Oregon Preseason 6A All-State Team: Offense

The Oregon high school football season officially kicks off Friday, which means it's time for our preseason all-state teams.   At the 6A level, we've got a blend of proven, dynamic talents who have already been all-state honorees in the past, and a few players who we expect to break out in a big way this fall.   Remember, this is an all-state list, which is based, primarily, on projected high school production.   Our class rankings are based entirely on college projection.   While there will obviously be some overlap, there are players on this list who are not as highly ranked as prospects, but are truly special on Friday nights.   Without further ado, here is Prep Redzone's Preseason Oregon 6A All-State Offense:   Quarterback   QB [player_tooltip player_id='937233' first='Sloan' last='Baker'], West Linn   QB [player_tooltip player_id='904208' first='Zeke' last='Thomas'], Willamette   West Linn senior [player_tooltip player_id='937233' first='Sloan' last='Baker'] returns after winning Three Rivers League offensive player of the year last season.   The 5-foot-10, 180-pound signal-caller threw for 2,808 yards, 37 touchdowns and just two interceptions with 545 yards and six scores on the ground.   The totals? 3,353 yards, 43 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.   Baker is a Gatorade Player of the Year candidate and could put together a top-10 season all-time if he's able to improve those staggering numbers from a year ago.   Willamette junior [player_tooltip player_id='904208' first='Zeke' last='Thomas'] has been an all-league starter as a freshman and sophomore, and appears to have made a big leap physically.   That's scary for the rest of the state.   Why?    Last season, Thomas threw for 2,652 yards and 32 touchdowns with eight interceptions, adding 370 yards and three scores on the ground.   Those are sophomore year numbers.   I can only imagine what he'll be capable of achieving over the next two seasons.   Given his status as highly-productive (eventual) four-year starter, Thomas could break into the state's all-time leading passers list.    All of all the positions in the state, this was the easiest to pick two for our purposes.    Running back   RB [player_tooltip player_id='1591586' first='Luke' last='Ortner'], Jesuit   RB [player_tooltip player_id='1609595' first='Iden' last='Rule'], Tualatin    RB [player_tooltip player_id='1125493' first='Reece' last='Ballew'], Mountainside    Ortner ran for 2,111 yards last season at Jesuit and returns having improved his strength and speed.   While much of “The Franchise,” Jesuit's notable offensive line, has moved on, he's still a highly-skilled back.   I don't expect him to crack 2,000 yards again this season due to a significant talent dip in front of him.   But Ortner should, once again, be one of the state's most productive ball-carriers.   Rule makes the list despite being part of a three-headed monster that could all cut into the workload.    But senior [player_tooltip player_id='937241' first='Cole' last='Hachmeister'], more on him later, is a do-it-all RB/WR hybrid player, and super sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2079648' first='Easton' last='Grubb'] is still a little bit young.   That should clear the runway for Rule, a TRL all-league performer last year, to put up monster numbers.   On his own, Rule would be near-lock to make all-state, assuming he stays healthy, but with two other backs cutting into his workload, I was slightly hesitant.   Of note, that same factor kept both of Willamette's talented backs — senior [player_tooltip player_id='1924374' first='Zuzi' last='Alwineyan'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2127746' first='Jonny' last='Jenkins'] — from claiming a spot.   Either way, he's an absolute monster.    Ballew is a gut call here.   As a sophomore, the Mountainside back averaged 9.3 yards per carry and flashed major upside, but he missed the entirety of his sophomore campaign.   This offseason, Ballew was named RB MVP of two PRZ events and ran a blistering 10.76 100 on the track.   All the offseason indicators, plus the underlying numbers, speak to a monster campaign coming.   The Metro League allowed a 2,000-yard rusher last year, so it's a forgiving conference for workload backs (compared to the TRL).    I think Ballew is about to let everyone know he's one of the true major talents in the state.    Wide receiver   WR [player_tooltip player_id='937176' first='Malachi' last='Garlington'], Nelson   WR [player_tooltip player_id='632957' first='Josiah' last='Molden'], West Linn   WR [player_tooltip player_id='1560665' first='Brevik' last='Hill'], Grants Pass   ATH [player_tooltip player_id='937241' first='Cole' last='Hachmeister'], Tualatin    Garlington, an Oregon Ducks commit, had 20 touchdowns last season and was the catalyst of Nelson's stellar season.   This year, star quarterback Danny Leary has graduated and there's not a conference player of the year-type to replace him.   Make no mistake, Garlington is the most explosive receiver in the state, but it also wouldn't shock me if last year's insane touchdown number came down with a QB change and defenses doubling him - even as Garlington shows he's an improved player overall.   Either way, he's been one of the state's best stories of the past year, and he's got all-state written all over him.   Molden, another Oregon pledge, is coming back from a torn ACL that he suffered during the playoffs.   But he has been an all-state-caliber defensive back every season at the high school level, and was a first-team all-league wide receiver last fall.   Molden is one of the most polished, physically-gifted athletes the state has produced in the past decade.   He would easily start as the all-decade CB1, and that type of athleticism and explosiveness tends to show itself on both sides of the ball.   If he's 100 percent back - with no restrictions - he could easily wind up first-team all-state on both sides of the ball.    Hill was the conference player of the year last year, as well as a first-team all-state receiver, so this projection isn't much of a leap.   He racked up 87 receptions, 1,020 yards and 15 touchdowns, pairing with potential all-state quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='796694' first='Jordan' last='Rossetta'] to break school records.   That duo is back.   Expect more of the same.    Hachmeister is a RB/WR hybrid weapon for Tualatin who was playing at an all-state level last season before getting hurt.   The speedster played in just five games, but racked up 881 yards and 9 total touchdowns offensively, averaging 9 yards per carry.   Tight end   TE [player_tooltip player_id='1613644' first='Presley' last='DeLance'], Lake Oswego   TE [player_tooltip player_id='1609596' first='Brady' last='Knips'], Tualatin    TE [player_tooltip player_id='1242768' first='George' last='VanSandt'], Central Catholic    The tight end position is loaded with high-upside prospects, but none has produced like an all-state performer to this point.   So, we've listed three, which is obviously cheating a little bit.   Lake Oswego's [player_tooltip player_id='1613644' first='Presley' last='DeLance'] is arguably the top recruit in the state in 2028 and could be poised for a monster breakout season.   The Lakers have lot a lot of talent from their backfield, but have a collection of the state's best pass-catchers.   That means the ball is likely to be spread around, but he should still be in line for a huge year.   Tualatin's [player_tooltip player_id='1609596' first='Brady' last='Knips'] absolutely dominated this offseason and would've been my pick to claim this spot outright, but early indications are that he's even further ahead as a defensive prospect and could be among the state's best defensive linemen.   With two-way responsibilities and Tualatin boasting 6-7 quality offensive weapons, Knips may only get a share of the high octane offense.   VanSandt, an Oregon commit, started last season as a back-up before earning a starting role.   After one of the region's biggest and loudest offseasons, he picked up offers from Arkansas, Oregon, Oregon State and others.   After a commitment to the Razorbacks, he flipped to the Ducks.   All three players are potential all-state guys, and each one is fighting to be considered one of the top prospects in their class.   The only question is, “Who will have the biggest breakout season statistically?”    Offensive line   OL [player_tooltip player_id='1591863' first='Brock' last='Sahlfeld'], Glencoe   OL [player_tooltip player_id='1654734' first='PJ' last='Tautu'], Central Catholic   OL [player_tooltip player_id='936855' first='Nate' last='Peau'], Central Catholic   OL [player_tooltip player_id='2054690' first='Grady' last='Hall'], West Linn   OL [player_tooltip player_id='937281' first='Tripp' last='Johansen'], Willamette   OL Xander Mishkin, West Linn   Sahlfeld was a first-team all-state selection a year ago, so his inclusion is easy.   [player_tooltip player_id='1654734' first='PJ' last='Tautu'] is arguably the top prospect in the class of 2028 and he was a first-team all-league selection both ways a year ago.   The national recruit is a better defensive prospect than offensive lineman, but he dominates on both sides of the ball in college.   Both Peau Bros. could be considered for this spot, but [player_tooltip player_id='936855' first='Nate' last='Peau'] is the better on-field player right now, so he gets the nod as a physical, wide-bodied offensive lineman who is a plus-plus player as both a run and pass blocker.   West Linn boasts a pair of the state's top offensive linemen in Hall and Mishkin.   Both guys were TRL all-league selections a year ago, and with so much talent graduating, they could easily make the leap to all-state level.   Johansen, who was second in the state in sacks, is also a quality, tone-setting offensive lineman for one of the state's best programs.   He's my leader in the clubhouse for PRZ's “top two-way lineman” award at the end of the year.   Expect him to earn all-state recognition both ways, as long as he is relied upon equally on both sides of the ball.

The Oregon high school football season officially kicks off Friday, which means it's time for our preseason all-state teams.