Top Oregon Players Who Missed the Playoffs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The football season held in Oregon in 2023 was incredibly fun to cover. There were many skilled players who donned the uniform for various Oregon high schools during the past season, even some who played for non-playoff teams. Reflecting back on the coverage of all players this season, I felt the urge to acknowledge some exceptional players who couldn't quite carry their team to reach the playoffs despite their brilliant performance. Therefore, I have compiled a list of players who overperformed despite being part of underwhelming teams:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><b>Important Note: I did not count making the Columbia Cup as making the playoffs, as I decided to make this about players who were not a part of one of the top sixteen tea</b><strong>ms.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["383829"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"We start this list off with the athlete from North Salem. He is one of the top players in Oregon and had a great season this year. North Salem had some incredible players with D1 talent but needed help to put it all together to make the playoffs this season. They made it to the second round of the Columbia Cup, though. Pierce is a playmaker and can do it all on the field; it was unfortunate that we could not see him in the playoffs against top teams in the state. As of right now, it sounds like he will be playing somewhere at the FCS level next year.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["206869"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Jamahl made the move from 5A McKay to 6A North Salem this year, and statistically, he was the best running back in 6A by far. He finished the regular season with 1,550 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns. He only added to that total in the two Columbia Cup games that North Salem played in. Jamahl is a kid who should absolutely get a shot at the next level. Currently, we are unaware of any offers, but he should see some role soon.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["520401"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Sentori was fantastic this season for a Barlow team with high expectations as they were one of the more senior-heavy teams in the state. Although the team did not make the top sixteen, Sentori did all he could. He finished the season with Mt. Hood Conference First Team honors at WR and DB. According to his X profile, he had 1,265 receiving yards, 77 receptions, 19 receiving touchdowns, and three kickoff return touchdowns. I hope Sentori gets a chance to play at the next level somewhere, as he was one of the best players in the entire state.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["278374"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Blake was one of the top two-way players in Oregon this season and won All-Metro League First Team for both LB and TE. Sunset was unable to make the playoffs but had some great players. Sunset won the Columbia Cup this year and should have gotten a chance to play in the top 16 bracket. I am excited to see where he ends up because he has the size and athleticism to be a great college football player. We do not know where or what level yet.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["858699"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Drew was the QB of the Columbia Cup champs this season. According to his X profile, he finished the season with 2,352 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns, 570 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns, showing off his dual-threat ability. He is a player who deserves a shot at the next level and will hopefully continue to play football. The only offer we are aware of as of right now is from D3 Pacific University. I see more offers from the standout QB, as he had a great year.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1091633"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Statistically, Will was the best QB in Oregon this past season. He played in 10 games this year and was first in the state in passing yards (3,051) and passing touchdowns (33) through those ten games. He led a very exciting Franklin squad this year and would be a fantastic addition to any college football quarterback room. The hesitancy to offer Will comes from the talent level of the PIL, as it is far from the top division in Oregon, but to me, the stats speak for themselves. Will has a couple of offers from some D3 programs as of right now.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["974833"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Cash is a fascinating young player who had an incredible season for Franklin. Cash has the size and athleticism to get any college in the country excited, and his stats should only boost that excitement as he finished the season with 1,108 receiving yards and 17 receiving touchdowns. He is a WR and TE hybrid, but with his size and a frame that should add muscle well, TE is the position I could see big-time programs more willing to offer. I am so excited to watch his senior year and see how his recruiting pans out.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["406769"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Kane is an impressive QB from McMinnville who had an outstanding junior season. Kane finished the regular season with 1.077 passing yards and 9 passing touchdowns, 635 rushing yards, and 12 rushing touchdowns. He is an interesting dual threat who should get some calls from college programs by the time he graduates. He is a player to watch out for next season, and depending on who he has to throw to, he could have a breakout season.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["274319"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Luke is a great kid who was the team captain for the Cavaliers as a junior. He transferred from Central Catholic back to his original school, Clackamas, as he was eyeing to be the starting quarterback for his last two seasons of high school football. Although he did not get the starting job, he brought about every other starting job on the field, as he can play anywhere. His primary position was WR, but he played plenty of RB and QB for the Cavs, along with DB on defense, and he was their return specialist on both kickoff and punt. He will have a tremendous senior season next year, and I am excited to see where he ends up collegiately.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["1094961"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Jordan is the only sophomore who made this list; he was that impressive. He finished the regular season with the second most rushing yards (1,121) and was tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns (14) in Oregon. I expect Jordan to have two more fantastic seasons and quite a few college football programs to choose from. Mountainside has loads of young talent, and I do not expect their players to be eligible for this article for too much longer.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6587db58c6880"} /-->