The Star ranks the area's top-10 offensive playmakers in prep football

Is 2026 the year of the receiver in Ventura County?

Star-studded receiver rooms litter the region, but offensive playmakers come in all shapes, sizes and positions.

Read on to find out what players The Star ranks as the area's top offensive playmakers a little past the midway point of the 2026 high school football season.

1. Charles Davis, Westlake

Westlake's Charles Davis tries to outrun Newbury Park's Jordan Osborne during a season-opening game at Newbury Park High on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Westlake won in three overtimes, 32-26.

The UC Berkeley commit continues to be one of the toughest covers in the county, if not the state. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound wideout has flashed dizzying athleticism during the Warriors’ 6-1 start.

Charles Davis’ 39-yard catch and run from Ford Green puts Westlake back up 21-14 with 1:27 to play. https://t.co/rF2KwL5QdI pic.twitter.com/DeJGOoCE6P
— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) August 22, 2026

2. Tony Dargan, St. Bonaventure

St. Bonaventure's Tony Dargan breaks away from Simi Valley's defense to score a touchdown during the third quarter of the teams' Marmonte League opener on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, at Ventura College. St. Bonaventure won 44-37.

Is there a more terrifying sight for a defense than the Seraphs sophomore catching a glimpse

of open field? The nimble playmaker has gashed opposing defenses, both catching passes and carrying the football.

Jaxson Carper hits Tony Dargan for a 31-yard strike on second and 26 to put the Seraphs up 24-12 with 4:34 left in West Hills. https://t.co/UbxWCRMGPc pic.twitter.com/vY0FSNd5PE

— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) September 19, 2026

3. Tristan Savage, Ventura

Ventura's Tristan Savage leaps into the end zone to score a touchdown against Buena during the second quarter of the teams' rivalry game on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Buena High. Ventura won 42-3 to retain the Suzanne Brown Memorial Cup.

Need a touchdown? The 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior is your guy. Playing both receiver and running back, Savage has marched into the end zone 19 times in seven games — the most of any player in the county.

The Tristan Savage show.

He catches three balls on Ventura’s opening drive for 53 yards, including this 11-yard scoring strike from Gavin Scarlett.

The PAT is blocked, and Camarillo leads 7-6 with 1:58 to play in Q1. pic.twitter.com/wvJTRjvhBp

— Dominic Massimino (@VCSDominic) September 12, 2026

4. Darrien Johnson, Newbury Park

Newbury Park's Darrien Johnson finds a hole in the Pacifica defense during a Marmonte League game on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. Newbury Park won 21-16.

Whether its running the the ball or running routes, Johnson has settled into the key playmaking role in the Newbury Park offense. Johnson set the tone in the Conejo Valley rivalry game with an 80-yard catch and run TD on the first play. He carried the load in the Panthers' upset of Pacifica on Oct. 9. "DJ is a bad man," Newbury Park offensive coordinator Cameron Rising proclaimed.

Tasci finds Darrian Johnson for a 4-yard TD to pull Newbury Park even 20-20. Panthers to kick for the game with 10.2 seconds left. https://t.co/gLLQ3eYddP pic.twitter.com/Tk9F8ilAcU

— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) August 22, 2026

5. Kelechi Ofoego, Hueneme

Hueneme's Kelechi Ofoego tries to break free from Oxnard's Alder Kubicv during the first quarter of the 55th edition of the Centennial Cup rivalry game on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Oxnard High. The host Yellowjackets rallied for a 28-26 win.

How about an breakaway back? Explosive rushing plays are the senior’s calling card. The Vikings running back has broken off runs of 83, 77, 75, 69 and 53 yards so far.

Hueneme needed him, and Kelechi Ofoego delivers.

The star RB scores from 9 yards out to retake the lead for the Vikings. 2PA no good.

Hueneme 26, Oxnard 21 with two mins to play. pic.twitter.com/mUIeytHRAD
— Dominic Massimino (@VCSDominic) September 5, 2026

6. Alijah Royster, Pacifica

Pacifica's Alijah Royster makes a reception against Sierra Canyon in the fourth quarter of their nonleague game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Chatsworth. Pacifica lost 42-10.

Beware, the fleet-footed playmaker can stick his foot in the turf and shift a defender out of his cleats. The senior receiver and kick returner has had at least 100 all-purpose yards in five of seven games so far.

Taylor Lee hits Alijah Royster for a 25-yard gain on third down. Pacifica offense has a third drive into the Sierra Canyon red zone in the first half. https://t.co/2zCSl5zlGh pic.twitter.com/nd1wRz3ynA
— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) September 26, 2026

7. Davis Benson, Moorpark

Moorpark High's Davis Benson catches a 24-yard touchdown pass with 1:02 left in the fourth quarter as Camarillo's Caden Clem trails the play during the teams' nonleague game on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Moorpark High. The Musketeers won 40-36.

Nearly every time the senior speedster touches the ball, it goes for a big play. The 6-foot, 160-pound receiver is averaging 25.3 yards per catch in two games this season, and five of his 12 catches have ended in scores for the Musketeers.

Moorpark goes for pay dirt. Dawson Armstrong hits Davis Benson for a 24-yard scoring strike to give the Musketeers a 40-36 lead with 1:02 left. https://t.co/Nb0xbbzuGr pic.twitter.com/HB8JOkqS2k
— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) August 29, 2026

8. Charlie Martinez, Grace School

Grace School wideout Charlie Martinez makes an acrobatic catch during the Lancers' 45-30 win over Santa Paula on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Moorpark College.

The Lancers WR1 is one of just two local players have both run and caught for 115 yards in a game this season. Martinez leads the county in both receiving yardage (877) and touchdown catches (12) as a senior.

It’s the Charlie Martinez show early.

He shakes a defender after this catch over the middle and goes for his second score.

Grace 14, Santa Paula 7 with 1:51 to play in Q1. pic.twitter.com/aB4dlkdfVJ
— Dominic Massimino (@VCSDominic) August 29, 2026

9. Kingston Celifie, Calabasas

Calabasas High receiver Kingston Celifie sprints up the field after a catch during the Coyotes' 48-17 loss to Ventura in a nonleague game on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Larrabee Stadium in Ventura.

Blink and he’s gone. The 6-foot, 165-pound UCLA commit at receiver is one of the fastest sprinters in the state. Camarillo saw first hand on Oct. 9, when Celefie returned kickoffs 85 and 80 yards for touchdowns.

10. Sal Villa, Simi Valley

Simi Valley's Sal Villa finds a hole in the Thousand Oaks defense to score a touchdown during the Pioneers' 48-28 win in a nonleague game on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, at Simi Valley High.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior started as fast as any playmaker in the county, briefly leading the state in rushing. He became the first local back to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark during his 136-yard, 3-TD night against Oaks Christian.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: The Star ranks the area's top-10 offensive playmakers in prep football