Both of these recent all-state first team players from Long Beach Poly and De La Salle of Concord — WR John “JuJu” Smith-Schuster and TE Devin Asiasi — are currently playing in the NFL. Photos: Scott Kurtz & Willie Eashman.
We’ve done these lists previously for boys hoops, girls hoops, baseball and softball and now we’re finishing with football. With our all-state first team selections going back to 1980 (and not earlier), that also mirrors the start of the head coaching career of Bob Ladouceur at Concord De La Salle so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that with so many undefeated No. 1 teams since then that the Spartans are on top of these lists. Long Beach Poly ranks No. 2 with Mater Dei of Santa Ana at No. 3 and if it continues to add two or three first teamers every season could be moving ahead of De La Salle in a few years.
Note: The following lists are based on first team overall selections only. They are not lists of players who should have been all-state. All of them were actually chosen at the end of these seasons. These do not include any divisional all-state choices or those named to all-state underclass. The first all-state teams for football by Cal-Hi Sports were chosen after the 1980 season. All of our all-state team archives for all five sports can be found on our all-state landing page.
Note: We hope you enjoy this free post on CalHiSports.com. To check out the extensive archive with all of these all-state teams, to see the updated state records for football that are updated through the 2020 season, you’ll need to become a Gold Club member. To sign up for just pennies per day, CLICK HERE.
Boss Tagaloa was all-state first team for both of the seasons (2014, 2015) in which De La Salle won CIF Open Division state crowns. Photo: Mark Tennis.
DE LA SALLE (CONCORD)
Mike Allio LB/DL (1988)
Justin Alumbaugh LB (1997)
Brady Amack LB (2007)
Devin Asiasi TE/DE (2015)
Michael Barton LB (2011)
Mike Bastianelli QB/RB (1994)
Atari Callen RB/DB (1998)
Leon Callen RB/DB (1995)
Antoine Custer RB (2014, 2015)
Maurice Drew RB (2002)
Shamar Garrett RB/DB (2019)
Nathan Geldermann DL (1994)
Willie Glasper RB/DB (2003)
Jim Hinckley DL/LB (1987)
Austin Hooper TE/DE (2012)
Sumner Houston DL (2013)
Michael Hutchings LB (2012)
Damon Jenkins DB (2002)
Terrence Kelly TE/LB (2003)
Derek Landri OL/DL (2000, 2001)
Russell Lawson RB (1985)
Travis Pfiefer OL (1996)
Blake Renaud LB (2010)
Kevin Simon LB (2000)
Aaron Taylor OL (1989)
Boss Tagaloa OL/DL (2014, 2015)
Amani Toomer WR (1991)
Henry To’oto’o LB (2017, 2018)
Tuan Van Le (1986)
Anthony Vontoure WR/DB (1996)
Patrick Walsh RB (1992)
Terron Ward RB/KR (2010)
D.J. Williams RB/LB (1998, 1999)
Dylan Wynn DL (2010)
Notes: It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Spartans have had the most all-state first team picks since 1980. Their all-time national record 151-game winning streak came in those years and they also were State Team of the Year 18 times (including four straight CIF Open Division state titles between 2009 and 2012). The count we came up with was 34 players representing 39 picks. The five Spartans who have been first team all-state twice are D.J. Williams, Derek Landri, Antoine Custer, Boss Tagaloa and Henry To’oto’o. Current head coach Justin Alumbaugh was an all-stater for the school in 1997 as was current and longtime Serra of San Mateo head coach Patrick Walsh. Doing this list also brings up some sadness because there has been tragic death represented in the group with the names of Mike Bastianelli, Terrence Kelly and Anthony Vontoure. Maurice Drew, the running back selected first team all-state in 2002, of course is more well-known by the name he went by in the NFL: Maurice Jones-Drew.
Mr. Football 2004 Desean Jackson was at his best for Long Beach Poly in the team’s biggest games. Photo: Twitter.com.
LONG BEACH POLY (LONG BEACH)
Darnell Bing DB (2001)
Josh Brown LB (2016)
Eugene Burkhalter DB (1986)
Mark Carrier DB (1985)
Jurrell Casey DL (2007)
Hershel Dennis RB (2001)
Stefan Derrick QB/RB (1980)
Stacy Elliott DL (1985)
Randall Goforth DB (2011)
Herman Ho-Ching RB/DB (1997)
Desean Jackson WR/KR (2004)
Derrick Jones WR/KR (2002)
Kirk Jones RB (1982)
Danjuan Magee DL (1993)
Kejuan Markham DB (2018)
Iman Marshall DB (2013, 2014)
Willie McGinest DE (1989)
Chuckie Miller DB (1982)
Michael Pollard LB (1996)
Kenyon Rambo WR (1996)
Darrell Rideaux DB (1998)
Kenny Rowe DL (2006)
Leonard Russell FB (1986)
Marvin Simmons LB (2000)
John “JuJu” Smith WR/KR (2012, 2013)
Vaughn Telemaque DB (2007)
Iuta Tepa DL (2008)
Donovan Warren DB (2006)
Richard Washington DB (1990)
JoJo Wicker DL (2014)
Manuel Wright OL/DL (2000, 2001)
Notes: We counted 31 players representing 34 all-state selections for the Jackrabbits. They still lead all schools in the state both for current players in the NFL (with five) and for all-time. There’s little doubt that if we had been doing all-state teams since the 1960s or 1970s that Poly would be in front of De La Salle. This list shows how strong the Jackrabbits were in the early 1980s with powerhouse defensive units led by DB Mark Carrier and others and continuing into the early 2010s with teams led by John “JuJu” Smith and Iman Marshall. The program obviously has been hurt in more recent years by the rise of the program at nearby St. John Bosco, but signs are pointing in the positive as head coach Stephen Barbee builds in the right direction.
Myles Murao came back from a knee injury he suffered as a junior to become first team all-state as a senior. Photo: SoCalSidelines.com.
MATER DEI (SANTA ANA)
Matt Barkley QB (2007)
Billy Blanton QB (1991)
Tommy Brown OL (2017)
J.T. Daniels QB (2016, 2017)
Thomas Duarte WR/TE (2012)
Kody Epps WR (2019)
Matt Grootegoed RB/DB (1998, 1999)
Khaled Holmes OL (2007)
David Knuff TE/LB (1993)
Jonathan Lockett DB (2013)
Nathan Logoleo DL (2017)
Frank Martin OL (2016)
Bru McCoy WR/ATH (2018)
Mike McNair RB (1997)
Matt Motherway OL (1994)
Ryan Motherway OL (1987)
Myles Murao OL (2019)
Tyler Perkins OL (2004)
Rod Perry WR (1996)
Kennedy Pola FB/LB (1981)
Elias Ricks DB (2018)
Amon-Ra St. Brown WR/KR (2017)
Solomon Tuliaupupu LB (2017)
Lenny Vandermade OL (1998)
Chris Ward OL (2009)
Brad Williams OL (1995)
Larry Williams OL (1980)
Bryce Young QB (2018, 2019)
Notes: Most people think of the Monarchs as a quarterback school, which makes sense given their history of Heisman Trophies (Matt Leinart, John Huarte) plus others who’ve done well in college. But they’ve also been quite strong for offensive linemen. They had one on the very first all-state team we did in 1980 with Larry Williams and have seemingly had at least one strong all-state lineman every year since then (some making first team, some on second). In more recent seasons, head coach Bruce Rollinson has had teams with multiple first team all-state selections, including a record five for 2017. If the trend continues, Mater Dei should greatly increase its totals of 28 all-state players and 31 selections to a point in a few years in which it passes both Long Beach Poly and De La Salle.
Drake Jackson of Corona Centennial was one of the top college freshman defensive linemen in the nation at USC in 2019 season. Photo: utrhighlightvideos / youtube.com.
CENTENNIAL (CORONA)
Damion Barton DB (1996)
Ryan Bass RB (2007)
Zach Brumbaugh LB (2015)
Gary Bryant Jr. WR/KR (2019)
Vontaze Burfict LB (2008)
Michael Eubank QB/RB (2010)
Devin Head OL (2006)
Cameron Hunt OL (2012)
Drake Jackson DL (2018)
Terrell Jackson RB (2002, 2003)
Taylor Martinez QB/RB (2008)
Tanner McKee QB/RB (2017)
Javon McKinley WR (2014, 2015)
Brandon Minor RB (2004)
Camron Pitcher LB (2017)
Trevor Romaine PK (2009)
Matt Scott QB/RB (2007)
Viane Talamaivo OL (2013)
J.J. Taylor RB (2015)
Tre Watson RB (2013)
Robert Webber QB/RB (2012)
Notes: This is a newer school than the first three so the Huskies being fourth with 21 all-state players (two who repeated as seniors after getting on first team as junior) is another testimonial to the effective work by longtime head coach Matt Logan. DB Damion Barton, who later played at Colorado, was Centennial’s first all-state first team player in 1996. Having six slots for multi-purpose players on every all-state team has helped with several of the Huskies’ QBs since they all need to rush the ball successfully for Logan’s offense to really click. If we just had one QB (usually more of a thrower) on each team with no multi-purpose, Centennial’s total would be lower.
Wyatt Davis wasn’t just all-state twice for St. John Bosco, but was Mr. Football for 2016. Photo: Mark Tennis.
ST. JOHN BOSCO (BELLFLOWER)
Wyatt Davis OL (2015, 2016)
Nico Falah OL (2012)
Chandler Leniu LB (2013)
Spencer Lytle LB (2018)
Damien Mama OL (2013)
Sean McGrew RB (2015)
Drake Metcalf OL (2019)
Re-al Mitchell QB/RB (2016)
Paul Mociler OL (1999)
Kobe Pepe DL (2019)
Josh Rosen QB/RB (2013, 2014)
Chris Steele DB (2018)
Bryce Treggs WR (2011)
D.J. Uiagalelei QB (2017, 2018, 2019)
Jaleel Wadood WR/DB (2013)
Notes: The Braves check just one spot ahead of Carson with 19 selections, although Carson has currently had more all-state players with 18. Speaking of Carson (and former L.A. City Section powerhouse Banning of Wilmington), one would have to wonder if a lot of players who used to play for Banning and Carson are now playing for Bosco. It’s hard to argue against anyone from one of those school areas wanting to join the party (and play for outstanding coaches). Offensive lineman Paul Mociler in 1999 was Bosco’s first all-state player. The first one that head coach Jason Negro had was receiver Bryce Treggs in 2011. He’s had 14 since then and it figures to be more than one on first team for the next several seasons.
Carson’s Arnold Ale is still regarded as one of the best linebackers in CIF L.A. City Section history. He is now coaching for the Colts and is their athletic director. Photo: Twitter.com.
CARSON
Arnold Ale LB (1987)
Charles Gardner DB (1987)
Alvin Goree WR/DB (1986)
Theron Hill WR (1991)
Wendell Hunter LB (1999)
Perry Klein QB (1988)
Nkosi Littleton LB (1989)
Norris Malele OL (2003)
Morrell Presley LB (2008)
Latario Rachal WR (1990)
J.R. Redmond RB/WR (1994)
Darreus Rogers WR (2011)
Michael Ross WR (1989)
Errol Sapp RB/WR (1988)
Morris Unutoa OL (1988)
John Walsh QB (1990)
Al Washington DB (1982)
Wade Yandell OL (2009)
Notes: All 18 of the Colts’ first team all-state selections were for one-time only players, meaning none of them were chosen more than once. They actually have more players than St. John Bosco, but not as many selections. The Colts’ best years were in the late 1980s, highlighted by the 1988 squad that was State Team of the Year. Three players from that team all landed on the all-state first team. One of those from 1987, linebacker Arnold Ale, is the current head coach at Carson.
Akili Arnold was named the Orange County Defensive Player of the Year for 2018. Photo: Hudl.com.
MISSION VIEJO
Akili Arnold WR/DB (2018)
Kevin Bemoll OL (2004)
Olaijah Griffin DB (2017)
Lance Keneley DL (2019)
R.J. Lopez PK (2019)
Tre Madden LB (2010)
Chase Moline DL (2004)
Jarrett Patterson OL (2017)
Ryan Powdrell LB (2001)
Drew Radovich OL (2002)
Max Redfield DB (2012)
Mark Sanchez QB (2004)
Colin Schooler LB (2015, 2016)
Cole Smith OL (2014)
Marty Tadman WR/DB (2003)
Notes: Both the Diablos and Hart of Newhall have 15 first team all-state selections since the first one in 1980. The only difference in listing Mission higher is that linebacker Colin Schooler also was that high on the all-state teams as a junior than he was as a senior. It should be noted that former head coach Bob Johnson had nearly 20 first team all-state players combining the years he was at both El Toro (Lake Forest) and Mission Viejo.
Hart’s Trent Irwin is one of the most prolific receivers in state history. Photo: signalscv.com.
HART (NEWHALL)
Brian Allen TE (1988)
Kyle Boller QB (1998)
Jim Bonds QB/RB (1986)
Ted Iacenda RB (1995)
Trent Irwin WR (2014)
Brian Jacobs OL (1987)
Kyle Matter QB (2000)
Steve Mehr OL (1983)
Matt Moore QB/RB (2001)
Andrew Nielsen PK/P (2015)
Patrick Norton DL (1999)
Sean Norton QB (2003)
Jerry Owens WR (1998)
Mike Wambolt LB (1996)
Ryan Wolfe WR/DB (2004)
Notes: One of Hart’s 15 all-state first team players, and just the school’s second ever, was 1986 standout Jim Bonds, who as many know died just last week at age 51 from a form of cancer that attacks white blood cells. Bonds later played at UCLA and was the head coach at St. Francis of La Canada since 2000. Not all of the school’s quarterbacks who were all-CIF Southern Section during an amazing streak between 1985 and 2003 made all-state as well, but five of them were, including State Players of the Year Kyle Boller and Sean Norton.
Shaq Thompson is one of the most dynamic players we’ve ever seen from the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section. Photo: Paul Muyskens.
GRANT (SACRAMENTO)
Chad Elliott QB (1996)
Tim Lang QB/RB (2006)
Kipeli Koniseti QB/RB (2008)
Viliami Moala DL (2009, 2010)
Darrin Paulo OL (2014)
Clyde Sanders DL (1994)
Onterrio Smith RB (1998)
Donte Stallworth WR (1997)
Shaq Thompson DB/RB (2010, 2011)
Christian Tupou DL (2006)
Paris Warren WR/DB (1999)
Richard Watson QB/RB (2000)
Channing Williams RB/DB (1982)
Notes: The Pacers have the same number of all-state selections as Hart, but for 13 players instead of 15. Two of Grant’s all-time best have been two-time all-state first team choices Shaq Thompson (currently on the Carolina Panthers) and Viliami Moala. Another of Grant’s all-time best has been QB Aaron Garcia, who in most years might have been first team all-state but his senior year (1987) was the same as El Toro’s Bret Johnson and Mission Viejo’s Todd Marinovich. Garcia was selected the second team all-state QB.
Oluwale Betiku from Serra of Gardena also was named 2015 State Defensive Player of the Year. Photo: StudentSports.com.
SERRA (GARDENA)
Oluwale Betiku DL (2015)
George Farmer WR (2010)
Rasheem Green DL (2014)
John Houston LB (2014)
Adoree’ Jackson WR/DB (2012, 2013)
Marqise Lee WR (2010)
Brian Malcolm OL (1990)
Erik Simien LB (1988)
Jashon Sykes LB (1997)
Khalil Tate QB/RB (2015)
Olajuwon Tucker LB (2013)
Robert Woods WR (2008, 2009)
Notes: Right behind Grant and Hart with 15 all-state selections is the Cavaliers with 14. They get there with 12 players as both Adoree’ Jackson and Robert Woods were first team twice. Jackson also was Mr. Football as a senior while Woods was State Athlete of the Year.
Photo: Facebook.com.
BANNING (WILMINGTON)
Michael Alo FB (1980)
Greg Battle LB (1981)
Travis Davis RB/DB (1990)
Shayzar Hawkins DB (1991)
Jamelle Holieway QB/RB (1984)
Eric McKee OL (1982)
Marvin Pollard LB (1986)
Tyrone Rodgers WR (1986)
Earl Saunders DB (1985)
Joe Scott LB/DB (1983)
Sam Sutherland DB (1984)
Mark Tucker OL (1985)
Bob Whitfield OL (1988)
Notes: Another South Bay school in the L.A. City Section checks in here as we counted the Pilots with 13 all-state first team players. They are actually in a dead-even tie with Westlake (Westlake Village), which is kind of amazing since there hasn’t been a first team all-state player from the school since 1991. Banning’s 1980s dominance began with a streak of six straight L.A. City Section titles from 1976 through 1981. And pushed by its tremendous rivalry with Carson, Banning had 11 all-state selections in just the 1980s alone.
WESTLAKE (WESTLAKE VILLAGE)
Alex Ball PK (2011)
Joey Cuppari WR/DB (1997)
De’Gabriel Floyd LB (2018)
Jamal Harris DB (1995)
Nick Isham QB/RB (2010)
Jordan Mannisto P (2007)
Billy Miller WR (1994)
Jimmy Miller DL (2003)
Kevin Robledo PK (2014)
Mike Seidman TE (1998)
Justin Solis DL (2011)
Michael Stuart DL/TE (2003)
Zac Wasserman QB (1999)
Notes: The count for the Warriors is the same as Banning (Wilmington). That would be 13 all-state players representing 13 all-state selections. When starting the count, we didn’t think Westlake would be that high, but having had two all-state kickers and one all-state punter put the Warriors over the top.
NOTRE DAME (SHERMAN OAKS)
Sam DeMartinis OL (2006)
Justin Fargas RB (1997)
Koa Farmer DB (2013)
Kai Forbath PK (2004, 2005)
Garrett Green QB/RB (2005)
Cary Harris DB (2005)
Travis Johnson DL (1999)
Ryan Kasdorf QB/RB (2008)
Chris Sailer PK (1994)
Errol Small DB (1989)
Tim Volk DL (2001)
Notes: We came up with 11 all-state players for the Knights with one of those gaining an all-state nod twice. That would be NFL kicker Kai Forbath. Another of the Knights who’s been all-state first team, DB Cary Harris in 2005, will be the new head coach for the next season at Calabasas. All 11 of those above played for retiring head coach Kevin Rooney.
SERVITE (ANAHEIM)
Derek Brown RB (1988)
Pat Blottiaux PK (1987)
Cody Fajardo QB/RB (2009)
Chris Galippo LB (2006)
Matt Kalil OL (2006, 2007)
Kirifi Leuta-Taula DL (2009)
Connor Loftus PK (2010)
Joe McGuire OL (1999)
Troy Niklas TE/DE (2010)
Butch Paa’u LB (2011)
D.J. Shoemate TE/ATH (2007)
Notes: There’s the same totals for the Friars as for Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, which is 11 players representing 12 all-state selections. Their double winner was All-American offensive tackle Matt Kalil for 2006 and 2007. He later enjoyed a long NFL career. We had to double-check that no one from Servite’s 1982 State Team of the Year was all-state and that’s correct. We didn’t have the extra six multi-purpose slots in those days and for the QB position we had John Paye of Menlo School instead of Steve Beuerlein (the leader of that ’82 team). That was only our third all-state team ever and today we almost always find room for at least one player on the No. 1 team in the state.
BISHOP AMAT (LA PUENTE)
Eric Bieniemy RB (1986)
Ralph Brown RB/DB (1995)
Richard Garrick OL (1986)
Don Hiti OL (1981)
Willhans Ili DL (1992)
Jason Leach WR/DB (1999)
Daylon McCutcheon RB/DB (1994)
Kory Minor DL (1994)
J.R. Phillips P (1987)
Randy Tanner RB/DB (1983)
Tyler Vaughns WR/KR (2015)
Notes: Since the Lancers have been strong since the early days of Cal-Hi Sports, including all-state players in 1981 and 1983, we had thought they would come in higher on this chart. They still have 11 and come in right behind Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Servite (also with 11 players but for 12 selections). No doubt if we’d have been doing all-state teams in the 1970s and 1960s that Amat would be much higher.
Kayvon Thibodeaux was one of nation’s leading recruits for the Class of 2018. Photo: #D1Bound.com.
OAKS CHRISTIAN (WESTLAKE VILLAGE)
Ishmael Adams DB (2011)
Zach Charbonnet RB (2018)
Jimmy Clausen QB (2006)
Malcolm Jones RB/LB (2008, 2009)
Marshall Jones DB (2006)
Erik Kohler OL (2009)
Michael Pittman WR (2015)
Kayvon Thibodeaux DE (2017, 2018)
Marc Tyler LB/RB (2006)
Notes: As most know, the Lions started out on the small school level and it wasn’t until the early 2000s that they started playing on the highest levels. Their first all-state players didn’t come until 2006 with that memorable group led by Jimmy Clausen and Marc Tyler. Still, Oaks Christian makes this list with nine all-state players representing 11 selections.
More Notes:
We decided to cut off this list with those we counted with 10 all-state players or more. We had several that came close with nine, including Edison of Fresno (the leader for the CIF Central Section), Dorsey of Los Angeles, Los Alamitos, Fontana and Loyola of Los Angeles.
For the CIF San Diego Section, we also didn’t come up with any school with more than 10. The schools that have been best in that section over the last 40 years also have been more spread out. We counted Vista with eight, Helix of La Mesa with seven and Oceanside with seven.
For the West Catholic Athletic League and CIF Central Coast Section, it’s also been more spread out. The school that has had the most all-state players is Bellarmine of San Jose with seven.
Fans of these schools are more than welcome to count their own players in our archive lists because it’s possible we missed one or missed counting. Let us know.
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
