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The Top 25 high school football players of 2017 in Utah Valley

TOP 25 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

GIANTS OF THE GRIDIRON very year the Daily Herald sports staff enjoys recognizing the best high school talent in Utah Valley. It is thrilling to see our athletes compete every week and achieve personal and team success. For the 2017 football season, we decided to focus on what our gridiron stars did during the regular season. From mid-August to mid-October, these boys strapped on their pads and helmets and sallied forth to test themselves. Sometimes their efforts resulted in victory while other times they weren’t able to overcome their opponent. Through the ups and downs, the top players stood tall. They led their teams through their words and actions, both on and off the field. Still, it is both an honor and a challenge to narrow down the field to rec-

ognize our Top 25 football players from 2017. So many young men excel in their own ways that the decisions were very difficult. The athletes on the Honorable Mention list also had great seasons and should be lauded for their performance. But the best of the best have been selected and are featured in these pages. The Daily Herald is proud to commemorate the top Utah Valley football players from 2017 with this special section. We want to thank the many coaches and photographers who helped out with their expertise and input. We also wish all of the local teams the very best of luck at their respective state tournaments and look forward to watching our boys do great things over the next few weeks. — Jared Lloyd

2017 Daily Herald All-Valley Honorable Mention AMERICAN FORK: Tyler Traveller, Ferrell Dean; AMERICAN LEADERSHIP: Owen Huff, Jackson Shockley, Holland Morley, Brett Staheli; LEHI: Jase Andersen, Carson Manookin; LONE PEAK: Cody Collins, Brigham Trowbridge, Cade Clemmons; MAPLE MOUNTAIN: Alex Knudsen, Joe Biesinger, Hanslee Peay, Collin Reid; MOUNTAIN VIEW: Riley Sinema, Noah Jensen, DJ Marconeri; OREM: Ethan Slade, Fatu Atuaia, Chuck Alatini; Payson: Chase Muniz, Jaidon Tueller, Jase Moe; PLEASANT GROVE: Jake Jensen, Cooper Caldwell; PROVO: Johnny Astle, Jimmy Tomasi, Kelton Bertigini; SALEM HILLS: Brook Vaitohi, James Nelson; SKYRIDGE: Garret Rusic, Nathan Upham, Kani Taufa; SPANISH FORK: Mateen Lomax, Noah Conway, Gavin Campbell; SPRINGVILLE: Lauki Kolomalu, Ty Eriksson, Ben Schreiner; TIMPANOGOS: Maxx McWhorter, Gabe Sweeten; TIMPVIEW: Kolby Enosa, Jake Biggs, Jacob Jeffries; WESTLAKE: Cameron Byrd, Boston Chappel, Wyatt Brennan, Blaine Ballard. A PRODUCT OF THE DAILY HERALD

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On the cover: Orem’s Cooper Legas and Timpview’s Karene Reid

pose for a portrait at Timpview High School on Monday. — Photo by Sammy Jo Hester, Daily Herald

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October 29, 2017

ISAAC HALE, DAILY HERALD

CHASE ROBERTS AM. FORK • JUNIOR • WIDE RECEIVER

RECEPTIONS

YARDS

1,112

TOUCHDOWNS

“Chase will break most receiving records at American Fork by the end of the season. He also is a 3.6 GPA student, a multi-sport athlete who also plays basketball and a BYU commit.” — Aaron Behm, American Fork head coach

ISAAC HALE, DAILY HERALD

WEI STANTON

SPANISH FORK • SENIOR • WIDE RECEIVER RECEPTIONS

YARDS

709

TOUCHDOWNS

“Wei was our go-to receiver with some of the best hands in the state. He also was our punter and returned kicks.” — Preston Parrish, Spanish Fork head coach

TOP 25 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

BRONSON BARRON AMERICAN FORK • SENIOR • QUARTERBACK COMPLETION-ATTEMPTS

191-of-309 3,049 37 ALL-PURPOSE YARDS

TOTAL TOUCHDOWN

“Bronson has been a two-year starter at varsity quarterback who has broken various school records. He leads Class 6A in TD passes and yards, plus he is a team captain, has a 3.9 GPA and has a lot of community involvement.” — American Fork head coach Aaron Behm

ISAAC HALE, DAILY HERALD

DOMINIC VALENTE, DAILY HERALD

JACOB BOSCO

TIMPVIEW • SENIOR • DEFENSIVE END RUSHING TOUCHDDOWNS

5 12.5 7-2

PTS/GAME IN FINAL 4 GAMES

REGULAR SEASON RECORD

“Jacob is a big, physical, consistent player. He provides a strong run game inside, and is a physical and fast defensive-end presence.” — Cary Whittingham, Timpview head coach

October 29, 2017

ISAAC HALE, DAILY HERALD

BROCK JONES

LONE PEAK • SENIOR • QUARTERBACK

COMP.-ATT.

YARDS

168-284 2,653

TOUCHDOWNS

“Brock’s greatest traits are that he is a film rat, he studies and he’s super-accurate. He spends the time to know what he’s up against and that has led to his success.” — Bart Brockbank, Lone Peak head coach

ISAAC HALE, DAILY HERALD

KADE MOORE

LEHI • SENIOR • WIDE RECEIVER

RECEPTIONS

YARDS

1,156

TOUCHDOWNS

“Kade is probably one of the most underrated players in the state because of his size but what a tremendous talent. He catches everything you throw to him and has great discipline in his routes. He wants to be great every day.” — Ed Larson, Lehi head coach

TOP 25 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

DALLIN HOLKER LEHI • SENIOR • TIGHT END

RECEPTIONS

62 1,159 13 YARDS

TOUCHDOWNS

“Dallin is tremendous. I don’t think people realize how big he is until they step on the field but his speed is underestimated. He’s one of the most competitive kids I’ve ever been around.” — Ed Larson, Lehi head coach DOMINIC VALENTE, DAILY HERALD

KEKOA KAUWE

PLEASANT GROVE • SENIOR • RUNNING BACK RUSHES

107 821 7 YARDS

TOUCHDOWNS

“As a football player, the best thing Kekoa does is he can catch and run with it. He runs very hard and he’s very skilled. He finds his strengths and uses them. He came and said that if we needed help on defense to put him in there. He’s a warrior.” — Mark Wootten, Pleasant Grove head coach

ISAAC HALE, DAILY HERALD

October 29, 2017

ISAAC HALE, DAILY HERALD

PUKA NACUA

OREM • JUNIOR • WIDE RECEIVER

RECEPTIONS

YARDS

1,201

TOUCHDOWNS

“There is not a better all-around athlete and better wide receiver in the entire state. Puka is also one of the state’s top point guards in basketball. He is a 3.6 GPA student and the smartest player I’ve coached in eight years.” — Jeremy Hill, Orem head coach

DOMINIC VALENTE, DAILY HERALD

ALEX PALMER

SKYRIDGE • SENIOR • RUNNING BACK

RUSHING YARDS

408

ALL-PURPOSE YARDS

701

TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS

“He’s been absolutely incredible this year. He is our best player without a doubt -- offense, defense and special teams -- for the first half of the season. He broke his hand and it was almost like losing three guys. He’s also a fantastic leader.” — Jon Lehman, Skyridge head coach

TOP 25 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

CAMMON COOPER 2017 DAILY HERALD OFFENSIVE MVP LEHI • SENIOR • QUARTERBACK

October 29, 2017 9

COOPER LEGAS 2017 DAILY HERALD ALL-VALLEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR OREM • JUNIOR • QUARTERBACK

COMPLETION-ATTEMPTS

241-of-387 3,551 41 YARDS

TOUCHDOWNS

“You have a guy who has the chance to go into the all-time record books in the state. He has a tremendous skill set. He has really progressed and tried to make things happen. There’s a maturity to him where he understands what you are trying to get him to understand.” — Ed Larson, Lehi head coach

KARENE REID

2017 DAILY HERALD DEFENSIVE MVP TIMPVIEW • SENIOR • LINEBACKER

PTS. ALLOWED IN LAST 4 GAMES

50 7-2 2

TEAM RECORD

PLACE IN REGION 6

“We’ve had to have someone take up the slack and he’s done that. He’s our best defensive performer. He’s not so much a vocal team leader but he leads by example. We can depend on him to take on certain roles and assignments. We use him to help us take on an offensive player who we need to get a handle on.” — Cary Whittingham, Timpview head coach

JARED LLOYD

O Daily Herald

rem junior Cooper Legas is already an accomplished athlete. As a sophomore, he not only won the 4A state title in the javelin but he also finished fourth in the 182-pound weight class in the 4A state wrestling tournament. Oh, yeah … he also plays football. Legas has utilized his wide variety of skills to power the Tiger offense this fall, guiding them to an 8-2 overall record and an undefeated 5-0 run through Region 10. The two Orem losses came at the hands of 6A Bingham and 5A Corner Canyon — both of which are undefeated. The numbers the junior quarterback have put up are staggering: n 84 rushes n 862 rushing yards n Four rushing touchdowns

n 169-of-254 passing (66.5 percent) n 3,053 passing yards n 34 passing touchdowns, seven inter-

tackled,” Hill said. “He went almost parallel to the ground, within inches of being down, but somehow he popped up and jogged to the end zone.” The junior said he has always been able to run fairly well, but said the big key is continuing to develop his passing game. “I’ve always been able to run,” Legas said. “My first two years as a freshman and sophomore, they would pretty much just put me in if we needed to run. I feel like I’ve always been able to do that, but I’ve really been trying to work on my passing game so colleges can see that I can throw, too.” But his agility is also a weapon and Hill has seen Legas put it to good use for years. “My offensive coordinator was getting frustrated with Cooper not throwing the ball when he should have,” Hill said. “I told him that he had to be patient because Cooper is like Tim Tebow. Sometimes when everything breaks down, he’s at his best.” Hill explained that Legas is one of those young men who always gives his best, no matter what he’s doing. “Coop is awesome,” Hill said. “He’s the most coachable kid I’ve been around. He’s a 4.0 kid and whatever he sets his mind to, he succeeds in. He’s a coach’s dream, for sure.” Hill loves the toughness Legas brings to the football field. “He has that toughness from wrestling,” Hill said.“I think wrestling has also given him some rubber hips, which helps him not to go down. I don’t know a tougher kid. He’s been hurt, but he’s never been injured and missed time. If we are running scout offense, he wants to hop in and play receiver or something different. He’s always begging me to play defense. He’s a kid who truly loves the game.” Legas believes that mentality should be one every high school athlete embraces. “I’d say the biggest thing is if you are going to play, be all in,” Legas said.“Don’t miss practices. Play for the team and not for yourself. Having amazing athletes doesn’t mean you are the best team. You have to work together to be able to win games.”

ceptions n 338 plays participated in n 3,915 total yards n 38 total touchdowns For his incredible offensive prowess and his tremendous versatility, the Daily Herald is proud to honor Cooper Legas as the 2017 Daily Herald Utah Valley Football Player of the Year. Tiger head coach Jeremy Hill said although other Tigers like junior wide receiver Puka Nacua get a lot of the attention, the team relies heavily on Legas to propel it to victory. “I am happy he’s being recognized,” Hill said. “Puka tends to get more attention than Cooper does, has more of the offers. People ask who can you not live without. We won the two games that Puka sat out, but I don’t know if we win two games if Cooper sits out. I don’t know if we get along without Cooper.” Legas was quick to credit the other Tigers, saying teamwork has been key for this squad. “This year we have a lot of kids who are unselfish and play for the team,” Legas said. “It’s helped us beat a lot of good teams.” One of those teams was an opponent from Bakersfield, Calif., who might have underestimated Orem. “The trip was a lot of fun, being with the team,” Legas said. “We played Bakersfield and they were supposed to be really good. The announcers the whole time were saying that our team should never be able to play with a California team and then we put up 63 points on them. It was a lot of fun showing them that Utah teams can play.” Hill recalled one run by Legas during that contest that demonstrated his talent. “There was a play he made out in Bakersfield where seven or eight guys thought they had Daily Herald sports editor Jared Lloyd h i m can be reached at 801-344-2555 or jlloyd@ heraldextra.com. Twitter: @JaredrLloyd. Instagram: @JaredrLloyd.

TOP 25 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

COURTESY PHOTO

BRADLEY NICOL

SPRINGVILLE • SENIOR • RUNNING BACK RUSHES

160

YARDS

923

TOUCHDOWNS

“He is a captain and a two-year starter. We are a run-first team and Bradley carries the load for us.” — Willy Child, Springville head coach

COURTESY PHOTO

GARRETT LESA

PROVO • SENIOR • DEFENSIVE BACK

SOLO TACKLES

TOTAL TACKLES

TACKLES FOR LOSS

“He is consistent, hard-working, a leader and a playmaker.” — Tony McGeary, Provo head coach

October 29, 2017

ETHAN SLADE

OREM • JUNIOR • SAFETY

SOLO TACKLES

44 96 13

TOTAL TACKLES

TACKLES FOR LOSS

“Ethan is the ultimate competitor. He wills himself to greatness because no one hates to lose more than him. He’s a great defender because he has a great nose for the ball. What separates him from other secondary defenders is his love for physical tackling and contact. — Jeremy Hill, Orem head coach ISAAC HALE, DAILY HERALD

MASEN WAKE

LONE PEAK • JUNIOR • RUNNING BACK RUSHES

118 818 5 YARDS

TOUCHDOWNS

“He came into his own this year and has taken on a lot of the load with others being hurt. He’s as hard a worker as there is and is probably the most intense kid on the team. He goes through the line looking to hit someone.” — Bart Brockbank, Lone Peak head coach

ISAAC HALE, DAILY HERALD

TOP 25 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS RACHEL JOHNSON

ISAAC HALE, DAILY HERALD

BRAYDIN SHIPP

CONNOR PAY

TEAM RUSHING YARDS TEAM PASSING YARDS

AMERICAN FORK • SENIOR • OFFENSIVE LINE

1,229

2,731

TOTAL TEAM TDS

“Braydin has been a three-year varsity starter and an anchor at offensive line. He has an offer to play at Boise State. He is also a great leader and mentor to younger players.” — Aaron Behm, American Fork head coach

LONE PEAK • SENIOR • OFFENSIVE LINE

1,567

2,653

TOTAL TEAM TDS

“Connor anchors our offensive line. We lost four of our five starters from last year and he has been the one who has been there helping the guys progress.” — Bart Brockbank, Lone Peak head coach

October 29, 2017

CHARLES RAASS SKYRIDGE • SENIOR • NOSE TACKLE TOTAL TACKLES

16 2 8

SACKS

TACKLES FOR LOSS

“I evaluate him against the teams that we play and I haven’t seen a defensive lineman as good as him this year. He plays nose and gets double- and triple-teamed. Statistically he is not going to show up in the stats but he has like two sacks which is evidence of his dominance.” —Jon Lehman, Skyridge head coach

SHAE GOODWIN

COLE BOWERS

SPRINGVILLE • SENIOR • RB/FS RUSHES

73 529 55 YARDS

TOTAL TACKLES

“Cole is a captain and a two-year starter on offense and defense. Cole is a physical player on both sides and also explosive.” — Willy Child, Springville head coach

NATE CUNNINGHAM, SPECIAL TO THE HERALD

TOP 25 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

ANDREW OSTLER LONE PEAK • SENIOR • LINEBACKER SOLO TACKLES

59 100 26

TOTAL TACKLES

TACKLES FOR LOSS

“Andrew is definitely our leader on defense. He makes all the on-field calls, where the calls get sent in but he has ability to adjust them. Off the field at practices, he’s the one always putting in extra effort. He’s a great allaround kid.” — Bart Brockbank, Lone Peak head coach

ALLISON NICCUM

VOU FITISEMANU TIMPVIEW • SENIOR • DEFENSIVE LINE

PTS. ALLOWED IN LAST 4 GAMES

50 7-2 2

TEAM RECORD

PLACE IN REGION 6

“Vou is a constant high-motor player who makes tons of tackles. He is versatile and filled in at all spots needed on the defensive line due to the many injuries we’ve had this year. He has been productive and dependable at all defensive-line positions.” — Cary Whittingham, Timpview head coach

ISAAC HALE, DAILY HERALD

October 29, 2017

DOMINIC VALENTE, DAILY HERALD

COURTESY PHOTO

JAROM JONES

SPANISH FORK • SENIOR • OFFENSIVE LINE

TEAM PASSING YARDS TEAM RUSHING YARDS TEAM TOUCHDOWNS

1,814

1,084

“Jarom has been a four-year starter and been the leader of our offensive line.” — Preston Parrish, Spanish Fork head coach

JACOB ROLFE

SALEM HILLS • SENIOR • DE/TE

RECEPTIONS

YARDS

549

TOUCHDOWNS

“Jacob is a two-year starter who starts at defensive end as well as starting at tight end for us. He’s our most reliable receiver and is a load to bring down. He’s a great blocker and a good leader.” — Harry Schwenke, Salem Hills head coach

TOP 25 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

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