Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
Dan Albano ranks the Top 10 wide receivers and tight ends in Orange County going into the 2024 high school football season:
TOP 10 WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS
Santa Margarita’s Trent Mosley earned co-MVP honors in the Trinity League as a sophomore in 2023. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)
1. Trent Mosley, Santa Margarita: The versatile junior claims the top spot in the area rankings after contending for Orange County offensive player of the year honors last season. Mosley hauled in 81 catches for 1,282 yards and 11 TDs and also rushed for 15 scores. The production earned the 5-foot-11 Mosley co-MVP honors in the Trinity League.
Vance Spafford (13) of Mission Viejo is tackled by Evan Fanner (50) of Oaks Christian after Spafford caught a pass for 20-yard gain in the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs at Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo on Friday, November 10, 2023. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
2. Vance Spafford, Mission Viejo: The speedy junior raised his level in the summer by clocking a time of 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash and dominating at the Battle at the Beach passing tournament. After posting 83 catches for a county-leading 1,576 yards and 22 TDs last season, the 5-foot-10 Spafford appears headed toward another huge fall.
3. Chris Henry Jr., Mater Dei: The transfer from Ohio has all the physical tools to give defenses nightmares. The Ohio State commit is 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds with excellent hands, route running and athleticism. Henry is arguably the No. 1 national recruit in the Class of 2026, which includes Trent Mosley and Vance Spafford.
Mater Dei’s Marcus Harris (10) makes a reception in front of Serra’s Jaden Green (3) in the second quarter of their CIF state football championship open division game at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
4. Marcus Harris, Mater Dei: The Oklahoma-committed senior is known for his athletic catches but added more production to his resume last season. He led the Monarchs with a career-best 43 receptions and matched his career-high with 644 yards. The 6-foot Harris has the ability and experience to surpass both totals this fall.
Mission Viejo wide receiver Phillip Bell, right, fights off De La Salle cornerback Jaden Jefferson after making a catch in the CIF Division 1-AA state football championship in Mission Viejo on Friday, December 8, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
5. Phillip Bell III, Mission Viejo: The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior blends size with an explosive burst. In his first season with the Diablos last fall, he had 56 catches for 644 yards and seven TDs. Expect for him to surpass those numbers this season.
Trabuco Hills wide receiver Ryan Luce carries the ball during a nonleague game at Tesoro High School on Friday, October 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
6. Ryan Luce, Trabuco Hills: The 6-foot senior produced some of the best yards-after-catch plays in the county last season. The first-team All-County selection finished with 82 catches for 1,003 yards and 10 TDs to help the Mustangs win the Sea View League.
7. Vander Ploog, Troy: The Washington-committed tight end is one of fastest rising senior recruits in the county. The 6-foot-6 Ploog hauled in 61 receptions for 1,047 yards and 12 TDs as a junior. His offseason included earning MVP honors at an Under Armour Next All-American camp.
Mater Dei wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, right, makes a touchdown catch in front of St. John Bosco cornerback Frankie Edwards III in the CIF-SS Division 1 championship football game the Coliseum in Los Angeles on Friday, November 24, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
8. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Mater Dei: The junior hasn’t matched the statistics of some other top O.C. wide receivers, but there’s no denying his potential to claim those numbers this fall. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Dixon-Wyatt is a well-rounded receiver with downfield speed and the ability to gain yards after catch. Last season, he had 33 receptions for 512 yards and six TDs, including one in the Division 1 final.
9. JJ Amezcua, Western: The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior showed the physicality on the tough catches at the South County passing tournament that will make him a top target. He posted 55 catches for 847 yards and 11 TDs last season. This fall, he takes the reigns as the Pioneers’ No. 1 option after leading wide receiver Desmin Joshway-Fairley transferred to Downey.
Edison wide receiver/cornerback Jacob Martin, left, and wide receiver/safety Jake Minter helped the Chargers advance to the semifinals at the Battle at the Beach passing tournament Saturday at Edison. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)
10T. Jacob Martin, Edison: The 6-foot-2 senior proved at the Battle at the Beach passing tournament that he’s a go-to wide receiver and also a standout at cornerback. It’s challenging to excel as a two-way player but Martin appears ready. Look for him to surpass his team-leading total of 39 receptions from last season.
Running back Dorsett Stecker gains yards for Corona del Mar at Trabuco Hills in a nonleague football game at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo, on Friday, September 22, 2023.. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
10T. Dorsett Stecker, Corona del Mar: The 5-foot-10 junior blends strong routes with a penchant for making contested catches. He ascends to the Sea Kings’ vaunted No. 1 wide receiver option after hauling in 66 receptions for 643 yards last season.
Related Articles
2024 football season might set Orange County record for the most great matchups
Orange County football preview: Ranking the Top 10 quarterbacks for 2024
Orange County football teams begin practices for 2024 season
Huntington Beach football places second at Surf City Passing Tournament
Edison football sparked by two-way players Jacob Martin and Jake Minter at Battle at the Beach
Leave a Reply