All-Southern Section high school football team: Meet SBLive's 2023 selections
Here is the All-Southern Section high school football team for the 2023 season presented by SBLive.
This team is comprised of players that best represent the section. It is not an all-star team.
Less than 30 players from the entire section are listed, including an offensive team, defensive team and two all-purpose players.
SBLive also selected a Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Breakout Player of the Year and a Freshman of the Year.
At least one player from each CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoff team is included in this year's All-Southern Section awards, along with players that stood out in their own right - some of which went on to win a CIF State championship.
YEARLY AWARDS
- Player of the Year: Cornell Hatcher, Corona Centennial, Sr.
- Offensive Player of the Year: Brady Smigiel, Newbury Park, So.
- Defensive Player of the Year: Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, St. John Bosco, Sr.
- Breakout Player of the Year: Caleb Sanchez, St. John Bosco, Sr.
- Freshman of the Year: Richie Wesley, Sierra Canyon
- Coach of the Year: Mark Carson, Rio Hondo Prep
ALL-SOUTHERN SECTION TEAM
(Position - Name, school, year (college, if applicable))
OFFENSE
QB - Darius Curry, Long Beach Poly. Sr. (Colorado State)
- 3,197 yards, 41 TDs, 11 INTs, 63%; 2 rushing TDs
QB - Madden Iamaleava, Warren, Jr.
- 3,626 yards, 43 TDs, 4 INTs, 63%; 3 rushing TDs
RB - Aiden Rubin, San Clemente, Sr.
- 1,790 yards, 20 TDs, 162ypg
RB - Dylan Riley, Rancho Verde, Sr. (Boise State)
- 2,059 yards, 29 TDs, 187ypg
WR - Trent Mosley, Santa Margarita, So.
- 81 receptions, 1,282 yards, 11 TDs
WR - Vance Spafford, Mission Viejo, So.
- 83 receptions, 1,576 yards, 22 TDs
WR - Zacharyus Williams, Gardena Serra, Sr. (Utah)
- 51 receptions, 943 yards, 13 TDs, 2 KR TDs
WR - Jordan Ross, Warren, Sr. (Colorado State)
- 72 receptions, 1,633 yards, 27 TDs
OL - Wade Helton, Corona Centennial, Sr. (Iowa State)
- Helped Cornell Hatcher run for 2,200 yards and 42 TDs
OL - Brandon Baker, Mater Dei, Sr. (Texas)
- CIF-SS D1 and CIF State Open champion
OL - Shaun Torgeson, St. Bonaventure, Sr. (Portland State)
- Anchored a Seraphs team that won the CIF-SS D3 title
OL - Samuel Utu, Orange Lutheran, So.
- Aided O-Lu to D1 playoff berth
OL - Phillip Ocon, St. Francis, Sr. (Colorado State)
- Named the Angelus League MVP - don't see that often
K - Ryon Sayeri, Chaminade, Sr.
Scored 60 points this season, including a 53-yarder
DEFENSE
DL - Jaden Williams, Mission Viejo, Jr.
- 139 tackles, 39.5 TFL, 18.5 sacks, 2 FF,
DL - JT Houston, Warren, Sr. (Cal Poly SLO)
- 69 tackles, 20 sacks, FF, 2 blocked punts
DL - Carnell Ferguson, Sierra Canyon, Sr.
- 60 tackles, 20.5 TFL, 13 sacks, 2 FR
DL - Nasir Wyatt, Mater Dei, Jr.
- 41 tackles, 21 TFL, 14 sacks, 7 PD, 3 FR, 3 FF, TD
LB - Owen Long, La Serna, Sr.
- 139 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 INTs, 15 PD, 1 FF
LB - Dylan Williams, Long Beach Poly, Sr. (Oregon)
- 83 tackles, 11 TFL, 3 sacks, 4 FF, INT
LB - Noah Mikhail, Bonita, Jr.
- 166 tackles, 15 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 3 PD,
LB - Madden Faraimo, JSerra, Jr.
- 101 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, FR, FF
DB - Zabien Brown, Mater Dei, Sr. (Alabama)
- 22 tackles, 3 INTs, 5 PD, 2 FR
DB - Royce Mendoza, Riverside Ramona, Sr.
- 62 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 10 INTs, 20 PD, 3 FF, 4 TDs
DB - Marcelles Williams, St. John Bosco, Sr. (USC)
- 65 tackles, 2 INTs, 8 PD, FG blk
DB - Jeilani Davis, Mater Dei, Sr. (Utah)
- 43 tackles, 5 INTs, 5 PD, 1 FF, TD
P - Michael Salgado-Medina, Mission Viejo, Sr. (Arizona)
- 48 punts, 1,887 yards, 39.3 avg, 20 inside the 20, 61 long
ALL-PURPOSE
WR/DB - Shane Rosenthal, Newbury Park, Jr.
- OFF: 1,947 yards receiving, 122 receptions, 21 TDs
- DEF: 12 INTs, 2 INT TDs
RB/LB - Sire Gaines, Orange Vista, Sr. (Boise State)
- OFF: 1,685 yards rushing, 27 TDs, 129ypg; 16 receptions, 351 yards, 3 TDs
- DEF: 30 tackles, 7 TFL, 2 sacks, INT, 2 FR,
