Two of those on the first-ever Cal-Hi Sports All-State All-Academic football team are Riley Quinn from St. Francis of Mountain View & Jamie Nunley from Vista Murrieta of Murrieta. Photos: Hudl.com & nffriversidecounty.com.
And you thought we were done with football. For the first time, we are glad to provide accolades to those elite players across the state who shined in the classroom as well as on the field. Our two running backs were both well over 4.0 for GPAs and well over 2,000 yards rushing.
We will continue to be doing Gold Club posts throughout the next few months for football, including a massive project in which we’ll offer all-time state rankings of the state’s best-ever teams. A one-year subscription still costs less than $20 and a signup now will carry you through the 2015 football season. To join our Gold Club, CLICK HERE.
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. 4. Some also came from a coaches’ questionnaire that was sent out last week. 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 honors with GPAs with players.
In the end, we also decided to make these teams just for seniors only. A separate juniors to watch list for next year’s all-state all-academic football team, however, also has been included.
2014 SEASON CAL-HI SPORTS
ALL-STATE ALL-ACADEMIC FOOTBALL TEAMS
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
WR – Trent Irwin (Hart, Newhall)
State’s new record-holder for career TD catches and career yards also is honor student headed to Stanford.
WR – Cole Thompson (Folsom)
He set a state record with 34 TD catches in Bulldogs’ 16-0 season and has earned an acceptance to Harvard.
TE – R.J. Oliver (Bakersfield Christian)
Transfer from Brookside Christian of Stockton was all-Bakersfield area, had 1,131 yards in receiving and will be off to Yale in the fall.
Palos Verdes QB Steven Delcarson got stronger and stronger as 2014 season rolled along. Photo: Hudl.com.
OL – Jack Dreyer (Serra, San Mateo)
The massive Dreyer was first team overall all-state, has a 4.26 GPA with 2010 SAT and has signed with Stanford.
OL – Austin Maihen (Santa Margarita, Rancho SM)
Another big-time lineman who is on his way to Stanford, Maihen also has enjoyed a banner scholastic career for the Eagles.
OL – Paul Mesa (Citrus Hill, Perris)
He’s actually one of the state’s top long-snappers and happens to be in line for senior class valedictorian at Citrus Hill.
OL – Thomas Rogers (Sacred Heart Prep, Atherton)
A first-team All-Central Coast Section player by Prep2Prep.com, Rogers also has a 4.0 GPA. Key player for team that won CCS Open Division title.
OL – Scott Smoak (Elsinore, Lake Elsinore)
The All-CIF Southern Section Inland Division pick was a top player for head coach Tony Peralta and listed with 4.10 GPA.
QB – Steven Delcarson (Palos Verdes, PV Estates)
He was the MVP, multi-purpose style QB who led the Sea Kings to the CIF Southern Section Western Division title. Delcarson also has 4.8 weighted GPA.
RB – Chris Rom-Toribio (La Quinta)
Wow, all he did during the 2014 season was rush for 3,010 yards and score 46 TDs. Oh, he’s been a straight A student as well: 4.6 GPA.
RB – Trey Nahhas (Monterey Trail, Elk Grove)
Another wow. Sacramento Bee’s Offensive Player of the Year (Folsom’s Jake Browning was its overall player of the year) had 2,599 yards rushing and 34 TDs and has built a 4.3 GPA.
PK – Jake Bailey (Santa Fe Christian, Solana Beach)
Stanford-bound kicker has near-perfect grades and made 12 of 16 field goals during the season with a long of 54.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL – D.J. Bailey (JSerra, San Juan Capistrano)
All-Orange County performer for top 10 team in the state listed with 4.3 GPA and is going to Harvard.
DL – Trent Goens (Chino Hills)
All-State second team defensive lineman headed to Northwestern has been top scholar throughout high school years.
Justice Shelton-Mosley also was a standout running back for Capital Christian. Photo: Mark Tennis.
DL – Luke Holloway (Helix, La Mesa)
We were impressed by his pass rushing skills at the Honor Bowl. He was one of the top DEs in San Diego. Also has 3.95 GPA.
LB – Anthony Camargo (Bishop Amat, La Puente)
A major factor for the state-ranked Lancers’ defense, Camargo was reported with a 4.6 GPA and is reported with commitment to Harvard.
LB – Matt Locher (Los Alamitos)
One of the state leaders in tackles and the Orange County Defensive Player of the Year, Locher signed with Boise State but had Ivy League interest.
LB – Casey Toohill (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego)
After missing last year with an injury, he made up for lost time with dominant season. The Stanford signer didn’t miss any time studying: 4.31 GPA.
LB – Riley Wimpey (San Clemente)
A transfer from Utah, Wimpey became one of the leading tacklers in the CIF Southern Section. Also has 4.0 GPA.
LB – Josh Woods (Upland)
A first-team all-state pick and the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Player of the Year, Woods is going to UCLA with a 4.0 GPA.
DB – Frank Buncom (St. Augustine, San Diego)
Yes, it’s hard to leave off Stanford signers. But Buncom also has been among state’s top prospects among Class of 2015 and he has GPA of 4.14.
DB – Justice Shelton-Mosley (Capital Christian, Sacramento)
Also one of the state’s top grid-hoopers, Justice could have gone D1 to any number of colleges, but is going to Harvard.
DB – Riley Quinn (St. Francis, Mountain View)
An all-league and all-CCS player who captivated many in the Bay Area by his play despite missing one hand, Quinn also shines as a student with 4.0 GPA and going to M.I.T.
P/PK – Matt Abramo (Casa Grande, Petaluma)
We could have listed Abramo as a kicker as well (10 FGs, long of 46) but has a punter he placed 21 inside the 20-yard line and still averaged nearly 37 yards per punt. 4.4 GPA.
FIRST TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE
WR/DB Sam Melero (El Capitan, Lakeside)
Unsung hero for El Cap’s team that lost heart-breaker in final seconds of D3 state bowl game has 3.90 GPA.
TE/LB Jacob Moen (Christopher, Gilroy)
All-CCS selection caught just enough passes so we could go with him as multi-purpose instead of crowded group of LBs. Moen also has 3.8 GPA.
WR/TE Jamie Nunley (Vista Murrieta, Murrieta)
Big-time college prospect going to Arizona has been stellar academically with close to perfect grades.
QB/ATH Randy Post (Sutter)
The CIF Northern Section Player of the Year who led Sutter to a 13-1 record also has 4.05 GPA.
RB/WR Miguel Wagner (El Segundo)
A leading player for team that went 11-1, Wagner has a 4.6 GPA with 34 ACT score and is going to M.I.T.
RB/DB Wade Wallace (Liberty, Madera Ranchos)
He was the Madera Tribune MVP for two-way prowess on a team that will have the state’s longest win streak going into next season. He also has 4.0 GPA.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE & DEFENSE
(20 players; listed alphabetically; all seniors)
WR Austin Aaron (Napa)
DB Luke Andrew (Modesto Christian)
LB Dante Gomez (Aptos)
OL Charles Hayes (La Quinta)
WR/DB Eric Herwatt (Justin-Siena, Napa)
OL Jack Jarnigan (Los Gatos)
DB Elijah Jones (Upland)
DL Shane McDermott (St. Mary’s, Stockton)
WR Anthony Oseguera (Horizon Christian, San Diego)
WR Christian Pearson (Crespi, Encino)
WR Sam Philippi (JSerra, San Juan Capistrano)
OL Brandon Pires (Colony, Ontario)
QB/RB Jack Preston (St. Helena)
LB Riley Reyes (Granite Hills, El Cajon)
LB Ronnie Sallee (Eastlake, Chula Vista)
LB Quinn Seau (St. Augustine, San Diego)
WR Jake Smeltzer (Tesoro, Las Flores)
QB Jack Stephens (Campolindo, Moraga)
OL Paul Trujillo-Langdon (Carter, Rialto)
LB Riley Vickner (Sutter)
ALL-STATE ALL-ACADEMIC
JUNIORS TO WATCH
OL Dante Harrington (San Clemente)
RB Hogan Irwin (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego)
QB David Jeremiah (Christian, El Cajon)
WR/DB Kimo Karp (Tamalpais, Mill Valley)
OL Chris Mann (Mission Hills, San Marcos)
PK Andrew Nielsen (Hart, Newhall)
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
