Young Guns presented by Champs Sports

Much like NFL rookies and NCAA freshmen are becoming difference-makers in their first season, high school freshmen and sophomores are having an increasingly dramatic impact on the varsity football season.

MaxPreps identifies 10 of the country's most promising future stars in Young Guns presented by Champs Sports.

De'Andre Johnson, QB, First Coast (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Stepping into the starting quarterback role as a freshman anywhere is challenging, let alone calling the shots for a Class 7A team in the state of Florida.

That's exactly what Johnson did in 2011, and at times, he made it look easy. Johnson threw for 2,895 yards and 24 touchdowns, carrying First Coast into the Class 7A state finals.

Following his superb freshman campaign in which he earned U.S. Air Force All-American honors, Johnson gave a verbal pledge to Florida State.



{PAGEBREAK}David Sills, QB, Eastern Christian Academy (Elkton, Md.)
On the national radar since seventh grade, Sills came into his own as a freshman last season, his second as the starting varsity quarterback.

For Red Lion Christian Academy, Sills showed flashes of brilliance as a ninth grader, compiling 2,340 yards and 28 scores against a schedule that featured some very solid defenses. Now at Eastern Christian Academy, the USC commit should make even more strides as a sophomore after a busy season on the camp circuit.

{PAGEBREAK}Darian Roseboro, DL, Lincolnton (N.C.)
There was hardly a more impressive freshman defensive lineman in the country last season than Roseboro.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Roseboro excelled as a defensive end, recording 107 tackles and seven sacks, helping Lincolnton to North Carolina's Class 2A title game, a game in which he was named the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in defeat.

As a sophomore, Roseboro, who is already hearing from Ohio State, Alabama and Clemson, may also see time at fullback.

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Canton Kaumatule, OL/DL, Punahou (Honolulu)
Hailing from the alma mater of Barack Obama and, more recently and less famously, Manti Te'o, Kaumatule should be the next mega-recruit from the Aloha State.



The 6-foot-8 Kaumatule lines up at defensive end and tight end for Punahou. According to Tom Lemming, "He looks like he's ready for Division 1 ball right now."

Kaumatule's older brother Luke signed with Stanford in February, so the Cardinal should have a leg up in Canton's recruitment. However, expect offers from across the country to pour in for the rising star.

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Shane Simmons, DL, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
DeMatha has produced more than its share of prolific talents, both in football as well as other sports. The latest blue-chipper to enroll in the Washington, D.C.-area powerhouse could be freshman Shane Simmons.

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end already holds scholarship offers from Maryland and Virginia. He'll dress for varsity games this fall and could make an impact for DeMatha come playoff time.

Simmons leads a talented Class of 2016 for DeMatha which will help second-year head coach Elijah Brooks try to re-establish the program as top dog in the WCAC.

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Erik Swenson, OL, Downers Grove South (Ill.)
Though he's never played a snap of varsity football, Swenson is penciled in as a starter on the offensive line for Class 8A Downers Grove South. He's also penciled in to the recruiting board of several top schools.



The 6-foot-7, 280-pound Swenson has camped at Michigan, Notre Dame, Iowa and Wisconsin and caught the eye of coaches at each stop. His father Swen expects offers from Notre Dame and Michigan in the future.

{PAGEBREAK}Austin Kafentzis, QB, Jordan (Sandy, Utah)
Few have ever had the type of freshman season that Kafentzis put forth last fall.

The U.S. Air Force National Freshman of the Year, Kafentzis threw for 3,199 yards while rushing for 1,377. He totaled 45 touchdowns. A phenomenal athlete, Kafentzis also broke the state javelin record as a ninth grader.

If Kafentzis can keep it up, he may challenge for national all-time records in passing yards and total yards, currently held by Missouri quarterback Maty Mauk.

{PAGEBREAK}Jordan Davis, TE, Clear Lake (Houston)
Whether it's high school, college, or the NFL, big, athletic tight ends are en vogue. Davis certainly fits that mold.

Florida State, LSU and Texas have all expressed interest in the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Davis, who is extremely impressive on film, blending size and athleticism.



Expect Clear Lake to bounce back from a winless season, and for Davis to be a big part of that. Unsurprisingly, once the football season wraps up, Davis will switch gears and suit up for Clear Lake on the hardwood.

{PAGEBREAK}Spencer Perry, ATH, Heritage (Newnan, Ga.) Perry is one of the more promising freshmen in Georgia this season, a state whose reputation for producing top-notch talent continues to grow.

"Spencer has all the tools to be an electric player," Heritage coach Kevin Prisant said of the 6-foot-3 ninth grader.

Perry will see time at receiver and linebacker, where he's been delivering some bone-crushing hits this summer. He's attended some college camps and is quickly becoming a name that college coaches know for the Class of 2016.

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Jake Zembiec, QB, Aquinas Institute (Rochester, N.Y.)
Zembiec is poised to take the reins of one of New York's most successful programs as only a ninth grader.

As an eighth grader, Zembiec first caught the attention of college recruiters who were visiting Aquinas to recruit upperclassmen, including Notre Dame freshman Jarron Jones. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Zembiec still has four years to improve. As a senior, he should be clearly established as one of the country's top passers.