The 2026 OSAA high school football season is just around the corner, and the Eugene-Springfield area will once again feature some of the state's most talented players. Throughout August, The Register-Guard has put a spotlight on the top local players at each position. Now, we're narrowing the list down to the best of the best. Here is a look ahead at 20 local high school football players set to make an impact in 2026. The list is based on responses from coaches, as well as stats and year-end honors from previous seasons.
Bodie Bonar, Thurston Kawai Chamberlin, Willamette Finnley Currington, Churchill Kai Davis, Pleasant Hill Gabe Dietmeyer, Marist Catholic Emmit Distefano, Thurston Leofatu Filipe, Thurston Adam Hernandez, Springfield D'mariyae "Dae Dae" Ireland, North Eugene Carson Jolliff, Creswell Tripp Johansen, Willamette CJ Jones, Marist Catholic Max Keepers, Pleasant Hill Julien Kennedy, Churchill Aidan Miller, Marist Catholic Barry Myles, Sheldon Ryder Nagel, Churchill Jax Norcutt, Lowell Zeke Thomas, Willamette Brody Woods, Junction City
Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at www.registerguard.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Sunday, Aug. 23.
Bodie Bonar, Thurston Take your pick from Thurston's group of pass-catchers; the Colts are loaded with game-changing playmakers at receiver and tight end. As a junior last season, Bodie Bonar was the most productive of the bunch. Bonar earned Class 5A second-team all-state honors in 2025 after catching 56 passes for 817 yards and 11 touchdowns. He could be a go-to target once again for all-state quarterback Emmit Distefano.
Kawai Chamberlin, Willamette The top linebacker prospect in Oregon, Willamette senior Kawai Chamberlin is an Oregon State commit who is expected to wreak havoc in the middle of the field once again this fall. Tabbed by Rivals as a 3-star prospect, Chamberlin is continuing to turn heads from big-time colleges. He recently announced an offer from Stanford. Chamberlin will be the focal point of the Wolverines' defense now that superstar defensive lineman Tony Cumberland has graduated and moved on to the University of Oregon. "I think he's the best linebacker in the state, and I think he might be the best player in the state," Willamette coach Josh Line said. "I think he's got a mindset to show that and try to prove that." Finnley Currington, Churchill While Churchill will have to replace many of the top playmakers from last year's team, the Lancers have a tone-setter returning in the middle of the defense. A first-team all-Midwestern League pick at inside linebacker last season, Finnley Currington is coming off a stellar sophomore season with the Lancers. Currington is also a standout tight end who will step into a greater offensive role this season. "Big kid with great hands," Churchill coach Layne Coffin said. "We're really happy with Finnley. He's going to be big for us on both sides of the ball."
Kai Davis, Pleasant Hill As a sophomore last season, Kai Davis put the rest of the Mountain Valley Conference on notice on the defensive side of the ball and emerged as a punishing second-team all-league linebacker. The talented rising junior will be an offensive focal point in 2026 as the Billies look to replace do-it-all star Jacob Neely from last year's squad. "If Kai is not getting 20 to 25 touches a game, I should be fired," Pleasant Hill coach Kenny Koberstein said with a laugh. "We'll throw him the ball, too; we'll do a bunch of different things to get the ball in his hands."
Gabe Dietmeyer, Marist Catholic Arguably the most athletic player on a Marist Catholic squad that is stocked with gifted athletes, rising junior Gabe Dietmeyer will look to pick up right where he left off in 2025. The 6-foot-3 wideout earned Class 4A second-team all-state honors after catching 45 passes for 624 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He was also the offensive catalyst for the Spartans' basketball team during its run to the state title. "Gabe is a complete talent; he just moves really, really well for a high school athlete," Marist Catholic coach Zach Loboy said. "He's for sure one of the highlight guys on our team."
Emmit Distefano, Thurston Thurston's star quarterback is back for his senior year after leading his school to the Midwestern League title as a junior. A Class 5A second-team all-state selection last season, Distefano is one of the top returning quarterback prospects in the state and could be set to take another step forward under first-year Thurston offensive coordinator Blake Sentman. "It's a blessing for Emmit, having Blake around," Thurston coach Justin Starck said. "Blake played quarterback; he understands quarterback play, mechanics, the mental part of the position. Just really a good mentor for him. Chris Newell was wonderful as an OC for us, but Blake brings something different to the table."
Leofatu Filipe, Thurston Even though Leofatu Filipe was just a sophomore last season, Thurston leaned on the defensive end as a go-to player in some of its biggest games. As he enters his junior year, the Colts' star could be ready to emerge as a full-blown game-wrecker on both sides of the ball. Filipe is a 3-star recruit who already holds offers from Arizona, Utah, Washington State and several others. A 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end and defensive end, Filipe was a Class 5A second-team all-state pick last fall. He is expected to take a massive step forward on offense this year. "Arizona offered him as an athlete; they like his potential at tight end," Thurston coach Justin Starck said. "I think because he had limited reps at tight end last year, there just isn't a lot of film on him there. But he's going to break out this year as a tight end."
Adam Hernandez, Springfield A second-team all-Midwestern League selection at receiver last season, Springfield's Adam Hernandez will be a go-to guy in the Millers' offense this fall. Hernandez is also a playmaker at defensive back and in the return game. ""He's a stud. We've got to be really, really good at getting him the ball because he's that good," Springfield coach Frank Geske said. "He's got to be the only high school receiver in the state of Oregon that can clean and jerk 275 pounds. Bench presses 330; a very strong, very fast kid. Like a lot of kids going between their junior and senior year, the game is slowing down for him. Hopefully his God-given gifts get to shine."
D'mariyae "Dae Dae" Ireland, North Eugene An electric playmaker who earned honorable mention Class 5A all-state honors at defensive back last season, North Eugene senior D'mariyae "Dae Dae" Ireland was also an honorable mention all-Midwestern League quarterback in his first year as the Highlanders' starter. As a sophomore in 2024, Ireland was an all-league running back. It's unclear at this point what role Ireland will play on offense in 2026; he and Bode Hough are competing for the starting QB job. Whoever doesn't start there will start at running back.
Tripp Johansen, Willamette Replacing the 2025 Southwest Conference defensive player of the year, Tony Cumberland, won't be an easy task for Willamette. But the Wolverines have another star pass-rusher in the fold who could help them build on last year's success. Tripp Johansen, a 3-star defensive lineman committed to Montana State, racked up 17 tackles for loss as a junior last season. "At the end of the day, Tripp's motor is his number-one asset," Willamette coach Josh Line said. "He plays with a drive that I've not seen much in my career. That's why he got recruited this offseason, and that's why he's going to Montana State; that motor. We're pumped for him. If he plays to his potential, we're going to be really tough on the defensive side of the ball."
Carson Jolliff, Creswell It could be a major breakout year for Creswell junior quarterback Carson Jolliff in his second season running the offense. Jolliff earned honorable mention all-league honors last year while learning on the fly and will have plenty of talented playmakers surrounding him as he builds on last year's success. "We're really excited with the growth that we've seen; Carson has just as much arm talent as anybody in this area — at any level," Creswell coach Chase Beach said. "He's been hitting the playbook. Played really well at team camp. We've spent the summer working on the run game with him, and he's getting a much better overall understanding of the game. We expect big things from Carson." CJ Jones, Marist Catholic The top punter in the state of Oregon — and one of the best on the West Coast — is back for his senior season at Marist Catholic. Tabbed by Chris Sailer Kicking as the No. 6 punter in the nation for the class of 2027, CJ Jones is a Washington State commit who earned Class 4A first-team all-state honors in 2025. "CJ is probably the best punter I've ever coached, and I don't say that lightly. I've been coaching kids for 20 years," Marist Catholic coach Zach Loboy said. "The things he can do kicking a ball are pretty amazing. He can be a huge weapon for us. ... He has put in a lot of time. For a kid who is all of 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, he'll consistently go from the opposite (40-yard line) and put it between the goal line and the five. Like, it's a coffin-corner type of kick every time. Stuff I haven't seen in high school football very often." Max Keepers, Pleasant Hill The reigning Mountain Valley Conference lineman of the year, Pleasant Hill's Max Keepers was a force of nature along the interior defensive line as a junior. "We're really asking him to gum things up in the B-gap and occupy space," Pleasant Hill coach Kenny Koberstein said. "Even with him doing that, he still had 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. For that position, I can't tell you how crazy that is. It's an insanely productive season for what we ask him to do." As a senior, Keepers will set the tone in the trenches on both offense and defense for the Billies. Julien Kennedy, Churchill Churchill lost a few all-state caliber players from last year's Class 5A state quarterfinal squad. But the Lancers have got another trench monster rising through the ranks in senior Julien Kennedy, who was an honorable mention all-Midwestern League selection at offensive tackle last season. "Julien is one of the best linemen we've had at Churchill," Lancers' coach Layne Coffin said. "I think he has the possibility to be an all-conference, all-state player. ... I think he'll be a real factor on both sides of the ball."
Aidan Miller, Marist Catholic One of the top track and field hurdlers in Oregon, Marist Catholic senior Aidan Miller carries plenty of speed and quickness over to the football field. A Class 4A third-team all-state selection last season, Miller starred at cornerback as a junior. He will also be an offensive weapon at running back for the Spartans this season. "He's really, really quick," Marist Catholic coach Zach Loboy said. "Really good athlete."
Barry Myles, Sheldon One of the top two-way players in the Southwest Conference last season, Sheldon's Barry Myles earned second-team all-league recognition at both receiver and cornerback as a junior. The Eastern Washington commit will be Sheldon's tone-setter on both sides of the ball this season and could help the Irish climb back into postseason contention. ""Barry will be that lockdown corner for us," Sheldon coach Tyler Martell said. "He shut people's best receivers down last year. We had to stack the box to stop the run and we put him on an island a ton last year. He's even better this year; he'll be really, really good for us defensively."
Ryder Nagel, Churchill Churchill's next standout running back was also one of the most productive pass-rushers in the state in 2025. As a sophomore last season, Ryder Nagel racked up 22 tackles for loss — third-most in Class 5A — and seven sacks. He will demand plenty of attention from opposing offenses this fall. Nagel was a third-team all-state pick who could see his production on both sides of the ball skyrocket as a junior. "We're going to use him as a linebacker and as an edge, too," Churchill coach Layne Coffin said. "I think he's one of the top players in the state; I really do. I think he has the ability to be that on both offense and defense."
Jax Norcutt, Lowell You would be hard-pressed to find many more versatile, electric players than Lowell senior Jax Norcutt at the Class 2A level. The reigning Class 2A Special District 3 defensive player of the year is back and will look to be even more dominant than he was in 2025. Norcutt will star at defensive end, tight end, kicker and could also help the Devils in the defensive secondary when needed.
Zeke Thomas, Willamette The top quarterback prospect in the state of Oregon, Zeke Thomas burst onto the scene as a freshman at Crescent Valley in 2024 and came into his own leading Willamette's offense as a sophomore last season. Thomas, a Boise State commit, is a 3-star recruit who both 247Sports and Rivals rank among the top 600 players in the 2028 class. Thomas will be surrounded by plenty of skill position talent and could be poised for a massive year. "Zeke has 100% command of the offense," Willamette coach Josh Line said. "He knows exactly what everyone is doing, not just what he is supposed to do, on every play. That has a lot to do with his intelligence level and his preparation. … I think he's the best quarterback in the state, and I still think he can get a lot better." Brody Woods, Junction City The lone returning all-state player from last year's stellar Junction City roster, Brody Woods was a Class 4A second-team all-state pick at center as a junior last season. The Tigers' standout will kick out to offensive guard this season and will also make a major impact on special teams. "At long snapper, (Woods) has consistently posted Division I-caliber snap times around the 1.5-second mark," Junction City coach Tye Rauschert said. "His confidence continues to grow with every rep, and after competing in track this spring, he's become even faster, which will make him even more effective in punt coverage."
Jarrid Denney is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. He can be reached at jdenney@registerguard.com or on X @jarrid_denney This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Vote! Who will be the most impactful Eugene-area football player?