Who is all-time greatest Northern California high school football player?

Northern California is home to arguably the richest sports history in the country. From numerous Super Bowl wins, NBA titles, and World Series champions, it's hard to find anywhere else in the country that cares more about sports. That transcends the professional sporting world and the area where several high school football legends were born.

Who is the all-time best Northern California high school football player, the top-tier talent who defined Friday Night Lights in the northern half of the Golden State? As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary , that's the question USA TODAY Sports is looking to answer in celebration of the greatest American sports figures of all time, including the high school athletes who shaped communities and defined their states. With that in mind, here are our selections for the football players who defined Northern California.

The 15 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standout high school players before playing at the next level. Did we miss someone? There's a spot for you to write in your own candidate who wasn't included on our list of 15.

(And remember, we're looking at area-defining greatness, not what they may have done later in the NFL. ) Lance Briggs, Linebacker, Elk Grove In high school, Briggs was a dominant two-way star who led Elk Grove to back-to-back CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championships in 1997 and 1998. As good as he was on offense, Briggs excelled the most on defense, racking up 100 tackles and five sacks his senior year.