One of the top teams in the country; Central Catholic 2014

Give Coach Steve Pyne and his staff a lot of credit, putting together what could potentially be the most talented team ever to play high school football in Oregon.

They will have an opportunity to battle nationally ranked California State Champion St John Bosco in Week 2 of the regular season, after a rematch of the 2013 state title game against Jesuit in Week 1.

The Rams finished ranked the #22 team in the country last year by USA today, which is one of the top rankings ever achieved within the state. If CC starts (2-0) expect them to be listed among the top 10 teams nationally.

Roseburg 1996′, Jesuit 2006′, and CC’s team from last year are considered by many to be the best teams ever assembled in Oregon. On paper this group is as good, if not better, then those teams just referenced and the Rams are excited to go prove it on the field.

 

Central Catholic 83 Tigard 49 – Oregon 6A State Semi’s

 

Central Catholic 38 Jesuit 28 – Oregon 6A State title game

 

QB

Sean Dack 6-1 185 QB 15′– Dack is a very talented 3 sport athlete that did a good job backing up MHC Player of the Year/PSU QB Aidan Wilder last season. He rushed 22 times for 147 yards and 2 TD’s showing off his overall athleticism.

Carson Spitznagel 6-0 175 QB 16′ – Spitznagel is one of the more talented junior QB’s in the state. He will battle Sean Dack for the starting spot. It is the one position on the field where the Rams aren’t head and shoulders above everyone else.

 

RB

Cameron Scarlett 6-1 205 RB 15′ – One of the top overall players in the country who went off as a junior. Cam will be the leading candidate for Oregon Player of the Year honors after going for 33 total TD’s (22 rushing, 7 receiving, 4 returns) and 2,860 all purpose yards in 2013. He averaged 11.63 yards per carry and over 20 yards a catch, helping the Rams to their first state title in 60 years. He has been offered by the entire Pac 12 (minus USC) and schools such as Notre Dame. Look for Cameron to be a U.S. Army All American and one of the most recruited kids in state history.

OFFERS: Oregon, Oregon St, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona St, Stanford, Cal, Washington, Washington St, Notre Dame, Boise St, BYU, Nevada

Ronnie Rust 6-1 195 RB 16′– Rust and Breeze could potentially lead the state in rushing if given the opportunity, but they are so deep everyone will get their turn. Ronnie was an All American on the defensive side of the ball, and contributed significantly on offense carrying the rock 62 times for 376 yards and 9 TD’s last season.

OFFERS : Oregon St (Baseball)

Brady Breeze 6-1 200 RB 16′– Brady didn’t do much running last season due to the cast on his arm, but he has been dominant growing up rushing the ball. At the freshman level in Medford he was a man amongst boys going for 2, 850 yards and 29 TD’s while picking off 12 passes. Its borderline ridiculous how much talent is coming out of the Rams backfield with Scarlett, Rust & Breeze in the mix.

OFFERS: Oregon

Tyson Cooper 5-11 200 H Back/TE 15′– Coop plays with a junk yard dog type mentality and will do whatever is asked of him. It’s not clear how much he will need to run the ball with Oregon’s top two junior’s (Rust, Breeze) and Scarlett in the backfield, but he did do work last year rushing 26 times for 194 yards and 3 TD’s.

 

Slot

Deante Strickland 5-8 180 CB 15′– Deonte was the Mt Hood Conference Player of the Year and a 1st team all state athlete on the basketball court last season. His potential on the football field is limitless as the Rams are stoked to have such a versatile kid as part of their offensive arsenal.

Trey Davis 5-10 165 Slot 17′– Trey is the real deal as he will be one of the top players in Oregon for the 2017 class. Look for him to play on both sides of the football as a sophomore. He is the brother of 1st team all state 2013′ WR Zack Davis , with his father being a former 4 year starter for the Oregon St Beavers out of Banning CA.

Austin Gernhart 5-9 165 Slot 15′ – Many of his teammates call him the hardest worker of the group. Gernhart caught 3 passes for 49 yards and a TD last season and should do well out of the slot with so much talent around him.

 

WR

Lamar Winston 6-3 200 WR 16′– Lamar didn’t play much WR last season as he was busy dominating from his OLB position. That will all change this year as he may be the top wide out in the 2016 class. There isn’t much the kid can’t do, as highlighted by his acrobatic dunks on the basketball floor. Once he learns the position he will require a constant double team.

Xavier Hallinan 6-0 170 WR 15′– Hallinan caught 4 passes for 51 yards and a TD last season and will get his opportunity in 2014. Expect him to step up and be one of the primary targets as people will key on Winston.

 

OL

TJ Salu 6-2 280 C 15′– Salu is the state’s top ranked center, earning 1st team all league honors in 2013. He is probably the most fundamentally sound lineman in Oregon projecting as a multi offer D1 kid. Both of his parents were scholarship athletes at PSU as TJ has broken out as a top defensive player over the off season.

Riley Gallant 6-6 285 T 15′ – Gallant was an all league kid last season but has really come into his own. He currently holds multiple D1 offers and is one of the fastest rising lineman in the Pacific Northwest, as you can’t teach 6-6. With continued progression and a good 2014 season he could add some additional big time offers.

OFFERS: Montana, UC Davis

Blake Brandel 6-7 250 T 15′– Brandel is a big time D1 kid as he can play on either side of the ball earning 1st team all league and all state honors last season. Most of the Pac 12 will probably extend a scholarship before he is done, as Coach Pyne said it best when referencing Blake before last years state title game, “I don’t know if I have ever seen the kid have a bad day.”

OFFERS: Oregon St, Washington St, Nevada,

Tobe Okafor 6-4 260 OL 16′ – Look for Okafor to be ranked one of our top O lineman for the class of 2016. He will be the youngster of the group, but has legit D1 size and will learn from some of the top big men in the country.

Joseph Wilson 6-1 265 G 15′– Wilson has looked good over the off season. He isn’t the biggest kid but should do well in a Rams system with a O/D line that averages 6-4.5 across the board. He will be an all conference kid.

 

DL

TJ Salu 6-2 280 DT 15′– I feel bad for whoever has to guard Salu from his D tackle spot. Some didn’t know he could play D line until he dominated a bunch of D1 kids in Washington at the RDAF Showcase event. It was impressive to say the least.

Sam Gomez 6-0 200 DE/OLB 15′– Gomez is one of the top defensive players in the state, but just undersized for the position. He earned 1st team all league honors last season during the Rams state title run accounting for 52 total tackles, 7.5 Tackles for loss, 9 hurries, and 4 sacks.

Cam Volker 6-3 280 DL 15′ – One of the more underrated D lineman in the state as he has legit size. He is rising quickly, with a phenomenal performance in last year’s state title game. He accounted for 18 total tackles, and 3 tackles for loss in 2013

James Cory 6-3 285 DL 15′– Cory is very similar to Volker in that they are two of the state’s better D lineman. Each got limited time on a ridiculously talented Rams roster last season, accounting for 11 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Malik Thirdgill 6-3 225 DE/OLB 17′– Get used to this name as he will be one of the top players in the Northwest. Anyone familiar with Thirdgill knows he comes from a very athletic family. Malik has legit size and overall athleticism and will be a household name before he is done.

 

LB

Matt Vanoudenhaegen 5-10 195 LB 15′ – Matt was the team’s leading tackler (82 total) as a junior , adding 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries. He is the guy that everyone wants to have on their team. Undersized for the position but dominant on the field.

Tyson Cooper 5-11 200 LB 15′– One of the fastest rising defensive players in the Northwest. He has put himself on multiple D1 recruiting boards after finishing 2nd on the team in tackles with (77). He added 3 tackles for loss, 5 hurries, and 6 forced/caused fumbles in 2013, MVP ing multiple camps this off season.

Ronnie Rust 6-1 200 LB 16′– Rust was a Sophomore All American and is one of the top overall athletes in the country for his class. Its rare to see a youngster so dominant. He accumulated 66 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 4 hurries, and 5 pass deflections. Ronnie is one of the top baseball players in the West and has already been offered by Oregon St on the diamond. Expect him to have multiple Pac 12 offers in football as well.

OFFERS- Oregon St (Baseball)

Lamar Winston 6-3 200 OLB 16′ – Lamar is an absolute freak and one of top overall athletes in the country for the class of 2016. He is an unquestioned double digit D1 kid that will have multiple offers in the not so distant future. Winston added 43 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 5 pass defections and wreaked havoc on offenses as a sophomore. He did not play much O but might be the best receiver in Oregon.

Eamon Mcneil 5-10 210 LB 15′ – Not a lot of people know about Eamon but the kid’s legit. Expect him to have a big year from his backer spot after accounting for 20 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks.

 

DB

Saadiq Calhoun 5-9 175 CB 15′ – Calhoun is ranked one of the state’s top corner’s, earning 2nd team all league honors as a junior. He added 28 total tackles, 8 pass deflections, and 2 int’s in 2013 while MVP ing multiple college camps and showcases this off season. He plays with no fear and learned from the state’s top corner in Aaron Washington last year.

Deante Strickland 5-8 180 CB 15′– This could be one of the biggest additions to any team state wide, as the Mt Hood Conference Player of the Year/ 1st team all state kid in hoops hits the football field. He is just an incredible overall athlete almost making it unfair for QB’s to try and throw.

Brady Breeze 6-1 200 S 16′– You won’t find a much more versatile and well rounded kid, as Brady projects as one of the top safeties in the country already being offered by Oregon. He earned 2nd team all league honors in 2013 at South Medford with a cast on his hand, before making the transfer this summer. Breeze was the DB MVP at the Ducks camp and also a standout on our Vegas 7 on 7 all star squad.

OFFERS: Oregon

Cam Scarlett- 6-1 205 S 15′ – Cam is one of the nation’s most recruited athletes for the work he did on the offensive side of the ball last season. That said he could be one of the top defensive players in the region. No one really knows where he will play in college, but he is also one of the top kick return men in the country averaging 36. 4 yards a return and taking 4 balls to the house during their state title run.

OFFERS: Oregon, Oregon St, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona St, Stanford, Cal, Washington, Washington St, Notre Dame, Boise St, BYU, Nevada

JJ Wells 5-9 165 DB 16′ – Wells played sparingly in 2013 but should have a much bigger role this season. He could be one of the better Junior DB’s in the state, while learning from former NFL all pro Anthony Newman and D1 kids all around him.