Players to Watch in 2017 D2 Edition
As we get ready to kick off the season, I have compiled a short list of 25 players that should be on your radar this season. There is no doubt more players out there deserving of inclusion on this list, so think of this as a jumping off point. Who else do we need to be watching and why?
Here’s the D2 list
Kaleb Naceanceno – Senior RB – Silverton
Kaleb is as serious an offensive threat as they come, racking up some major yardage in some big games last season. I expect him to come back better than ever for his senior season.
2016 – Honorable Mention All-State Utility Player
Jayton Smith – Senior WR/LB - Valley
When snatching the pigskin from the air, Smith was able to find paydirt an astonishing 50% of the time for the Patriots last season.
2016 – 1st team All-State Wide Receiver; 22-533 yards, 11 TDs receiving
Fabian Gordillo – Senior RB – Follett
A threat to run or throw, many people outside the panhandle might not be familiar with this speedy back, but he is one of several Follett players we should be looking out for in 2017. He also loves to snuff out plays in the backfield while on defense.
2016 – 2nd team All-State Utility Player; 127-1,262 yards, 28 TDs rushing; 71-119-2 for 1,345 yards, 29 TDs passing; 98 tackles, 21 sacks
Tristan Garza – Senior RB – Petersburg
Garza can expect a little more work toting the rock this season and if he carries his success from last season over to this one, Petersburg will be a tough team to beat.
2016 - 2nd team All-State Running Back; 138-1,606 yards, 40 TDs rushing; 12-21-1 for 268 yards, 6 TDs passing; 1,885 total yards of offense; 81 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 caused fumbles; 2 KO returns for TDs
Dakota Smith – Senior RB – Loraine
Smith was District 7’s offensive MVP last season and will be back to do damage in 2017.
2016 – j Honorable Mention All-State Utility Back; 30-526 yards 9 TDs rushing; 20-38-407 yards, 9 TDs passing
Marco Mendoza – Junior RB – Balmorhea
The hard-nosed player for the Bears, who can run and catch out of the backfield, is also a beast on the defensive end as well. Mendoza is a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball.
2016 - 1st team All-State Fullback
Jalen Helms – Senior QB – Grandfalls-Royalty
Jalen is one of the best passers returning for the 2017 campaign. He knows how to find the open receiver as his 57 touchdown passes last season will attest for.
2016 - 2nd team All-State Spread Back; 184-263-6 for 2,751 yards, 57 TDs passing; 64-970 yards, 5 TDs rushing; 75 tackles, 4 INTs, 6 fumbles recovered
Hutton Lusty – Senior RB - Richland Springs
Lusty is the lynch pin to the Coyotes success. He can run just as well as Tippie; he can lead block and open up running lanes for other rushers; he can catch the ball out of the backfield; and he might be the most aggressive tackler on the defensive side of the ball in DII.
2016 - All-State Defensive Player of the Year
Walker Tippie – Senior RB – Richland Springs
What can I say? Everyone knows him in six-man, thanks in large part to his performance in last year’s state championship game, where he had a rushing stat line of 15 carries, 414 yards and 8 TDs rushing, all while throwing two touchdown passes as well.
2016 - All-State Offensive Player of the Year; 145 carries 2,193 yards 43 TDs rushing; 39-51-0 for 808 yards 18 TDs passing; 11 catches 266 yards 6 TDs receiving; 56 solo, 46 assists, 1 sack, 9 INTs (3 returned for TDs, 255 return yards), 5 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries (1 returned for TD, 55 return yards); 53 total TDs scored, 318 points scored
Kellen Everett – Senior SB – Cherokee
Standing 6’ and tipping the scales at 225, this kid has the rare combo of size and speed with a 4.6 40 time. He also probably has the strongest arm in six-man! Everett was one of the most glaring omissions from the Region IV all-region team last season.
2016 – 115-1,140 yards, 30 TDs rushing; 61-101-7 for 1,002 yards, 20 TDs passing (stats against varsity opponents)
Ta’Ron Smith – Junior RB – Milford
If you don’t know who Ta’Ron Smith is, then you don’t follow six-man football. He is undoubtedly a “game changer”; and that is with his arm, as well as with his feet!
2016 - 1st team All-State Spread Back; 131 carries 2,149 yards 30 TDs rushing; 60-104-3 for 1,123 yards 20 TDs passing; 7 catches 73 yards 1 TD receiving; 32 tackles, 3 INTs, 1 fumble recovery (returned for TD), 1 caused fumble, 1 KO return for TD
Ethan Edgemon – Senior SB – Oakwood
Oakwood is in their third year under head coach Kuykendall and will be looking to have a break out season. Edgemon will play a major role for the Panthers and is primed to have a big senior season.
2016 - Honorable Mention All-State Running Back; 1,843 yards, 11 TDs rushing; 1,262 yards, 14 TDs passing; 97 tackles
As we get ready to kick off the season, I have compiled a short list of 25 players that should be on your radar this season. There is no doubt more players out there deserving of inclusion on this list, so think of this as a jumping off point. Who else do we need to be watching and why?
Here’s the D2 list
Kaleb Naceanceno – Senior RB – Silverton
Kaleb is as serious an offensive threat as they come, racking up some major yardage in some big games last season. I expect him to come back better than ever for his senior season.
2016 – Honorable Mention All-State Utility Player
Jayton Smith – Senior WR/LB - Valley
When snatching the pigskin from the air, Smith was able to find paydirt an astonishing 50% of the time for the Patriots last season.
2016 – 1st team All-State Wide Receiver; 22-533 yards, 11 TDs receiving
Fabian Gordillo – Senior RB – Follett
A threat to run or throw, many people outside the panhandle might not be familiar with this speedy back, but he is one of several Follett players we should be looking out for in 2017. He also loves to snuff out plays in the backfield while on defense.
2016 – 2nd team All-State Utility Player; 127-1,262 yards, 28 TDs rushing; 71-119-2 for 1,345 yards, 29 TDs passing; 98 tackles, 21 sacks
Tristan Garza – Senior RB – Petersburg
Garza can expect a little more work toting the rock this season and if he carries his success from last season over to this one, Petersburg will be a tough team to beat.
2016 - 2nd team All-State Running Back; 138-1,606 yards, 40 TDs rushing; 12-21-1 for 268 yards, 6 TDs passing; 1,885 total yards of offense; 81 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 caused fumbles; 2 KO returns for TDs
Dakota Smith – Senior RB – Loraine
Smith was District 7’s offensive MVP last season and will be back to do damage in 2017.
2016 – j Honorable Mention All-State Utility Back; 30-526 yards 9 TDs rushing; 20-38-407 yards, 9 TDs passing
Marco Mendoza – Junior RB – Balmorhea
The hard-nosed player for the Bears, who can run and catch out of the backfield, is also a beast on the defensive end as well. Mendoza is a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball.
2016 - 1st team All-State Fullback
Jalen Helms – Senior QB – Grandfalls-Royalty
Jalen is one of the best passers returning for the 2017 campaign. He knows how to find the open receiver as his 57 touchdown passes last season will attest for.
2016 - 2nd team All-State Spread Back; 184-263-6 for 2,751 yards, 57 TDs passing; 64-970 yards, 5 TDs rushing; 75 tackles, 4 INTs, 6 fumbles recovered
Hutton Lusty – Senior RB - Richland Springs
Lusty is the lynch pin to the Coyotes success. He can run just as well as Tippie; he can lead block and open up running lanes for other rushers; he can catch the ball out of the backfield; and he might be the most aggressive tackler on the defensive side of the ball in DII.
2016 - All-State Defensive Player of the Year
Walker Tippie – Senior RB – Richland Springs
What can I say? Everyone knows him in six-man, thanks in large part to his performance in last year’s state championship game, where he had a rushing stat line of 15 carries, 414 yards and 8 TDs rushing, all while throwing two touchdown passes as well.
2016 - All-State Offensive Player of the Year; 145 carries 2,193 yards 43 TDs rushing; 39-51-0 for 808 yards 18 TDs passing; 11 catches 266 yards 6 TDs receiving; 56 solo, 46 assists, 1 sack, 9 INTs (3 returned for TDs, 255 return yards), 5 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries (1 returned for TD, 55 return yards); 53 total TDs scored, 318 points scored
Kellen Everett – Senior SB – Cherokee
Standing 6’ and tipping the scales at 225, this kid has the rare combo of size and speed with a 4.6 40 time. He also probably has the strongest arm in six-man! Everett was one of the most glaring omissions from the Region IV all-region team last season.
2016 – 115-1,140 yards, 30 TDs rushing; 61-101-7 for 1,002 yards, 20 TDs passing (stats against varsity opponents)
Ta’Ron Smith – Junior RB – Milford
If you don’t know who Ta’Ron Smith is, then you don’t follow six-man football. He is undoubtedly a “game changer”; and that is with his arm, as well as with his feet!
2016 - 1st team All-State Spread Back; 131 carries 2,149 yards 30 TDs rushing; 60-104-3 for 1,123 yards 20 TDs passing; 7 catches 73 yards 1 TD receiving; 32 tackles, 3 INTs, 1 fumble recovery (returned for TD), 1 caused fumble, 1 KO return for TD
Ethan Edgemon – Senior SB – Oakwood
Oakwood is in their third year under head coach Kuykendall and will be looking to have a break out season. Edgemon will play a major role for the Panthers and is primed to have a big senior season.
2016 - Honorable Mention All-State Running Back; 1,843 yards, 11 TDs rushing; 1,262 yards, 14 TDs passing; 97 tackles
