Counting down Tucson's best high school football players, from 10 to 1

During the lead-up to the 2022 high school football season, the Star counted down the best players in Southern Arizona. Here's the countdown, from No. 10 to No. 1:

Name: Cameron Hackworth

Rundown: Hackworth is a 5-foot-9-inch, 160-pound junior quarterback at Sabino High School.

Who he is: Sabercats coach Ryan McBrayer what kind of quarterback he was getting when Hackworth enrolled in 2020.

As a quarterback for Tucson Youth Football’s Southwest Rams, Hackworth was a well-known player in the youth football scene in Arizona.

The freshman studied under star quarterback A.J. Skaggs as a Sabino freshman, then took over a sophomore. Hackworth led Sabino to an 8-3 record as a sophomore, passing for 2,174 yards and 26 touchdowns with just four interceptions. He also led the Sabercats in rushing with 737 yards and nine touchdowns.

“He had a ton of hype in youth football, winning all these championships. Any time you get a kid who has that kind of hype, you wonder how they’re going to be as a person when things get hard or if he has to take a backseat to somebody,” McBrayer said. “But he had a bunch of success and (then) he’s a sophomore having success before he can even drive (a car) — and he came back even hungrier than ever. … He’s not satisfied as a ‘super sophomore,’ he wants to push to the next level.”

Hackworth, who has studied NFL stars Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers in the last year, called last season “a very good learning experience.”

“I got to see those Friday night lights for the first time, experience high school defenses, and it taught me a lot about facing opponents,” he said. “Watching film also helps, practicing during the week — overall, it was just a good learning experience, and it made me a better player for this year.”

Sabino qualified for last year’s Class 3A state playoffs as the No. 9 seed, then upset eighth-seeded Show Low 29-20 on the shoulders of Hackworth’s 200-yard, three-touchdown performance. American Leadership Academy-Gilbert North ended the Sabercats’ season a week later.

“We didn’t like the feeling we had when we lost that game, so we know we have to come back harder this year,” he said. “We can’t go into the playoffs thinking, ‘Oh, we had a great record, look at all these teams we beat, now we can slow it down.’ No, we have to keep the tempo up and keep going and prepare for the playoffs.’ … This year, we want that state title.”

Proof he’s good: Hackworth’s statistics pop, but his ability to read defenses, time throws to wide receivers and adjust on the fly make him one of the top performers in the city.

“He’s got all the athletic talent in the world. He can put balls in spots that not many guys can do,” McBrayer said. “But what really sets him apart is the mental game.

“Explaining to a 16-year-old why we’re throwing the ball to different spots, where we want the defense to be, and instead of just running plays, he’s done a good job of setting up his receivers and running backs and linemen to be successful, because he knows when a play is supposed to hit and how it’s designed to hit.”

Hackworth says the team goal is to win a state championship; personal goals are to pass for over 4,000 yards and rush for over 1,000.

He said it: “He’s able to do what coaches dream of. We draw up a play and when things break down or go wrong or get messed up, he’s able to take a negative play and turn it into a positive play. He makes us look smart, which I appreciate a ton. He makes things happen that a normal athlete wouldn’t be able to. He takes what works on paper, and adds another dimension to it, which makes him special.” — McBrayer

Names: Kaspen Colbert and Kason Colbert

Rundown: Kaspen is a 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound senior running back and defensive end; Kason is a 6-1, 220-pound junior linebacker and tight end.

Who they are: The Colbert brothers have made the most of settling into their new life in Tucson over the last two years.

They Colberts lived in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Pennsylvania and Kentucky before moving to Tucson. Fortunately for Kaspen and Kason, they’ve had each other to lean on.

“It’s gotten easier each time,” Kaspen said.

Their father, Danon Colbert, accepted a job at a correctional facility in Southern Arizona, and prior to the move, the Colberts traveled to Tucson to look at potential schools — and football programs..

The Colberts first visited Cienega, but the front office was closed. Their next stop: Mica Mountain, a brand new high school on Valencia Road near Houghton Road, where former longtime Cienega head coach Nemer Hassey is principal, ex-Sabino head coach Jay Campos is the assistant principal and Pat Nugent — who formerly coached Cienega, Pima College, Canyon del Oro and Flowing Wells — leads the football program.

“Nemer Hassey never left the building,” Nugent joked. “He gave them a tour, and that was really the only school they looked at. They decided to come to Mica Mountain.

“Hassey called me and said, ‘I got you two (Division) I guys,’ and you almost don’t believe it when you hear about it, but then you walk through the door — they’re two specimens. For a young program to have two kids we can rely on, it’s special.”

Said Kaspen Colbert: “We didn’t really have a choice in the end, but we chose Mica because everything was new and we wanted to help build the program up. Knowing that Coach Nugent and Mr. Hassey came from Cienega, it was kind of a green light to come to Mica.”

Added Kason Colbert: “Our school in Kentucky was also a freshly built school, so we’re kind of used to the new environment, so we just wanted to stay in it. … Knowing that Coach Nugent was going to be our head coach, he had a good reputation. I knew he was going to be a coach and loves his players and is always respectful.”

So, what do the transplants think of Tucson?

“First off, it’s hot,” Kaspen Colbert said. “But the people here are very welcoming, and there’s a lot of people, especially at school.”

While the Colbert brothers use their athletic talents for football, they’ve grown up playing multiple sports, including basketball, lacrosse, tennis, golf and baseball. However, football had a different feel to it than the others.

“Ever since I put the pads on, I fell in love with it and have been playing ever since,” Kason said.

The first season at Mica Mountain wasn’t ideal for a pair of high-level transplants. During the Thunderbolts’ inaugural season in 2021, the team competed at the junior varsity level and had a 3-3 record, with wins over Coolidge, Douglas and Amphi. In the age of online ranking systems, the Colberts are the rare teenagers who shy away from social media.

“I never liked putting my business out there,” Kaspen Colbert said. “I like staying to myself and — I don’t know — I was just never really a big fan of it.”

Mica Mountain is now playing at the Class 4A varsity level, and coaches are hopeful the Thunderbolts will take off in Year 2. Mica Mountain has a 10-game schedule that includes a season-opener at Ironwood Ridge, a road game at Salpointe Catholic and the regular-season finale at home against CDO, Nugent’s former team.

“They should’ve gone to Cienega, because it’s a major program, and these poor kids were playing JV football last year and dominating every play of the game. They’re special individuals. It’s great for us, but for them, they should be in the limelight and getting Division I offers,” Nugent said. “We’ve only played a few varsity games, so they haven’t been looked at, and they’re not active on social media. They’ve done a few camps here and there, and they’re late-bloomers, but they’ll shine this year on the field and they’ll be a hit. They’ll be late recruiting them, but I think a lot of teams will be interested.”

Proof they’re good: Kaspen Colbert rushed for 295 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries a year ago, averaging 9.2 yards per rush.

Nugent is expecting a breakout season for Kason, the younger brother.

“Kason is one of the better players I’ve had on the defensive side of the ball. He’s a violent kid who flies around, but is the nicest kid, 4.0 student and a freak of nature,” Nugent said. “I know numbers don’t mean a lot to people, but he’s a kid who benches 300 pounds, hang cleans 315, squatted 495, then he ran a 4.6 (40-yard dash). That’s a special kind of kid that doesn’t happen often.”

Nugent compared Kason Colbert to former CDO star and Boise State linebacker Aaron Tevis.

“This kid is as good as Aaron Tevis ever was — and Aaron Tevis is in my top five of all time, no question,” he said.

He said it: “For our program, I just hope they become leaders, because they’re two unbelievable athletes, but are guys who are quiet and soft-spoken. … Those two need to step up and be healthy, so they can play dominant football. I believe they’re two of the best kids in Tucson. They need to get looked at, because I think colleges will fall in love with them, because they’re physical specimens.” — Nugent

Name: Tyler Mustain

Rundown: Mustain is a 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound senior linebacker and running back at Pusch Ridge Christian.

Who he is: Football runs deep in the Mustain household.

Mustain’s older brother, C.J., plays for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, while the youngest Mustain, Bubba, is set to quarterback Pusch Ridge Christian this season as a junior. The Lions open their season Saturday against Waddell American Leadership Academy-West Foothills.

The Mustains “just come from good stock,” said Pusch Ridge Christian coach Kent Middleton. “They come from a good gene pool, and they love their sports. They love their athletics, they love competing and they’re competitors. It’s a pleasure to see that in our program.”

Tyler and Bubba Mustain often get chippy at practice, though the older brother says there’s “no animosity.”

“Me and him are always competitive, so we trash-talk each other in practice and that’s pretty enjoyable to me,” he said.

Tyler Mustain is also expected to play running back for the Lions, but his domain is on the other side of the ball.

“I like playing linebacker a lot, because I’m in the middle of everything, so I always have an opportunity to make a play,” Mustain said. “I like that aspect of it. Plus, I can read something and call it to the defensive line. If I see something, I try to exploit it, and I enjoy that aspect of it as well.”

Mustain, a two-time Class 3A South Defensive Player of the Year, has 189 tackles, 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles over his varsity career.

“He doesn’t have a second gear; it’s always full-go,” Middleton said. “His motor is constantly going. He doesn’t take any plays off and certainly doesn’t take any reps off in practice. It’s fun to watch, and we have to tell him to not dive for footballs in practice. Sometimes we have to tell him to slow down, because he only knows one speed, and that’s full-go.

“Very intelligent and very physical. I can’t say enough about Tyler, honestly. He’s a one-in-a-million football player. His work ethic is incredible, he’s strong and his practice habits are fantastic. He’s got a 4.2 GPA — he’s just the total package, there’s no doubt about it.”

Mustain grew up a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan, and always studied Sean Lee; now, it’s Micah Parsons, the 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Aside from football, Mustain plays midfielder for the Oro Valley Wolverines, a local club lacrosse team.

“Yeah, I’ll probably retire from lacrosse when I go on to play at the next level,” Mustain said.

Proof he’s good: In May, Mustain landed a scholarship offer from Northern Arizona while on an official visit to Flagstaff.

“I was very excited. I was thrilled. When I got the offer, I was at NAU for their junior day. … Couple of my buddies were there to walk around the campus,” Mustain said. “(Pusch Ridge Christian defensive end) Will Way — we’ve been best friends since the first grade — was there, so being able to celebrate that with him is something I’ll never forget.”

He said it: “I think Tyler is definitely a Division I football player. He’s the total package. He may not be the fastest, but he makes up for it because he’s so intelligent and he knows the game so well. And he’s physical. Boy, is he physical. He’ll knock you into the next world.” — Middleton

Names: Savaughn Berryhill and Shamar Berryhill

Rundown: Savaughn Berryill is a 6-foot, 180-pound junior wide receiver and safety; His brother Shamar is a 6-foot, 180-pound sophomore wide receiver and linebacker.

Who they are: Two of five Berryhill brothers, Savaughn and Shamar “grew up around sports,” Shamar said. “It’s always been a great household. We’ve always been in competition and we just make ourselves better all the time.”

The oldest Berryhill brother, Stanley Berryhill III, was a Mountain View High School and UA standout who’s now in training camp with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted rookie.

Seeing Stanley shine “makes you want to work harder, because you see your brother be where you want to be, and I just want to follow in his footsteps, so it’s really cool,” Savaughn Berryhill said.

Shamar and Savaughn Berryhill compete against each other at practice, in the weight room and sometimes during games.

“They’re both talented kids and they play the same positions in the highlighted offense, so there’s some internal and external competition: ‘If my brother is going to get 100 yards, then how can I go for 110? Or how can I one-up him?’” Sabino coach Ryan McBrayer said. “They’re pushing each other hard every day at practice, and our other receivers see that, our running backs see that, and our offensive linemen are excited to see guys break tackles. … Obviously having older brother Stan make it and having a shot in the NFL, that’s who they are competing with. When you have athletes who are talented, but now they have the work ethic, now it becomes special.”

The Berryhill brothers showed Friday why they’re expected to be two of the city’s top pass-catchers this season.

Starting together for the first time since their youth football days, Shamar and Savaughn Berryhill combined for five catches for 144 yards and a touchdown in Sabino’s 42-20, season-opening win over Coolidge.

Shamar was named Arizona Bowl Player of the Game.

With two Berryhills now a part of the offense, Sabino star quarterback Cameron Hackworth, who was No. 10 on the Star’s top players countdown, has options. Sabino is hopeful the two brothers will lead to more touchdowns — and wins.

“We’re both going to be open,” Shamar Berryhill said. “It’s just a matter of who he’s going to throw the ball to.”

Proof they’re good: Shamar Berryhill caught the attention of UA wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings when Sabino participated in a team camp this summer.

The Sabercats shined in a 7-on-7 tournament the following day, beating powerhouse Chandler Hamilton. Shamar Berryhill caught three touchdowns, including the game-winning score.

It wasn’t longer before he had a scholarship offer form UA coach Jedd Fisch.

“It’s a dream come true,” Shamar said. “I grew up watching Arizona, and even though they haven’t really been winning, (so) getting an offer from my dream school is a blessing.”

Said McBrayer: “Any time you get a guy with an opportunity to go to college and have it paid for, that’s what it’s all about.

“That’s why we do the 7-on-7 camps and the circuits with our big men. We try to push them all over the place,” McBrayer added. “We go to Phoenix, NAU, Arizona — just to get in front of these coaches. When it pays off and some kid has the opportunity to achieve their dream, it’s pretty special. … I think Savaughn is about to explode onto the scene.

“Even though he’s been starting for us since his freshman year, he’s turned into a No. 1 legit dude at wide receiver. While Shamar got his first U of A offer, I think a lot of stuff is coming for Savaughn after this junior season.”

He said it: “They’re just super intelligent with their routes. They know how to get open. You can take a route tree, and they’re able to diagnose what coverages are and say, ‘OK, if I run this dig route or a 10-yard out (route), this is how I stem a defender and create another window that maybe another receiver wouldn’t have had.’ That ability to diagnose, find space and make it easier for a quarterback, I know Cam loves it, and I love seeing them get open. It’s a pretty big blessing.” — McBrayer

Name: Jordan Thomas

Rundown: Thomas is a 5-foot-10-inch, 175-pound senior running back and cornerback.

Who he is: For the last two seasons, Thomas dominated for the neighboring Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks, with 125 carries for 1,006 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging nearly 92 yards per game.

However, Thomas transferred to CDO in the offseason because Ironwood Ridge “wasn’t a good space for what I was trying to do with my future.”

Due to Arizona Interscholastic Association’s transfer rules, Thomas will have to sit out the first five games of this season, and will return Oct. 14 for the Dorados’ contest at Douglas.

“That’s definitely the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make so far, because when you transfer, you’re betting on yourself, especially since I have to sit out the first five games of the season,” Thomas said. “It was difficult, but you do what you gotta do to move forward and better your career and what you’re trying to do.”

When Thomas returns to the lineup, his big-play ability is going to be the ideal counterpart to CDO junior running back Kayden Luke, “who is just a bruiser.”

“I think we can make some noise with that guy who’s a bruiser, then give the ball to a kid who can go 90 (yards),” said Dorados head coach Dustin Peace. “That’s going to be a game-changer for us.

“The thing we lacked last year was being explosive, scoring touchdowns from 50 or 60 yards. We didn’t have that, and he’s definitely that kind of kid, so I think that changes who we are offensively.”

Added Peace: “Without a doubt, he’s an explosive player. He’s a great young man just by the way he works. Everything that he’s done, he’s just been so humble. He’s quiet, but he’s competitive, and he’s fitting in great. But on top of that, I didn’t realize he was so talented.”

Last season, Peace’s Dorados defeated Ironwood Ridge 26-22 and held Thomas to 41 yards on eight carries. The Dorados see a different, much better version of Thomas in practice.

“Having played him for the last two years, you see him on film and you’re like, ‘OK, he’s good,’ but having the chance to work with him daily, he’s got to be one of the best cornerbacks we’ve ever had at CDO,” Peace said. “He’ll get attention for running the ball and catching the ball, because he’s so explosive, but I think he’s a Division I (cornerback).

“In high school, it’s tough because if you’re good at corner, no one is going to throw the ball and they’re going to throw the other way. It’s a hard spot to get a lot of attention, but man, he’s going to complement what we do.”

So far, everything has gone according to plan for Thomas as he prepares for his final high school football season.

“Talk about workers,” Thomas said of CDO. “From the first day I came in, everyone was just working, so it keeps me motivated to keep pushing. Even when you can’t go anymore, you have to keep going, because everyone else is. It’s just a good group of people to be around. They’ve been super open and helpful to me, and they’re just a good group of guys.”

Proof he’s good: In Thomas’ final season at Ironwood Ridge, he was named the Class 5A Sonoran Region Player of the Year and earned all-region honors as a kick returner.

During offseason 7-on-7 tournaments earlier this summer, Thomas was the Dorados’ top performer at wide receiver and cornerback.

“During 7-on-7, he just took over,” Peace said. “Every event we were at, he was the best receiver and best corner. Every event. He’s a great football player — both sides of the ball.”

He said it: “He’s an all-around football player — offense, defense, special teams — and just a great young man, too. I’m super surprised that he hasn’t gotten any Division I attention. I think — I don’t think, I know — he’s a Division I-caliber kid. If we have the season we have, he’ll have the attention he deserves.” — Peace

Name: Will Way

Rundown: Way is a 6-foot-4-inch, 250-pound senior defensive lineman and tight end for the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions.

Who he is: Way is a Pusch Ridge Christian lifer.

In middle school, he served as the Lions’ waterboy and ballboy.

At that time, the 5-10, basketball-playing Way mulled his sports future. He played basketball and football, and could see himself focusing on either sport.

Ultimately, he decided to use basketball as a way to stay in shape for football — not the other way around.

“In basketball, you’re constantly running around and going through motions, so the cardio really helped me, especially club ball, because we’d play tournaments on the weekend, then I’d return to football Monday through Friday,” Way said. “That helped me with conditioning.”

Way sprouted to 6-1 the summer before his freshman year, and added a few more inches the following year. Despite the added height, he knew he had made the right decision to focus on football. He made the Lions’ varsity team as a freshman.

“Doing that my freshman year made me want to focus more on football. I developed into more of a football body than a basketball body,” Way said. “All of those together made me want to shift my focus to football.”

In his high school career, Way has totaled 99 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 16 stops for loss along with seven catches for 104 yards as a tight end. During the Lions’ 37-7, season-opening win over Waddell American Leadership Academy-West Foothills on Saturday night, Way had four tackles.

Proof he’s good: Way attended a football camp at San Diego State in July, which had a plethora of college coaches from the “Pac-12, Big Ten — wherever you could think of” in attendance, he said.

Washington State defensive tackles coach Pete Kaligis couldn’t help but focus his attention on Way. It wasn’t long before Way earned his first Power 5 offer from the Cougs.

“He introduced himself to me and said, ‘I’m going to be following you for the rest of the camp.’ I thought, ‘Whoa, that’s pretty cool, but I didn’t think anything of it at the time,’” Way said. “Once he followed me around camp, it was like I was already one of his players. He would give me tips for drills and talk to me about what I needed to improve on.

“At the end of the camp, he asked me about my offers, and at the time it was (Northern Arizona), South Dakota and Idaho State, so once I told him that, he said, ‘Well, if I pull the trigger on you now, everyone is going to want to hop on the train as well.’ … He told me right then that I would have an offer from Washington State. Going into a camp and then leaving with an offer, that’s something I’ve always wanted to have happen, selfishly. Leaving that camp was very gratifying. It’s a cool experience to have.”

Way is the second Pusch Ridge Christian senior to hold a Division I offer; linebacker linebacker Tyler Mustain was also offered by NAU.

“I think that’s huge. For him and I to be those two Division I kids to come out of Pusch Ridge is huge. There haven’t been too many football players to come out of here,” Way said. “We pump out D-I athletes through baseball, beach volleyball. But for football, there hasn’t been too many true Division I players, and I think for Tyler and I to play at the next level is huge for us.

“But to do it at the Pac-12, Power 5 level? That’s a huge opportunity that I’ve been presented with. It’s really an honor to have an offer of that caliber.”

Way toured the WSU’s campus this summer after previously visiting Idaho, and plans to take an official visit to Pullman for the Cougars’ final nonconference game against Colorado State on Sept. 17.

Wherever Way ultimately decides to play collegiately, coach Kent Middleton said he can see him playing either on the offensive or defensive line.

“Will is an exceptionally big athlete. He has really big feet, very athletic and can catch anything you throw at him,” Middleton said. “He knows how to use his body and we’re going to see tremendous improvement from Will compared to last year. He has a lot of confidence now. I think he’s got the potential to dominate football games. I really do. He can put on easily 20 more pounds. He’s got a great body and great frame and has a great work ethic.

“When college coaches look at him, they can just see the potential. When you look at his feet, his athleticism and size, he’s definitely somebody that’s going to get noticed.”

He said it: “I shake my head sometimes, because he’s probably 260 pounds right now, but has a good frame. None of it is belly. He dominates the weight room, and if he puts on 20 more pounds, he’s definitely a Division I football player, there’s no doubt about it. I don’t see many guys as big and athletic as he is. And he’s got a mean streak in him, too, and when he realizes it, he’ll dominate games. He’s going to be a nightmare this season.” — Middleton

Name: Luis Cordova

Rundown: Cordova is a 6-foot-4-inch, 270-pound junior offensive tackle for the Salpointe Catholic Lancers.

Who he is: Cordova has spent the last two seasons battling against Lancers edge rusher Elijah Rushing — a 6-6, 245-pound five-star 2024 prospect who is considered one of the top defensive players for his recruiting cycle.

Iron sharpens iron, right?

“Going against him is a privilege. He’s the best edge rusher in the nation, so it doesn’t get much better than that,” Cordova said. “I mean, you’re playing against the best of the best, so it’s a true blessing. I enjoy the moments with him, going head-to-head with him. For this year, I know I’m going to have really good edge rushers on me. … Going against him prepares me a lot. He makes it easier.”

Matching up against Rushing improved Cordova’s physical abilities; a brutal shoulder injury improved his mental strength.

During Salpointe Catholic’s 49-21 loss to the Scottsdale Saguaro in the regular season, Cordova, the Lancers’ left tackle, opened up out of his two-point stance for pass protection. His task for the night: block Tristan Monday, one of the state’s top edge rushers now at the University of Wisconsin.

“I was kicking out, he cut inside and then took my shoulder with him,” Cordova said. “My ligaments were torn and there was just a whole bunch of stuff wrong with it. I played the rest of the season, because I didn’t think it was going to be severe.”

The Lancers fell to Scottsdale Horizon in the postseason. Cordova underwent surgery on his right shoulder two weeks later.

“The doctor told me how bad it was and that I needed surgery,” he said. “He told me the consequences are severe if I don’t get this done ASAP. It was hard at first, just wrapping my head around the fact that I just had shoulder surgery. But I didn’t let it get to my head.”

Cordova rehabbed for six months alongside Carla Garrett, Salpointe Catholic’s highly regarded strength and conditioning coach.

“Now he’s back,” Salpointe Catholic coach Eric Rogers said. “He’s benching and he’s got all of his strength. We expect him to be ready for Week One, because all is checking out right now. But it was a big deal, and it was a hard offseason for him in a lot of ways. From a mental standpoint, he’s really grown and matured and his ready to lead this team.”

Cordova could contribute on defense this season. A newcomer to Class 6A, Salpointe Catholic opens the season on Sept. 2 at Scottsdale Chaparral.

“He’s going to have to play some D-tackle for us this year. He’s big and strong enough for the position, and I think he can be a big-time Division One D-tackle in college,” Rogers said. “I wouldn’t rule that out, and I’ve told him that. … He’s a tough, mean kid, and that’s always suitable for that side of the ball.”

Proof he’s good: Cordova said college interest has “kinda slowed down because of the surgery,” but impressed Arizona Wildcats offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll at a big-man camp at the UA last summer. Arizona remains Cordova’s lone scholarship offer.

“My communication with the U of A has been amazing,” Cordova said. “I talk to Coach Carroll every week and we keep a bond. I’m in pretty good contact with them.”

He said it: “He’s very cerebral. He’s got a 3.9-4.0 GPA, he really understands the game and he’s very coachable. That’s probably what stands out the most. He can adjust on the fly. We’ll be in the middle of a drive, we’ll yell something at him and he just gets it. That’s a special trait, and not all of them can do that.” — Rogers

Editor’s note: The Star is counting down the top high school football players in Tucson. Up next: Canyon del Oro lineman Sa’Kylee Woodard.

Name: Sa’Kylee Woodard

Rundown: Woodard is a 6-foot-3-inch, 285-pound junior offensive lineman and defensive tackle CDO.

Who he is: Woodard made the varsity team as a freshman in 2020 and played four games during the condensed — and eventually canceled — season.

“Having to go through that, it taught me discipline and (how to handle) adversity,” Woodard said. “But the four games I was able to play in, I was very grateful because I got what most didn’t. I took advantage of it and I’m just very grateful.”

Since then?

“I’ve grown so much since my freshman year in so many ways, given I was only able to play four games my first year,” he said. “But then I was able to get a full season last year. I’m in the best form right now.”

Woodard was a force as a sophomore, helping CDO post a 7-5 record that included a playoff win over Lake Havasu. Woodard team with 18 “pancake blocks” during his sophomore campaign, according to Maxpreps.com.

“It was my first real season, so I got to really feel like a varsity football player,” Woodard said. “But this year, it’s all gas and no brakes. Being around my guys, I can tell that we’re ready this year. I’m ready.”

CDO opens its season on Sept. 2 at home against Walden Grove.

Proof he’s good: When Woodard was a freshman at CDO, he was certain his future was on the defensive line.

“Going into high school, I thought I was the meanest and dirtiest defensive tackle — and I was only going to play defense,” he said.

But things changed.

“If I were to choose one position, it would be on offense, because I like seeing the holes for my running backs to run through — and put people on their back,” he said.

CDO coach Dustin Peace isn’t sure what side of the ball Woodard will play on when he plays collegiately.

“That’s a trick question. I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve been toying with that back-and-forth. I think he’s gravitating towards the offensive side, but that’s based on what the team needs, because we need him to play offense. … He’s more impactful for us putting points on the board, when he can control the line of scrimmage and get our playmakers an opportunity to do that.

“When he gets to the next level, he has an opportunity to be an either-or guy, but it’s all up to him. One school may want him for this, while the other wants him for that.”

The UA is recruiting Woodard as an offensive lineman. The Wildcats offered Woodard a scholarship following his freshman season.

“I’m very appreciative of the scholarship they offered me my freshman year, because they took a chance on me first, and that shows me they care and see the potential, so I commend them for that,” Woodard said of the Wildcats. “Then Arizona as a whole, growing up and watching them being good, then being bad, then good again — there’s never been consistency. I really believe that the U of A with Coach Jedd Fisch is going to be consistent and he’s going to build something that the U of A hasn’t had in years.”

He said it: “He’s gotta show his dominance, because any other high school football kid going up against a kid like that, he should be dominating consistently. He dominated last year, but didn’t do it consistently — and a lot of it had to do with his level of conditioning and maturity. But now he’s gotta show that next step and dominate. We take off when he takes off and shows that kind of attitude. … Now he’s gotta be more of a bully.” — Peace

Name: Jack Endean

Rundown: Endean is a 6-foot-6-inch, 290-pound senior offensive tackle for the Tanque Verde Hawks.

Who he is: “Two-a-days” are a tradition as old as high school football itself. Jack Endean makes it three. His morning workouts are followed by physical therapy, weight lifting, football practice and then “another lift in after practice,” he said. In between, he watches practice film and reads books. His current read: “Battle Cry: Waging and Winning the War Within” by Jason Wilson.

As for his diet: “Pretty much anything and everything,” Endean joked.

Endean is entering his final season at Tanque Verde after transferring from Salpointe Catholic prior to the 2020 season. Last season, the Hawks had their first winning season in program history with a 7-3 record. Now, they’ll try to double-down in 2022.

“We’ve been working on getting bigger, stronger, faster and just connecting as a group. The guys are working hard and some of the younger guys are working,” Endean said. “We’ve spent a lot of time in the weight room, out on the field and we’re just crafting our skills together and working well as a team.”

Life at Tanque Verde wasn’t always easy. Prior to its 2020 hiring addition of coach Jay Dobyns, a former Arizona Wildcat who previously served as an assistant at Salpointe under longtime leader Dennis Bene, Tanque Verde was a combined 4-26 in the previous three seasons.

“We were blessed at Salpointe to have a culture of winning and have top-performing athletes. When I came to Tanque Verde, it’s no secret, this place was a dumpster fire — the football program was at least,” Dobyns said. “The biggest part has been convincing kids who never had athletic success that they were winners and that they were capable of winning if they followed the program, and they jumped in with both feet and took it under water with them.”

Lately, Tanque Verde has been winning — and Endean has played a massive role in the turnaround.

Proof he’s good: Endean is among the top prospects in Arizona for the 2023 recruiting class.

“It’s a pretty easy sell,” Dobyns said. “When you put eyes on him in person, it sells itself. His film sells it.”

Endean committed to Oklahoma State in December, choosing the Cowboys over offers from Michigan State, Arizona and Cal, among others. OSU offensive line coach Charlie Dickey played on the Wildcats’ O-line when Dobyns was a receiver.

“Those two are very much alike,” Dobyns said of Endean and Dickey. “Charlie was a vicious competitor. He was a leader on our team and guys wanted to play for him and follow him. Charlie made players better in the huddle, and Jackie is a lot like that.”

Endean said Oklahoma State’s culture is “second to none.”

“The environment they have there is awesome, and Coach Dickey and Coach (Mike) Gundy do a great job making you feel comfortable as a person and not just as a player. We have a phone call each week. (Dickey) checks in to see how I’m doing, how practices are going — both here and in Stillwater,” said Endean. “He’ll talk about how his family is doing, how my family is doing, what’s going on in school, what’s going on outside of football. … That stuff has really helped with a relationship that’s not completely based around football.”

He said it: “Jackie, in addition to being a great football player, he’s a great leader and a great teammate. He’s dominating physically but he’s also a supreme athlete. He’s got great feet, very strong, he’s a gym rat, very old-school — like, you can’t give Jack Endean enough work. He’ll do the work you give him, then go find more work on his own. As a coach, you love those kids. He’s just one of those old-school gym rats.” — Dobyns

Name: Elijah Rushing

Rundown: Rushing is a 6-foot-6-inch, 245-pound junior defensive end for Salpointe Catholic.

Who he is: As a 12-year-old playing youth football in Tucson, Rushing was already in a class of his own.

Since then, he has blossomed into one of the top players in Southern Arizona and arguably the best prospect in the state for the 2024 recruiting cycle.

“I’ve seen the rewards of playing football,” Rushing said. “When I was new to it, I was a nameless player in the community, then through hard work and having fun with it, I started to make a name for myself. I ended up making a name for myself and becoming who I am today. … Then I understood the game more and it slowed down for me, and so I saw that I was ahead of a few of my peers. Once I saw that, I just had confidence in myself and my abilities to play this sport.”

Rushing has two brothers and one sister. An older brother, Cruz, is a freshman walk-on at Florida. It was easy for the Rushings to stay motivated.

“We always worked out together and pushed each other to get where we’re at,” Rushing said.

The Rushing brothers shared the field on defense last season for a Lancers team that went 11-3 and lost to Scottsdale Horizon in the Class 5A state playoffs. Elijah Rushing played in every contest, racking up 75 tackles, nine stops for loss and 7.5 sacks. He enters his junior season close to the “1,000-pound club” — meaning his bench-press, squat and hang-clean workouts combine for 1,000 pounds or more.

“He’s strong. He’s benching strong, he’s cleaning strong, squatting strong. He’s almost in that 1,000-pound club,” said Salpointe coach Eric Rogers. “It comes down to Elijah embracing the process. We hear it all the time and it’s kind of a cliché, but he loves the process. He loves the daily habits to become great. A lot of the time, it’s not about the final outcome; it’s the daily grind and daily process of waking up every day with a purpose. For Elijah, that’s just part of his nature.”

Rushing’s hard work is paying off. This offseason, he received scholarship offers from Clemson, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, USC and Tennessee, among others. Assistant coaches from Notre Dame, USC, Stanford, Michigan State and Texas A&M have attended Salpointe football practices over the last year to scout Rushing. Both Arizona and Arizona State have offered him, too.

“We’re fortunate enough that a lot of really good players in town want to come play for Salpointe. The colleges come through every spring during the recruiting periods,” Rogers said.

In May, Rushing and his father George visited Florida — the program that George played for in the 1990s. Elijah said the trip was “definitely exciting” and “nostalgic” for his dad.

“And just the Gainesville area, I got to go around there with my brother, which is where he’s currently at now, so it was a good time,” Elijah Rushing said.

Although Rushing could be the latest member of his family to play at “The Swamp,” his father has taken a hands-off approach when it comes to recruiting.

“He doesn’t make it personal, because he knows wherever we go, it’s our decision. … It’s never, ‘You should go here, you should go there.’ He cares about the university, what the academics are and what it takes to do that,” Rushing said. “He’s always kept it from an objective standpoint, and that’s how I like to think about it, too.”

Of all the offers Rushing has received, the one from Arizona was among the most meaningful. The UA offered him a scholarship hours after ASU did the same.

“It’s my hometown, so it’s definitely important to me,” Rushing said.

Proof he’s good: Rushing is listed by 247Sports.com as a five-star prospect for ’24, while Rivals.com rates him as a four-star recruit.

Rushing said he realized he might be climbing as a recruit last year, when he visited Notre Dame.

“If Notre Dame is willing to fly me out from Tucson, Arizona, then I’m a Power 5 player,” Rushing said. “That was something I was excited to see and I’m blessed to have that opportunity.”

He said it: “I don’t know what else is out there, but I feel like when it’s all said and done, he’ll be a top-10 player in the country. … Every day, he’s trying to get better. He won’t do anything if he feels like it won’t make him the best defensive end in the country. That’s the bottom line. If you told Elijah, ‘If you eat spinach every day, you’ll be the best defensive end,’ he’ll eat spinach every day.” — Rogers