All-Central Section high school football team: Meet SBLive's 2023 all-star selections

Here is the 40 best from the Central Section as picked by longtime CS scribe, coach, journalist, broadcaster Paul Meadors

The football season is over and ‘tis the season for postseason awards. The following All-Stars (not a traditional team) not only put up amazing numbers but led their schools to impressive seasons.

Below you’ll find the top players in the Central Section (totaling 112 total schools) and their accomplishments in 2023. They are section champs, state champs, state leaders, college bound players and many players who have played their final football game.

The best of the best, we salute you.

Player of the Year

Bryson Donelson, Sr., Central Valley Christian, RB

Led the 15-1 Cavaliers to a D2 Central Section title and a CIF State D-2A title with a state leading 3,297 rushing yards and 58 total touchdowns. Added 645 receiving yards and 10 TDs and also served as the team’s punter. Heading to Fresno State, the 6-foot, 205 pounder shined the brightest on the big stage when he rushed for 202 yards and three TDs with 91 receiving yards and a TD in the 45-42 state championship win over Los Gatos. His regional final was even better, rushing 26 times for 358 yards and three touchdowns in a 58-38 win over Simi Valley. 

Byrson Donelson led the state with 58 total touchdowns / Photo by Richard Posada

Offensive Player of the Year

Jackson Cinfel, Jr., Clovis North, RB

A major reason the Broncos won the D1 section title and started the year 13-0. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound junior, who can bench press 330 pounds, ran for 1,904 yards and 17 TDs for the section’s top team.

Jackson Cinfel (21), Clovis North / Photo: Dennis Lee

Defensive Player of the Year

Tytus Khjavi, Sr., Clovis West, LB

Recorded 108 total tackles, 31 TFL, 16.5 sacks, four caused fumbles and a blocked field goal. Also added two rushing scores and played fullback. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker, like Donelson, is headed to Fresno State.

Tytus Khjavi (3), Clovis West / Photo: Dennis Lee

The All-Stars (alphabetical)

Brison Abbott, Jr., Bakersfield, RB

One of only four Central Section running backs with over 2,000 yards, the junior finished with 2,152 yards and 23 TDs.

A.J. Anderson, Sr., Tehachapi, RB/CB

Helped the Warriors to an 11-0 start with 1,260 yards and 12 TDs on the ground and 52 total tackles on defense.

Hunter Babb, Sr., Caruthers, RB

The No. 2 rusher in the state (behind Bryson Donelson’s 3,297) with 3,245 yards and 45 TDs in only 11 games. The 5-foot-9, 180 lbs senior contributed 70% of his team’s yards from scrimmage (3,460 of 4,957).

Davit Boyajyan, Sr., Clovis North, OL

At 6 feet 6 inches and 305 pounds, Boyajvan paved the way for a rushing attack that averaged 295 yards per game. The Washington commit did not allow a sack all season.

Jordan Crisp, So., Tulare, QB

The sophomore led the state with 4,288 passing yards and was No. 2 in passing TDs with 48.

Mekhi Delouth, Sr., Liberty, RB/LB

Rushed for 1,181 yards and 18 TDs and was third on the team with 56 tackles as a linebacker.

Kado Felder, Sr., Washington Union, LB

The Tri-County Defensive Player of the Year led the section with 160 total tackles and 28 TFL.

Kordey Glass, Jr., Hanford, RB/DB

Rushed for 567 yards and 16 TDs with 387 receiving yards and six scores. Added 14 solo tackles, five sacks and three INTs for the West Yosemite undefeated (5-0) champs.

Kobe Green, Sr., Lemoore, DB/RB

The athletic defensive back intercepted nine passes with 40 tackles and registered 506 receiving yards and four TDs.

Braylon Hall, Sr., Central, WR

The Tri-River Conference Player of the Year caught 83 passes for 1,372 yards and 17 TDs. Added 17 solo tackles on defense.

Tyler Hughes, Sr., Central Valley Christian, OL

The Tri-County Conference Lineman of the Year created running lanes on the right side of the line for POY Bryson Donelson.

Kenny Jackson, SR, Mission Oak, RB/WR

The versatile player for the D3 Central Section champs and CIF State D-4A runners up rushed for 783 yards and seven TDs and caught 53 passes for 749 yards and eight more scores. '

Brent Kroeze, Sr., Central Valley Christian, QB

Passed for 2,989 yards with 38 TDs and shined in the CIF D-2A title game by completing 22 of 29 attempts for 249 yards and three TDs.

Noah Luginbill, Sr., Clovis, LB/RB

The career tackle leader at Clovis totaled 114 tackles, 15 TFL, three interceptions and added 595 rushing yards and eight TDs.

McKay Madsen, Jr., Clovis North, LB/RB,

The best two-way player in the section rushed for 995 yards, 18 TDs, averaging 8.3 per carry and registered 69 tackles and three interceptions at linebacker. Ran for 108 yards and three TDs on only six carries in the Central Section D1 24-14 title win over Central.

Tyus Miller, Jr., Clovis East, QB

A major reason the Timberwolves won their first playoff game since 2008, the 3-year starter passed for 3,503 yards and 43 TDs and rushed for 612 yards and five scores.

Tommy Nix, Sr., Clovis East, WR/DB

Starred on both sides of the ball and registered 1,313 receiving yards with 17 TDs. On defense, totaled 72 tackles and five interceptions at defensive back.

Jacob Poole, Sr., Strathmore, RB

Did not play in the state title game due to injuries but rushed for 1,709 yards with 22 TDs and caught four touchdown passes with 310 yards for the CIF D-7A champs.

Israel Robles, Sr., Sanger, RB

Rushed for 1,758 yards and 28 TDs to help Sanger go undefeated (5-0) in league and the No. 5 seed in the D1 playoffs.

Deagen Rose, So., Clovis, QB

Already holding multiple D1 college offers, the sophomore passed for 2,894 yards and 24 TDs and added 14 rushing scores.

Malakhi Statler, Sr., Frontier, QB

Passed for 2,734 yards and 33 TDs to help lead the Titans to a 10-0 regular season.

Landon Wright, Sr., Clovis West, WR

The Washington State commit caught 66 passes and a section-leading 1,406 yards with 15 TDs. Also scored on an 86 yard kickoff return.

Honorable Mention

• Tanner Wilson, Jr., Sunnyside, QB

• Daniel Gonzalez, Sr., Mission Oak, QB

• Jerod “Bubba” Smith, Jr., Fowler, QB

• Daniel Gomez, Jr., Hanford, QB

• David Marquez, Sr., Central, QB

• Caleb Mathrews, Jr., Justin Garza, QB

• Tyler Patrick, Sr., Clovis West, QB

• Carter Vargas, Sr., St. Joseph, RB

• Gunnar Piepgrass, Jr., Central Valley Christian, WR

• Harold Duvall, Jr., Clovis East, WR

• Jeremy Young, Sr., Roosevelt, WR

• Brayden Stevenson, So., Tulare, WR

• Brayden Bitter, Sr., Clovis North, DE/TE

• Connor Warkentin, Sr., Centennial, DE

• Marquis Cropper, Sr., Sanger, DB