These aren't rankings, people.
Not yet, any way.
For now, this is just a list — an early list, at that — of the top returning football players in the southern half of the Sac-Joaquin Section. So, please, don't get too fired up about where your favorite player appears ... or doesn't.
For starters, the list is alphabetical. It serves as a precursor to the top-50 returning players, which The Front Row will begin rolling out later this month. The top-50 will help us walk-up to the season-openers on Aug. 17 for teams.
This just stirs the pot.
If you've got a returning varsity player we've overlooked, which is possible, please send their information to frontrowpreps@gmail.com or james11burns@gmail.com, and we'll add them here and consider them for the top-50.
Now then, here's a preliminary list of the area’s top returning high school football players, including their position and school, in alphabetical order:
Carlos Arreola, running back, Hughson
Payton Bass, running back, Pitman
Evan Bearden, defensive end/wide receiver, Sonora
D’angelo Bellamy, running back/defensive back, Central Catholic
Jacob Bettencourt, quarterback, Orestimba
Jon Buttrey, running back, Buhach Colony
Xavier Carlton defensive end/tight end, Modesto Christian
Raylen Carter, running back, East Union
C.J. Castleman, running back, Sonora
Jorge Cedano, wide receiver, Manteca
Kaden Christensen, running back/defensive back, Escalon
Greg Clark, offensive lineman/linebacker, Ripon
Adrian Cuevas, defensive back, Central Catholic
Nick Cummins, linebacker, Downey
Ryan Daggett, quarterback, Ripon
Roland Davis, running back, Ripon
Jacob DeJesus, wide receiver, Manteca
Yolan Dickson, running back, Buhach Colony
Ethan Difuntorum, wide receiver/defensive back, Downey
Jake Dirkse, linebacker, Turlock
Javyn Drobnick, running back, Big Valley Christian
Dalton Durossette, quarterback, Central Catholic
JoJo Espinoza, quarterback/free safety, East Union
Zaire Eugene, running back, Modesto
Garrett Fountain, defensive end, Turlock
Logan Foumai, offensive lineman, Patterson
Nate Garcia, running back/linebacker/quarterback, Patterson
Jake Gookin, quarterback, Sonora
Anderson Grover, wide receiver, Downey
Justin Hansen, defensive back, Ripon
Marquise Higgins, linebacker/wide receiver, East Union
Kyle Jackson, quarterback, Central Catholic
Everett Johnson, offensive lineman, Turlock
Jonah Kosakiewicz, quarterback, Turlock
Michael Kamps, running back, Ripon Christian
Ryan Kraft, quarterback, Bret Harte
Marcello Longstreth, quarterback/athlete, Gregori
Trey Longstreth, wide receiver/defensive back, Gregori
Antonio Lopez, running back, Los Banos
Sean McGovern, wide receiver/defensive back, Ripon Christian
Dawaiian McNeely, running back/defensive back, Central Catholic
Chris Mendoza, offensive lineman, Central Catholic
Bryan Millan, wide receiver/defensive back/kicker, Hilmar
Omar Ortega, offensive lineman, Patterson
Tramayne Paster, defensive back, Buhach Colony
Bryce Peterson, quarterback, Downey
Justin Rentfro, running back/defensive end, Hilmar
Xavier Rodriguez, quarterback, Davis
Trabron Russell, running back, Manteca
Nash Satnat, linebacker, Escalon
Hayden Sauser, quarterback, Modesto Christian
Isaac Schinnman, running back/linebacker, Modesto Christian
Gunnar Selover, quarterback, Big Valley Christian
Isaac Sharp, running back/defensive back, Hilmar
Joao Silveira, linebacker, Hilmar
Eric Soares, offensive lineman, Central Catholic
Michael Solario, running back/defensive back, Ripon Christian
Justin Traina, defensive back, Central Catholic
Tyler Vargas, wide receiver/defensive back, Orestimba
Drew Van Vliet, offensive lineman, Ripon Christian
Dhameer Warren, quarterback/defensive back, Merced
If we've missed a must-see returning talent, please email the information to james11burns@gmail.com or frontrowpreps.com.
