Sac-Joaquin Section’s Top 5 Returning Receiving Leaders

With the increased presence of the spread offense from the High School to the NFL level, the wide receiver position has become extremely important. Teams are using 10 and 11 personnel more frequently than ever before, meaning it’s not uncommon to see three or four wideouts on the field at once. Luckily, the Sac-Joaquin Section has a plethora of pass-catchers who can play at the next level. Folsom High alum and current Clemson Tiger Joe Ngata will be on a big stage this season and serve as one example for talent that the area has to offer at the position. The former Bulldog will help pave the way for the up and coming receivers listed below. Here is a look at the section’s top five returning receiving leaders and a snapshot of what makes each of them successful. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="25265" first="Jadyn" last="Marshall"] - St. Mary’s - Class of 2022</strong> <em><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/jadyn-marshall/5Gs_GOg7EeiAxKkkK9HIDg/football/stats.htm#year=19-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2019 Stats</a>: 68 catches, 1,128 receiving yards, 9 receiving TDs</em> The best way to describe Marshall’s game is to call him a YAC Monster. After the catch, he has good vision to find rushing lanes combined with good change of direction, speed to break 2nd and 3rd level defender’s angles, agility to make people miss in space, and balance to stay upright against arm tackles. All of this also makes him a rushing threat on end arounds as well. As far as routing running goes, the Ram has good acceleration off the line of scrimmage to go along with good explosion and change of direction on 45-degree routes, and very good deep ball tracking. If the sophomore starts high pointing the ball in contested catch situations and catching the ball with his hands instead of his body, he’ll be extremely hard to stop over the next couple of seasons. Marshall currently holds <a href="https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Jadyn-Marshall-132752/RecruitInterests/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">six offers</a>, five of which are from Power-Five schools. <strong>Kendall Allen - Vacaville Christian - Class of 2022</strong> <em><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/kendall-allen/87mIMICeEeiAyNdjx8XCRA/football/stats.htm#year=19-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2019 Stats</a>: 51 catches, 994 receiving yards, 12 receiving TDs</em> Allen is an incoming junior who has some impressive instincts and hands. Whether the ball is thrown over his shoulder, low, or up in the air for a jump ball, he can haul in with the rock. He also displays good mental processing on scramble drills to find a vacated area and get open. As for creating separation, the Vacaville Christian product has solid change of direction skills to win on 90-degree routes. He also has some impressive speed to be a threat after the catch. As Allen gets older and improves his overall athleticism, he’ll have no problem dominating the competition at the Division VI level fo the section. <strong>Wonya Williams - Cosumnes Oaks - Class of 2021</strong> <em><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/wonya-williams/rwbWJRuJEeiT-Oz0u-e-FA/football/stats.htm#year=19-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2019 Stats</a>: 52 catches, 801 receiving yards, 7 receiving TDs</em> Last year, Williams played at Sheldon High School in Sacramento but decided to transfer to nearby Cosumnes Oaks in Elk Grove for his senior year, per <a href="https://twitter.com/williamswonya?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">his Twitter</a> account. Switching schools allows the wideout to play with another notable recruit, quarterback Anthony Grigsby Jr. Playing at a bigger program should help Williams gain some more exposure as he has some impressive skills. With his good speed and ability to track the deep ball, he is a legitimate deep threat. On short to intermediate routes, the newest member of the Wolfpack has good explosion off the line of scrimmage to threaten defensive backs vertically combined with solid change of direction skills to get open. When the ball is in the air, his ability to adjust to inaccurate passes, whether the ball is short, behind, or in front of him, teeters on the elite level. If Williams becomes a more consistent hands catcher and develops his press release by improving his foot quickness and getting his hands up, he and Grigsby will be an extremely fun combination to watch this season. <strong>Jayden Vargas - Orestimba - Class of 2022</strong> <em><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/jayden-vargas/xYwzYIVMEeiAyNdjx8XCRA/football/stats.htm#year=19-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2019 Stats</a>: 33 catches, 721 receiving yards, 7 receiving TDs</em> Don’t blink because this kid can flat out fly. Vargas has very good speed and explosion off the line of scrimmage, and he’s good at stemming on deep routes as he attacks the defensive back’s leverage to help create separation. He also has good hands to make tough catches away from his body. As a runner, the Orestimba product has good quickness and agility to make defenders miss, and he can break arm tackles as he keeps his feet moving through contact and has good balance. Vargas will be someone to keep an eye on over the next couple of years as he puts on some size and becomes a sharper route runner. <strong>Brandon Barthel - Oak Ridge - Class of 2021</strong> <em><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/brandon-barthel/YOCnCb21EeeT-Oz0u-e-FA/football/stats.htm#year=19-20" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2019 Stats</a>: 48 catches, 719 receiving yards, 5 receiving TDs</em> Barthel is a receiver who stands out the most with his football IQ. Against zone coverage, he attacks and settles in the voids to give the quarterback a good throwing window, and has a good understanding of his scramble drill rules to create separation when the play breaks down. As far as the El Dorado Hills native’s athletic ability, he has solid change of direction skills to create separation on 90-degree routes and good speed to get on top of the defense. The wideout’s catch radius is about as good as it gets as he’s good adjusting to inaccurate passes to the left or the right, digs out low balls, and has good hands to make tough catches away from his body. With the ball in his hands, Barthel is a tough runner who has good play strength and balance to stay on his feet through contact from defensive backs. If he can add some quickness and agility to take his after the catch ability to the next level, he and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="25099" first="Justin" last="Lamson"] will be another intriguing duo to watch this season.