20 best athletes in the nation during the 2023 high school football regular season

These 20 players have contributed in multiple ways this fall

From five-star talents to underrated up-and-comers, athletes across the country have blossomed over the course of the 2023 high school football regular season.

With the playoffs upon us in several states, SBLive Sports set out to find the best offensive and defensive players in the nation this fall.

We already highlighted quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, defensive linemen/edge rushers, linebackers and defensive backs, and now we'll wrap things up with players who contribute in multiple phases of the game.

Here are 20 athletes who have made major contributions on offense, defense and special teams during the 2023 high school football regular season.

Note: All stats are current through Oct. 9. 

Callen Barta, sr., Seaman (Kansas)

A Nebraska commit, Barta does it all for Seaman on the football field. He has 45 receptions for 1,106 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior and a pair of interceptions on defense. He is also the team’s starting punter. 

Brock Beaner, jr., Anacortes (Washington)

Beaner can play nearly any non-lineman position on the field for Class 2A power Anacortes. He scored 19 total touchdowns and piled up 90 tackles as a sophomore and has been unstoppable on both sides of the ball again this fall. 

Lucas Bell, sr., Lakeville (Michigan)

An undersized weapon at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, Bell has caught 66 passes for 1,083 yards and eight touchdowns this fall while also running for 253 yards and four more scores. On defense, he is averaging four tackles per game with an interception. 

Jeremiah Bernard, sr., Modesto Christian (California)

Bernard has already surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the second straight season. The Cal Poly commit has caught 44 balls for 1,022 yards and 14 touchdowns while also averaging north of four tackles per game on defense with a pair of interceptions. 

KJ Bolden, sr., Buford (Georgia)

One of the most explosive players in the country, Bolden is a five-star prospect who committed to Florida State in August. He has picked off a pair of passes as a safety this fall while catching six touchdowns on offense from five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola. 

Sammy Brown, sr., Jefferson (Georgia)

Brown, a five-star Clemson commit, is a special athlete who has 10.69 speed in the 100 meters at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds. The senior is averaging 11.2 tackles per game as a linebacker while also running for 797 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense.

Jace Deshazer, sr., Libby (Montana)

A two-time state wrestling champion in Montana, Deshazer is also a standout on the football field. He has scored nine total touchdowns on offense as a senior while averaging 16 tackles per game at middle linebacker. 

Gus Donnerberg, sr., West Linn (Oregon)

A 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Donnerberg is a weapon for Class 6A power West Linn on both sides of the ball at defensive end, linebacker and tight end. The Idaho commit is leading the Three Rivers League in receiving with 22 catches for 491 yards and four touchdowns while also causing issues on defense. 

Mason Krahn, jr., Skyview (Idaho)

A throwback three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball, Krahn is a versatile junior at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds. He has caught 42 passes for 756 yards and 12 touchdowns this fall while recording two interceptions and two forced fumbles from the middle linebacker position. 

Elija Lofton, sr., Bishop Gorman (Nevada)

Lofton is capable of playing wide receiver, tight end, running back and defensive end for Bishop Gorman. The four-star Miami commit has run for seven touchdowns as a senior while adding 20 receptions for 374 yards and seven more scores. 

DJ McClary, jr., Snyder (New Jersey)

McClary is a game-wrecker on both sides of the ball at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds. The four-star Penn State commit is averaging 8.5 tackles per game on defense while running for 786 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also spends some type at quarterback where he has thrown for 278 yards and three TDs as a junior. 

DaOne Owens, sr., Washington Massillon (Ohio)

Owens plays quarterback for Massillon and is the engine of the Ohio power’s offense. He has passed for 506 yards and six touchdowns while running for a team-high 783 yards and 10 scores. The senior is also averaging 40.7 yards per punt. 

Tripp Pinion, jr., White County (Tennessee)

Another three-sport athlete who also competes in basketball and baseball, Pinion does it all for the White County football team. The junior has thrown for 723 yards and eight touchdowns this season while carrying it 172 times for 1,703 yards and 22 TDs. He also plays defense where he averages more than four tackles per game. 

Josh Ringer, sr., East Central (Indiana)

Ringer recently went over 5,000 rushing yards for his East Central career and has 1,549 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior. He has also caught a pair of TDs and is averaging almost 40 yards per punt. 

Shyne Roberts, sr., Upper Dublin (Pennsylvania)

Roberts has compiled 839 yards of total offense and 11 touchdowns this season. On defense, Roberts has recorded 31 total tackles and five sacks. 

Dezmen Roebuck, jr., Marana (Arizona)

Only a junior, Roebuck has 216 career receptions — a Southern Arizona record — for 2,745 yards and 24 touchdowns in three seasons with Marana. He is also a standout safety who is averaging more than five tackles per game this fall with three interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery. 

Sir Stokes, jr., Yuma Catholic (Arizona)

Stokes is a ballhawk on defense who has four interceptions and four pass breakups as a junior. He’s also a dangerous receiving threat with 19 caches for 470 yards and five touchdowns this year. 

Jett Turner, sr., Bixby (Oklahoma)

A ferocious pass rusher, Turner has six sacks, eight quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery this fall. Turner is also a factor on offense with 348 total yards and seven total touchdowns (five rushing, one receiving, one passing). 

Luke Williams, sr., Naperville North (Illinois)

A four-star Purdue commit, Williams has 37 receptions for 447 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. He has picked off four passes on defense and also serves as Naperville North’s punter. 

Justin Wyrick, sr., Salesian (California)

The 5-foot-9, 155-pound Wyrick is dangerous with a football in his hands. The senior has broken up 15 passes this year with seven interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. He has also rushed for a TD and caught 17 passes for 306 yards and a pair of scores. 

(Gus Donnerberg photo by Leon Neuschwander)

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports