2024 South/Central League POY Candidates- OFFENSE (Ranked #1-10)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Over the next few weeks we will be breaking down each 6A/5A conference and the likely favorites for Offensive &amp; Defensive POY. There is still a lot yet to be determined with plenty of movement to come. Here are the top athletes returning in the South Central Special District 1.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1.[player_tooltip player_id='769995' first='Evan' last='Wusstig'] WR 26' West Salem</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's rare for any sophomore to earn 1^st&nbsp;team all-league honors on both sides of the football at the 6A level. Wusstig managed to emphatically do just that, and leave no doubt as to him being one of the best in Oregon for the 2026 class. The Titans should be good led by Wusstig and others. He could double last year's numbers where he had 8 TDs and 48 total tackles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2.[player_tooltip player_id='527032' first='Mana' last='Tuioti'] RB&nbsp;25' Sheldon&nbsp;<strong>OFFERS (6) Arizona, Arizona St, Washington St, Cal, Hawaii</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Definitely the exception to the rule from a size standpoint. Much like his brother Teitum who was dominant at Oregon as a freshman, Mana should excel within the conference on both sides of the football with the offers speaking for themselves.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3.[player_tooltip player_id='285871' first='Kaden' last='Martirano'] QB 25' West Salem</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-2 200-pound QB earned 1^st&nbsp;team all-league honors last season, passing for 2,439 yards and 26 TDs. Shawn Stanley has coached some of the top QB's ever to come out of the state and Martirano has a chance to be special. The question will be, can he get West back to the playoffs and win a few games.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4.[player_tooltip player_id='402426' first='Traeger' last='Healy'] QB 26' North Medford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the fastest rising prospects in the NW. Healy earned 2^nd&nbsp;team all-conference honors as a sophomore, hitting on 71% of his passes for 1,796 yards and 17 TDs/7 INTs. North loses some of the state's top talent and if Healy can overcome that and lead the Black Tornado that will speak volumes about his game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5.[player_tooltip player_id='402395' first='Braxton' last='Singleton'] WR 26' North Salem</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hands down one of the top players in Oregon. Singleton is going to be a big-time recruit with double digit D1 offers, but North has never been a serious contender when it comes playoff time, which also translates as it relates to accolades. The Vikings also don't really pass the ball, with Braxton catching 13 passes for 375 yards and 7 total TDs last year. He would be a 1000+ yard receiver most other places.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6.[player_tooltip player_id='1103479' first='Kenya' last='Johnson'] RB 25' Sprague</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This kid had a great year considering the Oly's situation, finishing 2^nd&nbsp;in the state in total yards (1429) and TDs (16). His 7.2 yards per carry average on 197 touches earned him 2^nd&nbsp;team all-league honors. From a POY perspective Johnson almost single handily kept his team in ball games, finishing 2-7.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7.[player_tooltip player_id='904355' first='Rocco' last='Graziano'] WR 25' Sheldon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the state's top overall athletes, earning 1^st&nbsp;team all-conference honors at WR and Kicker. He has one of the best legs in the West, but also is a 6-2 200-pound standout at WR who caught 20 passes for 270 yards last season. Look for him to be a prime target and go to for the Irish this year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8.[player_tooltip player_id='1103477' first='Bridger' last='Foss']&nbsp; RB 25' South Medford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not a lot of people are aware of Foss, as an undersized RB who split carries. That said as he was outstanding last year and will be a key fixture out of the backfield with [player_tooltip player_id='285876' first='Kameron' last='Rague'] playing more of a role as well. He earned 2^nd&nbsp;team all-league accolades and will be a 1^st&nbsp;team projected back this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9.[player_tooltip player_id='937232' first='Kellen' last='Bowman'] QB 27' South Salem</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You will hear this kids name a lot over the next few years. The standout baseball player can also play a little QB and could be the next Saxon to put up state leading numbers. The problem being that South is not able to compete come playoff time, going 17-3 over the last two seasons, and then losing by a combined score of 65-6 in the first round the last two years.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10.<strong>Dukatti Witherspoon</strong> QB 25' Sprague</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AJ Robinson did a really good job even with the Oly's finishing 2-7 last season. They competed in most ball games without Drew Rodriguez, which wasn't expected. The 6-4 Witherspoon will air it out and could put up some big numbers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->