Preseason All-State Football Teams

This is the 37th straight year of Cal-Hi Sports compiling a preseason all-state football team. We have first team, second team, third team just missed and a top 12 chart of the leading Mr. Football State Player of the Year candidates.

Note: There are no writeups for each player (like there will be for the official, end of season all-state first team) but all have writeups (or will have writeups) within this year’s various preseason all-section/all-area teams.

STATEWIDE LINEUP OF PRESEASON ALL-SECTION/REGION TEAMS
(ALL TO BE DONE BY NEXT WEEK):

CIF Sac-Joaquin Section | CIFSS Inland Empire | CIF Central Section | CIF San Diego Section | CIF NCS East Bay | CIF NCS Redwood Empire | CIF L.A. City Section | CIF Central Coast Section | CIFSS Long Beach/South Bay | CIFSS San Gabriel Valley | CIF Northern Section | CIF/SS Orange County | CIF/SS San Fernando Valley/Ventura

TO SEE OUR EXTENSIVE ARCHIVE OF ALL-STATE TEAMS GOING BACK MORE THAN 40 YEARS, INCLUDING PRESEASON TEAMS FOR 37 YEARS, CLICK HERE.

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Cal-Hi Sports All-State Football
PRESEASON 2023

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

WR Dillon Gresham (San Jacinto) 6-1, 175, Sr.
WR Xavier Jordan
(Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth) 6-1, 180, Sr.
TE Davon Mitchell (Los Alamitos) 6-4, 245, Sr.
OL Brandon Baker (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-5, 290, Sr.
OL Eugene Brooks
(Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth) 6-5, 360, Sr.
OL DeAndre Carter (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-5, 330, Sr.
OL Paki Finau (Oak Hills, Hesperia) 6-5, 275, Sr.
OL Manasse Itete
(Central Catholic, Modesto) 6-6, 275, Sr.
QB Elijah Brown (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-2, 185, Sr.
RB Jordon Davison (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-0, 200, Jr.
RB Cameron Jones (St. John Bosco, Bellflower) 6-2, 220, Sr.
PK Ryon Sayeri (Chaminade, West Hills) 6-1, 175, Sr.

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL Aydin Breland (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-6, 285, Sr.
DL Ratumana Bulabalavu (Army-Navy, Carlsbad) 6-4, 245, Sr.
DL Jericho Johnson (Armijo, Fairfield) 6-2, 300, Sr.
LB Noah Mikhail (Bonita, La Verne) 6-3, 205, Jr.
LB Logan Studt (Buchanan, Clovis) 6-2, 220, Sr.
LB Kyngston Viliamu-Asa (St. John Bosco, Bellflower) 6-3, 230, Sr.
LB Dylan Williams (Long Beach Poly, Long Beach) 6-3, 210, Sr.
LB Nasir Wyatt (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-2, 210, Jr.
DB Zabien Brown (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) 6-1, 175, Sr.
DB Marquis Gallegos (Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth) 6-1, 180, Sr.
DB Peyton Woodyard (St. John Bosco, Bellflower) 6-3, 190, Sr.
P Michael Salgado-Medina (Mission Viejo) 6-3, 190, Sr.

FIRST TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE

QB/RB Luke Baker (San Ramon Valley, Danville) 5-11, 180, Sr.
QB/RB Darius Curry (Long Beach Poly, Long Beach) 6-0, 190, Sr.
QB/LB Husan Longstreet (Centennial, Corona) 6-1, 185, Jr.
LB/TE Kingston Lopa (Grant, Sacramento) 6-5, 210, Sr.
QB/RB Julian Sayin (Carlsbad) 6-1, 185, Sr.
RB/WR Jordan Washington (Jordan, Long Beach) 5-10, 175, Sr.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

WR Ryan Pellum (Millkan, Long Beach) 6-0, 175, Sr.
WR Marshel Sanders
(Clovis West, Fresno) 6-1, 190, Sr.
TE Ryner Swanson (Laguna Beach) 6-4, 230, Sr.
OL Josh Glanz (Eastlake, Chula Vista) 6-5, 275, Sr.
OL Mark Schroller (Mission Viejo) 6-6, 270, Sr.
OL Justin Tauanuu (Huntington Beach) 6-6, 280, Sr.
OL Champ Taulealea
(Valley Christian, San Jose) 6-4, 325, Jr.
OL Ikinasio Tupou (Palo Alto) 6-6, 290, Sr.
QB Maealiuaki Smith (Serra, San Mateo) 6-4, 200, Sr.
RB Anthony McMillan (Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista) 6-0, 215, Sr.
RB Cincere Rhaney (Serra, Gardena) 5-11, 205, Sr.
PK Tyler Prasuhn (Carlsbad) 6-2, 175, Jr.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL Kodi Cornelius (Casa Grande, Petaluma) 6-1, 290, Sr.
DL Damarrion White
(Granite Hills, El Cajon) 6-4, 220, Sr.
DL Naki Tuakoi (Fremont, Oakland) 6-4, 225, Sr.
LB Frank Cusano (Granite Bay) 6-2, 210, Sr.
LB Marco Jones (San Ramon Valley, Danville) 6-4, 210, Jr.
LB Jordan Lockhart (St. John Bosco, Bellflower) 6-3, 230, Sr.
DB Joseph Bey (Serra, San Mateo) 6-1, 185, Sr.
DB Dakota Fields (Serra, Gardena) 6-2, 175, Sr.
DB Justin Lee (Mission Viejo) 6-3, 200, Jr.
DB Trey Tolmaire (Mission Viejo) 6-0, 175, Sr.
DB Marcellus Williams (St. John Bosco, Bellflower) 6-0, 180, Sr.
P Justin Ludovico (Etiwanda) 6-0, 170, Sr.

SECOND TEAM MULTI-PURPOSE

QB/RB Bear Bachmeier (Murrieta Valley, Murrieta) 6-2, 205, Jr.
QB/RB Aidan Houston (Cypress) 5-11, 185, Sr.
LB/RB Jabari Mann (Serra, San Mateo) 6-0, 200, Sr.
RB/LB Kamar Mothudi (Los Alamitos) 6-3, 220, Sr.
QB/RB Akili Smith Jr. (Lincoln, San Diego) 6-5, 200, Jr.
WR/DB/RB Peyton Waters (Birmingham, Lake Balboa) 6-2, 180, Sr.

THIRD TEAM JUST MISSED

Offense

WR Jordan Anderson
(Newport Harbor, Newport Beach) Sr.
WR Daulton Beard (Santa Ynez) Sr.
WR Terrell Bradshaw Jr. (Inglewood) Sr.
WR Aaron Butler (Calabasas) Sr.
WR C.J. Jones (San Joaquin Memorial, Fresno) Jr.
WR Trevor Rogers (Acalanes, Lafayette) Sr.
WR LaMason Waller (Sultana, Hesperia) Jr.
TE Kaleb Edwards (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills) Jr.
TE Jaxten Santiago (Centennial, Bakersfield) Sr.
OL David Clifford (Poway) Sr.
OL King Large (St. John Bosco) Sr.
OL Phillip Ocon (St. Francis, La Canada) Sr.
OL Jordan Palega (Clayton Valley, Concord) Sr.
OL Jordan Tonga (Leuzinger, Lawndale) Jr.
OL Siosiua Vete (Tennyson, Hayward) Jr.
QB Brady Smigiel (Newbury Park) Soph.
RB Asante Carter (St. Mary’s, Stockton) Sr.
RB Bryson Donelson (Central Valley Christian, Visalia) Sr.
RB Nathaniel Frazier (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) Sr.
RB Cornell Hatcher (Centennial, Corona) Sr.
RB Dylan Riley (Rancho Verde, Moreno Valley) Sr.
RB Charles Williams (Marin Catholic, Kentfield) Sr.
PK Austin Shelton (San Ramon Valley, Danville) Sr.

Defense

DL Asiata Auckland (Sutter) Sr.
DL Chris Biller (De La Salle, Concord) Sr.
DL J.T. Houston (Warren, Downey) Sr.
DL Jared Martin (Central, El Centro) Jr.
DL Zeus Venegas (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) Sr.
DL Jewelous Walls (Pittsburg) Jr.
LB Stacy Bey (Rancho Cucamonga) Sr.
LB Luke Ferrelli (Carlsbad) Sr.
LB Tyree McGowen (Lakewood) Sr.
LB Weston Port (San Juan Hills, SJ Capistrano) Jr.
LB James Tivao (Madison, San Diego) Sr.
DB Day Day Aiupiu (Pacifica, Oxnard) Sr.
DB Travis Anderson (Mission Viejo) Sr.
DB Tayten Beyer (Centennial, Corona) Sr.
DB Isaiah Buxton (Mater Dei Catholic, Chula Vista) Sr.
DB Trestin Castro (Upland) Jr.
DB Kanyee Childress (Chino Hills) Sr.
DB Daryus Dixon (Mater Dei, Santa Ana) Jr.
DB Madden Faraimo (JSerra, SJ Capistrano) Jr.
DB Omari Gayles (St. Mary’s, Stockton) Sr.
DB Jadyn Hudson (Pittsburg) Jr.
DB Turran Williams (Muir, Pasadena) Sr.

Multi-Purpose

QB/RB Jermaricus Davis (Etiwanda) Sr.
QB/RB Tyler Dudden (Norco) Sr.
QB/RB T.J. Lateef (Lutheran, Orange) Jr.
WR/DB Jason Mitchell (St. John Bosco, Bellflower) Sr.
RB/QB/DB Richie Munoz (Bishop Amat, La Puente) Sr.
QB/RB Caden Pinnick (Del Oro, Loomis) Sr.
WR/DB Ananias Walker (Windsor) Sr.
QB/ATH Tyler Wentworth (Central Catholic, Modesto) Sr.

Note: Emmett Mosley (Santa Margarita) WR is going to miss the season with a knee injury. He would have been included if he was playing.

TOP 12 MR. FOOTBALL STATE PLAYER OF YEAR CONTENDERS
(Based on projected team success & expected individual success)

1. Elijah Brown (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
If the Monarchs go unbeaten and win the CIF Open Division state title and end No. 1 in the nation for the second time in three years with Brown at the helm, it’s hard to imagine anybody else in the top spot for the state and also really for all of the national honors. The four-year starting QB has a wealth of surrounding talent at the RB and WR positions so it is likely the stat totals surrounding them may be spread out. If he stays healthy and all goes well for the team, Elijah is the one to beat.

2. Julian Sayin (Carlsbad)
There is a nightmare scenario for us (and anyone else picking a state player of the year in California). It wouldn’t be a nightmare for either of the players, but having to choose between either Sayin or Elijah Brown would not be fun if both players were to win CIF state titles and Julian for example were to throw for a lot more yards and touchdowns. That could happen because Mater Dei would be in the CIF Open Division state game if it were to win the CIF Southern Section D1 title and then Carlsbad would go to the CIF D1-AA regional/state games if it were to win the CIF San Diego Section Open Division title. That is the same path that Mr. Football 2022 winner Rodrick Robinson took last year at Lincoln of San Diego. There has never been ties or co-players of the year in any of the Cal-Hi Sports top honors for the more than 40 years that they have been done and there wouldn’t be if this situation were to occur either.

3. Kyngstonn Viliami-Asa (St. John Bosco, Bellflower)
Picking one lead player off of last year’s team at Bosco for top honors was not easy. The offensive leaders were spread all over the place, but the Braves did have a senior quarterback lead the way in Pierce Clarkson (now at Louisville). In the end, the Long Beach Press-Telegram (for its player of the year) and ourselves (state defensive player of the year) settled on senior linebacker Deven Bryant. If the team has similar success this year, we’ll assume it’s because the defense was just as incredible as last year. The leader of that unit coming in is Kyngstonn, a linebacker who was all over the place in the games we saw. He’ll likely lead the team in tackles and therefore could be a leading player of the year candidate.

4. Husan Longstreet (Centennial, Corona)
It won’t take long to see how much of an impact Longstreet being the QB at Centennial will have on the fortunes of the California season. His first game on Friday will be at home against Mater Dei. Husan starred as a sophomore at Inglewood in 2022 and led the Sentinels to a 13-1 season. At Centennial, where he transferred to in the off-season, he’ll be the only QB running the offense. In the past two seasons, the Huskies had duo QBs with Israel Carter and Carson Conklin. Longstreet by himself in that offense could be quite a big deal.

5. Darius Curry (Long Beach Poly)
This senior QB for the Jackrabbits already has begun his season. He passed for 266 yards and three TDs in a 60-28 win last Friday over Konawaena, a school located on the big island in Hawaii. Among the teams from the CIF Southern Section last season that were in that next group of four teams that were ranked behind St. John Bosco and Mater Dei, Curry is the only returning starter. The other three all had senior quarterbacks. The Colorado State commit is in the perfect spot to have a huge season.

6. Jordon Davison & Nathaniel Frazier (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
Davison was the State Sophomore Player of the Year last season with more than 1,500 yards rushing for the Monarchs and was called the top sophomore RB in the nation. He’d the RB in the No. 1 spot out of MD just for that, but Frazier has garnered just as much preseason attention and is also a back with elite abilities and world-class track speed. They’ll probably split up their carries, yards and touchdowns that also could split their honors at the end. Still, if one were to get hurt and one were to emerge as the more obvious running back star, then that one player could really shoot up there in overall player of the year consideration.

7. Cameron Jones (St. John Bosco)
Kaleb Sanchez is taking over the QB spot for the Braves this season, but for an offensive player moving up the charts as the season goes along it could be Jones, a power-packed 220-pound running back. He had 108 yards and the only TD in the team’s 17-7 loss to Mater Dei last season and also had a big night with eight carries for 124 yards and two TDs in the CIFSS semifinal win vs Mission Viejo. There could be a lot more outings for him like that this season.

8. Luke Baker (San Ramon Valley, Danville)
Luke isn’t even a primary football player (Santa Clara commit for baseball), but he returns as the Bay Area Newspaper Group’s Offensive Player of the Year. One of these years (it’s been since 1991) a team other than De La Salle is going to win the top divisional title in the CIF North Coast Section. SRV with Luke leading the way is one possibility for the upcoming season. There’s a lot of players back from a 12-3 team. Baker passed for 3,733 yards and 46 touchdowns as a junior.

9. Maealiuaki Smith & Jabari Mann (Serra, San Mateo)
Last year’s top overall squad in Northern California was a mixed bag of top player of the year candidates. The top two were part-time running back and defensive standout Mann plus Smith, who was the quarterback.

10. Dane Dunn (Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth)
The placement of Dunn could be higher if the Trailblazers keep up their ways of him being their primary No. 1 ball carrier and offensive threat. He was, after all, the Daily News Player of the Year and was considered the runner-up to Jordon Davison for State Sophomore Player of the Year. With all of the elite talent coming in on offense via transfer, however, (the list includes WR Xavier Jordan, WR Kwazi Gilmer and QB Wyatt Becker), one would expect a more balanced, more pass-oriented offense. Perhaps even Becker at QB will be the one from Sierra Canyon at the end of the season who gets the major honors.

11. Akili Smith Jr. (Lincoln, San Diego)
Can the Hornets make it two years in a row for having the State Player of the Year? Not likely, but watch out for Akili, who has transferred in from Vista Murrieta of Murrieta. He is expected to have a huge impact. One national scouting service called him the best dual-threat QB in the nation for the Class of 2025. Lincoln plays the schedule and has the path (it would probably have to include a win over Carlsbad and Julian Sayin at some point) for Smith Jr. to have a monster season.

12. Nasir Wyatt (Mater Dei, Santa Ana)
We already have Mater Dei offensive players on this list in higher positions, but would be remiss not to include one of the Monarchs from the defense. Wyatt is just a junior but he was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Trinity League as a sophomore. He makes a lot of plays from the linebacker position and all it would take is two big games on defense against Bosco with the offense spreading out the success among many for Wyatt to jump up there into the conversation.

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