LA Wave Football Players to Watch

Chandler Leniu, St. John Bosco, 6-1, 230, LB, Sr.

The All-Trinity League linebacker posted 157 tackles, 111 of them solos, a year ago. He also had 2.5 sacks and an interception. Fresno State, Nevada, San Jose State and Washington State among those offering already.

Uriah Leitaua, Dominguez, 6-3, 245, DE, Sr.

Wisconsin, BYU and Washington State are among those offering this talented defensive player.

Manoah Pearson, Carson, 6-0, 225, LB, Sr.

The All-City linebacker will lead the way for the Colt defense. Colorado State has made the first offer to Pearson.

Damien Mama, St. John Bosco, 6-5, 360, OL, Sr.

The four-star recruit will anchor the offensive line at St. John Bosco. USC, UCLA, Alabama, Ohio State and Notre Dame are some of those who made offers.

 Link

Preseason FB: 2013 All-State teams

First Team
WR — John “JuJu” Smith (Long Beach Poly, Long Beach) 6-1, 180, Sr.
TE — Tyler Luatua (La Mirada) 6-4, 230, Sr.
OL — Kemmy Delp (Diamond Ranch, Pomona) 6-4, 305, Sr.
OL — Toa Lobendahn (La Habra) 6-5, 295, Sr.
OL — Damien Mama (St. John Bosco, Bellflower) 6-5, 350, Sr.
DL — Nifae Lealao (Capital Christian, Sacramento) 6-5, 245, Sr.
DL — Ngalu Tapa (Luther Burbank, Sacramento) 6-3, 275, Sr.
DL — Ainuu Taua (Lompoc) 6-1, 285, Sr.
LB — Chandler Leniu (St. John Bosco, Bellflower) 6-0, 220, Sr.
DB — Alijah Holder (Oceanside) 6-1, 170, Sr.
LB/DL/FB — Manoah Pearson (Carson) 6-1, 225 Sr.
RB/DB — Das Tautalatasi (De La Salle, Concord) 6-0, 175, Sr.

Second Team
OL — Tico Fuga (Edison, Huntington Beach) 6-4, 330, Sr.
OL — Viane Talamaivao (Centennial, Corona) 6-4, 315, Sr.
LB — Ricky Liuchan (Mission Hills, San Marcos) 6-2, 200, Sr.
WR/RB/DB — Koa Farmer (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks) 6-1, 195, Sr.

Preseason FB: All-San Gabriel Valley

First Team
TE Tyler Luatua (La Mirada) 6-4, 230, Sr.
Our No. 1 TE prospect in the state he has been invited to play in the Under Armour All-American game at the end of the season. The elite TE has offers from all the big-time schools, including Alabama, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

OL Kammy Delp (Diamond Ranch, Pomona) 6-4, 305, Sr.
At the Laney College Nike camp back in May, Delp was outstanding in every drill and had that drive to get as many reps as possible in the 1-on-1 duels. He ended up being named Offensive Line MVP at the camp, which has given him a boost in all of the various prospect rankings.

OL Nofo Ti’i (La Mirada) 6-3, 305, Sr.
On a team loaded with D1 talent, he is one of several that have yet to decide on a school and will be a key part of opening up big holes for the running game along with fellow first-team honoree Michael Trani.

QB/RB Koa Haynes (Bishop Amat, La Puente) 6-2, 175, Sr.
He was pushed into playing a game or two as a sophomore but he shined last season after taking over for the graduated Rio Ruiz. Haynes passed for 2,413 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 300 yards and six scores. He was named at the 2012 Tribune All-Area Offensive Player of the Year.

Link

Sacramento area preps players to watch

Top Linemen
• Nifae Lealao, Capital Christian, 6-5, 285: Quick on his feet, the strong defensive end has the sort of grades that has Stanford blowing up his phone.
• Ngalu Tapa, Burbank, 6-3, 295: A defensive tackle with size and strength, Tapa aims to improve on the 23 1/2 sacks he recorded in 2012 despite double teams.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/08/29/5689910/preps-players-to-watch.html#storylink=cpy

 

 

UT Preps: Week 1: Five players to watch

NOAH TAELE
El Camino
Sr. | OL-DL | 6-0, 300
Storyline: El Camino coach Pulu Poumele, an All-San Diego Section offensive lineman at Oceanside who went on to play at Arizona and for the Browns, Ravens and Chargers in the NFL, calls Taele “the best guard in the county.” Despite his massive size, Taele — a three-year varsity starter — has the ability to pull from his left guard slot, leading sweeps and hammering defensive backs on screens. Taele hasn’t played defense since his freshman year, but he’ll go both ways this season, playing on the defensive line. “This is my senior season, and I asked the coaches if I could be on the field as much as possible,” Taele said. “We have a new offense. And I think we have a chance to move the ball. I want to help get the ball back to the offense.”
Key stat: The Wildcats went 7-5 last season and scored 312 points, topping 30 six times. Fullback Justin Williams had an all-section year running behind Taele, who was honored as a first-team all-league selection. El Camino, which has seven home games this season, including the first four, opens the season hosting Granite Hills.
Quotable: “The backs get the credit on the field for the yards they gain, and I’m OK with that,” Taele said. “The linemen get credit in the film room, in front of the team, and that’s fine with me.”

Link

Preseason FB: All-Northern Section

Second Team
OL/DL Johnny Kealiinohomoku (Shasta, Redding) 6-4, 250, Sr.

Link

LA Daily News: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Top players by position

Running Back
6. Okalani Langi, Alemany, Jr.

Offensive Linemen
9. Sione Taufahema, Alemany, Sr.

Defensive Linemen
5. Tyrone Fa’anono, Oaks Christian, Sr.

7. Alex Manu, Birmingham, Sr.
10. Charlie Koka, Birmingham, Sr. 

Defensive Back
4. Koa Farmer, Notre Dame, Sr.

Link

DAILY NEWS PRESEASON ALL-AREA FOOTBALL TEAM

DL – Vaimoe Sekona, Crespi, Jr.: Already has an early offer from Hawaii. A 6-3, 280-pound four-star recruit, Sekona should get better and better, according to coach Troy Thomas.

DB – Koa Farmer, Notre Dame, Sr.: Also a productive receiver with 28 catches, Farmer, an All-Serra League returnee, has commited to Cal over UCLA and Utah.

Link

Preseason FB: All-East Bay

First Team
LB Noah Palega (Pittsburg) 5-8, 190, Jr.
The All State Sophomore selection has a nose for the football and proved it last season after finishing second on the team with 60 tackles.

WR/DB Atu Ohuafi (Kennedy, Fremont) 6-4, 175, Sr.
This two-way player was one of the best in the Mission Valley Athletic League. As a wideout, he had 31 catches for 771 yards and nine TDs, statistically second best among NCS 11-man team wide receivers. Because of his speed and size, he plays strong safety on defense.

RB/DB Dasmond Tuatalatasi (De La Salle, Concord) 6-1, 190, Sr.
In order to get one position player and very deserving Harris Ross of Pittsburg on the first team at running back, we put Das on as multi-purpose despite his 1,034 yards (six TDs) in 15 games being 123 yards greater than Ross’s yards rushing in nine games. As a defensive back, Das had 40 tackles, two interceptions, a sack, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

 Second Team
OL/DL Boss Tagaloa (De La Salle, Concord) 6-2, 286, So.

Link

East Ascension RB Sione Palelei commits to LSU

By Robin Fambrough

Advocate sportswriter

August 27, 2013

0 Comments

Taking the ball and running with it is an obvious forte for East Ascension High School running back Sione Palelei. So when the EAHS senior-to-be got a scholarship offer from LSU on the final day of the Tigers’ football camp, Palelei did what he normally does — he ran with it.
Palelei committed to the Tigers early Wednesday afternoon after meeting with LSU coach Les Miles and running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson.
“It’s a great feeling,” Palelei said. “(The LSU offer) was the offer I was waiting for. First, we (Palelei and his parents, Matthew and Ilaisaane) met with (Wilson) and then we went in to meet with coach Miles.
“This takes a lot of the pressure off. Now I feel like I can go out and enjoy my senior year.”
The Tigers are one of 14 schools who have offered Palelei. He is the 13th 2014 commitment for LSU. As a junior, the 5-foot-9, 200-pound running back tallied 828 rushing yards on 111 carries with 13 touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 283 yards and three TDs for the Spartans.
Palelei turned heads by running the 40-yard dash in less than 4.5 seconds at the LSU camp. Other schools that previously offered Palelei included Arkansas, Brigham Young, Utah, Georgia Tech, Hawaii, Louisiana Tech, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Southern Mississippi and Washington State. Palelei is listed as Louisiana’s No. 27 prospect for 2013, according to rivals.com.
It briefly looked like two local players had committed to LSU in Palelei and Plaquemine High defensive lineman Davon Godchaux, who was offered a scholarship last month.
Some media outlets reported the 6-4, 265-pound Godchaux also had committed, but Godchaux refuted those reports. Godchaux also said he is set to leave Thursday for a West Coast trip that will give him the chance to visit USC and UCLA.
“No, I didn’t commit (Wednesday,” said Godchaux, who said he remains in communication with the LSU coaches. “As of now, I’m still planning to wait until Dec. 28 to commit. That could change, but as of now that’s the plan.”
East Ascension coach Paul Bourgeois said he was elated by the news of Palelei’s commitment. Former All-American lineman Glenn Dorsey, now of the San Francisco 49ers, was the last EAHS player to achieve star status at LSU.
“It couldn’t happen to a nicer young man,” Bourgeois said. “I think every kid who grows up in this area wants to go to LSU. He’s a guy who has worked hard every day and to see him get this kind of opportunity means a lot for him and certainly our program.”

Link

Rancho Cucamonga standout Unga comes from a long line of D1 players

Older brother Metuisela (Fresno State) played in the 2012 Polynesian All American Bowl.

By Michelle Gardner, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> Chris Unga didn’t have a choice but to excel in football. He comes from a long line of brothers who have starred in the sport. Being the youngest means he took the brunt of the punishment growing up when the siblings would play football or wrestle around in the backyard. It has paid off.
Unga, a 6-foot, 265-pound senior defensive tackle. is expected to star for the Rancho Cucamonga Cougars who will be attempting to dethrone defending champion Upland for Baseline League supremacy. The Cougars open the regular season with a nonleague game on Friday at Redlands High School.
Like his brothers before him, Chris is drawing considerable interest from Division I schools.
“It was kind of a tough love thing. It was kind of exciting being the youngest,” Unga said, before an afternoon practice. “My brothers were tough on me but it got me to the stage I am at today. They toughened me up.”
Not only have Unga’s brothers excelled, they have done so at the highest collegiate level. Oldest brother Paul, currently an assistant football coach at Chaffey College, played at Mt. SAC and went on to Arizona State. Then there are twins Feti and Uani who are at Oregon State and Brigham Young respectively, And there’s Tui at Fresno State.
Joe, a 6-foot-8, 320-pound tackle, played at Division II Midwestern State and is in training camp with the Baltimore Ravens.

Continue 

Diamond Ranch’s Kammy Delp lining up his future

By Clay Fowler, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Posted: 08/27/13, 7:50 PM PDT |

POMONA >> Roddy Layton fondly recalls his conversation with Charles Brown.
The Diamond Ranch High School football coach advised one of his prized prospects not to base his college decision on who was promising him he could play tight end instead of offensive line. Nine years later Brown has won the New Orleans Saints starting left tackle job in training camp. It’s probably safe to say he’s playing the right position.
Kammy Delp, a senior this season at Diamond Ranch, has accepted his role in similar fashion. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound lineman will play on both sides of the ball, but has submitted to the fact that offensive line is his future.

Continue

San Diego Section: North players to watch

David Faatuiese / Vista / LB / Jr. / 6-3, 220 / Team’s top tackler
Alijah Holder / Oceanside / DB / Sr. / 6-1, 165 / Stanford commitment
Micah Holder / Oceanside / WR / Sr. / 6-0, 160 / SDSU commitment
Ricky Liuchan / Mission Hills / LB / Sr. / 6-2, 210 / Pac-12 offers
Noah Taele / El Camino / OL / Sr. / 6-2, 275 / Best guard in county
Xavier Ulutu / Cathedral / LB / Sr. / 6-0, 215 / Several Division I offers

Link

San Diego Section: City players to watch

David Moa / Kearny / OL / Sr. / 6-3, 265 / Recruited by many colleges

Preseason FB: All-Orange County

First Team

OL — Toa Lobendahn (La Habra) 6-3, 293, Sr.
Committed to USC, he was selected for Nike’s The Opening and was named to its All-Opening team during a busy off season after playing at Lakewood last season. He was our No. 3 player in our Top 25 O-Line state prospects rankings.

DL — Tico Fuga (Edison, Huntington Beach) 6-2, 330, Sr.
Very strong nose guard prospect who can anchor a 3-4 alignment also is quick enough on offense at 330 pounds to start at guard for head coach Dave White. Fuga has committed to BYU.

QB/WR — Neil Pau’u (Servite, Anaheim) 6-4, 190, Sr.
Throwing passes or catching passes, the new Friars’ coaching staff will want the ball in Neil’s hands in his final season before he will join his older brother Butch at BYU. He committed to the Cougars before last season.

Second Team
DE Aisea Tongivala (Lutheran, Orange) Sr.

Link

Preseason All-San Fernando Valley (CalHiSports)

First Team
OL Christian Blas-Reed (Canyon, Canyon Country) 5-11, 269, Sr.
An All-Foothill League First Team selection, Reed was a big reason Canyon lit up the scoreboards last year and had 5,585 total yards. His protection and blocking should ensure that teams will have trouble keeping Canyon’s offense from carving up the field.

WR/DB Koa Farmer (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks) 6-1, 195, Sr.
The Cal-bound Farmer is ranked in the Top 10 of our Top 25 WR Prospects but also has a bright future in the secondary. After a solid junior year (28 catches, 502 yards, four TDs), expect him to have a bigger role filling the void of graduated senior Khalfani Muhammad.


http://www.calhisports.com/2013/08/18/preseason-all-san-fernando-valley/

All-L.A. City Section (CalHiSports)

First Team
OL — Alex Manu (Birmingham, Van Nuys) 6-1, 280, Sr.
He developed into an overpowering run blocker last season for a 9-3 team and fits best on this team as a tackle, although he spends most of his time at right guard. Manu overpowers defenders with a good motor and is also an excellent seal blocker. Manu is a returning all-L.A. City Division I choice on defense, where he racked up 23 total tackles and was named West Valley Defensive Lineman of the Year.
  
NG — David Lemoto (Canoga Park) 6-1, 270, Sr.
One of the state’s top 25 defensive line prospects, Lemoto has already picked up offers from Wyoming and New Mexico. If he starts strong in his senior season, look for more offers to roll in. He was selected first team all-Los Angeles City Section Division II defense as a junior and anchors the middle on this team.

DE — Manu Enesi (Carson) 6-0, 235, Jr.
An all-state sophomore honorable mention for the Colts last season, Enesi has grown an inch and gained 20 pounds since his sophomore season. He projects as a college outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, but Enesi does most of his damage for the Colts at end in a 4-3 scheme. Since this team also employs a 3-4, he fits best for this honors’ team at his most comfortable position. Enesi was the only sophomore position player named to the first or second all-Los Angeles City Section team in 2012.

LB — Manoah Pearson (Carson) 6-1, 220, Sr.
A cinch pick for this team as the only Cal-Hi Sports first team all-state underclass pick from the L.A. City, Pearson is one of the most versatile players in the section. He also has the ability to play inside or outside linebacker, defensive end or fullback. His leadership will be key for a Colts’ program with its third coach in three years with the talent to beat Narbonne (which has beaten Carson four times the past two seasons) for the Marine League crown. As a junior, he was in on 147 tackles, one interception and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

Second Team
DT — Shalom Tupua (Carson) 6-0, 280, Sr.

http://www.calhisports.com/2013/08/16/preseason-fb-all-l-a-city-section/

All-Redwood Empire (CalHiSports)

First Team

LB Tanoa Peleti (Rancho Cotate, Rohnert Park) 6-0, 215, Sr.
He’s probably going to be the horse at both linebacker and running back for head coach Ed Conroy, but based on the coach’s analysis he feels defense is more Peleti’s forte. Last year, he had 98 tackles and three sacks.

QB/DB JaJuan Lawson (Casa Grande, Petaluma) 6-1, 190, Sr.
Last season, he passed for 1,860 yards and 17 TDs and rushed for 550 yards and eight more scores. Over the summer and particularly at the Sacramento State Camp, the highly regarded D1 prospect with five current offers looked just as good at defensive back as he was under center.


http://www.calhisports.com/2013/08/15/preseason-fb-all-redwood-empire/