High school football players chasing records in 2014

When it comes to breaking California high school football passing records, Folsom (Calif.) quarterback Jake Browning will have one name to focus on in 2014: His own.

Browning, a University of Washington commit, has already put together two of the best passing seasons in California history. He completed 391 of 605 passes for 5,248 yards and 63 touchdowns as a sophomore and topped that with 440 completions in 579 attempts for 5,737 yards and 75 touchdowns as a junior.

Browning's 831 career completions are already a California state record, according to the Cal-Hi Sports Record Book, while his 440 completions last year tied for the national record (also set by Kenton's Grant Sherman last year). His 75 touchdown passes in a season are a California record as are his 605 attempts and his 10 touchdown passes in a game.

There are 12 other players who will be chasing major football records this coming season. But Browning is in a class all his own.

Despite the lengthy resume, there are still a few California records left for Browning to break. He needs 95 attempts to break the state record of 1,278, held by Michael Herrick of Valencia. He needs eight more touchdowns to break the state record of 145, held by Jimmy Clausen of Oaks Christian. He also needs just 38 more yards to break the career passing yardage mark of 11,202 yards, also held by Herrick.

Most national career records are likely out of Browning's reach since he did not throw any varsity passes as a freshman. However, he will likely finish second all-time behind Maty Mauk of Kenton (Ohio) in completions. Mauk had 1,353 in four varsity seasons. Browning will also likely finish in the top five for career passing attempts (Mauk holds the record with 2,110). He will also likely finish third all-time in passing yardage behind Mauk (18,932 yards) and his brother Ben Mauk (17,364).

The most intriguing record attempt will be for most touchdown passes in a season. When Corey Robinson of Lone Oak (Ky.) threw 91 touchdown passes in 2007, that mark appeared to be unbreakable. However, Browning threw 75 last year (fourth-best all-time) and could make a run at Robinson's mark. If he were to break the record, Browning would also become the nation's all-time touchdown passing leader. He needs 82 touchdown passes to break Mauk's career record of 219.


Dupree Hart, Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.)
After catching 115 passes for 1,655 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior, Hart is on target to break some prestigious South Carolina receiving marks held by A.J. Green of Summerville. Hart has 306 career catches, which is already a state record, breaking Green's mark of 279 last year. He needs 139 catches in 2014 to tie the national record of 445, set by Justin Sawmiller of Kenton last year.

Hart enters the season with 3,485 career yards, which is close to 2,000 yards short of Green's career mark of 5,365 yards. With 48 career touchdown receptions, Hart needs 14 to tie Green's state record of 62, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations Record Book.