Bay Area again awash in football playmakers
Bay Area high school football fields have produced some pretty notable playmakers over the years.
A quick roll call would inclde: Julian Edelman (Woodside), Marshawn Lynch (Oakland Tech), Jahvid Best (SalesianRichmond), Maurice JonesDrew (De La SalleConcord), Amani Toomer (De La Salle), Lynn Swann (Serra), O.J. Simpson (Galileo), Dick Bass (Vallejo) and Ollie Matson (Washington).
There’s no accurate way to predict which of this year’s top playmakers one day might achieve the NFL success of those players, but here are 10 of the Bay Area’s best at running back, receiver or kick returner. The list was based evenly between onfield productivity and college recruiting interest. 10. Calel OliciaAramboles (California School for the DeafFremont): The 5foot11, 232pound senior running back is the first from his school to make such a list, but after rushing for 3,634 career yards and 44 touchdowns in three seasons, he can’t be ignored. He’s ranked the 136th top senior recruit in the state by 247Sports, but waiting for his first offer. 9. Jermaine Terry (KennedyRichmond): Just the opposite of OliciaAramboles, Terry — a 64, 235pound junior tight end — had little offensive production in his one varsity season (three catches, 77 yards, two touchdowns), but he reportedly has received 14 offers, including from Alabama, Florida, LSU and Cal. As a defensive end, Terry had 61 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He’s ranked the No. 14 junior recruit overall in the state as a tight end. 8. Grant Daley (De La SalleConcord): With a new emphasis on passing in 2018, the Spartans relied on Daley as their top receiving threat. The physical 62, 185pounder had only 22 receptions but they accounted for 680 yards (a 31yardspercatch average) and seven touchdowns. He’s rated as the Spartans’ top senior college recruit. 7. Terence Loville (Serra): The 61, 190pound senior receiver and defensive back grew an inch and added 20 pounds to his frame in the offseason. Don’t be surprised if his receiving totals grow, too, after catching 31 passes for 589 yards and seven touchdowns in 2018. 6. Nate Rutchena (Monte VistaDanville): The 64, 200pound receiver and safety seemingly is always around the ball; he had 45 catches for 716 yards and seven TDs last year and five interceptions. Ranked the No. 79 athlete in the country by 247Sports, Rutchena has six college offers, including one from Cal. 5. Fresh Ison (Moreau CatholicHayward): The 511, 210pound senior isn’t blessed only with a cool name, but also speed and power that helped account for 2,093 rushing yards last season on just 133 carries (a 15.7 average) and 32 touchdowns for the Mariners (121). The big numbers haven’t translated to any bigname offers yet, but Dixie State, Howard, Northern Colorado and William & Mary have offered scholarships. 4. Jamir Shepard (Palo Alto): The 62, 190pound senior follows an impressive line of Palo Alto receivers, including Fresno State alums Devante Adams and KeeSean Johnson, who are now NFL players. Shepard is considered a step ahead of where those two were in high school. He had 48 catches for 1,074 yards and 19 touchdowns in the 2018 regular season for the Vikings (102). 3. Isaiah Newell (Las LomasWalnut Creek): The 46thranked senior in the state by 247 Sports, the 63, 215pounder is a multiskilled athlete, contributing as a runner, receiver and defender. Newell is seen by most colleges as a running back — last season, he gained more than 2,000 yards and scored 20 times. He reportedly received 16 college offers, but recently announced that he’s shut down his recruiting and knows where he wants to go. 2. Troy Franklin (MenloAtherton): On the cusp of a fivestar rating, the 62, 180pound receiver is 247 Sports’ No. 2 junior recruit in the state. Injuries to quarterbacks hurt his production last season, but he still led the Bears to the state 3AA championship with 25 catches for 531 yards (21.2 average) and 12 touchdowns. 1. Shamar Garrett (De La Salle): At 58 and 180 pounds, the running back, safety and return specialist is considered undersized and isn’t getting much major college attention. He has six offers: Air Force, Howard, New Mexico, Sacramento State, San Jose State and William & Mary. He was everywhere for the Spartans last season and figures to be an even bigger playmaker in 2019. Because he’s so valuable at every spot, his touches are few — he had 136 rushing attempts for 1,121 yards (8.2 average) and nine touchdowns. He had five interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. As a backup quarterback, he threw three passes — two went for touchdowns. MaxPreps senior writer Mitch Stephens covers high school sports for The San Francisco Chronicle.