Justin Sawmiller enters the National Player of the Year discussion as he chases a national receiving record.
File photo by Scott Seighman
Three new players join the ranks this week in the MaxPreps Player of the Year Watch, including one player who is on the verge of breaking a national receiving record.
Justin Sawmiller of Kenton (Ohio) could own the all-time receptions mark sometime in the next few weeks. He joins the list along with University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) quarterback Sean White and Colerain (Cincinnati) quarterback Kelvin Cook.
MaxPreps National Player of the Year Watch
Will Grier, Davidson Day (Davidson, N.C.)For the third time this year, Grier threw for seven touchdowns in a game as he completed a season-high 44 passes in 56 attempts for 410 yards in a 45-0 win over Marvin Ridge. Grier leads the nation with 38 touchdown passes and has completed 150 of 205 passes for 2,228 yards. He now ranks No. 10 all-time in the nation with 156 career touchdown passes.
Jake Browning, Folsom (Calif.)
Browning was very efficient in his team's 49-21 win over Monterey Trail (Elk Grove), as he completed 23 of 27 passes for 361 yards and six touchdowns. He has completed 138 of 178 passes for 1,986 yards and 30 touchdowns during Folsom's 5-0 start. With at least five regular season games and a whole senior season remaining, Browning already ranks No. 2 all-time in Sacramento history with 7,286 career yards. Former Folsom quarterback Dano Graves is the all-time leader with 7,691 yards.
Treon Harris, Washington (Miami)Harris missed last week's game due to a stomach ailment and a tender ankle, but he's expected to be back at the helm for Booker T. Washington when it faces Bishop Gorman this week. For the season, Harris has completed 58 of 86 passes for 863 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has also run 42 times for 162 yards and three scores.
Shuler Bentley, Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)Byrnes knocked off Boiling Springs 63-34 last week and Bentley surpassed a milestone in the process. By throwing for 383 yards, Bentley surpassed 10,000 yards passing in his career. He completed 24 of 34 passes with five touchdowns in the win and he has completed 110 of 162 passes for 1,870 yards and 27 touchdowns on the season. For his career, Bentley has 10,083 yards.
Desmon White, DeSoto (Texas)In a 50-0 win over South Grand Prairie, White had his most productive night of the season, as he completed 19 of 28 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran 11 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, he has completed 86 of 120 passes for 1,365 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has also run 61 times for 585 yards and eight touchdowns.
Justin Sawmiller, Kenton (Ohio)Sawmiller is closing in on the national record for receptions and he could have it in the next two weeks if he continues to perform as he did last week. In a 46-0 win over Shawnee, Sawmiller caught 14 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He has 50 catches for 872 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. For his career, Sawmiller has caught 337 passes, placing him 12 receptions behind all-time state leader Ben Wonderly of Fairview (Sherwood) and 21 receptions behind all-time national leader Davis Howell of Christian Academy of Knoxville (Tenn.)
Deshaun Watson, Gainesville (Ga.)Since losing to Buford in Week 2, Gainesville has been on a roll, outscoring its opponents 164-13, including last week's 48-7 win over Heritage. Watson had his highest touchdown total of the season, throwing six scoring passes. He also completed 27 of 30 passes for 315 yards and now has 1,570 yards on the season. He has completed 118 of 168 passes with 19 touchdowns.
Patrick Mahomes, Whitehouse (Texas)Mahomes continues to put up big numbers, as he threw for 396 yards (25 of 42) with a season-best seven touchdowns. Mahomes has thrown 24 touchdown passes during Whitehouse's 5-0 start while only tossing one interception. He has completed 126 of 203 passes for 1,962 yards.
Kelvin Cook, Colerain (Cincinnati)
Colerain ranks No. 18 in the Xcellent 25, mostly behind the rushing efforts of Cook. However the senior quarterback showed off his arm in a 57-7 win over Hamilton last week, completing six of eight passes for a season-high 174 yards and four touchdowns. For the season, Cook has rushed 108 times for 727 yards and seven touchdowns. He has also completed 12 of 19 passes for 309 yards and five touchdowns.
Sean White, University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)White has University off to a 6-0 start and a No. 13 ranking in the Xcellent 25. He had his best game of the season in a 50-0 win over Boyd Anderson, as he completed 21 of 29 passes for 437 yards and six touchdowns. For the season, White has completed 80 of 126 passes for 1,302 yards and 21 touchdowns.
