MaxPreps 2014 Football Sophomore All-American Teams

At the start of the season, Tate Martell was not even Bishop Gorman's starting quarterback.

The highly-touted sophomore arrived at Bishop Gorman as third-string on the depth chart. However, it didn't take long for the 5-foot-11 signal-caller to make his mark.

Tate Martell, Bishop Gorman

Photo by Jann Hendry

"When he came in he was No. 3 (on the depth chart). He never griped about it. No one ever said anything about it, and he came into the Servite game and it was pretty much a done deal after that," head coach Tony Sanchez told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Martell took over as Bishop Gorman's starting quarterback in the team's second game and never looked back. He led Bishop Gorman to thrilling victories over the likes of Bingham (South Jordan, Utah), Centennial (Corona, Calif.) and St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.).

Martell finished with 2,537 yards and 40 touchdowns on 124 of 200 passing, leading Bishop Gorman to a No. 1 finish in the MaxPreps Composite Rankings.

He is the MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year, following in the footsteps of Texas running back Johnathan Gray, Alabama running back Derrick Henry and Michigan cornerback Jabrill Peppers.

Graham-Kapowsin (Wash.) lineman Foster Sarell and University Lab (La.) linebacker Dylan Moses also drew consideration for the award.


First Team Offense

WR – Jeff Thomas, 5-11, 170, East St. Louis (Ill.)
Thomas enjoyed another big season, catching 54 passes for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns.

WR – J.T. Cauthen, 6-1, 205, Cuthbertson (Waxhaw, N.C.)
Cauthen was phenomenal, making 104 catches for 1,451 yards and 13 touchdowns.

WR – Tee Higgins, 6-4, 195, Oak Ridge (Tenn.)
Also a star basketball player, Higgins had over 400 receiving yards and seven touchdowns despite being the third option in Oak Ridge's high-powered passing attack.

TE – Chance Mcleod, 6-4, 220, Victoria East (Texas)
McCleod was one of the country's most productive 10th-grade tight ends. He caught 38 passes for 577 yards and five touchdowns.



OL – Kayden Lyles, 6-3, 300, Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
On a talented Saguaro team, Lyles appears to be the next in line as a blue-chip recruit.

OL – Foster Sarell, 6-5, 300, Graham-Kapowsin (Graham, Wash.)
Sarell followed up an impressive freshman campaign with an even better sophomore season.

OL – Josh Myers, 6-6, 290, Miamisburg (Ohio)
In his sophomore season, Myers landed offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame and others.

OL – Calvin Ashley, 6-7, 300, Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.)
Ashley helped Dr. Phillips to a 12-1 record.

OL – Adrian Ealy, 6-5, 260, University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.)
With tremendous size, Ealy has already earned several offers. He helped lead U-Lab to a state title.

QB – Tate Martell, 5-11, 170, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Martell emerged as the starter early in the season and completed 124 of 2,537 yards for 40 touchdowns and two interceptions, leading Bishop Gorman to an undefeated season. He also rushed for 433 yards and five scores.

QB – Myles Brennan, 6-3, 175, St. Stanislaus (Bay St. Louis, Miss.)
Brennan completed 409 of 582 pass attempts for 5,797 yards and a 64 touchdowns in addition to rushing for six scores.



RB – Greg Johnson, 5-11, 185, Hawkins (Los Angeles)
Johnson rushed for 2,371 yards and 20 touchdowns on just 147 carries.

RB – Najee Harris, 6-2, 210, Antioch (Calif.)
Perhaps NorCal's next great running back, Harris rushed 271 times for 2,263 yards and 23 scores.

RB – Tony Sharpe, 5-8, 185, Havelock (N.C.)
Sharpe was a beast, simply put. He carried 255 times for 2,290 yards and 38 scores.

ATH - Tyjon Lindsey, 5-9, 165, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Lindsey was a big-play threat every time he touched the ball. He made 38 catches and scored 15 touchdowns.

First Team Defense


DL – Marquiss Spencer, 6-5, 230, Greenwood (Miss.)
Spencer registered a whopping 150 total tackles and 25 sacks, leading all sophomores nationally.

DL – Ja'len Parks, 6-4, 275, Newberry (Fla.)
Parks did it all for Newberry. In addition to his 40 tackles, he made three sacks, recovered two fumbles, and contributed on offense.



DL – Marvin Wilson, 6-4, 300, Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas)
Wilson was as disruptive on defense as any 10th-grader in the country. He posted 67 tackles and 15 sacks as well as 19 tackles for loss.

DL – Jay Tufele, 6-3, 275, Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)
Tufele played a big role in Bingham's title-winning season. He made 63 tackles and six sacks from the defensive tackle position.

LB – T.D. Blackmon, 6-0, 200, Maryville (Tenn.)
Blackmon helped Maryville secure a state title by blocking a potential game-winning field goal in the finals and later intercepting a two-point conversion attempt in overtime.

LB – Dylan Moses, 6-3, 230, University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.)
Moses enjoyed another huge season, leading U-Lab to a state title with 99 tackles, two forced fumbles and two blocked punts.

LB – Bruce Jordan-Swilling, 6-1, 200, Brother Martin (New Orleans)
In addition to his 1,317 yards at running back, Jordan-Swilling starred defensively, making 67 tackles and tallying three sacks, two interceptions and two defensive scores.

LB – Anthony Hines III, 6-3, 225, Plano East (Texas)
Hines averaged 13 tackles a game for one of the largest schools in the state.

LB –Markail Benton, 6-2, 205, Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
Benton made 87 tackles and registered four sacks in Central's first 10 games.



DB – DeAngelo Gibbs, 6-2, 200, Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, Ga.)
Gibbs showed flashes of brilliance in his sophomore season at Peachtree Ridge. He played sparingly at receiver in addition to his duties in the secondary.

DB – Darnay Holmes, 5-11, 185, Newbury Park (Calif.)
Holmes made 54 tackles and broke up 15 passes in addition to contributing over 1,300 yards on offense.

DB – Shaun Wade, 6-2, 180, Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
On a talent-laden Trinity squad, Wade roamed the secondary and helped the team to a Class 3A state title.

DB – Richard Lecounte, 5-10, 170, Liberty County (Hinesville, Ga.)
Lecounte was in on 100 tackles and made four interceptions.
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Second Team Offense


WR – Devon Hunter, 6-2, 205, Indian River (Chesapeake, Va.)
Hunter totaled 45 catches and 608 yards through 11 games.

WR – Sage Surratt, 6-2, 190, East Lincoln (Denver, N.C.)
The younger brother of 2016 recruit Chazz, Sage tallied 1,237 receiving yards and eight touchdowns for undefeated East Lincoln.

WR – Dakari "D.J." Matthews, 5-10, 165, First Coast (Jacksonville, Fla.)
For Class 8A quarterfinalist First Coast, Matthews was superb, making 55 catches for 999 yards and seven scores.



TE – Chase Rogers, 6-3, 190, St. Stanislaus (Bay St. Louis, Miss.)
A reliable target for Myles Brennan, Rogers made 52 catches for 877 yards and nine scores.

OL – TeDarrell Slaton, 6-5, 300, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
Slaton Anchored an offensive line that helped American Heritage capture another Class 5A state title.

OL – Jake Moretti, 6-5, 270, Pomona (Arvada, Colo.)
Moretti had a marvelous sophomore season for Ponoma, earning first team all-state honors in Colorado's largest classification.

OL – Emani Mason, 6-4, 270, East English Village Prep (Detroit)
Mason was an all-league selection for the second year in a row.

OL – Jordan McNair, 6-6, 290, McDonogh (Owings Mills, Md.)
McNair stepped into a starting role for McDonogh and had a very solid season.

OL – Isaiah Wilson, 6-8, 280, Poly Prep Country Day (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Wilson was an all-Brooklyn pick for Poly Prep.



QB – Shawn Robinson, 6-2, 200, Guyer (Denton, Texas)
Robinson completed 145 of 238 passes for 2,811 yards and 33 touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 1,415 yards and 17 scores.

QB – Bailey Hockman, 6-2, 210, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)
Hockman threw for 3,597 yards and 42 touchdowns in leading McEachern to the AAAAAA Final Four.

RB – De'Andre Swift, 5-7, 176, St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia)
Swift was an integral part of the AAAA title-winning St. Joseph's Prep squad, accounting for over 1,200 yards out of the backfield.

RB – Ty Chandler, 5-11, 170, Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tenn.)
One of the top young players in The Volunteer State, Chandler rushed 209 times for 1,348 yards and 22 touchdowns.

RB – Colin Wilson, 6-1, 200, Clay (Green Cove Springs, Fla.)
Wilson enjoyed a big sophomore season, rushing for 1,555 yards and 27 touchdowns on 218 carries.

ATH - Tarik Black, 6-4, 190, Cheshire Academy (Conn.)
Black was one of the top offensive weapons in Connecticut. He made 57 catches for 926 yards and 12 touchdowns.

ATH - Denzel Houston, 6-0, 175, Mainland (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Houston had a monster sophomore campaign, completing 184 of 290 passes for 2,783 yards and 34 scores while rushing for 575 yards and nine addition touchdowns.



Second Team Defense


DL - A.J. Epenesa, 6-5, 240, Edwardsville (Ill.)
Epenesa bounced back from a season-ending injury last year to post 36 tackles, three sacks and an interception during the 2014 regular season.

DL – Marlon Tuipulotu, 6-2, 275, Central (Independence, Ore.)
Tuipulotu was responsible for 72 tackles and 12 sacks, as well as five fumble recoveries.

DL – Greg Rogers, 6-4, 280, Centennial (Las Vegas)
Rogers has the earmarks of a future star at defensive tackle. He made 37 tackles from the position as a sophomore.

DL – Dylan Meeks, 6-2, 215, Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.)
Meeks wreaked havoc on defense, totaling 152 tackles and seven sacks.

LB – Joshua Ross, 6-1, 210, St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)
After injury cost him most of his ninth-grade season, Ross earned All-Metro North honors with 123 tackles.

LB – Maleik Gray, 6-2, 200, LaVergne (Tenn.)
Gray moved around, on both sides of the ball, and registered 61 tackles. He was a force at running back as well.



LB – Thomas Johnston, 6-2, 205, Spanish Fort (Ala.)
For one of Alabama's best teams, Johnston was all over the field, making 143 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

LB – Jacoby Stevens, 6-2, 200, Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
Stevens can play both linebacker and safety. He was responsible for 50 tackles, three interceptions and five pass-breakups.

LB – Joshua Brown, 6-2, 220, Long Beach Poly (Calif.)
Brown was a defensive force, totaling 101 tackles, two sacks and an interception for the Jackrabbitts.

DB – Stanford Samuels, 6-2, 175, Flanagan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.)
Flanagan enjoyed a great 2014 season, thanks in part to the efforts of the hard-hitting Samuels, who thrived at cornerback and on special teams, making 36 tackles and breaking up 12 passes.

DB – Lamont Wade, 5-11, 185, Clairton (Pa.)
After helping Clairton to a 15-1 season, Wade is shaping up to be the next blue-chip recruit from the Pennsylvania powerhouse.

DB – Tahj Capehart, 5-10, 175, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Capehart was a versatile weapon for state champion Ocean Lakes, catching 10 touchdowns and contributing on kick returns in addition to his work in the secondary.

DB – Derrick Tucker, 6-3, 180, Manvel (Texas)
Manvel enjoyed a 13-1 season as Tucker helped roam the secondary, registering 43 total tackles.