LONG BEACH \u2014 If you have two five-star recruits at defensive skill positions, you have the makings of an elite program. When those two players are willing to line up on offense and be paired with a four-star recruit and a three-star recruit, you arguably have the best receiving corps in the nation.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the situation heading into the 2026 season for the Long Beach Poly football program.<\/p>\n
On paper, the Jackrabbits are led by five-star Miami senior cornerback commit Donte Wright, California\u2019s top recruit, according to 247Sports.<\/p>\n
However, they also have five-star UCLA senior cornerback commit JuJu Johnson, a Top 50 national recruit, and four-star junior Zion Anderson, who plays receiver and defensive back and holds offers from schools like Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Oregon, UCLA and USC. The group\u2019s unsung player is three-star senior recruit Jayden Coley, who led the team with 44 receptions for 698 yards and seven touchdowns last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have four electric receivers that can take the top off at any moment, so it\u2019s going to be a fun year with us four,\u201d Wright said. \u201cThen we\u2019ve got some young guys. We\u2019re trying to get our connections right with our quarterback.\u201d<\/p>\n
Poly first-year coach Travon Patterson said his current group of receivers has the potential to be amongst the program\u2019s all-time greats.<\/p>\n
\u201cI compare this team to the Kareem Kellys, the Samie Parkers, the Andre Cyrus\u2019, the DeSean Jacksons, to Derrick Jones, Terrence Austin, to even the Travon Patterson\u2019s like myself,\u201d Patterson said. \u201cI really compare this group of receivers to those groups as well. That lets you know exactly what type of caliber players we have on the outside.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patterson, a 2006 alum and former USC receiver, knows firsthand what it\u2019s like to be a speedy playmaker and what it means to be a part of the Jackrabbits\u2019 family.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the main reason why I came back,\u201d Patterson said. \u201cPoly is more like a family than a regular high school. The whole goal was to make sure the community stays home, and that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019ve seen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s good for sure,\u201d Johnson added. \u201c(Coach Patterson) for sure gives us tips from his perspective from a receiver point and a coach perspective. It\u2019s good to have two POVs, and it only helps us get better every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wright, who is a four-year starter, said in addition to being a lockdown cornerback, he\u2019s also looking forward to using his 10.6 100-meter speed when being utilized at receiver and kick returner.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very excited, just to go out there and leave it all on the field to help my team win any way I can,\u201d Wright continued.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-1 recruit said he worked on his technique during the offseason and studied film to improve his play recognition.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt puts you in better positions to allow you to make more plays,\u201d Wright explained. \u201cSo that\u2019s all I\u2019m trying to do is put myself in position to make plays.\u201d<\/p>\n
On defense, Wright is glad to once again be paired with Johnson, like they were during their freshman and sophomore seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not just going to see him at corner,\u201d Wright said. \u201cHe\u2019s going to be moving around. We\u2019re going to be moving around, so it\u2019s going to get dangerous for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Johnson, a three-year starter, is more than ready to get back on the high school football field for the first time since he was a sophomore. He has 10.3 100-meter speed but missed his entire junior season with an injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re both seniors,\u201d Johnson said, \u201cand we\u2019re both leaders, and we\u2019re ready to lead our team to be state champs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 5-foot-11 two-way player, who is being recruited as an athlete, said he\u2019s excited to show his versatility.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very excited for sure on the offensive side,\u201d Johnson continued. \u201cJust to showcase my abilities more. I just feel like nobody has really seen me at my full potential and for my last year of high school, people are really going to see who JuJu really is.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Jackrabbits quarterback room includes three new players. Juniors Ace Fa\u2019agata (La Mirada transfer) and Kingston Stokley (Narbonne transfer) and sophomore Trevor Scott (Mater Dei transfer), who is expected to sit out until just before Moore League play. All three have shown potential leading up to the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cFootball is always going to have its ups and downs, but I feel like every Friday, we\u2019re always going to come out on top,\u201d Johnson concluded.<\/p>\n
2027 Miami CB commit Donte Wright on helping lead Long Beach Poly football to new heights as a senior. Wright, who is a five-star recruit, is expected to play offense, defense and special teams. pic.twitter.com\/WoNDLFkoD4<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n UCLA 2027 commit JuJu Johnson is excited to be back on the field after missing his junior season with an injury. Johnson is a five-star recruit, who can take the top off the defense with 10.3 100m speed. He will see time at receiver, cornerback and special teams. pic.twitter.com\/hD5zvcFA0L<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Long Beach Poly football first-year head coach Travon Patterson is all about family. That\u2019s why the 2006 alum, who played WR at USC, said he came home to be Poly\u2019s coach. He\u2019s excited about his team\u2019s potential this season. pic.twitter.com\/OulpaLsjcA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t