Stockton-area football: Here are the Top 60 returners by position ahead of 2024-25 season

The countdown to the 2024-25 high school football season is real and the 209 is gnawing at the bit to get back on the field.

San Joaquin County is home to some of the most talented athletes who represented the area with pride and stuffed stat sheets last season. From speedy wide receivers who racked up thousands of yards in the air to beasts on the defensive line who were like quarterback magnets, last season was filled with star-studded players.

This season will be more of the same as schools across the county are returning big-time players across all positions. These athletes are back for more looking to prove they are the cream of the crop in their respective positions and give their teams a shot at a Sac-Joaquin Section blue banner.

The Record is highlighting some of the top SJ County returners for each position based on coaches' offseason reports and 2023-24 stats available to the Record, such as MaxPreps.

(Listed in alphabetical order by position and athletes)

ATH

David Goularte, junior, Tracy

2023-24 stats/notes: 387 rushing yards, 234 receiving yards, eight total touchdowns, 37 total tackles, four interceptions, 10 passes defended

Marcus Harrison, senior, Edison

2023-24 stats/notes: 400 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 688 receiving yards, 10 receiving touchdowns, 1,349 all-purpose yards

Sam Jimenez, senior, Escalon

2023-24 stats/notes: 1,019 receiving yards, 18 touchdowns, 41 total tackles (as defensive back), eight interceptions

Landen Ly, senior, Linden

2032-24 stats/notes: 929 rushing yards (sixth in SJS DIII), 12 rushing touchdowns, 14 total touchdowns, 1,090 all-purpose yards, 37 total tackles (as cornerback)

Corey Waters, junior, McNair

2023-24 stats/notes : 517 receiving yards (13th in SJS DII), four touchdowns, 25 total tackles, three interceptions

Jeremiah Williams, junior, McNair

2023-24 stats/notes: 105.4 receiving yards per game, 738 receiving yards (fifth in SJS DII), 11 total touchdowns, four interceptions, 29 total tackles

Cornerback

Jaylon Mays, senior, Lincoln

2023-24 stats/notes: Five interceptions (third in SJS DI), 41 total tackles, two tackles for loss

Ahmyri McGee-Hall, senior, St. Mary’s

2023-24 stats/notes: 39 total tackles, close to four tackles per game, three tackles for loss, one interception

Dru Orlando, senior, Ripon

2023-24 stats/notes: 25 total tackles, three interceptions, six passed deflected

Tajean Stallworth, senior, Edison

2023-24 stats/notes: 40 total tackles, two interceptions

Defensive end

Ryan Lewis, senior, Escalon

2023-24 stats/notes: 8.5 sacks (third in SJS DIV), 72 total tackles, six tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hurries, one interception

John Linke, senior, Mountain House

2023-24 stats/notes: Seven total tackles, one caused fumble, offensive lineman

Cassius Livers, senior, St. Mary’s

2023-24 stats/notes: 13 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack

Isaiah White, senior, Manteca

2023-24 stats/notes: 8.5 tackles per game, 93 total tackles (7th in SJS DII), 10 tackles for loss, foursacks

Defensive back

Amos Cady, junior, Ripon Christian

2023-24 stats/notes: Seven interceptions (ninth in SJS), 66 total tackles, six tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries

Elijah Gutierrez, senior, Tracy

2023-2024 stats/notes: 59 total tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, one caused fumble

Amarion Mckenzie, junior, Edison

2023-24 stats/notes: 76 total tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions

Charlie Wolfe, senior, Mountain House

2023-24 stats/notes: Four interceptions (eighth in SJS DIII), 27 total tackles, two sacks, 436 receiving yards, four total touchdowns

Defensive line

Manaalii Danielson, senior, St. Mary’s

2023-24 stats/notes: 60 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 4.6 tackles per game

Sean Teu, senior, Lathrop

2023-24 stats: Seven sacks (13th in SJS DV), 52 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss

More: Full circle moment: Derek Graves takes over as head coach of alma mater Chavez football

Defensive tackle

Logan De Jong, senior, Ripon Christian

2023-24 stats/notes: 78 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery

Joshua Mellion, senior, Manteca

2023-24 stats/notes: 36 total tackles, six tackles for loss

Sean Tetz, junior, Lodi

2023-24 stats/notes: 5.6 tackles per game, two sacks, 50 total tackles, four tackles for loss

Linebacker

Nasir Campbell, senior, Mountain House

2023-24 stats/notes: 21 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one caused fumble

Brock Felt, senior, Sierra

2023-24 stats/notes: 7.8 tackles per game, five sacks, two fumble recoveries, 78 total tackles

Michael Gonzales, junior, Stagg

2023-24 stats/notes: 113 total tackles (Most in SJ County, third in SJS DI), 11.3 tackles per game, five sacks

Eric Guevara, senior, Ripon

2023-24 stats/notes: Eight tackles per game, 64 total tackles, two tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, one interception

Ruben Moreno, senior, Manteca

2023-24 stats/notes: 66 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, two caused fumbles

Hector Torres, senior, Tokay

2023-24 stats/notes: 38 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, two tackles for loss, close to four tackles per game

Fernando Vargas, senior, Weston Ranch

2023-24 stats/notes: 74 total tackles, 8.2 tackles per game, five tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery

Offensive lineman

Josh Brown, senior, McNair

2023-24 stats/notes: Transfer from Franklin High School and played offensive lineman for three years on varsity

Evan Gaea, senior, St. Mary’s

2023-24 stats/notes: Played offensive lineman for Rams since he was a freshman, 3-star prospect (24/7 Sports)

Brady Rossi, senior, East Union

2023-24 stats/notes: 12 total tackles, four quarterback hurries (as Defensive Tackle)

Aydrien Williamson, senior, Lincoln

2023-24 stats/notes: 16 total tackles, one sack, 2.5 tackles for loss

Quarterback

Skyler Bell, junior, McNair

2023-24 stats/notes: 2,143 passing yards (fifth in SJS DII), 24 touchdowns, 55% completion, 15 interceptions, 2,220 total yards

Timmy “TK” Karagounis, senior, St. Mary’s

2023-24 stats/notes: Transfer from Tokay, 1,020 passing yards (13th in SJS DII), 51.4% completion, 11 touchdowns, six interceptions

Matthew Schallberger, senior, Linden

2023-24 stats/notes: 2,342 passing yards (15th in SJS), 22 passing TDs, four rushing TDs, 51.1% completion, 10 interceptions

Kirk Simoni, junior, East Union

2023-24 stats/notes: 2,093 passing yards (sixth in SJS DIV), 57.9% completion, 22 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions, one rushing touchdown

Zak Willson, senior, Sierra

2023-24 stats/notes: 2,317 passing yards (fourth in SJS DIV), 23 TDs, 58% completion, 10 interceptions, six rushing touchdowns

Josiah Wilson, junior, Kimball

2023-24 stats/notes: 1,210 passing yards (13th in SJS DIV), 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 1,627 total yards

Running back

Julian Benton, senior, Stagg

2023-24 stats/notes: 1,121 rushing yards (sixth in SJS DI), eight touchdowns, seven over 100 rushing yard games, 1,191 total yards

Jamani Hampton, senior, West

2023-24 stats/notes: 691 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, 111 receiving yards, 52 total tackles (as a linebacker on defense)

Nikko Juarez, sophomore, Manteca

2023-24 stats/notes: 480 rushing yards, seven touchdowns

Andre Muqhar, senior, Lathrop

2023-24 stats/notes: 883 rushing yards (12th in SJS DV), 13 touchdowns, 81 total points

Jermaine Nance, senior, Kimball

2023-24 stats/notes: 917 rushing yards (seventh in SJS DIV), eight touchdowns, 1,262 all-purpose yards

Jordin Thomas, senior, Lincoln

2023-24 stats/notes: 2,095 rushing yards (19th in California), 29 total touchdowns (fourth in SJS), 174 points (sixth in SJS), 191 rushing yards per game

Trevor Van Elderen, senior, Ripon Christian

2023-24 stats/notes: 592 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns, 902 all-purpose yards, 11 total touchdowns

Safety

Chris Chavez, senior, Manteca

2023-24 stats/notes: 42 total tackles, two interceptions, two caused fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two tackles for loss

Oscar Suarez, senior, Bear Creek

2023-24 stats/notes: Eight interceptions (11th in California), 17 total tackles

Chase Whiting, senior, Lodi

2023-24 stats/notes: 31 total tackles, three interceptions, 67 total interception yards

Dax Weber, senior, Linden

2023-24 stats/notes: 41 total tackles, three interceptions, close to four tackles per game, eight total touchdowns (on offense as ATH)

More: 'The spark is back': Rodney Daniels takes over as head coach of East Union football

Special teams

Gavin Davis, senior, Linden

2023-24 stats/notes: 36.20 kickoff return yards per game (15th in California), 371 kickoff return yards

Gabriela Gonzales, senior, Tokay

2023-24 stats/notes: 44 total points as Tokay’s kicker, 38 PATs made, three-year varsity player

Wide receiver

Jackson Fay, junior, East Union

2023-24 stats/notes: 704 receiving yards (sixth in SJS DIV), eight touchdowns

Osani Gayles, sophomore, St. Mary’s

2023-24-stats/notes: 315 receiving yards, 201 rushing yards, six total touchdowns, 516 all-purpose yards

Terrence Hampton Jr, senior, Lincoln

2023-24 stats/notes: 287 receiving yards, two touchdowns

Langdon Horace, junior, Edison

2023-24 stats/notes: 855 receiving yards (ninth in SJS DI), eight receiving touchdowns, 12 total touchdowns, two punt return touchdowns, 1,228 all-purpose yards

Kenneth Moore III, junior, St. Mary’s

2023-24 stats/notes: 986 receiving yards, Seven touchdowns (tied for most on the team), nine total touchdowns, 1,919 all-purpose yards, 11th in California in return yards (747)

Isaac Sagapolu, senior, Edison

2023-24 stats/notes: 796 receiving yards (sixth in SJS DI), 10 touchdowns, 796 all-purpose yards

Deandre Smith, junior, Linden

2023-24 stats/notes: 1,039 receiving yards (eighth in SJS), 10 touchdowns

Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. She can be reached at sbelt@recordnet.com or on Twitter @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton-area football: Here are the Top 60 returners by position ahead of 2024-25 season