Who is all-time greatest Southern California high school football player?

Perhaps no region in the United States can match the high school football output from Southern California.

Over the years, SoCal has pumped out talent after talent, with players who go on to dominate college football and then the pros.

Who is the all-time best Southern California-area high school football player?

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, that's the question USA TODAY Sports is looking to answer in celebration of the greatest American sports figures of all time, including high school athletes who shaped communities and defined their states.

With that in mind, here are our selections for the football players who defined Friday Night Lights in the southern half of the Golden State. The 16 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standouts in the high school gridiron before playing at the next level.

Did we miss someone? There's a spot for you to write in your own candidate who wasn't included on our list of 16.

Marcus Allen, RB, Lincoln

A two-way star, Allen, really showed off his talents in his final high school game, the state championship game, when he accounted for five total touchdowns and finished with 195 rushing yards. One of those scores was even an interception returned for a touchdown. He was named the 1977 Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Football. [MaxPreps](https://www.maxpreps.com/news/eAbxZGkNQUibXUrylJYJMg/high-school-football-ronnie-lott%2C-deion-sanders%2C-dick-butkus-among-10-greatest-two-way-players.htm#:~:text=Ronnie%20Lott%2C%20Eisenhower%20(Rialto%2C,645%20yards%20and%20nine%20touchdowns.) recognized him as one of the top 10 best two-way athletes ever in high school in 2022.

Matt Barkley, QB, Mater Dei

Barkley was a four-year starter at Mater Dei, stepping in as a freshman to lead the prestigious high school program. He was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year during the 2007–08 academic year after leading the Monarchs to a national championship. He threw for 9,471 yards and 79 touchdowns during his prep career.

Reggie Bush, RB, Helix

Bush put up absurd numbers throughout his prep career at Helix High in Mesa, California. He accounted for 4,925 yards during his high school career. In his senior season, Bush finished with 1,691 yards (12.1 yards per carry) and 27 touchdowns despite missing four games due to an injury. He also had 3,135 all-purpose yards and 34 touchdowns as a junior.

Glenn Davis, HB, Bonita

Davis excelled in football, baseball, basketball and track in his prestigious high school career. As a senior, he was named CIF Player of the Year. Davis donated his Heisman Trophy to the school in 1987, one year after the high school renamed the football field in his honor.

John Elway, QB, Granada Hills

In a time when passing volume was much lower, Elway finished his high school career with 5,711 passing yards and 49 touchdowns. He did this despite a knee injury that slowed him down and costD him five games as a senior. He was also a full-time baseball player.

Keyshawn Johnson, WR, Palisades/Susan Dorsey Miller

The No. 1 pick in the 1996 NFL Draft overcame a ton of adversity to become one of the greatest high school players from Southern California. Johnson earned a spot on the All-CIF First Team and also ran track and field.

Matt Leinart, QB, Mater Dei

Leinart was named the Gatorade California Player of the Year in 2000, capping an impressive high school career. As a senior, he threw for 2,870 yards, 28 TDs and 10 interceptions. For his career, Leinart had 5,116 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes. He was one of the top recruits in the nation for the 2001 recruiting cycle.

Ronnie Lott, QB/DB, Eisenhower

Lott was a standout-two way player for Eisenhower High in Rialto, California. He was not only an All-American as a defensive back, but also played QB for his school, throwing for 596 passing yards and five touchdowns to go along with 645 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. [MaxPreps](https://www.maxpreps.com/news/eAbxZGkNQUibXUrylJYJMg/high-school-football-ronnie-lott%2C-deion-sanders%2C-dick-butkus-among-10-greatest-two-way-players.htm#:~:text=Ronnie%20Lott%2C%20Eisenhower%20(Rialto%2C,645%20yards%20and%20nine%20touchdowns.) recognized him as one of the top 10 best two-way athletes ever in high school in 2022.

Carson Palmer, QB, Santa Margarita

During his prestigious high school career, Palmer threw for 4,692 yards and 55 touchdowns. That included a senior season in which he had 2,685 passing yards and 31 touchdowns. By the end of his prep career, Palmer finished with 27 school records and 2 straight CIF championships.

Anthony Munoz, OL, Chaffey

Before he became the No. 3 overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, Munoz was dominating in high school due to his athleticism, playing both ways on the gridiron, as well as starring as a three-sport athlete. Muñoz earned All-CIF Southern Section team honors in 1974 and 1975.

Junior Seau, LB, Oceanside

Seau was a true two-way superstar, racking up statistics for Oceanside at both linebacker and tight end during his prestigious high school career. In 1986, Seau was named the Avocado League Offensive MV, leading Oceanside to the San Diego 2A championship. Seau was a three-sport letterman in football, basketball and track, and was inducted into the Oceanside Hall of Fame in 2010.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Mater Dei

St. Brown had 72 receptions for 1,320 yards and 20 touchdowns, to go along with two punt return scores during his senior season. Over his last two seasons, he racked up 113 receptions for 2,549 yards and 41 touchdowns. Even in high school, St. Brown flashed his elite route running, which has been the key to his career.

Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oaks Christian School

Thibodeaux dominated his senior season, earning the USA TODAY High School Football Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 after recording 18 sacks and 54 tackles. In his prep career, he recorded 154 total tackles, 54 sacks, and forced 8 fumbles. He was constantly double-teamed as teams looked to neutralize his ability to impact the game.

DJ Uiagalelei, QB, St. John Bosco

Early on in his prep career, Uiagalelei went viral for his ability to throw a beautiful deep ball. That translated during his high school career, as he threw for 4,225 yards and 48 touchdowns during his senior season. Overall, he threw for 10,324 and 127 touchdowns in his prep career.

Robert Woods, WR, Junipero Serra

Woods, who was a teammate with Famer, recorded 66 catches for 1,112 yards and 16 touchdowns during his senior season, earning a selection to the 2009 USA TODAY ALL-USA first team. Overall, he is one of the most complete receivers in SoCal high school history, with 192 receptions for 3,310 yards and 41 touchdowns. He also recorded 274 tackles and 25 interceptions on defense.

Bryce Young, QB, Mater Dei

Young threw for 13,250 yards and 25 touchdowns during his prep career at the prestigious Mater Dei. That included a 4,528-yard passing season with 58 touchdowns during his senior year, which earned him California Gatorade Football Player of the Year and USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year honors.