Oregon Player of the Year Award predictions: Offense

High school football officially kicks off in the state of Oregon this week, which means it's time to make our annual predictions for the top players in the state.   I have decided to predict a "player of the year" at each position, as well as "breakout players of the year," which can be found in the "defense' version of this two-part series.   To read the defense awards, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/oregon-player-of-the-year-award-predictions-defense/">click here</a>.   Here's a look at my player predictions for the upcoming season:   Gatorade Player of the Year   LaMarcus Bell, Lake Oswego    Lake Oswego senior LaMarcus Bell was a MaxPreps All-American selection last year after eclipsing 2,000 yards with 29 touchdowns.   That showing including a stunning 269-yard, 4-touchdown effort in the state semifinals against a talented Central Catholic team.   The 5-foot-11, 190-pound back was robbed of the Gatorade Player of the Year award last year, so he should be in line to hold the honor with similar numbers.   Bell, a Utah commit, is still flirting with four-star status and could add that illusive fourth star with a big senior campaign.   Make no mistake, Bell is one of the best Oregon running backs of the past decade.   Honorable mention: [player_tooltip player_id='402409' first='Hudson' last='Kurland'] (Lake Oswego), [player_tooltip player_id='457009' first='Sam' last='Vyhlidal'] (Lake Oswego), [player_tooltip player_id='402415' first='Killian' last='Sombe'] (Central Catholic), [player_tooltip player_id='770006' first='Joe' last='Stimpson'] (Jesuit), [player_tooltip player_id='769989' first='Viggo' last='Anderson'] (West Linn), [player_tooltip player_id='769915' first='Noah' last='Tishendorf'] (Lakeridge)   Offensive Player of the Year   [player_tooltip player_id='1232699' first='Cade' last='Mitchell'], Mountainside   As a junior, Mitchell threw for 2,052 yards with 23 touchdowns and just four interceptions, while completing 68 percent of his passes.    Two of [player_tooltip player_id='1232699' first='Cade' last='Mitchell']'s best weapons, [player_tooltip player_id='936920' first='Jasiah' last='Agnimel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='457009' first='Sam' last='Vyhlidal'], transferred to Lake Oswego this offseason, so his job may get tougher this year.   Still, Mitchell has been lights out this offseason, winning MVP awards at the Avery Strong Showcase and the Northwest Showcase.   Mountainside is likely to be in some tight games this year, which will give Mitchell the chance to put up some gaudy numbers compared to a few of his biggest challengers.   The senior quarterback is an absolute steal for New Mexico, and it will be interesting to see if his recruitment can go up another level this fall.    Honorable mention: See: Gatorade HM list   Quarterback of the Year   [player_tooltip player_id='402409' first='Hudson' last='Kurland'], Lake Oswego    Outside of [player_tooltip player_id='402409' first='Hudson' last='Kurland'] sitting most second halves last year, which tamped down his numbers, there's no reason not to love the talented quarterback.   The 6-foot-4, 200-pound signal-caller, who is committed to Washington State, is underrated nationally and has a chance to really breakout as a senior.   “He's 6-foot-4, he's got a strong arm, he's very athletic and bright as can be,” Lake Oswego coach Steve Coury said. “What else do you want?”    Aiding his cause this year?   Kurland has a collection of the best playmakers in the state around him and should thrive in that environment.   A big-time season is on the horizon.   Honorable mention: Mitchell; [player_tooltip player_id='284120' first='Drew' last='Weiler'], Lakeridge; [player_tooltip player_id='904208' first='Zeke' last='Thomas'], Willamette; [player_tooltip player_id='796694' first='Jordan' last='Rossetta'], Grants Pass   Running Back of the Year   [player_tooltip player_id='769989' first='Viggo' last='Anderson'], West Linn   This was, by far, the toughest award to give out on either side of the ball.   Why?   It's “the year of the running back” in Oregon.   LaMarcus Bell (Lake Oswego; Washington State), Killian “K.K.” Sombe (Central Catholic; Uncommitted), [player_tooltip player_id='284119' first='Ansu' last='Sanoe'] (Lakeridge; Washington) and [player_tooltip player_id='769989' first='Viggo' last='Anderson'] (West Linn; Uncommitted) are all special performers who would be locks for all-state teams most years.   Instead, they have to compete against one another for the spots.    A returning second-team all-state selection, [player_tooltip player_id='769989' first='Viggo' last='Anderson'] isn't the most highly-recruited of the bunch, but he's electric and could put up some of the best numbers in the state.   If character, leadership, coach-ability and production were all taken into account equally, Anderson would be, perhaps, the state player of the year favorite.    He's a special individual and it's impossible not to root for his success - unless you're facing him on Friday night, that is.    Honorable mention: Bell, Sanoe, Sombe   Wide Receiver of the Year   [player_tooltip player_id='770006' first='Joe' last='Stimpson'], Jesuit    I'll be honest: It's rare that a player finishes a celebrated junior season and I don't feel like I know exactly what they are.   I watched [player_tooltip player_id='770006' first='Joe' last='Stimpson']'s Hudl thinking I knew what to expect.   I was wrong.   And I have a new big-time sleeper in the state of Oregon.   After watching the tape, he's got a legit shot at being the Metro League offensive and defensive player of the year this fall.    That's firmly in the range of projected outcomes for his senior season.   The 5-foot-11, 180-pound playmaker accounted for 1,810 all-purpose yards with 17 touchdowns on offense and was a first-team all-league player in the Metro League on defense.   Nevada is getting an absolute steal in Stimpson, and I would be shocked (and disappointed) if several other schools didn't jump on the bandwagon late.   I'm not only a believer, I'm a big fan.   I can't wait to see what Stimpson brings to the gridiron on Friday nights this year.    Honorable mention: [player_tooltip player_id='769925' first='Oliver' last='Luebkert'], Beaverton; [player_tooltip player_id='1546087' first='Jaden' last='Tragesser'], Lakeridge; [player_tooltip player_id='914278' first='CD' last='Nuno'], Philomath; [player_tooltip player_id='402395' first='Braxton' last='Singleton'], North Salem; [player_tooltip player_id='1169947' first='Hudson' last='Gasperson'], Lake Oswego   Tight End of the Year   [player_tooltip player_id='1110964' first='Cole' last='Newton'], Tualatin   It's a tight race at the tight end position this year - with several players expected to experience big breakout seasons.   But Tualatin's [player_tooltip player_id='1110964' first='Cole' last='Newton'] has been a standout during the offseason camp circuit and looks to continue Tualatin's run of producing Division I athletes in recent years.   The 6-foot-5, 235-pound pass-catcher hauled in seven touchdowns on just 25 receptions last year, but should see a massive uptick in his workload.   Honorable mention: [player_tooltip player_id='457009' first='Sam' last='Vyhlidal'], Lake Oswego (see: defense); [player_tooltip player_id='1187089' first='Seager' last='Milholen'], Central Catholic; [player_tooltip player_id='1095838' first='Jack' last='Brauckmiller'], Canby (see: defense)   Offensive Lineman of the Year   [player_tooltip player_id='769924' first='Kalani' last='Ioapo'], West Linn   West Linn's lone returning all-state offensive lineman, [player_tooltip player_id='769924' first='Kalani' last='Ioapo'] will be the heart and soul of a Lions offensive line that should lead the way for one of the state's most electric, balanced offenses.    The 6-foot-4, 290-pound versatile lineman should be a late riser in the recruiting rankings, and it's a bit surprising he hasn't gotten more attention.   Honorable mention: [player_tooltip player_id='1110967' first='Connor' last='LaGrow'], Tualatin; [player_tooltip player_id='770046' first='Quinn' last='Wicklow'], Jesuit; [player_tooltip player_id='1110963' first='Aiden' last='Jakubauskas'], Mountainside; [player_tooltip player_id='1569377' first='Walter' last='Dahme'], Sherwood;

High school football officially kicks off in the state of Oregon this week, which means it's time to make our annual predictions for the top players in the state.