High school football: Offensive players to watch

Thomas BookerGilman, tight end, juniorAt 6-feet-4, 260 pounds, Booker will be a key Greyhounds target. Last year with Gilman relying mostly on a dominating run, he caught 11 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Rated the No. 6 junior in Maryland by the recruiting web site Rivals.com, he already has about 15 offers. Booker also had five sacks last fall at defensive end.Gary BrightwellSt. Frances, running back, seniorA transfer from St. Georges Tech in Delaware, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Brightwell led the Hawks in rushing last fall with 132 carries for 1,309 yards and 19 touchdowns in 10 games. He also caught five passes for 147 yards and ran four of them in for touchdowns. The Delaware All-State selection has committed to Temple.Dakota DavisGlenelg, lineman, seniorIf the Gladiators run their way to a fourth straight playoff appearance, the 6-5, 315-pound Davis will be a big reason why. Running behind the All-Metro second-team pick committed to Syracuse almost always means instant yardage. Last season, he paved the way for Trey Davis to break the Howard County single-season rushing record with 2,129 yards.Dejuan EllisMcDonogh, quarterback, juniorA Virginia Tech commit, Ellis transferred from Bishop O'Connell in Arlington, Va. and fills the Eagles' biggest hole. The 6-foot, 170-pound dual-threat quarterback has a strong, accurate arm and runs the 40-yard dash in less than 4.4 seconds. In seven games last season, he threw for over 1,000 yards and ran for more than 400.Evan FochtmanArchbishop Spalding, quarterback, seniorAfter a strong junior season, the 6-1, 185-pound Fochtman has improved his downfield throws, adding to his accuracy on the screens and ability to run. He threw for 1,955 yards and 22 touchdowns last season with five interceptions. He also carried the ball 141 times for 896 yards and 12 touchdowns. He doubles as a safety.Mylique McGriffMcDonogh, running back, seniorOne of the area's best backs for two years, McGriff ran 160 times last fall for 1,092 yards and 14 touchdowns. Injuries slowed him briefly at times, but the 5-9, 190-pounder has shown his speed, quickness, toughness and durability throughout a game with an average of 23 carries last season. He's also a receiving threat.Jordan McNairMcDonogh, lineman, seniorFirst-team All-Metro and consensus All-State last season, the 6-6, 320-pound tackle played a major role in the Eagles' powerful running game. A MaxPreps' second-team sophomore All-American in 2014, he is rated the No. 2 senior in the state by Rivals.com. McNair committed to Maryland over a slate of other FBS offers.Darrius SampleDundalk, quarterback, seniorSample, an All-Metro second-team selection, led the Owls to the best season in school history – 12-2 and their first trip to the state final – with his arm and his feet. He threw for 1,679 yards and 19 touchdowns. He ran 179 times for 1,137 yards and 23 touchdowns. His 42 total touchdowns set a school record.Chris WattsBroadneck, receiver-running back, seniorHowever he gets the ball, the 5-7, 165-pound Watts can pick up a lot of ground. He averaged 17.7 yards per catch and 7.1 yards per carry last season and scored 12 touchdowns, including two in the regional semifinal victory. He accumulated more than 1,700 all-purpose yards, including 709 receiving and 685 rushing.Jamar WilliamsSouth Carroll, running back-receiver, seniorIn only his fourth year of organized football, Williams plays a handful of roles. Last season, he scored 14 touchdowns, ran 48 times for 543 yards and caught 13 passes for 226 yards. The 5-8, 175-pound Williams is also one of Carroll County's top linebackers with two interceptions and 12 of his 81 tackles for a loss.Other notablesRafiq Abdul-Wahid, DunbarMason Baker, ReservoirChandler Breeden, Manchester ValleyJake Brown, Archbishop CurleyMason Clark, Old MillTim Cohen, Manchester ValleyCody Copinger, John CarrollIan Gould, WestminsterChris Green, KenwoodAaron Gibson, Oakland MillsCameran Edwards, EdmondsonJarrett Heckert, Annapolis Area ChristianDamian Jackson, PattersonTerry Jones, MervoGavin Locklear, Eastern TechDavid Medlin III, NorthwesternDariun Miller, Reginald LewisEphraim Moore, ArundelGianluca Parrotta, DulaneyJaret Patterson, St. Vincent PallottiTyler Raines, Long ReachNiko Rice, John CarrollChris Smith, McDonoghBen Stoy, St. Mary'sCameron Sullivan-Brown, St. Vincent PallottiBrandon Thomas, Eastern TechChristian Thornton, ArundelBrooks Watson, South RiverRickie Williams, Mount HebronCody Winokur, Archbishop SpaldingChris Woodard, PattersonMyles Wright, St. Frances

High school football: Offensive players to watch

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