MaxPreps 2015 Football Junior All-American Team

Video: Sam Ehlinger's highlights vs. Southlake Carroll
See the National Junior Player of the Year in action.

Dec. 11, 2015 is a date that Texas high school football fans will not soon forget. On that night, Westlake defeated three-time defending state champion Allen, snapping Allen's astonishing 57-game winning streak.

The man between the sidelines primarily responsible for the colossal victory? Westlake quarterback Sam Ehlinger.

It was his finest moment in a season filled with stellar play. Ehlinger threw for 3,833 yards, rushed for 1,419 yards, and found the end zone a whopping 71 times. He was the Class 6A State Player of the Year, and now Ehlinger is the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year.



Ehlinger beat out Najee Harris and Biaggio Walsh for the honors.


FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

WR – Donovan Peoples-Jones, 6-2, 192, Cass Tech (Detroit)
A first team all-state pick, Peoples-Jones compiled 30 catches for 714 yards and 11 touchdowns in Cass Tech's first 10 games.

WR – Tee Higgins, 6-4, 184, Oak Ridge (Tenn.)
Higgins had a knack for finding the end zone. He snagged 51 catches for 912 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was a nominee for East Tennessee Player of the Year as well.

WR – Tyjon Lindsey, 5-8, 165, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Lindsey was explosive after the catch. He tallied 45 receptions for 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns.

TE – Hunter Bryant, 6-3, 240, Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.)
Bryant was a top target in Eastside Catholic's offense with 48 catches for 1,137 yards and 17 touchdowns.



OL – Wyatt Davis, 6-5, 315, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Davis was an all-Southland pick. He opened up holes for St. John Bosco star running back Sean McGrew.

OL – Wes Harris, 6-3, 285, Aledo (Texas)
Harris was a first team all-state pick in Texas' Class 5A.

OL – Josh Myers, 6-6, 295, Miamisburg (Ohio)
Myers was a first team all-state pick in Ohio's Division II.

OL – Kayden Lyles, 6-3, 260, Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Lyles won his third state title, anchoring the Saguaro offensive line.

OL – Austin Jackson, 6-6, 270, North Canyon (Phoenix)
Jackson was a first team all-Arizona selection.

QB – Tate Martell, 5-11, 170, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Martell was brilliant yet again for Bishop Gorman. He completed 133 of 237 passes for 2,608 yards and 32 touchdowns. He rushed for an additional nine scores.



QB – Sam Ehlinger, 6-1, 205, Westlake (Austin, Texas)
Ehlinger, the All-Central Texas Player of the Year, threw for 3,833 yards, rushed for 1,419 yards and tallied 71 total touchdowns in leading Westlake to a state title berth (as well as a victory over Allen).

RB – Najee Harris, 6-2, 222, Antioch (Calif.)
Harris was sensational. He carried 243 times for 2,744 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also added 129 receiving yards and three scores through the air.

RB – Biaggio Walsh, 5-9, 179, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Walsh came up big for Bishop Gorman time and time again. He carried 203 times for 2,451 yards and 33 touchdowns.

RB – Khalan Laborn, 5-9, 190, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Laborn was an all-area pick by the Virginian-Pilot after rushing for 2,205 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was also the Coastal Conference Player of the Year and the Regional Player of the Year.

ATH - Dylan McCaffrey, 6-5, 200, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
In leading Valor Christian to a state title, McCaffrey threw for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for 592 yards and 13 touchdowns.

K – Brenton King, 6-0, 165, Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.)
King nailed 19 of 24 attempts, with a long of 50 yards.



FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

DL – A.J. Epenesa, 6-5, 260, Edwardsville (Ill.)
The Iowa legacy had 34 tackles and three sacks, and was a first team all-area pick by the Post-Dispatch.

DL – Robert Beal, 6-4, 230, Norcross (Ga.)
Beal was a first team all-state selection as well as a second team all-area pick by the Gwinnett Daily Post.

DL – K'lavon Chaisson, 6-3, 220, North Shore (Houston)
An all-area pick by the Houston Chronicle, Chaisson helped North Shore capture a Class 6A-I state title.

DL – Tyler Shelvin, 6-3, 300, Northside (Lafayette, La.)
Shelvin was one of the few juniors to earn first team all-state recognition in Louisiana's Class 4A.

LB – Dylan Moses, 6-3, 215, University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.)
Moses was all over the field, registering 104 tackles and two sacks. He was an all-state selection.



LB – David Adams, 6-2, 225, Central Catholic (Pittsburgh)
Adams was the leading tackler for the AAAA state champs. He also earned all-state and Fab 22 honors.

LB – Thomas Johnston, 6-2, 220, Spanish Fort (Ala.)
Johnston, a first team all-state pick in Class 6A, was instrumental in Spanish Fort's state title run.

LB – Anthony Hines III, 6-3, 230, Plano East (Texas)
The blue-chip recruit amassed 205 tackles and nine sacks.

LB – Joshua Ross, 6-1, 225, St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)
Ross was the Division 3-4 Player of the Year after leading St. Mary Prep to a state title.

DB – Shaun Wade, 6-2, 185, Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Wade helped lead Trinity Christian Academy to an undefeated season.

DB – Lamont Wade, 5-9, 190, Clairton (Pa.)
Wade was a first team all-state pick and earned Fab 22 honors from the Post-Gazette. In addition to his work at cornerback, Wade rushed for over 1,000 yards on just 99 carries.



DB – Jamyest Williams, 5-9, 180, Archer (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Williams earned both first team all-state honors and first team all-county honors from the Gwinnett Daily Post.

DB – Jeffrey Okudah, 6-2, 195, South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas)
Okudah, an all-district pick, made plays all over the field. He helped lead South Grand Prairie to an impressive victory over Euless Trinity.

P – Manny Berz, 5-10, 180, Citrus Hill (Perris, Calif.)
Berz averaged nearly 47 yards per punt and was an outstanding place kicker as well.

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

WR – Darnay Holmes, 5-10, 190, Calabasas (Calif.)
Also a shutdown cornerback, Holmes caught 55 passes for 886 yards and 10 scores, earning first team all-area honors by the Ventura County Star.

WR – Sage Surratt, 6-2, 200, East Lincoln (Denver, N.C.)
Surratt made 97 catches for 1,734 yards and 25 scores. He was an All-Observer pick and earned NCPreps all-state honors.



WR – Osiris St. Brown, 6-1, 170, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
An all-county pick by the OC Register, Brown recorded 43 catches for 884 yards and 12 touchdowns in just 10 games.

TE – Grant Calcaterra, 6-4, 210, Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
Calcaterra tallied 48 receptions for 926 yards and nine touchdowns.

OL – Isaiah Wilson, 6-7, 320, Poly Prep Country Day (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Wilson was an MSGVarsity all-city pick.

OL – Calvin Ashley, 6-7, 300, Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.)
Ashley, a three-year starter, once again dominated at tackle for Dr. Phillips. He was a second team all-Central Florida pick.

OL – Henry Bainivalu, 6-7, 295, Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.)
Bainivalu was an all-state pick by the Seattle Times.

OL – Popo Aumavae, 6-4, 300, St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.)
Aumavae was the TCAL Most Valuable Player and an all-area pick by the Stockton Record.



QB – Jake Fromm, 6-3, 225, Houston County (Warner Robins, Ga.)
Fromm completed 250 of 424 passes for 4,099 yards and 36 scores. He was the Class AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year in Georgia.

QB – Tim Tawa, 6-0, 175, West Linn (Ore.)
The Class 6A Player of the Year, Tawa threw for 4,420 yards and 50 touchdowns on 269 of 394 passing. He also rushed for four touchdowns.

RB – Malik Davis, 5-11, 180, Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.)
The Hillsborough County Offensive Player of the Year according to the Tampa Bay Times, Davis rushed for 2,337 yards and 28 touchdowns.

RB – J.K. Dobbins, 5-9, 184, La Grange (Texas)
A first team All-Central Texas pick by the Austin Statesman, Dobbins rushed for 2,740 yards in just 11 games.

RB – Cam Akers, 6-0, 210, Clinton (Miss.)
Akers lined up behind center for Clinton, but he was deadly with his legs. He rushed for 1,418 yards and 16 scores. He also threw for 2,231 yards and 20 touchdowns, earning Clarion-Ledger all-state honors. He's committed to Alabama as a running back.

ATH - Myles Brennan, 6-3, 182, St. Stanislaus (Bay St. Louis, Miss.)
Brennan tallied a remarkable 5,248 yards and 53 touchdowns and was an all-state selection by the Clarion-Ledger.



K – Brayan Diaz, 6-0, 205, Monroe (N.C.)
Diaz was true on 14 of 17 field goal attempts, with a long of 47 yards.

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

DL – Marvin Wilson, 6-4, 316, Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas)
Wilson, the No. 1-ranked defensive lineman according to 247Sports, earned second team all-area honors by the Houston Chronicle.

DL – Langi Tuifua, 6-3, 200, Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)
Tuifua tallied 53 tackles and 14.5 sacks, earning first team all-state honors in Class 5A for one of the state's top teams.

DL – Haskell Garrett, 6-2, 279, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Another member of Bishop Gorman's star-studded junior class, Garrett was a first team all-state pick after posting 53 tackles and six sacks despite missing time due to an injury.

DL – Darnell Ewell, 6-3, 300, Lake Taylor (Norfolk, Va.)
For 14-1 Lake Taylor, Ewell made 63 tackles and four sacks. He was an All-Tidewater Team choice by the Viginian-Pilot and an all-757 pick by Recruit757.com.



LB – TD Blackmon, 6-0, 217, Maryville (Tenn.)
Blackmon was a first team all-state pick after registering 136 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions.

LB – Baron Browning, 6-3, 220, Kennedale (Texas)
Browning was a second team all-area selection by the Star-Telegram. He tallied 55 tackles, two interceptions and scored two defensive touchdowns.

LB – Joshua Brown, 6-2, 225, Long Beach Poly (Calif.)
An All-Southland Team pick by the Los Angeles Times, Brown amassed 81 tackles. He was also an all-area pick by the Press-Telegram.

LB – Will Ignont, 6-1, 215, Buckhorn (New Market, Ala.)
Ignont was a first team all-state pick in Alabama's 7A. He has since transferred to IMG Academy.

LB – Vandarius Cowan, 6-3, 225, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.)
An all-area pick by PBGameTime, Cowan made 102 tackles and forced two fumbles.

DB – Deangelo Gibbs, 6-2, 200, Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, Ga.)
The talented Gibbs was a first team all-state selection in Georgia's largest classification.



DB – Isaiah Pryor, 6-2, 195, Archer (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
A first team all-county pick, Pryor made 68 tackles and broke up nine passes.

DB – Richard Lecounte, 6-0, 185, Liberty County (Hinesville, Ga.)
Lecounte, a three-year starter, was a first team all-state pick.

DB – Stanford Samuels, 6-2, 175, Flanagan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.)
Samuels was an all-county pick for Class 8A state champion Flanagan.

P – Kealii Maruyama, 5-9, 200, Foothill (Henderson, Nev.)
Maruyama averaged 47.7 yards per punt.