Preseason All-CIF San Diego football team

08-13-2006

Preseason All-CIF San Diego football team

QUARTERBACK

Chris Forcier, St. Augustine, Sr., 6-4, 205 – Some say the UCLA-bound quarterback better than big brother Jason, now at Michigan, which is saying a lot. He’s so good he forced us to leave Hilltop’s Craig Rasmussen, El Capitan’s Ryan Lindley and Palo Verde's David Ortega off this list. Forcier was second-team All-CIF last year while leading the Saints to the Division III title.

RUNNING BACKS

James Leitch, St. Augustine, Sr., 5-10, 180 – When St. Augustine slumped at midseason, Leitch provided a spark en route to the CIF San Diego Section Division III title and first-team All-Eastern League honors.

Gino Gordon, Francis Parker, Sr., 5-10, 185 – He isn’t tested much playing in the Coastal South League, but he’s big enough and quick enough for an offer from Oregon.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Markques Simas, Mira Mesa, Sr., 6-2, 205 – Most high school receivers would miss Mike Coughlin, now at Boise State, but Simas has the size and speed to make his own plays. He was All-CIF second team last year.

Stanley Paul, La Costa Canyon, Sr., 5-11, 175 – Santa Fe Christian’s three-way threat as a receiver, defensive back and return man will play for La Costa Canyon this year. He needs to keep his academics in order, which cost him eligibility last year and was all that stood between him and All-CIF honors.

TIGHT END

Nate Chandler, Mira Mesa, Sr., 6-6, 225 – See comment for Markques Simas at wide receiver. Ditto for Chandler. He committed last spring to UCLA, where he’ll fit in the Marcedes Lewis mold. Remember how Lewis, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, ran roughshod over San Diego State's secondary last year?

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Tyler Mabry, Francis Parker, Sr., 6-6, 285 – He’s isn’t tested in Coastal South football, but he has the athleticism to pitch for Parker’s strong baseball program. Is there such thing as a tackle option play? He’s committed to a Stanford offer.

Ben Thorne, Coronado, Sr., 6-3, 260 – Ben looked good when he went up against some of the state’s best linemen at the Nike USC camp. He figures to draw recruiting interest from mid-majors.

Winston Wilkinson, Rancho Bernardo, Sr., 6-3, 235 – As usual, the Broncos were anchored by their line play last year. This will be the case again this year with Winston’s return a building block.

Juan Bolanos, Mount Miguel, Sr., 6-1, 240 – Part of the reason the Matadors showed improvement last year with a 4-6-1 overall record that included a playoff loss to Ramona was the line play led by Bolanos, an All-Grossmont South League choice.

Brad Johnson, Mission Hills, Sr. – 6-5, 250 – Mission Hills enters its third year with a third-year varsity lineman and All-Valley League pick who leads the team on both sides of the ball.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Nick Wood, Poway, Sr., 6-3, 260 – Wood plays both sides of the line and is considered by many the top lineman in the Palomar League. He was an All-Palomar choice a year ago who helped the Titans advance to the second round of the Division I playoffs.

Nick Pascarella, Carlsbad, Jr., 6-0, 185 – Pascarella used his pass-rushing skills to earn honors as a sophomore second-team All-Palomar League choice in a league heavy on linemen, but he has transferred to Carlsbad for his junior year.

Mark Weber, El Camino, Sr., 6-2, 235 – El Camino has fallen on hard times in recent years, but a two-way lineman such as Weber is a throwback to the Wildcats’ glory years. He was an All-Avocado League pick last year.

Tommy Draheim, El Capitan, Sr., 6-4, 250 – The Vaqueros have one of San Diego’s top quarterbacks in Ryan Lindley, and the strong-armed passer has a body guard to protect him with their All-Grossmont North League tackle.

LINEBACKERS

Tyler Seau-Sparks, Mission Hills, Sr., 5-11, 215 – He might be better suited as a safety in college, but the run-stuffing inside linebacker and son of future Hall-of-Famer Junior Seau is in the middle of things as an high school inside linebacker.

Deonte Green, Mission Bay, Sr., 6-2, 225 – He’s big, he’s strong and he’s athletic enough to play out of the Bucs’ backfield in addition to the middle of the defnese. But defense is his future.

Brock Butler, Carlsbad, Sr., 6-2, 210 – Butler, an All-Avocado League pick last year, reminds Carlsbad of Brandon Spillar, the former Lancers linebacker entering his third year with the St. Louis Rams. Butler has the strength and quickness to blitz the run as well as the pass.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Todd Doxey, Hoover, Sr., 6-1, 170 – He’s a defensive stopper in basketball as well as football. He’s being recruited as a free safety, but Doxey is a deep-ball threat as a wide receiver, too.

Darryl Williams, Escondido, 6-1. 180 – His father, Dokie, was one of the all-time all-around athletes in San Diego who might have had a longer NFL career if he played cornerback instead of wide receiver. For now Darryl has also shown defense is his best side.

Gary Lee, Hoover, Sr., 5-11, 160 – An athletic talent who shared the CIF San Diego Section title in the long jump last year. He’s a threat on both sides of the ball.

Lester Arnold, Point Loma, Sr., 5-11, 180 – Arnold helped the Pointers to an unbeaten 10-0 record and Western League title as a threat on both sides of the ball. His best position is as a cornerback.

MULTI-PURPOSE

Craig Rasmussen, Hilltop, Sr., 6-2, 180 – Versatile athlete who is a Division I prospect at quarterback and can play in the defensive backfield. He also was a second-team All-CIF pick in baseball as a pitcher and first baseman.

Larry Parker, St. Augustine, Sr., 5-11, 170 – When he’s not catching balls from Chris Forcier, playing in the secondary or returning kicks and punts, he’s the Saints’ backup quarterback.

Raleigh Sevier, West Hills, Jr., 5-9, 165 – He begins his third varsity season as only a junior. He’s played mostly running back his first two years but will see more time on defense the next two seasons

Darrell Catchings, Escondido, 6-2, 185 – He's bound for Oregon State as a wide receiver, but he's also an athletic threat as a defensive back. As one of San Diego’s top high jumpers, he’ll come out on top of balls thrown up for grabs.

Augie Williams, Grossmont, Sr., 6-0, 195 – Grossmont’s athletics resurgence in boys sports last year included Williams scoring as a running back, receiver and defensive back for the Grossmont South League championship football team and playing on the CIF San Diego Section Division II championship baseball team.

Mac Zimdars, Santa Fe Christian, Sr., 6-1, 190 – He’s a bruiser carrying the ball out of the backfield and bruiser stopping the ball on defense. He broke off several long runs last year.

KICKER

Billy Bennett, Torrey Pines, Sr., 6-2, 195 – Bennett committed early to Boston College. He’s the No. 1-ranked kicker in the nation for the second straight year and has possessed the best leg in the San Diego Section on kickoffs and field goals since his sophomore year.

PUNTER

Kyle Albini, San Pasqual, Sr., 6-0, 185 – Albini continues a long tradition of San Pasqual kickers who also produce as running backs. Albini is strong a kicker and punter but probably better as a punter.