MaxPreps 2013 All-American Football Teams

For most of the Texas Class 5A-I semifinal game, it appeared that DeSoto was on its way to a berth in the title game, and quarterback Desmon White on his way to Player of the Year honors.

Enter Allen quarterback Kyler Murray.

Murray capped a furious comeback with a 24-yard touchdown run to help Allen pull out a 42-35 victory in one of the more memorable playoff games in recent history.

He then led Allen to a much easier victory over Pearland to help the Eagles capture their second-straight Class 5A-I title.

For his efforts, Murray is the 2013 MaxPreps National Football Player of the Year.



On the season, Murray completed 207 of 325 attempts for 3,669 yards and 46 touchdowns. Equally deadly with his legs, he rushed 151 times for 1,274 yards and 19 scores.

Only a junior, Murray will be back next fall to help lead Allen on its quest for a third consecutive state title.

For now, he leads an impressive group of 2013 MaxPreps All-Americans. Most of the young athletes are among the top recruits in the country according to 247Sports, and will go on to become integral parts of their college programs of choice.


First Team Offense



WR – Damarkus Lodge, 6-2, 185, Cedar Hill (Texas), Jr.
Lodge's coach, Joey McGuire, believes he could be the best player in the country. Given his production as a junior, he's certainly in the discussion. He made 71 catches for 1,256 yards and 21 scores.



WR – Trey Quinn, 6-2, 180, Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), Sr. (LSU)
The nation's all-time leading receiver, Quinn made 88 catches for 1,581 yards and 18 touchdowns.

WR – Allen Lazard, 6-3, 215, Urbandale (Iowa), Sr. (Iowa State)
The three-time Des Moines Register Elite selection caught 49 passes, 16 of which were for touchdowns.

TE – Nic Weishar, 6-6, 225, Marist (Chicago), Sr. (Notre Dame)
The Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a two-time all-state selection, Weisher made 93 catches for 1,090 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is the state's all-time leader in receptions.

OL – David Sharpe, 6-8, 300, Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.), Sr. (Florida)
The Florida commit was a Times-Union first team all-area pick.

OL – Cameron Robinson, 6-5, 335, West Monroe (La.), Sr. (Alabama)
Robinson, who is on his way to Tuscaloosa, was a Class 5A first team all-state pick.

OL – Jaden Gault, 6-7, 305, Monona Grove (Monona, Wis.), Sr. (Wisconsin)
Gault was a runner-up for overall state Player of the Year honors and helped lead Monona Grove to a 14-0 season.



OL – Kc McDermott, 6-6, 300, Palm Beach Central (Wellington, Fla.), Sr. (Miami)
McDermott, a four-year starter, once again earned all-area honors in leading Palm Beach Central's offensive line.

OL – Damien Mama, 6-5, 353, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), Sr. (Undecided)
Mama powered St. John Bosco to an Open Division Bowl Game title and was the Los Angeles Times Lineman of the Year.

QB – Kyler Murray, 5-11, 175, Allen (Texas), Junior
The best player on one of the country's best teams, Murray led Allen to a Class 5A-I state title by completing 207 of 325 passes for 3,669 yards and 46 touchdowns while rushing 151 times for 1,274 yards and 19 scores.

QB – Will Grier, 6-3, 190, Davidson Day (Davidson, N.C.), Sr. (Florida)
Grier completed 314 of 446 passes for 4,989 yards and a state record 77 TDs. He also rushed 115 times for 1,252 yards and 13 TDs.

RB – Elijah Hood, 5-11, 215, Charlotte Catholic (Charlotte, N.C.), Sr. (North Carolina)
The UNC commit took home Charlotte Observer Offensive Player of the Year honors after rushing 351 times for 3,640 yards and 53 touchdowns.

RB – Leonard Fournette, 6-1, 225, St. Augustine (New Orleans), Sr. (LSU)
Fournette was the Times-Picayune All-Metro Player of the Year after compiling 3,697 yards and 25 touchdowns, including 2,859 yards from scrimmage. He rushed 188 times for 1,802 yards and 17 scores.



RB – Racean Thomas, 5-11, 195, Oxford (Ala.), Sr. (Auburn)
The 4A-6A Player of the Year by the Anniston Star, Thomas rushed for 2,221 yards and 32 touchdowns.

ATH – Jaquez Parks, 6-1, 195, Griffin (Ga.), Sr. (Undecided)
The All-Classification Player of the Year according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Parks passed for 3,640 yards and rushed for 1,329 yards, compiling 45 total touchdowns in helping Griffin to an undefeated season.

K – Cole Hedlund, 5-10, 170, Argyle (Texas), Sr. (Arkansas)
Hedlund, the national record holder in career field goals, connected on 23 of 25 attempts, with a long of 52 yards.

First Team Defense



DL – Andrew Brown, 6-4, 290, Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.), Sr. (Virginia)
Brown earned All-Tidewater Player of the Year honors after tallying 18 sacks and 30 tackles for loss.



DL – Myles Garrett, 6-4, 240, Martin (Arlington, Texas), Sr. (Texas A&M)
The Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year, Garrett made 81 tackles, 19.5 sacks and blocked four kicks in the regular season.

DL – Da'Shawn Hand, 6-4, 265, Woodbridge (Va.), Sr. (Alabama)
The All-Met Defensive Player of the Year, Hand recorded 16 sacks and led Woodbridge to a playoff berth.

DL – Lorenzo Carter, 6-6, 230, Norcross (Ga.), Sr. (Undecided)
For state champion Norcross, Carter was the Class 6A Defensive Player of the Year made 132 tackles and six sacks.

LB – Tre' Williams, 6-3, 220, St. Paul's Episcopal (Mobile, Ala.), Sr. (Auburn)
The Press-Register Defensive Player of the Year made 119 tackles, becoming the school's all-time leader.

LB – Raekwon McMillan, 6-2, 242, Liberty County (Hinesville, Ga.), Sr. (Ohio State)
An all-state pick and the Savannah News Defensive Player of the Year, McMillan tallied 159 tackles and eight sacks.

LB – Dante Booker, 6-4, 220, St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio), Sr. (Ohio State)
Booker earned Division 4 Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as Mr. Football honors, making 109 tackles on the season.



LB – Christian Miller, LB, 6-4, 200, Spring Valley (Columbia, S.C.), Sr. (Alabama)
The only Mr. Football finalist from the defensive side of the ball, Miller made 188 tackles and 24 sacks.

LB – Jashon Cornell, 6-5, 265, Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.), Jr.
Cornell, who has drawn favorable comparisons to Aldon Smith, led Cretin-Derham Hall in sacks and was a first team all-state selection.

DB – Adoree' Jackson, 5-10, 170, Serra (Gardena, Calif.), Sr. (Undecided)
Jackson, a first team all-area pick by the Los Angeles times, did it all for Serra. He caught 38 passes for 812 yards and seven scores. Defensively, he hauled in six interceptions. He was the Cal-Hi Sports Player of the Year.

DB – Jabrill Peppers, 6-1, 205, Paramus Catholic (N.J.), Sr. (Michigan)
Peppers played all over the field for Paramus Catholic, and earned first team all-state honors for the second straight season.

DB – Budda Baker, 5-10, 170, Bellevue (Wash.), Sr. (Oregon)
Baker was the all-classification Player of the Year after helping Bellevue to yet another Class 3A state title.

DB – Marlon Humphrey, 6-0, 180, Hoover (Ala.), Sr. (Undecided)
An all-Metro and all-Area pick, Humphrey made 44 tackles and broke up seven passes for state champion Hoover.



P – Corbin Daly, 6-3, 190, Ardrey Kell (Charlotte, N.C.), Sr. (North Carolina)
Daly was a first team all-state selection and a U.S. Army All-American.

Click 'Next' for the Second Team offense and defense.{PAGEBREAK}Second Team Offense WR – Jaleel Wadood, 5-11, 178, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), Sr. (UCLA)
The Los Angeles Times Player of the Year, Wadood caught 78 passes for 1,293 yards and 21 touchdowns.

WR – Nacarius Fant, 5-10, 165, Bowling Green (Ky.), Sr. (Western Kentucky)
The State Player of the Year, Fant has a monster season, hauling in 83 passes for 1,701 yards and 20 touchdowns.

WR – Travis Rudolph, 6-1, 185, Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach, Fla.), Sr. (Florida State)
The Small Schools Player of the Year by both the Palm Beach Post and Sun-Sentinel, Newman made 63 catches for 1,237 yards and 15 scores.

TE – Daniel Helm, 6-4, 220, Glenwood (Chatham, Ill.), Sr. (Tennessee)
In a very deep year for Illinois tight ends, Helm was a second team all-state pick behind Weishar. However, his numbers were arguably even more impressive. He caught 35 passes for 568 yards and 14 touchdowns.

OL – Damian Prince, 6-5, 295, Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), Sr. (Undecided)
Prince earned All-Met honors for the second year in a row.



OL – Quenton Nelson, 6-5, 295, Red Bank Catholic (N.J.), Sr. (Notre Dame)
Nelson, one of the most impressive linemen from New Jersey in a decade, was a first team all-state pick.

OL – Braden Smith, 6-6, 295, South (Olathe, Kan.), Sr. (Undecided)
Smith is a three-time all-state pick and was only one of two offensive linemen to earn Top 11 honors in Kansas.

OL – Roderick Taylor, 6-4, 305, Callaway (Jackson, Miss.), Sr. (Ole Miss)
Taylor, a Class 6A first team all-state pick, helped Callaway to a 14-1 season and a berth in the state semifinals.

OL – Ross Pierschbacher, 6-4, 290, Cedar Falls (Iowa), Sr. (Alabama)
Once again, Pierschbacher was a Class 4A all-state selection.

QB – Jake Browning, 6-2, 185, Folsom (Calif.), Jr.
It was another nearly unbelievable statistical season for Browning. He completed 440 of 579 passes for 75 touchdowns versus only 17 interceptions. He also rushed for six touchdowns.

QB – Deshaun Watson, 6-3, 200, Gainesville (Ga.), Sr. (Clemson)
Last year's National Junior of the Year followed up with a season in which he completed 273 of 412 pass attempts for 3,775 yards and 47 touchdowns. He also rushed 143 times for 1,057 yards and 14 scores.



RB – Tre Watson, 5-11, 195, Centennial (Corona, Calif.), Sr. (Undecided)
Watson carried 417 times for 3,734 yards and 50 scores, earning Offensive Player of the Year honors from the Press-Enterprise.

RB – Dalvin Cook, 5-11, 190, Central (Miami), Sr. (Florida State)
The spark plug to one of the nation's top teams, Cook rushed for 1,930 yards and 34 touchdowns.

ATH – Desmon White, 5-8, 155, DeSoto (Texas), Sr. (Undecided)
For the second year in a row, White posted absurd numbers against a tough schedule. He completed 225 of 329 passes for 3,589 yards and 37 touchdowns while rushing 140 times for 1,504 yards and 16 scores.

ATH – Shuler Bentley, 6-1, 195, Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.), Sr. (Old Dominion)
Bentley gets the nod just barely over fellow in-state signal-caller Mason Rudolph after throwing for a state record 71 touchdowns. He completed 293 of 425 passes for 5,032 yards. He rushed for five touchdowns.

K – Daniel McManus, 6-2, 190, West Hills (Santee, Calif.), Sr. (Undecided)
McManus was good on 14 of 18 field goal tries, with a long of 55 yards.

Second Team Defense DL – Gerald Willis, 6-3, 275, Karr (New Orleans), Sr. (Florida)
In leading Karr to the title game, Willis was named the All-Metro Large School Defensive Player of the Year by the Times-Picayune. He made 107 tackles and 15 sacks.



DL – Chad Thomas, 6-4, 230, Washington (Miami), Sr. (Miami)
The defensive leader of the nation's No. 1 team, Thomas recorded 67 tackles (14 for loss) and eight sacks.

DL – Sumner Houston, 6-3, 260, De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), Sr. (Oregon State)
The Contra Costa Times Defensive Player of the Year, Houston made 62 tackles and eight sacks, powering a dominant De La Salle defensive line.

DL – RaShaan Evans, 6-3, 220, Auburn (Ala.), Sr. (Auburn)
A first team all-state selection and a Lineman of the Year finalist in Class 6A, Evans terrorized opposing offenses to the tune of 77 tackles (43 for loss) and 17.5 sacks.

LB – Jonathan Bonner, 6-4, 250, Parkway Central (Chesterfield, Mo.), Sr. (Notre Dame)
Bonner played all over the field for Parkway Central. He finished with 86 tackles and 17 sacks, earning St. Louis Post-Dispatch Defensive Player of the Year honors as his team played for a state title.

LB – Sidney Gopre, 6-1, 210, Weequahic (Newark, N.J.), Sr. (Rutgers)
The state's Defensive Player of the Year, Gopre led a defense that allowed only 41 points all year by making 170 tackles as well as 14 sacks and five forced fumbles.

LB – Zach Whitley, 6-2, 223, North Shore (Houston), Sr. (UCLA)
Whitley was a first team Class 5A all-state pick thanks to a season in which he made 144 tackles and seven sacks.



LB – Clifton Garrett, 6-2, 225, Plainfield South (Ill.), Sr. (LSU)
A first team all-state selection by the Chicago Tribune, Garrett registered 139 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

DB – Damon Webb, 5-11, 177, Cass Tech (Detroit), Sr. (Ohio State)
It was a banner year for Webb. He made seven interceptions and 64 tackles and was a Detroit Free-Press Dream Team selection.

DB – Adarius Pickett, 5-11, 175, El Cerrito (Calif.), Sr. (UCLA)
The San Francisco Chronicle Metro Player of the Year, Pickett returned three interceptions for touchdowns and helped El Cerrito capture a North Coast Division 3 title.

DB – Quin Blanding, 6-0, 212, Bayside (Virginia Beach, Va.), Sr. (Virginia)
The All-Tidewater pick and Beach District Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Blanding amassed 118 tackles despite opponents rarely throwing his way.

DB – Christian McCaffrey, 6-0, 195, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Sr. (Stanford)
The Denver Post Player of the Year, McCaffrey intercepted two passes and broke up three others. His real contributions came on offense, where he totaled 46 touchdowns this season to lead Valor to its fifth-straight state title.

DB – Dre Massey, 6-0, 170, Mauldin (S.C.), Sr. (Undecided)
The region Player of the Year over Byrnes quarterback Shuler Bentley, Massey notched 2,000 yards passing and rushing, totaling 4,836 yards and 64 touchdowns.



P – Jake Hartbarger, 6-4, 195, Anthony Wayne (Whitehouse, Ohio), Sr. (Michigan State)
Hartbarger, on his way to Michigan State, was an all-area and all-state selection.

MaxPreps staff writer Kevin Askeland contributed to this report.