2020-21: Top 25 high school football players in the South Sound area of Washington state
As of now, there won’t be high school football this fall in Washington, with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association pushing the season back to the spring as part of a modified 2020-21 calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic.
That doesn’t mean we can’t talk prep football, though. The South Sound is one of the most talent-rich areas in the state, producing blue-chip recruits and All-State players year after year.
We covered plenty of games in 2019, wrote about numerous breakout stars and key players on winning programs. With all that we’ve seen with our own eyes, in addition to speaking with several area coaches and recruiting analysts, these are The News Tribune’s Top 25 high school football players in the South Sound ahead of the season, presented in alphabetical order:
MALIK AGBO
Todd Beamer
Offensive lineman, 6-5, 295, jr.
Four-star recruit holds offers from Alabama, UW, LSU, Oregon and others. 4A NPSL Mountain first-team selection as a sophomore. One of the top recruits in the state in the 2022 class. Named to The News Tribune’s 2019 All-Area first team.
JUNIOR ALEXANDER
Kennedy Catholic
Receiver, 6-2, 185, sr.
Alexander was quarterback Sam Huard’s top target last season on a dynamic offense. Hauled in 67 catches for 1,328 yards and 24 touchdowns. Arizona State commit was a TNT 2019 All-Area first-team selection.
CHANCE BOGAN
Lincoln
Tight end, 6-4, 205, jr.
Recently followed in the footsteps of his father, Curtis, committing to the Washington Huskies. Wilson transfer is considered a three-star prospect by 247sports.com. Caught 53 passes for 549 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his sophomore season at Wilson.
DENZEL BOSTON
Emerald Ridge
Receiver, 6-3, 180, jr.
Jaguars’ receiver caught 30 passes for 361 yards and seven touchdowns in his sophomore season and is primed for a breakout junior season. The three-star prospect holds offers from Arizona State and Nevada.
TEAGIN CHILD
Auburn Mountainview
Receiver/defensive back, 5-11, 190, sr.
First-team NPSL Mountain selection at defensive back and second-team at receiver hauled in 48 catches for 875 yards and eight touchdowns and tallied 20 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Child had 84 tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and three interceptions.
KIERAN COLLINS
Kennedy Catholic
Corner, 6-1, 180, jr.
Second-team 4A NPSL Mountain selection as a sophomore, Collins is primed for a big year as the team’s lockdown corner. Holds offers from Washington State, ASU, Colorado, Florida State and UNLV. Considered a four-star prospect.
EMEKA EGBUKA
Steilacoom
Receiver, 6-1, 190, sr.
The five-star recruit was The News Tribune’s 2019 All-Area player of the year. Two-time 2A SPSL Mountain MVP racked up 1,607 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns on 83 receptions. He had 2,240 all-purpose yards and 35 total touchdowns. On defense, Egbuka tallied eight interceptions at corner for the Sentinels. Washington’s 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year. Considering Washington, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Clemson.
D.J. FRYAR
Steilacoom
Linebacker, 6-3, 205, sr.
Arizona commit had 87 tackles and five tackles for loss in his junior season, helping lead the Sentinels to the 2019 Class 2A state championship game. Considered a three-star recruit.
JAEDON HALL
Lakes
Defensive back, 6-2, 190, sr.
Three-star recruit is one of the area’s top safeties and will be one of Lakes’ top players as a senior. Holds an offer from Nevada.
CURTIS HILL
Graham-Kapowsin
Lineman, 6-3, 290, jr.
Twin brother of Hunter, Curtis is part of one of the area’s top lines in Graham-Kapowsin. First-team 4A SPSL selection as a sophomore. Holds an offer from Nevada.
SAM HUARD
Kennedy Catholic
Quarterback, 6-2, 190, sr.
The five-star recruit threw for 4,168 yards and 56 touchdowns in his junior season — both top marks in the state across all classifications. The UW commit averaged 347.3 yards per game through the air and completed 269-of-426 passes. First-team 4A NPSL Mountain selection. First-team TNT 2019 All-Area selection.
VEGA IOANE
Graham-Kapowsin
Offensive lineman, 6-4, 280, jr.
Came into G-K raw, but has developed into one of the state’s top linemen and will be a key fixture at left tackle for what projects as one of the state’s top line units on both sides. Holds offers from UW, Cal, ASU and others.
DAVE IULI
Puyallup
Offensive lineman, 6-5, 330, jr.
Missed his sophomore season to injury, but the talent is there for Iuli, who has sheer size and strength that few high school-level players can match. Holds offers from UW, WSU, Oregon, USC and others.
CADEN JUMPER
Eatonville
Athlete, 6-3, 245, sr.
2A SPSL Mountain offensive player of the year projects as a tight end or linebacker at the next level, but played quarterback for the Cruisers due to the program’s need at the position and was one of the area’s best dual threats. Rushed 115 times for 1,117 yards and 13 touchdowns, completed 71-of-114 passes for 992 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught nine passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver. UW commit is considered a three-star prospect.
WILL LATU
Bethel
Linebacker, 6-2, 221, sr.
Four-star recruit who said he’ll forgo his senior season — if it isn’t played until the spring — to enroll early at UW. As a junior, he appeared at linebacker, defensive back and defensive end. Offensively, Latu tallied more than 1,000 yards and 22 total touchdowns at running back. First-team TNT 2019 All-Area selection.
JATAVIOUS MAGEE
Federal Way
Defensive back, 6-1, 170, sr.
Florida Atlantic commit was a first-team 4A NPSL Valley selection at wide receiver and safety for the Eagles in his junior season. Had 545 receiving yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions last season. Considered a three-star prospect.
KEEKEE MCQUEEN
Spanaway Lake
Corner, 5-10, 170, jr.
Considered a three-star recruit, McQueen is part of a developing secondary at Spanaway Lake, which includes four-star sophomore recruit Jasiah Wagoner.
DEVON NOFOA-MASOE
Lakes
Linebacker, 6-1, 205, jr.
Categorized as an all-purpose selection to The News Tribune’s 2019 All-Area team — to which Nofoa-Masoe was a first-teamer — he truly did it all for the Lancers in his sophomore season. Rushed 78 times for 786 yards and 12 touchdowns, caught 24 passes for 396 yards and four touchdowns and had 48 tackles on defense — including six for losses and three sacks. Was also the team’s punter and returned kicks. Considered a three-star recruit, Nofoa-Masoe holds an offer from Nevada.
RYAN OTTON
Tumwater
Tight end, 6-6, 225, jr.
Younger brother of current UW tight end Cade, Ryan helped the T-Birds to the Class 2A state title in 2019 as a sophomore. Holds offers from UW, Cal, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA and others.
JACKSON PROCTOR
Kentwood
Quarterback, 6-2, 195, sr.
Conquerors’ QB was second-team 4A NPSL selection, behind first-teamer Sam Huard from Kennedy Catholic. Dartmouth commit.
JACOB SCHUSTER
Tumwater
Defensive lineman, 6-2, 300, sr.
The Olympian’s 2019 All-Area player of the year was also a first-team selection to The News Tribune’s All-Area team, as well as being named the 2A EvCo MVP. The top lineman on a defense which held opponents to just 5.6 offensive points and 31 yards per game rushing. Totaled 61 tackles on the season, including 26 for losses and 9.5 sacks.
JULIEN SIMON
Lincoln
Defensive back, 6-2, 215, sr.
Another four-star recruit announced he’ll forgo his senior season — if it isn’t played until the spring — to enroll early at USC. Simon was the best player on a star-studded Lincoln team that included Boise State-bound corners Donovan Clark and Jaylen Clark. Led the Abes to the Class 3A state semifinals, the best finish in program history. Had 55 tackles, five tackles for losses, two sacks, three quarterback hurries, four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and a fumble recovery. On offense, Simon caught 83 passes for 1,033 yards and 21 touchdowns. He had 1,474 all-purpose yards. 3A PCL first-team receiver and defensive back was also the league’s defensive player of the year. First-team TNT 2019 All-Area selection.
SEAN SKLADANY
Peninsula
Running back, 6-2, 212, sr.
The 3A South Sound Conference MVP rushed 137 times for 829 yards and 17 touchdowns. On defense, had 41 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss and eight sacks. Holds offers from Eastern Washington and Air Force.
KEKOA VISPERAS
Bethel
Quarterback, 6-0, 190, sr.
The quarterback has seen his stock rise this offseason. Considered a three-star prospect, Braves’ dual-threat QB completed 120-of-190 passes in his first season at Bethel, passing for 2,224 yards and 20 touchdowns. Also rushed for 311 yards and four touchdowns on 48 carries.
JAYDEN WAYNE
Lincoln
Defensive end, 6-5, 224, soph.
Considered a four-star prospect, Wayne has all the tools to be a star for Lincoln and at the next level as he continues to grow into the defensive end position. Also plays tight end for the Abes. Holds offers from UW, USC, Oregon and others.
This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 1:43 PM.
