Four quarterbacks and a wide receiver in the running for high school football's top honor.
Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized the nation's top high school football players at the conclusion of the season. The 2023 MaxPreps All-America Team and MaxPreps National Player of the Year will be announced Dec. 19.
This year's POY will join a list of winners that includes Caleb Downs, Derrick Henry, Kyler Murray and Bryce Young.
Five finalists have been announced for high school football's top honor (see season capsules for each player below):
Criteria for selecting the MaxPreps All-America Team and MaxPreps National Player of the Year includes individual impact, team success and local, regional and state honors from recently-completed season.
MaxPreps National Player of the Year finalists
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175
Status: Committed to Wake Forest | Class: Senior (2024)
Hecklinski has one more game remaining as the Raiders face No. 17 Milton in Georgia's AAAAAAA state championship Wednesday. The three-star quarterback has thrown for 3,711 yards to go with 48 touchdowns against three interceptions while completing 65 percent of his passes. He has added 58 yards on the ground and three more scores. Ranked No. 8 nationally, Walton is making its first state championship game appearance since 2011.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190
Status: Committed to LSU | Class: Senior (2024)
Projected as a defensive back at the college level, Johnson threw for 3,626 yards and 41 touchdowns to go with 1,508 yards on the ground and 25 more scores. In a 57-21 win over McDonogh 35 (New Orleans) in the state quarterfinals, he topped Brock Berlin's 24-year old state record for career total offense of 13,659 yards.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 225
Status: Committed to Florida | Class: Senior (2024)
The five-star signal caller had one of the best seasons in Texas high school football history. He threw for 4,631 yards and 58 touchdowns against six interceptions while completing 72.1 percent of his attempts. He added 975 yards rushing and 15 more scores. Lagway led the Wildkats to the best season in school history, leading them to a 12-1 record with the lone loss coming against No. 6 DeSoto in the third round of the Class 6A Division 2 playoffs.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200
Status: Committed to Ohio State | Class: Senior (2024)
The top-rated recruit in the 2024 cycle capped his season with 11 receptions for 170 yards and a touchdown in a 56-0 win over Clearwater Central Catholic (Clearwater) in the 1M state championship. He finished the year with 88 receptions for 1,376 yards and 19 touchdowns to go with a 45-yard TD run. Smith led the Lions to a 14-0 record and a spot at No. 2 in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
Status: Committed to Utah | Class: Senior (2024)
Wilson broke the single-season state record for total offense in leading the Chargers to a 13-1 record and first state title since 2020. He threw for 4,595 yards and 49 touchdowns to go with 150 carries for 1,304 yards and 13 more scores. He surpassed former MaxPreps National Player of the Year Jaxson Dart's record of 5,886 yards of total offense set in 2020. Corner Canyon is ranked No. 13 in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year
2006 — Riley Dodge, QB, Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
2007 — Terrelle Pryor, QB, Jeannette (Pa.)
2008 — Garrett Gilbert, QB, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
2009 — Dillon Baxter, ATH, Mission Bay (San Diego)
2010 — Dano Graves, QB, Folsom (Calif.)
2011 — Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo (Texas)
2012 — Derrick Henry, RB, Yulee (Fla.)
2013 — Kyler Murray, QB, Allen (Texas)
2014 — Kyler Murray, QB, Allen
2015 — Derrick Brown, DL, Lanier (Sugar Hill, Ga.)
2016 — Tate Martell, QB, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
2017 — JT Daniels, QB, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2018 — Bru McCoy, ATH, Mater Dei
2019 — DJ Uiagalelei, QB, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) / Bryce Young, QB, Mater Dei
2020 — Jaxson Dart, QB, Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah)
2021 — Cade Klubnik, QB, Westlake (Austin, Texas)
2022 — Caleb Downs, DB, Mill Creek (Hoschton, Ga.)
