Potential Oregon Breakout Performers.. you may not know about yet
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As we head into a new year, there are always kids who break out and end up having all conference or even all state type seasons. Listed below are athletes who are already ranked among the state’s best in their…
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Continue ReadingAs we head into a new year, there are always kids who break out and end up having all conference or even all state type seasons. Listed below are athletes who are already ranked among the state’s best in their class, but have the potential to go off, and have player of the year type campaigns.
2023’s
Jaylun Nowickas Jaylun Nowickas 6'3" | 210 lbs | ATH West Salem | 2023 State OR 6-3 210 Sr. LB/WR/TE West Salem- Nowickas is ranked a 3* athlete by 247 and has jumped up the PRZ board, coming in at #57 on the top 200. He has the size and all the tools to be a big-time player for a Titans team who has continued to dominate the Valley.
Brady Crenshaw Brady Crenshaw 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Lebanon | 2023 State OR 6-1 175 Sr. Safety/ATH Lebanon- A 5A POY candidate who most in the know are already aware of. That said as Crenshaw has had an unreal off season, garnering praise from everyone. He will be listed as a 5A defensive POY candidate and could be one of the state’s best on offense as well.
Jackson Pfeifer Jackson Pfeifer 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Silverton | 2023 State OR 5-11 175 Sr. RB Silverton- Pfeifer’s is a super talented kid. Most weren’t quite aware last year, including myself, as he did well for the reigning 5A state champs. Look for him to be a state statistical leader in multiple categories, as he will have to have a big year for the Foxes if they want to have a chance at repeating.
Spencer Elliott Spencer Elliott 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL Summit | 2023 State OR 6-2 225 Sr. DE Summit- Elliott projects as a 1st team all-state guy on both sides of the football at the 5A level. He earned 1st team offense and 2nd team defense honors, in the 6A Mountain Valley Conference as a junior. He’s undersized from a projection standpoint but one of the most talented kids in Oregon.
Cooper Hiday Cooper Hiday 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Wilsonville | 2023 State OR 5-111 60 Sr. Slot Wilsonville- This kid had an outstanding off season, helping himself on the camp circuit against some of the region’s best. Look for him to be one of the top players at the 5A level after catching 31 passes for 814 yards and 9 TDs as a Junior.
Gavin Nguyen Gavin Nguyen 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Sprague | 2023 State OR 6-0 220 Sr. LB Sprague- Everyone knows Drew Rodriguez Drew Rodriguez 6'2" | 200 lbs | DB Sprague | 2023 State OR and 1st team all league RB & wrestling state champ Riley Davis Riley Davis 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Sprague | 2023 State OR , but it will be guys like Ngyuen who step up and make the difference, if the Oly’s make the playoffs and win a few games.
Mason Yochum Mason Yochum 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB McMinnville | 2023 State OR 6-0 190 Sr. WLB McMinnville- It’s extremely tough to play on an average team (at best), and earn 1st team all-conference accolades as an underclassman at the 6A level. Yochum managed to do just that in 2021, showing how much respect he has among the league’s coaches.
Jaydon McBreen Jaydon McBreen 5'9" | 165 lbs | DB Westview | 2023 State OR 5-9 165 Sr. CB Westview- This undersized DB is just really good. The Cats have two of the top recruits in the state in Jordan Fisher Jordan Fisher 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Westview | 2023 State OR and Kaden Huppin Kaden Huppin 6'0" | 185 lbs | ATH Westview | 2023 State OR , but don’t sleep on Mcbreen, who took multiple balls to the house last season.
Nick Gribble Nick Gribble 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB Sherwood | 2023 State OR 6-1 195 Sr. RB/S Sherwood- The departure of Nolen Scott Nolen Scott 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Owyhee | 2024 State ID hurts, but it also opens up numerous opportunities for a kid like Gribble, who impressed as a junior. New head coach Mark Gribble has a talented son who will be one of the best in the conference.
2024’s
Lonnie Burt Lonnie Burt 6'1" | 200 lbs | ATH Jesuit | 2024 State OR 6-1 200 Jr. RB/OLB Jesuit- The Crusaders are a legit 6A title contender and Burt could be a POY candidate on both sides of the football. As a sophomore he played more of a situational role, but should be a primary weapon this season.
Nick Sakys Nick Sakys 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB West Linn | 2024 State OR 6-2 205 Jr. QB West Linn- Even with 3* Sam Leavitt Sam Leavitt 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB West Linn | 2023 State OR at QB, Sakys looks to be one of the top QBs in the state. Much like Jack Wagner Jack Wagner 6'4" | 185 lbs | QB Tualatin | 2023 State OR ‘s role last year, if you give Sakys a little bit of time he will take advantage of it.
Dexter Foster Dexter Foster 6'4" | 210 lbs | LB Central Catholic | 2024 State OR 6-3 200 Jr. OLB Roosevelt- Foster has the potential to blow up this coming season, after earning 1st team All PIL honors as a sophomore. He has all of the tools and size to go with it.
Jaylan Moore Jaylan Moore 5'9" | 160 lbs | DB Sherwood | 2024 State OR 5-9 160 Jr. CB Sherwood- Moore received an early 3* ranking from 247, and will get the opportunity to back that up right away. Competition this year will be night and day as the Bowmen play the likes of Jesuit, Lakeridge, Clackamas, and West Salem versus PIL teams.
Tyson Hunt Tyson Hunt 6'4" | 220 lbs | LB Tualatin | 2024 State OR 6-4 215 Jr. DE/TE Tualatin- Tyson didn’t get much PT last year, but he has the potential to step in and play a pivotal role with the losses of 6-5 standouts Peter Burke and Kellen Hale. Hunt fills in nicely on both sides of the football.
Parker Williams Parker Williams 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB South Salem | 2024 State OR 5-10 170 Jr. ATH South Salem- The Saxons possess one of the top perimeters in the state, with kids like Williams projecting as a potential 1st team all CVC athlete on both sides of the football. The question mark for the Saxons will be upfront and whether or not they can hang with TRL type teams.
Brian Smith Brian Smith 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB Tigard | 2024 State OR 6-3 215 Jr. TE/LB Tigard- You will hear a lot about this kid in the years ahead. He should get in the mix and be a factor this season, with the Tigers returning a solid senior group to boot.
Clay Martineau Clay Martineau 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB Oregon City | 2024 State OR 6-3 210 WR/LB Oregon City- The Pioneers, much like Tigard, return double digit all conference athletes with a legit line and skill kids everywhere. Martineau has great size and speed, going somewhat under the radar thus far. Look for him to be one of the best in the TRL. Just to put into perspective the strength of the conference, I have OC at #12 state wide.