California high school products in CFP National Championship (Washington vs. Michigan)
Tonight brings an official end to the 2023-24 college football season, as Michigan and Washington play for the National Championship in what looks like an old-school Rose Bowl that's not in Pasadena.
Kickoff between the Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies is set for 4:30 p.m. Pacific time Monday, Jan. 8, at NRG Stadium in Houston (TV and streaming on ESPN).
Both semifinals last week were thrillers, with Washington withstanding Texas' late push to win 37-31 and Michigan outlasting Alabama 27-20 in overtime.
SBLive Sports is always looking for high school angles, so leading up to the National Championship Game, we looked up where every Michigan and Washington player competed in prep football.
A startling 49 of the players are from California, quite a ways from home. Here they are listed alphabetically with numeral, player, position, college and where each player finished high school.
CALIFORNIA PREPS IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
31 — Nico Andrighetto, DB, Michigan (Mountain View St. Francis)
55 — Jacob Bandes, DL, Washington (Pittsburg)
6 — Davon Banks, DB, Washington (San Jacinto)
19 — Darren Barkins, DB, Washington (Mater Dei)
27 — Jakson Berman, DB, Washington (Valley Christian)
10 — Zeke Berry, DB, Michigan (Concord De La Salle)
91 — Cameron Brandt, DL, Michigan (Sierra Canyon)
17 — Deven Bryant, LB, Washington (St. John Bosco)
23 — Leroy Bryant, DB, Washington (Rodriguez)
86 — Josh Cuevas, TE, Washington (Campbell Hall)
22 — Cameron Davis, RB, Washington (Upland)
4 — Jayden Denegal, QB, Michigan (Apple Valley)
85 — Cristian Dixon, WR, Michigan (Mater Dei)
9 — Thaddeus Dixon, DB, Washington (La Mirada)
24 — Makell Esteen, DB, Washington (Lawndale)
68 — Soane Faasolo, OL, Washington (Menlo-Atherton)
13 — Kamren Fabiculanan, DB, Washington (Westlake)
91 — John Frazier, TE, Washington (Mountain View St. Francis)
49 — Alex Froelich, LS, Washington (Pasadena Poly)
84 — Jackson Girouard, WR, Washington (Sacred Heart Prep)
10 — Ralen Goforth, LB, Washington (St. John Bosco)
55 — Mason Graham, DL, Michigan (Servite)
45 — Maurice Heims, DE, Washington (Santa Margarita)
18 — Vincent Holmes, DB, Washington (San Jacinto)
76 — Elishah Jackett, OL, Washington (El Modena)
25 — Elijah Jackson, DB, Washington (Lawndale)
0 — Giles Jackson, WR, Washington (Freedom)
82 — Caleb Johnston, LS, Washington (Ripon)
91 — Tuli Letuligasenoa, DL, Washington (Concord De La Salle)
10 — Austin Mack, QB, Washington (Folsom)
43 — Jesse Madden, DB, Michigan (Bishop O’Dowd)
83 — Zack Marshall, TE, Michigan (Carlsbad)
21 — Dyson McCutcheon, DB, Washington (Bishop Amat)
11 — Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington (San Joaquin Memorial)
40 — Anay Nagarajan, DB, Washington (Mountain View St. Francis)
6 — Richard Newton, RB, Washington (Palmdale)
21 — Daniyel Ngata, RB, Washington (Folsom)
80 — Jake Parnagian, WR, Washington (Clovis North)
79 — Jeffrey Persi, OL, Michigan (JSerra Catholic)
17 — Teddy Purcell, QB, Washington (Sacred Heart Prep)
89 — Keith Reynolds, WR, Washington (Adelanto)
20 — Tybo Rogers, RB, Washington (Bakersfield)
74 — Kahlee Tafai, OL, Washington (Leuzinger)
20 — Asa Turner, DB, Washington (Carlsbad)
13 — Jack Tuttle, QB, Michigan (Mission Hills)
86 — Griffin Waiss, TE, Washington (Bellarmine College Prep)
33 — Jordan Whitney, LB, Washington (Pacifica)
3 — Rashid Williams, WR, Washington (Pittsburg)
75 — Robert Wyrsch, OL, Washington (Soquel)