Football fans in Arkansas have reason to cheer: Quarterback Mitch Mustain led Springdale High to a No. 2 national ranking and state Class 5A title.
For his outstanding leadership and athletic skill, Mustain has been named Player of the Year on PARADE’s 43rd annual All-America High School Football Team. He leads a roster of 58 honorees selected by journalists, coaches, scouts and recruiters across the country. The team includes players from 26 states; California leads the way with eight, followed by Texas with seven.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Mustain completed 190 passes for 3,817 yards and 47 touchdowns this season. He also rushed for seven scores and was only sacked twice. In Springdale’s 54-20 state final win, Mustain connected on 17 passes for five TDs. One of the nation’s top recruits, Mustain had committed earlier to Arkansas but has since decided to reopen the process.
“He’s the best quarterback to come through Arkansas,” says Mustain’s coach, Gus Malzahn. “He has all the tools and can throw with zip or touch. He makes great decisions.”
Mustain might pursue a career in aviation if he doesn’t head for the NFL. Though he’d love to go pro, he knows how fragile a sports career can be: A broken arm in 2004 ended his season and Springdale’s hopes for a state title. “That was a wake-up call,” he says. “We set our goals and worked hard in the off-season to come back and be one of the top teams in the country.”
Top Running Back
Chris Wells of Akron, Ohio, can run over a defender or accelerate outside and go the distance on any play, says his coach, Bob Sax of Garfield High. “When you’re 6 feet 2, 230 pounds and can run like a sprinter,” Sax adds, “the sky’s the limit.” Wells rushed 223 times for 2,134 yards and 27 touchdowns in 10 games this season. In his high school career, he carried 598 times for 5,232 yards and 61 TDs; he also caught 37 passes for 408 yards and three scores. Last summer, Wells tutored kids through the Butch Reynolds Foundation. He heads to lucky Ohio State this fall.
Top Receiver
One of the nation’s top multi-sport athletes, Percy Harvin became the first Virginian since 1936 to win five gold medals in the state high school track meet last spring. At Landstown High in Virginia Beach, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound do-it-all scored 33 touchdowns in four different ways: running and receiving, as well as on kick returns and interception runbacks. He caught a total of 77 passes for 1,362 yards and 14 TDs, and rushed 57 times for 567 yards and 13 scores. “He’s a big-time athlete who rises to the occasion,” says his coach, Chris Beatty, who describes Harvin as a “Heisman Trophy-caliber player.” Interested colleges include USC, Miami, Michigan, Florida State and Florida.
The Tradition Continues
Two former PARADE All-Americans will face off at quarterback for the national championship at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday: Matt Leinart will lead USC, while Vince Young will call the shots for Texas. Reggie Bush, this year’s Heisman Trophy-winner and a PARADE All-American in 2003, also will star for USC. The running back joined a growing roster of PARADE All-Americans who have gone on to win the Heisman, including Leinart, Eric Crouch, Chris Weinke, Ron Dayne, Charles Woodson, Rashaan Salaam, Herschel Walker, Marcus Allen, Billy Sims, Earl Campbell and Tony Dorsett.
Top Lineman
Sam Young of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is a leader on and off the field: The 6-foot-8, 305-pound offensive tackle had more than 80 blocks last season and is a top student at St. Thomas Aquinas, where he worked with Habitat for Humanity. “His skill and work ethic will take him a long way,” says Coach George Smith. The two-time all-state lineman is being recruited by colleges coast to coast.
Top Linebacker
Expectations are high for a football star at Woodrow Wilson in Dallas—the school has produced two Heisman Trophy-winners. Sergio Kindle has met those expectations. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound linebacker “leads by example and is an emotional force,” says his coach, Bob Estes. Kindle had 115 tackles this season. As a tailback, he rushed 218 times for 2,298 yards and 40 touchdowns. He’ll be a Texas Longhorn in the fall.
Top Defensive Back
At 6 feet 3 and 220 pounds, Taylor Mays of O’Dea High in Seattle, Wash., has linebacker size and track-sprinter speed. “He’s bigger, faster and stronger than just about anyone he matches up against,” says his coach, Monte Kohler. Mays was in on 166 tackles this season and intercepted five passes, which he returned for a total of 98 yards. On offense, he caught 36 passes for 765 yards and 11 TDs; he also rushed for three scores. Mays’ father, Stafford, played in the NFL from 1980 to 1988. The young Mays might follow in his footsteps, but first he’s headed to USC.
Top Kicker
Kai Forbath of Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks, Calif., set a state record in 2004 for points kicked in a season. This season, the 6-foot, 185-pound athlete kicked 61 extra points and seven field goals. “Kai is a big reason why we were undefeated for so long,” says his coach, Kevin Rooney. Kai chose UCLA after a fierce recruiting battle.
Top All-Purpose Player
Allen Bradford of Colton, Calif., rushed for 1,869 yards and 29 touchdowns, and caught 20 passes for six TDs. On defense, the 6-foot, 220-pound powerhouse had 157 tackles and 12 sacks. Bradford’s coach, Harold Strauss, calls him “the fiercest hitter I’ve seen in 26 years.” He’s being recruited as a linebacker by Cal, Oregon, USC and UCLA and others.
2006 PARADE's All-America High School Football Team:
Next Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC, watch the top players in the nation face off at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Tex. Mustain, Wells, Harvin, Young, Kindle, Mays, Forbath, Bradford and 74 other athletes—including 27 more PARADE All-Americans—are set to go head-to-head in the ultimate battle of East vs. West. We don’t know who’ll win, but we do know this: You don’t want to miss it! Our Fitness Editor, Michael O’Shea, will be there at halftime to honor our PARADE All-America team.
Chris Wells of Akron, Ohio, can run over a defender or accelerate outside and go the distance on any play, says his coach, Bob Sax of Garfield High. “When you’re 6 feet 2, 230 pounds and can run like a sprinter,” Sax adds, “the sky’s the limit.” Wells rushed 223 times for 2,134 yards and 27 touchdowns in 10 games this season. In his high school career, he carried 598 times for 5,232 yards and 61 TDs; he also caught 37 passes for 408 yards and three scores. Last summer, Wells tutored kids through the Butch Reynolds Foundation. He heads to lucky Ohio State this fall.
Sam Young of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is a leader on and off the field: The 6-foot-8, 305-pound offensive tackle had more than 80 blocks last season and is a top student at St. Thomas Aquinas, where he worked with Habitat for Humanity. “His skill and work ethic will take him a long way,” says Coach George Smith. The two-time all-state lineman is being recruited by colleges coast to coast.
Expectations are high for a football star at Woodrow Wilson in Dallas—the school has produced two Heisman Trophy-winners. Sergio Kindle has met those expectations. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound linebacker “leads by example and is an emotional force,” says his coach, Bob Estes. Kindle had 115 tackles this season. As a tailback, he rushed 218 times for 2,298 yards and 40 touchdowns. He’ll be a Texas Longhorn in the fall.
At 6 feet 3 and 220 pounds, Taylor Mays of O’Dea High in Seattle, Wash., has linebacker size and track-sprinter speed. “He’s bigger, faster and stronger than just about anyone he matches up against,” says his coach, Monte Kohler. Mays was in on 166 tackles this season and intercepted five passes, which he returned for a total of 98 yards. On offense, he caught 36 passes for 765 yards and 11 TDs; he also rushed for three scores. Mays’ father, Stafford, played in the NFL from 1980 to 1988. The young Mays might follow in his footsteps, but first he’s headed to USC.
Kai Forbath of Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks, Calif., set a state record in 2004 for points kicked in a season. This season, the 6-foot, 185-pound athlete kicked 61 extra points and seven field goals. “Kai is a big reason why we were undefeated for so long,” says his coach, Kevin Rooney. Kai chose UCLA after a fierce recruiting battle.
Allen Bradford of Colton, Calif., rushed for 1,869 yards and 29 touchdowns, and caught 20 passes for six TDs. On defense, the 6-foot, 220-pound powerhouse had 157 tackles and 12 sacks. Bradford’s coach, Harold Strauss, calls him “the fiercest hitter I’ve seen in 26 years.” He’s being recruited as a linebacker by Cal, Oregon, USC and UCLA and others.
