Preseason all-Bay Area News Group high school football 2023: Quarterbacks
Serra, San Ramon Valley, Acalanes standouts lead all-Bay Area News Group preseason quarterbacks list
PRESEASON ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP
QUARTERBACKS
(arranged alphabetically)
Marley Alcantara, 5-10, 180, junior, Pittsburg
Last season, despite playing behind four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada, Alcantara passed for 14 touchdowns and rushed for three more. In the Big Little Game, he threw for five touchdowns in a 49-21 victory over Antioch.
Acalanes senior Sully Bailey, 6-1, 185
Acalanes’ dynamic quarterbacking duo’s first half. Passed for 1,832 yards and 16 touchdowns while also rushing for three.
Luke Baker, senior, San Ramon Valley, 5-11, 185
Bay Area News Group player of the year after passing for 3,733 yards and 46 touchdowns to lead the Wolves to the 2-A state championship game. Committed to play baseball at Santa Clara. The shortstop demonstrated his quick feet by rushing for five touchdowns.
Reid Black, 5-10, 180, junior, The King’s Academy
As a sophomore, he was extremely efficient, passing for 21 touchdowns on 202 attempts and adding five rushing touchdowns as a scrambling threat. With preseason all-BANG RB Jeaden Underwood, will form a dynamic backfield.
Acalanes senior Jake Boselli, 6-0, 185
Acalanes’ strong quarterbacking duo’s other half. Passed for 1,126 yards and 13 touchdowns while also rushing for four.
Quinn Boyd, Granada, senior, 6-4, 195
For the Matadors, he passed for 1,758 yards and 13 touchdowns while only throwing four interceptions. Also scored three touchdowns on the ground.
Jonathan Craft, James Logan, junior, 6-2, 180
James Logan will gain a solid dual threat with the transfer from Valley Christian. As a sophomore, he passed for a touchdown and ran for two more.
De La Salle junior Toa Faavae, 6-1, 185
Midway through the season, he took over as De La Salle’s starting quarterback and never looked back, rushing for 645 yards and passing for 847. One of the Bay Area’s quickest players. Ran for 11 touchdowns, including an 88-yarder in the 1-AA state championship game against Lincoln-San Diego.
Aaron Knapp, St. Francis, junior, 6-1, 195
Last season, he went 2-0 filling in for injured starter Matthew Daugherty, including a 12-for-14, 208-yard debut against rival Bellarmine. In a win over Archbishop Mitty, he threw three touchdown passes. He defeated cancer in the spring and is set to lead the Lancers this fall.
Drew Henderson, senior, Berkeley, 6-0, 170
All-WACC Mission Division first-team selection who passed for 38 touchdowns and rushed for two more. With three-star recruits Jalen Harris and BJ Thurman back and ready to catch passes, the team is poised for another successful season.
St. Ignatius junior Soren Hummel, 6-0, 195
Last season, the second-team all-WCAL selection threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns against St. Francis. In an upset victory over CCS Division I finalist Archbishop Mitty, he passed for three touchdowns.
Del Mar’s Andre Latimore, 5-8, 160, senior
BVAL West Valley junior of the year and Del Mar’s clinical option attack triggerman ran for 1,807 yards and 20 touchdowns. Passing for 474 yards and seven touchdowns also kept defenses honest.
Mason Lovett, Clayton Valley Charter, senior, 6-0, 180
For the past two seasons, a three-star recruit with offers from UNLV and North Alabama has patiently waited his turn behind senior quarterbacks. As a backup last season, he passed for 225 yards and one touchdown and ran for 129 yards.
Larenzo Mayfield, 5-8, 160, senior, Antioch
Antioch’s honorable mention all-Bay Valley selection was the epitome of a dual threat. Passed for 756 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 778 yards and seven touchdowns.
AJ Minyard, Los Gatos, senior, 6-3, 160
After filling in for Jake Boyd last season, a standout pitcher on the baseball team is poised to have a big senior season on the football field. As a junior, he completed 13 of 20 passes and threw a touchdown. As a sophomore, he threw for 19 touchdowns on the JV team.
Archbishop Riordan sophomore Michael Mitchell Jr., 5-11, 160
The WCAL freshman of the year threw for 12 touchdowns and has the potential to double or triple that total in 2023. Has a completely revamped wide receiver room and an offensive line loaded with highly regarded recruits.
Serra’s Maealiuaki Smith, 6-4, 200, is a senior.
For the CCS Open Division champions, WCAL quarterback of the year passed for 2,546 yards and 34 touchdowns. BYU, Oklahoma State, and around 20 other Power 5 schools have offered the four-star recruit.
Parker Threatt, Bellarmine, senior, 6-2, 175.
Cal and Washington are interested in this three-star athlete and second-team all-WCAL selection. Last season, I did everything for Bellarmine. Passed for 558 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 301 yards and one touchdown. In addition, he caught 28 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns.
El Cerrito senior Michael Vanhook, 6-0, 210
El Cerrito won the NorCal 3-AA championship after being named first-team all-TCAL Rock Division. With playmakers like A’Jhuan Parker and Micah Avery on the roster, the team should put up impressive numbers.
College Park senior James Voorhies, 6-3, 190
As a junior, he was named first-team all-DAL Valley after throwing for 2,042 yards and 23 touchdowns. Assisted the Falcons in reaching the NCS Division III playoffs.
