8th Grade Oregon All-State Game Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Oregon All-State Game hosted their games at Crescent Valley High School this past Saturday, June 24th. There were a total of three games with three different age groups playing; 6th grade (class of 2029), 7th grade (class of 2028), and 8th grade (class of 2027). I attended the 7th and 8th-grade games to see the future of Oregon high school football. This article will focus on the 8th-graders who showed out during game time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='937233' first='Sloan' last='Baker']</strong> QB (5'8, 140 lbs.) Future High School: West Linn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sloan was easily the best quarterback on the field Saturday. His most impressive plays came on the ground, where he showed off his athleticism and shiftiness by making multiple defenders miss or escape the pocket to make a great throw on the run. I am excited to watch Sloan at West Linn High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='937029' first='Luke' last='Crowley']</strong> LB (5'9, 165 lbs.) Future High School: Wilsonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luke is a serious sideline-to-sideline linebacker who makes plays anywhere on the field. It seemed like Luke always made the tackle to avoid a big play for the opposing team. He has good size and is athletic enough to make impressive plays out in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lineman MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='937042' first='Jonah' last='Cooper']</strong> DL (5'11, 198 lbs.) Future High School: Elmira</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jonah got to live every lineman's dream this Saturday as he was able to recover a fumble and return it for a touchdown! That was easily the best play of the day. Also, Jonah is an athletic lineman with good size and a frame that should add muscle nicely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Notable Standouts:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='632957' first='Josiah' last='Molden'] </strong>CB (6'0, 160 lbs.) Future High School: West Linn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although he did not get much action since the opposing QBs knew not to throw his way, Josiah proved why he has multiple D1 offers as an 8th grader. Josiah showcased his remarkable athleticism and fantastic technique on the outside at cornerback. He was the definition of a lockdown cornerback on Saturday. I am beyond excited to watch him play high school football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402413' first='Josiah' last='Hawkins'] </strong>RB (5'8, 145 lbs.) Future High School: Cascade</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Josiah was my favorite player to watch on Saturday. He is everything you would want in a running back; he is extremely fast, strong, elusive, and well-built. There were multiple plays on Saturday where he turned nothing into something by cutting back, outrunning everyone, or refusing to get tackled. Josiah will be a force to be reckoned with at the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='797128' first='Cameron' last='Elijah'] </strong>WR (5'8, 135 lbs.) Future High School: Lake Oswego</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like Josiah at running back, Cameron is everything you would want in a wide receiver. He is a speedy route-running receiver with an impressive catch radius for his size. He will be an outstanding wide receiver as he continues to develop his skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='796788' first='Mai'King' last='West']</strong> RB (6'1, 180 lbs.) Future High School: Lakeridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mai'King is an impressive-looking kid because, with his size, you would think he is a lineman, but Mai'King was one of if not the faster kids at the event. He is an exciting runner who does not want to go down; he even hurdled a defender on Saturday. Mai'King is one of those kids who can succeed at any position you put him in, and I am excited to see him play high school football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='937306' first='Taylor' last='Carnahan'] </strong>DE (6'1, 180 lbs.) Future High School: McMinnville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor is a tall and athletic EDGE rusher who was causing a lot of trouble for the opposing team on Saturday. Sometimes, he just outran the offensive tackles to get to the quarterback. Taylor has the build that should put on muscle nicely and only get better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='652600' first='Carson' last='Smiley'] </strong>QB (5'10, 150 lbs.) Future High School: West Linn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carson looks like the prototypical quarterback, as he has a nice build and pretty throwing motion. Carson is also athletic enough to take off when he needs to. I am excited to watch him play when he better understands the playbook.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='937281' first='Tripp' last='Johansen'] </strong>DL (6'0, 215 lbs.) Future High School: Sheldon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tripp is an intriguing defensive line prospect since he is not only big and strong but can also move very well for his size. I am excited to watch him develop at the powerhouse program that is Sheldon high school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='796492' first='Tevita' last='Lata'] </strong>LB (5'11, 170 lbs.) Future High School: North Salem</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tevita was a great linebacker on Saturday, as he checks all the boxes. He is a big, strong, athletic linebacker who can fly around the field and is a remarkable tackler. He will be one of, if not the best, linebacker of the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='936846' first='Leonardo' last='Correani'] </strong>LB (5'10, 195 lbs.) Future High School: Lincoln</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leonardo is one of those kids who will rival Tevita for the top linebacker of the class. The future Cardinal also checks all the boxes, but he is a bit stronger and more of a thumper, while Tevita is more athletic. Leonardo is an impressive kid who should develop nicely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='935311' first='Javien' last='Parker']</strong> CB (6'1, 170 lbs.) Future High School: Dallas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Javien is an impressive-looking corner, as his length is what immediately stands out. Not only is he tall, but he is a fluid athlete who has long arms and great technique on the outside. Javien has all the physical traits to be a top-tier corner in the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='937113' first='Shane' last='Peters']</strong> WR (5'5, 135 lbs.) Future High School: West Linn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shane is the definition of a reliable slot receiver. His route running is impressive as he is quick and agile, but most importantly, he is reliable. I am not sure I saw him drop a pass throughout the practices and the game. Shane impressed me on Saturday, and I am interested to see how he does at West Linn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='937334' first='Parker' last='Edwards'] </strong>DL (6'2, 215 lbs.) Future High School: Sheldon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parker is a big and nasty defensive lineman that every team wants. What stands out about Parker is that even though he is big, he can actually move. A lot of kids this age and this size cannot move very well, but Parker is a kid that should develop nicely due to his strength and athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='876300' first='Xavior' last='Keller']</strong> WR (5'5, 135 lbs.) Future High School: North Salem</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Xavior was the only bright spot in the blue team's otherwise awful passing offense. Xavior is a quick and crisp route runner who has reliable hands. He eventually became his team's go-to target as they threw him the ball three or four times before it was a touchdown. I am excited to watch Xavior at North Salem High School!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->