Mats had 1,155 yards rushing (22 TDs), caught 31 passes for 412 yards (6 TDs) and was in on 102 tackles (3 interceptions). He also had GPA of 3.98 and has signed with Brown.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE & DEFENSE
(22 players; listed alphabetically; all seniors)

QB/RB Michael Austin (Helix, La Mesa)
LB Jacob Bergstrom (Bellarmine, San Jose)
QB Hunter Bigge (Los Gatos)
OL Pete Christiansen (Crespi, Encino)
WR/QB Louis Coulombe (Pioneer, San Jose)
RB/DB Sam Cusano (Granite Bay)
OL Clayton Demski (Marin Catholic, Kentfield)
OL Saia Fonongaloa (Pittsburg)
OL Derek Furr (Freedom, Oakley)
LB Kevin Glajchen (St. Francis, Mountain View)
WR/DE Kohl Hollinquest (Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth)
QB David Jeremiah (Christian, El Cajon)
QB Isaac Leppke (Dinuba)
OL Chris Mann (Mission Hills, San Marcos)
OL Kyle Morales (Charter Oak, Covina)
DB Riley Reyes (Granite Hills, El Cajon)
OL Kooper Richardson (Folsom)
OL Bryce Rodgers (Menlo-Atherton, Atherton)
TE John Stivers (Carmel)
DB Isaiah Thomas (Chaminade, West Hills)
DB Matt Torres (Folsom)
WR/KR Schuyler Van Weele (Analy, Sebastopol)

ALL-STATE ALL-ACADEMIC
JUNIOR HONOR ROLL

PK Manny Berz (Citrus Hill, Perris)
WR/DB Jordan Blackman (St. Genevieve, Panorama City)
QB Bryson Bolin (San Marcos)
RB Michael Chan (San Marino)
QB Jack Harris (Tamalpais, Mill Valley)
WR Ben Heuvelhorst (Sutter)
TE Erik Krommenhoek (Monte Vista, Danville)
DB R.J. Lan (La Mirada)
QB Jack Newman (Analy, Sebastopol)
TE Colby Parkinson (Oaks Christian, Westlake Village)
WR Gavin Reinwald (Elk Grove)
OL Michael Saffell (Edison, Huntington Beach)
WR Chris Volek (El Dorado, Placerville)

Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports