Preseason: Oregon’s 6A POY Candidates (Ranked #1-15) DEFENSE
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What I like about the 6A state player of the year break down, is that it has nothing to do with recruiting. It’s referencing the best players on the field and what they mean to their individual teams. That being…
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Continue ReadingWhat I like about the 6A state player of the year break down, is that it has nothing to do with recruiting. It’s referencing the best players on the field and what they mean to their individual teams.
That being said, if you play on an average team, it’s always much harder to be nominated for all league or all-state honors. Have a look at the preseason O & D.
DEFENSE
1. Richie Anderson Richie Anderson 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Tualatin | 2023 State OR Sr. DE Tualatin- Expect to see Anderson starting for Colorado St from a young age and listed among the top players in the Mountain West Conference collegiately. Oregon HS lineman have NOT been able to contain him, even with a double team. Someone should almost be fined for his 2nd team all TRL honors from a year ago.
2. Mark Hamper Mark Hamper 6'2" | 205 lbs | ATH West Linn | 2023 State OR Sr. ATH West Linn- What doesn’t this kid do. He seems to always be in the right place at the right time, looking like an athlete who runs a 4.4 laser 40-yard dash, but doesn’t. His 42 total tackles and 5 INTs, with 5 PBUs from a year ago are just a glimpse of his potential. The Lions are in a unique spot due to team depth, as they can actually give Hamper time to breath and come off the field.
3. Teitum Tuioti Teitum Tuioti 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Sheldon | 2023 State OR Sr. DE Sheldon- Watch the film. The Oregon commit torched everyone in the state of Nebraska and is going to be a big problem for Oregon HS lineman, or anyone trying to block him. His size and speed are pretty rare as Tuioti puts the Irish in the 6A hunt, with a deep senior group.
4. Will Wilson Will Wilson 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB Tualatin | 2023 State OR Sr. LB Tualatin- Personally one of my favorite players to watch in the state. If they don’t already, Northern Arizona will realize what they landed, once Will gets on the field collegiately. In limited time as a junior due to injury, Wilson was borderline unstoppable, coming hard at 6-3 220. Give him a full season and he could break records.
5. Earl Ingle Earl Ingle 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB West Linn | 2023 State OR Sr. LB West Linn- The reigning TRL defensive POY. Ingle will be able to focus exclusively on D after playing some QB as a junior. His accolades as an underclassman, in the state’s toughest conference by far, speak to the respect that coaches within the league have for him. Look for the 6-1 220-pound standout to be highly recruited by high end academic and military D1 institutions.
6. Drew Rodriguez Drew Rodriguez 6'2" | 200 lbs | DB Sprague | 2023 State OR Sr. Safety Sprague- Rodriguez earned all-conference honors as a freshman to put his talent into perspective. As a junior he was one of the only underclassmen in the state to earn 1st team all-league accolades on both sides of the football, while returning multiple kicks and INTs for TDs. A lot will be determined by how the Oly’s fare this season as it relates to individual awards.
7. Noah Staley Noah Staley 6'0" | 220 lbs | RB Jesuit | 2023 State OR Sr. DE/OLB Jesuit- Staley is freakishly strong, playing out of position, and earning 1st team all-Metro honors as a Junior. He projects as the top defensive player in the conference with the Crusaders ranking as a 6A title contender, helping to highlight some of the athletes on the roster.
8. Wiley Donnerberg Wiley Donnerberg 6'4" | 200 lbs | ATH West Linn | 2024 State OR Jr. Safety West Linn- Look for Donnerberg to receive a host of attention because of his offensive ability, while projecting on D in my opinion. His ability to run and make plays, having an ideal frame to add size, puts him in a special category of athlete. His 20 total tackles, 7 PBU’s, and 3 INTs as a sophomore are a sneak peak of what’s to come.
9. Tiger Black Tiger Black 6'3" | 265 lbs | DL Roseburg | 2023 State OR Sr. DT Roseburg- The 2X 1st team all SWC DT, and reigning conference defensive POY, was typically the best player on the field in every game. Look for him to be even better collegiately as he should dominate 6A Oregon football as a senior.
10. Ethan Biondine Ethan Biondine 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Lakeridge | 2024 OR Jr. LB Lakeridge- Biondine started as a freshman and had an unreal sophomore season, putting up one of the most impressive stat lines state wide (80 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks). Much like Noah Staley Noah Staley 6'0" | 220 lbs | RB Jesuit | 2023 State OR he played out of position against the state’s best in the TRL and was still dominant. Look for him to be a leader at LB for a Pacers program who will rank in the top 5.
11. AJ Noland AJ Noland 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Tualatin | 2024 State OR Jr. DB Tualatin- Noland has one of the fastest rising stocks of any player in the state. He is all of 6-2 and impresses with his overall athleticism (basketball). He returns after earning 2nd team all-conference honors as a sophomore, as he should be a conference and state POY favorite the next few seasons.
12. Ty Pugliano Ty Pugliano 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB North Medford | 2023 State OR Sr. Safety North Medford- Pugliano projects more on the defensive side of the ball, while being a guy who should touch the ball 20+ times per game. He earned 2nd team all SWC honors on D as a junior, as accolades and other awards will come depending where North uses him. He will rarely leave the field.
13. Calvin Macy Calvin Macy 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Lake Oswego | 2023 State OR Sr. LB Lake Oswego- There is a big opportunity for Macy, who holds multiple D1 offers, with this very youthful Lakers program. It will take him having a POY type season if LO is going to succeed on a state wide level.
14.Timmy Mitchell Jr. CB Central Catholic- Most are now familiar with the name as he has a state title and Les Schwab Bowl MVP award under his belt. CC will continue to be in the mix and competing for a championship, which will only highlight what he does in the secondary.
15. Jayden Moses Jayden Moses 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Grant | 2023 State OR Sr. LB Grant- By far and away the best player in the PIL. Moses and Drew Rodriguez Drew Rodriguez 6'2" | 200 lbs | DB Sprague | 2023 State OR were the only freshman at the 6A level to earn all-league honors four years ago. It’s tough for anyone to earn all state accolades out of the PIL due to the consistent struggle within the conference.
OTHERS: Oliver Fisher Oliver Fisher 6'5" | 225 lbs | TE Sherwood | 2023 State OR Sr. DE Sherwood, Liam Cassidy Liam Cassidy 6'5" | 300 lbs | DL Jesuit | 2024 State OR Jr. DT Jesuit, Zach Wusstig Zach Wusstig 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Jefferson Highschool | 2023 OR Sr. DB South Salem, Austin Goetz Austin Goetz 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Tigard | 2023 State OR Sr. LB Tigard