Stopped by Sheldon High School this week to catch a peek at the San Jose State football camp tour. Spartans coached took six vans to various NorCal sites in recent weeks to run scores of athletes through drills.
San Jose assistant coach Klayton Adams knew how to get to the Elk Grove Unified School District campus. He was a standout lineman for the Huskies last decade before playing at American River College and at Boise State. He coached two seasons at Sacramento State before being lured to San Jose State.
Among our observations on upcoming senior talent:
* Big on Beau - Granite Bay has yet another defensive stopper to behold in Beau Hershberger, a powerfully built 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker with a 3.7 grade-point average and interest from Ivy League programs such as Yale, and Oregon State, Sac State and UC Davis, among others. Hershberger's father Greg played receiver at Chico State under Mike Bellotti. Son has the same sort of wheels as the old man, too, never mind the size difference, having rumbled 94 yards for an interception against rival Del Oro last season. Del Oro rallied to win that game, but Granite Bay rallied to close the season with six consecutive victories, culminating in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship win over Pleasant Grove. Big Beau is expecting a repeat run.
* Terrific Terry - Nick Terry is fast emerging as the next prospect of note from Pleasant Grove. The 6-4, 265-pound defensive lineman has offers from Oregon State, Colorado State, Washington State, Cal Poly, Nevada and UNLV with more unofficial campus visits in July, including Corvallis. Pleasant Grove line coach Dale Ellingsworth raves about Terry's ability and work ethic.
Other Pleasant Grove players of note at this camp included: 6-3, 180-pound receiver Wyatt Demps; 5-8; 6-2, 220-pound linebacker Earl Chism; 5-7, 160-pound receiver DeAundre Terrell; 6-1, 220-pound tight end Tyler Weathersbee and 215-pound linebacker/fullback Tyree Hanson.
* Sperbeck Speed - The biggest name quarterback entering this coming season is suddenly running a lot of routes - as a receiver. Thomas Sperbeck of Jesuit dazzled at times in running the spread last fall for the Marauders, and he has a strong, accurate arm, but he has been playing receiver in a lot of summer workouts to showcase his speed and skills at that position. Sperbeck may play receiver in college, though at just under 6-foot, he's a clone of Dano Graves, the former Folsom QB star now at Air Force Academy. Sperbeck won a speed/sprint contest at the San Jose event. New Jesuit coach Marlon Blanton will install the veer this summer, an offense heavy on the run, though quarterbacks have excelled in this set (see De La Salle, Blanton's alma mater).
* Garrett the Great - Also adjusting to the veer at Jesuit will be standout lineman Garrett Stohmaier, a superb student who adds to the "student-athlete" label. Stohmaier has rising recruiting interest, and he has the attention of the Ivy League schools.
* Miller Time - Taylor Miller-Wing is the new quarterback at Folsom after starting on the JV two years ago as a sophomore and serving as a back-up last season to state-record holder Tanner Trosin. And all the eye tests come up like this: wow. Miller-Wing at a shade under 6-3 and 210 pounds unleashes lasers, has good feet, speaks like a leader and is eager to carry on the QB legacy at Folsom under coach Kris Richardson, including two he watched up close in personal in record-setting performers in Dano Graves and Trosin, both Bee Players of the Year. Miller-Wing has received interest from Nevada, Utah, San Jose State, Oregon State and others. He is a 3.0 student and said he'd explore becoming a Navy Seal if college football doesn't work out.
* Carter Control - Phillip Carter just might be the next impact receiver for Folsom to go with a new passer in Taylor Miller-Wing. Carter is 6-1, 190 pounds and has had a superb summer, though he didn't compete in this San Jose State camp due to a shoulder injury that is not serious. Carter played receiver and defensive back last season and had some big plays, despite a nagging ankle injury. With a 3.8 grade-point average, Carter has received interest from Nevada, San Jose State, Utah and Colorado State - and throughout the Ivy League, which tells you what sort of student he is.
* Franklin Fever - Franklin has all the makings of a section title contender under coach Mike Johnson with speed, versatility, skill and desire. The Wildcats have fared well in camp settings, including winning a recent NorCal showcase 7-on-7 competition. True, no helmets and pads in 7-on-7, but there's no denying that Franklin is off to a rousing start. Key talents include: quarterback Trent Spallas; slot/safety Trevon Lampley; slot/linebacker Joey Banks; linebacker/running back Steven Rogers and receiver/cornerback Damion Sanders. And because big linemen are indeed allowed in speed-spread teams, say hello to Tyler Hect, a 6-3, 300-pound two-way player.
* Mighty Monroe - The longest face belonged to Brandon Monroe, the superb tailback/return ace for Del Oro. Monroe did not participate in this camp due to a foot injury that is not serious. He also missed half of the Oregon camp when he injured that wheel, but talent is talent, and San Jose State was sure to offer him a scholarship anyway. Monroe reports that Del Oro should be a section title contender again under coach Casey Taylor.
* Golden Greenlee - The best quarterback in the Sac-Joaquin Section could very well be directing the No. 1 team in the section this fall at Lincoln of Stockton in Zach Greenlee. The 6-2, 185-pound passer won a recent passing competition in Las Vegas and will be part of the Elite 11 showcase in souther California. He has an offer from Fresno State, and with a 3.6 GPA, he'll surely garner more. Lincoln opens the season against Elk Grove and Pleasant Grove and also takes on St. Mary's and Granite Bay.
* Vinnie and the Jets - Ok, so Vinnie Johnson doesn't have jets, but the 6-5, 255-pound lineman for Christian Brothers does have considerable leg drive, and a scholarship offer from San Jose State. A teammate with some jets is Jalen Walker, a 6-foot, 190-pounder who plays receiver and corner.
Others of intrigue note from the San Jose camp...
* Rocklin quarterback Daniel Kniffin and receiver Cory Burmester look poised to take the Thunder back to prominence this fall.
* Aaron Froudevaux, a 6-3, 285-pound defensive lineman for Whitney, could be the Wildcats' next scholarship talent.
* After Brendan Keeney started three years at quarterback for Granite Bay, the next in line is the perfectly capable Grant Caraway.
* Lineman A.J. Samataua of Del Campo, all 6-3 and 315 pounds of him, will ensure that the Cougars continue to run the ball with fury this fall.
* Mason Shaw, a 6-2, 300-pound lineman, is the protector for new Woodcreek quarterback Stephen Nogosek, fresh off a section Division II title run in baseball.
* Cecil Williams of Laguna Creek is an impressive prospect at quarterback for coach Dave Morton, back with the program he started from scratch in the 1990s. Williams is 6-3 and 200 pounds.
* Tyler Winston of Antelope, a 6-2, 170-pound receiver/DB/ATHLETE, is an every-down play maker. He already has an offer from UCLA, with more sprinkling in.
- By Joe Davidson
jdavidson@sacbee.com
On Twitter: @sb_joedavidson
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