The Bay Area News Group is recognizing the top high school football players in its coverage area from the 2022 season.
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
Tuesday, Jan. 10
Wednesday, Jan. 11
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.
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