Central Section Small Schools Early Breakout Candidates

As we move through the first four weeks of the high school prep football season, there are no shortage of central valley athletes that have been off to hot starts for their respective schools. Below, we will breakdown some of these early season breakout candidates and dive into their film from the first four weeks of the season.   Want 30% off of your subscription? Use promo code PaulG30 at checkout!    The Morro Bay product has been extremely productive through the first four games of the season, and has also shown he can be a very efficient and accurate passer thus far in his Junior campaign. The small school signal caller has passed for 972 yards and 14 touchdowns while having over a 60% completion percentage and showing he can spread the ball around to multiple weapons. He is currently one of the top passers across the central section, and has shown he can get the ball out quick and into tight windows while a true threat in the running game as well.     The Bakersfield Christian standout has no shortage of varsity playing experience, and has really started off the season strong in the first four weeks for the Eagles. He has thrown for over 700 yards and 7 TD's, while having over a 70% completion percentage, showing his accuracy and efficiency downfield. The 2026 prospect has shown the ability to scramble, buy time with his feet in the pocket and deliver the ball downfield on the run, showing a strong arm vertically and putting good touch on the ball over the top. With still two years left in his prep career, he is a no brainer name to note in top regional quarterback conversations.     Lopez is one of the most explosive and true elite speed running backs across the central valley, and put together one of the best Junior seasons of any running back in the state. Back for his Senior season for the state title appearing Wasco Tigers, Lopez seems to picked up right where he left off in 2023. Through the first four weeks, he is averaging over 200 yards per game + 2 TD's on the ground, and has shown improved short area twitch and added another gear in the open field. Look for Lopez to hit the 1,500 yard marker in his Senior season as the Tigers look to get back to Pasadena this December.     Cortes has had a very impressive early season resume for Lindsay, and has rushed for 560 yards and 5 scores in the first three weeks of the season while averaging nearly 8 yards per carry. He is a true workhorse back that gets downhill quickly, breaks arm/ankle tackles with ease and looks for contact in the hole while showing good contact balance and leg drive through initial contact. The Central Valley is always loaded with top tier rushers, but Cortes currently sits at the number two spot in overall rushing yards and is one of the top small school players across the region once again.     Teixeira has been one of the more under recruited kids across the valley for the past couple seasons, and he is a big and physical outside player with elite ball skills, route running abilities, downfield speed and a huge catch radius especially when making contested catches. He shows the ability to lineup on the outside, in the slot or even in the backfield and is a natural ball carrier that runs behind his pads and is tough to bring down in the open field. He is off to a tremendous start this Fall, going for nearly 350 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns, while averaging 86 receiving yards per game, good for top 5 in the central section. He is a no brainer next level college player, and looks to be a big time steal for a college program as we head toward signing day this Winter.     Calderon has been a big time weapon for Adame this season, and has shown he can be a true deep threat playmaker that can go up and win on 50/50 balls and stretch the field and stress the back end. He is averaging over 100 yards per game receiving so far this season, with 4 scores and nearly 20 yards per catch while showing he can beat zone coverage and get off at the LOS against press man. At 6'1 and 185 pounds, he has good size against smaller defenders, and shows highpoint abilities/contested catch skills in the red-zone and when boxing out defenders. He is a no brainer D3+ player at the next level and is another under-recruited receiver in the central valley.     Ruiz is a big time playmaker in the backend of this Exeter defensive backfield, and is a true ball hawk that can cover a ton of ground in a hurry with elite closing speed and ball skills over the top. So far this season he is among the valley's best with 3 INT's and is atop the tackle rankings as well across the Central Section. Ruiz is a fluid athlete with good hips in transition, a natural peddler, flashes disciplined eyes and consistently baits quarterbacks into bad throws over the middle before breaking on the ball. As we progress through the season, he should continue to be one of the top defensive backs the valley has to offer, and is another D3+ caliber prospect that has been flying a bit under the radar in his prep career.     Pina is one of the top 2028 prospects in all of central/northern California, and is currently second in receiving yards across the entire section, behind Xzavier Brooks. What he has been able to do in his first prep season is impressive, and he has shown through the first four weeks he can be a consistent and explosive playmaker at the varsity level in his freshman campaign. Pina has gone for 400 yards receiving and 4 TD's through the first four weeks, while averaging over 100 yards per game and showing he is a true deep downfield threat while a precise route runner underneath as well.

As we move through the first four weeks of the high school prep football season, there are no shortage of central valley athletes that have been off to hot starts for their respective schools. Below, we will breakdown some of these early season breakout candidates and dive into their film from the first four weeks of the season.