Oregon’s top high school football players: Meet the state’s best guards

Who are the top guards in Oregon high school football this season?

By René Ferrán, Mike Wilson, Bob Lundeberg, Mitchell Forde and Paul Valencia

Over the next week, we’ll be taking a position-by-position look at some of the top returning players in Oregon high school football. Our next list focuses on the offensive guards.

IMPORTANT NOTE: These lists were compiled early in the season and are based mostly on last year’s performances and what happened in the first few weeks of this season. Before the season ends, we will be highlighting many of the new stars who have emerged this fall.

There are hundreds of standout football players in Oregon and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know about any other players you think should be added! 

Devin Brooks (Clackamas) photo by Naji Saker   

Our complete high school football preview:

Breaking down every 6A, 5A, 4A team in the state

State leaders through Week 5:

Class 6A | Class 5A | Class 4A

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Imyas Aguilar, North Salem, senior

Aguilar is a gritty senior who made first-team all-NWOC West on the offensive line a season ago. Aguilar moves very well for his frame, putting his wrestling background to use. “He is such a good fit for us at guard and linebacker,” coach Jeff Flood said. “He’s another kid who has been a multi-year starter for us.”

Alex Armas, Sherwood, senior

Armas last season made the all-Pacific Conference first team on the offensive line and earned honorable mention on defense. “He has a great motor and works tirelessly,” Bowmen coach Mark Gribble said. 

Jarrett Armstrong, La Grande, senior

Armstrong was a two-way all-GOL first-team selection last fall and anchors a veteran group this season. “He’s not the biggest kid, but he’s an explosive athlete and hard-hitting football player,” coach Rich McIlmoil said. “He loves contact and is not afraid to get his nose into things.” 

Luke Bellamy, Santiam Christian, senior

Bellamy, a 5-foot-11, 205-pounder, made the 3A all-state honorable mention list last season at center and is a three-year starter for the Eagles who moved to guard this fall. “With his quickness, he makes us better at that position, and he has just run with it,” said first-year coach Justin Carley. “He just has a strong work ethic and does a lot of leading by example.”

Colby Biddix, Rainier, junior

Biddix last season was a 3A all-state honorable mention selection — one of four Columbians on the offensive line to receive all-state recognition and the only one back this season — from a unit that helped the team amass more than 2,700 rushing yards last fall. 

Devin Brooks, Clackamas, junior

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Brooks has received scholarship offers from most of the Pac-12 schools and Miami (led by former Oregon coach Mario Cristobal), among other schools. “Credit to him, because he’s put in the work to be in that position,” coach James Holan said. Brooks is ranked among the nation’s best guard prospects in the class of 2024 and has a feel-good success story about transforming his body to one college coaches can’t ignore. He was first-team all-Mt. Hood on offense last season as part of a front line that allowed the Cavaliers to steamroll most opponents.

Sam Diaz, Tillamook, senior 

Diaz is as a four-year starter, having been brought up late his freshman year to start on the offensive line, then helping the Cheesemakers make a run to the state quarterfinals. “Not sure where he’s going to wind up, but he’ll be a guy who will continue playing football after this year,” coach Kye Johnson said. 

Spencer Elliott, Summit, senior

An all-league pick on both sides of the ball as a junior, Elliott has bulked up to 240 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame. “That kid probably had the biggest growth I’ve seen from a sophomore to a junior,” Storm coach Spencer Hyatt said. “I coached him in the Les Schwab Bowl, and from the feedback I got, I think Spencer will be our breakout guy this year.”

Camden Ferguson, Lakeridge, senior

Ferguson is a three-year starter who earned 6A all-state honorable mention last fall for the Pacers. He has drawn interest from several small colleges in the Northwest. “A very savvy, smart player,” coach Spencer Phillips said.

David Fuiava, North Medford, senior

Rated the state’s No. 35 senior by 247Sports, Fuiava is a massive two-way lineman who has come into his own. Black Tornado coach Nathan Chin said Fuiava has matured after receiving first-team all-league and 6A all-state honorable mention honors as a junior. “He is really starting to figure out how to play the game in the trenches,” Chin said. “He has gone to a lot of camps, so his skill set has gotten better.”

Aiden Giles, Astoria, senior

Giles has a tireless work ethic, according to his coach. Plus, Giles has a great football IQ and will be at the point of attack. And because of his smarts, he will be like a coach on the field. “He’ll be able to help guys make sure they understand their assignments. He’s a key leader for us,” coach Howard Rub said.

Raegan Gowen, Crater, sophomore

Gowen stepped in as a starter at guard from Day 1 and earned second-team all-Midwestern honors as a freshman. Comets coach Berk Brown said he’ll become a two-way starter after spending the offseason dedicating himself to the weight room.

Kyan Hidde, St. Mary’s (Medford), senior

Hidde, a 6-2, 245-pounder, was a first-team all-Far West selection, anchoring a unit that powered the Crusaders’ run game last season (156 yards per game).

Mike Hiller, St. Paul, senior

As a junior, Hiller was a second-team all-state selection in helping lead the Buckaroos to yet another 1A semifinal appearance.

Dylan Howell, Barlow, junior

Howell was first-team all-Mt. Hood as a sophomore, one of two Bruins linemen to receive that honor last season after the team averaged 321 yards rushing per game.

Finn Irvine, Weston-McEwen, senior

Irvine was a first-team all-Blue Mountain and third-team 2A all-state selection for the TigerScots last season.

Izzy Jantes, Seaside, junior

Jantes was a two-way starter as a freshman and again as a sophomore. He earned all-league honors both seasons, too, and made the 4A all-state honorable mention list on offense last fall. He lived in the weight room this offseason, changing his body. Now, he will get to display a new physical force to go with the brilliant football IQ he has already shown. “He can play all five (offensive line) positions. He knows the offense inside and out,” coach Aaron Tanabe said. “He’s a tough, physical kid.” 

Jesse Jones-Nguyen, McMinnville, senior

Jones-Nguyen received all-Pacific second-team recognition on both sides of the ball last season, and coach Ty Tomlin raves that “he is going to be a stud lineman for us this year. He’s a tremendously hard-working kid and has put the time in the weight room this offseason.”

Kekoa Kahookaulana, Ashland, sophomore

Kahookaulana made the all-Midwestern honorable mention list as a freshman left guard. “He always works hard and always has a good attitude,” coach Beau Lehnerz said. “He’s a leader on and off the field and dedicated in the weight room.” 

Sean Khouri, Jesuit, senior

Khouri is a three-year starter up front. Crusaders coach Ken Potter called the first-team all-state pick “one of our best technicians on the offensive line. He will be very good for us.” Khouri is No. 47 in 247Sports’ state recruiting rankings.

Deakon Looney, Mountain View, junior

A second-team all-league pick on offense as a sophomore, Looney also is the captain of Mountain View’s defense at middle linebacker. Coach Brian Crum said Looney is aggressive and has a nose for the football. “He’s another kid who physically belonged as a sophomore but kind of struggled and is just a different football player this year,” Crum said.

Elijah Markowitz, Westview, senior

The Wildcats added the Liberty transfer over the offseason after he earned first-team all-Pacific honors as a junior.

Caleb Moran, Mazama, senior

Moran is the lone returning starter on Mazama's offensive line. As a junior, he received honorable mention all-Skyline at guard. Vikings coach Vic Lease is counting upon Moran to be a leader for the offensive line group. 

Logan Proffitt, Powder Valley, senior

Profitt last season was a first-team all-state selection on the offensive line for the Badgers. He worked on his speed during the offseason, with coach Josh Cobb describing how he wore a weight vest every day while moving irrigation water. His summer efforts resulted in him becoming a two-way starter this season. 

Jackson Sager, Westview, senior

Sager earned second-team all-Metro honors on the offensive line last season. “Jackson has been a big part of our success on the offensive line,” coach Ryan Atkinson said. “He is a team-first guy and always gives his best effort.” 

Sam Schaffers, Silverton, senior

A big-bodied senior, Schaffers made an immediate impression on first-year coach Dan Lever. Schaffers was a star performer during the offseason and is the anchor of Silverton’s offensive line. “He is an absolute road grader,” Lever said. “He’s very physical and has really good feet. We’re really going to lean on him in short-yardage situations.” 

Jackson Stiles, Mountainside, senior

Stiles took over at center last season for the Mavericks and made the all-Metro third team. He moved this season to guard and hasn’t missed a beat. “He has really progressed nicely and become a great leader,” coach John Mannion said. 

Matt Studer, Tigard, senior

Studer took over one of the starting jobs as an offensive guard last season and made the all-TRL second team. “He’s a big body who’ll be hard to move out of there,” Tigers coach John Kemper said. 

Kamalu Swift, Camas Valley, senior

Swift last season was an all-state 1A second-team selection on both sides of the ball, being named the state lineman of the year. The College of the Siskiyous in Weed, Calif., brought him in for a visit in April. “Malu plays with a high motor and a lot of intensity,” coach Keri Ewing said. “He is what every coach wants in a lineman — fierce and competitive, yet a leader who will slow things down to help out the freshmen and sophomores.” 

Andrew Turner, Estacada, senior

One of four returning starters on the offensive line, Turner has impressive mobility to go with his size. “He’s just a super quick, athletic linebacker type kid,” Rangers coach Andy Mott said.

Luke Wolgamott, Elmira, senior

Wolgamott was a second-team all-Sky Em selection for the Falcons last season. He tore an ACL at team camp in the summer but is being recruited by Willamette University. “He is working hard to recover and be able to play next season in college,” coach Justin Peeler said. 

Ryan Yakovich, Sheldon, senior

At 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, Yakovich has slimmed down a bit after making the all-Southwest second team last fall. “He’s as good of a player as we’ve had,” Irish coach Josh Line said. “A lot of our kids have concentrated on having good weight instead of weight, and I think that’s been good for him. His feet have improved a bunch.” 

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Our complete high school football preview:

Breaking down every 6A, 5A, 4A team in the state

State leaders through Week 5:

Class 6A | Class 5A | Class 4A