Jake Browning, Johnny Stanton top MaxPreps Player of the Year Watch

In his first game as a varsity football player, Jake Browning of Folsom thrust himself into the MaxPreps Player of the Year Watch.

Browning's 10-touchdown performance against Woodcreek last week caused a splash and the past history of Folsom quarterbacks (Dano Graves was MaxPreps National Player of the Year in 2010) bodes well for his continued success the rest of the season.

The Folsom sophomore joins 10 other players in our first look at the candidates for MaxPreps National Player of the Year.

MaxPreps National Player of the Year Watch

Jake Browning, Folsom (Calif.)

Whether or not he set a national record, Browning's first varsity game was a memorable one. In connecting on 34 of 51 passes for 689 yards and 10 touchdowns, Browning tied a national record for touchdowns in a game, according to the National Federation of High Schools Record Book. The NFHS record book does not include the 15 touchdowns thrown by Arthur Smith of Cozad (Neb.) in a 201-7 win over Overton (Neb.) in 1921, which is listed as the state record in Nebraska by the state's federation website. Whether he tied the record or not, there's always next week.




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Tyrone Swoopes, Whitewright (Texas)

Rated as the top option quarterback in the country, Swoopes begins play Friday at home against Nocona (Texas). Last year Swoopes threw for only 52 yards against Nocona, but he ran for 224. He finished last season with 2,267 yards rushing and 1,394 yards passing.


{PAGEBREAK}Su'a Cravens, Vista Murrieta (Murrieta, Calif.)

Considered the top defensive player in the state, Cravens and Vista Murrieta open play Friday against visiting ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch, Colo.). Cravens had 100 tackles, 11 sacks and three interceptions last year on defense and also had more than 1,000 yards rushing and receiving combined.


{PAGEBREAK}Johnny Stanton, Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

Stanton accounted for every touchdown in a 27-14 win over Brophy College Prep (Phoenix). He completed 12 of 21 passes for 208 yards and two scores, and also rushed 16 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Santa Margarita plays at Jordan (Long Beach, Calif.) this week.


{PAGEBREAK}Kelvin Taylor, Glades Day (Belle Glade, Fla.)

Taylor and Glades Day begin their season Friday at Monsignor Pace (Miami). There, Taylor begins his assault on the all-time national career rushing total of 11,232 yards, held by Ken Hall. Taylor needs just more than 3,500 yards to break the mark.


{PAGEBREAK}Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia (Conn.)

Newsome won't begin his season until Sept. 14 at Torrington (Conn.). Last year against Torrington he rushed for 332 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-20 victory. See our Beyond The X feature on the 5-foot-8, 180-pound junior. 


{PAGEBREAK}Jalen Hurd, Beech (Hendersonville, Tenn.)

Hurd is the leader out of the gates after rushing for 238 yards on 11 carries with four touchdowns in a 41-0 win over Portland (Tenn.). He topped that effort with 462 yards on 42 carries with five touchdowns in a 55-41 win over Henry County (Paris, Tenn.).




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Austin Kafentzis, Jordan (Sandy, Utah)

The defending MaxPreps Freshman of the Year, Kafentzis will get plenty of competition from Browning to capture the Sophomore of the Year honor. Kafentzis is off to a strong start, rushing for 388 yards and six touchdowns in his first two games combined while throwing for 477 yards (33 of 50) and four touchdowns.


{PAGEBREAK}Derrick Henry, Yulee (Fla.)

Henry opens his season at Gainesville (Fla.) on Thursday. Last year, Henry had 181 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries in a 35-20 loss to Gainesville.


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Robert Nkemdiche, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

Reportedly double and triple-teamed on defense in a 31-12 win over McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), Nkemdiche, the nation's No. 1 recruit, still contributed with 41 rushing yards and a touchdown.


{PAGEBREAK}Max Browne, Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.)

The nation's No. 1-ranked quarterback recruit from the Class of 2013 starts his season Friday at home against Bothell (Wash.). Browne threw for 4,034 yards and 45 touchdowns last year.