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De La Salle continued its dominance on the football field over the decade, keeping its winning streak alive against every team in California north of Fresno that extends all the way back to 1991.
But the Northern California powerhouse doesn’t hold a monopoly on local talent that continued to blossom in college, some eventually finding a home in the NFL.
Marin Catholic quarterback Jared Goff made a name for himself at Cal before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and taking the Los Angeles Rams to Super Bowl LIII.
Antioch running back Najee Harris was a one-man wrecking crew this fall at Alabama.
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Wide receiver Davante Adams won a state title at Palo Alto, broke records at Fresno State and is currently the favorite target of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
What other high school standouts made the cut on the Bay Area Preps HQ all-decade team?
Take a look here:
OFFENSE
QB: Jared Goff, Marin Catholic
What he did: A three-year varsity starter, Goff only lost once during the regular season. He threw for 3,692 yards and 40 touchdowns as a senior in 2012 and also crossed the goal line eight times on the ground, guiding the Wildcats to a NorCal Division III title before falling 38-35 in the California Interscholastic Federation state final. Goff finished his high school career with 7,687 passing yards, 93 TDs and 18 interceptions.
Where he is now: The four-star recruit signed to play at Cal and parlayed his success in Berkeley — first true freshman to start a season opener along with 26 school records set during his three seasons — into becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. The two-time Pro Bowl selection was the Super Bowl LIII runner-up this past February.
— Vytas Mazeika
RB: Najee Harris, Antioch
What he did: One of the best running backs to come out of the Bay Area. Was the No. 1 recruit in the nation his senior year. Ran for more than 2,000 yards in each of his three full varsity seasons, including 2,776 and 34 touchdowns as a senior and 2,744 yards and 36 TDs as a junior.
Where he is now: In his third season at Alabama. In 12 games this fall, he has rushed for 1,088 yards and 12 TDs and caught 27 passes for 304 yards and seven scores. If he declares for the NFL draft, he could be taken in the first two rounds.
— Darren Sabedra
RB: Joe Mixon, Freedom
What he did: A five-star recruit and No. 1-rated running back by 247Sports and Rivals.com, Mixon found the end zone 71 times as a three-year starter at Freedom. He piled up 4,281 yards — 7.2 yards per carry — with 57 of his touchdowns on the ground. His signature performance came in the opening round of the 2013 North Coast Section Division I playoffs, with 22 carries for 281 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior.
Where he is now: Suspended as a true freshman after a misdemeanor assault charge, Mixon played two seasons at Oklahoma. In 2016, he ran for 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns, plus caught another five TDs. Mixon taken No. 48 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
— Vytas Mazeika
WR: Davante Adams, Palo Alto
What he did: Helped lead Palo Alto to what is considered the greatest upset in the modern CIF state championship era (2006-present), catching a touchdown pass in the Vikings’ 15-13 victory over nationally-ranked Centennial-Corona for the 2010 Division I state title on a rainy night in Carson. Was named first-team All-Mercury News that season after catching 63 passes for 1,094 yards and 11 TDs.
Where he is now: Went on to star at Fresno State. Was taken in the second round (No. 53 overall) in the 2014 NFL draft by Green Bay. Two-time Pro Bowl selection (2017, 2018) is now in his sixth season with the Packers.
— Darren Sabedra
WR: Troy Franklin, Menlo-Atherton
What he did: Actually, he’s still doing it. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound junior is the No. 1 recruit in the nation at his position according to 247Sports. As a sophomore, he accounted for six touchdowns in the playoffs as M-A claimed its first CIF state title. His résumé so far consists of 102 catches for 1,790 yards and 28 touchdowns — 17.5 yards per catch.
Where he is now: On Nov. 25, Franklin whittled down his recruitment list on Twitter to 11 schools. Seven belong to the Pac-12 — Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, USC, Utah, Washington, Washington State — along with Alabama, LSU, Tennessee and Texas.
— Vytas Mazeika
TE: Austin Hooper, De La Salle
What he did: Part of three-straight CIF Open Division state championship teams (2010-12), the two-way standout recorded 18.5 sacks over his junior and senior campaigns. In a run-heavy scheme, Hooper averaged 23.8 yards per catch and found the end zone five times over the same span.
Where he is now: The four-star recruit redshirted as a freshman at Stanford and over two seasons piled up 937 yards and eight touchdowns at Tight End U. A third-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2016 NFL Draft, he had three catches for 32 yards and a touchdown in a 34-28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI.
— Vytas Mazeika
OL: Aaron Banks, El Cerrito
What he did: The 6-foot-6, 325-pound lineman paved the way for an offense that averaged 29.4 points per game as a senior in 2016. A first team all-Bay Area News Group selection, the four-star recruit committed to Notre Dame over other finalists such as Cal, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee and UCLA.
Where he is now: After spending his freshman season on the scout team, Banks played in all 13 games as a sophomore in 2018 and made his first career start against Navy. Entrenched at left guard this fall, he closed out a 10-2 regular season with a 45-24 win at Stanford.
— Vytas Mazeika
OL: Tyler Manoa, St. Francis
What he did: Was a four-star recruit coming out of high school. At 6-5 and 294 pounds his senior season, he anchored a line that propelled St. Francis to Northern California regional and state championships. Was named West Catholic Athletic League offensive lineman of the year and first-team All-Bay Area News Group as a senior.
Where he is now: Played in all 12 games for UCLA this fall as a sophomore defensive lineman. Finished with 19 tackles (11 solos) and forced a fumble for a team that finished 4-8.
— Darren Sabedra
OL: Boss Tagaloa, De La Salle
What he did: Listed on his UCLA bio as the first player in De La Salle history to play varsity football as a freshman, the 6-foot-1, 312-pound behemoth recorded 65 tackles and eight sacks as a senior as he anchored an offensive line that rolled its way to 13 straight wins and the 2015 CIF Open Division state title while averaging 44.4 points per game.
Where he is now: The four-star recruit spent two years on the defensive line at UCLA before shifting to center, where he helped the Bruins re-establish a rushing attack in Westwood that improved by over 40 yards per game in 2018.
— Vytas Mazeika
OL: Freddie Tagaloa, Salesian
What he did: Was named first-team All-East Bay and the Bay Shore Athletic League lineman of the year after the 6-8, 315-pound standout put forth a dominant senior season for the Richmond private school. Was a four-star prospect by 247Sports.
Where he is now: Heavily recruited out of high school, Tagaloa began his college career at Cal and then transferred to Arizona. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in the spring of 2017 but was released before the season started.
— Darren Sabedra
OL: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Bishop O’Dowd
What he did: The 6-foot-4, 310-pound guard helped Bishop O’Dowd claim the CIF Division 5-AA state title as a senior in 2016. With the all-Bay Area News Group first-team selection in the trenches, the Dragons averaged 39.9 points per game and closed out the season on a 12-game win streak.
Where he is now: The four-star recruit committed to USC prior to his senior year. After a redshirt year as a true freshman, Vera-Tucker has played in all 24 games over the past two seasons and closed out this fall at left guard during a 52-35 victory over rival UCLA.
— Vytas Mazeika
DEFENSE
DL: Isaiah Foskey, De La Salle
What he did: Dominant edge pass rusher in 2018 for one of De La Salle’s all-time great defenses and a matchup nightmare as a tight end. First-team all-Bay Area News Group as a defensive lineman his senior season. Was a four-star prospect with offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and Washington.
Where he is now: Nearing the end of his freshman season at Notre Dame. In his return to the Bay Area last month, he had a momentum-changing blocked punt that ignited the Irish to a 45-24 victory over Stanford. .
— Darren Sabedra
DL: Atonio Mafi, Serra
What he did: Dominated the trenches on both sides of the ball en route to being named West Catholic Athletic Player of the Year in 2017. Helped lead Serra to its first CIF state football title the same season, but missed much of the playoff run after tearing his Achilles. Flipped commitment from Cal to UCLA on signing day.
Where he is now: Shed 45 pounds — motivated, he said, by friend and fellow all-decade team member Boss Tagaloa — after a freshman season at UCLA in which he started nine games. Started his sophomore season by making a career-high nine tackles vs. Cincinnati. Forced a fumble in Bruins’ trip to the Bay Area this season in 34-16 win at Stanford.
— Evan Webeck
DL: Joshua Pakola, St. Francis
What he did: An edge pass-rusher in high school as a defensive end/outside linebacker. Co-defensive player of the year by this news organization as a senior in 2018. Helped St. Francis win its first outright West Catholic Athletic League championship in 15 years as a senior, finishing that campaign with 10 sacks. Was a four-star recruit.
Where he is now: Just completed his freshman season at Stanford. Played in one game and had one tackle.
— Darren Sabedra
DL: Vita Vea, Milpitas
What he did: Mercury News defensive player of the year his senior season in 2012. So mobile for his size — 6-5, 300 pounds — the big guy was given reps at middle linebacker and running back. Averaged 12.3 yards per carry and scored 11 touchdowns as a senior. Also averaged 10 tackles per game and had eight sacks that season.
Where he is now: Became a star at the University of Washington. Was named the Pac-12’s Pat Tillman defensive player of the year in 2017, the first Washington player to receive the honor in 21 years. Was taken in the first round (No. 12 overall) by Tampa Bay.in the 2018 NFL draft. In Week 12 this season, he became the first NFL player in five years to have a sack and catch a touchdown pass in the same game.
— Darren Sabedra
LB: Ben Burr-Kirven, Sacred Heart Prep
What he did: Put the Gators on the map with a string of Central Coast Section championships over his three years on varsity, each more impressive than the other. SHP advanced to a 2013 CIF state final after a stunning 42-7 upset of El Cerrito in the NorCal title game, then Burr-Kirven capped his prep career with 11 tackles along with 27 carries for 103 yards and both TDs in a 14-0 victory over Bellarmine to claim a CCS Open Division championship and a 13-0 campaign in 2014.
Where he is now: The Pac-12 defensive player of the year as a senior at Washington turned into a fifth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2019 NFL draft.
— Vytas Mazeika
LB: Michael Hutchings, De La Salle
What he did: Headlined a De La Salle class that won state championships in all four seasons. Became first De La Salle player since 2004 to top the Bay Area News Group’s Cream of the Crop list. Named Cal-Hi Sports’ Mr. Football for 2013. Top-100, four-star recruit committed to USC.
Where he is now: Finished his second season as a defensive graduate assistant at USC, where he played linebacker for four seasons. Appeared in 54 games, starting 15, and recorded 118 tackles.
— Evan Webeck
LB: Nate Landman, Monte Vista
What he did: East Bay defensive player of the year by this news organization as a senior in 2016. Was a key two-way player as Monte Vista went 12-1 that season en route to claiming the North Coast Section Division I championship.
Where he is now: Has emerged as a star at the University of Colorado. The Buffaloes’ only first-team All-Pac-12 player this fall. Team leader in tackles for the second consecutive season, finishing with 137, all but 25 of those solo. Played in an astounding 785 out of 815 snaps on defense as a junior this season, a team-high.
— Darren Sabedra
LB: Henry To’oto’o, De La Salle
What he did: The 2018 Bay Area News Group player of the year looked poised to lead DLS to a perfect season before suffering a broken foot the day before the CIF Open Division state title game against Mater Dei. Refusing to give up, To’oto’o still suited up and gave it his best, one of the reasons he was chosen a captain. The 6-2, 205-pound inside linebacker also ran for 489 yards and three touchdowns as a senior.
Where he is now: The four-star recruit opted to attend Tennessee over offers from the likes of Alabama and Washington. This past fall, To’oto’o recorded 64 tackles for the Volunteers.
— Vytas Mazeika
DB: Chidobe Awuzie, Oak Grove
What he did: Multifaceted weapon for 2012 Oak Grove team that went undefeated in the regular season. Rushed for 1,247 yards and 14 touchdowns, caught 15 passes for 457 yards and seven touchdowns, and had four interceptions. Three-star recruit with three Pac-12 offers committed to Colorado.
Where he is now: Selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft after a decorated career at the University of Colorado. Cemented himself as a starter on the Cowboys defense in the second half of his rookie season and has not relinquished the role since. Still lives in San Jose and hosts youth camps every summer.
— Evan Webeck
DB: TaRiq Bracy, Milpitas
What he did: Bay Area News Group player of the year as a senior in 2017. Helped lead Milpitas to its first regional and state championships that year. Four days after the season, he signed with Notre Dame. “It is a dream,” Bracy said. In his senior year, he had 2,042 yards rushing, 299 yards receiving and 2,653 all-purpose yards. On defense, he was terrific in pass coverage. He picked off three passes as a senior, each of them returned for touchdowns.
Where he is now: Played in 23 games thus far with Notre Dame. Has six passes-defended, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries as a sophomore this fall, along with 24 tackles. Started against Bowling Green and USC.
— Darren Sabedra
DB: Kevin King, Bishop O’Dowd
What he did: After a growth spurt prior to junior year in high school, King recorded six interceptions as a senior while playing for head coach Hardy Nickerson, a 16-year NFL veteran. Named defensive MVP at the 2012 Oakland Nike Football Training Camp, the three-star recruit opted to attend Washington over Cal, West Virginia and Arizona State.
Where he is now: The 6-foot-3, 200-pound cornerback went No. 33 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, a second-round pick by the Green Bay Packers. As a senior a UW, recorded a team-high nine tackles in a 24-7 loss to Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl during the College Football Playoff semifinals.
— Vytas Mazeika
DB: Marcus Peters, McClymonds
What he did: Starred on the football field and on the track for McClymonds. Helped lead school to its first undefeated season with seven interceptions and six kick/punt return touchdowns. Named Oakland Athletic League MVP. Also took first place in 100- and 200-meter sprints at OAL championships. Three-star recruit, committed to Washington.
Where he is now: Just earned his third Pro Bowl nod in five NFL seasons, but they have been turbulent ones. An all-conference selection as a sophomore at Washington but dismissed as a junior before being drafted 18th overall in 2015. Played for three different teams since, but on-field ability has never wavered.
— Evan Webeck
SPECIALISTS
Utility: Shamar Garrett, De La Salle
What he did: Two-way star as a running back and free safety for De La Salle the past two seasons. Named co-player of the year in the East Bay Athletic League this fall. Rarely played a full game during a large stretch of the season because of wide margins on the scoreboard. In his final game, he ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns, caught four passes for 26 yards and had 12 tackles in a loss to St. John Bosco for the Open Division state championship.
Where he is now: Four days after the loss to Bosco, Garrett signed with San Jose State to play football beginning next fall.
— Darren Sabedra
Kick returner: Amir Carlisle, The King’s Academy
What he did: Finished his high school career in 2010 with a Santa Clara County-record 5,108 rushing yards and 73 touchdowns. Was among 10 players from California selected to play in the Under Armour All-America game that season. Scored 28 TDs and ran for 2,110 yards as a senior, leading his team to the playoffs.
Where he is now: Began his college career at USC and then transferred to Notre Dame, playing for the Irish from 2013-15. Caught 61 passes for 690 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 288 yards in his Notre Dame career. Now is a performance coach.
— Darren Sabedra
Kicker: Peyton Henry, Monte Vista
What he did: As a senior in 2016 helped the Mustangs claim an NCS Division I title with the team’s lone loss to De La Salle. The ever-so accurate Henry didn’t miss any PAT attempts in 69 tries, while also booting eight field goals with a long of 47 yards, along with 84 touchbacks on 93 kickoffs.
Where he is now: After a redshirt year at Washington, Henry took over kicking duties and made three field goals in his college debut. This fall the all-Pac-12 second-team pick was nearly flawless, going 18-of-20 on field goals and a perfect 44-of-44 on PATs.
— Vytas Mazeika
COACH
Justin Alumbaugh, De La Salle
Alumbaugh replaced the John Wooden of high school football in 2013, with better results than any of the legendary UCLA basketball coach’s successors. All Bob Ladouceur did at De La Salle in the 34 seasons before Alumbaugh took over was go 399-25-3, win a national-record 151 consecutive games from 1992-2003, claim numerous section, state and national championships and have the program’s story told in a book-turned-movie, “When The Game Stands Tall.” In Alumbaugh’s seven seasons at his alma mater, the Spartans have gone 87-9, claimed seven North Coast Section titles, won Open Division state championships in 2014 and 2015 and finished as the Open Division state runner-up in the other five seasons — the past four against teams overloaded with major-college talent.
— Darren Sabedra
SPECIAL MENTION
OL Larry Allen, De La Salle
WR Steven Anderson, Piedmont Hills
TE Devin Asiasi, De La Salle
DL Jacob Bandes, Pittsburg
DB Landon Baty, St. Francis
WR BJ Boyd, Palo Alto
QB Jay Butterfield, Liberty
LB DJ Calhoun, El Cerrito
QB Keller Chryst, Palo Alto
WR Darrell Daniels, Freedom
TE Andrew Daschbach, Sacred Heart Prep
QB Anthony Gordon, Terra Nova
QB Jake Haener, Monte Vista
LB Kyle Harmon, Freedom
LB Daniel Heimuli, Menlo-Atherton
WR Isaiah Hodgins, Berean Christian
DB Jevon Holland, Bishop O’Dowd
QB Bart Houston, De La Salle
RB Austin Jones, Bishop O’Dowd
QB Sean Mannion, Foothill
RB Byron Marshall, Valley Christian
DL Takk McKinley, Kennedy-Richmond
QB Travis McHugh, Bellarmine
LB Kenneth Olugbode, Bellarmine
UT Kris Olugbode, Bellarmine
TE Tyler Petite, Campolindo
LB Chandler Ramirez, Archbishop Mitty
RB Ronnie Rivers, Freedom
RB Paul M. Rosa, Wilcox
DL RJ Stone, Valley Christian
DB/QB John Torchio, Campolindo
DB/WR Sione Vaki, Liberty
DB Cleveland Wallace, Oak Grove
QB Nsimba Webster, Deer Valley
DB Bennett Williams, St. Francis
DL/OL Payton Zdroik, Liberty
HOW CHOICES WERE MADE
The players of the decade and the all-decade teams, including coaches, were chosen in a vote by the Bay Area Preps HQ staff.
