A few teams have already begun, but just about all the big boys like De La Salle, California, San Ramon Valley and others won't get going until this weekend.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

Offense

WR Diante Jackson (Las Lomas, Walnut Creek) 6-3, 190, Sr.
The scuttlebutt says the Bay Area's top wide receiver is leaning toward signing with Oregon but until the ink is dry he has numerous offers to choose from, including several other Pac-10 schools like Arizona and Washington State. Last season, Jackson was the linchpin of a team that came within one game of a CIF Div. II State Bowl bid. It was no fault of Jackson, who although being double and triple-teamed in the Knights NCS 2A championship 34-21 loss to Novato, hauled in eight passes for 109 yards and one score. On the season, he finished with 65 catches for 1,283 yards and 19 touchdowns.

WR C.J. Porter (Concord) 6-0, 180, Sr.
Excellent speed makes this Utah verbally committed tall, rangy wideout with great athleticism and pretty good hands a potent threat, and almost a cinch to post similar or better numbers than last season. As a junior, he had 48 receptions for 846 yards (17.6 average) in Concord's spread offense.

TE Zach Ertz (Monte Vista, Danville) 6-6, 230, Sr.
Although this Stanford recruit only played six games last year after suffering a season ending broken wrist, Ertz is still considered one of the top tight ends in the state. He has excellent size and the athleticism to dominate. According to scouting reports his technique on catching the ball still needs a little work but he has the potential to develop into a productive in-line and solid pass blocker at the next level. This year, Mustang coach Craig Bergman will be looking for Ertz to improve on his partial year numbers of 38 receptions for 383 yards and a team-leading six touchdown catches.

OL Jeff Ferrier (California, San Ramon) 6-4, 271, Sr.
This top returning lineman from a team that made it deep into the NCS 4A playoffs before losing to De La Salle (Concord) will anchor a line that will block for two very good running backs. He and his mates figure to be one of the top teams in an East Bay Athletic League that welcomes the Spartans from Concord into what could be one of the top three or four leagues in the state.

OL Charles Leno (San Leandro) 6-5, 250, Sr.
ESPNU ranks this tall quick lineman who can fire off the line as the No. 22 rated 2009 prospect in the nation and No. 2 in California. He runs more like a tight end than a tackle, plays with intensity and exuberance, and gives 100 percent on every play. His size is a factor but as a pass blocker his huge wing span allows him to control defensive lineman. On defense, he shows the same quick feet and agility.
 
OL Demetrius Moore (Berkeley) 6-4, 275, Sr.
Although last season was his first in high school football, this quick and tough lineman took to coach Alonzo Carter's teachings well enough to be named All-Alameda Contra Costa League first team. According to ESPNU, he's being looked at by Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Boise State.

OL Tyler Worthley (Dublin) 6-4, 300, Sr.
This three-sport athlete (volleyball, track and field) is the class of the East Bay, according to San Francisco Chronicle prep editor Will McCulloch. Maybe that's why Cal, Oregon, Colorado, Utah and UNLV are after him.

QB Joe Southwick (San Ramon Valley, Danville) 6-2, 180, Sr.
For anyone who doubted he could perform on the big stage, this Boise State recruit put the doubts to rest with his performance in the NCS 3A championship game at the Oakland Coliseum. In a 38-28 victory over Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), Southwick accounted for 332 total yards and four touchdowns. On the season, he finished with 3,165 yards passing and 35 touchdowns.

RB Kylan Butler (De La Salle, Concord) 5-8, 180, Sr.
If anyone is reminiscent of former Spartan great and current Jacksonville Jaguar running back Maurice Drew-Jones it's this shifty Arizona-bound runner. Besides great speed in all directions and a well-built compact body, Butler has tremendous power in his legs and thighs. He rushed for 1,006 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. This year he will also probably catch more balls out of the backfield.  

RB Patrone Wood (Ygnacio Valley, Concord) 5-11, 260 Jr.
This young man punishes defenses each and every time he gets his hands on the ball. Handing the ball off to him is like giving it to a lineman with a running start. Last year on a mediocre team and in only nine games he rushed for 1,371 yards with an average of 9.15 yards per carry with 13 touchdowns. Reportedly is being looked at by several DI colleges.

PK Matt Lloyd (Miramonte, Orinda) 6-0, 175, Sr.
Called the "ultimate special teams' weapon by the Contra Costa Times, Lloyd netted 14 filed goals last year, including a game against Concord in which he split the uprights five times. He also punts and is a starting wide receiver.

Defense

DL Ricky Aliifua (San Leandro) 6-1, 245, Sr.
One of a plethora of solid linemen for coach Bart Bowers, Aliifua has bulked up and moves into the defensive end position. He definitely improved his stock with a solid performance at the Stanford Nike Camp where he impressed coaches by being strong and aggressive with a nice motor.

DL William Hodgeman (Bishop O'Dowd, Oakland) 6-4, 321, Sr.
This defensive end originally from New Zealand and who transferred from Oregon gained D1 interest with impressive performances at several combines over the summer. He has a big frame and displays good get off from the line of scrimmage. Ranked No. 73 in the class of 2009 by ESPNU, he is currently being looked at by Boise State, Washington State, Washington, Oregon State and Idaho.

DL Eric Banford (Newark Memorial, Newark) 6-0, 250 Sr.
The Cougars' top returning lineman from a 9-2 team last year, Banford recorded 76 tackles and three sacks as a junior.

LB Chris Martin (Bishop O'Dowd, Oakland) 6-4, 224, Jr.
Although only a junior, this athletic, tall, quick, hard-hitting, aggressive middle linebacker has all the tools. Last year as a sophomore he had 108 tackles. Over the summer he was particularly impressive at the Stanford Nike Camp where he was named the top college prospect and top underclass linebacker at the camp. This total package player has already received offers from USC, Notre Dame, Cal, Stanford, UCLA, Colorado and Oregon. He could be the state's top college prospect overall next year.

LB Joe Mestre (James Logan, Union City) 5-10, 220, Sr.
Mestre is the top returning player from a Colts' team that went unbeaten during the 2007 regular season. He is also regarded as the top linebacker in the Mission Valley Athletic League.

LB Emeka Williams (Pittsburg) 5-11, 205, Sr.
The top returning defensive player on a team that is expected to be the top dog in the Bay Valley Athletic League, Williams led the team is tackles as a junior last year with 107 including two quarterback sacks. Together with teammate Avery Patterson, the Pirates could have one of the East Bay's quickest defenses.

LB Andy Alcaraz (Castro Valley) 6-3, 230, Sr.
This gifted athlete with natural defensive instincts made the Contra Costa Times pre-season 25 players to watch list after a junior season in which he made 88 tackles with three sacks.

DB Avery Patterson (Pittsburg) 5-9, 165, Sr.
He may be small in stature but Patterson packs a punch as a defensive back to go along with a reputation as the East Bay's best cover cornerback. So much so that Oregon offered a scholarship and he recently accepted. He only had 31 tackles last season but that because nobody wants to throw his way and when they do its usually incomplete. Patterson will also see a lot of time at tailback/slotback this season on offense.

DB Tyler Rittenour (Campolindo, Moraga) 5-11, 170, Sr.
We throw in Rittenour as our sleeper based on the fact he had the fastest 40 (4.55) at a Stanford Nike Camp that had the top defensive backs on the West Coast in action. Last year as a junior and top defensive player on his team he collected 90 tackles and one interception. His summer showing has peaked medium interest from schools like Cal, Colorado, Oregon State, Arizona and Washington plus others.  

DB Blair Wishom (De La Salle, Concord) 5-11, 190, Sr.
Wishom was one of the top performers at the Stanford Nike Camp this past summer. According to reports he showed up ready to make a name for himself and displayed excellent work ethic and a solidly built frame. Wishom displayed excellent footwork and hip movement through SPARQ and position drills. He likes UCLA, Cal and Arizona.

P Jackson Rice (Campolindo, Moraga) 6-0, 175, Sr.
Generally regarded as one of the Bay Area's top punters, Rice has committed to Oregon after also getting serious looks from LSU and Alabama.


Multi-Purpose

WR/DB Marcus Aldridge (Oakland) 6-4, 185, Sr.
A tall, athletic two-sport star who was one of the top performers on the NorCal Division I semifinal basketball team, Aldridge has reportedly attracted more than 30 scouts to the Oakland campus.

RB/LB LeRoy Green (California, San Ramon) 5-11, 185, Sr.
A talented and athletic two-way player, Green rushed for 830 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 12 passes on a team that spread the ball around. This year Green will be the main weapon and along with junior running back Ricky Davis (140 yards, one TD last season) the two should form one of the top backfields in the East Bay.

WR/DB Noah Perio (De La Salle, Concord) 5-11, 170, Sr.
A promising baseball player who impressed at the Area Code Games, this hard-hitting excellent cover man had three interceptions in the NCS 4A title game and will be part of what should be the strength of the Spartan defense, its secondary. On offense as a steady, consistent wide receiver that rarely drops a ball thrown his way, Perio is ranked No. 161 in the class of 2009 by ESPNU and received an excellent evaluation as a pass catcher.

QB/RB Blake Wayne (De La Salle, Concord) 5-9, 170, Sr.
So how good is Wayne as an option QB running the Spartans' offense? As a junior, all he did was cause head coach Bob Ladoucuer to use a two-man system with a returning senior (Mike MacGillivray) who started by himself the year before. Wayne had a TD pass and TD run in De La Salle's 38-31 win over Centennial of Corona in the CIF Division I state bowl game.

LB/RB Dave Wilkerson (Monte Vista, Danville) 6-1, 235, Jr.
Made honorable mention All-EBAL last year as a sophomore after getting 57 tackles and three sacks. After bulking up, Wilkerson will be used as fullback this year where he saw limited action last season.

RB/LB - Michael Meekins (St. Patrick-St. Vincent, Vallejo) 5-9, 180, Sr.
Meekins is the top returner on last year's NCS Class A runner-up. As a running back he rushed for 912 yards with 11 touchdowns. On defense from the middle linebacker position Meekins had 111 tackles. According to Coach Marlon Blanton (a three year starter at De La Salle in the 1990's) he's stronger and more mature this season, and being looked at by UC Davis, U. of San Diego and Sacramento State.

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