Video: Player of the Year WatchOver the past few seasons, the National Football Player of the Year Watch List has included players, like Jake Browning of Folsom (Calif.) and Derrick Henry of Yulee (Fla.), who broke national records and piled up huge yardage and touchdown totals each week.
So far in the 2015 season, however, those types of players are hard to find. That doesn't mean that there aren't a number of quality players who will make their mark this year, though.
The first National Football Player of the Year Watch includes players, for the most part, who have led their teams to the top of the rankings. Keep checking back each week as we look at which players are contending for the highest honor possible.
MaxPreps National Football Player of the Year Watch
Photos by MaxPreps photographers / Graphic by Ryan Escobar
The adopted son of former New Orleans Saints linebacker Pat Swilling, Jordan-Swilling has been on a tear to start the season. In four games, he has rushed for 1,001 yards and scored 19 rushing touchdowns, 20 total. He scored seven touchdowns in one game against St. Stanislaus (Bay St. Louis, Miss.) and rushed for 334 yards in that win. He also scored five touchdowns in Brother Martin's season opener.
Ethan Falaniko, Bartlett (Anchorage, Alaska)
Falaniko has held the national lead in scoring for most of the season, currently standing at 27 touchdowns and 166 points. He has scored at least four touchdowns in five straight games and has rushed for 1,701 yards on the season. In his last two games, Falaniko rushed for 351 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Dimond and 337 yards and four touchdowns in a win over West Valley.
Tate Martell, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
The MaxPreps Sophomore of the Year last season, Martell has Bishop Gorman ranked No. 1 in the country in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard. He has completed 53 of 104 passes for 913 yards and six touchdowns and has also rushed for 229 yards and three scores. Had his best game last week in a 38-7 win over Servite (Anaheim, Calif.), when he threw for 265 yards.
Nick Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Bosa has been a force on defense for the Raiders. Of his 15 tackles, 10 have been for loss. He also has a team-leading four sacks on the season.
Levonta Taylor, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Ocean Lakes is ranked No. 1 in Virginia and No. 8 in the Xcellent 25. Taylor is the top recruit on the team and has a rushing and receiving touchdown this season along with his stellar play at defensive back.
Shea Patterson, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Ranked the No. 1 pro-style passing prospect in the nation by 247Sports, Patterson has lived up to the billing since transferring to IMG Academy this summer. He's led IMG to a 4-0 record and the No. 2 ranking in the nation in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard. He has completed 55 of 93 passes for 979 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Austin Scott, Spartanburg (S.C.)
Scott has already thrown for over 8,500 yards in his career and has 1,810 on the season with 22 touchdowns. Spartanburg is 5-0 this season and has a big game this week with Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.). Scott is coming off a junior year in which he threw for 4,401 yards and 52 touchdowns.
Sean McGrew, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
St. John Bosco has produced four blowout wins, so McGrew's carries have been limited. Nevertheless, he has averaged nearly 10 yards a carry in gaining 405 yards on 42 tries while leading his team to No. 5 in the Xcellent 25.
Jeremy Larkin, La Salle (Cincinnati)
Larkin has been the key to La Salle's early success, which finds it ranked No. 1 in the state of Ohio and all of the Midwest by MaxPreps. He has rushed for 739 yards on just 61 carries and has scored 10 touchdowns. He has scored four touchdowns in a game twice this season and had a high of 289 yards against Christian Brothers (Memphis, Tenn.).
Dwayne Haskins Jr., Bullis (Potomac, Md.)
Although Bullis is just 1-2, Haskins has been spectacular in defeat. In a 66-65 loss to Woodberry Forest, Haskins threw for 442 yards and seven touchdown passes. In three games, Haskins has thrown for 906 yards and nine scores.
