Football: Lots of freshmen making impact

There are early signs that the class of 2018 in high school football will have plenty of impact players.

Some have already started out on varsity, such as quarterback Matt Corral of Oaks Christian who passed for three touchdowns and ran for three touchdowns in his first varsity start on Friday against Antelope Valley. Crenshaw receiver Rayshawn Williams caught a 38-yard touchdown pass against Long Beach Poly. He’s a star in the making. Hawkins receiver Jalen Hall is another varsity standout.

And then there’s running back TJ Pledger of West Hills Chaminade who’s putting up 100-yard games at the varsity level.

Most of the freshmen, however, are playing on lower level teams.

San Clemente is 4-0 with its freshman team and has two players to watch in running back Austin Whitsett, who has 10 touchdowns, and quarterback Doug Jackson, who has a strong arm.

Crespi freshman quarterback Hamish McClure has his coaches excited about the future. He has completed 10 of 17 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 183 yards and five touchdowns. Linebacker Jackson Sirmon of Loyola has been averaging double figures in tackles.

The best freshman game so far featured unbeaten St. John Bosco taking on unbeaten Alemany on Thursday. St. John Bosco won, 39-21.

The Braves’ freshman team looks like a varsity team in terms of size of some linemen. Remember the names Kevin Coblentz, Sal Spina, Demetrius Flowers, Baraq Ross and Julien Woodard. All should be Brave standouts in the coming years, not to mention quarterback Re-al Mitchell, who just turned 14 and will one day replace Josh Rosen.

Alemany quarterback Brevin White, the younger brother of Hart QB Brady White, was hanging tough until he had to leave the game in the second quarter following a hard tackle. Kahleeb Webb, a defensive back, had an interception and added a kickoff return for a touchdown.

There are many more freshmen to mention in the coming weeks.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer