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Top 10 former Arizona HS football players we’ll see in the 2024 NFL season
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Top 10 former Arizona HS football players we’ll see in the 2024 NFL season

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For decades, former Arizona high school football players have made their mark on the NFL. Here are The Republic’s top 10 former Arizona high school players we’ll be watching during the upcoming 2024 NFL season. (High school is indicated in parentheses.)

He broke 6A passing records in his senior season at Gilbert Perry High in 2017. He signed with Iowa State, where he played four years and broke school records, then became the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Despite a torn ulnar collateral ligament suffered in the NFC championship game his rookie season, he rebounded to lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl last season.

2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons, running back (Salpointe Catholic)

He set state records for rushing yards during an illustrious high school career in Tucson that included twice receiving the Ed Doherty Award for best high school football player in Arizona. He took off at Texas, then became a first-round pick of the Falcons, where he had a standout rookie season last year. A dual threat with his pass-catching skills, expect much more from him in his second season.

3. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens, tight end (Desert Mountain)

He was voted Player of the Year by The Arizona Republic during his junior season at the Scottsdale school, proving how determined he was to succeed while playing with Type 1 diabetes. He starred at Oklahoma and has been a go-to target for quarterback Lamar Jackson with the Ravens.

One of the best athletes to emerge from Scottsdale Saguaro, where he racked up more than 3,000 all-purpose yards as a senior. He was a star at Texas A&M before the Cardinals selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft. He played his first four years with Arizona before leaving for the Jaguars, where he had career-highs of 84 receptions for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns in the 2022 season.

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He played one year in high school for Kirk, making a state championship team. He became one of the best cornerbacks in the country in Washington before the Cardinals signed him with the 32nd pick.North Dakota The 2019 NFL draft pick is now in his second season with the Vikings.

6. Austin Jackson, Miami Dolphins, offensive line (North Canyon)

He was the top-rated high school football prospect in Arizona during his senior year at the Phoenix school before shining at USC. He was the Dolphins’ first-round pick (18He overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft. After struggling in 2022, he bounced back strongly last season for Miami and was rewarded with a three-year, $36 million contract extension.

7. Andrus Peat, Las Vegas Raiders, OL (Corona del Sol)

He was a two-sport star at Corona del Sol in Tempe, the center of the first of four consecutive state championship basketball teams, before moving on to play football at Stanford. He spent his first nine NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints and is now with the Raiders.

8. Isaiah Oliver, New York Jets, DB (Phoenix Brophy High School)

He was drafted in the second round by the Falcons in 2018. He racked up more than 200 tackles during his years there before playing for the 49ers last season. He started six regular-season games for the Niners and played in every game last year. He was released at the end of the season and signed with the Jets in the offseason.

9. Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints, DE (Chandler)

He has been a perennial Pro Bowler for the Saints, but his productivity dropped off last season due to a nagging ankle injury. Retirement is not in the cards for him. The 35-year-old hopes to bounce back this season for the Saints.

He played high school football in Gilbert and has started 34 NFL games in his career, including five with the hometown Cardinals last season. It was a bounce-back year after the Houston Texans released him from injured reserve, where he played his first two NFL seasons.

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University sports and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest ideas for human interest stories and other news, contact Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

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