Readers tell us the best prep football player they ever saw play in Washington state
Earlier this month, I was thinking about some of the great performances and student-athletes I’ve seen play high school football in Washington, even just in the past year.
Guys like Steilacoom High School’s Emeka Egbuka — The News Tribune’s 2019 All-Area Player of the Year — Lincoln’s Julien Simon, Kennedy Catholic’s Sam Huard, Bethel’s Will Latu; the list goes on.
I thought back to my days as a kid, going to high school football games around Tacoma, seeing guys like Wilson’s Marcus and Desmond Trufant and Lakes standout Reggie Williams. So I posed the question on Twitter: Who’s the best high school football player you’ve ever seen play in Washington?
The response was overwhelming, with over a hundred responses, at least. Some names, I expected. Others were a bit more of a surprise, or guys I hadn’t heard of. Here are the names that appeared most often in replies and mentions.
Note: This is not a definitive ranking or scientific poll.
JAKE LOCKER
Ferndale
It wasn’t surprising to see the former Ferndale star’s name appear often in the replies. Locker, who went on to a storied career for the University of Washington before being selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, led Ferndale High School to a 14-0 record in 2005 and the Class 3A state title. He passed for 1,603 yards and 27 touchdowns with just three interceptions as a senior, while also rushing for 1,338 yards and 24 TDs. He was named to The News Tribune’s 2006 class of Northwest Nuggets and was the AP state player of the year.
JONATHAN STEWART
Timberline
Stewart excelled at every level, from high school to the pros. The former Timberline High School running back went on to a career at the University of Oregon before being selected by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft with the No. 13 overall pick. He’s still the state’s all-time career rushing leader, having racked up 7,755 yards in 39 games for the Blazers from 2001 to 2004. He was named to The News Tribune’s 2005 class of Northwest Nuggets. Rushed for 2,301 yards and 32 touchdowns his senior year, averaging 11.3 yards per carry. He was the state Gatorade Player of the Year his senior year and was named to the 2004 All-USA high school football team by USA Today.
REGGIE WILLIAMS
Lakes
The 6-foot-4 wide receiver was as physically imposing a high school player as the state has seen. He went on to an All-American career at the University of Washington, before being drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft with the No. 9 overall pick. He was a highly decorated high school recruit, named the state’s AP player of the year in 2000, leading Lakes to the Class 3A state championship game against Skyline, tallying 45 catches for 881 yards and 16 touchdowns. Also rushed 34 times for 512 yards and seven touchdowns and on defense had eight interceptions. He was a USA Today All-American and was named to The News Tribune’s 2001 Western 100 and Northwest Nuggets teams. At Washington, Williams racked up 243 receptions and 3,598 receiving yards, with 16 career 100-yard receiving games.
MIKE SELLERS
North Thurston
Played for North Thurston before attending Walla Walla Community College. He became the youngest import player to sign a Canadian Football League deal in the history of the league when he signed at 19 years old, before being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Redskins. Played for the Redskins and Cleveland Browns during his NFL career as a fullback. He was named to The News Tribune’s 1993 class of Northwest Nuggets as a linebacker.
CHICO MCCLATCHER
Federal Way
The speedy receiver was The News Tribune’s All-Area Player of the Year as a senior in 2014 before going on to the University of Washington. He rushed for 2,283 yards as a senior and accounted for more than 8,000 all-purpose yards and scored 91 total touchdowns during his four-year high school career. Named to The News Tribune’s 2015 class of Northwest Nuggets.
LAWYER MILLOY
Lincoln
The Lincoln High standout went on to a career at the University of Washington, earning All-American honors, before being drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. His NFL career spanned 15 seasons; Milloy played for the Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time All-Pro. Named to The News Tribune’s 1992 class of Northwest Nuggets as a defensive back. Earned Parade magazine All-American honors his senior year at Lincoln after rushing for 1,056 yards and 15 touchdowns at tailback and intercepting seven passes on defense.
MYLES JACK
Bellevue
Jack simply looked the part at linebacker for the Wolverines. Named to the News Tribune’s 2013 Northwest Nuggets class, Jack went on to a career at UCLA before being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He was credited with 98 tackles and 24 sacks during his senior year, leading Bellevue to a 14-0 record and the Class 3A state championship with a 52-20 win over Eastside Catholic (Bellevue’s 2012-14 wins, which included two state titles, were later vacated).
BUDDA BAKER
Bellevue
A teammate of Jack’s, Baker went on to a career at the University of Washington, before being selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 36 overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Originally an Oregon commit, flipped to UW and became a key recruit in coach Chris Petersen’s tenure. AP state player of the year in 2013 and MaxPreps All-American first-team selection as a senior. Was named to The News Tribune’s 2014 Northwest Nuggets Class.
MARQUES TUIASOSOPO
Woodinville
Will forever be remembered by Husky fans as one of UW’s all-time great quarterbacks. As a senior at UW in 2000, led the Huskies to the Pac-10 title and a 34-24 win over Drew Brees and the Purdue Boilermakers in the 2001 Rose Bowl. Played in the NFL for eight seasons with the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets. At Woodinville, was a standout at quarterback and safety, as well as a strong shortstop on the baseball field. Named to The News Tribune’s 1997 Northwest Nuggets Class. Named the Gatorade Player of the Year in his senior season and was featured as one of the top-25 high school football recruits in the nation by Sports Illustrated. Led his team to a 10-1 finish and state quarterfinals as a senior, rushing for 1,045 yards and 19 touchdowns, as well as completed 35-of-75 passes for 679 yards. On defense, had four interceptions and two fumble recoveries at safety as a senior.
