SBLive Oregon’s top athletes of 2022-23: Meet the football stars

Looking back at some of the best high school athletes of the 2022-23 school year

By René Ferrán | Photo by Leon Neuschwander 

The high school sports season has wrapped up in Oregon, so SBLive Oregon is looking back at some of the best high school athletes of 2022-23.

Over the next week, we'll be highlighting some of the top players in all classifications in volleyball, soccer, football, basketball, softball and baseball.

Here is the SBLive Oregon all-state football team. 

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First team

Offense

QB Sam Leavitt, West Linn, senior

Leavitt transferred from Westview for his senior season to set himself up for future success. He led the Lions to the OSAA 6A state title, completing 69.1% of his passes (168 of 243) for 3,065 yards and 36 touchdowns with five interceptions, while also showing off improved mobility (713 yards and eight touchdowns on 81 carries). He earned 6A offensive player of the year and Gatorade player of the year honors, parlaying his big season to a full-ride scholarship at Michigan State. 

RB Jordan Fisher, Westview, senior

Fisher was part of an offensive triumvirate juggernaut in his junior season, but with Leavitt’s departure and Darrius Clemons’ graduation, he was left to carry the Wildcats’ offense — and the UC Davis commit delivered with one of the best seasons ever by an Oregon prep running back. He ran for 2,972 yards (fourth in state history and No. 2 in 6A) and 40 touchdowns on 333 carries, capping his season with a career-high 417 yards and five touchdowns in leading Westview to the inaugural Columbia Cup championship.

RB Payton Roth, Jesuit, senior

Another year, another dominant season by a Crusaders running back. This time, it was Roth who took on lead back duties in longtime coach Ken Potter’s offense, rushing for 1,947 yards and 23 touchdowns on 199 carries. He received 6A first-team all-state recognition and led Jesuit to the state quarterfinals.

RB Sam Stephens, Summit, junior

Stephens teased at his potential during the Storm’s regular season, but it was during their postseason run to the 5A state title that the first-team all-state selection truly shined — nearly matching in four games (668 yards and six touchdowns on 98 carries, including a 235-yard performance in the final against Wilsonville) his production during their first nine games (847 yards and 13 touchdowns on 141 carries). 

WR Mark Hamper, West Linn, senior

Hamper was a two-way dynamo for the Lions the past two seasons, with he and Leavitt forming an instant connection that paid huge dividends during their 6A championship season. The University of Idaho signee was a first-team all-state selection after catching 72 passes for 1,434 yards and 19 touchdowns.

WR Cooper Hiday, Wilsonville, senior

Hiday was one of 5A’s top receivers, catching 56 passes for 1,170 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Wildcats in helping them advance to the state championship game and earning first-team all-state honors. He’ll join Hamper with the Vandals next season.

WR Andrew Walker, South Medford, senior

Walker showed last fall that he’s more than just a speedster. The reigning 6A state champion in the 100 and 200 meters made the all-state first team and earned a preferred walk-on opportunity with the University of Oregon after catching 53 passes for 752 yards and 10 touchdowns.

TE Luke Leighton, Sheldon, senior

Leighton was an offensive force who helped the Irish reach the 6A championship game, catching 40 passes for 711 yards and 10 touchdowns in earning first-team all-state recognition and a preferred walk-on spot with Washington State.

Flex Drew Rodriguez, Sprague, senior

Rodriguez cemented his status as one of the state’s top two-way players with a senior season in which the Colorado State signee earned first-team 6A all-state recognition on both sides of the ball. He caught 38 passes for 731 yards and 11 touchdowns to help the Olympians advance to the Columbia Cup quarterfinals.

C Roice Cleeland, Jesuit, senior

Since transferring from Skyview of Vancouver after his sophomore season, Cleeland locked down the middle of the Crusaders’ “Franchise” offensive line. After earning first-team 6A all-state honors last fall, he’ll follow in father Cam’s footsteps and head to Montlake to play for the University of Washington as a preferred walk-on.

OL Spencer Elliott, Summit, senior

Elliott was the state’s top two-way lineman regardless of classification, not only winning 5A defensive player of the year honors but also making the all-state first team on the offensive line for a Storm offense that averaged 36.2 points per game en route to winning the 5A title.

OL Sean Khouri, Jesuit, senior

Khouri is a two-time 6A all-state first-team selection who manned one of the guard positions alongside Cleeland the past two seasons. He has received an offer to play at the Air Force Academy.

OL Eric Murtagh, West Linn, senior

Murtagh’s improvement from a rotation lineman to a 6A first-team all-state selection and leader of the offensive line played a critical role in the Lions’ state championship. He will play at Linfield next fall.

OL Cody White, Estacada, senior

The Rangers’ path to their first 4A state championship was paved by a unit of road graders led by White, a first-team all-state selection at right tackle who dominated opponents all season and accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Oregon State.

Defense

DE Richie Anderson, Tualatin, senior

Anderson was a dominant force on the edge for the Timberwolves the past two seasons, earning Three Rivers defensive lineman of the year and first-team 6A all-state honors after finishing the season with 57 tackles (20 for loss) and 14 sacks for the state semifinalists. He signed with Fresno State to play tight end.

DE Teitum Tuioti, Sheldon, senior

The 6A defensive player of the year made the most of his only season in the Willamette Valley after transferring from Lincoln, Neb., after his father, Tony, took the job as defensive line coach at the University of Oregon. Teitum will join Tony at Autzen Stadium after making 84 tackles (30 for loss) and 13 sacks for the 6A finalist.

DT Spencer Elliott, Summit, senior

The Portland State signee and 5A defensive player of the year controlled the middle of the line for the state champion Storm, finishing with 66 tackles (27½ for loss), 12½ sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception.

DT Josh Merriman, Sheldon, senior

Merriman was the inside half of the Irish’s dominant duo up front, earning 6A second-team all-state honors after making 72 tackles (21 for loss), 6½ sacks and five forced fumbles in helping them reach the state final.

LB Earl Ingle, West Linn, senior

The two-time 6A first-team all-state selection didn’t post huge tackle numbers but was a big-play machine for the state champion Lions. He signed with Colorado School of Mines in February.

LB Carter Nelson, Summit, senior

On a defense full of standouts, Nelson led the way with 127 tackles in making the 5A all-state first team and helping Summit win the state championship.

LB Garrett Speer, Jesuit, senior

Speer earned Metro League defensive player of the year honors and was a first-team 6A all-state selection as a versatile linebacker equally proficient rushing the passer and dropping into coverage for the Crusaders.

LB Ben Winjum, West Linn, senior 

Winjum and Ingle were bookends in the Lions linebacking corps the past two seasons, sharing Three Rivers League defensive player of the year honors and earning first-team 6A all-state recognition. Winjum was the team’s leading tackler in the state semifinals against Central Catholic and final against Sheldon, finishing with nine tackles in each game and making three tackles for loss.

Flex Vaun Halstead, Thurston, senior

Halstead was one of the top linebackers in the state the past two seasons, finishing his senior year with 97 tackles (19½ for loss) and five sacks in leading the Colts to the 5A semifinals and receiving first-team all-state recognition. The two-time state wrestling champion signed with Pac-12 champion Oregon State over the winter.

CB Jace Burton, Jesuit, junior

The son of former Portland State coach and current Pac-12 Network analyst and Jesuit defensive coordinator Nigel Burton has developed into one of the state’s top lockdown cornerbacks, getting selected to the 6A all-state first team last fall.

CB Demarcus Houston, West Albany, senior

The Portland State signee made the 5A all-state first team as opponents learned quickly not to throw to his side of the field. He finished with 28 tackles (two for loss) and an interception.

S Drew Rodriguez, Sprague, senior

Rodriguez will move to linebacker at Colorado State. The first-team 6A all-state selection had a stellar senior season for the Olympians with 62 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

S Darien Witham, Thurston, senior

A two-time 5A first-team all-state selection for the Colts, Witham had 46 tackles (3½ for loss), two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and an interception for the state semifinalists.

Special teams

K Gage Hurych, West Linn, junior

Hurych was a first-team 6A all-state selection who was 84 of 86 on PATs and 4 of 5 on field goals, including a 35-yarder with 3:44 left in the fourth quarter of the state championship game against Sheldon in the 23-14 victory. He also placed nearly two-thirds of his kickoffs in the end zone (68 touchbacks).

P Holden Phillips, Mountainside, senior

Phillips earned first-team 6A all-state honors, averaging 38 yards per punt (34.1 net average) to help the Mavericks reach the state quarterfinals for the second time in program history.

KR AJ Noland, Tualatin, junior

Not only is Noland a key member of the Timberwolves’ receiving and secondary corps, he’s also a weapon in the return game, earning first-team all-Three Rivers League honors after averaging 23.3 yards per kickoff return (with one touchdown) and more than five yards per punt return.

Offensive player of the year

Sam Leavitt, West Linn, senior

Defensive player of the year

Teitum Tuioti, Sheldon, senior

Coach of the year

Andy Mott, Estacada

For a decade, Mott has established an identity and a culture around Estacada football. Last season, everything came together for the Rangers, whose power running game ran roughshod over most opponents, wrapping up the season by setting a 4A state championship game record for ball control in a 32-8 victory over Tillamook that garnered the program its first title.

Second team

Offense

QB Brock Thomas, Sheldon, senior

RB David Brown, Eagle Point, senior

RB Jackson Pfeifer, Silverton, senior

RB Kameron Rague, Cascade Christian, sophomore

WR Joey Olsen, Lakeridge, junior

WR Charlie Ozolin, Summit, senior

WR Zach Wusstig, South Salem, senior

TE Richie Anderson, Tualatin, senior

Flex Cru Newman, Central Catholic, junior

C Mariano Martinez, Estacada, senior

OL Devin Brooks, Clackamas, junior

OL Jace Eveland, Putnam, sophomore

OL Dominic Nacoste, Estacada, senior

OL Sylus Wallace, Jesuit, senior

Defense

DE Chip Allers, Summit, senior

DE Jake Holmes, West Linn, senior

DT Sam Diaz, Tillamook, senior

DT Xavier Orozco, Silverton, junior

LB Vaughn Croxton, Tigard, senior

LB Brysen Kachel, West Albany, junior

LB Luke Leighton, Sheldon, senior

LB Waylon Riedel, Estacada, senior

Flex Mark Hamper, West Linn, senior

CB Trey Dieringer, Scappoose, senior

CB Sanborne Melson, Jefferson, senior

S AJ Noland, Tualatin, junior

S Max Kirsch, Nelson, senior

Special teams

K Holden Phillips, Mountainside, senior

P Ryan Oliver, Lakeridge, senior

KR Drew Rodriguez, Sprague, senior

Third team

Offense

QB Hogan Carmichael, Summit, senior

RB Trevor Anderson, Mazama, senior

RB Marcus Jordan, Oregon City, senior

RB Austin Rapp, McMinnville, senior

WR Wiley Donnerberg, West Linn, junior

WR Zeyon Hurliman, Tillamook, senior

WR AJ Perez, Clackamas, senior

TE AJ Pugliano, North Medford, junior

Flex Luke Newell, Thurston, junior

Flex Cade Olds, Oakland, senior

C Carl Harward, Sheldon, senior

OL Drew Corcoran, Tualatin, senior

OL Carter Nelson, Summit, senior

OL Jaxson Turituri, Cascade Christian, senior

OL Ryan Yakovich, Sheldon, senior

Defense

DE Ryder McElroy, Wilsonville, senior

DE Campbell Sager, Westview, senior

DT Dominic Nacoste, Estacada, senior

DT Sylus Wallace, Jesuit, senior

LB Trevor Anderson, Mazama, senior

LB Keaton Fried, Sherwood, junior

LB Jayden Moses, Grant, senior

LB Cole Shields, Cascade Christian, senior

Flex Tanner Dobeck, South Umpqua, senior

Flex Dylan Nance, Wilsonville, senior

CB Cooper Hiday, Wilsonville, senior

CB Cory James, Estacada, senior 

S Charlie Ozolin, Summit, junior

S Zach Wusstig, South Salem, senior

Special teams

K Greg Keswick, Wilsonville, senior

P Palmer Smith, Crook County, senior

KR Michael Williams, Central Catholic, senior