Daily News football preview: 15 offensive players to watch this season
The first week of high school football fall training camp is in the books and offenses are starting to come together. These 15 offensive players — in alphabetical order — are ready to light up the scoreboard this fall:
QB Wyatt Becker, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
Becker, a Utah commit, is one of the top quarterbacks in the area and threw for 2,660 yards and 30 touchdowns while rushing for 240 yards and four touchdowns in his junior year.
RB Demanie Bell, Westlake, Jr.
Bell will see game action with the Warriors for the first time this season after transferring from Crespi. He rushed for 1,021 yards and seven touchdowns on 174 carries with the Celts.
RB Brian Bonner, Valencia, Jr.
Bonner is going to be tough to stop. He placed eighth in the 100 meters at the CIF State Championships in the spring after a football season that included 499 rushing yards and 457 receiving yards.
QB Brady Bretthauer, Valencia, Jr.
Bretthauer will be the starting quarterback this season after gaining valuable game experience last year. He produced 208 passing yards and four passing touchdowns and rushed for 203 yards and six touchdowns. His college offers include Old Dominion, San Jose State and UNLV.
OL Wade Cobb, Hart, Jr.
Cobb is eligible to play in all of the team’s games this season after transferring in the middle of last season. His 6-foot-5, 345-pound frame makes him tough to get by. He’ll play left guard and tackle this season.
@haleymsawyer Hart football is looking different this season with a new head coach, new playbook and new mascot. #journalist #reporter #santaclarita #newhall #scv #football #highschoolfootball #hart #footballcamp #footballseason
RB Niles Davis, Chaminade, Jr.
Davis contributed 732 all-purpose yards and nine TDS his sophomore year. He can be a major contributor again this season.
RB Dane Dunn, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
Dunn has the opportunity to shine in his senior year after sharing carries with Terrell Cooks last season. He accumulated 698 yards and 13 touchdowns on 120 carries and holds offers from Boston College, Colorado State and UNLV.
RB Luke DePerno, West Ranch, Sr.
DePerno was the motor of the Wildcats’ offense last season and rushed for 1,148 yards and 20 touchdowns while averaging 7.8 yards per carry. He had seven multi-touchdown games.
QB Axel Eason, Oaks Christian, Sr.
The UC Davis commit can take over as starting quarterback this season after a junior season that saw 424 passing yards, 105 rushing yards and one passing touchdown.
RB Dredon Fowles, Birmingham, Sr.
Fowles could fill a bigger role this season in the backfield since the departure Ronnell Hewitt. He rushed for 595 yards and five touchdowns in his junior year.
RB Ronnell Hewitt, Westlake, Jr.
Hewitt and Bell will make up Westlake’s backfield this season. Hewitt had 1,438 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 215 carries while playing for Birmingham last season.
@haleymsawyer Westlake football is starting fresh this season with a new coach, a new league and a variety of talent. #reporter #journalist #footballseason #footballcamp #football #sports #highschoolfootball #westlake #runningback #quarterback #defensiveback
WR Adrian Jones, Paraclete, Jr.
Jones showed his worth as an underclassman with 47 receptions for 768 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
WR Shane Rosenthal, Newbury Park, Sr.
The Daily News Offensive Player of the Year picked up multiple offseason college offers including five from Ivy League schools. He has a high ceiling heading into his senior season after breaking Newbury Park records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions as a junior.
QB Brady Smigiel, Newbury Park, Jr.
This pocket passer put up astronomical numbers in 2023 with 4,222 passing yards and 52 touchdowns. He committed to Florida State over the summer.
QB Jackson Taylor, Thousand Oaks, Jr.
Taylor made a name for himself in Ventura County and beyond when he completed 160 of 283 passes for 2,598 yards and 29 touchdowns. He’s attracted 15 college offers so far.