MaxPreps 2011 U.S. Air Force Junior All-American Football Teams

In most football seasons, the country’s best high school football player and the nation’s top recruit are different players.

Some highly touted recruits underachieve while the most dominant high school players can often lack that extra inch or two that would make them the apple of college coaches’ eyes.

In 2011, the top junior recruit and the top player on Friday nights was the same person: Robert Nkemdiche.

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound defensive end/running back dominated on both sides of the football, leading Grayson to an undefeated, AAAAA title-winning season and earning U.S. Air Force National Junior of the Year honors.



With 18 sacks and 17 hurries, Nkemdiche was completely disruptive on defense. Offensively, he scored 17 touchdowns and was the team’s go-to running back in short-yardage situations.

Nkemdiche leads a U.S. Air Force Junior All-American Team that is loaded with the nation’s most-accomplished eleventh graders.

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

James Quick, WR, 6-1, 190, Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)
Quick led one of the nation’s most dominant offenses, catching 82 passes for 1,434 yards and 21 scores to lead Trinity to the No. 2 spot in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.

Laquon Treadwell, WR, 6-2, 185, Crete-Monee (Crete, Ill.)
The Northwest Indiana Times Illinois Offensive Player of the Year, Treadwell exploded as a junior, racking up 75 catches for 1,391 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also recorded eight sacks.

Jake Oliver, WR, 6-4, 194, Dallas Jesuit
After an all-state season as a sophomore, Oliver did not disappoint. He hauled in 108 passes for 1,637 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Adam Breneman, TE, 6-5, 225, Cedar Cliff (Camp Hill, Pa.)
A Class AAAA all-state pick in Pennsylvania, Breneman made 72 catches for 1,120 yards and 12 scores.

Darius James, OL, 6-4, 295, Harker Heights (Texas)
With 70 pancakes and 67 knockdowns, James earned 5A all-state honors.



Austin Golson, OL, 6-6, 275, Prattville (Ala.), Florida State
Already committed to Florida State, Golson was a 6A all-state pick for state champion Prattville.

Chris Fox, OL, 6-6, 300, Ponderosa (Parker, Colo.)
Fox was an All-Colorado selection by the Denver Post and projects to be a top recruit next season.

Steven Elmer, OL, 6-6, 305, Midland (Mich.), Notre Dame
A Detroit Free Press Dream Team selection, Elmer had a fine season and is already committed to Notre Dame.

Laremy Tunsil, OL, 6-5, 280, Columbia (Lake City, Fla.)
Tunsil was an all-area pick after registering 100 pancakes.

Max Browne, QB, 6-5, 210, Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.)
Playing for one of the top programs in the Northwest, Browne did not miss a beat from his prodigious sophomore season. He completed 288 of 409 passes for 4,034 yards and 45 scores.

Jarrett Solomon, QB, 6-0, 193, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Solomon was the leader of a potent Bishop Gorman offense. He threw for 2,744 yards and 41 touchdowns.

Ty Isaac, RB, 6-2, 190, Joliet Catholic Academy (Ill.)
The Sun-Times Player of the Year, Isaac was nearly unstoppable, gaining 2,114 yards and 45 touchdowns.

Derrick Henry, RB, 6-4, 220, Yulee (Fla.), Georgia
Already committed to Georgia, Henry continues to dominate the high school ranks. He was an all-First Coast pick after rushing for 2,610 yards and 33 scores, one year after winning National Sophomore of the Year honors from MaxPreps.



Tyren Jones, RB, 5-10, 190, Walton (Marietta, Ga.)
It was Jones' fine running that guided Walton to the AAAAA title game. The all-state selection rushed for 2,375 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Justin Moore, ATH, 5-11, 175, Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.)
The versatile Moore was instrumental in leading Westlake to the Open Division Bowl Game. He was the LA Daily News Player of the Year after completing 172 of 272 passes for 2,483 yards and 27 scores while rushing for 1,099 yards and 13 scores.

Cameron Van Winkle, K, 5-10, 160, Mount Si (Snoqualmie, Wash.)
Van Winkle nailed 18 field goals, six of which were longer than 42 yards. He was a Star Times all-area pick.
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FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Robert Nkemdiche, DL, 6-5, 270, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Arguably the nation’s most athletic player, Nkemdiche’s work on the defensive line and at running back was the clear catalyst for Grayson’s magical season.

Jonathan Allen, DL, 6-3, 225, Stone Bridge (Ashburn, Va.)
Allen followed up a sensational sophomore year with an equally impressive junior campaign. He was an All-Met pick, recording 102 tackles, 15 sacks and seven blocked kicks.

D.J. Ward, DL, 6-4, 235, Lawton (Okla.)
The only junior to make the Oklahoman’s All-State first team (despite being listed as a senior), Ward made 75 tackles and posted 11 sacks in his third varsity season.

Rod Crayton, DL, 6-1, 250, Dadeville (Ala.)
A Class 4A all-state pick and the Opelika Auburn News Defensive Player of the Year, Crayton registered 162 tackles, 10 sacks and 40 quarterback hurries.

E.J. Levenberry, LB, 6-3, 215, Hylton (Woodbridge, Va.)
Levenberry made 151 tackles and forced eight fumbles as he earned All-Met honors.



Demarkus Lathan, LB, 5-9, 180,  Longview (Texas)
The Class 5A Defensive MVP, Lathan was a sideline-to-sideline linebacker. He made 188 tackles, three sacks and blocked two kicks.

Trey Johnson, LB, 6-1, 215, Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Auburn
An all-county pick by the Gwinnett Daily Post, Johnson registered a whopping 164 tackles to go along with six sacks.

Su'a Cravens, LB, 6-2, 205, Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.)
Cravens was arguably the top player in the Inland Empire as a junior. He had 11 sacks, three interceptions and 19 touchdowns.

Reuben Foster, LB, 6-2, 228, Troup County (LaGrange, Ga.), Alabama
The Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year was all over the field. He made 185 tackles and 14 sacks.

William Likely, DB, 5-8, 175, Glades Central (Belle Glade, Fla.)
Arguably the most impressive player in Palm Beach County, Likely helped Glades Central to a 12-1 record and was the Palm Beach Post’s Small School Defensive Player of the Year.

Antonio Conner, DB, 6-2, 195, South Panola (Batesville, Miss.)
Conner played all over the field for South Panola. For the second year in a row, he earned all-state honors from the Clarion Ledger.

Tray Matthews, DB, 6-1, 190, Newnan (Ga.), Georgia
An all-area pick by the Newnan Times-Herald, Matthews made 74 tackles and intercepted two passes.

Marcell Harris, DB, 6-2, 195, South Lake (Groveland, Fla.)
An all-area pick by the Orlando Sentinel, Harris was dominant roaming the secondary. He made 92 tackles, forced four fumbles and recovered three. He also made three interceptions, blocked five kicks and scored two special teams touchdowns.

Devin Wilson, P, 6-4, 175, Montour (McKees Rocks, Pa.)
Wilson was an all-state pick at receiver but also handled punt responsibilities for one of the top teams in AAA this season.
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SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Drew Wolitarsky, WR, 6-1, 180, Canyon (Canyon Country, Calif.)
Already the school’s all-time leading receiver, Wolitarsky finished with 75 catches for 1,628 yards and 21 touchdowns, earning Los Angeles Daily News all-area honors.



Robert Foster, WR, 6-3, 170, Central Valley (Monaca, Pa.)
Foster did a bit of everything for Central Valley en route to earning AAA all-state honors. He caught 37 passes for 584 yards and five scores. He also rushed for more than 400 yards, made four interceptions on defense and was an outstanding punt and kick returner.

Ahmad Fullwood, WR, 6-4, 200, Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville, Fla.)
The dynamic Fulwood hauled in 46 passes for 1,141 yards and 22 touchdowns.

O.J. Howard, TE, 6-5, 230, Autauga Academy (Prattville, Ala.), Alabama
The freakishly athletic Howard was an all-AISA pick, one of only three juniors to make the cut on offense.

Riley Sorenson, OL, 6-5, 315, Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
Sorenson had a fine junior campaign for the Division I Bowl Game winners. He was a first-team all-OCVarsity pick.

Ethan Pocic, OL, 6-6, 305, Lemont (Ill.)
Pocic opened up holes for Lemont’s offense, earning Chicago Tribune all-state honors for his efforts upfront.

Kenneth Santa Marina, OL, 6-7, 330, McDonogh 35 (New Orleans, La.)
The massive tackle earned 4A all-state honors and all as all-area recognition by the Times- Picayune.

Brad Bozeman, OL, 6-4, 325, Handley (Roanoke, Ala.), Alabama
A finalist for 3A Lineman of the Year, Bozeman helped lead Handley to a state title, recording 60 pancake blocks.

Jake Raulerson, OL, 6-5, 250, Celina (Texas)
Playing for one of the top small-school programs in the Lone Star State, Raulerson was a second team all-state pick in Class 3A.

Travis Wright, QB, 6-1, 180, Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)
The all-state pick ran the offense for the nation’s No. 2 team. He completed 202 of 282 passes for 3,036 yards and 39 touchdowns. He was intercepted only four times.

Tyrone Swoopes, QB, 6-5, 220, Whitewright (Texas)
A Class 2A all-state honorable mention, Swoopes completed 110 of 209 passes for 1,394 yards and 15 scores. He rushed 170 times for 2,267 yards and 29 scores. He recorded 540 yards and 7 scores in a single game against Tom Bean.

Kelvin Taylor, RB, 5-10, 205, Glades Day (Belle Glade, Fla.)
The former National Freshman of the Year was a workhorse, rushing 292 times for 2,884 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was the Palm Beach Post Small School Offensive Player of the Year.

Greg Bryant, RB, 5-11, 200, American Heritage (Delray Beach, Fla.)
For the 3A state champs, Bryant was the clear leader. He tallied 2,180 yards and 25 scores and was a Palm Beach Post all-area pick.

Corn Elder, RB, 5-10, 170, Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.)
The Division II-AA Mr. Football, Elder rushed 205 times for 2,080 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging more than 10 yards per carry. Defensively, he made five interceptions.

Aaron Bailey, 6-2, 215, ATH, Bolingbrook (Ill.)
In leading Bolingbrook to a title in Class 8A in Illinois, Bailey accounted for 1,983 rushing yards and 1,039 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns.



Blake Brewer, K, 6-0, 190, Cannon (Concord, N.C.)
An all-state pick, Brewer connected on 14 of 17 field goal attempts with a long of 52 yards.
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SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Eddie Vanderdoes, DL, 6-3, 280, Placer (Auburn, Calif.)
Vanderdoes, already a highly coveted recruit, was an All-Metro pick by the Sacramento Bee.

Quinton Powell, DL, 6-2, 190, Mainland (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Powell was an All-Central Florida pick after dialing up 104 tackles (27.5 for loss) and 13 sacks. He also forced four fumbles and scored two defensive touchdowns.

Marvin Gross, DL, 6-4, 215, Dunbar (Md.)
The rangy defensive end tallied an incredible 31 sacks, earning small school all-state honors.

Kenny Bigelow, DL, 6-3, 280, Red Lion Christian Academy (Bear, Del.), USC
Bigelow thrived against a difficult schedule, recording 20 sacks for the small Delaware private school.

Tim Kimbrough, LB, 6-1, 215, Warren Central (Indianapolis)
On a talent-laden defense, Kimbrough still managed to shine. He was a Class 5A all-state pick making 180 tackles and 7.5 sacks.

Melvin Jones, LB, 6-3, 235, Washington-Marion (Lake Charles, La.)
Jones was a Class 4A all-state pick. He made 67 tackles and assisted on 58 others.

Matthew Thomas, LB, 6-3, 195, Washington (Miami)
One of the top recruits in Florida for the Class of 2013, Thomas was the MVP of the Class 4A title game in defeat, making 15 tackles and recovering two fumbles.

Micah Kiser, LB, 6-3, 215, Gilman (Baltimore)
A consensus all-state pick, Keiser led a defense that came up big for Gilman in a magical season for the Greyhounds.

Larenz Bryant, LB, 6-2, 215, Vance (Charlotte, N.C.)
Bryant was all over the field for Vance, making 154 tackles, four interceptions, and forcing five fumbles. He earned All-Observer honors in the process.

Taivon Jacobs, DB, 5-10, 160, Suitland (Forestville, Md.)
Jacobs had nine returns for touchdowns, a mind-boggling statistic to go along with his six interceptions. One of the fastest players in the country, Jacobs was an All-Met pick.

Kendall Fuller, DB, 6-0, 180, Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)
Playing opposite Stefon Diggs, Fuller made three picks and 25.5 tackles. His work at receiver also helped him earn All-Met honors.



Leon McQuay III, DB, 6-2, 175, Armwood (Seffner, Fla.)
McQuay was a playmaker for an Armwood defense that was nasty for much of the season. He made 59 tackles, three interceptions and deflected nine passes.

Dashon Hunt, DB, 5-8, 160, Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.), UCLA
Hunt, the Marmonte League Co-MVP, was a blur for Westlake, starring on offense, defense and special teams. As a defensive back, he intercepted six passes.

Zac Michener, P, 6-1, 160, Kennedale (Texas)
Michener launched some booming punts in 2011, averaging 43.7 yards per punt with a long of 84 yards. Twelve of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line.