Trinity League Preview: Players to Watch
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It wouldn’t be preview season without taking a look at the best league in the nation, the Trinity League. Mater Dei and St. John Bosco are two of the top teams in the nation and this is the most competitive…
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Continue ReadingIt wouldn’t be preview season without taking a look at the best league in the nation, the Trinity League.
Mater Dei and St. John Bosco are two of the top teams in the nation and this is the most competitive league you will find anywhere.
Here is a look at the teams and players to watch in the Trinity League.
JSERRA
Top players: David Tuliau David Tuliau 6'1" | 270 lbs | DL Jserra Catholic | 2023 CA , OL/DL, Sr.; Zander Singh Zander Singh 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB JSerra | 2024 State CA , QB, Jr.; Josh Jornadal, WR, Sr.; Kainoa Tausaga Davis, OL/DL, Jr.; Jake Flores Jake Flores 6'6" | 275 lbs | OL JSerra | 2025 State CA , RT, So.
Outlook: JSerra has gone winless in Trinity League play the last two seasons and it will be tough to find a league win again this year. The Lions are improved from last season and have some stability at quarterback in Zander Singh Zander Singh 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB JSerra | 2024 State CA who the coaching staff has been high on for awhile. David Tuliau David Tuliau 6'1" | 270 lbs | DL Jserra Catholic | 2023 CA leads an offensive line with Kainoa Tausaga Davis and Jake Flores Jake Flores 6'6" | 275 lbs | OL JSerra | 2025 State CA . Flores is a 6-foot-6 sophomore with offers from Arizona, Oregon and Ole Miss among others. Running back will be by committee but Jared Referente is expected to get the lion’s share of carries. Josh Jornadal is a receiver who is back for the Lions and Logan Christensen Logan Christensen 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB JSerra | 2025 State CA is a sophomore JSerra is high on. The defense gave up 40 points per game but has 10 returners on that side of the ball so they may improve in that regard. JSerra is on the right track but it’s tough to find wins in this schedule.
MATER DEI
Top players: Elijah Brown, QB, Jr.; Levi Sua Levi Sua 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2023 State CA , LB, Sr.; DeAndre Carter DeAndre Carter 6'5" | 350 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , OL, Jr.; Brandon Baker Brandon Baker 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , OL, Jr.; Ajon Bryant Ajon Bryant 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , RB, Jr.; Aydin Breland Aydin Breland 6'5" | 290 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , DT, Jr.; Jack Ressler Jack Ressler 5'11" | 185 lbs | WR Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , WR, Jr.; Sione Tohi Sione Tohi 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2025 State CA , OL, Soph.
Outlook: Many news outlets have Mater Dei losing to St. John Bosco and being a second place team this year. They have won 17 consecutive games and I will not pick against them until they lose. Elijah Brown is back at quarterback and has never lost a game as a starter. Jack Ressler Jack Ressler 5'11" | 185 lbs | WR Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Jordan Onovughe and Texas commit Spencer Shannon Spencer Shannon 6'7" | 240 lbs | TE Mater Dei | 2023 State CA will be his top targets. Sophomore Marcus Harris Marcus Harris 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR Mater Dei | 2025 State CA has been making a lot of waves this offseason at receiver as well. The running backs will be Ajon Bryant Ajon Bryant 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA and sophomore Jordon Davison Jordon Davison 6'0" | 210 lbs | RB Mater Dei | 2025 State CA . The offensive line is outstanding with Brandon Baker Brandon Baker 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA and DeAndre Carter DeAndre Carter 6'5" | 350 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA at tackles, Sione Tohi Sione Tohi 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2025 State CA at guard and BJ Tolo BJ Tolo 6'1" | 310 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2023 State CA at center. Mater Dei has the best offensive line in the state which gives them a leg up over Bosco. Levi Sua Levi Sua 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2023 State CA leads a defense with Zabien Brown Zabien Brown 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA leading the secondary. They will miss Tanner Williams Tanner Williams 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , who had season ending knee surgery, but Kaho Tuihalamaka Kaho Tuihalamaka 6'4" | 325 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Aydin Breland Aydin Breland 6'5" | 290 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , Zeus Venegas Zeus Venegas 6'3" | 260 lbs | DL Mater Dei | 2024 State CA and sophomore Nasir Wyatt Nasir Wyatt 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Mater Dei | 2025 State CA can rush the passer. Daryus Dixson Daryus Dixson 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2025 State CA and Chuck McDonald III Chuck McDonald III 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2025 State CA are young defensive backs that Mater Dei will rely on along with transfer Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Tustin | 2024 State CA . I still think Mater Dei is the best team in the nation and will not pick against them.
ORANGE LUTHERAN
Top players: Gabe Morin Gabe Morin 5'10" | 215 lbs | LB Orange Lutheran | 2023 State CA , LB/RB, Sr.; TJ Lateef TJ Lateef 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Orange Lutheran | 2025 State CA , QB, So.; Nathan Hale, LT, Sr.; Kaleb Marshall Kaleb Marshall 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Orange Lutheran | 2023 CA , WR, Sr.; Jireh Moe, DL, So.; Jojo Edwards Jojo Edwards 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2025 State CA , LB, Soph.
Outlook: Orange Lutheran won the Division 2 championship last season but was the fifth place team in this league and lost a lot of talent. The defense gave up a lot of points last season, but returns two excellent linebackers in Gabe Morin Gabe Morin 5'10" | 215 lbs | LB Orange Lutheran | 2023 State CA and Jojo Edwards Jojo Edwards 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2025 State CA . They added Deuce Frierson, a transfer from Mission Viejo who should help. Manaia Ala Manaia Ala 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Orange Lutheran | 2023 State CA and Noah Rodriguez are two guys in the secondary I like for Orange Lutheran. TJ Lateef TJ Lateef 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Orange Lutheran | 2025 State CA is a very promising sophomore quarterback who will likely start over John Gazzaniga John Gazzaniga 6'6" | 230 lbs | QB Santa Margarita | 2025 State CA . Kaleb Marshall Kaleb Marshall 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Orange Lutheran | 2023 CA is expected to be a bigger part of the offense at receiver and Conrad Hernandez is a receiver the coaching staff is high on. Orange Lutheran is a mystery but is still a strong contender to get fourth place in this league.
SANTA MARGARITA
Top players: Jaxon Potter Jaxon Potter 6'4" | 180 lbs | QB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA , QB, Sr.; Emmett Mosley Emmett Mosley 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA , WR/DB, Jr.; Niko Lopez Niko Lopez 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA , WR, Sr.; Donovan Comestro Donovan Comestro 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA , CB, Sr.; Jalani Liva Jalani Liva 6'3" | 310 lbs | OL Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA , OL, Sr.; Levar Talley Levar Talley 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA , DL, Jr.; Tyler Parker Tyler Parker 6'0" | 295 lbs | DL Crean Lutheran | 2025 State CA , DL, Soph.
Outlook: Santa Margarita won the offseason transfer competition in Southern California. They added two Servite stars in Gage Burnett Gage Burnett 6'1" | 230 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA and Emmett Mosley Emmett Mosley 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA , Fairmont Prep defensive end and Michigan commit Collins Acheampong Collins Acheampong 6'7" | 255 lbs | ATH Santa Margarita | 2023 State CA and freshman Trent Mosley Trent Mosley 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Santa Margarita | 2026 State CA . Jaxon Potter Jaxon Potter 6'4" | 180 lbs | QB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA returns at quarterback with Colorado State commit Niko Lopez Niko Lopez 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA at receiver and Mosely who has been a stud on both sides of the ball this offseason. Bain Eiseman Bain Eiseman 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Inglewood | 2024 State CA is a receiver I am really high on and I like the running backs Jake Foye Jake Foye 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA and Taurian Nash Taurian Nash RB Crean Lutheran | 2025 State CA . The defensive line is a strong point of this team with Levar Talley Levar Talley 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA , Tyler Parker Tyler Parker 6'0" | 295 lbs | DL Crean Lutheran | 2025 State CA , Gage Burnett Gage Burnett 6'1" | 230 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA and Nicholas Johnson Nicholas Johnson 6'4" | 190 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA . Donovan Comestro Donovan Comestro 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA , Ben Durham Ben Durham 6'0" | 205 lbs | DB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA and Blake Wilson lead the secondary that will also feature young guys Josh Tucek and LaRue Zamorano LaRue Zamorano 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Centennial | 2025 State CA . The offensive line is the weak point of this team but Jalani Liva Jalani Liva 6'3" | 310 lbs | OL Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA is a returning All-League player up front and Simeon Maiava is a three-star offensive line prospect. Santa Margarita is much-improved, a shoe-in for the Division 1 playoffs but may not be able to hang with Mater Dei and St. John Bosco in the trenches.
SERVITE
Top players: Kitione Talavou Kitione Talavou 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Servite | 2023 State CA , DE, Sr.; Ethan Scaffidi, WR, Sr.; Oskar Madrigal, OL/DL, Sr.; Connor Panapa Connor Panapa 6'2" | 255 lbs | DL Servite | 2023 State CA , DL, Sr.; Quiad Carr, RB, So.
Outlook: Servite graduated more Power 5 players than any team in the state. The Friars are in full rebuild mode but have a few returning players that can hang with anybody. Kitione Talavou Kitione Talavou 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Servite | 2023 State CA is one of the best defensive linemen in the league and Ethan Scaffidi is a very good athlete. Oskar Madrigal is an All-League offensive lineman and Connor Panapa Connor Panapa 6'2" | 255 lbs | DL Servite | 2023 State CA is a transfer from Culver City who should help out on the defensive line. Julian Puche is expected to be the starting quarterback with some promising receivers like Quinn Rosenkranz, Jaxon Hughes and Ethan Naudin Ethan Naudin 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR St. John Bosco | 2025 State CA . Servite is a big question mark and a lot of people are writing them off, but I think they are too well-coached to be a last place team.
ST. JOHN BOSCO
Top players: Pierce Clarkson Pierce Clarkson 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , QB, Sr.; Matayo Uiagalelei Matayo Uiagalelei 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , DE/TE, Sr.; DeAndre Moore DeAndre Moore 5'11" | 190 lbs | WR St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA Jr., WR/DB, Sr.; Vaka Hansen Vaka Hansen 6'2" | 305 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , OL/DL, Sr.; Aaron Williams Aaron Williams 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , CB, Sr.; Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA , LB, Jr.; Peyton Woodyard Peyton Woodyard 6'2" | 195 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA , DB, Jr.
Outlook: Many people are picking Bosco to win the Trinity League and be the top team in the nation and it’s easy to see why. This is the most loaded Braves team I’ve seen in a few years. Louisville commit Pierce Clarkson Pierce Clarkson 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA leads this team and recruited a few other Louisville commits to come to Bosco: DeAndre Moore DeAndre Moore 5'11" | 190 lbs | WR St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Aaron Williams Aaron Williams 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA . Jahlil McClain Jahlil McClain 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA and Moore will be the team’s top two receivers along with tight end Matayo Uiagalelei Matayo Uiagalelei 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA . Centennial transfer Deven Bryant Deven Bryant 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA will lead the backfield along with Chauncey Sylvester Chauncey Sylvester 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA and Khalil Warren Khalil Warren 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA . The secondary is loaded with Peyton Woodyard Peyton Woodyard 6'2" | 195 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA leading the unit of Ty Lee Ty Lee 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , RJ Jones RJ Jones 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Jshawn Frausto-Ramos Jshawn Frausto-Ramos 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Williams and Hunter Nowell Hunter Nowell 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB St John Bosco | 2023 State CA . Deven Bryant Deven Bryant 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA is a good linebacker along with Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA who is returning from injury. They aren’t as good as Mater Dei up front, but with Sean Haney Sean Haney 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA , Mosiah Talanoa Mosiah Talanoa 6'5" | 325 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA and Sean Na’a Sean Na’a 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA up front with sophomore Matai Jefferson Matai Jefferson 6'6" | 350 lbs | OL St. John Bosco | 2025 State CA , Bosco is still very good in the trenches. They added Vaka Hansen Vaka Hansen 6'2" | 305 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA recently to help the defensive line along with Washington commit Sua Lefotu Sua Lefotu 6'5" | 290 lbs | DL St. John Bosco | 2023 State CA . Bosco has the talent to beat Mater Dei on paper, but the game isn’t played on paper.
Huntley’s Predicted Order of Finish:
Mater Dei (10-0, 5-0)
St. John Bosco (9-1, 4-1)
Santa Margarita (8-2, 3-2)
Orange Lutheran (6-4, 2-3)
Servite (4-6, 1-4)
JSerra (3-7, 0-5)