The Bay Area News Group is recognizing the top high School football players in its coverage area from the 2022 season.

We have separated the honorees into eight position groups: Quarterbacks, receivers/tight ends, defensive backs, running backs, linebackers, utility players, athletes, defensive linemen, offensive linemen and kickers/punters.

We have chosen an overall player of the year, county players of the year and a coach of the year.

The team was selected by members of our high School Sports staff.

Here are the all-Bay Area News Group running backs:

First team

Charles Greer, De La Salle, 5-10, 186, senior

All-East Bay Athletic League Mountain Division first-team selection rushed for 1,251 yards and 16 touchdowns for the NCS Open Division and NorCal 1-AA champions. Rated as a three-star by 247Sports and headed to Fresno State.

Devon Rivers, Heritage, 5-7, 170, senior

Bay Valley Athletic League offensive player of the year. Signed with Fresno State, where his brother and dad starred before moving on to the NFL. Rushed for 1,759 yards and 24 touchdowns in 233 carries. Also threw for 245 yards and three TDs.

Jaivian Thomas, McClymonds, 5-11, 170, senior

Oakland Athletic League’s most valuable player and first-team all-league selection ran for 2,530 yards and 30 touchdowns for the OAL and 2-AA NorCal champion. Ran for a touchdown in every game. Rated as a three-star by 247Sports.com and headed to Cal. 

Second team

Monte Beam, Concord, 5-7, 180, junior

Diablo Athletic League Valley Division first-team running back was the best player on a team that went from one win in 2021 to 9-1 in 2022. Ran for 1,947 yards and 20 TDs and scored on 11 two-point conversions. 

Emiliano Mejia, Los Gatos, 5-9, 180, senior

PAL/SCVAL De Anza Division offensive player of the year rushed for 1,145 yards and 18 touchdowns in 128 carries for the league champions. Ran for 158 yards in a CCS Division I playoff game against Archbishop Mitty. 

Ben Pfaff, Bellarmine, 5-11, 190, senior

West Catholic Athletic League first-team all-league selection ran for 901 yards and 13 touchdowns. Return to healthy status coincided with Bellarmine’s run to CCS Division II and NorCal 3-A championships.  

Honorable mention

Elias Antillion, Branham, junior

Micah Avery, Clayton Valley, junior

Elijah Bow, Pittsburg, sophomore

Brendan Comerford, Campolindo, senior

Zayden Crockett, De Anza, senior

Salvador Espinoza, Lincoln-San Jose, senior

John Hanna, Carlmont, senior

Elijah Hodgers, Livermore, senior

Lonell Howard Jr., Castlemont, senior

Jaleel Jones, James Logan, senior

Jacob Lang, Westmont, senior

Aaron Lipscomb, Fremont-Oakland, sophomore

Greyson Mobley, Monta Vista, senior

Jeremiah Madrigal, Palo Alto, junior

Tony McAdoo, El Cerrito, senior

Larry McDonald, Pinole Valley, senior

PJ Modena, Half Moon Bay, senior

Cooper Nixon, Willow Glen, senior

Aderion Prater, St. Patrick-St. Vincent, junior

Joshua Reyes, Santa Teresa, senior

Lex Silver, Mountain View, junior 

Sherrod Smith, Menlo-Atherton, senior

Isaiah Tuiono, St. Francis, senior

Elijah Walker, Wilcox, junior

Emanuel Webster, Northgate, senior

ALL-BAY AREA NEWS GROUP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Monday, Jan. 9

Kickers/punters

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Athletes

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Utility players

Linebackers

Running backs

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Defensive backs

Wide receivers/tight ends

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Quarterbacks

Coach of the year

Thursday, Jan. 12

County player of the year

County player of the year

County player of the year

Overall player of the year

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Those eligible for all-Bay Area News Group recognition come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. For corrections, please email [email protected].