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Who will be the top high school football player in the Salem-Keizer area this fall?
Vote to decide.
The 2026 OSAA high school football season is a few weeks away and the Statesman Journal has worked across the field to identify some of the top players in every position. Now, it's time to decide who the most impactful player will be.
There are state champions, all-state honorees and conference winners returning to their respective teams, but there's also a new wave of athletes ready to shine under the Friday night lights for the first time.
Without further ado, here are the nominees for the top high school football player heading into the 2026 season, brought to you by Maps Credit Union.
Mark Bailey, Silverton
Kellen Bowman, South Salem
Makoy Fleeman, Dayton
Aidan Galusha, Dallas
JT Girod, Central
Benjamin Greer, South Salem
Josiah Hawkins, Cascade
Paul Herb, Sprague
Sabby Hlavinka, Cascade
Noah Hockett, St. Paul
Emmett Hunsaker, Sprague
Tavin Kumm, McNary
Tevita Lata, North Salem
Nicklas Schneider, Dallas
Josiah Senados, West Salem
Ethan Tatum, West Salem
Lincoln Teeney, Silverton
Ryder VandeWeghe, Silverton
Creo Walker, Kennedy
Jamison Walsh, Cascade
Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is the most deserving at statesmanjournal.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Sunday, Aug. 23.
Mark Bailey, Silverton
Bailey returns to the offensive and defensive lines of the Class 5A state champions and is one of many high-quality linemen back on the field in Silverton. Bailey, a junior, earned a spot on the first-team all-state roster from the O-line last fall, and was the only sophomore to do so. Silverton's guard is also booked a first-team bid in Special District 3, where he also was the only sophomore on the offensive side of the ball.
Defensively, Bailey was a first-team all-conference and second-team all-state lineman in his sophomore campaign. He returns with the lion's share of the defensive line and linebackers from the title-winning side to make for an intimidating defense once again in Silverton.
"He's an absolute stud," coach Dan Lever said. "We're going to really count on our front seven."
Kellen Bowman, South Salem
Bowman is back in the pocket for his senior season with the Saxons. Last fall, Bowman led all of Class 6A in passing yards with 3,214, but the Saxons finished the season winless. He set state records in single-game passing yards (692) and completions (48) in the same game against Grants Pass and earned all-state honorable mention.
"He's almost thrown for 5,000 yards passing and thrown the ball 600-plus times in varsity football games," South coach Josh Vanlue said. "Having that experience at the quarterback position is awesome."
Makoy Fleeman, Dayton
Dayton graduated two first-team all-conference running backs from its Class 3A Special District 2-winning campaign last fall. The Pirates fell in the first round of the playoffs that season but went 7-0 in-conference and delivered a campaign to remember. In that run, Fleeman earned all-conference honorable mention at running back.
Expected to be the lead back for his senior season, Fleeman will help spearhead the Pirates' transition into a new conference with a new schedule as they join a league with Amity, North Marion, Santiam Christian, Yamhill-Carlton and more.
Aidan Galusha, Dallas
Galusha, a senior, is one of the top returning players in Class 5A's Special District 3. He earned first-team all-conference and honorable mention all-state at running back last fall.
Defensively, Galusha earned first-team all-conference and was named the conference's defensive lineman of the year at the edge position. His playmaking abilities across the field — whether its from the defensive line, linebacker or running back — will be much welcomed in Dallas. Galusha also earned second-team all-state last fall as a defensive lineman.
"We return one of the better players in Oregon with Aiden," coach Andy Jackson said. "He's a pretty unique talent to have. To have a kid that is that big, that explosive, that fast ... it's not a normal high school kid and it's not one we're used to having."
JT Girod, Central
Girod, a senior, is a returning starter for the Panthers after a 4-5 season last fall. Girod is fresh off a Class 5A baseball state championship — and with several crossovers between the football and baseball teams, they'll hope to carry that momentum onto the gridiron.
A year ago, Girod earned Special District 3 honorable mention by throwing for over 1,500 passing yards at a near-60% completion rate. Girod also threw 17 touchdowns to three interceptions, one of the best Class 5A ratios. He's back for one final season with the Panthers as they slip down to compete in Class 4A Special District 3 with Cascade, Philomath, Stayton and more.
Benjamin Greer, South Salem
Greer is back for the Saxons for his senior season after collecting first-team all-conference in Class 6A Special District 1 last fall at wide receiver. Greer finished second in total receiving yards in the entire classification, garnering 1,309 yards on 117 receptions. His 117 receptions are the second most in a single season in Oregon history and Greer set a state record for most receptions in a game with 24 against Sheldon a year ago.
"He was unbelievable for us," coach Josh Vanlue said.
Greer also collected second-team all-conference honors last fall at linebacker and is slated to be a leader of the defense, and offense, this season. Greer boasts the physicality and work ethic required of a lead linebacker.
Josiah Hawkins, Cascade
Cascade's all-state receiver is back, fresh of a state championship. His nine touchdowns in the regular season last fall were among the most in Class 4A, and in Cascade's state-championship rout Hawkins scor...
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