A season on the brink is now a season in a blink.
The Central Coast Section high school football season for most teams will consist of four to six games, starting either Friday or March 19. A handful of the section's top players have opted to sit out, including the state's No. 2 ranked player Troy Franklin, of Menlo-Atherton, already enrolled at Oregon.
Other top players decided not to play to stay fresh for fall football season while others opted to play other sports, namely baseball.
The first-ever spring football season is here because of the coronavirus pandemic and a delayed roll out from the state's Department of Public Health.
"We lost at least nine players, mostly to other sports on campus," Valley Christian coach Mike Machado said. "That's absolutely OK. We're just all glad to have options."
Most of the section's top players normally play in one of the state's top leagues, the all-private West Catholic Athletic League. But in 2021, the top two players actually reside in the southern part of the section, in Salinas and Carmel. Both have signed to Pac-12 conference schools.
Note: If any of your players on this list have opted not to play, please let us know at mstephens@maxpreps.com. 
Menlo-Atherton junior Jalen Moss (left) is the No. 10 player to watch in the Central Coast Section in 2021.
File photo by Scott Dinn
Senior | TE | 6-6, 240 | Oregon StateA three-sport standout, football appears to be his meal ticket. Had 48 catches for 636 yards and five touchdowns as a junior, but also played quarterback, completing 33 of 51 for 560 yards, six TDs and no interceptions.
2. Noah Pulealii | Palma (Salinas)
Senior | Guard | 6-4, 300 | UCLAPlays right tackle for the Chieftains, but expected to move to guard at UCLA. Superb strength, feet and hand-work. Been compared to Minnesota Vikings' guard Dru Samia.
3. Jurrion Dickey | Valley Christian (San Jose)
Sophomore | WR | 6-2, 207 | UndecidedOne of the top 100 sophomore recruits in the country has five Power 5 offers.
4. Christian Pedersen | Serra (San Mateo)
Senior | TE | 6-5, 230 | Louisville Picked Cardinals over 21 other offers.
5. Dominic Oliver | Valley Christian
Senior | LB | 6-3, 224 | San Diego StateFast, active, aggressive, Oliver picked Aztecs over Arizona, Fresno State and Kansas. Fifteen of his 62 tackles last year went for loss.
6. Evan Brancy-Haynes | Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco)
Senior | DL | 6-3, 280 | ArizonaFirst-team All-West Catholic Athletic League performer stood out on a winless team.
7. Duke Reeder | St. Ignatius (San Francisco)
Senior | TE/LB | 6-4, 230 | StanfordOne of the top-rated defensemen nationally in lacrosse, Reeder does it on both sides of the ball for the Wildcats' football team.
8. Clayton Lynam | Saint Francis (Mountain View)
Junior | LB | 6-4, 240 | UndecidedOffers are arriving rapidly for big, physical and athletic linebacker. He also will contribute as a tight end.
9. Jack Burnett | St. Ignatius
Senior | OL/DL | 6-3, 300 | Air ForceFigures to play center in college. One of several players from a superb senior class for Wildcats.
10. Jalen Moss | Menlo-Atherton (Atherton)
Junior | WR/DB | 6-0, 175 | UndecidedWith his teammate and four-star receiver Troy Franklin already enrolled at Oregon, Moss will see more passes thrown his way. He's ranked the No. 40 junior player in California.
11. Tristan Hofmann | Half Moon Bay
Senior | LB/RB | 6-1, 185 | UndecidedHad 104 tackles to go along with 1,286 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns as a junior after starting at quarterback as a sophomore. Versatile and productive player.
12. Sioeli Helu | Serra
Senior | OL | 6-3, 315 | New Mexico StateIn a long line of excellent Serra linemen, Helu has improved immensely in the last 12 months.
13. Skyler Thomas | Menlo-Atherton
Senior | DB | 6-3, 190 | UndecidedThree-star cornerback has offers from UNLV, Davis and Northern Arizona.
14. Siaki Gallegos Hunkin | St. Ignatius
Senior | LB | 6-0, 215 | UndecidedFirst-team All-WCAL as a junior, Hunkin is one of the most instinctual players on the list. Very hard hitter.
15. Joe Tongamoa | Saint Francis
Senior | LB | 6-2, 235 | Southern UtahThe Lancers have a history of producing great linebackers and Tongamoa continues that tradition.
16. Austin Flax | Mountain View
Senior | WR | 5-10, 180 | DrakeHad 42 catches for 849 yards (20.2 average) and 11 touchdowns. On defense, intercepted three passes in limited time.
17. Hassan Mahasin | Serra
Junior | RB/DB | 6-10, 180 | UndecidedMahasin, nicknamed "The Missile," was one of the Padres' main offensive weapons as a sophomore.
18. Camilo Arquette | Saint Francis
Junior | RB | 6-0, 210 | UndecidedPart of Lancers' talented junior class, Arquette was the WCAL Sophomore of the Year.
19. Dominique Lampkin | Serra
Junior | QB | 6-1, 180 | UndecidedFilled in admirably for injured starter Daylin McLemore late last season and then starred in the state title game to earn San Francisco Chronicle Peninsula co-Player of the Year.
Serra junior quarterback Dominique Lampkin got the Padres to the 1-A state title game.
File photo by Scott Dinn
Senior | OL | 6-0, 230 | UndecidedA first-team All-WCAL offensive lineman as a junior, Netane should pave the way to a high-powered offense.
21. Uluakinofo Taliauli | Saint Francis
Junior | OT | 6-3, 260 | UndecidedAlready has an offer from Oregon. Fresno State and San Jose State should offer shortly.
22. Adam Garwood | Los Gatos
Senior | RB-LB | 5-9, 175 | UndecidedRushed for 1,260 yards and 20 touchdowns last season and added 50 tackles on defense. Coach Mark Krail calls him the "heart and soul" of the team.
23. Nicolas Andrighetto | St. Francis
Junior | WR/DB | 5-10, 185 | UndecidedThe St. Francis junior class is loaded.
24. Ken Erlan | Gunn (Palo Alto)
Senior | OL | 6-4, 290 | UndecidedTwo-time All-League pick led team that averaged 361 yards rushing per game in 2019.
25. Noah Short | King's Academy (Sunnyvale)
Senior | ATH | 6-0, 180 | ArmyDid it all for the Knights in 2019: 694 yards rushing, 18 catches (404 yards), 14 touchdowns, 160 tackles, five interceptions.
