The Bay Area News Group is recognizing the top high school football players in its coverage area from the 2022 season.
We have separated the honorees into eight position groups: Quarterbacks, receivers/tight ends, defensive backs, running backs, linebackers, utility players, athletes, defensive linemen, offensive linemen and kickers/punters.
We have chosen an overall player of the year, county players of the year and a coach of the year.
The team was selected by members of our high school sports staff.
Here are the all-Bay Area News Group running backs:
First team
Charles Greer, De La Salle, 5-10, 186, senior
All-East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division first-team selection rushed for 1,251 yards and 16 touchdowns for the NCS Open Division and NorCal 1-AA champions. Rated as a three-star by 247Sports and headed to Fresno State.
Devon Rivers, Heritage, 5-7, 170, senior
Bay Valley Athletic League offensive player of the year. Signed with Fresno State, where his brother and dad starred before moving on to the NFL. Rushed for 1,759 yards and 24 touchdowns in 233 carries. Also threw for 245 yards and three TDs.
Jaivian Thomas, McClymonds, 5-11, 170, senior
Oakland Athletic League’s most valuable player and first-team all-league selection ran for 2,530 yards and 30 touchdowns for the OAL and 2-AA NorCal champion. Ran for a touchdown in every game. Rated as a three-star by 247Sports.com and headed to Cal.
Second team
Monte Beam, Concord, 5-7, 180, junior
Diablo Athletic League Valley Division first-team running back was the best player on a team that went from one win in 2021 to 9-1 in 2022. Ran for 1,947 yards and 20 TDs and scored on 11 two-point conversions.
Emiliano Mejia, Los Gatos, 5-9, 180, senior
PAL/SCVAL De Anza Division offensive player of the year rushed for 1,145 yards and 18 touchdowns in 128 carries for the league champions. Ran for 158 yards in a CCS Division I playoff game against Archbishop Mitty.
Ben Pfaff, Bellarmine, 5-11, 190, senior
West Catholic Athletic League first-team all-league selection ran for 901 yards and 13 touchdowns. Return to healthy status coincided with Bellarmine’s run to CCS Division II and NorCal 3-A championships.
Honorable mention
Elias Antillion, Branham, junior
Micah Avery, Clayton Valley, junior
Elijah Bow, Pittsburg, sophomore
Brendan Comerford, Campolindo, senior
Zayden Crockett, De Anza, senior
Salvador Espinoza, Lincoln-San Jose, senior
John Hanna, Carlmont, senior
Elijah Hodgers, Livermore, senior
Lonell Howard Jr., Castlemont, senior
Jaleel Jones, James Logan, senior
Jacob Lang, Westmont, senior
Aaron Lipscomb, Fremont-Oakland, sophomore
Greyson Mobley, Monta Vista, senior
Jeremiah Madrigal, Palo Alto, junior
Tony McAdoo, El Cerrito, senior
Larry McDonald, Pinole Valley, senior
PJ Modena, Half Moon Bay, senior
Cooper Nixon, Willow Glen, senior
Aderion Prater, St. Patrick-St. Vincent, junior
Joshua Reyes, Santa Teresa, senior
Lex Silver, Mountain View, junior
Sherrod Smith, Menlo-Atherton, senior
Isaiah Tuiono, St. Francis, senior
Elijah Walker, Wilcox, junior
Emanuel Webster, Northgate, senior
ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Monday, Jan. 9
Kickers/punters
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Athletes
Tuesday, Jan. 10
Utility players
Linebackers
Running backs
Wednesday, Jan. 11
Defensive backs
Wide receivers/tight ends
Quarterbacks
Coach of the year
Thursday, Jan. 12
County player of the year
County player of the year
County player of the year
Overall player of the year
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
Those eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For corrections, please email [email protected].
