Jaden Rashada might play for the University of Florida, or he might not.

It remains unclear after a report surfaced on Wednesday that the five-star quarterback wanted out of the letter of intent he signed last month to play for Florida.

“Honestly, it’s all been hearsay,” Pittsburg coach Charlie Ramirez said Friday night about the whirlwind of speculation that began when On3 Sports reported that Rashada asked to be released from his Florida commitment.

Rashada’s dad, Harlen, denied the On3 Sports report, telling Brandon Huffman of 247Sports that his son hadn’t sought a release from the letter of intent.

Harlen added, “We’re working through some things right now with Florida and hoping that they get resolved soon.”

What they’re possibly working through is the fallout from a $13 million Name, Image and Likeness deal that the Athletic reported fell apart, citing a program source close to the situation.

“I think the stuff that Harlen said in Brandon Huffman’s article is probably the most accurate from what we’re hearing,” Ramirez said.

Rashada, 19, and his father did not reply to messages left by the Bay Area News Group.

Fair or not, the quarterback who led Pittsburg to a state championship game last fall is a symbol of the wild frontier that the NIL era has become since the NCAA implemented an “interim” policy in June 2021 that allowed athletes to be paid for endorsement deals.

Last summer, Rashada reportedly agreed to a $9.5 million NIL deal when he orally committed to the University of Miami.

Rashada denied those reports, saying on social media, “Any report regarding my commitment to the University of Miami is false unless I was interviewed directly. All reports of my decision involving a NIL deal {are} inaccurate. I would never make a life/career choice for any monetary value.

“As I stated in my commitment live on TV I chose Miami because of the relationship I have with the coaches, players, and the direction the program is headed.”

In November, Rashada flipped to Florida.

He posted on Twitter at that time, “Over the past few months, I’ve been weighing my options heavily. I have dreamed of playing SEC football since I was a little kid. After a lot of prayer, conversations with my family and those close to me, I have decided to change my commitment and play for the University of Florida.

“I have tremendous respect for Miami and what they are going to accomplish there but I have watched this season and coach (Billy) Napier and his (Florida) team are building something very special in The Swamp and I want to be a part of it.”

In December, Rashada signed with Florida.

After the signing, Napier spoke enthusiastically about his future quarterback.

“I just think there’s a high level of trust on both ends there,” Napier said. “Can’t compliment Jaden enough relative to who he is as a person, as a leader, his character. Jaden is a guy who came here and fell in love with the University of Florida and really connected with a lot of people here. It was sincere.”

Back at Pittsburg, the football community is as much in the dark about the latest chapter in the Rashada saga as others.

“As everybody else is reading it, we’re reading it as well,” said Ramirez, who was promoted last month from defensive coordinator to head coach after Victor Galli retired.

Rashada finished his coursework at the high school in December and was planning to be an early college enrollee.

The deadline to enroll at Florida was Friday night.

It is not yet known whether Rashada registered for classes. But even if he didn’t, Ramirez said the quarterback could go the traditional route and join the team in the summer.

No matter how it unfolds, the Pittsburg community wants the best for its former star player.

“Great kid,” Ramirez said. “Great personality. Great character. We feel bad for what Jaden has to be going through. He does a pretty good job of keeping things that are being said on social media at a distance. He’s done the best any kid could possibly do in handling this ever since really the Miami commitment and even going from the Miami commitment to the Florida commitment and everything in between. He’s done as good as any kid could possibly do.”

Given the success, Rosa could keep his ideas to himself and toot his horn about all the one-sided victories that his teams have piled up.

But that’s not him.

Rosa doesn’t like showing up for league games knowing the outcome before a ball is snapped. He wants his kids to play competitive games, not blowout after blowout.

So Rosa made a proposal to tweak his league, which underwent a major overhaul last year when the league that Wilcox had called home for years – the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League – merged with the Peninsula Athletic League.

The merger was done to help programs at levels lower than Wilcox plays.

It evened the playing field for the likes of Monta Vista, Saratoga, Mills and South San Francisco, creating a division for the so-called little guys, programs that in some cases were barely hanging on.

But there was still a problem.

The merged league’s two “A” divisions were top-heavy, particularly the one that included Wilcox, Los Gatos, Homestead, Palo Alto, Mountain View and Milpitas.

Wilcox’s four league victories were by an average of 34.3 points. Los Gatos won its five league games by an average of 39.8.

Rosa introduced a proposal to help resolve the issue, and that plan will be implemented next season, the last of a two-year commitment made by the SCVAL and PAL when they joined forces.

One can only hope the merger extends beyond 2023.

Under Rosa’s proposal, the merged league of five divisions will put its best teams in the top grouping. It will be categorized as “A+” and automatically send five of its six teams to the CCS playoffs.

The league’s second division will be classified as “A-” and automatically send three of its six teams to the playoffs.

The league’s two six-team “B” divisions – one categorized as “B+” and the other as “B-” – will each receive two automatic playoff spots.

The league’s remaining nine teams will be placed in a “C” division, with only the champion automatically advancing to the playoffs.

“Everybody wants to play competitive games during the season, I think,” Rosa said on Thursday. “No matter if you’re really good or really bad, you just like to be in competitive games, and we just weren’t in those.

“If you’re really having five divisions, that’s the whole reason why we merged, to try to have apples with apples, oranges with oranges. I think this is the way it should have been done and most people agreed.

“No matter what you do, there’s always going to be somebody that’s upset because it was better the other way for them. You’re never going to get everybody perfect, but I think this gets the most people happy.”

Los Gatos coach Mark Krail agreed.

“It’s the best system possible,” he said. “My biggest thing philosophically — and I don’t know that everybody agrees — is that when you’re building a program or running a program, you always strive to get better and to play the best competition that you can.

“I am speaking obviously from a vantage point of being pretty blessed in terms of numbers and the support that we have. But even in my days at Pioneer and Santa Clara, our goal was to make it to the top division and play with the best teams. That certainly hasn’t changed.”

Here’s how the divisions will be aligned:

PAL Bay (A+)

Burlingame, Los Gatos, Menlo-Atherton, Mountain View, Sacred Heart Prep, Wilcox

PAL De Anza (A-)

Half Moon Bay, Homestead, Menlo School, Palo Alto, Hillsdale, The King’s Academy

PAL Ocean (B+)

Aragon, Capuchino, Terra Nova, Milpitas, San Mateo, Sequoia

PAL El Camino (B-)

Carlmont, El Camino, Fremont-Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Santa Clara, Woodside

PAL Lake (C)

Cupertino, Gunn, Jefferson, Lynbrook, MacDonald, Mills, Monta Vista, Saratoga, South San Francisco

(MacDonald, a new public school in Santa Clara, is starting varsity football in the fall)

The teams weren’t positioned without thought and data.

One could certainly argue that Mountain View and to a lesser extent Burlingame could have landed in the “A-” division and Half Moon Bay, Menlo School or Palo Alto could have been included with the “A+” teams.

Last season, Mountain View lost to Sacred Heart Prep 41-7, Wilcox 44-14 and Los Gatos 56-0. The Spartans finished 1-4 in league play and 4-8 overall.

But Mountain View coach Tim Lugo explained that it wasn’t last year’s results that factored into the decision, except for final calpreps.com computer ratings.

A program’s number of juniors and sophomores and returning varsity and all-league players were part of the criteria the committee used to determine where teams were placed.

“It’s designed to look ahead to next year,” Lugo said. “Numbers aren’t everything. We have the freedom to (counter), ‘I don’t care what those numbers say. That team’s an ‘A’ and they’re not a ‘B.’’

“That’s kind of how we came to where we’re at. Let’s face it. The top four in the league were easy. Us, Burlingame, Half Moon Bay, Menlo, Palo Alto, you could probably throw all of us in a hat and pick two and we’re all basically the same school. My problem is I have the most returning all-leaguers.”

Lugo said if he could make one change, it would be to include measurables for returning linemen.

“All my returning guys are skill players,” he said. “My linemen are not. But I am OK with our placement. I am on the committee. I understand what we’re doing. I am not going to appeal it. We’ll go compete and do the best we can.”

The good news for Mountain View: With all but one team in the division automatically qualifying for the playoffs – and the sixth team potentially advancing as an at-large – the Spartans have a decent shot to reach the postseason.

CCS playoff changes

There are still administrative steps to clear before they become official. But the CCS is moving toward two noteworthy changes to its football playoffs.

Teams from “A” leagues will not be allowed to drop below Division III and Division I will be modeled after the North Coast Section’s top division.

In the NCS, the top two seeds are placed in one half of the eight-team bracket, setting up a path for them to meet in Week 2 of the playoffs for the Open title and a berth in a regional game.

The loser of the Open game plays the team that advances in the other half of the bracket for the Division I title in Week 3 of the playoffs, with the winner advancing to a regional.

The NCS model is a creative way to send two Division I teams to the state playoffs, one devised after the California Interscholastic Federation mandated that only section champions can move on.

Last fall, No. 1 De La Salle beat No. 8 James Logan and No. 2 Pittsburg defeated No. 7 Antioch in the first round. The following week, De La Salle beat Pittsburg for the NCS Open title. A week later, Pittsburg defeated No. 3 Clayton Valley for the section’s Division I title.

De La Salle and Pittsburg went on to capture regional championships.

Los Gatos vs. Pittsburg: Butch Cattolico Classic?

Los Gatos has filled four of its five non-league openings on its 2023 schedule. Among the matchups will be a home game in late September against Pittsburg, the alma mater of longtime Los Gatos coach Butch Cattolico, who retired after the 2012 season.

“We were laughing about having the Cattolico Classic or whatever,” Krail said. “But knowing Butch, he wouldn’t have anything to do with that. There is no way. He is still pretty well-renowned there, apparently.”

Los Gatos also has scheduled non-league games against Liberty, Live Oak and Palo Alto.

Even when the Danville school lost, accolades followed the 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior quarterback.

“Luke Baker is a heck of a quarterback,” Granite Hills-El Cajon coach Kellan Cobbs said after his team held off San Ramon Valley in overtime to capture the Division 2-A state championship.

McClymonds coach Michael Peters praised Baker similarly after his team edged San Ramon Valley 45-42 in early October.

Baker threw for 3,733 and 46 touchdowns, completing 270 of 420 attempts (64.3%). He also ran for 237 yards and five TDs.

San Ramon Valley finished 12-3, a resume that included a 35-21 victory over previously undefeated Campolindo in the North Coast Section Division II final and a 19-17 win over Marin Catholic for the NorCal 2-A title.

In the 2-A state final, Baker threw two TD passes and ran for a TD as San Ramon Valley charged back to force overtime before losing 31-24.

It all added to a clear decision for our staff: Baker is the Bay Area News Group’s 2022 high school football player of the year.

The youngest of three brothers who have started at quarterback for San Ramon Valley – Zack Baker (2014) and Clark Baker (2016 and 2017) also made a home behind center for the Wolves – Luke has separated himself from the pack.

“He’s the best. He’s the best I’ve ever coached,” Aaron Becker, San Ramon Valley’s head coach since 2013, said about Luke after the state championship game.

A Santa Clara University baseball commit, Baker took the loss in the state final hard, saying through tears that he wanted to win for the seniors.

“I wish I could have done a little more to make that happen for the guys,” Baker said.

One of those seniors, receiver Trevor Scott, had nothing but appreciation for the QB.

“Luke showed tremendous leadership all year,” Scott said. “I am really proud of him and excited to see what he’ll do next year.”

Baker is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com. He has no football offers, according to the website.

With another season like this fall, maybe that’ll change.

ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Monday, Jan. 9

Kickers/punters

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Athletes

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Utility players

Linebackers

Running backs

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Defensive backs

Wide receivers/tight ends

Quarterbacks

Bay Area News Group coach of the year

Thursday, Jan. 12

Alameda County player of the year

San Mateo County player of the year

Santa Clara County player of the year

Bay Area News Group player of the year

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Those eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For corrections, please email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

He ended the game that night at Los Gatos with a two-point conversion reception in overtime to propel the San Jose school into the Central Coast Section Division I semifinals.

Two weeks later, in the section final, the 5-foot-10, 150-pound receiver caught a touchdown pass just before halftime against heavily favored Serra to send the teams into the locker rooms tied 7-7.

In the final minute of the third quarter that night, Scudero scored on a 3-yard run to cut the margin to six points as the Cinderella team of the playoffs threatened to pull off another upset.

Mitty ran out of gas in the fourth quarter, losing 41-14.

But Scudero left an impression, just as he had all season.

Named the West Catholic Athletic League player of the year by the league’s coaches, Scudero also has been chosen Bay Area News Group Santa Clara County player of the year by our staff.

“Danny Scudero is one of the most special football players I have ever come across,” said Mitty coach Danny Sullivan, a former Los Gatos High and Arizona State quarterback. “The things he does are incredible.”

After Mitty finished 1-9 during Scudero’s junior season, the Monarchs went 9-4 this fall on their way to being the runner-up in the CCS’s top division.

The Sacramento State-bound Scudero caught 60 passes for 982 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also ran for 309 yards and three TDs and had 4.5 sacks and an interception that he took back for a touchdown.

In 16 kickoff returns, he gained 506 yards and scored two TDs.

“He’s unbelievable,” Serra coach Patrick Walsh said. “He’s a fantastic player, a fantastic competitor. I don’t know if he plays any other sports. But I swear to God, someone needs to take a chance with him because he’s absolutely spectacular. He was the heart and soul of that team. Love that kid. We have nothing but respect for him here at Serra.”

For Scudero, the best part of Mitty’s playoff run was spending more time with teammates.

“This team, we built it up from the ground,” Scudero said. “The senior class is special. It’s always fun to be a part of a team like this. Who would have thought, 1-9 last year, D1 CCS championship (game) this year? I am just so happy I could be with my brothers one more game.”

ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Monday, Jan. 9

Kickers/punters

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Athletes

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Utility players

Linebackers

Running backs

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Defensive backs

Wide receivers/tight ends

Quarterbacks

Bay Area News Group coach of the year

Thursday, Jan. 12

Alameda County player of the year

San Mateo County player of the year

Santa Clara County player of the year

Bay Area News Group player of the year

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Those eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For corrections, please email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

Among the many great players in a program that has captured three consecutive Central Coast Section Division I championships, Jabari Mann separated himself from the rest as a do-it-all linebacker and short-yardage specialist.

Mann had 87 tackles, 10 for loss, five sacks and an interception.

The 6-foot, 200-pound junior also ran for 213 yards and six touchdowns when asked to carry the ball for Northern California’s top-ranked team.

For this, Mann has been named the Bay Area News Group’s San Mateo County player of the year by our staff.

“The coaches have told us that what Serra used to be is not what it is now,” Mann said recently. “It used to be first- and second-round exits in the playoffs every year. It’s heartwarming to know that we’re part of something special.”

Mann made it clear that Serra is more than any individual player. He was quick to heap praise upon fellow linebackers Danny Niu and Marley Alapati, who make up a unit Serra coach Patrick Walsh compared to a pack of “velociraptors.”

Serra allowed only 8.4 points per game against CCS opponents, a large reason the team completed its first 10-0 regular season in school history.

“We have a brotherhood at this school, and it doesn’t matter whether we’ve known each other before high school or not,” Mann said.

Mann certainly did his part to tighten the bonds of that brotherhood. As Serra made a run to the Open Division state championship game against St. John Bosco-Bellflower, he had many responsibilities. He rushed the passer, covered receivers downfield and filled gaps in the run game.

“Playing linebacker for us requires someone who has great instincts, and his attention for the football is like a moth being drawn to a flame,” Walsh said. “It’s almost like he’s attached to the ball with a string, and he will play through people bigger than him to get to it.”

Mann is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, with offers from Pittsburgh and San Jose State.

But before he moves on to college, he has one more season at Serra.

“I’m very excited for next year because we’re barely losing anybody,” Mann said. “Everybody knows what we have and what we’re capable of, so we’ll be ready for next year.”

ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Monday, Jan. 9

Kickers/punters

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Athletes

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Utility players

Linebackers

Running backs

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Defensive backs

Wide receivers/tight ends

Quarterbacks

Bay Area News Group coach of the year

Thursday, Jan. 12

Alameda County player of the year

San Mateo County player of the year

Santa Clara County player of the year

Bay Area News Group player of the year

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Those eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For corrections, please email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

On that small squad from a small Oakland school in which every player was asked to contribute, nobody was given a heavier load than senior running back Jaivian Thomas, whose brilliant play was the main reason McClymonds reached the title game that Mater Dei Catholic eventually won.

The Cal-bound senior accounted for more than half of the Oakland powerhouse’s total yards from scrimmage in 2022. He rushed for 2,528 yards and 30 touchdowns and caught two TD passes.

“Jaivian has been carrying us all year,” McClymonds coach Michael Peters said during the playoffs.

Whenever the McClymonds offense had a problem, its solution was only a handoff to Thomas away, making the standout an obvious choice by our staff for Bay Area News Group Alameda County player of the year.

For Thomas, it didn’t matter who lined up on the opposing side. Yes, he piled up gaudy statistics against overmatched Oakland Athletic League competition as McClymonds cruised to its 13th consecutive section championship.

But he also dominated non-league foes, too.

Thomas ran for at least 180 yards in each of three regular-season games against eventual NorCal champions Bellarmine, Pittsburg and San Ramon Valley.

“He was the best back we played, and it’s not even a question,” Lemoore coach Rich Tuman said after Thomas ran for 307 yards and four touchdowns against his team in the 2-AA Northern California championship game. “He was finding holes and creases, and when he hit those, we couldn’t catch up.”

When Thomas got the ball, the only thing he wanted to do was put up points. He ran for a touchdown in every game he played this season, and rushed for more than 100 yards against every opponent except Mater Dei Catholic.

“I try to get into the end zone every time I touch the ball,” Thomas said in October after running for 287 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-42 regular-season win over NorCal 2-A champion San Ramon Valley.

Now, Thomas aims to carry on the lessons learned at Mack into the next chapter of his football and academic career.

“McClymonds is a winning school,” Thomas said. “If you want to go here, you have to be disciplined. Going here has changed me a lot.”

ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Monday, Jan. 9

Kickers/punters

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Athletes

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Utility players

Linebackers

Running backs

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Defensive backs

Wide receivers/tight ends

Quarterbacks

Bay Area News Group coach of the year

Thursday, Jan. 12

Alameda County player of the year

San Mateo County player of the year

Santa Clara County player of the year

Bay Area News Group player of the year

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Those eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For corrections, please email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

Called the group that included the likes of receivers Danny Scudero and Ben Kim and quarterback Wills Towers special.

But as one of his coaching peers noted, Sullivan deserved credit, too.

The former Los Gatos and Arizona State quarterback had some rough seasons as a head coach. Two sub-.500 years at Palo Alto in 2016 and 2017. Three losses without a win in Mitty’s pandemic-shortened spring 2021 season, followed by a 1-9 record that fall.

Picked to finish last in the West Catholic Athletic League this season, the San Jose school staged one of the most incredible turnarounds in Central Coast Section history.

The Monarchs finished third in the WCAL, won back-to-back overtime games on the road against Los Gatos and St. Francis in the CCS Division I playoffs and trailed Serra by just six points after three quarters in the final before fading down the stretch.

The rise from the football ashes to the brink of a championship in the CCS’s top division made Sullivan an easy choice for Bay Area News Group coach of the year.

“I have so much respect for Danny and that staff,” Serra coach Patrick Walsh said. “An unbelievable season for them. I swear to God, coming from 1-9 to that, swinging, putting up fights, great coaching. Absolutely great coaching.”

Sullivan, not surprisingly, credited his seniors.

“I said it all year long, they’re special,” he said on the field after the CCS final. “They really are. They’re turning this thing around for the whole program. I am proud of them. We can build off of this. It will be something that we remember. Hopefully years down the way, we’ll look back at this year as the start of this whole thing.”

Honorable mention

(Listed in alphabetical order) 

Justin Alumbaugh, De La Salle

Overcame an unusually high amount of team-wide injuries to lead De La Salle to North Coast Section Open Division and Division 1-AA regional championships. The Spartans beat Pittsburg in the NCS final and Folsom on the road to capture the NorCal title. Lost Division 1-AA state championship game to Lincoln-San Diego 33-28.

Aaron Becker, San Ramon Valley

Led his team past undefeated Campolindo to win North Coast Section Division II championship and Marin Catholic in the Division 2-A regional title game. Lost Division 2-A state title game to Granite Hills-El Cajon 31-24 in overtime. 

Victor Galli, Pittsburg

Announced just before the playoffs that his 21st season would be his last. Led program to its second consecutive North Coast Section Division I title, beating Clayton Valley in the final, and a victory at home over Manteca in NorCal Division 1-A regional championship game. Lost to Liberty-Bakersfield 48-20 in 1-A state final.

Steve Papin, Santa Teresa

After his team lost three heartbreakers during the league season, Papin led the San Jose school to four consecutive postseason victories before losing in the Division 6-AA state championship game. The Saints won the Central Coast Section Division IV title — the program’s first section crown — and then beat Palo Alto for the NorCal 6-AA title.

Michael Peters, McClymonds

Led the Warriors to Oakland Section and NorCal regional championships with a resume that included early-season wins at home over San Ramon Valley and Bellarmine and a competitive road loss to Pittsburg. Lost 2-AA state title game to Mater Dei Catholic-Chula Vista 26-18.

Paul Reynaud, Concord

After winning one game during the 2021 fall season, Concord went 9-1 during the 2022 regular season and finished second in the Diablo Athletic League Valley Division. Lost to Acalanes in the North Coast Section Division IV first round. 

Patrick Walsh, Serra

The Bay Area News Group’s coach of the year in 2017 and 2019 led the San Mateo school to its first 10-0 regular season, a run that included road wins over De La Salle and Folsom and a West Catholic Athletic League title. Then posted running-clock victories over Palma and Salinas in the first two rounds of the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs and dominated Mitty in the fourth quarter to win the section title. Lost to national No. 1 St. John Bosco 45-0 in Open state title game.

ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Monday, Jan. 9

Kickers/punters

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Athletes

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Utility players

Linebackers

Running backs

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Defensive backs

Wide receivers/tight ends

Quarterbacks

Bay Area News Group coach of the year

Thursday, Jan. 12

Alameda County player of the year

San Mateo County player of the year

Santa Clara County player of the year

Bay Area News Group player of the year

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Those eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For corrections, please email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

We have separated the honorees into eight position groups: Quarterbacks, receivers/tight ends, defensive backs, running backs, linebackers, utility players, athletes, defensive linemen, offensive linemen and kickers/punters.

We have chosen an overall player of the year, county players of the year and a coach of the year.

The team was selected by members of our high school sports staff.

Here are the all-Bay Area News Group quarterbacks:

Editor’s note: Some QBs were moved to the athlete position group 

First team

Luke Baker, San Ramon Valley, 5-11, 180, junior

East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division co-most valuable player and Bay Area News Group player of the year threw for 3,733 yards and 46 touchdowns. Also ran for five touchdowns. Guided Wolves to 12 wins and an NCS Division II and NorCal 2-A championship. 

Jaden Rashada, Pittsburg, 6-5, 190, senior

Bay Valley Athletic League co-most valuable player rated as a five-star by 247Sports.com. Passed for 3,055 yards and 32 touchdowns. Ran for 419 yards and seven touchdowns for the NCS Division I and NorCal 1-A champions.  

Maealiuaki Smith, Serra, 6-4, 200, junior

West Catholic Athletic League quarterback of the year led Serra to its first-ever 10-0 regular season. Padres went on to win the CCS Division I title and competed in the Open Division state championship. Threw for 2,546 yards and 34 touchdowns. Rushed for two TDs.

Second team

Luke Duncan, Miramonte, 6-5, 195, senior

First-team all-Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division selection passed for 3,415 yards and 42 touchdowns as Miramonte advanced to the NCS D-V championship game. Rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com. Headed to UCLA. 

Wills Towers, Archbishop Mitty, 6-3, 210, senior

First-team all-West Catholic Athletic League pick threw for 2,553 yards and 28 touchdowns on one of the surprise teams of the season. After his team won only one game in 2021, Towers led Mitty to nine wins and an appearance in the CCS Division I championship game.

Dashiell Weaver, Campolindo, 6-0, 170, senior

Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division MVP led the Cougars to a 10-0 regular season and an NCS Division II championship game appearance. Dual-threat passed for 3,239 yards and 32 touchdowns and ran for 543 yards and 11 TDs. 

Honorable mention

Sefo Akuila, Fremont-Oakland, junior

Jake Bianchi, Menlo School, senior

Jake Boyd, Los Gatos, senior

Matthew Dougherty, St. Francis, senior

Liam Harrington, Half Moon Bay, senior

Drew Henderson, Berkeley, junior

Jordan Hernandez, Tennyson, senior

Gage Houser, Pioneer, senior

Armand Johnson, Wilcox, senior

Andre Latimore, Del Mar, junior

Tyler Trudeau, Livermore, senior

Zackary Zepeda, Westmont, senior

ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Monday, Jan. 9

Kickers/punters

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Athletes

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Utility players

Linebackers

Running backs

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Defensive backs

Wide receivers/tight ends

Quarterbacks

Coach of the year

Thursday, Jan. 12

Alameda County player of the year

San Mateo County player of the year

Santa Clara County player of the year

Bay Area News Group player of the year

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Those eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For corrections, please email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

We have separated the honorees into eight position groups: Quarterbacks, receivers/tight ends, defensive backs, running backs, linebackers, utility players, athletes, defensive linemen, offensive linemen and kickers/punters.

We have chosen an overall player of the year, county players of the year and a coach of the year.

The team was selected by members of our high school sports staff.

Here are the all-Bay Area News Group receivers and tight ends:

RECEIVERS

First team

Jackson Harris, Berkeley, 6-3, 200, senior

MVAL/WACC Mission Division offensive player of the year and first-team all-league selection on offense and defense. Led the NCS among stats reported to MaxPreps with 1,492 receiving yards and 24 touchdown catches. Rated as a three-star by 247Sports.com. Signed with Stanford.  

Taeshaun Lyons, Tennyson, 6-2, 190, senior

MVAL/WACC Foothill Division offensive player of the year and first-team all-league selection had 1,007 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches. Returned two punts for touchdowns and rushed for five TDs. Rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports.com and is committed to Washington. 

Rashid Williams, Pittsburg, 6-2, 190, senior

First-team all-Bay Valley Athletic League selection caught 76 passes for 1,087 yards and 12 touchdowns for the NCS Division I and NorCal 1-A champions. Rated as a four-star by 247Sports.com and signed with Washington. 

Second team

Davin Amos, Clayton Valley, 6-3, 180, junior

All-East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division first-team selection caught 86 passes for 1,164 yards and 12 touchdowns. Had 236 receiving yards and two touchdowns in an early-season game against Del Oro-Loomis. 

Robbie Mascheroni, Campolindo, 6-4, 200, senior

First-team all-Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division selection rated as a three-star by 247Sports.com. Headed to UC Davis. Caught 66 passes for 1,196 and 18 touchdowns. Leading receiver on the league champions.

RL Miller, Sacred Heart Cathedral, 6-3, 185, senior

West Catholic Athletic League wide receiver of the year and first-team all-league selection caught 32 passes for 687 yards and eight touchdowns. Returned four interceptions for TDs. Rated as a three-star by 247Sports. Signed with Fresno State as a linebacker.

TIGHT ENDS

First team

Seamus Gilmartin, Serra, 6-4, 190, senior

West Catholic Athletic League tight end of the year and first-team all-league selection caught 19 passes for 392 yards and five touchdowns for the CCS Division I champions. Committed to Harvard.  

Second team

Wyatt Hook, Homestead, 6-6, 233, junior

PAL/SCVAL De Anza Division receiver of the year caught 40 passes for 557 yards and three touchdowns. Had 38 tackles, eight for loss, and 16 hurries. Rated as a three-star by 247Sports.com and is committed to Oregon State. 

Honorable mention (receivers)

Andrew Adkison, St. Francis, senior

JP Aguilar, San Jose, senior

Cooper Bohlig, Miramonte, senior

Wil Brennan, Los Gatos, senior

Davion Dunkley, De Anza, junior

Jack Elgaaen, Sequoia, senior

Samaje Featherstone, Freedom, senior

Gavin Garcia, Westmont, senior

Zachary Jones, Archbishop Riordan, senior

Tony Keck, College Park, sophomore

Ben Kim, Archbishop Mitty, senior

Riley Long, St. Francis, senior

Angel Maciel, Piedmont Hills, senior

Adam Moore, Dublin, senior

Jayden Moss, Menlo-Atherton, senior

Henry Phifer, Clayton Valley, junior

Kyan Phillips, Lincoln-San Jose, freshman

Emilio Pucci, Northgate, senior

Trevor Rogers, Acalanes, junior

Jeremiah Ruffin, Heritage, senior

Trevor Scott, San Ramon Valley, senior

Khai Taylor, Pittsburg, senior

Honorable mention (tight ends)

Tyler Bourland, Valley Christian, senior

Luchi Casale, Los Gatos, senior

Alek Marshall, Menlo-Atherton, junior

Ned Righellis, St. Francis, senior

Bennington Smith, Castro Valley, senior

Frankie Tagoai, Wilcox, senior

ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Monday, Jan. 9

Kickers/punters

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Athletes

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Utility players

Linebackers

Running backs

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Defensive backs

Wide receivers/tight ends

Quarterbacks

Coach of the year

Thursday, Jan. 12

Alameda County player of the year

San Mateo County player of the year

Santa Clara County player of the year

Bay Area News Group player of the year

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Those eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For corrections, please email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.

We have separated the honorees into eight position groups: Quarterbacks, receivers/tight ends, defensive backs, running backs, linebackers, utility players, athletes, defensive linemen, offensive linemen and kickers/punters.

We have chosen an overall player of the year, county players of the year and a coach of the year.

The team was selected by members of our high school sports staff.

Here are the all-Bay Area News Group defensive backs:

First team

Joseph Bey, Serra, 6-1, 185, junior

West Catholic Athletic League defensive back of the year and first-team all-league selection had 46 tackles. One of the standouts on league and CCS Open Division champions. Helped hold 10 CCS opponents to 8.4 points per game. 

Journey McKoy, De La Salle, 5-10, 163, senior

First-team all-East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division pick rated as a three-star by 247Sports. Headed to Nevada. Had 24 tackles and a sack. Caught four touchdowns as a receiver for the NCS Open Division and NorCal 1-AA champions.

Ethan Torres, Acalanes, 6-0, 160, senior

Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division most valuable defensive player had six interceptions and returned two for touchdowns. Caught 40 passes for 775 yards and nine touchdowns. Threw for one touchdown. 

Lloyd Walter, Aragon, 6-1, 190, senior

PAL/SCVAL Bay Division most valuable player and defensive back of the year had 82 tackles, 18 for loss, 3.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Rushed for 901 yards and nine touchdowns. Caught two TDs on 16 receptions. 

Second team

Robin “Budha” Boyd Jr., Pittsburg, 6-0, 165, senior

Bay Valley Athletic League first-team selection had 46 tackles and eight passes defended for the league and NorCal 1-A champions. Caught three touchdowns. Rated as a three-star by 247Sports.com. 

Johnathan Guerrero, De La Salle, 5-7, 152,  junior

All-East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division first-team pick had seven interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, a sack and 25 tackles for the NorCal 1-AA champions. Caught 12 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns.

Jermaine Hargraves, El Cerrito, 6-2, 180, senior

Tri-County Athletic League Rock Division most valuable defensive player headlined a unit that allowed 5.6 points per game in the regular season. Safety led El Cerrito to an NCS Division III championship. 

Caleb Padrid, San Ramon Valley, 5-10, 180, senior

First-team all-East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division selection had three interceptions and a pick-six for a team that won the NCS Division II and NorCal 2-A championship. Caught 44 passes for 698 yards and nine touchdowns. 

Honorable mention

Steven Anaya, Archbishop Mitty, senior

Austin Barbeau, Archbishop Mitty, senior

John Chung, Sacred Heart Prep, senior

Noah Gardere, Santa Teresa, senior

Emmanuel Karnley, Las Lomas, senior

Landon Heard, Los Gatos, senior

Jadyn Hudson, Pittsburg, sophomore

Jerimiah Ruffin, Heritage, senior

Johno Price, Menlo-Atherton, senior

Ethan Schweizer, Pioneer, senior

Javion Smith, Antioch, junior

Matt Spivack, Hillsdale, senior

ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Monday, Jan. 9

Kickers/punters

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Athletes

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Utility players

Linebackers

Running backs

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Defensive backs

Wide receivers/tight ends

Quarterbacks

Coach of the year

Thursday, Jan. 12

Alameda County player of the year

San Mateo County player of the year

Santa Clara County player of the year

Bay Area News Group player of the year

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Those eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For corrections, please email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.