High school football: 2024 MaxPreps Player of the Year in every state

By Zack Poff Dec 23, 2024, 11:30am

Jordon Davison, Malachi Toney, Luke Nickel, Quentin Gibson selected from "Big Four" states.

Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school football. America's source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2024 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.


Davison helped Mater Dei go wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25, rushing for 1,200-plus yards and 19 touchdowns.

Toney filled in at quarterback during the playoffs for No. 20 American Heritage and helped the Patriots win their first state title since 2020. The four-star wide receiver finished the season throwing for 524 yards and eight touchdowns to go with 58 receptions for 1,008 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added 34 carries for 224 yards and three more scores.



Nickel led No. 2 Milton to its second straight state title. He completed 21 of 22 passes for 409 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-35 win over Langston Hughes (Fairburn) in the AAAAA state championship.

Gibson put together one of the best seasons any wide receiver has had in Texas history, hauling in 93 passes for 2,009 yards and 36 touchdowns while leading No. 3 North Crowley to a 16-0 record and Class 6A Division 1 state title.

Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team that will be announced Jan. 6.
Alabama — RB Alvin Henderson, Elba
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 200
Status: Signed with Auburn | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 175
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 170
Status: Signed with Washington | Class: Senior (2025)

Arkansas — QB Kane Archer, Greenwood
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)



Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205
Status: Signed with Oregon | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 205
Status: Signed with South Dakota | Class: Senior (2025)

Connecticut — WR Andrew Esposito, New Canaan
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 200
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 195
Status: Signed with Michigan | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 185
Status: Signed with Miami | Class: Senior (2025)



Georgia — QB Luke Nickel, Milton
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215
Status: Signed with Miami | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 210
Status: Signed with Oregon | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 170
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190
Status: Signed with Oregon | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 165
Status: Signed with Notre Dame | Class: Senior (2025)

Iowa — LB/RB Will Hawthorne, Gilbert
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220
Status: Signed with Iowa State | Class: Senior (2025)



Height: 5-9 | Weight: 170
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 175
Status: Signed with Kentucky | Class: Senior (2025)

Louisiana — RB J.T. Lindsey, Alexandria
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 185
Status: Signed with LSU | Class: Senior (2025)

Maine — QB Louis Thurston, Portland
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 175
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 215
Status: Signed with Maryland | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205
Status: Signed with Boston College | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)

Minnesota — QB Chase Thompson, Alexandria
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 215
Status: Signed with Clemson (basketball) | Class: Senior (2025)



Mississippi — RB Jaeden Hill, Tupelo
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 220
Status: Committed to Mississippi State | Class: Junior (2026)

Missouri — OT Jackson Cantwell, Nixa
Height: 6-7 | Weight: 305
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 170
Status: Committed to Montana Tech | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 190
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 200
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)

New Hampshire — RB Matt Morrison, Pinkerton (Derry)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2025)



Height: 5-11 | Weight: 205
Status: Signed with Notre Dame | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Status: Signed with Arizona State | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 205
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Status: Committed to Tennessee | Class: Junior (2026)

North Dakota — DL/OL Kade Pietrzak, Sheyenne (West Fargo)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 260
Status: Signed with Nebraska | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 190
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)

Oklahoma — ATH Elijah Thomas, Checotah
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 190
Status: Signed with Oklahoma | Class: Senior (2025)

Oregon — QB Mark Wiepert, Wilsonville
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 210
Status: Signed with Oregon | Class: Senior (2025)



Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205
Status: Signed with Kentucky | Class: Senior (2025)

Rhode Island — RB Jordan Duke, Classical (Providence)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 210
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2025)

South Carolina — QB Cutter Woods, Westside (Anderson)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 210
Status: Signed with South Carolina | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 190
Status: Committed to South Dakota State | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 225
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2026)

Height: 5-9 | Weight: 165
Status: Signed with Colorado | Class: Senior (2025)



Height: 6-2 | Weight: 290
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Sophomore (2027)

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195
Status: Signed with Clemson | Class: Senior (2025)

Washington — QB Jake Davidson, Camas
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2025)

West Virginia — QB Koi Fagan, Martinsburg
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 195
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2025)

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 190
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2025)