Some impressive talent adorns this year's All-East Bay preseason honor squad that includes players from the East Bay portion of the North Coast Section and the Oakland Section. The leader is De La Salle with four players selected. Make sure you follow us at twitter.com/calhisports as we'll do our best to give you live updates from the big games we attend all season long. You can also follow us on Facebook. Please join our Facebook group by CLICKING HERE

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

Note: These teams are based on honors from last season, showings at Nike football combines and camps plus information sent in from coaches. Many of the quoted statistics are from MaxPreps.com.

Offense

WR – Joey Andrada (Piedmont) 6-0, 195, Sr.
The leader in receiving, scoring and yards gained last year in the controversial A-11 offense of Highlanders' coaches Kurt Bryan and Steve Humphries had 40 receptions for 838 yards with 12 touchdowns. Speed could be a question but he showed excellent hands at the Nike Camp at Stanford and should be a major force in the Bay Shore League again this season

WR – George Atkinson (Granada, Livermore) 5-11, 175, Jr.
Although he rushed for 513 yards and a 7.77 yards per carry average with two TDs last season, on this team he plays wide receiver, just like he did at the Stanford Nike Camp. Last year the lightning-quick son of former Raiders' DB George Atkinson Sr. pulled in 16 balls for 265 yards and one touchdown. He also plays defensive back where he had one interception and for good measure he returns punts and kickoffs where he averaged over 22 yards per return on punts and 18 plus on kickoffs. At this year's CIF State Track Meet, Atkinson turned some heads when the sophomore at the time medaled with a 21.46 in the 200, which earned fourth place.

OL – Thomas Hickel (De La Salle, Concord) 6-3, 245, Sr.
One of the places the Spartans will be solid this year is on the line where this returning starter will anchor both sides of the ball. For this team, he plays offense. He showed good quickness and strength for his size at the Stanford Nike Camp.

OL – Daniel Marcel (Freedom, Oakley) 6-1, 270, Sr.
Marcel is another two-way player who gets the nod on the offensive line for this team after helping block last year for an explosive offense that accumulated almost 5,300 yards in a 2008-09 season that saw the Falcons end with a 10-2 record.

OL – Jerred Newberry (Antioch) 6-1, 265, Sr.
His uncle, NFL All-Pro Jeremy Newberry, is now helping coach at his alma mater and that can only make his nephew even better than he was last season when he impressed enough to be second team all Bay Valley League. This summer, he was the MVP lineman at the Cal Camp. He's also a pretty decent wrestler.

OL – Carrington Reyes (Heritage, Brentwood) 6-3, 275, Sr.
If the Patriots are to improve on their 7-5 record last year and emerge as a BVL power it has to start up front, and this big fella, who has several colleges offering, will return to anchor an O-line that got enough push to allow for 2,708 rushing yards last season.

OL – Freddy Tagaloa (Salesian, Richmond) 6-8, 285, Soph.
When this team was penned Tagaloa hadn't played a down of varsity football but already had an offer from Cal, and according to sources every major football power in the nation has its eye on him. And why not? He's athletic, strong, quick off the line and runs a sub-five 40. He impressed everyone as an integral part of the Pride's D4 state championship basketball team as a freshman last season. When he set a screen, opposing players froze in their tracks or wished they had. We think Freddy is ready for this team, and when all is said and done his name may be heard a lot. This year, the competition won't be very difficult as Salesian is once again in the questionable Bay Football League.

QB – Sean Mannion (Foothill, Pleasanton) 6-5, 205, Sr.
For those who say, wait a minute, what about Monte Vista's Brett Nottingham, we say, read on. Mannion, who comes from a quarterbacking family, threw for 2,608 yards and 28 touchdowns for the 9-3 Falcons, co-coached last year by Sean's dad John and Matt Sweeney. His performances last season have earned Mannion a full ride to Oregon State, which did not recruit another signal-caller from the 2010 class.

RB – Mario Brown (Bishop O'Dowd, Oakland) 5-10, 180, Sr.
There are some excellent returning ball carriers but none is better than this quick back. He can change directions very nicely and then re-accelerate. Last season Brown ran for 1,740 yards and 22 TDs last season for the 10-2 Dragons, who earned Coach Paul Perenon his 200th career victory. With CalHiSports.com on the sidelines last season for his coach's No. 200, Brown didn't have his most yardage on the season with 141 on 16 carries, but he did have his most productive day scoring, reaching paydirt four times.

RB – Forrest Hightower (Concord) 5-10, 175, Sr.
One of the big reasons the Minutemen were 7-3-1 and a factor in the Diablo Valley League was because of this back who averaged 9.8 yards per carry, rushing for 1,273 yards and 16 touchdowns. The all-around athletic speedster who runs a 4.41 in the 40 and is highly regarded by ESPNU College Football Recruiting already has offers from Wyoming and Arizona. He made the 25-player all-combine team at the May 2009 Oakland Nike Combine.

RB Patrone Wood (Ygnacio Valley, Concord) 5-10, 215, Sr.
His 2,145 yards and 23 touchdowns says it all for this big back who according to ESPNU College Football Recruiting, "has the size for the running back position at the major level of competition. However, this is a non speed guy who plays bigger than his measured size. A tough finisher who gets what's there due to his power style of running. Can punish and overpower tacklers at this level.” Even with Wood's running, though, the Warriors were only 7-5 last season.

Defense

DL – Fred Thompson (Oakland Tech) 6-4, 275, Sr.
He was the OAL lineman of the year last season and impressed Greg Biggins of ESPNRISE.com at the Oakland Nike Combine where he made the 25-player all-combine team. According to Biggins, Thompson is "one of the premier defensive tackles in the NorCal region.” He also impressed college coaches at the Stanford Nike Camp this summer.

DL – Travis Raciti (College Park, Pleasant Hill) 6-3, 225, Sr.
Two-way standout earned all-league honors at defensive end and tight end a year ago but after making the all-combine team at the Oakland Nike Combine in May on defense, he gets the nod as the defensive end on this squad.

DL – Charles Wynn (De La Salle, Concord) 6-2, 230, Jr.
A returning starter for Coach Bob Ladouceur and his almost always undersized line, Wynn gets it done with speed off the snap making it almost impossible to block him one-on-one. He's even bulked up around 15 pounds from last season and is getting looks from several Pac-10 and other major colleges already although only a junior. He will also line up alongside Hickel on the O-line.

LB – Abraham Amiri (Encinal, Alameda) 5-10, 185, Sr.
One of two top returnees for the 13-0 undefeated NCS Division III champion Jets had 127 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception and a forced fumble last season. He also rushed for 211 yards with four TDs on a mere 27 carries.

LB – James King (Miramonte, Orinda) 6-2, 215, Sr.
As a linebacker, King already has offers from UNLV, Army and Navy. He's also considered one of the top wide receivers in the East Bay as well.

LB – Blake Reynaud (De La Salle, Concord) 5-11, 205, Jr.
Another underclass returning Spartan starter that makes this team on defense, Reynaud will once again be looked upon by Coach Lad to help plug the holes and stop the running game, something he did very well last year. He was particularly impressive against Don Bosco Prep in a game the Spartans lost in the late going.

LB – Dave Wilkerson (Monte Vista, Danville) 6-2, 235, Sr.
A bone-crushing tackler who has committed to Cal, Wilkerson is generally regarded as one of the top linebackers coming into the season in Northern California. Last season he led the team in tackles and added two fumble recoveries, an interception, a sack and a forced fumble. According the ESPNU College Football Recruiting "he has the layered bulk, powerful base and lower-body that you look for in a college middle linebacker already. Overall size to remain productive and durable at the next level.” Wilkerson also rushed for 390 yards and eight touchdowns last year as the starting fullback.

DB – Tracy Clark (Pittsburg) 5-10, 175, Sr.
One of three returning starters for Coach Vic Galli to have multiple D1 college offers, this quick, hard-hitter will also see some time at wide receiver. Last season he recorded 40 tackles and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Over the summer he looked good at the Stanford Nike Camp

DB – Reggie Davis (California, San Ramon) 6-1, 185, Sr.
He impressed enough at the Oakland Nike Combine to make the 25-player all-combine team. Called a "shut-down corner” by combine coordinator and ESPN RISE football analyst Greg Biggins, Davis had six interceptions last season and already has offers from Utah and Washington State.

DB – Damonte Horton (Oakland) 5-10, 160, Sr.
This Washington State-committed cornerback made the all-combine team at Oakland as the one player out of 25 chosen in the "Athlete” category. According to ESPNU College Football Recruiting Horton "is a defensive back who may not wow you with size or speed measurables but he's savvy, competitive and just a good overall football player.” A versatile standout on both sides of the ball, Horton was recruited to WSU as a corner who could grow into a safety.

DB – Ryan Murphy (Oakland Tech) 5-11, 180, Sr.
ESPN RISE Deputy Editor and CalHiSports.com Executive Editor Mark Tennis called Murphy, "possibly the best discovery of the day,” at the Oakland Nike Combine where he made the all-combine team and also posted a 113.04 SPARQ Rating. Murphy was second team all-league in the OAL last season. He's bigger, stronger and faster and after his performance in Oakland he garnered an invite to the Stanford Nike Camp and impressed there as well.

Multi-Purpose

FB/LB Vince Buhagiar (Clayton Valley, Concord) 6-3, 240, Sr.
Speed is a question but size and strength are not for veteran coach Herc Pardi's top returning starter from last season's NCS Division II runner-up squad. Buhagiar rushed for 608 yards (7.33 average) and nine touchdowns and caught eight passes for 124 yards and an additional score. On defense, he had 78 tackles and two sacks.

WR/DB – DiAndre Campbell (Oakland Tech) 6-2, 175, Sr.
Campbell was a late addition to the team after being nominated by Jimmy Durkin of the Oakland Tribune. The Washington-committed wide receiver that also plays defensive back for Tech caught 22 passes for 212 yards and four touchdowns last season.

RB/DB – Erick Dargan (Pittsburg) 6-0, 205, Sr.
The top returnee and main cog in the offensive and defensive wheels for Coach Vic Galli impressed coaches and scouts enough at the Stanford Nike Camp to warrant offers from several schools including the Pac-10's Oregon, Oregon State and Washington. He's bigger, stronger and just as quick as last season when he rushed for 769 yards (7.7 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns, and made 72 tackles.

QB/DB – Tyrone Duckett (Encinal, Alameda) 6-2, 210, Sr.
The second of two top returning stars for the Jest is this big, strong athletic new signal-caller and hard-hitting defensive back. With Jonathan Brown graduated, Duckett gets the call at quarterback after playing running back last season where he rushed for 595 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had 126 yards receiving on only 10 catches with four of those going for scores. On defense, he recorded 69 tackles.

WR/DB – Robert Jiles (Pitt) 5-11, 195, Sr.
Another solid returning Pirate starter with D1 offers was very productive on offense last season and will be looked upon for more again this year on offense and defense. As a junior, he had 457 yards receiving with six touchdowns and rushed for 84 yards as well. On defense, he recorded 18 tackles.

QB/RB – Brett Nottingham (Monte Vista, Danville) 6-4, 208, Sr.
There are those who will say the UCLA-bound signal-caller should have been the QB on the offensive team but what those folks don't realize is being Multi-Purpose can sometimes be a bigger honor, and also allows us to get more players who are deserving mentioned. Nottingham, who was on the ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com All State Underclass Team, is reportedly bigger and even stronger than last season when he passed for 2,797 yards and 34 touchdowns. This season there's the threat of him running more often that last year when he gained 44 yards.

OL/DL – Tavita Taito (Deer Valley, Antioch) 6-1, 298, Soph.
He hasn't played a down of varsity football but he was the only sophomore to make the 25-player all-combine Team at Oakland where he impressed as an "athletic center type with excellent strength and quickness.” He also throws the discus, and far. We may hear more of this young man.

DE/TE – Sione Tupouata (Fremont, Oakland) 6-4, 240, Sr.
Last year's Defensive Player of the Year in the OAL is "the real deal” according to the Tribune's Durkin. For this team, he is multi-purpose since according to ESPN RISE's Biggins he is getting looks at both positions. He's extremely fast for a big man and at the Oakland Combine, where he made the all-combine team, he recorded a 106.80 SPARQ rating.

RB/DB Terron Williams-Ward (De La Salle, Concord) 5-8, 175, Sr.
This speedy and elusive running back is the top returnee in the defensive backfield for DLS as well. Last season, he was the second-leading rusher after gaining 708 yards on a mere 82 carries with 10 touchdowns. He only caught three balls last year but averaged nearly 24 yards a catch and already has a TD catch this year. At the CIF State Track Meet in Clovis last June, Terron ran the first leg of the Spartans' third-place finishing team in the 4 x 100 relay.

Other multi-purpose players of note

QB/RB – Charles Cobb (Oakland) 5-11, 175, Sr.
QB/DB – Kean Stancil (Amador Valley) 6-1, 180, Sr.

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