Current, former San Diego high school football stars make up U-T’s quarter-century team

As we reach the quarter point of the 2000s, it’s a good time to look back at the best players, teams, games and performances in San Diego high school football during that time.

Here are the best players over the last 25 years based on their success in high school, college and the pros.

Picks were made by the Union-Tribune’s John Maffei, Steve Brand and Rick Hoff, retired U-T contributor Terry Monahan and longtime San Diego sports personality John Kentera.Several coaches were also consulted to make sure no players were overlooked.

Each player’s high school, college and pro success counted for one-third of the total. As a result, some players who were excellent in high school and/or college didn’t make the cut.

Here’s a look at the best of the best, with a look at their high school and college accomplishments and, when necessary, their NFL stats:

Quarterbacks

• Alex Smith, Helix: First-team All-CIF in 2001: College: Utah. NFL: 14 years with the 49ers, Chiefs and Washington. Stats: 174 games, 3,250 completions, 35,650 yards, 199 TDs.

• Ryan Lindley, El Capitan: First-team All-CIF in 2006. College: San Diego State. NFL: 3 years with the Cardinals and Colts. Stats: 10 games, 144 completions, 1,372 yards, 3 TDs.

• Kevin O’Connell, La Costa Canyon: First-team All-CIF in 2003. College: San Diego State: NFL: 1 year with the Patriots. Stats: 2 games 4 completions, 23 yards, 1 TD. Now coach of the NFL’s Vikings.

• Jordan Wynn, Oceanside: First-team All-CIF in 2007: College: Utah. No NFL.

• Julian Sayin, Carlsbad: First-team All-CIF in 2021. College: Ohio State. Has thrown for 2,188 yards and 23 TDs this season.

Also considered: Jack Tuttle (Mission Hills), Anthony Lawrence (Grossmont), Jax Leatherwood (Scripps Ranch), Akili Smith Jr. (Lincoln), Tate Haynes (Cathedral Catholic).

Running backs

• Reggie Bush, Helix: First-team All-CIF in 2001 and ‘02. College: USC. NFL: 11 years with the Saints, Dolphins, Lions, 49ers and Bills. Stats: 134 games, 1,286 carries, 5,490 yards, 36 TDs.

• Arian Foster, Mission Bay: First-team All-CIF in 2003. College: Tennessee. NFL: 8 years with the Texans and Dolphins. Stats: 80 games, 1,476 carries, 6,527 yards, 54 TDs.

• Royce Freeman, Imperial: First-team All-CIF in 2012, Player of the Year in 2013. College: Oregon. NFL: 6 years with the Broncos, Panthers, Texans and Rams. Stats: 79 games, 471 carries, 1,792 yards, 10 TDs.

• Damien Williams, Mira Mesa: First-team All-CIF in 2009. College: Oklahoma. NFL: 9 years with the Dolphins, Chiefs, Bears, Falcons and Cardinals. Stats: 101 games, 347 carries, 1,440 yards, 10 TDs.

• Tyler Gaffney, Cathedral Catholic: Second-team All-CIF in 2008, Player of the Year in 2009. College: Stanford. NFL: 4 years with the Patriots and 49ers. Active for 2 Super Bowls.

Also considered: Ricky Seale (Escondido), Dillon Baxter (Mission Bay), CJ Verdell (Mater Dei Catholic), Lucky Sutton (Cathedral Catholic), Roderick Robinson (Lincoln), Patrick Gates (Marian Catholic).

Receivers

• Kenny Stills, La Costa Canyon: First-team All-CIF in 2008 and ’09. College: Oklahoma. NFL: 9 years with the Saints, Dolphins and Texans. Stats: 130 games, 316 receptions, 4,911 yards, 38 TDs.

• Chris Olave, Mission Hills: First-team All-CIF in 2017. College: Ohio State. NFL: 4 years and counting with the Saints. Stats: 48 games, 246 receptions, 3,125 yards, 13 TDs.

• Rashid Shaheed, Mt. Carmel: Second-team All-CIF in 2014. College: Weber State. NFL: 3-plus years with the Saints before being traded to the Seahawks on Tuesday. Stats: 42 games,138 receptions, 2,056 yards, 12 TDs.

• Tim Patrick, University City: No All-CIF. College: Utah. NFL: 6 years and counting with the Broncos, Lions and Jaguars. Stats: 78 games, 180 receptions, 2,466 yards, 16 TDs.

• Jamal Agnew, Point Loma: No All-CIF. College: USD. NFL: 8 years and counting with the Lions, Jaguars and Falcons. Stats: 88 games, 77 receptions, 746 yards, 5 TDs.

• Brett Swain, Carlsbad: Second-team All-CIF in 2002. College: San Diego State. NFL: 3 years with the 49ers and Packers. Stats: 27 games, 8 receptions, 87 yards. Won Super Bowl with Packers.

Also considered: Kyle Phillips (San Marcos), DeVaughn Vele (Rancho Bernardo), Roberto Wallace (Oceanside), Dez Patmon (Patrick Henry).

Tight ends

• Levine Toilolo, Helix: First-team All-CIF in 2008. College: Stanford. NFL: 8 years with the Falcons, Lions, 49ers and Giants. Stats: 124 games, 102 receptions, 1,042 yards, 8 TDs.

• Will Yeatman, Rancho Bernardo: Second-team All-CIF in 2004. College: Maryland. NFL: 3 years with the Dolphins. Stats: Appeared in 15 games.

Also considered: Nelson Rosario (El Camino), Paul Quessenberry (La Costa Canyon), Brian Johnston (Madison).

Offensive linemen

• Erik Magnuson, La Costa Canyon: First-team All-CIF in 2011. College: Michigan. NFL: 4 years with the 49ers and Raiders. Stats: Appeared in 10 games.

• Daniel Brunskill, Valley Center:  First-team All-CIF in 2011. College: San Diego State. NFL: Seven years and counting with the 49ers, Titans and Dolphins. Stats: Has appeared in 100 games.

• Scott Quessenberry, La Costa Canyon: Second-team All-CIF in 2011. College: UCLA. NFL: 5 years and counting with the Chargers and Texans. Stats: Has appeared in 79 games.

• David Quessenberry, La Costa Canyon: No All-CIF. College: San Jose State. NFL: Eight years and counting with the Texans, Titans, Bills, Dolphins and Rams. Stats: Has appeared in 89 games.

• Zach Thomas, Carlsbad: First-team All-CIF in 2015. College: San Diego State. NFL: 3 years with the Bears, Rams, Patriots and Texans. Stats: Appeared in 17 games.

Also considered: Mike Houghton (Mission Bay), Andrew Meyer (San Marcos), Jeremiah Kolone (Fallbrook), Sam Brenner (Oceanside).

Long snapper

• Joe Cardona, Granite Hills: No All-CIF. College: Navy. NFL: 11 years and counting with the Patriots and Dolphins. Stats: Has appeared in 169 games.

Kicker

• Jason Myers, Mater Dei Catholic: No All-CIF. College: Marist. NFL: 11 years and counting with the Jaguars, Jets and Seahawks. Stats: Has appeared in 162 games, hitting 270 field goals and 377 PATs.

Punters

• Matt Araiza, Rancho Bernardo: CIF Kicker of the Year in 2015, ’16, ’17: College: San Diego State. NFL: Second season with the Chiefs. Stats: Averaging 47.8 yards over 84 punts.

• Jake Bailey, Santa Fe Christian: CIF Kicker of the Year in 2014: College: Stanford. NFL: 7 years with the Patriots and Dolphins. Stats: 101 games, 360 punts, 46.3 yards-per-punt average.

• Ryan Plackemeier, Fallbrook: CIF Kicker of the Year in 2001: College: Wake Forest. NFL: 3 years with the Seahawks and Washington. Stats: 43 games, 236 punts, 42.2 yards-per-punt average.

Defensive linemen

• Cory Littleton, Mount Miguel: First-team All-CIF in 2011: College: Washington. NFL: 8 years with the Rams, Raiders, Panthers, Saints and Texans. Stats: 120 games, 543 tackles, 6 interceptions.

• Casey Toohill, Cathedral Catholic: First-team All-CIF in 2014. College: Stanford. NFL: 5 years with the Eagles, Redskins and Bills. Stats: 71 games, 100 tackles.

• Cameron Thomas, Carlsbad: Second-team All-CIF in 2017: College: San Diego State; NFL: 4 years and counting with the Cardinals, Chiefs and Browns. Stats: 48 games, 60 tackles.

• David Moa, Kearny: First-team All-CIF in 2021: College: Boise State; NFL: 2 years with the Giants and Chargers. Stats: 6 games, 5 tackles.

• Nate Chandler, Mira Mesa: No All-CIF. College: UCLA. NFL: 3 years with the Panthers. Stats: 37 games, 6 tackles.

Also considered: Kameron Cline (Patrick Henry), Russell Tialavea (Oceanside), Jamaar Jarrett (Mission Hills), Jaxson Moi (CathedraI Catholic), Gracen Halton (St. Augustine).

Linebackers

• Russell Allen, Vista: First-team All-CIF in 2003. College: San Diego State. NFL: 5 years with the Jaguars. Stats: 78 games, 332 tackles, 1 interception.

• Trevor Riley, Valley Center: Second-team All-CIF in 2005. College: Utah. NFL: 4 years with the Jets, Dolphins and Patriots. Stats: 37 games, 43 tackles.

• Fred Warner, Mission Hills: First-team All-CIF in 2013 and ’14. College: BYU. NFL: 8 years and counting with the 49ers. Stats: 121 games, 948 tackles, 10 interceptions.

• Devin Lloyd, Otay Ranch: Second-team All-CIF in 2016. College: Utah. NFL: 4 years and counting with the Jaguars. Stats: 54 games, 383 tackles.

• Caleb Johnson, Point Loma: No All-CIF. College: Houston Christian. NFL: 4 years and counting with the Bears and Jaguars. Stats: 65 games, 38 tackles.

Also considered: Travis Goethel (Vista), Jeremiah Kose (Vista), Sampson Niu (Madison), Tano Letuli (Cathedral Catholic)

Defensive backs

• JL Skinner, Point Loma: Second-team All-CIF in 2017. College: Boise State. NFL: 3 years and counting with Broncos. Stats: 25 games, 5 tackles.

• Leon Hall, Vista: First-team All-CIF in 2002. College: Michigan. NFL: 12 years with the Bengals, Giants, 49ers and Raiders. Stats: , 152 games, 544 tackles, 27 interceptions.

• Tony Jefferson, Eastlake: First-team All-CIF in 2007, ’08 and ’09. College: Oklahoma. NFL: 11 years and counting with the Cardinals, Ravens, 49ers, Giants and Chargers. Stats: 128 games, 543 tackles, 6 interceptions.

• Jimmy Wilson, Point Loma: No All-CIF. College: Montana. NFL: 5 years with the Falcons and Panthers. Stats: 73 games, 84 tackles.

• Terrell Burgess, San Marcos: First-team All-CIF in 2014. College: Utah. NFL: 5 years and counting with the Rams, Giants, Commanders and Saints. Stats: 50 games, 62 tackles.

• Jamar Taylor, Helix: First-team All-CIF in 2007. College: Boise State; NFL: 8 years with Dolphins, Browns, Cardinals, Broncos, Seahawks, Falcons and 49ers. Stats: 98 games, 264 tackles, 5 interceptions.

Also considered: Quenton Meeks (Del Norte), Luq Barcoo (Castle Park), Jordan Miller (Oceanside), Alijah Holder (Oceanside), Jose Perez (Oceanside).

Coach

• John Carroll, Oceanside: Went 164-27-3 from 2000 to 2014, going undefeated three times. The Pirates won 10 CIF San Diego Section championships and two state titles in those 15 seasons.