Quarterback Kareem Coles from Madison of San Diego (left) helped team win CIF Division III bowl game as a sophomore while Frank Buncom (right) of St. Augustine is part of a great group of defensive backs from the section. Photos: Student Sports.
This is the fifth preseason all-section or all-area football team we have compiled and covers schools from the entire CIF San Diego Section. Leading the way with four on the first team is St. Augustine and Oceanside.
Note: Writeups by new correspondent Thomas Gutierrez. Thanks Thomas for joining our team.
Attention all San Diego Section football fans: We have just posted the most complete, up-to-date all-time state football team records ever compiled. It is for Gold Club members only. This is the best time of the year to sign up for a one-year subscription so you can check out everything we do. To sign up, CLICK HERE.
MORE PRESEASON HONORS SQUADS: CIFSS/Inland Empire | Central Section | L.A. City Section | Central Coast Section
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
WR Jack Bailey (Torrey Pines, San Diego) 6-3, 190, Sr.
A tall and long-armed receiver with good hands, this recent San Diego State Aztec commit with seven TD catches from last season should continue his success this season with the Falcons.
WR Steffon McKnight (Mira Mesa, San Diego) 6-0, 165, Jr.
An elite 4-star split end who is No. 25 in the Cal-Hi Sports Hot 100 for juniors, McKnight has 4.48 speed and tremendous route running ability.
OL Cedric Bigge Duren (Oceanside) 6-6, 307, Sr.
He joins with teammate Christian Cronk to possibly give the Pirates the biggest offensive line in San Diego. This Washington State commit will be in the trenches playing guard with skill and strength that are as equally daunting as is his size.
OL Christian Cronk (Oceanside) 6-5, 260, Sr.
Under the tutelage of Oceanside line coach Rick Gerardi (has coached five former Pirates into the NFL), Cronk has developed into a Division 1 level (offers SDSU, Nevada, Hawaii) offensive lineman who should help the Pirates this season.
OL Kevin Estes (San Marcos) 6-6, 275, Sr.
He placed at No. 82 in the Cal-Hi Sports Hot 100 player rankings and is one of the top 100 offensive linemen nationally by most services. His work ethic, strength and skill were a big part to San Marcos’ first winning season (9-5) in several years. Estes has committed to Wisconsin.
OL Chris Gesell (St. Augustine, San Diego) 6-4, 255, Sr.
San Diego’s best center was the force that allowed his running back (Elijah Preston) to rush for 1,484 yards and 17 TDs. The Saints plan to continue their journey this season.
OL Jaylon Kuykendall (Helix, La Mesa) 6-1, 295, Sr.
Equally skilled on both sides of the ball, this guard is a force who can take on two defenders at once. His compact to the ground quickness will be a catalyst to Helix’s fast and powerful offense this season.
QB Brad Cagle (El Capitan, Lakeside) 6-1, 205, Sr.
With 472 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, who said that pocket quarterbacks can’t run? Despite the great stats on the ground, it is Cagle’s passing game that illustrates his talents with 2,707 yards in the air topped off with 31 touchdowns.
RB Elijah Preston (St. Augustine, San Diego) 5-6, 170, Jr.
A starter on varsity since his freshman year. Preston has been force for the Saints. In the last two seasons, he has run for 3,015 yards and 31 touchdowns.
RB Tyler Range (Rancho Bernardo, San Diego) 6-0, 220, Sr.
Clocked at 11.08 in the 100 meters at his size, Range will wreak havoc on defenses this year. The future Montana Grizzly also can catch the ball out of the backfield.
RB Isiah Strayhorn (Eastlake, Chula Vista) 5-7, 165, Sr.
Against the Oceanside last season in the first Open Division section semifinal, Strayhorn had 142 yards and two touchdowns before getting hurt in that epic game. In 2013, he rushed for 1,273 yards, 14 TDs, and close to 10 yards per carry.
PK Jake Bailey (Santa Fe Christian, Solana Beach) 6-2, 175, Sr.
Clearly one of the top kickers in the state with a recent commitment to Stanford, Bailey connected for a 50-yard field goal last season among six that he made. He also routinely landed his kickoffs out of the end zone and played defensive back and receiver.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL Mau Ena (Vista) 6-2, 315, Sr.
A force in the middle who combines power with a first fast step and excellent swim move, Ena will continue to see teams avoid running in his gap. He collected 40 tackles last season and attracted double teams.
DL Luke Holloway (Helix, La Mesa) 6-4, 215, Sr.
This lean and strong three-sport athlete (football, basketball, track) uses his long reach and athletic skill-set to keep blockers at bay, escape double teams, and make tackles from all angles and distances.
DeChaun Holiday is the top returning player from team that won first San Diego Open Division title. Photo: Hudl.com.
If 36 tackles and six sacks were not enough, next year Smith is going to show the East Coast what San Diego football is about as he takes his talents to Boston College. He’s a legitimate D-1 nose guard ready to impress.
DL Tommy Woo (Oceanside) 6-2, 230, Sr.
Calling him a relentless beast is an understatement. He is quick off the snap, sheds blockers easily and is getting D1 college interest.
LB David Faatuiese (Vista) 6-2, 235, Sr.
Some are comparing David to former Vista standout Pisa Tinoisamoa (Chicago Bears). He only played in nine games last season, but had 68 tackles with 45 of them being solo.
LB Quinn Seau (St. Augustine, San Diego) 6-1, 213, Jr.
As Junior Seau’s nephew, Quinn has a lot to live up to and he does. As a sophomore starter last season, he had 77 assisted tackles (89 total). This season, he will be ready to take over the defense as his uncle once did at Oceanside.
LB Casey Toohill (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego) 6-3, 225, Sr.
Committing to Stanford two weeks ago, which was where Cathedral Catholic’s Tyler Gaffney starred at running back last season, Toohill will be ready to wreak havoc this year after missing seven games last season due to a broken arm. His high IQ will only augment his punishing tackles and 4.61 speed.
LB Jihad Woods (Helix, La Mesa) 5-11, 200, Jr.
Last season as a youthful 10th grader, Woods demonstrated his instinct for the ball and attacked it with fury and power. This young Highlander is only going to get better.
DB Frank Buncom IV (St. Augustine, San Diego) 6-2, 190, Sr.
Another 4 star recruit who is highly regarded statewide and nationally as a safety, Buncom had 91 total tackles last year and helps makes the Saints a legitimate contender among all San Diego powerhouses.
DB DeChaun Holiday (Mission Hills, San Marcos) 6-2, 207, Sr.
Regarded by some as among the top defensive backs in the nation, Holiday excels in press coverage and has the ability to play corner at his size. He was a Cal-Hi Sports all-state junior last season.
DB Jordan Miller (Oceanside) 6-2, 170, Sr.
Recently obligating his skills to the Washington Huskies with his 4.45 speed and a sixth sense for reading receivers tendencies, Miller is the latest Pirate DB headed to the Pac-12. He is No. 68 in the Cal-Hi Sports Hot 100 player rankings.
DB Troy Warner (Mission Hills, San Marcos) 6-2, 185, Sr.
With Holiday and Warner leading the way, the Grizzlies have one of the state’s top secondary. Warner already has an offer from BYU, which already has his brother, Fred, a standout from last year’s team.
P Brandon Hong (Torrey Pines, San Diego) 5-10, 170, Sr.
Hong went long on his punt to the tune of a 38-yard average last season. He also only missed one PAT and had a 39-yard field goal.
FIRST TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE
QB/RB Kareem Coles (Madison, San Diego) 6-1, 165, Sr.
The Utah State-bound Coles first established himself as a sophomore when he led his Warhawks to a 38-35 victory over Marin Catholic in the D-III CIF D3 state bowl game. A dual-treat QB with 4.59 speed, Coles threw for 1,174 yards with 11 TDs and ran for 451 yards and four more scores.
WR/DB Martrel Holmes (Mission Hills, San Marcos) 5-11, 160, Sr.
Speed athlete is expected to emerge as a two-way threat for the Grizzlies. His 4.49 clocking in the 40 and all-league honors has so far garnered one D1 offer from Nevada and others could follow.
DB/WR Quentin Meeks (Del Norte, San Diego) 6-2, 190, Sr.
With size and agility, Meeks is a dual threat on the highest level who consistently dominates on both ends of the field. His best bet for a D1 college scholarship is as a safety.
RB/DB Traylon Reed (Eastlake, Chula Vista) 5-11, 185, Jr.
A quality defensive back, but if it wasn’t for the crowded gifted backfield of Eastlake in 2013, Reed may have rushed for 1,500 yards. This year, he gets the chance to test his true potential as an all-around player for this top-flight program. He’s also regarded as one of the state’s top running back prospects for the junior class.
LB/RB D.J. Smith (El Capitan, Lakeside) 6-1, 215, Sr.
This Vaquero simply obliterated the Grossmont-Valley League in 2013. He rushed for 802 yards and stocked-piled 14 touchdowns. On the defensive side, he made 67 tackles and had eight sacks.
DE/TE Anthony Taele (El Camino, Oceanside) 6-3, 260, Sr.
Faster than many running backs and quicker than a multitude of receivers, Taele may be the most skilled big man since Charles Barkley. An athletic specimen, Taele could be the catalyst for El Camino to impress in 2014.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE, DEFENSE & MULTI-PURPOSE
(20 players who just missed)
QB/RB Michael Austin (Helix, La Mesa) Jr.
WR/RB Alijah Avant (Grossmont, El Cajon) Sr.
LB Josh Bernard (Oceanside) Sr.
WR/RB/CB Isaiah Capoocia (El Capitan, Lakeside) Sr.
DL Jared Cheatwood (Mission Hills, San Marcos) Sr.
QB Seth Collins (Granite Hills, El Cajon) Sr.
DL Joey DeMarco (Torrey Pines, San Diego) Sr.
QB Will Freed (San Marcos) Sr.
OL Max Garner (Santa Fe Christian, Solana Beach) Sr.
OL Alfredo Gutierrez (Montgomery, San Diego) Sr.
LB Malik Hayes (Grossmont, El Cajon) Sr.
LB Justin Holloway (Otay Ranch, Chula Vista) Sr.
DB Nate Johnson (Vista) Sr.
DL Austin Lucht (Rancho Bernardo, San Diego) Sr.
QB Dakota Miller (Mission Hills, San Marcos) Jr.
WR Tyler Nix (San Marcos) Sr.
RB Isaiah Osborne (Madison, San Diego) Sr.
TE Dan Plum (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego) Sr.
QB Matthew Romero (Oceanside) Sr.
DB Kameron Santos (Madison, San Diego ) Sr.
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
22 Comments
Please note the first posted version of this story did not include Tommy Woo of Oceanside. His writeup had been accidentally omitted. First version was short one player on defense and that is the reason.
Y’all sleepin on me, chamberlin Liddell patascil, Dondre Johnson and Matt Reitano over at Mira Mesa High school!
Get ready!
So how many from Mira Mesa are we supposed to have had? Is it three more or four?
I just know Steffon gets a lot of help on this team
WOW…..DB Malavai Taylor from Oceanside High had better stats than most of your Dbs on this list . He moved to LB for need of team and had interceptions from that position to. Johnny Arzola from Oceanside High ?!! LB/RB John Flores from Vista High had a outstanding year. How was this list made?
We obviously had some help from a correspondent who actually likes Oceanside and Oceanside had four players picked. Sorry, guess we should have had six and dropped a couple from Mission Hills.
Preseason polls are projections/predictions. Wybrant it sounds like your hurt that your HS buddies are not on list. There are tons of good mid-level players. Many good players besides North County. Don’t be hatin cause your myopic. You need to worry about the Grizzlies son.
Lol..Grizzly fan.!! You must not be a true Grizzly fan . North County is the Best.!! As far as my buddies go, maybe you should go talk to my buddy Dakota Miller . He can vouch for those guys. Grizzly Fan we will plan for yall when its time. Now ain’t the time. We getting ready for St.Augustine. Who’s hating? Stats are stats. Good luck on that soft schedule !! See ya soon.
Yeah North County is the best. Arzola didn’t do much stat wise. Taylor is solid, not worth removing a Grizzly. None of those players you mention are d-1 playas. You reaching there son. Grizzly in da house………….
That’s funny because a Local writer didn’t have Warner on the list of top dbs in San Diego county . So how does Cal Hi? For your information those kids are getting d1 attention !! Remember how many kids went d1 from Oside last year regardless of the outcome? Did I say remove a Grizzly? But not to be mentioned was what im talking about. When its all done those kids will have the D1 offers. Oceanside will have more d1 kids than Mission. And if passing league is any indication of a season, you guys are in trouble. !! Jus so you know I wrote that editor and told him Warner was not mentioned and Dechaun was better than a certain kid. I fight for Grizzlies to.
Sd Preps did not have certain players either. So what. Every site/paper is going to be a little different. There are 6 Pirates on there and you crying over 2 players. Vista was 2-8 and have 3 players on list. These are peoples opinions. No one will agree 100%. If you have to depend on Preseason Polls for validity you are weak. I know true Pirate fans are not like that. You a fraud. You embarrassing them trifling with 6 Pirates on board. GRIZZLIES IN DAHOUSE !
bradfod DL from hoover had 23 sacks last season and the kid works hard and will be even
better this year
Mau Ena has offers from New Mexico and Montana!
Lol…depends on how your list was made. As far as your correspondent liking Oceanside does not mean he did his research. Check the the stats. This is not Oside bias. I mentioned LB John Flores from Vista. These kids weren’t even on your list !! Oceanside once again has one of the hardest schedules in California. More room to show your correspondent what he missed. Thank you for taking the time to respond.
Once again you must be caught in your own stuff. This stuff doesn’t make or break no one over here.!!! I wanted to know what the predictions was based off of.!! But you cant get that around your brain because your stuff revolves around being Grizzly bias. That’s cool.!! Your the BIGGEST FRAUD..!! I BET YOU DONT EVEN TALK TO THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS…LOL… just another person running his or her mouth. Validity?!! You already know about Oceanside DOMINANCE…NO NEED TO REMIND YOU OF IT.!! Check some of your top players!!! They have OCEANSIDE pedigree. .SON.!! Do your homework. OSIDE IS IN YOUR HOUSE.!! John Flores doesnt go to Oceanside. I said something about him. So this ain’t about just Oside. Oside would be proud of me mentioning Oside kids and beyond. Grizzlies should be EMBARRASSED THAT YOUR NOT FIGHTING FOR THEM IF THEY’RE ARE QUALIFIED. BUT LIKE I SAID EARLIER YOUR A FRAUD.!! REMEMBER YOU SAID KIDS OUTSIDE OF NORTH COUNTY WERE JUST AS GOOD?? FRAUD YOU ARE.!!
I don’t care what Vista Highs record was. John Flores stats were just as good as David F. And to take it farther, Vista Highs QB Davin Rodriguez has better stats than Dakota. So what was the criteria Grizzly Fan??!! Oohhh you don’t know.!! Those kids was just as QUALIFIED..Grizzly Fan say something to the Mira mesa kids above for being left out to? Everybody has their right to wanting to know. Dakota Miller is a good qb…but he hasn’t played a down for you G rizzlies. How is he on here? Explain that Grizzly Fan!! Or are they going off the fact he transferred from OCEANSIDE…LIKE WYNN DID and went on to do Great things for Mission Hills. I know publications are all different…I GAVE YOU the example.
It’s not all stats you idiot. If that was the case all those random Vista kids you mentioned would be on the list with the 5’8 LB with 71 tackles from Orange glen. Your football knowledge is terrible, its all kiddie HS surface level. There are a lot of excellent individual players all over San Diego you buffoon fraud. No knowledgeable football fan would even mention those players you mentioned. You would get laughed out of a room. And son/girl to impersonate a Pirate you a sad perpetrating a front fraud. Wait, you forget the 5″9 DB at Escondido that had 82 tackles, he deserve to be on list on to. How about putting all your HS football friends on here you sorry perpetrating fraud. GRIZZLE is in DAHOUSE ! You ain’t No Pirate !
If you can read or maybe old age has hit you already I said it wasn’t all stats. Go read Coach Hauser statement idiot..!! He asked the same question I did. So how you like us idiots . You know nothing about FOOTBALL !! Go read or get glasses to read some articles. They talking about the same stuff I said. WE KNOW WHO THE FRAUD IS..!! SO BACK TO THE QUESTION IDIOT.!! HOW WAS THE LIST MADE? Why I need to put friends on here? They laughed at your comments because you have NO IDEA of the backgrounds on the GRIZZLY PLAYERS. I know a WIDE RANGE of kids so it was only natural for me to ask. You must be trying to impress someone.!!! Im glad PIRATE OFFSPRING S ARE BEHIND MISSION HILLS SUCCESS. OSIDE PIRATES ARE IN YOUR HOUSE..!!! LOL….SEE YA SOON.!!
You are retarded or someones sister ? Every Grizzly on list are D-1 recruits. All those 1st team players on here are all D-1 recruits, and 80% on the 2nd team list are . Honestly not sure what you’re crying about. I schocked that there are 6 Pirates ! ? Bernard is the cut-off. The safety for Helix is better than Taylor. Santos (Madison) is better than Taylor. Arzola is talented, maybe replace Bernard for Arzola. Those other random scrubs, I never heard of. Since you love Vista so much, and Taylor is really a Vista Panther. You may be his sister ? You write like a girl and have football knowledge of a hs kid. Your grammer is decent, so you can’t be a Oceanside HS student. You never played ball in your life and you talking schmack. Maybe you played on girls softball team at Vista ? GRIZZLE is in the House ! Watch out for the D-1 playas from Mission Hills little gurly weirdo person….. Grizzle will be there you weirdo…… Grizzlies in Da House
Hey GRIZZLY FAN WHERE IS KNOWLEDGE AT NOW..!! YOU SAID 80 PERCENT OF YOUR SECOND TEAM IS D1??? LOL…THEN WHAT IS YOUR FIRST TEAM? CUZ OSIDE JUST DESTROYED YOUR FIRST, AND SECOND TEAM. YOUR JUST TALKING WITH NO FACTS. AND YOU NEVER PLAYED BALL IN YOUR LIFE.!! AS FAR AS WHO IS BETTER THAN TAYLOR “THE FACTS ARE SPEAKING FOR ITS SELF” … HE’S the best SAFETY IN SAN DIEGO.!!! PERIOD..!! U INITIALLY SAID JOHNNY WHO. WELL IM GLAD YOU FOUND OUT HIS LA SS T NAME AFTER HE TORCHED YOUR DEFENSE..!! OH YEAH , WHO IS THE ONLY PLAYER TO INTERCEPT DAKOTA…TAYLOR!!! YOUR PLAYERS STARTED FALLING FOR NO REASON WHEN THEY SAW TAYLOR COMING…LOL. PS HAUSER WAS SEEN TALKING TO TAYLOR AFTER THE GAME. As far as Helix and Santos…..we destroyed MADISON IN PRESEASON AND HELIX NOT WORTH MENTIONING BUT TAYLOR GOT HIM DURING SPRING SEASON. STOP LOOKING UP NAMES AND FIND SOME SUBSTANCE TO YOUR STATEMENTS..!!! You must of been with the group of people leaving in the 3rd quarter. You Suck..!! Your not a true GRIZZLY FAN..!! My point was VALIDATED…OSIDE IS BETTER THAN WHAT THOSE SO CALLED POLLS SAID, WE HAVE MORE D1 PLAYERS THAN MISSION HILLS, YOUR A SAN MARCOS KNIGHT, YOU WATER POLO, CRISSCROSS AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT YOU JUST SUCK. LATER..!!! PS- I COACH SAN MARCOS POP WARNER IDIOT..!!!
Destroyed Madison? 14-7 in a 20 play scrimmage? What kool aid are you drinking? With 16 starters returning next year pray we are on your schedule.
This is one of the main factors that separate the online game from its land based counterpart.
Grab this opportunity and try your hand at various poker and
online slots. Certain Florida lotto sites have live support chat rooms.
One Trackback
[…] Mau Ena the 6′-2″ Top College Prospect from Division 1 Vista High School in Southern California is selected to the 2014 Pre-Season CalHisports All-San Diego 1st team defensive team. Mau has several Division 1 college football offers already on the table entering his senior season and continues to gain national exposure with top recruiting lists. The complete list athletes selected by CalHiSports can be found at http://www.calhisports.com/2014/08/17/preseason-all-san-diego-fb-team/ […]