A season on the brink is now a season in a blink.
With less than two months to finish an abbreviated season due to the coronavirus pandemic, many players will opt out of the season, including the San Diego Section's top recruit, Helix quarterback Tyler Buchner who has already enrolled at Notre Dame. He is the state's No. 5 recruit overall for the Class of 2021 after accounting for more than 6,000 yards and 81 touchdowns in 2019 at Bishop's.
Of the Top 25 Players to Watch from San Diego, 18 have either signed or committed to FBS college programs, including five players at Lincoln (San Diego) and three at Torrey Pines (San Diego). The list also includes one of the nation's top sophomores.
Note: If any of your players on this list have opted not to play or transferred, please let us know at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
Oregon-bound running back Byron Cardwell is now at Morse.
File photo by Michael Manzano
Senior | ATH | 6-5, 200 | UndecidedHad 34 catches for 551 yards and three touchdowns as a junior, and also contributed on defense and the return game. Also a standout basketball player, he averaged 14 points and 7.5 rebounds as a junior.
Jaiden Brown | Helix (La Mesa)Senior | CB | 5-11, 170 | San Diego StateTough, quick and instinctive, Brown also had offers from Hawaii, Fresno State and Montana and Montana State. In two seasons, he has four interceptions, two he returned for touchdowns.
Byron Cardwell | Morse (San Diego)Senior | RB | 6-0, 203 | OregonRanked the No. 16 player in California, he's also a track standout, having run 22.5 seconds in the 200 meters as a junior. Been compared to Melvin Gordon.
Zamajay Duncan | Lincoln (San Diego)Senior | CB | 5-10, 180 | IdahoRanked the No. 79 player overall in California among Class of 2021 players, he picked the Vandals over Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State and Morgan State.
Sophomore | LB | 6-1, 220 | Undecided
A MaxPreps Freshman All-American in 2019, he's the only sophomore on the list. He's the country's top-rated inside linebacker in the Class of 2023 and finished with over 100 tackles and four interceptions as ninth-grader.
Averaged more than 9.0 yards per carry while rushing for 1,306 yards and 14 touchdowns in nine games as a junior. Also averaged nearly 20 yards per his 10 catches and three more scores.
Gracen Halton | St. Augustine (San Diego)Junior | DE | 6-4, 270 | OregonAlready with 18 college offers, he's ranked the No. 14 junior recruit in the state. His unique combination of strength and quickness allows him to play anywhere on the line. He's recorded an impressive 33-inch vertical leap.
Vance Jefferson | Poway Senior | WR | 6-0, 185 | UndecidedSplit time between receiver and running back on offense and defensive back his first two seasons in high school, Jefferson has offers from five schools including Arizona State.
Kai Jessie | Patrick Henry (San Diego)Senior | WR | 6-5, 195 | New Mexico One of the more productive receivers in the state, he finished with 65 catches for 972 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior. Blessed with great bloodlines, Jessie's dad Brandon Jessie played for Utah before one year in the NFL. His grandfather Ron Jessie had a very productive career in the NFL with the Cowboys, Lions, Rams and Bills.
Elisha Lloyd | Mission Hills (San Marcos)Senior | CB | 5-10, 175 | UtahRanked the 62nd top recruit overall in the state among Class of 2021 players, Lloyd picked Utah over 18 other schools including Washington State, Boise State, Boston College and Fresno State.
Matt Lauter | Torrey Pines (San Diego)Senior | TE | 6-4, 222 | Cal Poly SLOIn 12 games as a junior, Lauter hauled in 20 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns. He's ranked the No. 121 senior in the state. One Torrey Pines player not yet listed, though one of top lacrosse midfielders in the country, is
Griffin Grant, a 6-4, 200-pound junior with blazing speed and athleticism. Already a Notre Dame LAX commit, he wants to play college football as well.
Jaxson Moi | Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)Junior | DE | 6-3, 245 | UndecidedRanked the No. 48 junior in the state, Moi has 20 college offers but seems to be leaning toward West Coast schools: UCLA, Oregon State, Oregon, California and Boise State. Also is a standout baseball player.
Marco Notarainni | Torrey PinesSenior | LB | 6-3 | 195 | Boise StateIn two seasons, Notarainni has piled up 148 tackles, six sacks and two interceptions. He's ranked the No. 106th top senior recruit in the state.
Dazure Paggett | Lincoln (San Diego)Senior | WR | 5-11, 175 | NevadaBig-play receiver averaged 27 yards per his 20 catches as a junior with four touchdowns. He was also a big contributor on defense as well.
Clay Petry | Helix (La Mesa)Senior | WR | 6-2, 200 | PennsylvaniaAfter playing quarterback as a junior, Petry moved to wide receiver as a junior at Bishop's, where he hauled in 68 passes for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Zach Rowell | Torrey PinesJunior | DE | 6-5, 260 | OregonHad 44 tackles and four sacks as a sophomore. Ranked the No. 51 junior in the state overall, Rowell has four other offers: Arizona, Oregon State, San Diego State and UCLA.
Josh Simmons | Helix (La Mesa)Senior | OG | 6-6, 280 | San Diego StateProjected as the 29th top player overall in California, Simmons had 27 college offers but picked the hometown Aztecs over such schools as Oregon, Arizona, Michigan, Penn State and USC.
Herman Smith | Lincoln (San Diego)Senior | ATH | 5-11, 190 | Jackson StateA versatile running back and receiver, Smith rushed for 292 yards and three scores as a junior and added 32 catches for 519 yards and six more touchdowns. He had 14 college offers, including Hawaii, San Diego State, Boston College and Fresno State.
Max Smith | La JollaSenior | ATH | 5-10, 195 | NavyTremendous contributor on both sides of the ball, Smith had rushed for 757 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior and had 74 tackles and five interceptions from his linebacker spot.
Mandela Tobin | Westview (San Diego)Senior | DE | 6-4, 270 | Duke Tobin had 13 college offers but picked the Blue Devils over Kansas, Fresno State, Colorado State and Nebraska. He's ranked the No. 90 senior overall in California.
Senior | RB | 5-8, 185 | Undecided
Rushed for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns for the CIF San Diego Section Division 1 champs in 2019.
Jalil Tucker| Lincoln (San Diego)Junior | ATH | 6-0, 180 | UndecidedRanked the No. 11 junior in the state, Tucker has 20 college offers thus far based on his breakaway speed (10.78 seconds, 100 as freshman) and strength. He already has six interceptions and 75 tackles in two seasons. He appears most attracted to West Coast schools with Arizona State, Cal, USC, Oregon and Washington on his short list.
Mo Vanderwiel | Torrey PinesSenior | ATH | 6-0, 180 | UndecidedVanderwiel did it all as a junior for the Falcons, running, catching and even passing, but his biggest contribution was as a free safety where he had 42 tackles and three interceptions.
Ja'shon Williams | Lincoln (San Diego)Senior | CB | 5-11, 175 | Idaho
One of three future Vandals on the list, Williams had five interceptions from his corner spot, but also was a big threat as a receiver with 47 catches for more than 700 yards and four TDs.
Isaiah World | Lincoln (San Diego)Senior | OT | 6-8, 270 | Nevada
Originally an Arizona commit, World eventually picked Nevada where he committed to on Feb. 4.
Max Smith, La Jolla
File photo by Steven Silva
