NFL has NorCal flavor

   Everyone talks about a graduating class from high school and key athletes moving on into college, but it’s always fun to check out those who’ve earned jobs as rookies in the NFL after playing in college.

   There’s a strong group of those players this year from Northern California high schools. This list includes:

ARIC ARMSTEAD (Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove) 

   Former first team all-state player for the Eagles and a first round pick out of Oregon plays defensive line for the San Francisco 49ers.

ANDREW FRANKS (Carmel)

   After kicking for the Padres, Franks went to tiny Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. He just won starting job for Miami Dolphins. 

SEAN MANNION (Foothill-Pleasanton)

   He starred at Oregon State and is the third QB on the roster for the St. Louis Rams.

MARCUS PETERS (McClymonds-Oakland) 

   What a start for the former University of Washington player in the Kansas City Chiefs’ secondary. Marcus got the NFL season’s first interception in his first game, and in his second he got a pick six.

JORDAN RICHARDS (Folsom)

   Was a standout from Bulldogs’ 2010 state title team and the first to make it into the NFL from Folsom’s current coaching staff. Richards played collegiately at Stanford and is now in the secondary for defending Super Bowl champ New England Patriots.

TY SAMBRAILO (St. Francis CCC-Watsonville) 

   Already starting and providing protection for Peyton Manning with the Denver Broncos. Sambrailo went to college at Colorado State.

JAMES SAMPLE (Grant-Sacramento)

   He was with Marcus Peters at Washington and of course was with Shaq Thompson at Grant. Now playing DB for Jacksonville.

SHAQ THOMPSON (Grant-Sacramento)

   A first-round pick last April by the Carolina Panthers and also from the University of Washington, Thompson remains one of the best players we’ve seen from NorCal prep football in the last 10 years.

TERRON WARD (De La Salle-Concord) 

   Yes, the Spartans have another one in the NFL after Terron (who played at Oregon State) earned spot as a running back for the Atlanta Falcons. He also joins older brother T.J. (playing for the Broncos) as first set of DLS brothers to make it as pros.

CODY WICHMANN (Mariposa County-Mariposa) 

   He was an all-state small school player from Mariposa at TE/LB who went to Fresno State and eventually into the NFL (he’s with the Rams). Sound familiar? Logan Mankins, a longtime NFL offensive lineman with the Patriots and Jaguars, did the same.

PERFECT TENETTE

   Heading into the fourth major week of the 2015 season, California’s leader for single-game rushing was Highlands of North Highlands senior Isaiah Tenette.

   On just 21 carries, in a 84-43 victory against Mira Loma-Sacramento on Sept. 12, Tenette racked up 465 yards and scored seven touchdowns. His total broke the Sacramento area single-game record of 449 set in 2005 by James Montgomery from Cordova-Rancho Cordova.

   The most intriguing aspect of Tenette’s total, however, is that he did it not as a running back but while playing quarterback. We had to check out the complete all-time state list after a request from the Sacramento Bee’s Joe Davidson and found the only total higher in California history from another who played quarterback was Sty Hairston of Banning. He had 476 yards rushing on just 15 carries and scored seven TDs in a 2012 game when Banning defeated Linfield Christian-Temecula 71-14.

   For the complete updated list of single-game state rushing leaders, please visit CalHiSports.com.

Mark Tennis is the co-founder of Cal-Hi Sports, and publisher of CalHiSports.com. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter, @CalHiSports.