Preseason Virginia All-State high school football team

Class 6 runner-up Oscar Smith could be the favorite to win a state championship in 2020 based on the MaxPreps Virginia Preseason All-State Team. The Tigers have five players on the first and second teams combined, which is more than any other team in the state.

Maury (Norfolk), the Class 5 state champion in 2019, joined Class 3 runner-up Lord Botetourt (Daleville), Class 6 quarterfinalist Dale (Chester) and Class 4 champion Lake Taylor (Norfolk) with three on the list.

The preseason team does not include Tony Grimes, the No. 1-rated player in the state of Virginia by 247Sports. Grimes recently reclassified to the Class of 2020 and will enroll at North Carolina for the 2020-21 school year.
First Team Offense

QB — Jay Woolfolk, Benedictine (Richmond) | 6-1 | 200 | Sr.
A two-sport standout, Woolfolk was all-state in football in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) and he was the state Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball. He will play both sports at the University of Virginia.

QB — Eric Gibson, Maury (Norfolk) | 6-0 | 173 | Sr.
No quarterback had more passing yards in Virginia than Gibson, who threw for 3,578 yards and 40 touchdowns while earning Class 5 all-state honors.

RB — Malik Newton, Lake Taylor (Norfolk) | 5-11 | 223 | Sr.
The Class 4 state offensive Player of the Year and the All-Tidewater Player of the Year, Newton rushed for 2,060 yards and scored 37 total touchdowns. He also had seven interceptions on defense.

RB — Kai Hodge, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach) | 5-10 | 180 | Sr.
Hodge earned all-state honors last year in leading Ocean Lakes to an 8-4 record. He had 1,049 yards rushing on 215 carries with 17 touchdowns.

WR — Malcolm Johnson Jr., St. Stephen's & St. Agnes (Alexandria) | 6-1 | 185 | Sr.
Johnson was a VISAA Division I all-state selection and is ranked as the top wide receiver in Virginia by 247Sports. He had 47 catches for 832 yards last year.

WR — Umari Hatcher, Freedom (Woodbridge) | 6-3 | 175 | Sr.
The Class 6 all-state selection was one of the leading receivers in the state last year with 56 catches for 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns.

TE — Nate Boerboom, Great Bridge (Chesapeake) | 6-4 | 210 | Sr.
The top-ranked tight end in the state by 247Sports, Boerboom is headed to play at Central Florida next year.

OL — Marteen Woudsma, Oscar Smith (Chesapeake) | 6-4 | 260 | Jr.
One of the top offensive linemen in the junior class in Virginia, Woudsma earned Class 6 all-state honors as a sophomore.

OL — Tristan Leigh, Robinson (Fairfax) | 6-5 | 270 | Sr.
Ranked as the No. 3 tackle in the country by 247Sports, Leigh was a Class 6 all-state player as a junior.

OL — Logan Taylor, Episcopal (Alexandria) | 6-8 | 290 | Sr.
Ranked as the No. 8 player in the state by 247Sports, Taylor earned first team Division 1 all-state honors in the VISAA last year.

OL — Colston Powers, Lord Botetourt (Daleville) | 6-4 | 285 | Sr.
Powers was a key player opening holes on the offensive line for running back Hunter Rice. Powers earned first team Class 3 all-state honors.

OL — Tyleek McCoy, Manchester (Midlothian) | 6-3 | 260 | Sr.
McCoy was a first team Class 5 all-state player for Manchester, which dropped down from Class 6 to Class 5 last year.

AP — TreVeyon Henderson, Hopewell | 5-11 | 195 | Sr.
The Class 3 state offensive Player of the Year, Henderson was one the leading rusher in the state with 2,424 yards and 45 touchdowns. He is headed to Ohio State.

K — Justin Davis, Dinwiddie | 6-1 | 160 | Sr.
Davis is the leading returning kicker in the state in kick scoring as he had 43 extra points and nine field goals as a junior.


DL — George Wilson, Green Run (Virginia Beach) | 6-5 | 211 | Sr
A two-sport standout, Wilson starred on the Green Run basketball team that went 24-3 last year. He's also rated as the No. 23 defensive end in the nation by 247Sports.

DL — Tyleik Williams, Stonewall Jackson (Manassas) | 6-3 | 317 | Sr.
The 4-star defensive lineman returns for his senior year at Jackson after earning all-state honors last season.

DL — Kelvin Gilliam, Highland Springs | 6-3 | 250 | Sr.
Ranked as the No. 7 defensive end in the nation by 247Sports, Gilliam was a second team Class 5 all-state selection.

DL — Naquan Brown, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach) | 6-3 | 205 | Sr.
The LSU-bound weakside defensive end is ranked as the No. 11 DE in the nation by 247Sports.

LB — Bryce Steele, Episcopal (Alexandria) | 6-1 | 207 | Sr.
South Carolina landed a commitment from Steele, who is ranked as the No. 14 inside linebacker in the nation by 247Sports.

LB — Marqaz Young, Oscar Smith (Chesapeake) | 5-11 | 180 | Jr.
Young patrolled the middle for the Tigers last year and earned a spot on the Class 6 all-state team and the All-Tidewater second team.

LB — Shawn Murphy, Stonewall Jackson (Manassas) | 6-2 | 220 | Jr.
Ranked as the No. 1 linebacker in the Class of 2022 by 247Sports, Murphy was a Class 6 all-state player as a sophomore last year.

DB — Samuel Dankah, South County (Lorton) | 6-3 | 165 | Sr.
Dankah earned Class 6 all-state honors after helping South County win the Class 6 state championship.

DB — Damon Harmon, Highland Springs | 6-1 | 178
With Tony Grimes reclassifying to the Class of 2020, Harmon is now the top-rated cornerback in the state by 247Sports.

DB — Shawn Asbury, North Stafford (Stafford) | 5-10 | 170 | Sr.
Asbury is headed to Virginia Tech next year and he was a Class 5 all-state player as a junior.

DB — Nate Evans, Cox (Virginia Beach) | 6-1 | 175 | Sr.
North Carolina State landed the three-star recruit, who is ranked as the No. 22 player in the state by 247Sports.

AP — Shamus Jones, Dale (Chester) | 6-2 | 190 | Sr.
Jones helped lead Dale to a 9-4 record while posting 81 tackles, four tackles for loss and two interceptions on defense. He earned a spot on the all-state team.

P — Nick Veltsistas, Robinson (Fairfax, Va.) | 6-3 | 180 | Sr.
Rated one of the top 30 punters in the nation, Veltsistas was the Class 6 first team all-state punter last year.
Second Team Offense

QB — Ethan Vasko, Oscar Smith (Chesapeake) | 6-3 | 180 | Jr.
An All-Tidewater and Class 6 all-state second team player, Vasko threw for 3,074 yards and 43 touchdowns while leading the Tigers to a Class 6 Region A championship.

QB — Billy Edwards, Lake Braddock (Burke) | 6-3 | 195 | Sr.
An Old Dominion recruit, Edwards led Lake Braddock to a 10-3 record last year while throwing for 2,677 yards and 31 touchdowns.

RB — Hunter Rice, Lord Botetourt (Daleville) | 6-0 | 205 | Sr.
A Class 3 all-state player, Rice helped lead his team to a deep run in the playoffs while rushing for 1,751 yards and 18 touchdowns.

RB — Bryce Duke, Tuscarora (Leesburg) | 6-0 | 208 | Jr.
Duke led Tuscarora to the Class 4 championship game and finished with 1,818 yards and 24 touchdowns while earning all-state honors as a sophomore.

WR — Brock Spalding, South County (Lorton) | 5-9 | 155 | Jr.
All-state as a sophomore, Spalding proved to be the go-to guy for South County as he caught 85 passes for 1,405 yards and 22 touchdowns.

WR — Deangelo Gray, Dale (Chester) | 5-8 | 160 | Sr.
Gray helped Dale reach the third round of the playoffs as he caught 42 passes for 930 yards and eight touchdowns while earning all-state honors.

TE — Zach Horton, Northside (Roanoke) | 6-3 | 225 | Sr.
Horton was a standout on both sides of the line for Northside as he ranks as one of the state's top returning tight ends and he is a force at defensive end where he had double-digit sacks last year.

OL — Payton Payne, Nansemond River (Suffolk, Va.) | 6-0 | 250 | Sr.
Payne found a spot on the Class 5 all-state second team last year while helping his team reach the second round of the playoffs.

OL — Jack Courtney, Briar Woods (Ashburn) | 6-3 | 255 | Sr.
Courtney helped Briar Woods make it to the second round of the Class 5 state playoffs last year. He was named to the Class 5 all-state second team.

OL — CJ Van Buren, North Stafford (Stafford) | 6-3 | 290 | Sr.
Van Buren was part of a North Stafford team that reached the Class 5 semifinals. He landed on the Class 5 all-state second team.

OL — Patrick McEachin, Lake Taylor (Norfolk) | 6-0 | 265 | Sr.
McEachin helped Lake Taylor win the Class 4 state championship. He earned a spot on the All-Tidewater honorable mention list and was a Class 4 all-state selection.

OL — Troy Everett, Lord Botetourt (Daleville) | 6-3 | 280 | Sr.
Everett teams with Colston Powers to give Lord Botetourt one of the top offensive lines in Virginia. He ranks No. 51 in the nation at guard by 247Sports.

AP — Trenton Adkins, Ridgeview (Clintwood) | 6-1 | 195 | Sr.
Adkins led the state in rushing as a junior with 2,856 yards and 47 touchdowns. He earned Class 2 all-state honors.

K — Tyler Garrett, Glass (Lynchburg) | 5-10 | 170 | Sr.
Glass returns Garrett, who had 50 extra points on the season, including eight in one game, and four field goals, including a long of 46.
Second Team Defense

DL — Bryce Carter, Dale (Chester) | 6-2 | 240 | Sr.
Carter earned all-state honors last year while racking up 100 tackles, and four sacks.

DL — Caleb Jones, Oscar Smith (Chesapeake) | 6-0 | 260 | Jr.
Jones earned all-state and All-Tidewater honors as a sophomore for the 13-2 Tigers.

DL — Jeremiah Covington-Griggs, Stone Bridge (Ashburn) | 6-0 | 190 | Sr.
Covington-Griggs helped Stone Bridge reach the Class 5 state championship game where it came up short against Maury. The Bulldog defensive end earned a spot on the Class 5 all-state team.

DL — Matei Fitz, Tuscarora (Leesburg) | 6-1 | 240 | Sr.
Fitz earned region defensive Player of the Year honors and was also an all-state selection.

LB — Gene Townsel Jr., Life Christian Academy (Chester) | 6-0 | 215 | Jr.
Townsel has been a force on the LCA defense for the past two seasons and he's only a junior. He earned VISAA all-state honors as a sophomore last year.

LB — Skylar Martin, Stone Bridge (Ashburn) | 6-3 | 215 | Sr.
Martin earned a spot on the Class 5 all-state team after racking up 79 tackles | 13 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

LB — Demetrius Johnson, Maury (Norfolk) | 6-1 | 210 | Sr.
Johnson was a force for the Class 5 champions as he earned all-state honors and had 123 tackles with 18 tackles for loss.

DB — Jayden McDonald, Salem | 6-4 | 217 | Sr.
McDonald was a leader on defense for 12-2 Salem as he earned selection to the Class 4 all-state team.

DB — Pierre Royster, Lake Taylor (Norfolk) | 5-10 | 175 | Sr.
Royster helped Lake Taylor win the Class 4 championship as he earned all-state honors and was also named to the All-757 juniors team.

DB — Maurice Freeman, Oscar Smith (Chesapeake) | 6-0 | 190 | Sr.
One of the many talented returning players for the Tigers, Freeman is ranked as the No. 33 player in Virginia and is reportedly heading to Ole Miss.

DB — Anthony Fisher, Benedictine (Richmond) | 6-0 | 175 | Jr.
One of three sophomores to earn Division I all-state defensive honors by the VISAA in 2019.

AP — Dajon Evans, Maury (Norfolk) | 5-9 | 170 | Sr.
Evans was an all-state selection for the state champions. He had 88 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and four fumble recoveries on the season.

P — Jimmy Kibble, Loudoun County (Leesburg) | 6-1 | 175 | Jr.
Kibble ranks as one of the top punters and kickers in the nation for the Class of 2022. He made the Class 4 all-state team.