MaxPreps National Football Player of the Year Watch

Football fans in Rock Hill (S.C.) will have the chance to see a pair of Player of the Year candidates when Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) travels to take on homestanding Northwestern this week.

Byrnes is led by Shuler Bentley, a player of the year candidate who threw nine touchdown passes in a win last week. Meanwhile Northwestern has Mason Rudolph, who has had a pair of five-touchdown performances so far this season.

Among the top performances this week among the candidates includes Tre Watson's 466-yard effort in Centennial's 69-55 win over St. Bonaventure.

MaxPreps National Football Player of the Year Watch

Will Grier, Davidson Day (Davidson, N.C.)
Providence Day limited Grier to only six touchdown passes in Davidson Day's 46-20 win last week. Grier had thrown seven touchdowns in each of his first two games. His 20 touchdown passes lead the nation. He completed 25 of 38 passes for 356 yards in the win and has 1,026 yards passing on the season. Grier and Davidson Day face Harrells Christian Academy this week. Last year, Grier threw for 837 yards and 10 touchdowns in a 104-80 win.{PAGEBREAK} Jake Browning, Folsom (Calif.)
Browning's 220 yards against Granite Bay was the second-lowest total of his career, but the win may have been one of the most important for the Bulldogs during the past two seasons. Folsom defeated the defending Division I state champions with Browning throwing for two touchdown passes and completing 24 of 33 passes. For the season, he has completed 55 of 71 passes for 658 yards and nine touchdowns.{PAGEBREAK} Tre Watson, Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
Centennial was expected to be more of a passing team this season with the return of all-state quarterback Robert Webber, but running back Tre Watson has made the playcalling easy for coach Matt Logan. Watson carried the ball 37 times for 466 yards and seven touchdowns in a 69-55 win over St. Bonaventure. In two games, the senior has run for 785 yards on 70 carries with 12 touchdowns.{PAGEBREAK} Deshaun Watson, Gainesville (Ga.)
The defending AAAAA state champions lost to small-school power Buford 38-14 last week with Watson completing 22 of 42 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 68 yards on 18 carries and no scores. He has completed 49 of 83 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns this year. The state's all-time passing leader unofficially needs just 74 yards to surpass the 10,000-yard milestone this week against Winder-Barrow.{PAGEBREAK} Elijah Hood, Charlotte Catholic (N.C.)
Hood had a late touchdown to lift Charlotte Catholic to a 21-20 win over Charlotte Country Day last week. He ran 27 times for 179 yards and two scores, giving him 693 yards on 90 carries with eight touchdowns on the season.{PAGEBREAK} Shuler Bentley, Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
Bentley set a South Carolina single-game record by throwing nine touchdown passes in an 82-49 win over Woodruff. He completed 22 of 32 passes for 530 yards and also ran for a touchdown. In two games, Bentley has completed 44 of 72 passes for 818 yards and 15 touchdowns.{PAGEBREAK} Treon Harris, Washington (Miami)
In powering Washington to the No. 1 ranking in the nation, Harris has led his team to wins over nationally-ranked Norcross and Central (Miami). He has completed 35 of 44 passes for 416 yards and seven touchdowns, including a 12-of-17 effort for 129 yards and two touchdowns against Central.{PAGEBREAK} Kyler Murray, Allen (Texas)
Cedar Hill limited Allen to just 292 yards of offense, but Kyler Murray was still able to lead Allen to a 39-20 win as he completed 13 of 25 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown and also ran 10 times for 75 yards and a score. For the season, he has completed 30 of 49 passes for 608 yards and four touchdowns. He has rushed 28 times for 155 yards and three scores.{PAGEBREAK} Mason Rudolph, Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Rudolph didn't play much after the first half in a 65-7 win over South Aiken. He still managed to complete 17 of 23 passes for 273 yards and five touchdowns. For the season, Rudolph has completed 71 of 95 passes for 800 yards and 12 scores. Rudolph and Northwestern will face off against Byrnes and Bentley this week.{PAGEBREAK} Jabrill Peppers, Paramus Catholic (N.J.)
Peppers did a little bit of everything in his team's 28-0 win over Gilman (Baltimore). He carried six times for 45 yards and caught three passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, he had a pair of passes defended.