12 All-State Team Selections for San Juan Bronco football
Jagger Nieves
SJH | 2A football | player of the year
Junior- Running Back/ Linebacker
1,004 Yards Rushing, 22 Touchdowns, 595 Yards Receiving, 8 Touchdowns, 130 Yards Passing, 1 TD, 2 Kick Return TDs, 101 Tackles, 3 Interceptions, 2 Fumble Recoveries
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “Jagger had a great season for us, helping us win our fourth straight state championship. He is a tremendous football player and leader who led his team by his hard-working example.
Jagger is one of those rare individuals who has taken his enormous amount of natural talent and paired it with a work ethic that is unmatched. Usually when I get kids in our program who are natural-born athletes growing up, they struggle to find a hard-nosed work ethic.
Jagger has proven that to be wrong as he was one of our hardest workers on the team.
Jagger finished the year with 1,004 yards rushing, 595 yards receiving, 130 passing yards, 101 tackles, three interceptions, one sack, and two kick returns. He had over 2,000 all-purpose yards and 35 total touchdowns.
Whenever we needed an electric play, Jagger was the guy to step up. He did things for us in a variety of ways.
In one game he scored touchdowns by way of a kick return, pick-six, fumble recovery, rushing, and receiving. The week before that game he threw a pass for a touchdown.
It’s easy to watch Jagger and be amazed by how easy it looks, like the game comes to him. But I promise, he earned every bit of this award by a grind-it-out work ethic.
He is relentless and a natural-born winner who we are excited to have back next year. Congrats on Player of the Year Jag!”
Cooper Palmer
SJH | 2A football | First team
Senior- Offensive Lineman
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “Cooper was our only returning starter on the offensive line coming into the season.
“His junior year he was our only first-year starter and he leaned a lot from the seniors on that unit. This year we needed him to take over and be the leader of our O-Line.
“He stepped up in a big way. Coop was the most consistent lineman we had. He was always making the smart play and rarely making mistakes.
“He was a great communicator and helped the other guys on the O-Line immensely.
“We would not have gotten the offensive production we did without Coop.
“As defenses would get desperate and try some pretty bizarre things to stop us, Cooper would diagnose stunts and blitzes we hadn’t seen on film and block them to perfection, opening up holes to run and stopping pressures so we could throw all season long.
“Usually O-Lineman are “Rah-Rah” guys and very animated. Coop is the most low-key, calm, chilled-out offensive lineman I have ever met.
“We are going to miss Cooper and his leadership and football IQ a ton next season.
“He is always welcome back to our program to help me coach whenever he wants.
“Congrats on All-State Coop!”
Jaiten Knight
SJH | 2A football | First team
Senior - Quaterback
3,562 Yards Passing, 39 Touchdowns, 563 Yards Rushing,
8 Touchdowns
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “Jaiten will go down as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play football for San Juan High School.
“He threw for 3,562 yards (first in 2A, second in the state 1A-6A), 39 touchdowns (first in 2A, fourth in the state), 68 percent completion rating (first in 2A, fourth in the state), and had a quarterback rating of 131 (first in 2A, second in the state).
Jaiten also ran for 563 yards and eight touchdowns this year.
“On the defensive side of the ball, he had 23 tackles and one sack. Jaiten had a great offseason and became bigger, faster, and stronger.
“He never missed a workout or a film session. I challenged him to read the book “Extreme Ownership” over the winter and he became a better leader.
We had the #1 scoring offense in the state of Utah and we led the whole nation for five weeks. Jaiten was a big reason why.
He is very deserving of First Team All-State.
Congrats Jaiten on a huge year!”
Jake Ivins
SJH | 2A football | First team
senior - wide receiver/outside linebacker
971 Yards Receiving, 4 Touchdowns, 84 Tackles, 4 Sacks, 1 Interception, 1 Fumble Recovery
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “I am going to miss coaching Jake because of his competitive mentality and his ability to make plays on both sides of the ball all the time.
“Jake is the definition of a DOG! He is relentless and never stops. He started for us for three years and he will be very hard to replace.
“Jake finished the year with 64 receptions and 971 yards receiving. He had six total touchdowns on offense.
Defensively, he had 84 tackles, four sacks, and one interception.
“Jake is the true definition of a football player – gritty, competitive, hard-nosed, tough, the list goes on and on.
“He tore his labrum week one against Grantsville and had to miss one game because of it. Most kids would have missed six or more weeks because of that injury and he chose to battle through it and never complained.
“I know he was in pain the whole year, but Jake did not want to miss any more time.
“Congrats Jake on a solid career and First Team All-State AGAIN.”
JD Palmer
SJH | 2A football | first team
senior-linebacker/running back/ tight end
752 Yards Rushing, 13 Touchdowns, 119 Tackles, 12 Tackles for Loss, 2 Fumble Recoveries, 1 Interception
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “JD ‘Gingy’ Palmer is the ultimate football guy. He loves the game, and would do anything we asked him all year long to help us win.
“JD could have rushed for 1,500 yards this season, but instead he took on the role as our Tight End / Fullback to help his team. We needed a tight end to replace Trace Bennett from last season.
“JD stepped up and blocked and opened up holes for us all year. JD still ran for 752 yards and 13 touchdowns on 93 carries, averaging 8.1 yards per carry.
“JD was also the heart and soul of our defense with a team-high 119 tackles, one interception and four forced fumbles. He is one of the hardest hitting backers I have ever coached.
“It is almost impossible to replace a guy like JD because of everything he did for us. He was a leader in the weight room, practice field, games, locker room, huddles, the list goes on and on.
“When JD came into our program as a freshman, I would have never believed you if you told me what he would become. He is the poster child for ‘Anything is possible with hard work’. That is one of the best compliments I can give a guy. I am going to miss JD but I am so proud of him and all that he has accomplished over the last four years. Congrats on All-State, Ging.”
Tripp Palmer
SJH | 2A football | First team
Junior - Free safety
219 Yards Receiving, 2 Touchdowns, 53 Tackles, 10 Tackles for Loss,
5 Interceptions
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “Tripp is the definition of an athlete. Standing at 6’5 and the vertical of a Division 1 high jump star, he is a force to be reckoned with at safety.
“He had some of the most incredible highlight-film-material plays this year for us on defense. He had five interceptions and two of them went for touchdowns.
“He also had 53 tackles and is one of the hardest hitting defensive backs I have seen.
“He had 219 receiving yards and two touchdowns for us as well.
“Tripp is a selfless guy who is very easy going and a coach’s dream to coach.
“He is athletic and very coachable. The best part is that he is only a junior.
“I can’t wait to see what he does next year for us on both sides of the ball.
“Congrats on First Team All-State, Tripp! Let’s do it again next year!”
Cash Palmer
SJH | 2A football | First team
Junior - offensive and defensive Lineman
34 Tackles, 11 Tackles for Loss, 9 Quarterback Hurries, 1 Sack
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “Big Cash Palmer played the ultra-important Left Tackle position for us this season.
“Cash embodies what a new-age offensive lineman is. Standing at 6’3 and 280lbs, he is athletic, fast, and agile for a big man.
“He was instrumental in helping our team rush for 2,524 yards and 47 touchdowns. He opened up big holes and pulled and got out in front of our backs to help them run all year long.
“He also helped us throw for 3,760 yards and 42 touchdowns by providing Jaiten time all year long.
“Our O-Line only gave up four sacks all year long with 356 passing attempts!
“Coaching at a smaller school, you don’t get to coach athletes like Cash very often.
“We are very blessed to have him in our program and we are excited to have him again next year.
“Congrats on First Team, Cash!”
Branten Bethea
SJH | 2A football | Second team
Senior-wide receiver/
linebacker
653 Yards Receiving,
11 Touchdowns, 77 Tackles,
10 Tackles for Loss, 15 Quarterback Hurries, 3 Sacks
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “Branten was an absolute game changer for us this season. He started on both sides of the ball and was a great punt returner these last two seasons. He made huge plays for us all year long. We moved him from safety to outside linebacker this season and he gave offenses all sorts of problems blitzing off the edge and containing running backs all year long. He also had a great season at slot leading our team in receiving touchdowns with 11.
“Branten had 42 receptions for 653 yards. I personally thought he should have been a first-teamer, but I am glad he got recognized for all of his effort and hard work. Like a lot of the guys on this list, Branten worked hard in the weight room and practice field and is a natural-born competitor and winner. Whenever our team needed energy or a shot of swagger to swing momentum, Branten was always our spark plug guy who would provide that. I have enjoyed coaching B for the last four years and we will miss #0 all over the field. Congrats Branten! #GiveItToMe!”
Javin Montella
SJH | 2A football | Second team
Senior-wide receiver/defensive back
574 Yards Receiving, 8 Touchdowns, 27 Tackles, 1 Interception
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “Javin ‘Show Time’ Montella has been an absolute treat to coach and to just watch.
“It seemed like every game, practice, and 7-on-7 he participated in, he was making some form of a highlight-reel catch.
“Javin has made some of the most remarkable catches I have seen in all my time around football.
“The ones I will always remember: the one-handed Odell-Beckham-esque catch against Delta in the semifinals; his catches against Grand and Emery where he went over the top of the cornerbacks and caught the ball on their heads for 50+-yard touchdowns; his 7-on-7 catch his junior year against Snow Canyon in the championship and then again against them at the Richfield padded camp.
“I could go on and on about what a playmaker this kid is. He ended up with 574 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
“He also was our lockdown corner and safety and mainly guarded the other teams’ best players.
“Congrats Javin on a great year!”
Remy Whatcott
SJH | 2A football | second team
Junior- Offensive Lineman
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “Remy is one of the hardest working players I have ever coached.
“If you drive by the high school in the mornings, Remy and his dad are usually lifting weights, running stairs, pulling sleds, and doing whatever he can to improve his game.
“He took frequent trips to Salt Lake City to put in work with OFFA Academy, which is a developmental football program for lineman.
“He also made several trips to different college camps to learn and get better.
“It all paid off as Remy made the biggest jump in skill I have seen from a sophomore to a junior.
“He had a memorable year, getting better each game he played. I don’t think he made one mistake in the state championship game; he played an almost perfect game.
“We would not have run for 2,524 yards and 47 touchdowns without him this season.
“He was also huge in allowing us to throw for 3,760 yards and 42 touchdowns.
“I am so glad we get him again next season.
“Congrats Rem!”
George McNaughtan
SJH | 2A football | second team
Junior- defensive end
66 Tackles, 16 Tackles for Loss, 29 Quarterback Hurries, 5 Sacks
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “Big George is an absolute baller and wreaked havoc for opposing offenses all year long.
“I hated when George played scout team against our starting offense in practice because he seemed to always be blowing our plays up.
“He is fast, athletic, and very tough to block for offensive linemen. George moved here from New York two years ago and he has been an absolute blessing to our school and program.
“George finished the year with 66 tackles and led our team with five sacks. George also had 29 quarterback hurries which led to a lot of turnovers for our defense.
“The scary thing about George is that he is still improving rapidly. George is somewhat new to football and he learned a lot about the game this season.
“Now that he has a year of starting under his belt, I am excited to see what he does next year.
“Sack records beware.
“Congrats, George!”
Cutler Baker
SJH | 2A football
honorable mention
Senior- Offensive Lineman
31 Yards Rushing
Head Coach Barkley Christensen: “Cutler did a great job for us at Center this season.
“Center is a tough position but he helped lead us to being the #1 scoring offense in the state, averaging 51.5 points per game.
“I am so proud of how far Cutler has come while in our program. He sat patiently behind Jarrod Burke the last two seasons and when he got his opportunity this year, he never looked back.
“My favorite stat of his this season is his 31 yards rushing.
“In the Emery game, he caught a fumble in the air and didn’t miss a beat.
“He proceeded to run for 31 yards and hit the biggest first-down celebration in football history.
“Our sideline and fans cheered harder for that play then they did most touchdowns, which goes to show you what kind of teammate Cutler was.
“Everyone loved him and he was a great leader by how he encouraged and cheered on his team all year.
“Congrats on the award Cut-Bake!”