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Alabama commit Harris has helped Antioch rise in rankings
Antioch running back Najee Harris gained 9 pounds of muscle over the summer to help solidify his spot at the top of almost every list of national recruiting rankings.
The Alabama commit is now 6-foot-2½ and 226 pounds.
“He’s actually a little faster than he was last year,” Antioch coach John Lucido said last week.
Pretty scary.
Lucido wants the world not to increase Harris’ stock — he can’t go any higher after rushing for 2,744 yards, 36 touchdowns and 33 two-point conversions last season — but to divert its attention.
“The more focus on Najee, the less on the rest of the guys,” Lucido said.
[...] we have other guys.
The cat is out of the bag on that one, coach.
The Panthers have six other players who have been offered college scholarships, including Division I offers to junior running back and linebacker Omari Harris (no relation), senior defensive backs and receivers Issac Freytes and Isaiah Dunn and sophomore receiver Gaudie Campbell.
“Antioch is loaded,” said Monte Vista-Danville assistant coach Chris Bab****.
Following an 11-1 season in 2015, Antioch has made a strong case to be the Bay Area’s No. 2 squad behind perennial national juggernaut De La Salle-Concord.
Only a season-ending knee injury to their top lineman Justin Kennard and broken ankle to Omari Harris — he’ll be out 4-5 games — kept the Panthers from starting out No. 2 in The Chronicle’s preseason rankings.
Like a familiar but spectacular Najee Harris leap over a defense back.
“We’re definitely not the underdog anymore,” Lucido said.
Najee Harris thinks the Panthers are up to it.
“Everyone on this team loves to compete,” Najee Harris said.
De La Salle OK:
For the first time in at least a decade, the Spartans have been left out of preseason national rankings.
With only four returning starters, none at the skill positions, De La Salle appeared vulnerable, but not after Friday’s scrimmage with Marin Catholic-Kentfield, Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland and Riordan.
New quarterback Abel Ordaz (a 6-0, 175-pound junior) ran the offense efficiently and completed 7 of 9 passes with two touchdowns, mostly handing off to new top back Kairee Robinson and Tre’ White and Jonathan Hackett.
Robinson (5-7, 185) has been compared to former Spartan Maurice Jones-Drew, who now helps out with the Spartans.
“Blame that on Maurice,” De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh said of the unfair comparison.
De La Salle scored on its first four positions against Marin Catholic until Wildcats sprinter Hunter Juarez made a fantastic interception at the goal line.
“We have a lot of new guys, so our coaches were really busy,” Alumbaugh said.
[...] I liked our physicality and line play.
De La Salle has 32 linemen on its 61-man roster, including 6-2, 310-pound junior Tuli Letuligasenoa, who was particularly impressive according to Alumbaugh, who also raved about new Marin Catholic 6-5, 218-pound junior quarterback Spencer Petras.
Trading places:
The biggest jump in the rankings from the end of last season was Monte Vista-Danville (14 spots).
The Mustangs return the area’s top recruited quarterback, Washington-bound Jake Haener, and the nation’s No. 21 tight end Erik Krommenhoek, a USC commit.
Former De La Salle standout receiver-defensive back Isaiah Randle (6-0, 180) transferred to the Mustangs as well.
“He’s going to help them a lot,” Alumbaugh said.
Coach request:
All coaches are encouraged to fill out rosters, schedules, scores and statistics on MaxPreps.com to help with accuracy and general reporting.
contributed to this report.
Mitch Stephens is a senior writer at MaxPreps.com.
Chronicle preseason top 25 football
De La Salle
271-game NorCal unbeaten streak
Antioch
Plays at DLS on ESPNU on 9/23
RB Cyrus Habibi-Liko is WSU commit
Monte Vista
Big line + RB Montaz Thompson = mega yds
QB Miles Kendrick, RB Javon Sturns return
WCAL POY Leki Nunn needs more line help
Foothill
Ben Woolridge one of NC’s best junior QBs
Exciting QB Ike Ogbogu one of 16 new starters
Freedom
Chasing Antioch, Pittsburg in BVAL
Sacred Heart Prep
RB Isoa Moimoi might approach 2,000 yds
Marin Catholic
New QB Spencer Petras is impressive
Returns 13 starters, including QB Nick Nuñez
QB Tim Tague 3,868 yards, 40 TDs in 2015
Two-way Tariq Bracy one of state’s top juniors
Moreau Catholic
Rising program led by RB-SS Jullen Ison
Cardinal Newman
7 NBL, 4 NCS titles, 131-34-2 since 2003
7 All-SCL players return to four-time champs
Cougars are 65-6 since 2010
NR
Got better of Serra in Saturday scrimmage
Return 11 starters, including QB Kyle Reid
QB Phillip Tran should have big season
NR
Has two of state’s top 100 recruits
OAL POY Jerrell Alberty 1 of 5 ret. starters
* Records and rankings are at the end of last season
More...
Antioch running back Najee Harris gained 9 pounds of muscle over the summer to help solidify his spot at the top of almost every list of national recruiting rankings.
The Alabama commit is now 6-foot-2½ and 226 pounds.
“He’s actually a little faster than he was last year,” Antioch coach John Lucido said last week.
Pretty scary.
Lucido wants the world not to increase Harris’ stock — he can’t go any higher after rushing for 2,744 yards, 36 touchdowns and 33 two-point conversions last season — but to divert its attention.
“The more focus on Najee, the less on the rest of the guys,” Lucido said.
[...] we have other guys.
The cat is out of the bag on that one, coach.
The Panthers have six other players who have been offered college scholarships, including Division I offers to junior running back and linebacker Omari Harris (no relation), senior defensive backs and receivers Issac Freytes and Isaiah Dunn and sophomore receiver Gaudie Campbell.
“Antioch is loaded,” said Monte Vista-Danville assistant coach Chris Bab****.
Following an 11-1 season in 2015, Antioch has made a strong case to be the Bay Area’s No. 2 squad behind perennial national juggernaut De La Salle-Concord.
Only a season-ending knee injury to their top lineman Justin Kennard and broken ankle to Omari Harris — he’ll be out 4-5 games — kept the Panthers from starting out No. 2 in The Chronicle’s preseason rankings.
Like a familiar but spectacular Najee Harris leap over a defense back.
“We’re definitely not the underdog anymore,” Lucido said.
Najee Harris thinks the Panthers are up to it.
“Everyone on this team loves to compete,” Najee Harris said.
De La Salle OK:
For the first time in at least a decade, the Spartans have been left out of preseason national rankings.
With only four returning starters, none at the skill positions, De La Salle appeared vulnerable, but not after Friday’s scrimmage with Marin Catholic-Kentfield, Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland and Riordan.
New quarterback Abel Ordaz (a 6-0, 175-pound junior) ran the offense efficiently and completed 7 of 9 passes with two touchdowns, mostly handing off to new top back Kairee Robinson and Tre’ White and Jonathan Hackett.
Robinson (5-7, 185) has been compared to former Spartan Maurice Jones-Drew, who now helps out with the Spartans.
“Blame that on Maurice,” De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh said of the unfair comparison.
De La Salle scored on its first four positions against Marin Catholic until Wildcats sprinter Hunter Juarez made a fantastic interception at the goal line.
“We have a lot of new guys, so our coaches were really busy,” Alumbaugh said.
[...] I liked our physicality and line play.
De La Salle has 32 linemen on its 61-man roster, including 6-2, 310-pound junior Tuli Letuligasenoa, who was particularly impressive according to Alumbaugh, who also raved about new Marin Catholic 6-5, 218-pound junior quarterback Spencer Petras.
Trading places:
The biggest jump in the rankings from the end of last season was Monte Vista-Danville (14 spots).
The Mustangs return the area’s top recruited quarterback, Washington-bound Jake Haener, and the nation’s No. 21 tight end Erik Krommenhoek, a USC commit.
Former De La Salle standout receiver-defensive back Isaiah Randle (6-0, 180) transferred to the Mustangs as well.
“He’s going to help them a lot,” Alumbaugh said.
Coach request:
All coaches are encouraged to fill out rosters, schedules, scores and statistics on MaxPreps.com to help with accuracy and general reporting.
contributed to this report.
Mitch Stephens is a senior writer at MaxPreps.com.
Chronicle preseason top 25 football
De La Salle
271-game NorCal unbeaten streak
Antioch
Plays at DLS on ESPNU on 9/23
RB Cyrus Habibi-Liko is WSU commit
Monte Vista
Big line + RB Montaz Thompson = mega yds
QB Miles Kendrick, RB Javon Sturns return
WCAL POY Leki Nunn needs more line help
Foothill
Ben Woolridge one of NC’s best junior QBs
Exciting QB Ike Ogbogu one of 16 new starters
Freedom
Chasing Antioch, Pittsburg in BVAL
Sacred Heart Prep
RB Isoa Moimoi might approach 2,000 yds
Marin Catholic
New QB Spencer Petras is impressive
Returns 13 starters, including QB Nick Nuñez
QB Tim Tague 3,868 yards, 40 TDs in 2015
Two-way Tariq Bracy one of state’s top juniors
Moreau Catholic
Rising program led by RB-SS Jullen Ison
Cardinal Newman
7 NBL, 4 NCS titles, 131-34-2 since 2003
7 All-SCL players return to four-time champs
Cougars are 65-6 since 2010
NR
Got better of Serra in Saturday scrimmage
Return 11 starters, including QB Kyle Reid
QB Phillip Tran should have big season
NR
Has two of state’s top 100 recruits
OAL POY Jerrell Alberty 1 of 5 ret. starters
* Records and rankings are at the end of last season
More...