Oregon’s top high school football players: Meet the state’s best tackles
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 tackles.
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!
Terrell Kim (North Medford) photo by Leon Neuschwander
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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Giovanni Abdelsayed, Philomath, senior
Abdelsayed is a fixture on both lines of scrimmage. He earned all-league second-team recognition as an offensive lineman last fall.
Teagen Allen, Cascade, junior
Cascade has several inexperienced players on the offensive line, but Allen is back to anchor the unit. The first-team all-Oregon West left tackle has played varsity snaps each of the past two seasons, and coach Tyler Turner called him “one of the best linemen in the state. He’s been on varsity since he was a freshman, and he’s only gotten better every single year.”
Chris Azari, Lakeridge, junior
Azari has started for the Pacers since his freshman season and made the all-Three Rivers second team last fall. “He’s very intelligent and is another player who cares more about his teammates than himself,” coach Spencer Phillips said.
Toby Bagley, Putnam, senior
Bagley last season was a second-team all-NWOC East pick on an underrated unit. “We’ve never had anything like it,” coach Tim Jacobs said, reflecting on the team’s veteran offensive line. “It’s often been our biggest question mark.”
Liam Benade, Cascade Christian, senior
Benade made the all-Far West first team and the 3A all-state third team for the Challengers last season.
Ryan Berger, Liberty, senior
Berger was named a Pacific Conference co-offensive lineman of the year as a junior. He has an offer from Southern Oregon and has drawn interest from several FCS and FBS schools. “I have no problem saying he will be one of the best linemen in Oregon this year,” Falcons coach Eric Mahlum said in August. “He can go toe to toe with anyone.”
Tiger Black, Roseburg, senior
Besides being a first-team all-state defensive lineman as a junior, Black also earned first-team all-Southwest honors (and all-state honorable mention) on the offensive line. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound three-star prospect holds Division I scholarship offers from Air Force and Army. “Tiger is a great football player because he makes the guys around him better,” coach Dave Heuberger said.
Chuck Bohart, Grant, senior
Second-team all-PIL on the offensive line as a junior, Bohart will play right tackle and be counted on to clear the way when the Generals run the ball. Bohart began his high school career as a wide receiver and defensive back before deciding he wanted to play up front. “He’s a guy who’s really dedicated to playing offensive line,” coach Alex Melson said.
Kevin Cassidy, Mountainside, senior
Cassidy started his career at tight end but moved to tackle during the COVID season. After cutting his teeth that spring, he developed into an all-Metro third-team selection who received an offer from Portland State in July. “He’s made a lot of good strides and is continuing to grow,” coach John Mannion said. “He’s gotten interest from college coaches, and it’s great to see. I’m looking forward to him having a big senior year.”
Sam Clements, Silverton, senior
Clements is a returning second-team all-league selection who starts at left tackle. “He brings a very technical aspect to the game,” first-year Foxes coach Dan Lever said. “Sam is a quick learner, and he’s going to protect that blind spot for us this fall.”
Drew Corcoran, Tualatin, senior
Corcoran was an honorable mention all-TRL selection on both sides of the ball last season. He is the only starter returning on the offensive line and sports offers from Linfield and Pacific. “He is a big, physical presence and the leader of that O-line unit,” coach Dominic Ferraro said.
Rylan Cox, Grant Union, senior
Cox is a stalwart on the Prospectors line, making the all-Blue Mountain first team and the 2A all-state honorable mention list as a junior.
Stephen del Giudice, West Linn, junior
Del Giudice was a two-way standout for Grant last season, earning first-team all-PIL recognition on the offensive line. He transferred to West Linn over the summer and took over at right tackle. “He plays with passion and intensity,” coach Jon Eagle said. “He’s great at both run blocking and pass protection, has great hands, feet and technique. He’s been fun to watch.”
Idrani Espinoza, Klamath Union, senior
Espinoza was a standout on both lines last season, making the all-Skyline second team at offensive tackle. He worked in the offseason on improving his strength and quickness. “For his size, he gets into a block pretty fast, which is what we need,” coach Tom Smith said.
Jace Eveland, Putnam, sophomore
Eveland — nearly 6-7 and about 305 pounds — was a first-team all-conference selection as a freshman and has drawn interest from Oregon and Oregon State. He was just the second freshman selected to play in the Les Schwab Bowl in its history. Through two games this season, he had 30 pancake blocks. “His desire to block and finish people is tremendous,” coach Tim Jacobs said. “The most impressive thing about him so far is not only his ability to move people on the line of scrimmage, but he is able to climb to the second level and put people on the ground.”
Hunter Greer, Lakeview, senior
Greer was a two-way Class 2A all-state selection last season, making the second team on offense. The 6-3, 295-pound Greer has drawn interest from Western Oregon and made a visit to Eastern Oregon. “Hunter has been a force in Lakeview’s trenches the last two seasons,” Honkers coach Ryan Moss said.
Reese Hare, Tigard, senior
Hare followed a junior season for which he made the all-TRL second team on the offensive line by adding 15 solid pounds of muscle with his work in the weight room. “He’s honing his craft and gotten stronger,” coach John Kemper said. “I’m excited for him.”
Ethan Hedgecock, Dayton, senior
Hedgecock made the all-league first team and was a third-team 3A all-state selection last season. The 6-5, 290-pounder has offers from Southern Oregon and Western Oregon. “Ethan wants to be lined up against the best player on the field to challenge himself,” Pirates coach Jacob Peterson said. “He looks forward to film sessions where he can see what needs to be improved. His weight room dedication and attention to detail has been incredible, and he has developed into a leader on the field.”
Trent Hodney, Sherwood, senior
Hodney was a Pacific Conference co-offensive lineman of the year last fall and is starting to draw interest from several Northwest colleges, including Lewis & Clark, Puget Sound, Pacific and Linfield.
Matt Hopkins, Kennedy, senior
Hopkins was a two-way all-state selection for the 2A runner-up Trojans last season, but it was on offense where he had his greatest impact, earning state offensive lineman of the year honors.
Malcom I’aulualo, Hood River Valley, junior
I’aulualo was first-team all-NWOC East at offensive line as a sophomore, and coach Caleb Sperry said he’s put in the time and effort to make himself better. “He’s worked hard in the weight room and gotten a lot stronger, so we’re excited about him,” Sperry said. Listed at 6-feet-3 and 285 pounds last season, I’aulualo has trimmed down to about 250 pounds. “And the guy can move,” Sperry said. “He’s long and has great levers. He has a great motor.”
Toby Johnston, Marshfield, senior
Not only was Johnston a standout defender last season, he was also a second-team all-Sky Em offensive lineman. He’s a third-year starter on both lines.
Terrell Kim, North Medford, junior
A first-team all-league offensive selection last fall, Kim is ranked fourth overall in Oregon for the class of 2024 by 247Sports. The three-star prospect has an offer from San Jose State. “He’s gone to a lot of the camps and has been told that his junior film is going to tell a lot,” coach Nathan Chin said.
Dominic Nacoste, Estacada, senior
One of four returning starters on the Rangers offensive line, Nacoste will look to repeat as Tri-Valley offensive lineman of the year and as a first-team 4A all-state selection.
Owen Northcutt, Henley, senior
Northcutt was a second-team all-Skyline selection on both lines last fall and someone Hornets coach Alex Stork called “another guy who we expect to be a key contributor. As a senior, we’re going to rely on him to be a leader for the line groups on both sides.”
Luke Parry, Marshfield, senior
Parry has started at left tackle since his sophomore year, making the all-Sky Em second team last season protecting 4A offensive player of the year Dom Montiel’s blind side. “While he’s undersized for the position, he compensates with his quickness and intelligence,” Pirates defensive coordinator Jacob Snoddy said.
Tom Riley, Coquille, senior
Riley was a two-way standout for the Red Devils during their 2A championship run last fall, earning first-team all-league honors in helping them rush for more than 3,600 yards and 48 touchdowns. “He’s a great team leader, like a coach on the field,” coach David Thomason said.
Campbell Sager, Westview, senior
Sager earned all-league honors on both sides of the ball last season, including third-team recognition on offense. He ranks No. 25 on 247Sports’ class of 2023 state list as a defensive end and boasts offers from Army and Air Force. “He’s a very athletic edge player who’s very technically sound,” coach Ryan Atkinson said. “He puts his team first and is a leader.”
Isaiah Sinclair, McKay, senior
A first-team all-league pick on the offensive line last season, Sinclair is a leader for the Scots on and off the field. In August, coach Brandis Piper said Sinclair looked ready to display his offseason work on the field. “I think he’s going to take another step,” Piper said. “His football IQ is up and he’s bigger and stronger. His goal is to continue playing after high school, and he’s had an offseason to make that happen.”
Briggs Snell, Kennedy, senior
Snell, like linemate Matt Hopkins, made the 2A all-state team on both sides of the ball in 2021, including receiving second-team honors on offense.
Tanner Thomas, Sheldon, senior
Thomas was a second-team all-Southwest selection last season. Irish coach Josh Line considers him one of the team leaders up front. “Tanner has that left tackle spot locked down and does a good job for us there,” Line said.
Ryan VanderZanden, La Grande, senior
VanderZanden is a three-year starter at right tackle, where he earned second-team all-GOL honors last fall. “For a big boy, he’s athletic and has great feet,” Tigers coach Rich McIlmoil said. “I expect good things out of him this year.”
Sylus Wallace, Jesuit, senior
One of three all-state selections on the Crusaders’ offensive line a year ago earned second-team honors after a breakthrough junior season. He has become leaner, dropping from his listed 318 pounds, but improved his speed and quickness without sacrificing any physicality. “He’s one of our strongest players and should be excellent on both sides of the ball,” coach Ken Potter said in August.
Cody White, Estacada, senior
White is another senior who starts on the offensive and defensive lines. He was selected to the all-league first team as an offensive lineman last season.
Myer Whitmore, La Grande, senior
Whitmore battled knee issues that sidelined him for several games last season, but the left tackle still made the all-GOL second team. “He’s a diehard football guy,” coach Rich McIlmoil said. “He’s got a lot of passion for the game and is arguably our best lineman.”
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