All-Bay Area News Group high school football 2022: Utility players
Serra, Foothill, Archbishop Mitty, Sacred Heart Prep, El Cerrito players are among those on the list.
The Bay Area News Group is recognizing the top high school football players in its coverage area from the 2022 season.
We have separated the honorees into eight position groups: Quarterbacks, receivers/tight ends, defensive backs, running backs, linebackers, utility players, athletes, defensive linemen, offensive linemen and kickers/punters.
We have chosen an overall player of the year, county players of the year and a coach of the year.
The team was selected by members of our high school sports staff.
Here are the all-Bay Area News Group utility players:
First team
Chris Lawson, Foothill, 6-0, 175, sophomore
East Bay Athletic League Valley Division offensive and defensive MVP. Four-star prospect with 11 offers, including from Cal, Colorado and Arizona, per 247Sports.com. Caught 53 passes for 867 yards and 13 TDs. Also had 51 tackles and an interception for the league champs.
Danny Niu, Serra, 6-0, 190, junior
First-team all-West Catholic Athletic League recognition. Finished with 51 tackles, seven for loss, as Serra won league and section championships. Also ran for 382 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 9.6 yards per carry.
Danny Scudero, Archbishop Mitty, 5-10, 150, senior
West Catholic Athletic League player of the year. Caught 60 passes for 982 yards and 13 TDs. Ran for 309 yards and three TDs. Had 4.5 sacks and an interception that he took back for a TD. Returned 16 kickoffs for 506 yards and two TDs. Bound for Sacramento State.
Carter Shaw, Sacred Heart Prep, 6-3, 180, senior
PAL/SCVAL Bay Division offensive player of the year. Caught 26 passes for 477 yards and seven touchdowns to help the Atherton school win the league championship. UCLA commit also had 33 tackles, an interception and caused a fumble for one of the area’s top defenses.
Warren Smith, El Cerrito, 6-1, 175, senior
First-team honors as a defensive back and receiver in the Tri-County Athletic League’s Rock Division. Helped the Gauchos capture league and section titles during a 13-1 season. Signed with Washington State to play DB.
Second team
Kyle Goree, St. Mary’s-Berkeley, 6-0, 215, senior
Tri-County Athletic League Stone Division player of the year. Helped lead St. Mary’s to a league title and an 11-1 record. Finished with 120 tackles, 30 for loss, three sacks and four hurries. Caused six fumbles and had an interception. Played running back and scored 29 touchdowns.
Gavin O’Leary, College Park, 6-0, 170, senior
Diablo Athletic League Valley Division MVP caught 39 passes for 705 yards and seven TDs. Ran for 588 yards and six TDs, averaging 13.7 yards per carry, as College Park won the league title. Also had 3.5 tackles for loss.
Tayden Phillips, Lincoln-San Jose, 5-11, 185, senior
BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division co-MVP passed for 1,451 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for 932 yards and 17 TDs. Had 37 tackles, two interceptions and converted two point-after kicks.
Mateo Poso, Branham, 6-1, 224, senior
BVAL Santa Teresa-Foothill Division defensive player of the year had 89 tackles, 14 for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Caught 48 passes for 519 yards and five touchdowns. Rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports.
Omar Staples, Oakland Tech, 6-3, 230, senior
First-team all-Oakland Athletic League selection rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports. Headed across the Bay to Stanford. Had five sacks against Castlemont. Played defensive end, tight end and fullback.
Honorable mention
Lucas Concepcion, Campolindo, senior
Mateo Corona, Terra Nova, junior
Uchenna Eke, Valley Christian, junior
Daniel Feletoa, San Mateo, senior
Jeffrey Gamboa, El Camino, senior
Jaden Green, Serra, junior
Cort Halsey, Menlo School, senior
Jake Hanson, Bellarmine, senior
Junaid Khan, Kennedy-Fremont, junior
Samear Lattier, Foothill, junior
Andrew Latu, Sacred Heart Prep, senior
Zachariah Norton, Hayward, senior
Nassir Pitters, Berean Christian, senior
Austin Rogol, St. Mary’s-Berkeley, senior
Marques Singleton, Encinal, senior
Quinton Togia’i, Overfelt, senior
ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Monday, Jan. 9
Kickers/punters
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Athletes
Tuesday, Jan. 10
Utility players
Linebackers
Running backs
Wednesday, Jan. 11
Defensive backs
Wide receivers/tight ends
Quarterbacks
Coach of the year
Thursday, Jan. 12
County player of the year
County player of the year
County player of the year
Overall player of the year
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
Those eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For corrections, please email highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.