While we are not able to provide an extensive CIF San Diego Section preseason first and second teams this year, we do have a list of top 10 players at the start of the season. This is based on projected team success, stats from last year, recruiting service player rankings and more.
For a look at our most recently posted preseason all-section team, CLICK HERE.
For a look at the first 25 teams in our Preseason State TOP 50, CLICK HERE.
1. Honor Fa’alave Johnson
(Cathedral Catholic, San Diego) 6-2, 195, RB/DB, Sr.
The returning State Junior Player of the Year for his exploits on both sides of the ball for the Dons has committed to USC. He’s a candidate to be Mr. Football State Player of the Year if his two-way dominance continues. His team also is looking to win a second straight SD Section Open Division title. Honor rushed for 1,265 yards and 21 TDs last season on offense. He also caught 35 passes for 564 yards and seven scores. Regarded as one of the top DB prospects in the nation, Fa’alave-Johnson had 38 tackles and two interceptions.\
2. Zac Benitez
(Granite Hills, El Cajon) 6-2, 210, QB, Sr.
It’s just as easy to rank Zac as the No. 2 player on this list as it is for Fa’alave-Johnson to be No. 1. He’ll be starting for the fourth straight season for the Eagles and has that very, very rare chance of being a CIF San Diego Secton champion for all four years. That freshman season is when Benitez helped Granite beat Carlsbad in the SD Open final. He had comparable stats that night to Carlsbad senior at the time and current Heisman Trophy candidate Julian Sayin. Benitez, who has committed to San Jose State, passed for 2,410 yards and 27 TDs as a junior.
Gaige Weddle of Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) is one of the state’s most highly regarded juniors. He stars on both sides of the ball. Photo: FOX 5 San Diego.
3. Gaige Weddle
(Rancho Bernardo, San Diego) 6-2, 180, RB/DB/QB, Jr.
All-State first team sophomore from last season now ranks among the top juniors in the nation as a college prospect. Gaige projects to be a DB like dad Eric, a six-time Pro Bowl player in the NFL. Eric Weddle also is RB’s head coach. Gaige passed for 1,115 yards and 12 TDs and he rushed for 695 yards and nine TDs last season on offense. On defense, he racked up 90 tackles plus one interception.
4. Paisos Polamalu
(St. Augustine, San Diego) 5-9, 190, RB/DB, Sr.
Son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu is one of three major two-way stars from the CIF San Diego Section this season (along with Honor Fa’alave-Johnson and Gaige Weddle). Paisos also is an all-state grid-hooper. He had the most success for Saints last season as a running back with 1,530 yards rushing and 19 TDs. He also had 108 tackles and six picks playing defense. Polamalu has committed to Stanford.
5. Dax Labrum (Santa Fe Christian, Solana Beach) 6-3, 190, QB, Sr.
Speaking of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dax worked with just inducted legend Drew Brees last season at Santa Fe Christian and will do so once again this season. Drew’s son, Baylen, is one of the Eagles’ receivers. Labrum was a major reason SFC went 13-1 last season with a D2 section title and with the only loss to Rio Hondo Prep of Arcadia in the CIF D2-A regional final. The Cornell commit passed for 3,106 yards and 36 TDs.
6. Jaeveyion Allen (Lincoln, San Diego) 6-2, 165, WR/DB, Sr.
There’s no doubt that Lincoln is going to once again have one of the top teams in the San Diego Section this season (we started the Hornets at No. 24 in the state and third in the section) but it’s hard to determine one player or several who may emerge as the top honors candidate. Allen is a returning standout with a pair of interceptions on defense. He’s getting D1 college interest. He also may be counted on to make plays on offense.
7. Lincoln Mageo (Oceanside) 6-4, 280, OL, Sr.
He’s the top returning offensive lineman in the section. Mageo also has moved up to the top 25 interior offensive linemen in the nation by 247Sports. He has committed to Michigan.
8. Furian Inferrera (Mission Hills, San Marcos) 6-3, 210, QB, Sr.
The replacement for Penn State’s Troy Huhn as the Grizzlies’ QB comes to them from national powerhouse Mater Dei of Santa Ana. Furian was a back-up there the past two seasons, but got into games during both of them. He has received major D1 interest despite being a back-up at Mater Dei (which is not unusual there). Inferrera had committed to Minnesota before he transferred to Mission Hills and that is still what is being reported for him.
9. Kaleb Runkle (Christian, El Cajon) 6-3, 185, QB, Sr.
Highly productive QB for Patriots is looking to have a huge senior season. Runkle, who also has a 4.0 GPA, passed for 2,870 yards and 28 TDs as a junior. He added 572 yards rushing and three scores.
10. Ma’kahi Fields-Cook (Canyon Hills, San Diego) 5-7. 170, RB, Jr.
He’s the top returning RB in the section according to yards from last season and the second-highest is more than 500 yards less. Fields-Cook, an all-state sophomore, rushed for 2,092 yards and 16 TDs.
Some Others We Almost Wrote Up
Dareyen Bridges (Lincoln, San Diego) WR
Kevin Clark (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego) LB
Isaac Cook (Cathedral Catholic, San Diego) WR
Kye Cooper (San Diego) DB/WR Sr.
Jeremy Davis (Helix, La Mesa) LB Sr.
Jackson Fader (Mission Hills, San Marcos) OL Sr.
Dane Larson (Bishop’s, La Jolla) WR Sr.
Ezekiel McIntyre (San Marcos) WR/DB Sr.
Courtney Miller-Thompson (Granite Hills, El Cajon) WR Sr.
Taylon Sheriff (Canyon Hills, San Diego) WR/DB Jr.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports
