Redding-area football watchlist ranks 75-51. Who's overrated, who's underrated?
The Redding-area football top 100 watch list continues as the top players ranked 75 to 51 are being revealed.
Players representing the top 100 list are from Shasta, Foothill, Enterprise, West Valley, U-Prep, Red Bluff, Anderson, Central Valley, Fall River, Lassen, Orland, Redding Christian, Weed, Yreka, Trinity, Etna, Mount Shasta and Los Molinos.
This is the second article out of a series of four stories. Be sure to subscribe to the Record Searchlight and follow along with the local sports coverage to discover the top 100 football players in the Redding-area.
This group highlights athletes who might be flying under the radar. More than half the players included in the top 75 to 51 list were starters on their programs. The other half includes former junior varsity players who are looking to make their presence felt on the big stage.
75. Cooper Staup
School: West Valley
Class: Junior
Position: RB/LB
Stats: N/A
Summary: Staup rises to varsity and has impressed coaches with his dedication in the weight room. Staup is a power running back who loves lowering his shoulder for short yards.
74. Jaden Welch
School: Shasta
Class: Junior
Position: LB
Stats: N/A
Summary: Welch was another piece of a junior varsity team that will get its chance to show it can compete with Foothill and Enterprise in 2023.
73. Mason Calvert
School: Foothill
Class: Sophomore
Position: WR/DB
Stats: N/A
Summary: Hard to find an athlete with a greater upside than Calvert who gained fame as a track star for Foothill. Calvert became a CIF Northern Section champion in the 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relay races and was one of the fastest 100-meter runners in the North State last year. Calvert, alongside Borchert and Hall, is going to be a tough combination on both sides of the ball.
72. Alek Elo
School: Shasta
Class: Senior
Position: ATH
Stats: N/A
Summary: A gifted point guard for the Wolves, Elo decided to play football during his last year of high school. Elo has impressed coaches with his quickness, athleticism and overall knowledge of the game. Elo will likely be used in various positions including wide receiver, running back, defensive back, safety or kickoff and punt return.
71. Donevinn Gale
School: Enterprise
Class: Junior
Position: DL
Stats: N/A
Summary: Gale is another varsity-ready player who is ready to burst on the scene and make an immediate impact. Gale's aggression and power on the defensive line is gonna help an already tough defensive line find success in 2023.
70. Nash Osborn
School: Lassen
Class: Junior
Position: QB
Stats: N/A
Summary: Osborn takes over as starting quarterback on Lassen which runs the ball repeatedly through its Wing-T formation. Osborn at 6-foot-1 plays physically and has earned a captain's role on his team.
69. Christian Sylvia
School: Red Bluff
Class: Junior
Position: OL/DL
Stats: N/A
Summary: Sylvia has earned a spot on the offensive and defensive line for the Spartans after playing on junior varsity in 2022.
68. Dalton Kelley
School: West Valley
Class: Junior
Position: OL/DL
Stats:
Made four tackles.
Summary: Kelley has added muscle and grown a couple of inches during the summer after being a late varsity call-up in 2022. Kelley's contribution is the physical nature he plays with on the defensive line. Another athlete that's full of potential but hasn't seen a full varsity season.
67. Noah Gemoya
School: Shasta
Class: Junior
Position: OL/DL
Stats: N/A
Summary: Gemoya brings much-needed depth to an offensive line that struggled at times in 2022. The junior varsity talent was very dense in 2022. Now Gemoya is about to show the rest of the section what this group of underclassmen can achieve with Shasta in 2023.
66. Josue Cueva
School: West Valley
Class: Senior
Position: RB/LB
Stats:
Rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Made 41 tackles including eight for loss.
Had 1.5 sacks.
Summary: Cueva is 5-foot-8 but has the skills and intellect West Valley needs to thrive on defense and offense. Cueva will receive more opportunities as a ball carrier and play either outside linebacker or cornerback.
65. Lucas Tasista
School: U-Prep
Class: Senior
Position: OL/DL
Stats:
Made 31 tackles including 1.5 sacks.
Summary: Tasista has been consistent throughout his years at U-Prep as a tackler at the line of scrimmage and a blocker. Tasista's knowledge of blocking and tackling fundamentals continues to allow U-Prep to have success.
64. Matthew Poulsen
School: Foothill
Class: Sophomore
Position: QB/ATH
Stats: N/A
Summary: Poulsen started as the junior varsity quarterback for the Cougars in 2022 and is in competition with Marcione to earn the starting spot this year. Poulsen is coming off shoulder surgery but it shouldn't impact his effectiveness. His field awareness and the touch to throw deep passes 25 yards ahead stands out. Poulsen can also play receiver and return kickoffs if the senior Marcione ends up getting the nod.
63. Devin Williams
School: Corning
Class: Senior
Position: ATH
Stats:
Made 33 tackles.
Completed 7 of 17 passes for 108 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
Rushed for 194 yards.
Summary: Williams fits into any offense with his ability to throw the ball downfield or use his speed to cut upfield for large gains.
62. Andrew Seamans
School: U-Prep
Class: Senior
Position: WR/DB
Stats:
Made one catch for 21 yards.
Had 30 tackles.
Summary: Seamans is a returning senior with experience on the defensive side of the ball. He'll receive more targets in 2023 and will hold greater responsibility for keeping U-Prep as one of the better defensive teams in the section.
61. Shamus Guizar
School: Lassen
Class: Senior
Position: OL/DL
Stats:
Made 16 tackles including two for loss.
Had two sacks.
Summary: Lassen returns another piece of its offensive and defensive line in Guizar. Guizar plays with force at 5-foot-9 and gets his hands inside of his opponent's pads. Watch for Lassen to regain its status as one of the top CIF Northern Section Division III teams.
60. A.J. Schekerynec
School: Orland
Class: Senior
Position: OL/DL
Stats:
Made two tackles including one for loss.
Summary: Schekerynec is expected to be the Trojans' starting center in 2023 after playing as a rotational offensive and defensive lineman last season. Schekerynec is another muscular body up front that will drive Orland's Wing-T offense.
59. Barrett Byrne
School: Red Bluff
Class: Junior
Position: LB/OL
Stats: N/A
Summary: Red Bluff will look to Byrne to dictate the physicality of games after a strong season at junior varsity in 2023. Byrne is menacing at 6-foot-1 and could help shift Red Bluff into a program ready to deliver wins against Enterprise, Shasta and Foothill.
58. Mason McFadden
School: Anderson
Class: Sophomore
Position: QB/DB
Stats:
Completed 58 of 67 passes for 462 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Made 17 tackles including one for loss.
Summary: Anderson is still in rebuilding mode entering 2023 in coach John Stewart's second year. McFadden is the returning player for the Cubs who has shown the greatest level of commitment. His arm is accurate having missed his target nine times last season. McFadden is tough, tenacious and worthy of being mentioned in the top 60.
57. Kaleb Marks
School: U-Prep
Class: Senior
Position: OL/DL
Stats: N/A
Summary: Marks was featured on the offensive and brought solidarity to a U-Prep squad that had to adjust its game plans because of injuries. Marks was one of the players on the field on nearly every offensive snap on a team that reached its second straight CIF Northern Section title game.
56. John Puffer
School: West Valley
Class: Sophomore
Position: QB
Stats: N/A
Summary: Puffer has been tasked as West Valley's new leader after former quarterback Noah Mason graduated and is looking to earn acclaim at Butte College. Puffer hailed from Sacramento before joining the Eagles program before his freshman year. He was a bright spot on a West Valley junior varsity team that struggled at times in 2022. Now Puffer's on varsity with a proven target in Logan Rasmussen and a starting offensive lineman that was young last season.
55. Levi Grooms
School: Lassen
Class: Senior
Position: LB/OL
Stats:
Made 28 tackles including one for loss.
Had one sack and forced a fumble.
Summary: Grooms is a key figure on an experienced linebacking core for the Grizzlies. Grooms drives his feet well and plays with force. Watch out for Lassen to reemerge as one of the top teams in the Northern Athletic League.
54. Kaos Martin
School: U-Prep
Class: Junior
Position: QB/DB/ATH
Stats:
Completed 24 of 34 passes for 511 yards, eight touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Summary: It may sound like the Disney plot line, but picture this — a junior varsity quarterback takes over for the injured starter and leads the team to victory. That's exactly what Martin did in 2022 when Hokanson went out with an injury. Martin showed tremendous composure in the pocket and delivered a key touchdown throw in the CIF Northern Section Division III playoffs against West Valley. Martin will likely be used as a receiver and defensive back. Either way, Martin will be called upon to make plays.
53. Hunter Marcione
School: Foothill
Class: Senior
Position: QB
Stats:
Completed 12 of 18 passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns.
Rushed for 63 yards.
Summary: Marcione saw limited time on the field last year, backing up graduated senior and current Shasta College quarterback Davis Smith. Marcione has a strong arm but had issues last season with fumbling the football. Foothill could have another solid season but much of its success is dependent on how well Marcione, or sophomore Matthew Poulsen, performs. Marcione and Poulsen are competing for the starting quarterback job and that position likely won't be solidified before or after the Cougars Week 0 opener against Edison of Stockton.
52. Ty Moodie
School: Trinity
Class: Senior
Position: LB/RB
Stats:
Made 103 tackles.
Had three sacks and caused two fumbles.
Rushed for 268 yards and two touchdowns.
Summary: Moodie is explosive to the ball and plays with a high work rate. He doesn't miss tackles and will run people over as a running back.
51. Max Beasley
School: Redding Christian
Class: Senior
Position: QB
Stats:
Completed 50 of 104 passes for 512 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions.
Rushed for 299 yards.
Summary: Beasley should have a better year with a matured offensive line to protect him and upgrades at wide receiver and running back. Beasley can throw accurate passes in the pocket when given the appropriate time. He has quality field awareness and can hit targets when throwing to his left side.
Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams' move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS and ethan_a_hanson on Instagram
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding-area high school football watch list ranks players 75-51
