Video: Aaron Rodgers high school football highlights
See the Packers star in action as a prep for Pleasant Valley High in Chico.Who's got the ultimate bragging rights when it comes to sending players to the NFL from the high school ranks in California?
To
find out, MaxPreps and Lateral Sports teamed up and found the alma
mater of every player on an NFL roster as of opening day (we included
suspended and injured reserve players). Then we broke it all down by
state and came up with the table below.
You will find that California has sent 216 players to the league this season from 151 schools spanning from Eureka in the north to Chula Vista in the south, and that more
come from the Southern Section than any other section. And when it comes to high schools leading the pack, Helix High of La Mesa has a state-high six alums in the NFL, followed by Long Beach Poly, Colton and De La Salle (Concord) with five.
Want some more fun facts? How about these:
- The section by section breakdown is as follows: Southern 108, Sac-Joaquin 26, North Coast 20, Central Coast and San Diego and Los Angeles 15, Central 13, Northern 3 and Oakland 2. The San Francisco Section does not have any alumni in the NFL.
- Two NFL teams have double-digits when it comes to California players: Baltimore Ravens (11) and Los Angeles Rams (10). The lowest numbers of California players are on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions (two each).
- The leading position produced is wide receiver with 28, and a somewhat surprising 22 tight ends considering that NFL teams carry many more receivers than tight ends.
- Four opening-day starting quarterbacks are part of the 15 total from the Golden State: Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Carson Palmer (Cardinals), Derek Carr (Raiders) and Alex Smith (Chiefs).
- Teams with four players include Crenshaw (Los Angeles), Serra (Gardena) and Servite (Anaheim). Teams with three include Pleasant Valley (Chico), Mission Viejo, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village), Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), Centennial (Corona), Taft (Woodland Hills) and Grant (Sacramento).
- All three Northern Section players went to the same school, Pleasant Valley (Chico): Aaron Rodgers, Geoff Swaim and Jordan Rigsbee.
- Shareece Wright and Jimmy Smith were both seniors on the 2005 Colton High team and now each is on the Ravens' roster as a cornerback. That team went 9-3.
- Brothers Eric Kendricks (Vikings) and Mychal Kendricks (Eagles) are NFL linebackers, and they played together on the 2007 Hoover (Fresno) team. It didn't equate to huge success, though, as the team went 4-8.
- De La Salle has two alums on the Atlanta Falcons: Terron Ward (Class of 2010, running back) and Austin Hooper (Class of 2013, tight end). They missed each other by one year.
- San Diego Chargers teammates Stevie Johnson and Jason Verrett both went to Rodriguez (Fairfield) but Johnson was much older.
2016 NFL players from California high schools
Graphic by SocialRecluse Graphx
| Agoura |
Clay Matthews |
ILB |
Green
Bay Packers |
Alhambra (NCS)
| Trevor Davis
| WR
| Green Bay Packers
|
| Alta
Loma |
Eric Weddle |
DB |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Ayala |
Obum Gwacham |
DE |
New
Orleans Saints |
| Bakersfield |
Phillip Thomas |
DB |
Buffalo
Bills |
Bakersfield Christian
| Derek Carr
| QB
| Oakland Raiders
|
| Banning |
Derron Smith |
FS |
Cincinnati
Bengals |
| Bellflower |
Ed Dickson |
TE |
Carolina
Panthers |
| Bethel |
C.J. Anderson |
RB |
Denver
Broncos |
| Beverly
Hills |
Spencer
Paysinger |
LB |
Miami
Dolphins |
| Birmingham |
Malik Jackson |
DT |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| Birmingham |
Mychal Rivera |
TE |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Bishop
Amat |
Sheldon Price |
CB |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Blair |
Sean Smith |
DB |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Cajon |
Sebastian
Tretola |
OG |
Tennessee
Titans |
| Camarillo |
Bryan Anger |
P |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Cardinal
Newman |
Scooby Wright |
ILB |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Carmel |
Andrew Franks |
K |
Miami
Dolphins |
| Carter |
Kenny Clark |
NT |
Green
Bay Packers |
| Cathedral
Catholic |
Tyler Gaffney |
RB |
New
England Patriots |
Centennial (SS)
|
Vontaze Burfict |
OLB |
Cincinnati
Bengals |
Centennial (SS)
|
Will Sutton |
DE |
Chicago
Bears |
Centennial (SS)
|
Jared Norris |
ILB |
Carolina
Panthers |
Centennial (CS)
|
Cody Kessler |
QB |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Chaminade |
Logan Paulsen |
TE |
Chicago
Bears |
| Chaminade |
Ryan Griffin |
QB |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Charter
Oak |
Keith Smith |
FB |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Charter
Oak |
Eric Rogers |
WR |
San
Francisco 49ers |
| Chatsworth |
Matt Cassel |
QB |
Tennessee
Titans |
| Chino |
Greg Salas |
WR |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Chino
Hills |
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu |
CB |
Miami
Dolphins |
| Chino
Hills |
Cory Harkey |
TE |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| Colony |
Josh Andrews |
G |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Colony |
Bobby Wagner |
MLB |
Seattle
Seahawks |
| Colton |
Jimmy Smith |
CB |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Colton |
Shareece Wright |
CB |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Colton |
Nat Berhe |
SS |
New
York Giants |
| Colton |
Tyler Ervin |
RB |
Houston
Texans |
| Colton |
Daniel Sorensen |
DB |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| Compton |
Datone Jones |
DE |
Green
Bay Packers |
| Crenshaw |
Hayes Pullard |
OLB |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| Crenshaw |
De'Anthony
Thomas |
WR |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| Crenshaw |
Brandon Mebane |
DT |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Crenshaw |
Marcus Martin |
C |
San
Francisco 49ers |
| Crespi |
Hroniss Grasu |
C |
Chicago
Bears |
| De
La Salle |
T.J. Ward |
SS |
Denver
Broncos |
| De
La Salle |
T.J. Carrie |
SS |
Oakland
Raiders |
| De
La Salle |
Austin Hooper |
TE |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| De
La Salle |
Terron Ward |
RB |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| De
La Salle |
Dylan Wynn |
DT |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Deer
Valley |
De'Ondre Wesley |
T |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Deer
Valley |
Taiwan Jones |
RB |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Del
Campo |
Akiem Hicks |
DE |
Chicago
Bears |
Dominguez (SS)
|
Richard Sherman |
CB |
Seattle
Seahawks |
| Dorsey |
Chris Matthews |
WR |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Eastlake |
Tony Jefferson |
SS |
Arizona
Cardinals |
Edison (CS)
|
Robert Golden |
SS |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
Edison (CS)
|
T.J. McDonald |
SS |
Los
Angeles Rams |
Edison (SJ)
|
Trumaine
Johnson |
CB |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| Eisenhower |
Ryan Clady |
T |
New
York Jets |
| Elk
Grove |
Kenny Wiggins |
OG |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Esperanza |
Joe Hawley |
C |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Etiwanda |
Marvin Jones |
WR |
Detroit
Lions |
| Eureka |
Rey Maualuga |
MLB |
Cincinnati
Bengals |
| Eureka |
Soma Vainuku |
FB |
Houston
Texans |
| Folsom |
Jordan Richards |
SS |
New
England Patriots |
Foothill (NCS)
|
Sean Mannion |
QB |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| Foothill
(SJS) |
Devante Bond |
OLB |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
Franklin (Elk Grove)
|
Ethan
Westbrooks |
DT |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| Frontier |
Matt Darr |
P |
Miami
Dolphins |
| Fullerton |
Darren Fells |
TE |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Gahr |
Dwayne
Washington |
RB |
Detroit
Lions |
| Gahr |
Josh Perkins |
TE |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Granada |
George Atkinson |
RB |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Granada |
Tristan
Okpalaugo |
LB |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Granite
Bay |
Peyton Thompson |
DB |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
Granite
Hills (SDS)
|
Joe Cardona |
LS |
New
England Patriots |
Grant (SJS)
|
James Sample |
SS |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
Grant (SJS)
|
Devontae Booker |
RB |
Denver
Broncos |
Grant (SJS)
|
Shaq
Green-Thompson |
OLB |
Carolina
Panthers |
| Hart |
Matt Moore |
QB |
Miami
Dolphins |
| Harvard-Westlake |
Erik Swoope |
TE |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Helix |
Jamar Taylor |
DB |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Helix |
Reggie Bush |
RB |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Helix |
Alex Smith |
QB |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| Helix |
Levine Toilolo |
TE |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Helix |
Jimmy Pruitt |
CB |
New
Orleans Saints |
| Helix |
Kevin Bowen |
OT |
Washington
Redskins |
| Hesperia |
Marcel Reece |
FB |
Oakland
Raiders |
Highland (SS)
|
DeShawn Shead |
CB |
Seattle
Seahawks |
Hoover (CS)
|
Eric Kendricks |
MLB |
Minnesota
Vikings |
Hoover (CS)
|
Mychal
Kendricks |
ILB |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Inderkum |
Eric Pinkins |
LB |
Seattle
Seahawks |
| Inglewood |
Benson Mayowa |
DE |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Irvington |
Robert Turbin |
RB |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Kaiser |
Chris Carter |
LB |
Baltimore
Ravens |
Kennedy (SS)
|
Eddie Pleasant |
DB |
Houston
Texans |
| Kingsburg |
Tyler Bray |
QB |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| La
Costa Canyon |
Kenny Stills |
WR |
Miami
Dolphins |
| La
Habra |
Kyle Peko |
NT |
Denver
Broncos |
| La
Mirada |
Keith McGill |
CB |
Oakland
Raiders |
Liberty (CS)
|
Colton Schmidt |
P |
Buffalo
Bills |
Lincoln (Stockton)
|
Brandin Cooks |
WR |
New
Orleans Saints |
| Long
Beach Poly |
Kaelin Clay |
WR |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Long
Beach Poly |
DeSean Jackson |
WR |
Washington
Redskins |
| Long
Beach Poly |
Marcedes Lewis |
TE |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| Long
Beach Poly |
Jurrell Casey |
DE |
Tennessee
Titans |
| Long
Beach Poly |
Jamize Olawale |
RB |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Los
Alamitos |
Orlando
Scandrick |
CB |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Los
Gatos |
Kiko Alonso |
LB |
Miami
Dolphins |
| Los
Osos |
Tony Washington |
OLB |
Houston
Texans |
| Loyola |
Anthony Barr |
OLB |
Minnesota
Vikings |
| Loyola |
Chris Conte |
SS |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| Marin
Catholic |
Jared Goff |
QB |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| Mariposa
County |
Cody Wichmann |
OG |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| Mater
Dei |
Jason Myers |
K |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| Mayfair |
Alterraun
Verner |
CB |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| McClymonds |
Marcus Peters |
CB |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| Millbrook |
Keith Marshall |
RB |
Washington
Redskins |
| Mission
Viejo |
Tre Madden |
RB |
Seattle
Seahawks |
Mission Viejo
| Mark Sanchez
| QB
| Dallas Cowboys
|
| Mission
Viejo |
Nick Dzubnar |
LB |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Modesto
Christian |
Nate Sudfeld |
QB |
Washington
Redskins |
| Modesto
Christian |
Isaiah Burse |
WR |
San
Diego Chargers |
Montclair
Prep (closed)
|
Stephane Nembot |
OT |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Monte
Vista |
Zach Ertz |
TE |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
Montgomery (NCS)
|
Koa Misi |
OLB |
Miami
Dolphins |
| Moorpark |
Dennis Pitta |
TE |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Mount
Miguel |
Cory Littleton |
OLB |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| Muir |
Kevon Seymour |
CB |
Buffalo
Bills |
| Narbonne |
Dashon Goldson |
DB |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Newbury
Park |
Jordan Cameron |
TE |
Miami
Dolphins |
| Nipomo |
Akeem King |
DB |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Norco |
Daimion
Stafford |
FS |
Tennessee
Titans |
Norte
Dame (Sherman Oaks)
|
Nick Folk |
K |
New
York Jets |
Notre
Dame (Riverside)
|
Kenjon Barner |
RB |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Oakland
Tech |
Josh Johnson |
QB |
New
York Giants |
| Oaks
Christian |
Jordan Payton |
WR |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Oaks
Christian |
Alani Fua |
OLB |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Oaks
Christian |
Cassius Marsh |
DE |
Seattle
Seahawks |
| Oceanside |
Brian Schwenke |
C |
Tennessee
Titans |
| Oceanside |
Sam Brenner |
C |
Denver
Broncos |
Pacifica (Garden Grove)
|
Jon Dorenbos |
LS |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Palisades |
Mitchell
Schwartz |
OT |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| Palm
Desert |
D.J. Alexander |
LB |
Kansas
City Chiefs |
| Palmdale |
Josh Shaw |
CB |
Cincinnati
Bengals |
| Palmdale |
Davon House |
CB |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| Palo
Alto |
Davante Adams |
WR |
Green
Bay Packers |
| Palo
Alto |
Kevin Anderson |
LB |
Pittsburgh
Steelers |
| Palos
Verdes |
Joe Walker |
ILB |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Paraclete |
Darian Thompson |
S |
New
York Giants |
| Paraclete |
Todd Davis |
MLB |
Denver
Broncos |
| Piedmont
Hills |
Stephen
Anderson |
TE |
Houston
Texans |
| Pitman |
Colin
Kaepernick |
QB |
San
Francisco 49ers |
| Pleasant
Grove |
Arik Armstead |
DE |
San
Francisco 49ers |
| Pleasant
Valley |
Aaron Rodgers |
QB |
Green
Bay Packers |
| Pleasant
Valley |
Geoff Swaim |
TE |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Pleasant
Valley |
Jordan Rigsbee |
OG |
Carolina
Panthers |
| Pomona |
Delanie Walker |
TE |
Tennessee
Titans |
| Rancho
Bernardo |
Aaron Wallace |
OLB |
Tennessee
Titans |
| Rancho
Cucamonga |
Randall Telfer |
TE |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Rancho
Cucamonga |
Patrick Chung |
SS |
New
England Patriots |
| Rancho
Verde |
Quincy Enunwa |
WR |
New
York Jets |
| Rancho
Verde |
Tyron Smith |
T |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Rodriguez |
Steve Johnson |
WR |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Rodriguez |
Jason Verrett |
CB |
San
Diego Chargers |
Roosevelt (SS)
|
Tyler Slavin |
WR |
Seattle
Seahawks |
| Saddleback |
Rishard
Matthews |
WR |
Tennessee
Titans |
| Saint
Francis |
Rhett Ellison |
TE |
Minnesota
Vikings |
| Saint
Francis |
Ty Sambrailo |
OT |
Denver
Broncos |
| Salinas |
Evan Smith |
OG |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| San
Clemente |
Kyle Murphy |
OT |
Green
Bay Packers |
| San
Jacinto |
David Irving |
DT |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| San
Leandro |
Charles Leno |
T |
Chicago
Bears |
| San
Lorenzo Valley |
Andy Levitre |
G |
Atlanta
Falcons |
San
Marcos (SS)
|
Alex Mack |
C |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Santa
Margarita |
Gavin Escobar |
TE |
Dallas
Cowboys |
| Santa
Margarita |
Max Tuerk |
C |
San
Diego Chargers |
| Santa
Margarita |
Carson Palmer |
QB |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Seaside |
Mason Foster |
ILB |
Washington
Redskins |
| Seaside |
Terry Poole |
OT |
Seattle
Seahawks |
Serra (SS)
|
Robert Woods |
WR |
Buffalo
Bills |
Serra (CCS)
|
David Bakhtiari |
T |
Green
Bay Packers |
Serra (SS)
|
Duke Ihenacho |
SS |
Washington
Redskins |
Serra (SS)
|
Paul Richardson |
WR |
Seattle
Seahawks |
Serra (CCS)
|
Tom Brady |
QB |
New
England Patriots |
Serra (SS)
| Marqise Lee
| WR
| Jacksonville Jaguars
|
| Servite |
Matthew Slater |
WR |
New
England Patriots |
| Servite |
Matt Kalil |
T |
Minnesota
Vikings |
| Servite |
Ryan Kalil |
C |
Carolina
Panthers |
| Servite |
Troy Niklas |
TE |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Soquel |
Dwight Lowery |
DB |
San
Diego Chargers |
| St.
Bernard |
Donald Penn |
T |
Oakland
Raiders |
| St.
Bonaventure |
Troy Hill |
CB |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| St.
John Bosco |
Bryce Treggs |
WR |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| St.
Mary's |
Doug Martin |
RB |
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers |
| St.
Mary’s Prep |
Lorenzo
Alexander |
LB |
Buffalo
Bills |
Taft (LAS)
|
Michael Thomas |
WR |
New
Orleans Saints |
Taft (LAS)
|
Darrion Weems |
OT |
Denver
Broncos |
Taft (LAS)
|
Malcolm Smith |
OLB |
Oakland
Raiders |
| Tokay |
Julius Thomas |
TE |
Jacksonville
Jaguars |
| Tracy |
Matt Overton |
LS |
Indianapolis
Colts |
| Tulare
Union |
Marquess Wilson |
WR |
Chicago
Bears |
| Tulare
Union |
Virgil Green |
TE |
Denver
Broncos |
| Tustin |
Chris Chester |
OG |
Atlanta
Falcons |
| Tustin |
Frostee Rucker |
DE |
Arizona
Cardinals |
University (LAS)
|
Steve Smith |
WR |
Baltimore
Ravens |
| Vacaville |
Brock Hekking |
LB |
San
Diego Chargers |
Valencia (Valencia)
|
Shane Vereen |
RB |
New
York Giants |
| Vallejo |
Rashad Ross |
WR |
Washington
Redskins |
| Vanden |
Deone Bucannon |
OLB |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| View
Park |
Bene' Benwikere |
CB |
Carolina
Panthers |
| Vista |
Leon Hall |
DB |
New
York Giants |
| Vista
Murrieta |
Su'a Cravens |
DB |
Washington
Redskins |
West (CS)
|
Ryan Mathews |
RB |
Philadelphia
Eagles |
| Western |
Mike Iupati |
G |
Arizona
Cardinals |
| Westlake |
Nelson Spruce |
WR |
Los
Angeles Rams |
| Woodrow
Wilson |
Joel Bitonio |
G |
Cleveland
Browns |
| Woodside |
Julian Edelman |
WR |
New
England Patriots |
