Former South Sound football players making Division I impact

There were more than 100 former South Sound high school football standouts listed on Division I rosters this fall.

Here are 25 players — 10 playing for FBS programs and 15 for FCS programs — who made an impact during the regular season in 2022.

Note: Players listed recorded at least 200 snaps this season, per Pro Football Focus reports.

FBS

DB Talan Alfrey, BYU, fr. (Auburn Mountainview) — Cougars free safety appeared in all 12 games, starting the final eight. Recorded 36 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery and two passes defended. BYU plays SMU in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 17.

DB Jaylen Clark, Boise State, R-soph. (Lincoln) — Appeared in 11 games on defense, playing cornerback, and all 13 games on special teams for a Broncos team that reached the Mountain West championship game. Tallied 17 tackles, one fumble recovery and two passes defended this season. Boise State plays North Texas in the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 17.

WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State, soph. (Steilacoom) — All-Big Ten second-team selection started all 12 games for the Buckeyes, hauling in 66 catches for 1,039 yards and nine TDs. Collected 100-plus receiving yards in five games. Added 81 yards and two more scores on nine carries. Also returned kickoffs and punts on special teams, and led Ohio State with 1,220 all-purpose yards. No. 4 Ohio State plays No. 1 Georgia in the Peach Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Dec. 31.

OL Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State, soph. (Mount Tahoma) — All-Pac-12 second-team selection started all 12 games at right tackle for a Beavers offense that averaged 399.6 yards per game and scored 52 TDs. No. 14 Oregon State plays Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 17.

LB Kelle Sanders, UAB, R-sr. (River Ridge, Snow College, Independence CC) — Sanders started all 10 games he played in for UAB before a late season injury, and recored 36 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, two quarterback hits and one pass breakup at outside linebacker.

DL Jayden Simon, Tulsa, R-soph. (Lincoln, Colorado) — Appeared in Tulsa’s first eight games, starting four, and played primarily nose tackle before missing time due to injury. Tallied 22 total tackles and caused one fumble.

EDGE Sav’ell Smalls, Washington, soph. (Kennedy Catholic) — Appeared in all 12 games for the Huskies this season, tallying 13 tackles and one tackle for loss as an edge rusher. No. 12 Washington plays No. 20 Texas in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29.

DL Dwight Togiola, Nevada, R-fr. (Timberline) — Appeared in nine games, starting four, at defensive end for the Wolf Pack. Recorded 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and one quarterback hit.

LB Alphonzo Tuputala, Washington, soph. (Federal Way) — All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection started all 12 games for the Huskies this season, collecting 66 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and one fumble recovery at inside linebacker. No. 12 Washington plays No. 20 Texas in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29.

DL Lazarus Williams, New Mexico State, sr. (Tumwater, Arizona Western, NMMI) — Started all 12 games for the Aggies this season, collecting 39 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two caused fumbles, one recovery, six quarterback hits and three pass breakups at defensive end. New Mexico State plays Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 26.

FCS

OL Seth Carnahan, Eastern Washington, R-jr. (Sumner, Idaho) — Played right tackle in all 11 games this season, starting nine, for an Eagles offense that averaged 388.9 yards per game and scored 37 TDs.

DB Demetrius Crosby Jr., Eastern Washington, R-jr. (Foss) — Played in 10 games for the Eagles this season, starting four. Recorded 27 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, one caused fumble, two recoveries and three pass breakups at cornerback.

WR Emmanuel Daigbe, Portland State, sr. (Kent-Meridian) — All-Big Sky honorable mention selection played in seven games for the Vikings this season, starting four, and hauled in 13 catches for 147 yards, while adding 31 carries for 183 yards and a pair of tackles.

DL Caleb Davis, Eastern Washington, R-sr. (Bonney Lake) — Davis started each of the seven games he played in for the Eagles, though missed some time due to injury. Recorded 22 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one fumble recovery, one quarterback hit and one pass breakup at defensive tackle.

LB Trevon Erickson, Dartmouth, jr. (Kentwood) — Played in all 10 games for Dartmouth this season, starting nine, and collected 15 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks.

OL Wyatt Hansen, Eastern Washington, soph. (Kentwood) — All-Big Sky honorable mention selection started all 11 games at left tackle this season for an Eagles offense that averaged 388.9 yards per game and scored 37 TDs.

DB Marlon Jones Jr., Eastern Washington, R-soph. (Curtis) — All-Big Sky third-team selection played in all 11 games for the Eagles this season, starting nine. Collected 52 tackles, one tackle for loss, three interceptions and four pass breakups at cornerback.

P Nick Kokich, Eastern Washington, jr. (Bellarmine Prep) — All-Big Sky second-team selection appeared in all 11 games this season, averaging 43.8 yards per punt on 55 attempts. Had 14 punts of 50-plus yards with a long of 61.

DL Debore’ae McClain, Eastern Washington, R-sr. (Peninsula) — Played in 10 games for the Eagles this season, starting one, and collected 15 tackles.

DL Soli Paleso’o, Eastern Washington, R-soph. (Fife) — Played in nine games for the Eagles this season, starting three, and collected 10 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.

WR Willie Patterson, Montana State, sr. (Franklin Pierce) — All-Big Sky third-team selection has started all 13 games this season, and leads the Bobcats in receiving with 40 catches for 579 yards and nine TDs. Also has two tackles and one sack for the Big Sky co-champions. No. 4 Montana State plays No. 1 South Dakota State in the FCS semifinals on Dec. 17.

OL Brenden Rivera, Eastern Washington, soph. (Gig Harbor) — Played in all 11 games this season, starting 10, at right guard for an Eagles offense that averaged 388.9 yards per game and scored 37 TDs.

LB Danny Uluilakepa, Montana State, soph. (Puyallup) — Has played in 11 games for the Bobcats this season, starting 10. Has collected 73 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and three pass breakups at inside linebacker for the Big Sky co-champions. No. 4 Montana State plays No. 1 South Dakota State in the FCS semifinals on Dec. 17.

DB Tre Weed, Eastern Washington, R-jr. (Sumner) — Played in all 11 games for the Eagles this season, starting seven. Collected 30 tackles, one tackle for loss, three interceptions — including one returned for a TD — one fumble recovery and two pass breakups at cornerback.

LB Jaymason Willingham, soph. (Steilacoom, Utah State) — Played in all 11 games for the Vikings this season, starting the final eight. Tallied 53 tackles and five tackles for loss at inside linebacker.