蜜柚直播

The Star is counting down the 22 best high school football players in Southern 蜜柚直播 leading up to the Aug. 16 season opener between Ironwood Ridge and Mountain View. Here's a look at the full list of players.聽

Name: Christian Estrella

The rundown: Estrella is a 6-foot-4-inch, 220-pound junior at Douglas High School.

Who he is: Douglas has yet to name team captains, but coach James Fitzgerald is fairly certain Estrella will be picked by his peers. Estrella is a versatile player, capable of lining up in the backfield and splitting out wide. Defensively, he can line up as defensive end or outside linebacker. The junior said he鈥檇 like to break the school鈥檚 records for both rushing yards and receiving yards as a junior. Asked about his style of play, Estrella was direct: 鈥淰ery aggressively,鈥� he said. He said Bulldogs fans can look forward to 鈥渁 lot of aggressiveness and a lot of hitting鈥� this season.

Proof he鈥檚 good: Colleges began noticing Estrella following his sophomore season. Last season, Estrella notched a total of 1,112 yards in 10 games. He rushed for 731 yards on 138 carries and 381 yards on 30 receptions. He also had 18 return yards.

He said it: 鈥淗e鈥檚 a fine young man. I think he鈥檚 going to be the first Division I football player from Douglas High School in the past 10, 11 years, I believe 鈥� as long as he continues to work hard. Some schools have already started to call and contact him. I think his recruiting is really going to take off after his junior season.鈥� 鈥� Fitzgerald

Name: Diego Armijo

The rundown: Armijo is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound junior at Sabino.

Who he is: The Sabercats lost a plethora of weapons on both sides of the ball from 2017, including Isaiah Smotherman, Alex Bell, Bennet Nottingham and Luke Moran. Armijo will likely be one of the players head coach Ryan McBrayer relies on this season to make plays.

Last season as a sophomore, Armijo played half the year on junior varsity as a quarterback and started behind center for the Sabercats. But on varsity, he played defensive back. Armijo recorded 19 tackles as a free safety, but tackling isn鈥檛 his bread and butter. Armijo led the Sabercats in interceptions with six while the second leader only had two.

Not only is Armijo a ballhawk, he鈥檚 also lethal with the ball after interceptions. He averaged 37.8 yards per return in 2017, bringing balls back a total 227 yards. Off the field, Armijo is a soft-spoken athlete, but on the field, he鈥檚 a different person. McBrayer told the Star that Armijo is constantly reading coverages as a student of the game and competes at the highest level.

Proof he鈥檚 good: While Armijo will be one of Sabino鈥檚 best defenders, McBrayer plans on utilizing him just about everywhere. Senior quarterback James Hamilton, replacing Bell, is penciled in as the starter and Armijo will be his backup, including for certain packages that include a mobile quarterback.

Armijo compared his skillset to that of former Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson. McBrayer said he鈥檚 been seeing similarities to Drew Dixon, a former Sabercat that graduated in 2017 and is currently a receiver at UA.

One of the reasons Sabino was successful with Dixon was because his positions would change every week. Game planning against the Sabercats gave opposing coaches headaches, and Armijo has the potential to be Dixon 2.0. Considering McBrayer didn鈥檛 coach Dixon in high school, comparing his current player to a Sabino legend is a bold and worthy compliment.

He said it: 鈥淲e鈥檙e putting more and more on his plate. He鈥檒l play free safety, he鈥檒l play quarterback, he鈥檒l play receiver, he鈥檒l play pretty much every position because he鈥檚 an athlete. He鈥檚 a Swiss army knife. 鈥� We鈥檙e just trying to bring out that Drew-Dixon-dog mentality out of Diego when he鈥檚 on the field.鈥� 鈥� McBrayer

Name: Thomas Webb Jr.

The rundown: Webb is a 5-foot-11, 195-pound senior.

Who he is: Webb鈥檚 body isn鈥檛 the prototypical safety frame. Instead of being lengthy, Webb is stout and built like a linebacker, but he鈥檚 one of Cienega鈥檚 returning playmakers and is expected start on both sides of the ball.

Webb played safety and running back as a junior, but did most of his damage on defense. He rushed for 212 yards and eight touchdowns on 37 carries in his first season as a running back.

As a safety, Webb averaged 4.2 tackles per game and led the Bobcats in interceptions with four picks as Cienega went 12-1 in 2017 en route to the No. 1 seed in the 5A state playoffs.

Cienega lost playmakers Jamarye Joiner, Nathan Amico, Steven Harshman, Daunte Boudy and Jerry White, leaving a gap in Cienega鈥檚 production on both sides of the ball. Head coach Pat Nugent plans to rely on Webb not only at safety and running back, but also at quarterback. With Joiner now at UA, the Bobcats are missing 3,595 yards of total offense and while Luis Morales steps in as the new starter, his style leans toward pocket passer more than a dual-threat quarterback. Webb was a quarterback his first two years at Cienega, but Nugent thought an athlete of his caliber should be on the field rather than sitting as Joiner鈥檚 backup last season.

Proof he鈥檚 good: Webb is one of the faces of a senior class that has never lost a regular season game at Cienega. His freshman team? Undefeated. The junior varsity team? Undefeated. Last year on varsity? The Bobcats didn鈥檛 lose until their semifinal matchup with Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep.

Webb is a winner as well as the rest of his senior teammates, but being one of the few individuals that stands out shows the player and athlete he is, now entering his last go-around. A two-year starter and a two-way player for one of the top teams in Southern 蜜柚直播? Webb is the goods.

He said it: 鈥淚t was the (Salpointe Catholic) game last year when he figured it all out. He got better and better as a team leader and, physically, started to dominate on the defensive side of the ball. We thought he was going to be a quarterback in this program, but with Jamarye, we wanted to get him on the field so we had him run the ball. As a tailback, he took those running skills at quarterback and carried it over as a tailback and really had a great year for us. 鈥� But just a tremendous athlete with a great work ethic and one of our killers in the weight room that just goes after it all the time.鈥� 鈥� Nugent

Name: Hunter Schlagel

罢丑别听rundown: Schlagel is a 6-foot-3, 270-pound sophomore at Cienega High School.

Who he is: Very few Cienega underclassmen 鈥� yet alone freshmen 鈥� climb their way up to a prominent role on the varsity team. Schlagel not only appeared in 12 games on the varsity squad in 2017, but he frequently rotated in for the Bobcats during the latter part of the season as a defensive tackle. Schlagel left the Bobcats' state semifinal game against Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep with an ankle injury, but is healthy and hungry for another season.

Schlagel is still learning the finer points of his position as a sophomore, but he's penciled in as Cienega鈥檚 starting left tackle. Coach Pat Nugent also has plans to utilize Schlagel as a defensive tackle. S

chlagel has the size and build to be a Pac-12 caliber lineman, but the one part of his game that he worked on the most is footwork. He has worked all summer to improve his foot speed for when he pairs up against quicker defensive ends.

Schlagel鈥檚 biggest test will come in Week 3, when Cienega travels to Peoria to battle defending state champion聽 Centennial.聽

Proof he鈥檚 good: The last Cienega lineman to play significant snaps as a freshman on varsity was Bryce Fontana, a former two-way standout now entering his second season at Scottsdale Community College. Before Fontana? Not a single Bobcat started on the offensive or defensive line as a freshman.

Some of the best players in program that have gone on to play Division I football started their varsity careers as either a sophomore or a junior. Schlagel started his varsity career the fall after he left middle school.

He said it: 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 expect anything out of him last year and he was really good. He鈥檚 gotten leaner, he鈥檚 gotten more athletic and stronger. Hunter Schlagel is going to be a kid around 蜜柚直播 for the next three years and he鈥檚 going to have a big name in this town, because he is going to be a really good football player. We didn鈥檛 play him too much on offense last year; he was more of a defensive player, but he will be a two-way player for us this year. He will be hard to keep off the field and he鈥檚 going to be a dominant force down the road." 鈥� Nugent

Name: Julio Carino

The rundown: Carino is a 5-foot-10-inch, 210-pound senior middle linebacker at Pueblo High School.

Who he is: Carino, a three-year returner, said he鈥檚 been getting stronger and faster during the offseason to prepare for his final high school season. Pueblo coach Brandon Sanders said he鈥檚 expecting big things from the senior; it鈥檚 one of the reasons why Carino will play middle linebacker.

Sanders said Carino will serve as the team鈥檚 Ray Lewis because 鈥渉e鈥檒l be the guy going sideline to sideline. I think (fans) will see a lot more flashes of that defense.鈥�

Carino has played some offense in the past, and may return to that side of the ball if the Warriors need him.

Carino hopes he and Pueblo can advance further in the postseason this season. Last year, Salpointe Catholic eliminated the Warriors in the first round of the 4A playoffs. Pueblo should have tough competition this year, but Carino said he鈥檚 looking forward to the season.

鈥淲e have a lot of hard teams on there, but I鈥檓 ready for a challenge,鈥� he said.

Proof he鈥檚 good: Carino led the team last season in tackles (61) and had the third-most sacks (five for 20 yards) as a junior. Last year鈥檚 numbers are a slight drop from Carino鈥檚 sophomore season, when he finished with 72 solo tackles and 43 assisted tackles over 10 games.

Carino should bring a different level of confidence this year as a three-year starter, Sanders said. There aren鈥檛 too many offenses Carino hasn鈥檛 seen, and he has a great understanding of Pueblo鈥檚 defense and where he needs to be on the field.

He said it: 鈥淛ulio brings work ethic. He鈥檚 been our hardest working player since, I鈥檇 say, he was a freshman. He didn鈥檛 play that much as a freshman on varsity, he played more on JV, but you talk about someone who is 100 percent all in, you talk about a guy who takes care of himself, talk about a guy who does anything extra 鈥� he鈥檚 going to go above and beyond whatever you ask. He鈥檚 always been that way.鈥� 鈥� Sanders

Name: TJ Cephers

The rundown: Cephers is a 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound linebacker at Marana High School.

Who he is: Marana is known for its up-tempo spread offense, but Cephers is one of the Tigers鈥� leaders as a senior linebacker. Cephers has the height of a Division I linebacker and is built like a tank. Over the last two seasons, Cephers played linebacker in a 4-2-5 defensive scheme and made plays running sideline to sideline, but don鈥檛 let that fool you. When it comes time for a stop on the goal line or short-yardage situations, Cephers is around to bull-rush and make plays.

First-year head coach Louie Ramirez said he fell into the perfect situation accepting the job at Marana because of the athletes on rosters.

That begins with Cephers. The linebacker grew up in both 蜜柚直播 and Colorado, but opted to remain in the Old Pueblo for his high school football career. He models his style of play after former All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis.

Proof he鈥檚 good: Cephers has been a starter on Marana鈥檚 defense since he was a sophomore. As a sophomore, Cephers ranked second on the team with 98 tackles. In 2017, Cephers led Marana with 111 total tackles. How did it compare to other defenders on the team? Cephers had 34 more tackles than the middle linebacker. Marana defensive coordinator Vince Amey, a former UA assistant, said he鈥檚 most impressed with Cephers鈥� football IQ. He鈥檚 鈥渁nother coach on the field,鈥� Amey said.

Cephers will line up at middle linebacker more this season.

He said it: 鈥淗e is the leader of this defense. We鈥檙e going to rely on him a lot this year. He鈥檚 had over 100 tackles the last two seasons and his knowledge, passion and love for the game while being a tenacious defender and relentless competitor is going to take us a long way. He rallies guys, and the younger guys look up to him tremendously. We have a special group of kids on this team, and TJ is one of them, and we鈥檒l rely on him a tremendous amount this season.鈥� 鈥� Ramirez

Name: Omar Ibanez

The rundown: Ibanez is a 6-foot-1-inch, 215-pound fullback and linebacker at Pueblo High School.

Who he is: Ibanez is a three-year varsity player with his sights set on playing collegiately. Ibanez said he鈥檇 like the Warriors to go further than the first round of the state playoffs after falling to Salpointe Catholic in last year鈥檚 postseason.

Pueblo coach Brandon Sanders said Ibanez, who is one of the team鈥檚 better fullbacks, is very intelligent when it comes to the game.

Proof he鈥檚 good: Defensively, Ibanez piled up 35 solo tackles and 17 tackle assists last season while adding four sacks and returning two fumble recoveries for 83 yards . Offensively, Ibanez racked up 698 yards on 96 carries.

After scoring six touchdowns his sophomore year 鈥� one on a fumble recovery 鈥� Ibanez contributed nine touchdowns and three conversions last season. All nine touchdowns came on rushing plays.

Sanders said he鈥檚 going to look for Ibanez to be more physical this year at blocking and running the ball; the coach expects the incoming senior to beef up his stats.

鈥淎s far as trying to block and running the ball, he鈥檚 going to be even more physical this year than he鈥檚 been, probably since his freshman year,鈥� Sanders said. 鈥淗e just has that knack where he knows he only plays 10 games and he wants to push it.鈥�

He said it: 鈥淥mar brings, one, his intelligence; two, his commitment; and three, he brings that strength. He brings that strength in our offense and our defense, I believe. The other thing, when you look at him as a student-athlete 鈥� he just has that leadership on and off the field. And he鈥檚 a good person. He鈥檚 not a nasty guy. He鈥檚 one of those guys that, if you talk about sportsmanship, someone that you can point at and say this is the guy you want to bring home to your mom. That鈥檚 him.鈥� 鈥� Sanders

狈补尘别:听Diego Rivas

The rundown: Rivas is a 5-foot-11-inch, 210-pound聽 linebacker at Cienega High School.聽

奥丑辞听he is: The biggest question mark for the Bobcats this season is how will the defensive line shape up after losing all of its starters to graduation while senior Zach Mattas moved to outside linebacker. In 2017, the defensive line were the anchors up front for the linebackers, which includes Rivas. Plus, linebackers such as Dylan Hoose and two-way standout Steven Harshman are gone after graduating. Now? Rivas will have to be more active as one of Cienega鈥檚 leaders on defense and is expected to be one of the Bobcats鈥� best players on the field.

Rivas grew up dreaming of becoming just like Daniel Gonzales, the ex-Bobcats linebacker who went on to play for Navy. Gonzales totaled 139 tackles as a senior at Cienega, and eventually became the team captain in college.

鈥淭hat man is a monster. He works his butt off, on and off the field. He actually came and spoke to my class when I was a freshman and ever since that day, he just motivates me,鈥� Rivas said. 鈥淲hen I was a little kid in those stands watching him play, I always wanted to wear No. 22.鈥�

If Rivas can add to last season's numbers and do what Gonzales did as a senior, advancing to the state title game, the Bobcats should in good shape.

Proof he鈥檚 good: As a junior, Rivas tied with Harshman for the most tackles (73) on the team. Cienega coach Pat Nugent expects Rivas to play carefree and with more confidence now that he鈥檚 has starting experience under his belt. Rivas also shedded some weight from last season, which should only help his versatility. Rivas received interest from the Montana; he took an unofficial visit to the campus in April.

He said it:聽鈥淚n our 3-3-5 defense, he鈥檚 that physical linebacker. We want the linebackers to be the best players on the field and they have to make the tackles. He鈥檚 one of those kids now where after playing 13 games on the field last year, he understands it. Now he鈥檚 loose and free so he鈥檚 able to make those key plays for us a little bit more. He鈥檚 a great personality and a hard-working kid that we鈥檙e very fortunate to have.鈥� 鈥� Nugent

Name: Ruben Rivera

The rundown: Rivera is a 6-foot-1-inch, 195-pound athlete at Pueblo High School.

Who he is: Rivera is coming back for his fourth season on the varsity. He鈥檒l contribute on both sides of the ball and on special teams. Rivera has been going to the weight room often this summer to get stronger and more physical; he has also worked on improving his speed.

Last year, Rivera served as the team鈥檚 top rusher and receiver, leading the team with 1,705 all-purpose yards. Rivera wants to finish his senior season with at least 2,000 yards. When asked what fans can expect this season from him, Rivera said: 鈥淎 lot of excitement. I鈥檓 trying to have a fun season.鈥�

Proof he鈥檚 good: Rivera didn鈥檛 play his entire freshman season on the varsity, but has drastically improved his stats since then. In the 29 varsity games spread over three seasons, Rivera has accumulated 2,421 rushing yards, 297 receiving yards, 448 yards on kick returns and 137 yards on punt returns for a total of 2,743 all-purpose yards. He also scored 22 rushing touchdowns, one touchdown on a reception and two touchdowns on fumble returns. Last season, Rivera added to his repertoire and started kicking. He hit 17 of 19 extra points and managed to finish with the third-most solo tackles on defense with 48.

Pueblo coach Brandon Sanders said he and the team will depend on Rivera this season. Rivera said he wants to help his team as much as he can to be successful. 鈥淚 just try to be the best teammate I can,鈥� Rivera said. 鈥淭he overall goal is to win the game.鈥�

He said it: 鈥淩uben, he鈥檚 our all-around our best player. You talk about a guy that runs the ball, catches the ball, throws the ball, kicks the ball, be a linebacker, be a safety, be whatever we need 鈥� he鈥檚 done it. He鈥檚 been our punter, he鈥檚 been our kicker. He鈥檚 a special kind of player when you talk about size and the speed he brings.鈥� 鈥� Sanders

Name: Nathan Grijalva

The rundown: Grijalva is a 6-foot, 205-pound senior running back at Ironwood Ridge High School.

Who he is: Grijalva is a three-year running back for the Nighthawks. The incoming senior credits his former teammates from when he played as a sophomore 鈥� like Nick Brahler 鈥� for helping him develop into the team鈥檚 go-to runner throughout the years. 鈥淭hey just taught me everything I know,鈥� Grijalva said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just trying to continue the legacy.鈥�

Head coach Matt Johnson focuses heavily on the running game, and this year is no different. So Grijalva will undoubtedly be a key player for the Nighthawks.

鈥淗e鈥檚 just a real smart player. He鈥檚 going to take what the defense gives him, he鈥檚 not going to miss an assignment,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淗e always does a nice job of getting to where he needs to be and getting the job done.鈥�

Grijalva said he hopes to gain 1,000 yards as a senior and lead the Nighthawks deep into the state playoffs. He鈥檇 like to land a collegiate offer by the end of the season.

Proof he鈥檚 good: Ever since joining varsity his sophomore year, Grijalva has become a steady contributor to Ironwood Ridge鈥檚 offense. In his first year, Grijalva played in all 11 games and racked up 214 yards on 38 carries and 70 receiving yards on four receptions while scoring four total touchdowns.

Grijalva nearly doubled his stats as a junior, finishing with 508 total yards 鈥� 418 rushing yards on 71 carries and 90 receiving yards on 15 receptions. Grijalva scored seven touchdowns鈥� all on rushing plays. Johnson is expecting Grijalva to put up big numbers this year. 鈥淚 think Nathan, he鈥檚 a strong leader, right attitude,鈥� the coach said. 鈥淥bviously, the skill players are always dependent on the line.

鈥淪o, I see now he works hard and we鈥檒l just see how the line comes along. I鈥檓 sure he鈥檒l deliver if we give him room to run.鈥�

He said it: 鈥淛ust being in his third year in varsity, he鈥檚 got definitely a great work ethic combined with his calm. He鈥檚 always got a drive to improve, but it鈥檚 never a panic.

鈥淪o, that鈥檚 kind of the nice thing about having a kid that鈥檚 been around 鈥� he鈥檚 poised. I鈥檇 say poised is the one word that he adds (to the team).鈥� 鈥� Johnson

Name: Caden Wechsler

The rundown: Wechsler is a 6-foot-4-inch, 275-pound senior lineman at Sabino High School.

Who he is: It鈥檚 Wechsler鈥檚 last go-around at Sabino, and the senior is penciled in to start both ways for the Sabercats. He contributed to Sabino鈥檚 2017 playoff run from both the defensive tackle and offensive tackle spots.

Over the summer, Wechsler focused on learning techniques and footwork to become a better offensive tackle, which is the position head coach Ryan McBrayer believes he will play in college.

Wechsler has received college interest from Northern 蜜柚直播 and Black Hills State, a Division II program in South Dakota.

Wechsler, however, prefers defensive tackle, in part because he could force all of his weight forward and use his size to make plays in the backfield. He鈥檚 opening up more to the offensive line, considering it will likely prepare him for the next level.

Wechsler says the toughest challenge for him this year will be the 鈥渕ind game鈥� as he adjusts from playing offense to defense on any given play.

His enormous, college-ready frame automatically makes him a force to be reckoned with. On the defensive side of the ball, he will still have the same role as Sabino鈥檚 top player in the front seven.

A handful of colleges around the country have shown interest in No. 79, which is the same number Wechsler鈥檚 dad wore in high school in Michigan. Wechsler says he hopes to win a state championship this season so he could have a ring with No. 79 engraved into it, just like his dad.

Proof he鈥檚 good: Wechsler finished the 2017 season with 28 solo tackles. His stature alone will make him a space-eater on the defensive line for the Sabercats.

He said it: 鈥淗e鈥檚 grown tremendously as a player. He is a person who came from Michigan with what we鈥檒l call limited technique ability, but (in) the three years here he has really bought into the program, the weightlifting program (and) learned about the finer details of what it takes to be a good football player. He鈥檚 always had the natural size and strength; we just kind of had to bring out that technique and teach him how to be a good football player. I think he鈥檚 gearing up to have a great senior season, the sky鈥檚 the limit for him on what he鈥檚 going to be able to do this year.鈥� 鈥� McBrayer

Name: Jose Lugo

The rundown: Lugo is a 6-foot-4-inch, 252-pound tight end and defensive end at Catalina High School.

Who he is: Lugo is a three-year varsity starter and returning team captain. The incoming senior said his previous time on the varsity team has helped him prepare for the season.

鈥淚t鈥檚 helped me a lot because a lot of kids don鈥檛 start their freshman year and when they go to varsity their sophomore or junior year, they don鈥檛 have the chance and time to get prepared,鈥� Lugo said. 鈥淔or me, it was easy.鈥�

Catalina coach Chris Barlow said Lugo a great leader both on and off the field. Lugo is a main reason why the Trojans went 5-5 a year ago, a vast improvement over the previous season.

Catalina went a combined 4-36 from 2013-16 and was winless in Lugo鈥檚 sophomore season.

鈥淗e鈥檚 kind of just a nose-to-the-grindstone kind of thing,鈥� Barlow said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 not really a talker; he just kind of puts that work in. A lead-by-example kind of guy.鈥�

Lugo keeps up good grades and has a good rapport with teachers and staff.

鈥淗e just has that positive persona and I think kid feed off of that where they see this guy is getting a lot of attention, he鈥檚 doing all the right things,鈥� Barlow said.

鈥淚 see him somewhere playing four years.鈥�

Proof he鈥檚 good: Lugo helped on both sides of the ball. In nine games, he racked up 72 tackles 鈥� 23 of them solo 鈥� to go with 15 sacks. Lugo also caught 18 passes for 93 yards.

Lugo said he鈥檚 been working on his speed and strength. Barlow said he鈥檚 expecting Lugo鈥檚 skill set to drastically improve this season.

When asked what fans can expect from him this season, Lugo said: 鈥淎 lot of sacks, that鈥檚 what they鈥檙e going to see. A lot of tackles 鈥� I鈥檓 going to try to be on all of them. And hustle, dedication especially, and (commitment) to my team.鈥�

He said it: 鈥淚 just think his understanding of the game have increased tremendously. From the camps he鈥檚 gone to in California, Northern 蜜柚直播 and things like that. I think he鈥檒l have more explosive plays, he鈥檒l be more involved stopping the run game, as well as passing. He鈥檚 nonstop. In the weight room, he鈥檚 lifting the whole building. And out here he鈥檚 running as hard as any of our fast-skilled guys. He鈥檚 tireless, he鈥檚 motivated. The recognition he鈥檚 gotten so far has been extra motivation for him to take it to another level.鈥� 鈥� Barlow

Name: Jonah Miller

The rundown: Miller is a 6-foot-5-inch, 275-pound sophomore offensive lineman at Salpointe Catholic.

Who he is: Miller, the brother of former Sahuaro quarterback Josh Miller, might be the state鈥檚 most underrated offensive lineman. Already possessing Division I size, Miller should grow into an elite tackle over the next three seasons.

Miller spent his freshman year backing up Matteo Mele, now at Washington, and 6-5, 270-pound senior Christian Massey.

Playing behind both players allowed Miller to learn what it takes to be an effective offensive tackle. Agility, aggression, hand technique and balance are all quality traits for an offensive lineman, and Mele set a great example of that last season, Miller said.

鈥淗e inspired me because of how he got on the field and just mauled people,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淗e didn鈥檛 care who you were, it was him against you and he was going to win.鈥�

The Lancers advanced to the Class 4A state title game last season, where they fell to a young but loaded Scottsdale Saguaro team. Miller said the loss was extra disappointing given that the game was played at 蜜柚直播 Stadium, mere miles from Salpointe鈥檚 campus.

鈥淲hat makes me the most hungry 鈥� it鈥檚 kind of a small detail 鈥� was when we walked in, we went into the visitor鈥檚 locker room in our own city,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I knew we gotta beat these guys.鈥�

Miller and the Lancers will have to wait until the playoffs if they want another crack at Saguaro.

Proof he鈥檚 good: Although Miller has never started a varsity game at Salpointe Catholic, he鈥檚 already received interest from the 蜜柚直播 Wildcats. The UA hasn鈥檛 officially offered Miller a scholarship yet, but the Lancers lineman was one of the few class of 2021 recruits to attend the Wildcats鈥� spring game in April.

He said it: 鈥淚 expect him to step in and compete at a high level. Physically, he鈥檚 very gifted, but he鈥檚 still young. He gained a lot of experience last year, which is extremely valuable for any player. 鈥� We didn鈥檛 have to worry about (Mele), because he picked up things very quickly and I expect the same from Jonah.鈥� 鈥� Salpointe Catholic coach Dennis Bene

Name: Kody McPherson

The rundown: McPherson is a 6-foot-1-inch, 250-pound senior lineman at Empire High School.

Who he is: McPherson made the varsity team as a freshman, earned a starting job by the end of the season and became a full-time fixture in the offensive line the following year. He wasn鈥檛 alone: McPherson is one of about eight players who also got their start freshman year and became key players their second season at Empire.

McPherson said having the same group of guys play alongside him every year has created a brotherhood.

鈥淓verything we do, we do 100 percent all the time,鈥� McPherson said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e unbreakable.鈥�

The sense of family on the gridiron is important to McPherson, who wants to make his teammates proud of him as a senior.

鈥淭he seven that I came up with, I want to end with them,鈥� McPherson said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want any injuries. I just want to make it to the playoffs and be a family and just end that way 鈥� end the way we started.鈥�

Proof he鈥檚 good: As an offensive lineman, McPherson doesn鈥檛 have many counting stats to boost his resume, but Empire broke the school record for rushing yards last season. Coach W.T. Jeffries said the numbers were a result of stellar play by the offensive line.

McPherson has also contributed on defense, registering 12 total tackles over the last two seasons.

McPherson spent some time this summer emailing colleges, and it鈥檚 paid off. University of La Verne and Ripon College have been in communication with the Empire athlete. Although both are Division III programs, McPherson said he hopes to eventually play at a Division I school.

鈥淚f I can鈥檛 play Division I in the beginning, I plan on transferring in two years to D-I football 鈥� I think I can pay at that level,鈥� McPherson said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never been the tallest or the biggest, but I feel I can play D-I. I have that motor. I have heart 鈥� you can鈥檛 teach heart.鈥�

He said it: 鈥淗e鈥檚 the only returning starting offensive lineman from last year. It鈥檚 a lot of pressure on him, leadership-wise. I think he can handle it 鈥� we鈥檒l find out. We鈥檝e got a good young group and he鈥檚 the leader of that group. If we aren鈥檛 able to run the ball, the offensive line is the lifeblood, so he鈥檚 going to have to be one of the heartbeats, for sure.

鈥淢y expectations are for him to be the best player that he can be. Work hard. But the biggest thing for Kody, I expect him to be a good teammate and raise all the players around him. If he鈥檚 not successful in doing that, then to me he hasn鈥檛 had a successful year. So, I expect him to take that rule and he needs to raise and elevate the offensive line in particular.鈥� 鈥� Jeffries

Name: Zach Mattas

The rundown: Mattas is a 6-foot-2-inch, 215-pound defensive end/linebacker at Cienega High School.

Who he is: Mattas anchored Cienega鈥檚 defensive line as a junior and is expected to play an even larger role this season with many of the Bobcats鈥� starting front seven 鈥� including Dante Boudy, Nathan Amico, Steven Harshman and Carter Clarke 鈥� gone.

Mattas will play with his hand off the turf as a linebacker while mixing in as a defensive end in Cienega鈥檚 3-3-5 scheme.

鈥淲ill that hurt us a little bit? Yeah, it鈥檚 tough to move your best defensive player back, but I think that allows Zach to make more plays throughout the field. He was limited to what he could do on the d-line, so now I think he鈥檒l make more plays for us,鈥� Cienega coach Pat Nugent said.

Mattas said he鈥檚 happy with the move back to linebacker.

鈥淚鈥檓 faster than a lot of the linemen and I just have more power going at a faster speed,鈥� he said.

Mattas added boxing to his training regimen to enhance hand speed and technique when rushing the quarterback. Mattas said training as a boxer has added to his cardiovascular health and helped him develop shoulder strength without lifting weights.

Nugent said his star defensive player could have a similar role to All-Pro linebacker Von Miller of the Denver Broncos. Like Miller, Matas will alternate between defensive end and outside linebacker.

Proof he鈥檚 good: Mattas is arguably Cienega鈥檚 best athlete. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds, bench presses 375 pounds, split-jerks 310 pounds and squats 500 pounds.

Mattas鈥� frame alone makes him a college-ready prospect, but his performance on the field makes him a standout player. Mattas led Cienega鈥檚 team with 13 tackles-for-loss last season and finished second in solo tackles (47) and sacks (2). Expect his numbers to improve as a senior.

He said it: 鈥淗e鈥檚 so strong, physical and just a nasty kid. He had an unbelievable (junior) year on the defensive line whether he played defensive end or nose guard. He may put his hand down and get to the quarterback a little bit and I still see him leading our team in sacks. He鈥檚 a linebacker, but he鈥檒l be coming off the edge for us.鈥� 鈥� Nugent

Name: Calib McRae

The rundown: McRae is a 6-foot-1-inch, 227-pound senior at Mountain View High School.

Who he is: Sure, other players have started on varsity at some point during their freshman year. But McRae has been a varsity starter since the very first game of his freshman season as middle linebacker. Coach 鈥� and father 鈥� Clarence 鈥淏am鈥� McRae said an experienced athlete becomes more efficient at the game and, while Calib has always been a physical player, he鈥檚 matured over the years.

鈥淥ver the last two years, you鈥檝e just seen this growth of just understanding what opponents are trying to do to him, and put himself in a better position,鈥� Clarence McRae said.

Clarence said Calib is a hard-nosed player who plays every play like it鈥檚 his last, and enjoys and respects the game.

鈥淚鈥檝e gone through a lot, different teams, I鈥檝e seen a lot of things,鈥� Calib said.

鈥淚鈥檝e experienced what to do, how to handle different situations and I鈥檓 more mature as a player.鈥�

Proof he鈥檚 good: In his junior season alone, McRae registered 90 total tackles 鈥� 37 of them solo. He also had three sacks, forced three fumbles, blocked a field goal and had one interception.

Coach McRae said he believes Calib could become the school鈥檚 career tackle leader by the end of his senior season.

鈥淥n defense, I鈥檓 a very aggressive, nasty player,鈥� Calib said. 鈥淎 鈥榙on鈥檛 let anybody get nothing on me鈥� type of player.鈥�

McRae鈥檚 production on the field has helped the senior get noticed by colleges. Calib said he鈥檚 talked to multiple colleges, including New Mexico State, UTEP, Air Force, New Mexico, 蜜柚直播 and 蜜柚直播 State. Clarence McRae said his goal for his son is for Calib to play to the best of his abilities and focus on the little things to make sure to make the most of each play.

鈥淗e鈥檚 trying to definitely finish up his grades and, when that time comes to make a decision, I think he鈥檚 going to sit down and focus on that, but right now he鈥檚 going to focus on his teammates and play the game,鈥� Clarence said.

He said it: 鈥淚 always say that when you coach your own kid, a lot of times, it gives you that opportunity to spend that time with him.

鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to have been able to be around him the last four years and watch him grow as a player, but also watch him off the field, develop as a young man and understand what responsibilities are and definitely learn how to treat his teammates with respect.

鈥淎nd always put others before him. Just being around him every day and watching him develop has been a special time. He鈥檚 a great football player, a great young man and I definitely love him.鈥� 鈥� Clarence McRae

Name: Mario Padilla

The rundown: Padilla is a 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior at Salpointe Catholic.

Who he is: No player on Salpointe鈥檚 roster has more experience on the varsity level than Padilla. Not even junior standouts Bijan Robinson and Lathan Ransom, who combined have scholarship offers from Alabama, Georgia, Washington, USC, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Padilla is arguably Salpointe Catholic鈥檚 most valuable player, and gets the job done at multiple positions: running back, slot receiver, defensive back and punter. Entering his third year as the starter, Padilla鈥檚 journey at the varsity level still leaves him speechless.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been fantastic and there鈥檚 just not any words to describe it,鈥� Padilla said.

With Ransom playing primarily defense and Robinson strictly focusing on playing running back, Padilla is expected to be Dennis Bene鈥檚 utility player and rarely come off the field.

As a sophomore in 2016, Padilla led the Lancers in rushing with 1,427 yards and 18 touchdowns while averaging 7.8 yards per carry. As a receiver, he finished third on the team with 211 yards that year. With special teams yards added, he led the team in 2016 with 2,051. The second-highest player on the team in that category finished with 757 yards.

Last season, Padilla was out for four games recovering from a knee injury, but still helped Salpointe reach the Class 4A state championship against Scottsdale Saguaro. Another year older and healthier bodes well for Padilla and the Lancer offense.

Proof he鈥檚 good: Despite missing the first month of the Lancers鈥� schedule, Padilla still finished second on the team in all-purpose yards with 1,188. Padilla missed four games and was one of two Lancers to finish with more than 1,000 yards, joining Robinson.

Padilla also wrapped up his last year with 蜜柚直播 Turf Elite, a nationally ranked 7-on-7 team based in the Old Pueblo, and was one of the star players that lifted the team to a Pylon national championship at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Padilla played a prominent role as a slot receiver and won his second national title in a row at the 7-on-7 level. The year prior, 蜜柚直播 Turf Elite won the Pylon national championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

He said it: 鈥淟ast year, Mario played his best football towards end of the season especially in playoffs. And that carried over, because this has been the best spring he鈥檚 ever had. He鈥檚 practicing harder than I鈥檝e ever seen him practice and has a focus, has intensity and finishes all of the drills and reps. He acts like a senior and plays like a senior. And he commands our team.

鈥淭o be honest, there may be guys that are bigger and more athletic, but it would be hard to press an all-around better football player in Southern 蜜柚直播 than Mario. That guy can do it all.鈥� 鈥� Bene

Name: Jordan Morgan

The rundown: Morgan is a 6-foot-5, 270-pound senior at Marana.

Who he is: For any defensive end that plays against the Marana Tigers this season and matches up against their right tackle, good luck.

Morgan has been one of the best kept secrets in 蜜柚直播 until he verbally committed to play for the 蜜柚直播 Wildcats in June. He also received interest from Northern 蜜柚直播.

Why would a player of Morgan鈥檚 caliber go unnoticed throughout his junior season into his final year?

According to Marana defensive coordinator and former University of 蜜柚直播 line coach Vince Amey, 鈥淭witter.鈥�

Social media platforms have created a new dimension in recruiting. It鈥檚 a simpler avenue of exposure, especially for athletes who never received college interest early on.

And Morgan 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 even want to be鈥� on Twitter. Morgan shied away from social media, which could have affected his recruitment and lack of Division I offers.

But first-year head coach Louie Ramirez can appreciate the non-millennial-esque mindset of his right tackle.

On the field, Morgan will protect arguably the best quarterback in Southern 蜜柚直播 in Marana鈥檚 Trenton Bourguet, who threw for 2,984 yards last season and is hoping to put the exclamation point on an impeccable career.

The Tigers open their 2018 season with a game at Scottsdale Horizon on Aug. 17.

Proof he鈥檚 good: It鈥檚 not just Morgan鈥檚 stature that鈥檚 imposing, but what he can do athletically.

In the weight room, Morgan is power cleaning more than 300 pounds, bench pressing more than 300 pounds and squatting more than 500 pounds, according to Ramirez.

Of course, there is always room for improvement and Morgan is a student of the game. He is constantly watching film, whether it鈥檚 his own or whatever is on the television.

Morgan never had a favorite football player during his childhood years, but he would always study offensive linemen.

鈥淲henever I watch NFL games or college games, I always watch the line and just scout out how I can do better,鈥� Morgan said.

Plus, he鈥檚 the only prospect on the Star鈥檚 top 22 countdown that has currently already committed to a Division I school.

He said it: 鈥淚t鈥檚 surprising 鈥� shocking 鈥� that no one knew about Jordan before I got here. One of the most athletic and biggest lineman that myself and the coaching staff has seen.

鈥淗e鈥檚 just a freak, he really is.

鈥淗e鈥檚 going to be a workhorse for us. 鈥� He鈥檚 an animal and U of A is going to get a hometown hero.

鈥淗e鈥檚 soft spoken and very low key but when it鈥檚 time to work, he鈥檚 a different animal.鈥� 鈥� Ramirez

Name: Lathan Ransom

The rundown: Ransom is a 6-foot-1-inch, 195-pound junior at Salpointe Catholic.

Who he is: Ransom is Southern 蜜柚直播's top safety, and one of the Class of 2020's fast-rising recruits.聽He shuttled between wide receiver, cornerback and safety last season but is expected to focus on defense as a junior.

Ransom is a three-star prospect who is ranked as the nation's 17th-best safety in the 2020 class by .  Ransom finished with 48 tackles as a sophomore; he also led the Lancers with five interceptions.

鈥淚 can do a little bit of everything," Ransom said. "I鈥檓 very versatile; I like hitting and covering too."

Ransom鈥檚 grew up idolizing "Legion of Boom" members Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks. He said he tries to replicate their intensity and nastiness on the field.

Salpointe Catholic head coach Dennis Bene said Ransom will focus primarily on defense this season.聽Transfer Josh Hart from Mountain View will take over many of Ransom's reps at receiver.

However, Bene licks his chops at the idea of having Bijan Robinson, Mario Padilla, Hart and Ransom on the field at the same time.

Proof he鈥檚 good:聽Cal special teams coach Charlie Ragle, a former UA assistant, offered Ransom his first Division I scholarship. Things have snowballed since then: 蜜柚直播, 蜜柚直播 State, Stanford,聽Washington, Utah, Indiana and Nebraska have since followed suit.聽

Georgia offered Ransom a scholarship in June.聽

Ransom was in Atlanta in June for the Pylon 7-on-7 national tournament as 蜜柚直播 Turf Elite鈥檚 safety. Georgia鈥檚 coaching staff invited him to聽campus in nearby Athens.聽

鈥淩ight after some drills, they offered me on the spot,鈥� Ransom said.

He said it: 鈥淟athan can play corner, he can play safety. Those guys are very, very valuable assets to any great defense. Physically, he鈥檚 really tremendous and I look for things like maturity and work ethic, and their ability to practice with certain intensity. One of the things I like about our team is that our most talented guys are the best practice players. You don鈥檛 always see that. 鈥� On both sides of the ball, he did a really great job for us and now he鈥檚 a totally different guy. His confidence is through the roof and physically, he鈥檚 much thicker and stronger, and plays with a higher energy. Those are the type of things that set him apart from non-Division I guys.鈥� 鈥� Bene

Name: Terrell Hayward

The rundown: Hayward is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound senior at Cienega.

Who he is: Hayward is Pat Nugent鈥檚 Swiss army knife and the ultimate renaissance man. Last season, Hayward played both running back and wide receiver and was Jamarye Joiner鈥檚 top target with 1,021 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

With Joiner now taking snaps at UA, the Bobcats lose nearly 4,000 yards of offense from a season ago. After starting for the Bobcats the previous two seasons, Hayward should be the voice of the locker room.

鈥淚 was a big contributor last year and now it鈥檚 just time to up my game off the field and be the one that people look up to,鈥� Hayward said.

Hayward caught two interceptions as a cornerback in 2017. Nugent compared Hayward鈥檚 junior season on defense to former New York Jets star Darrelle Revis. When Hayward was on defense, quarterbacks turned their cheek and looked the other way.

In order to get the most out of Cienega鈥檚 best player, Nugent moved Hayward to safety, a decision he was ecstatic about.

鈥淚鈥檓 going to kind of be like a centerfielder out there and use my speed to get from sideline to sideline,鈥� Hayward said. 鈥淚 feel like going into this year, I have to be a bigger contributor on defense instead of locking down just one side.鈥�

Hayward produces on all levels of the game, including special teams. He averaged 46.2 yards per kick return last season. He'll be on the field at all times for Cienega as the Bobcats look for a deep playoff run for the third straight season.

Proof he鈥檚 good: Hayward has seen interest from Division I colleges including 蜜柚直播 and Wyoming, but neither school has yet to offer a scholarship. Hayward currently holds offers from Air Force, South Dakota State, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Fordham and UC Davis.

Hayward took an unofficial visit to San Jose State in June and attended the Stanford football camp.

He said it: 鈥淗e鈥檚 just gotten better each year. When you talk about growth for Terrell, I just don鈥檛 know how much growing he can do. We call him a superstar. He鈥檚 done everything that we鈥檝e asked him to do whether it鈥檚 cornerback, safety, running the ball, catching the ball, returns. I鈥檝e been around a long time and he鈥檚 one of the top kids that I鈥檝e ever had. He had such a tremendous year as a junior, I can鈥檛 even imagine what he鈥檚 going to do as a senior. 鈥� If the kid was three inches taller, every school in the nation would be recruiting him. That鈥檚 the type of player that he is.鈥� 鈥� Nugent

Name: Bijan Robinson

The rundown: Robinson is a 6-foot, 200-pound junior at Salpointe Catholic.

Who he is: Robinson is arguably the best running back to grace the 蜜柚直播 scene since Ka鈥橠eem Carey. By the time he鈥檚 done, Robinson may have left a bigger stamp on the city than the former All-American.

Robinson admired Reggie Bush as a boy, and so it鈥檚 only fitting that he wears No. 5 for the Lancers.

鈥淩eggie Bush is the biggest inspiration to me and that鈥檚 kind of why I came here and it鈥檚 been a blessing ever since,鈥� Robinson said.

Robinson made the varsity team as a freshman, and flashed his potential as a versatile sophomore. He rushed for 2,023 yards while averaging 10.7 yards per carry and scoring 26 touchdowns. With Robinson leading the way, the Lancers went 12-2. They fell short to Scottsdale Saguaro in the class 4A state championship game.

Robinson even went viral. He cleanly hurdled a 蜜柚直播 High defender when the Lancers and Badgers played at Kino North Stadium.

Robinson added muscle and focused on speed and agility in the offseason, with hopes of carrying the Lancers back to the state championship.

Proof he’s good: ranks Robinson a four-star recruit and the sixth-best running back in the 2020 class. Robinson holds scholarship offers from 蜜柚直播, ASU, USC, Utah, Washington, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Michigan.

He said it: 鈥淗e looks like an elite Division I running back. He鈥檚 growing taller and gained good weight, and is very strong. It鈥檚 been a great process watching him mature. He鈥檚 ready. He鈥檚 accepted the challenge and responsibilities that comes with being an elite player. He needs to touch the ball more and he鈥檚 going to take on that workhorse role on our offense. He鈥檚 our No. 1 option. He鈥檚 very difficult to cover and tackle in space. 鈥� College coaches love his explosiveness because in two or three steps, he鈥檚 already at top speed.鈥� 鈥� Salpointe Catholic coach Dennis Bene

Name: Trenton Bourguet

The rundown: Bourguet is a 6-foot, 160-pound senior at Marana High School.

Who he is: Bourguet had a breakthrough junior season, throwing for 2,984 yards and 38 touchdowns as Marana established itself as one of Southern 蜜柚直播鈥檚 top teams. Bourguet averaged 20.7 yards per throw and 249 yards per game, and finished in the top 10 in the state in touchdowns, passing yards, yards per game and completion percentage. As a sophomore in 2016, Bourguet threw for 1,397 and 15 touchdowns as the Tigers went 9-3.

Bourguet has set a high standard for his senior season: He wants to throw for more than 3,500 yards while leading Marana to its first state championship since 1969.

鈥淭his year I want to make sure that we go out on top and change the culture not just for our class, but the people behind us,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to see this place in about five or six years,鈥� he said.

Bourguet鈥檚 senior season will be extra special: His brothers, Coben and Treyson, are the Tigers鈥� backup quarterbacks.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited because it鈥檚 my last year, and I get to spend it with them,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to know that the future is bright at Marana and we鈥檙e not even close to peaking. We鈥檒l keep rising.鈥�

Proof he鈥檚 good: Bourguet鈥檚 high school numbers are impressive. So is his record for 蜜柚直播 Turf Elite, a local 7-on-7 powerhouse. Bourguet is 135-8 since he began quarterbacking the team as a seventh-grader. He defeated some of the nation鈥檚 best high school quarterbacks, including USC鈥檚 J.T. Daniels twice, Oregon鈥檚 Tyler Shough and top 2019 prospect Spencer Rattler.

First-year head coach Louie Ramirez, a former graduate assistant at 蜜柚直播 State, compares Bourguet to Sun Devils starter Manny Wilkins. Both quarterbacks have athleticism to spare and a knowledge of the game.

He said it: 鈥淭he kid is unbelievably smart. It鈥檚 a testament to his football knowledge, his leadership and athletic abilities that just screams. There鈥檚 not a lot of kids like him. He鈥檚 an offensive coach for us on the field. He does a tremendous job of rallying guys and making sure they鈥檙e line up correctly and just understanding the game of football. The sky is the limit for him, it really is. 鈥� I think in high school football, your best athletes never leave the field and I relayed that message to him and he said 鈥楽ign me up, Coach. Whatever you need.鈥� When you have kids like that who are just unselfish and willing to run through a brick wall for their school and their team, it just shows a lot.鈥� 鈥� Ramirez