I can’t stress enough how much these rankings will change over the next year, as there are many talented junior athletes that don’t always see a ton of time as sophomores. Many of these kids will move up and down this list based on performance over the 2012 season. No one should take it personal, as all of rankings are based on who projects highest to the next level. You may check out the criteria that is posted with the 2013 kids already on the site
If you reference the 2013 rankings https://www.northwesteliteindex.com/rankings.html for senior’s you will see a much more firm order based on who has been offered and a variety of other factors. Feel free to let us know of any individuals we may be missing as obviously nothing is perfect. ESPN, Scout. Com, Oregon Live, Dawgman.Com, and a bunch of other talented folks have done an outstanding job of covering a lot of these kids and we enjoy our relationships with all of them.
Feel free to chime in and let us know of anyone else who is deserving. Rankings will be updated constantly, and we are looking forward to seeing which underclassmen get the job done this season
LB’s
1.Joey Alferi 6-2 215 LB Jesuit..1st team All Metro as a sophomore; Extremely impressive season (105 Tackles, 13 games) with an All star type cast that he shined with..Earning LB honors at such a young age is very rare in the Metro. Father played for the New York Jets/OSU and brother plays at Georgetown. Has unique instincts that others don’t
2.Nick Underwood 6-1 215 LB Lake Oswego.. Hon Mention All League linebacker that was a key part of the 2011 state championship team. Plays beyond his years and has outstanding anticipation on defense. Testing is off the charts, running 4.5 hand time 40. Underwood is a kid that has incredible intangibles and should be recognized as one of the premier underclassmen in the NW.
2.Perry Groves 6-3 210 LB Mcnary.. Hon Mention all league linebacker; 81 total tackles (7.4 per game) People may remember brother JD Groves out of McNary who went to UCLA and was Oregon’s Player of the Year in 2000..Kid is a three sport athlete and an outstanding swimmer. Projects at the D1 level with oustanding length.
4.Sam Bodine 6-2 205 LB Canby- jumped up our recruiting boards with outstanding off season, which started at our elite events during the winter. Very talented overall athlete (basketball) that could project as a strong safety at the next level. Could very well see him be a featured RB.
5.Jacob Bucher 6-2 220 LB Crescent Valley..85 total tackles (8.5 per game), 3 sacks- team leader..Natural size and should be one of the best linebackers in the state next year. Very impressive season for a kid that has size and strength
6.Marcus McGovern 6-2 215 LB Sheldon..20 total tackles, 2.5 per game..Should be next standout backer at Sheldon, but could end up playing some D end. Ivy league type student that will just need to continue working on speed and side to side agility.
6. Ryan Nall 6-2 205 LB Central Catholic… 13 total tackles, 1 int, 4 pass deflections..Brother of former Mt Hood Defensive Player of the Year/ PSU Commit Jacob Nall. Ryan came on strong at the end of last season and should do very well moving forward.
7.Chase Marshall 6-3 220 LB Lakeridge..Led all sophomores in sacks state wide (5.5) and has the size to do big things moving forward. Very talented Lacrosse athlete that will team with Royster to form top junior tandem.
8.Mike Varadi 6-0 220 LB Southridge.. Varsity starter at backer and looks to be one of the top linebackers in the state. Will move to Full Back and also be a two way starter giving them one of the toughest backfields in Oregon.
9.Scott Skurdahl 6-1 200 LB Sherwood- Kid looked really good at our elite events during the winter 22 rushes/204 yards/ 3 Tds, 23 total tackles. in 2011.
10.Mitch Kekel 6-0 200 LB Westview.. 3rd team all league LB that did very well on the camp circuit and is also a kid that plays multiple sports (basketball) and is a leader
11.Donovan Manning 6-1 200 Central Cathoic.. Will play a lot of D line but projects at LB, and is super quick off the ball. Had an outstanding Salem Regional Camp/Combine…
12.Mason Montgomery 6-0 205 LB Ashland.. 1st team all league LB as a sophomore, all league as a freshman.. Will be a four year starter and one of the better football players to ever come through Ashland before he’s done. Outstanding wrestler
12. Peyton Dole 6-3 215 LB/SS/TE Eagle Point.. Honorable Mention all league athlete as a soph DB, expect to see him transition to more of a LB/SS..Outstanding overall athlete
14. Jake Biglow 5-11 205 TE/LB Tigard..Hon Mention all league TE/LB, Multiple 2 Td games..Has done an outstanding job being physical and catching .. All league on both sides of the ball as a soph is impressive
14.Max Wilson 6-1 195 LB Silverton.. Had a phenomenal sophomore season, coach Mannion has good things to say..Also can run the ball, 24 carr/183 yds/2 Tds
15. Joe Lobbato 6-2 210 LB Tigard.. Could end up on the D line, but projects at backer. Did very well at our elite events and is an outstanding kid with good size.
15. Zach Farnes 6-0 190 LB Clackamas.. Brother of the very talented Oliver Farnes, 31 total tackles and a sack. Has a lot of potential, will need to add size, but has great speed and athleticism.
HONORABLE MENTION
Cooper Whitaker 6-0 185 Wilsonville.. 36 total tackles, 2 sacks, very good athlete that will team with fellow junior Parker Nielsen and all everything senior Johnny Ragin
David Lakeman 6-0, 205 OL/LB Newport.. Good size kid that is teaming with Travis Derocher to form one of the better young duo’s in the state.. 9.7 tackles per game, 97 total tackles, 2.5 sacks
Gabe Stone 6-0 195 LB West Albany- 2nd Team all league linebacker, did a good job helping lead the Bulldogs to a Mid Willamette Conference title and a state semi final appearance.
Cody King 6-1 205 RB/LB Marist… 58 Total Tackles, (5.3 Tpg) good size kid that has one of the best LB’s (James Banks) and Coaches (Frank Geske) leading the way
Jake Pruit 6-2 205 LB Southridge… Started as a sophomore, and is a legit two way threat. You could see him climb this list quickly..Curently injured will miss half the season
Anthony Gomez 5-8, 190 FB/LB South Medford – 75 (7.5 Tack per game) 3 Int’s, 2 Td’s..Outstanding sophomore season where Gomez played a huge role defensively..Just undersized
Caleb Naughton 5-10 190 LB Dallas.. 9.7 TPG, 87 total tackles, 3 sacks..Did a lot for the Dragons and will just get better as he adds sized and speed
Parker Nielsen 6-2 215 Wilsonville.. Good sized athlete that could have a very big year.. Moves well and could b e one of the top sleepers state wide.
Jacob Zartman 6-1 215 OL/DE St Helens .. One of the conference leaders in Sacks (3), Good size kid
Trevor Yarnell 6-1 200 LB Aloha.. Football family, will be a two way threat for the Warriors and is just a very tough and talented overall football player
DB’s
1.Jordan Horak 6-1 190 RB/S Lake Oswego..Phenomenal defensive back that contributed a great deal on defense and had some key interceptions. Raised in athletic environment, father is the AD..Outstanding overall athlete. Multi sport kid that we should see a great deal more on the camp circuit this coming season.
1.Tanner Sanders 6-5 200 Jr. FS/ ATH Crescent Valley..The states # 1 overall athlete for 2014, offered by OSU and SanDiego St..Probably more of an offensive player WR/QB…One of the most versatile players in the country.
2.Kenyatta (Yadie) Dunmore 5-11 175 SB/DB Sheldon.. Brother of Oregon bound all everything athlete Oshay Dunmore..Yadie is considered a special athlete in his own right going for 1405 All Purpose Yards (525 rushing, 597 receiving 16 total Tds) 10.0 per carry, 18.0 ypc..One of the state’s best hoopers..Makes transfer to Sheldon
3.Aidan Wilder 6-0 185 QB/SB/CB Central Catholic.. Very talented multi dimensional back that has started at the Varsity level since his freshman season. Split time at QB for the second season in a row, 1174 yards passing, 12 Tds/ 3 Ints , 63.5 Com Pct; 199 rush yds, 7 Tds…Will only play D when necessary, but has a good chance of playing DB in college
3.Manu Rasmussen 6-0 170 SB/DB Tigard.. Started on both sides of the ball at times as a sophomore..Projects as a corner but you could see him at safety. The kid is silky smooth and will break ankles if you get him in the open field offensively. Multiple Td’s on the year 2011 (7).
</
5.Trent Werner 6-1 190 SB/DB Jesuit.. Started multiple games at defensive back , very athletic kid that will contribute on both sides of the ball starting next season. You could see him playing an OLB position, but projects as a safety
6.Mitch Herbert 6-3 180 WR/S Sheldon…Could be one of the top underclassmen state wide, injured part of last season but has had a phenomenal off season and could wind up towards the top of this list before all is said and done
7-Aaron Washington Jr. 5-9 180 DB/ATH Central Catholic… Transfer from Centennial that got in the end zone multiple times last year, has played very well thus far for his new team. We will hear alot from this kid moving forward
8.Garrett Hitner 6-1 175 S/Ath. McNary…50 tackles, 10 pass deflections, 3 Ints.. Incredible sophomore season that saw him put up some of the best numbers of any sophomore state wide. Very good overall athlete, that will play a big role offensively
9.Vontrell Mills 5-8 155 SB/CB Jefferson.. All league as a freshman, 3 Tds..super quick and shifty. Kick and Punt return specialist. Just a very versatile athlete that can play on either side of the ball
9. Jordan Morgan 6-3 190 WR/DB Southridge..Projects as a WR, but is an outstanding leaper and track athlete and started both ways as a sophomore. Took a pick back to the house against Sunset, but will most likely be a WR in college potentially being ranked the #1 Wide out in Oregon for 2014.
10. Noah Kyllo 5-9 165 .. 12 total tackles, 2 Ints, 4 Pass deflections..Not a big kid but very versatile and did well on the camp circuit in the off season
10.Maleke Nathman- 5-10 180 RB/DB Southridge.. Multiple starts and Tds at the Varsity level. Will be a force in the Metro League for the next two seasons. Southridge has 3 VERY good Rb’s (Martinez, Pruitt).
HONORABLE MENTION
Jaray Kindell 5-11 165 SB/DB Lincoln.. Started at DB at the end of the year, did a very good job in the playoffs.. Will get some of the best training imaginable, and has D1 genes..
Maurice McSwain 5-10 165 SB/DB Aloha- Football family, outstanding overall athlete..Got a lot of playing time with all the injuries and did well..Multiple Tds
Roy Jackson- 5-10 180 DB/RB Thurston- Talented two way athlete that will have to lead Thurston on both sides of the ball
DJ Knuth 6-0 190 RB/DB Lebanon..2 Sacks, 300+ rush yds..Did a little on both ends
Daniel Rico- 5-10 175 RB/DB Southridge..Quick kid that likes to hit..Should step in and have more of a role next year.
Laray Horton – 6-0 165 DB Franklin… Hon Mention All league athlete that should do well moving forward
Carlos Flores 5-11 195 DB Eagle Point…Hon Mention all league athlete that did very well as a youngster. E Pt will be good
Tyler Reid 5-9 170 DB/RB Churchill… Kids a phenomenal athlete, with testing that is off the charts.. Played more Offense, but had 2 Int’s and is a lock down DB
