'Loaded': Explosive receiving corps to lead Tulare Union football during the 2024 season

Brayden Stevenson.

Demaje Riley.

Franklin Lockard.

Remember their names.

Those three give the Tulare Union High School one of the most explosive receiving corps in the state.

Stevenson, Riley and Lockard combined for more than 3,000 yards receiving last season to help the Tribe advance to the 2023 Central Section Division II football semifinals.

Stevenson, a junior, led all Tulare County pass catchers with 78 receptions for 1,236 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Riley burst onto the scene as a freshman with 67 catches for 1,019 yards and 15 touchdowns while Lockard, a junior, added 57 snags for 800 yards and 10 scores.

Is there another trio in the Central Section that can match their production?

"It's something that, you know, you don't get very often, if ever to have this kind of talent and have that much success that young," Tulare Union offensive coordinator D.J. Bennett said. "That's pretty rare. It's pretty exciting getting to work with those kids every day and seeing the improvement they built upon all the stuff they did last year."

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With Stevenson, Riley and Lockard anchoring the receiving corps, junior quarterback Jordan Crisp was the state's leading passer, throwing for 4,288 yards with 48 touchdowns. He averaged nearly 330 yards passing per game and is the architect of one of the state's most explosive offenses.

Stevenson, a two-time All-West Yosemite League first-team selection, has started since his freshman season. Listed at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, Stevenson has the power and speed to run away from defenders or break a tackle with his strength.

Stevenson is transitioning to running back as a junior but will also line up in the slot.

The 5-foot-8, 150-pound Riley played right away as a freshman last season and was one of the state's premier players in his class.

Stevenson and Riley both have scholarship offers from the University of Nevada.

Lockard, who also goes by the name Buddy, gives the Tribe size with his 6-foot-3 and 170-pound frame.

"They all have different skill sets," Bennett said. "Buddy being that tall, lengthy, really fast, vertical threat. Brayden and Demaj, they're so quick and they're so great with their hands that, gosh, you can do almost anything with them. They're almost like wild cards. You ask them to do something and they can do it. You can be as creative as you want or as simple as you want when you have talent like that."

Stevenson played running back in middle school so he's familiar with the position.

"It feels great," Stevenson said. "I can't wait to go back there and do the same thing I did my eighth-grade year."

A three-sport standout, Stevenson is also one of Tulare County's top all-around athletes. He plays football in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring.

The football field is where his future may be, though.

Stevenson has averaged 17 yards reception in his career and racked up 102 catches for 1,736 yards and 20 touchdowns.

"A lot of people would compare him to Deebo [Samuel] because he's very strong," Crisp said. "You could put him anywhere — running back, slot, kick return, punt return. You can put him anywhere and he'll work."

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Riley made an instant impact as a freshman, scoring his first career touchdown in his varsity debut, helping Tulare Union beat Mt. Whitney 54-13.

That success continued throughout that season as he scored at least one touchdown in 12 of the Tribe's 13 games. He had a career-best performance in a loss to Redwood, registering five receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns.

Riley made an impression on special teams, too, returning a punt 54 yards for a touchdown to spark Tulare Union to a 49-3 win over El Diamante.

"He was definitely the top freshman in the country," Crisp said. "He's very nice. His route running at his age, and the level of football he plays at, is very high. He has a purpose to play the game. He just doesn't do it for fun. It's amazing."

Riley didn't have much nerves as a freshman.

He averaged 15.2 yards per reception and culminated his first season of high school football as a 1,000-yard wideout.

How did Riley play so well right away?

"My guys," Riley said. "They always help me through if I needed help or anything. They were there. We were all younger, too, so the connection was always there. We just kept it going."

Longtime Tulare Union Darren Bennett has plugged in freshmen at the receiving position in the past.

Most notably, the record-setting Emoryie Edwards .

A four-year varsity player (2014-17), Edwards amassed 262 catches, a Central Section record, and 47 touchdowns in his Tulare Union career. He played college football at Fresno State.

Riley is believed to be the first Tulare County high school football player to post a 1,000-yard season as a freshman.

"He's had such a good knowledge of the game," Darren Bennett said of Riley. "He wants to be so good. During the summer, they let him play corner on defense. In a perfect world, he would never come off the field."

Crisp is the benefactor of his receiving corps.

The junior quarterback threw for 300 yards or more in 11 of the team's 13 games last season, including a career-high 406 yards and four touchdowns in a loss to defending West Yosemite League champion Hanford.

Crisp has already thrown for 5,022 yards in just 17 career games. He has completed nearly 73% of his passes in a Tribe uniform.

"It's loaded," Crisp said. "A lot of quarterbacks don't see as much athleticism, especially at the receiving corps. Buddy, tall guy. If you throw him a 50-ball, he's always ready to go get it. Brayden and Demaj, if you give them a little space, they'll work with it. Give them the ball, short or long, they'll make something happen."

Riley had praise for Crisp.

"A quarterback like Jordan, getting the ball in our hands, making us do what we do is great," Riley said. "It's just good."

Tulare Union kicks off the 2024 season versus St. Joseph on Aug. 23 at Bob Mathias Stadium. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

"It feels like we all could make that one-play touchdown," Riley said. "We're ready for it. Anybody can get the ball in their hands and we're gonna go score."

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 'Loaded': Explosive receiving corps to lead Tulare Union football during the 2024 season