Year in and year out, the state of Arizona has been producing some of the country’s top football talent.
Here’s how to watch Desert Ridge vs Higley
Quarterbacks Brock Purdy of Iowa State and Spencer Rattler of Oklahoma, and running back Bijan Robinson of Texas, to name a few as of late, are all natives of the desert that are making a name for themselves at the next level.
Despite the adversity that COVID-19 presented student athletes this year, Arizona high school football is in full swing and the top athletes in the class of 2021 and 2022 are already balling out.
Check out some of the state’s top players that will be featured on GameTime Arizona this season.
Arizona Season Preview and Schedule of Games
2021
QB Kai Millner – Higley
Millner’s talents will be on full display, this Friday, Oct. 16 at 7:00pm MST/9:00pm CST.
The 6’2” 195 pound pro-style quarterback is rated as the No. 8 overall athlete in the state and the No. 19 pro-style QB in the nation.
Higley head coach Eddy Zubey said Millner’s ability to extend plays when protection breaks down and read the field are his quarterback’s best attributes.
“What’s unique about Kai is how quick he gets rid of the ball and how well he understands defenses and what they’re trying to do,” Zubey said. “This year he’s been extraordinary in keeping drives alive either by throwing or by using his feet.”
https://twitter.com/kmillner5/status/1248365940011646983
Millner committed to play at Cal in April.
“Overall it was the perfect school for me,” Millner said of Cal. “Coaching was a huge thing…then the area, the academics was huge for me as well.”
Millner will be joining his former teammate, quarterback Spencer Brasch who is currently in his sophomore season, in the Bay area.
Brasch was a player that Millner learned a lot from as he was Brasch’s backup as a freshman and sophomore.
“A big thing (l learned from Brasch) was really how to run the offense and be a leader on the field in that quarterback position,” Millner said. “For me being a younger guy being a freshman and being able to watch that was huge for me because I was able to take that and use it once I was the starting quarterback.”
In January, Millner will be featured with the top talent in the nation at the Under Armour All-American game in Orlando.
“It’s a dream of mine and it’s crazy that I’m able to live it out and play in that game,” Millner said. “I’m so happy and blessed that I’m able to go and I’m looking forward to the experience being out there and competing with some of the top guys in the country.”
LB Trey Reynolds – Queen Creek
Reynolds is rated as the No. 22 inside linebacker in the nation and the No. 7 overall athlete in Arizona.
The 6’2” 235 pound linebacker has been starting for the Bulldogs since his sophomore season even setting up under center for Queen Creek as a sophomore and junior.
In two games this season, Reynolds has 28 tackles, 12 solo.
“Trey is probably our best athlete on the team,” Queen Creek head coach Joe Germaine said. “He’s 6’2” 235, but one of the fastest, most explosive guys on our team. Just that I think, is a great combination when you’re talking about an inside linebacker.”
Excited to announce that I am committed to the University of Utah! Thank you to everyone who has helped me through the process and the incredible Utah staff! @SafetyPride @Colton_Swan @Utah_Football pic.twitter.com/QDstaQKKqk
— Trey Reynolds (@TreyReynoldsQC) May 22, 2020
Reynolds had over 21 offers from Division I schools including Arizona, Colorado, UCLA, Oregon, Oklahoma State, Washington, Wisconsin and Yale.
In May, Reynolds announced his commitment to Utah.
“The coaching staff had a big part in my commitment,” Reynolds said. “They’re just great guys over there and I’m really excited to be there.”
ATH Denzel Burke – Saguaro
Burke is rated as the No. 10 athlete in the nation, the No. 3 overall athlete in Arizona and is just outside the top 200 players nationally by 247Sports.
The 6’1 195 pound athlete committed to play for Ohio State in May.
“Tremendous player,” Saguaro head coach Jason Mohns said. “He’s extremely dynamic. (He has) incredible ball skills and is one of the quickest players off the line of scrimmage that I think we’ve ever had.”
Burke had offers on both sides of the ball from over 20 schools including Auburn, LSU, Arizona, ASU, UCLA, Texas, Oregon and Nebraska.
God got me🤞🏾 110% Commited. pic.twitter.com/P2zbHiJmmD
— Denzel Burke (@DenzelBurke10) May 24, 2020
While he will play both sides of the ball for the Sabercats this season, the Buckeyes recruited Burke as a defensive back.
“I feel like Ohio State was the best place for me because you’re going against the best of the best day in and day out,” Burke said. “What they’ve been doing with DBs the past couple years, going in the first round (of the NFL Draft) I just want to be around that environment and the brotherhood to develop and be great.”
2022
QB Devin Brown – Queen Creek
Brown is rated as the No. 10 overall athlete in Arizona and the No. 34 pro-style quarterback in the 2022 class by 247Sports.
As a sophomore, Brown stepped into the quarterback role in the state’s biggest division, 6A.
Brown had 1,319 yards with 10 touchdowns. He helped lead the Bulldogs to the 6A State Semi-Finals.
This season, Brown recognizes that there is still plenty of improvements to be made in his play.
“Last year I made a lot of mistakes,” Brown said. “Being able to stand back there and be calm in the pocket with poise and make all my reads, I think that’s something that every quarterback can improve on every year. I really think that’s my main focus.”
Brown’s improvements in his leadership ability and in his athleticism have stood out to Germaine already this season.
“A lot of times, the number one guy is open, but when that’s not open, he’s able to keep his poise, not bail, shift his eyes and his feet and find number two, find number three while he’s still in the pocket and get to those guys,” Germaine said. “I think (that) is going to be a big deal at the next level.”
https://twitter.com/dbrownqb33/status/1300845667951075328
Brown was offered by USC on Sept. 1 and committed by the end of the month.
“There’s a big tradition there at USC, especially being a quarterback,” Brown said. “Once they offered me and I sat down with my family and my coaches, over time we knew it was the right decision for me.”
Brown was in contact quite a bit with current USC quarterback Kedon Slovis throughout his recruitment, he said. Slovis graduated from Desert Mountain in Scottsdale in 2019 and stepped up big for the Trojans as a freshman.
LB Tristian Monday – Saguaro
Monday is rated as the No. 8 overall athlete in the state and as the No. 41 outside linebacker in the nation for the 2022 class by 247Sports.
“Monday is a freak,” Mohns said. “He’s the JJ Watt of Arizona high school football. He’s a super explosive athlete. He plays like a Division I tight end athletically with ball skills. He’s super twitchy off the line of scrimmage and is a dynamic pass rusher. He’s the guy that’s still raw in certain areas, but he gets to the football. He’s disruptive and creates a lot of havoc.”
https://twitter.com/TristanMonday22/status/1281412579819061249
The 6’3” 240 pound athlete has offers from Arizona, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Iowa State and New Mexico.
Colorado, Baylor and Arizona have stood out most thus far in the recruitment process, Monday said.
Class of 2021 Arizona Top 15 – 247Sports
Italics represent players featured on a 2020 GameTime Arizona matchup.
- Ty Thompson, QB Mesquite – Oregon commit
- Bram Walden, OT Saguaro – Oregon commit
- Quintin Somerville, DE Saguaro – Michigan commit
- Denzel Burke, ATH Saguaro – Ohio State commit
- Jonah Miller, OG Sahuaro – Oregon commit
- Steven Ortiz, CB Desert Edge – Minnesota commit
- Kai Millner, QB Higley – Cal commit
- Saia Mapakaitolo, OT Red Mountain – USC commit
- Trey Reynolds, ILB Queen Creek – Utah commit
- Hunter Barth, S Queen Creek – Cal commit
- Isaiah Newcombe, ATH Casteel – UCLA commit
- Brandon Buckner, OLB Chandler – Oregon commit
- Isaia Glass, OT Queen Creek – ASU commit
- Krew Jackson, S Queen Creek – Kansas State commit
- Dorian Singer, WR Pinnacle – Uncommited
Class of 2022 Arizona Top 15 – 247Sports
Italics represent players featured on a 2020 GameTime Arizona matchup.
- Anthony Lucas, DT Chaparral
- Nicco Marchiol, QB Hamilton
- Zac Swanson, DE Brophy
- Quaron Adams, RB Chandler
- Benjamin Morrison, CB Brophy
- Kyion Grayes, WR Chandler – Arizona commit
- Tristan Monday, OLB Saguaro
- Adryan Lara, QB Desert Edge – Washington State commit
- Parker Brailsford, OG Saguaro
- Devin Brown, QB Queen Creek
- Aziya Jamison, RB ALA Gilbert North
- Nason Coleman, TE Chandler
- Javen Jacobs, ATH Saguaro
- Micah Lutu, OG Saguaro
- Devon Grubbs, RB Desert Vista
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