Baltimore-area high school football players to watch in 2022

Noah Brannock, Calvert Hall, senior, quarterback

Brannock’s toughness and grit typified Calvert Hall’s run to its first MIAA A Conference championship in a decade last fall. The 6-foot, 190-pound William & Mary commit threw for 1,852 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, earning All-Met honors.

Carter Davis, Mount St. Joseph, senior, cornerback

Davis is arguably the top cover man in the MIAA A Conference. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Boston College commit recorded 90 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries last fall for the Gaels.

Michael Fernades, Glenelg, senior, kicker

Fernades was a huge weapon for the Howard County co-champ Gladiators last fall, going 48-of-48 on extra-point kicks and he converted three of four field goals including a 39-yarder. The 6-foot, 205-pounder, who will also punt this fall for Glenelg, is committed to Washington & Lee.

Jordan Fiorenza, Dundalk, senior, running back

Fiorenza rushed for 1,494 yards and 18 touchdowns last season for the Class 4A/3A state runner-up Owls. The top back in Baltimore County, the 5-foot-10 bruiser can get the tough yards between the tackles and or craftily use blocks to burst through holes.

Rashard Herring, Milford Mill, senior, offensive lineman

Herring is arguably the best offensive blocker in the public school ranks. The 6-foot-1, 285-pounder, who has offers from Howard, Lafayette and Maine, didn’t allow a sack in pass protection for the Millers, who reached the Class 2A state final last fall.

Donovan Lewis, Calvert Hall, senior, receiver

Lewis was the epitome of clutch for the MIAA A champ Cardinals last year, catching 37 passes for 731 yards and eight touchdowns. The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder had both Cardinal touchdowns (86 and 36-yard receptions) in the A title game victory over McDonogh after catching two scores in the regular season match.

Kharles Ngansi, Oakland Mills, senior, defensive line/linebacker

Ngansi, last year’s Howard County Defensive Player of the Year, finished with 103 tackles (15 ½ for loss) and 10 ½ quarterback sacks for Oakland Mills, which fell seconds short of reaching the Class 2A state final last year. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Army commit uses speed and agility to wreak havoc.

K.P. Price, St. Frances, senior, cornerback

After a breakout junior season at Calvert Hall last fall, Price will be part of a loaded defensive unit at St. Frances. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder, who has Power 5 offers from Boston College, Duke, Kansas, Syracuse, West Virginia and Virginia Tech, posted 51 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles last year, helping Calvert Hall to the MIAA A championship.

Durell Robinson, St. Frances, senior, running back

The quick and powerful 6-foot-1, 200-pounder rushed 853 yards and 11 touchdowns last fall for the nationally-ranked Panthers. The state’s top running back prospect by Rivals and 247Sports, Robinson has Boston College, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech as his top choices out of 13 Power 5 Conference offers.

Mason Robinson, McDonogh, senior, defensive line

Robinson is the latest in a line of elite defensive linemen from the Owings Mills private school. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound end, finished with 81 tackles (16 for loss) and six sacks last fall for the MIAA A runner-up Eagles. The four-star recruit is committed to Northwestern.

Devin Roche, Dunbar, senior, quarterback

Good things often happen when Roche has the football. The 5-foot-8 dynamo accounted for 3,440 yards and 40 touchdowns last fall, leading the Baltimore City school to its 11th state title and was the consensus Offensive Player of the Year in the area. Roche is committed to Old Dominion.

AJ Rodrigues, South Carroll, senior, running back

The reigning Carroll County Offensive Player of the Year, Rodrigues had 1,182 yards and 18 touchdowns (14 rushing) last fall as the Cavaliers reached the Class 2A/1A state final. The 5-foot-10, 170-pounder is also one of the area’s premier wrestlers (60-2 in two seasons with two state titles), attracting interest from several schools including Maryland and West Virginia.

Rushaun Tongue, Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, senior, defensive back

Tongue is the area’s top public school recruit. The dynamic 6-foot-2, 175-pound Wake Forest commit had 28 tackles, four interceptions and recovered two fumbles, along with four receiving touchdowns (16 catches for 309 yards) and two kickoff return scores last fall for the Class 3A state semifinalist Cougars. He’s ranked 16th in the state by Rivals and 247Sports.

Michael Van Buren, St. Frances, junior, quarterback

After an impressive effort in his first varsity start last season (241 yards passing and four touchdowns against California’s De LaSalle), Van Buren takes over as “QB1″ from four-year starter John Griffith (Maryland). The 5-10, 180-pound dual-threat signal caller, who has early offers from Alabama, Maryland, Michigan and Oklahoma, had 788 yards passing and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore last fall.

Dashawn Womack, St. Frances, senior, defensive line

The area’s top senior prospect, Womack recorded 44 tackles (19 for loss) and 11 sacks last season for the top-ranked Panthers. His size (6-foot-4, 255-pounds), power and athleticism easily translates at the Power 5 level. A consensus national Top 10 defensive end recruit, Womack committed to LSU last month.

derek@varsitysportsnetwork.com

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