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Football: Payton, Wooten among best sophomores

Los Angeles Times staff writer Ben Bolch
By Ben Bolch
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These super sophomores don’t need any ridiculous promos screaming Next to show that they’re already the real deal.

Oaks Christian receiver Jordan Payton and Los Angeles Jordan linebacker Patrick Wooten were first-team selections on the MaxPreps list of sophomore All-Americans. Payton made 45 catches for 1,088 yards and 15 touchdowns and Wooten made an eye-popping 152 tackles.

The second team included St. Francis tight end Travis Talianko and Westlake defensive lineman Justin Solis.

--Ben Bolch

Varsity Times Insider
Ben Bolch

Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. He happily traded in gobs of hotel points and airline miles to return to cover UCLA basketball and football in the summer of 2016. Bolch was once selected by NBA TV’s “The Starters” as the “Worst of the Week” after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments.

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