Oregon 6A Offensive/Defensive Player of the Year Candidates: By Jordan Johnson

Overall MVP

Joey Alfieri 6-3 225 Sr. RB/LB Jesuit – (Committed: Stanford)

 

Joey Alfieri
Joey Alfieri

 

One of the top players in the country, earning Metro League Player of the Year honors. Alfieri rushed for 1, 712 yards and 23 TD’s in 7 games, averaging nearly 250 a contest. He is one of the only kids in state history that could legitimately win the award on both sides of the ball. The injury suffered in week 8 sidelined him for the season, but he will be back and better then ever at the collegiate level. Joey is one of the most humble kids you will ever meet and represents the Northwest as well as any athlete to ever come out of the region.

 

Offensive MVP

 

Manu Rasmussen
Manu Rasmussen

 

1. Manu Rasmussen 6-0 185 Sr. RB Tigard – (Committed: Eastern Washington) The Pacific Conference Offensive Player of the Year has gone off in 2013. His team is (12-0) as he has accounted for 2000 yards on the ground and 36 TD’s. Even more incredible is the fact that he has only played a max of 2 quarters in each game this season due to blowouts, averaging 16 yards per carry.

2. Cameron Scarlett 6-2 205 Jr. RB Central Catholic – Scarlett is one of the most impressive Junior’s on the west coast, and will end up with double digit D1 offers with a majority of the Pac 12. He has gone for 2, 337 all purpose yards with 27 total Td’s, averaging 12.6 yards a touch. He is the top ranked Jr in the state.

3. Aidan Wilder 6-0 195 Sr. QB Central Catholic – (Committed: Portland State) The Mt Hood Conference Player of the Year is a 4 year starter, and will be the key if CC wants to end their 60 year state championship drought. He accounted for 35 TD’s (26 passing , 9 rushing) with only 5 INT’s, hitting on 64.8% of his passes for 1, 967 yards.

4. Daniel Sherrell 5-9 175 Sr. RB Clackamas – The TRL Offensive Player of the Year and two time 6A state rushing leader was the primary reason the Cavs had one of their better seasons in school history finishing at (9-3). Sherrell finised the season with 2, 266 rushing yards and 34 total TD’s, while accumulating 5, 077 all purpose yards and 61 total TD’s from 2012-2013.

5. Eric Dungey 6-4 195 Jr. QB Lakeridge – Dungey will be another 4 year varsity kid, helping the Pacers (9-3) get back to the state quarterfinals for the first time in over a decade. He is the true definition of a dual threat quarterback, projecting at the D1 level. He accounted for 35 total TD’s and (23 passing, 12 rushing) while hitting on 65.2% of his passes for 2, 648 yards.

6. Mitch Herbert 6-4 200 Sr. WR Sheldon – (Offers: Air Force, Montana State, Portland State) The senior standout had a monster year for the Irish going for 21 total TD’s. while catching 77 passes for 1, 073 yards. He also rushed for 206 yards on 34 carries as Herbert is ranked our #2 WR state wide behind Arizona commit Jordan Morgan.

7. Troy Fowler 5-11 165 Jr. QB North Medford – The SWC Offensive Player of the Year helped resurrect a program that was (2-18) over the last two seasons. The Black Tornado (10-2) won their first conference title in over a decade with mostly junior’s. Fowler threw for 27 Td’s & 7 INT’s, completing 60% of his passes for 2, 163 yards, also rushing for 5 TDs. Troy is the ideal kid you want to build a program around.

8. Devin Martinez 5-7 185 Sr. RB Southridge – Martinez might not be the biggest kid but there are few that are better. He was the Metro Co Offensive Player of the Year, going for 1600 yards and 20 TD’s. Devin earned 1st team all league honors as a sophomore in the state’s toughest conference, just to put into perspective how stellar of a career he had.

9. Thomas Harris 5-9 180 Sr. RB Sprague – The CVC Offensive Player of the Year went off, helping the Oly’s win the conference title after graduating almost the entire team the year before. He rushed for 1, 859 yards and 23 TD’s on 239 carries being one of the breakout performers state wide.

10. Conner Mitchell 5-9 180 So. RB Oregon City – The only Sophomore on this list as the kid was lights out for the Pioneers (9-2) this season. O.C. will be a state title contender for the next two years, as Conner rushed for 1590 yards and 13 TD’s through the first 9 games. His ability to bounce and accelerate is extremely unique as he will be a POY favorite next season.

11. Cade Smith 6-1 197 Jr. QB West Salem – (Offers: Wyoming) The do it all kid was one of the top rushing QB’s in the west taking after his brother Brett, the former Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year. (Wyoming QB). He accounted for 2, 987 total yards (1923 passing 65.1% Com Pct, 1064 rushing) with 40 total Td’s (26 passing, 14 rushing), hitting the state’s #1 Jr WR Keegen Hlad 41 times for 741 yards and 10 TD’s through the regular season.

12. Willy Pflug 6-0 175 Jr. QB Sunset – The state and conference leader in multiple statistical categories, hitting on 71.4% of his passes and accounting for 35 total TD’s (29 passing, 6 rushing). Willy played for one of the state’s all time greats in Faustin Riley, and was the glue that made the Apollos go. His stock has continued to rise as he has now put himself in the conversation with other potential D1 QB’s from the 2015 class.

 

Defensive MVP

 

Christian Martinek
Christian Martinek

 

1. Christian Martinek 6-5 240 Sr. DE Jesuit – (Committed: Oregon State) Martinek has been an absolute tear on defense, earning Metro League Player of the Year honors. He was a 1st team all league kid as a sophomore and has come up big time and time again on both sides of the ball. He is a legit D1 Defensive end, but could very well be picked in the 1st round of the MLB draft so we will see.

2. Connor Humphreys 6-4 265 Sr. DE Central Catholic – (Committed: Arizona State) Humphreys was the Mt Hood Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and named a Army All American. He was offered by some of the top schools in the country, including USC, and will go down as one of the top D ends to ever come out of Oregon

3. Henry Mondeaux 6-5 245 Sr. DE/LB Jesuit – (Committed: Oregon) Just a phenomenal overall athlete that earned 1st team all league honors and was one of the most versatile 6-5 kids in the country. Mondeaux was named to the prestigious “Nike Opening” with his teammate Joey Alfieri during the summer, and will have to play his best ball of the season if the Crusaders want to win a state title.

4. AJ Hotchkins 6-0 230 Sr. LB Tigard – (Offers: Montana, Idaho, Northern Colorado, Portland State) 1st team all league kid on both sides of the ball for the last two seasons. One of the hardest hitters to ever come out of the state, tracking ball carriers down like they stole something. The Tigers have never trailed this season and he is one of the main reasons why.

5. Ryan Nall 6-3 230 Sr. LB Central Catholic – (Committed: Oregon State) Nall was a 1st team all league LB and a kid that blew up over the off season. He is a freak in the weight room and an athlete that will have to be clutch if the Rams want to win there first state title in 60 years.

6. Manu Rasmussen 6-0 185 Sr. CB Tigard – (Committed: Eastern Washington) Lock down corner that earned 1st team all league honors. For the most part teams have stopped throwing to his side of the field as the Tigard D is the fastest in the state. He is the only kid that is a state player of the year candidate on both sides of the ball.

7. Aaron Washington 5-9 170 Sr. CB Central Catholic – 1st team all league DB that is one of the statistical leaders state wide, with 7 INT’s and 10 takeaways. His Carolina swag and no non sense demeanor make him one of the more appealing recruits in the region

8. Nick Underwood 6-1 220 Sr. LB Lake Oswego – (Offers: UNLV, Air Force, Portland State) The Lakers didn’t have the season they were typically accustomed to, but Underwood earned 1st team all league honors after receiving all conference accolades for the past 3 seasons. Nick is just a player and reads as well as any backer in the NW.

9. Marcus McGovern 6-1 220 Sr. LB Sheldon – Earned SWC Player of the Year honors after a breakout season at backer. 118 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks as the Irish didn’t win back to back state titles but still did well.

10. Trent Werner 6-1 190 Sr. S Jesuit – One of the most underrated kids in Oregon, as he is a 1st team all league three year starter that is good at pretty much whatever he does. He may choose the baseball route moving forward, but is a legit collegiate football player if he wants to be.

11. Clay Reece 5-10 170 Sr. CB Oregon City – Came out of no where to win TRL Defensive Player of the Year honors. Reece had 6 INT’s and was one of the state statistical leaders. His ability to anticipate and create was very apparent.

12. Nick Duron 6-4 205 Sr. DE Tigard – Has had a phenomenal season being one of the state’s top D end’s. Duron earned 1st team all league honors and is a legit three sport athlete that will have to come up big if the Tigers want to win a state title.

** Sam Bodine 6-3 215 Sr LB Canby – (Offers: Portland State) Bodine went down early in the season with an injury, but is a Pac 12 type athlete that we will be watching on TV for years to come. He was a 1st team all league kid as a junior and the best defensive player in the TRL. If he wouldn’t have gotten hurt he would be towards the top of this list