10 Tucson-area high school football players to watch this season

Mica Mountain headlined Southern Arizona’s 2025 football campaign, winning its second consecutive 4A Conference State Championship over Phoenix Arcadia.

At the 5A level, Marana and Desert View each battled to quarterfinal appearances before falling to Phoenix-area teams. Sierra Vista Buena, Cienega, Flowing Wells and Tucson High were all dispatched in the first round.

3A Pusch Ridge made its fifth straight playoff appearance after its 2024 3A title win, crashing out in the semifinals against No. 1 overall seed Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin.

With the 2026 season quickly approaching, here are 10 Tucson-area football players to look out for this season in alphabetical order.

Matthew Avelar, QB, Walden Grove

A high-profile local transfer from Salpointe Catholic, senior Matthew Avelar made the jump to Walden Grove in January, a school with which his family shares deep ties.

Avelar's oldest brother, Ricardo Avelar, is the all-time leading tackler for Walden Grove after three years manning the middle of the Red Wolves’ defense as a linebacker. Middle brother Mike Avelar competed in football and wrestling at Walden Grove before transferring to Sunnyside. Rick went on to play football at the University of Dayton, while Mike is currently a sophomore wrestler at the Air Force Academy.

Avelar contributed at the quarterback position for his first three years at Salpointe, most recently operating in the Lancers’ two-quarterback system last fall. As a junior, he completed 76 of his 138 attempts for 997 passing yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games. Avelar is committed to play Division I football at the University of Idaho following his senior season with the Red Wolves.

“He’s been successful at the highest level of football that Arizona has to offer,” Walden Grove head football coach Corey Noble said. “He’s seen big time football and is such a great player and a great leader … Within his first month at the school he was already one of our captains.”

“It’s really exciting to bring him back home to Walden Grove.”

Walden Grove visits crosstown rival Sahuarita to open the season on Aug. 28.

Darrien Davis, OT/EDGE, Mountain View

Mountain View junior Darrien Davis enters the 2026 football season flying under the radar with just eight tackles and a sack as a sophomore. However, it’s only a matter of time until the Mountain Lions’ 6-8, 270-pound wrecking ball starts creating havoc on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Davis was a regular attendee across the summer football camp circuit this offseason, making appearances at multiple ASU and UA camps, consistently dominating top competition throughout big man drills.

Mountain View opens its season at home against Tucson High on Aug. 28.

Esteban Molina, OT, Salpointe Catholic

One of the brightest young offensive line prospects in Arizona, Salpointe sophomore Esteban Molina is already turning heads with three years of high school eligibility remaining.

Standing 6-6 and weighing 280 pounds, Salpointe’s star tackle received his first offer in June, as UA came calling at its 7-on-7 and big man camp after an impressive showing from the Class of 2029 lineman.

Salpointe opens its season at rival Marana on Aug. 27.

Anthony Rodarte, WR, Desert View

One of the brightest spots on Desert View’s historic 2025 undefeated regular season was receiver Anthony Rodarte, who led the Jaguars with 54 catches for 796 yards and nine touchdowns.

An Arizona Interscholastic Association 5A Southern All-Region First Team selection, Rodarte is Desert View’s top returning contributor after the departure of 5A Southern Region Player of the Year Jaylee Abraham, who transferred to Peoria Centennial.

“It was a really special season for us last year, one of the best years Desert View has had in a long time,” Rodarte said. “We had an amazing season, don’t get me wrong, but we have a lot more coming this year. Especially because we have all these upcoming guys that will get a lot of love and recognition.”

Desert View hosts Peoria Sunrise Mountain to open the season on Aug. 28.

David Rushing, WR, Salpointe Catholic

A three-star Kansas State commit, Salpointe senior David Rushing is the leading receiving contributor returning to the Lancers’ roster.

Rushing takes over WR1 duties for RJ Gory, who transferred to Queen Creek Casteel, the defending 6A champions, in the offseason. As a junior, the 6-foot, 170-pound wideout hauled in 34 receptions for 589 yards and six touchdowns.

The Lancers take on an incredibly challenging schedule this season, a slate that includes two of Arizona’s three teams ranked in MaxPreps Top 25 programs nationally — No. 22 Chandler on Sept. 11 and No. 14 Basha on Oct. 30. As Tucson’s lone 6A school, Salpointe’s star receiver embraces the challenge of a daunting schedule with a chip on his shoulder.

“Playing harder competition is only going to make us better,” Rushing said. “It’s definitely going to show where we stand among the best teams in Arizona and some of the best in the nation, and I love that we get to play teams like (Chandler and Basha).”

Jaxsun Sharp, WR, Marana

On the other side of the Aug. 27 rivalry game against Salpointe is a Marana team that’s no stranger to headlines and controversy across the last month. Leading the offensive attack for the Tigers following senior wideout Sean Roebuck Jr.’s car accident is his running mate, fellow senior receiver Jaxsun Sharp.

As a junior, Sharp led the Tigers in receiving touchdowns, logging 15 in 47 catches for 849 yards total. He torched Yuma Catholic in the second round of the 5A playoffs, hauling in six catches for 160 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner in the final minute.

As Marana’s new top receiver, Sharp has embraced his role and spoke highly of his team’s depth ahead of the season opener.

“If we were to lose a player, and we did, right? I think out of all the positions, receiver would be the best-case scenario,” Sharp explained. “Our third-string guys are right there with the first stringers. They might not have as much experience, but they’re still great players and we have a lot of depth at that position.”

Jeffrey Smith III, RB/LB, Marana

Leading the ground attack for the Tigers is junior Jeffrey Smith III, who was Marana’s leading rusher and tackler in 2025.

Smith carried the rock 154 times for 1,094 yards and 13 touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 108 total tackles, four tackles for loss and two interceptions. Smith’s new partner in the Marana backfield is QB Trenton Hicks, who replaces Arizona’s leading passer from 2025, Colten Meyer. As Hicks adjusts, even with a stacked receiver room, Smith remains a steady hand to run the ball.

Ezra Spivey, DB, Tucson High

The only player to land on the 2026 and 2025 Top 10 Southern Arizona players to watch list, Spivey continues to be a steady force on defense at Tucson High entering his junior year.

As a freshman, Spivey led all of 5A in interceptions with seven and continued to bolster his ballhawk status with five more picks in his sophomore season, supplemented by 87 tackles and a forced fumble. For his contributions, the defensive back was named to the 5A All-Conference Second Team.

Spviey’s Badgers open the season with two road contests at Mountain View (Aug. 28) and at Salpointe (Sept. 4).

Kaden Watson, WR/DB, Mica Mountain

The back-to-back defending 4A state champions lost 25 seniors to graduation in the spring, including their three top receivers. The lone receiver returning from the 2025 roster with more than 50 receiving yards is two-way skill player Kaden Watson.

Watson recorded nine catches for 211 yards and three touchdowns as a junior while also contributing on defense, where he logged 28 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and six passes defended.

Now at the top of the depth chart, senior year presents a breakout opportunity for Watson.

“It’s a big year for me,” he said. “Obviously we are looking for the three-peat, but from my side personally, I am looking to get some more stats up on the board as a receiver and keep doing what I did last year on the defensive side of the ball.”

Mica Mountain begins its three-peat campaign at Poston Butte on Aug. 28.

Jeremiah Williams, OL, Mica Mountain

Mica Mountain senior Jeremiah Williams is one of four returners to the Thunderbolts’ offensive line in 2026, and the only returning 4A All-Conference First Team selection in Tucson.

The Thunderbolts rushed for over 2,200 yards and surpassed the 2,000-yard mark through the air behind an offensive line that has only gotten more experienced at the highest level of 4A football in Arizona.

Mica Mountain’s focus on winning back-to-back-to-back state championships began less than a month after its 2025 championship victory in the school’s zero period football class at the beginning of the day following winter break. Head coach Jay Campos showed the team a famous video of former University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s speech to the press about entitlement to success.

“Saban talks about what you as a person are entitled to, and the answer to that is nothing,” Campos explained. “I asked Jeremiah Williams, an (all-conference) offensive lineman, ‘What are you entitled to?’ He’s not guaranteed to be part of a winning team, not guaranteed to win a state championship.

“The demand is even higher this year because now the target is on our back. We realize we are going to be everybody’s best game.”