It was a magical run for Butler (Matthews, N.C.), as the Bulldogs capped off a 15-0 season by blasting Britt (Fayetteville, N.C.) 48-17 in the 4AA state final.
Christian LeMay is MaxPreps National Junior of the Year.
Photo by Charles Ward
It was no coincidence that Butler's quarterback, Christian LeMay, had quite a special junior campaign.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound signal caller was unstoppable from start to finish, saving some of his best work for the biggest games. In a playoff matchup against rival Independence (Charlotte, N.C.), LeMay exploded for 415 passing yards and three TDs. He tossed for three more scores in the title game against Britt.
For the season, LeMay was 170 of 248 for 3,926 yards and 44 touchdowns. He was only intercepted twice.
With LeMay at the helm, Butler rose to No. 3 in the final MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
LeMay will have one more award to take away from his outstanding season, as he is the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year.
First Team Offense
Tobias Singleton , WR, 6-2, 180, Madison Central (Madison, Miss.)
Singleton continues to improve each season and has developed into an absolute game-changer for Madison Central. He caught 55 balls for 890 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2009.
Robert Joseph, WR, 5-9, 170, Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.)
After Joseph's season, it's time to rewrite the South Carolina record books. He set the state records for most receptions in a game (22) and season (150). In total, he registered 1,834 yards and 20 TDs.
Tommy Shuler, WR, 5-8, 160, Miami Springs (Miami, Fla.)
In highly competitive Dade County, Shuler hauled in 73 passes for 1,216 yards and 16 scores, all tops in the area.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, 6-7, 250, Gig Harbor (Wash.)
A first team all-state selection, Seferian-Jenkins was one of the nation's most productive underclassmen, catching 60 balls for 1,050 yards and 10 scores from the tight end position.
Westerman is one of the nation's top offensive linemen regardless of class and was named to Arizona's 5A all-state team.
Jordan Walsh, OL, 6-4, 285, Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.)
The driving force behind a prolific rushing attack, Walsh recorded 87 pancakes on the season and was an all-state selection.
One of the biggest recruits to come out of New Mexico in years, Hegarty earned all-state recognition after a fine junior season.
The monstrous Shell was an all-state selection after not allowing a sack for the entire season. He also had 94 pancakes.
Collins is excellent in run blocking, making room for fellow all-state selection Jeremy Hill.
No junior was more dominant than LeMay, who led Butler to a 4A-II crown. He was 170 of 248 passing for 3,926 yards and 44 touchdowns.
The Carolinas are home to a number of great junior quarterbacks and Golson is one of them. He completed 224 of 356 passes for 3,558 yards and 47 touchdowns, leading the Seahawks to the state finals.
Arizona's player of the year still has another run left as Carey captured the award this season. He rushed 224 times for 2,738 yards and 43 scores as Canyon Del Oro completed an unbeaten season.
A standout since his freshman year, Hilliard continues to improve, winning 3A MVP honors. He had 278 carries for 2,512 yards and 32 touchdowns.
The Eagles enjoyed their first state title since 1956 thanks in large part to Sims' enormous production. He rushed for 2,346 yards and 35 scores on 252 carries.
Kiehl Frazier, ATH, 6-3, 210, Shiloh Christian (Springdale, Ark.)
Frazier led Shiloh Christian to a 4A state title by completing 153 of 236 passes for 2,614 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Van Ginkel nailed 16 field goals and was a touchback machine for Upland.
First Team Defense
James Wilder Jr., DL, 6-3, 220, Plant (Tampa, Fla.)
Dominant on both offense and defense, Wilder was a key cog in Plant's state championship run. At linebacker, he tallied 19 sacks, six pass deflections, and four forced fumbles.
Jadeveon Clowney, DL, 6-6, 240, South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.)
The Rock Hill Herald player of the year, Clowney menaced opposing quarterbacks, notching 23 sacks and 144 tackles. He is one of the nation's most heavily-recruited underclassmen.
Anthony Johnson, DL, 6-3, 290, O. Perry Walker (New Orleans, La.)
Johnson was the Louisiana 4A defensive player of the year, finishing with 79 tackles and 21 sacks. He forced three fumbles and recovered two others.
Vei Moala, DL, 6-3, 325, Grant (Sacramento, Calif.)
Moala was the Sacramento Bee Defensive Player of the Year after making 104 tackles and 15 sacks from the defensive tackle position. He led one of the nation's most punishing defenses.
Jason Meehan, LB, 6-4, 240, Webster Groves (Mo.)
With 145 tackles, six sacks, and four fumble recoveries, Meehan achieved great individual success, helping Webster Groves capture a 5A state title.
Jamie Byrd, LB, 6-0, 180, Pasco (Fla.)
A first team all-county selection, Byrd was extremely consistent for Pasco, recording at least seven solo tackles in each game.
Lamar Dawson, LB, 6-3, 285, Boyle County (Danville, Ky.)
One of Kentucky's top players regardless of class, Dawson accounted for 145 tackles and three forced fumbles. He was one of only two juniors to receive all-state recognition by the Louisville Courier Journal.
Colt Lyerla, LB, 6-4, 200, Hillsboro (Ore.)
It was quite a season for the extremely gifted Lyerla, who garnered both 5A Offensive Player of the Year honors as well as first team defense recognition for state champion Hillsboro.
Curtis Grant, LB, 6-3, 215, Hermitage (Richmond, Va.)
Grant will be one of the most heavily recruited players in the country as a senior, after earning Richmond Times Dispatch All-Metro honors in back to back seasons. In 2009, he amassed 154 tackles.
De'Anthony Thomas, DB, 5-9, 160, Crenshaw (Los Angeles, Calif.)
De'Anthony Thomas enjoyed a fine junior season.
Photo by Anthony Watson
The diminutive Thomas can impact the game at a number of positions. As a junior, his biggest contributions came on defense and special teams, as he was a first team all-city selection.
Mike Caputo, DB, 6-1, 195, West Allegheny (Imperial, Pa.)
Although he was a game-changing player on offense, Caputo was also irreplaceable on West Allegheny's defense, registering 89 tackles and four sacks. He was the Post-Gazette Player of the Year, the first junior to win the award since Terrelle Pryor.
Vance Matthews, DB, 6-0, 185, Reynolds (Winston Salem, N.C.)
Matthews was a first team all-state selection after snagging eight interceptions and returning one for a score. He also made 68 tackles.
Jabriel Washington, DB, 6-0, 170, Trinity (Jackson, Tenn.)
From the cornerback position, Washington made 94 tackles and forced four fumbles; he also returned two interceptions to the endzone. He was a Dream Team selection by the Tennessean.
Derrick Brown, P, 6-3, 180, Vista Murrieta (Murrietta, Calif.)
Also an outstanding dual-threat quarterback, Brown demonstrated a powerful leg, averaging over 45 yards per punt. He placed 11 balls inside the 20-yard line. Named Co-MVP of the CIF Inland Division.
Second Team Offense
Already a three-year starter, Williams exploded for 74 catches for 1,209 yards and 20 touchdowns, including three in the 4A state final against Ferris.
The All-Riverside County and Inland Division MVP, Arnold hauled in 79 passes for 1,536 yards, averaging nearly 20 yards per catch. Seventeen of his catches went for touchdowns.
In 2009, Landry was a big play waiting to happen. Gavin Webster's favorite target, Landry made 80 receptions for 1,406 yards and 15 TDs.
Nick O'Leary, TE, 6-4, 220, Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
O'Leary was a huge part of Dwyer's 4A title run. He caught 25 passes for 437 yards and six touchdowns.
Brey Cook, OL, 6-7, 290, Har-Ber (Springdale, Ark.)
Part of a very strong Arkansas class of 2011, Cook was selected for all-state honors after a season in which he did not allow a single sack.
Roxbury captured a section title in 2009, and Mangiro's efforts on both sides of the ball had alot to do with it. Flawless on offense, Mangiro's work on defense also drew acclaim.
An all-state selection, Hanratty has outstanding bloodlines, as his father, Terry, was a two-time All-American at Notre Dame.
DeMatha has a habit of producing quality offensive lineman, and Kouandijo fits the fold. Blessed with a great frame, he was a second team all-state selection.
Tyler Moore, OL, 6-6, 290, Countryside (Clearwater, Fla.)
Moore was an all-county selection after doing battle with the likes of James Wilder Jr. He has already announced his commitment to Nebraska.
Brewer was the perfect replacement for Garrett Gilbert, as the Lake Travis offense didn't miss a beat, capturing another 4A state title. Brewer was 256 of 367 for 4,450 yards and 43 touchdowns, earning second team all-state honors.
MaxPreps' National Sophomore of the Year in 2008, Worley followed up with an incredible junior campaign that saw him net 3-AAAA Player of the Year honors. He completed 403 of 585 passes for 4,366 yards and 42 touchdowns.
KC Nlemchi, RB, 6-1, 213, Cinco Ranch (Katy, Texas)
Nlemchi enjoyed a breakout season, carrying the ball 284 times for 2,388 yards and 28 touchdowns to go along with over 300 yards receiving. He was a 5A first team all-state selection.
Poteat has drawn comparisons to former Bishop McDevitt
(Harrisburg, Pa.) star LeSean McCoy.
Photo by Richard Rector
Colorado's 5A player of the year has been a star since ninth grade; as a junior, he rushed for 1,644 yards and 22 TDs on 235 attempts.
Jameel Poteat, RB, 6-0, 190, Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.)
With 1,664 yards and 24 touchdowns on 269 carries, the dynamic Poteat earned AAAA first team all-state honors from Pennsylvania Football News.
Graves simply put up astonishing numbers. He completed on 246 of 327 passes for 3882 yards and 52 touchdowns. He also scrambled for 874 yards and 14 scores.
Matt Ehasz, K, 5-11, 155, Camden County (Kingsland, Ga.)
An AP all-state selection, Ehasz was 10-12 on field goal attempts for the AAAAA state champs.
Second Team Defense
Kenny Hayes, DL, 6-5, 240, Whitmer (Toledo, Ohio)
Hayes was the only underclassmen to crack Ohio's Division I all-state first team on defense. He also became the first player from the class of 2011 to commit to Ohio State when he pledged to the Buckeyes in September.
Tim Jernigan, DL, 6-2, 270, Columbia (Lake City, Fla.)
An all-state pick as a sophomore last year, Jernigan was equally disruptive on the defensive line this season, as he finished with 118 tackles.
Charles Burks, DL, 6-0, 220, Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Though undersized, Burks was an outstanding pass rusher for one of the nation's top teams. He found his way to the quarterback 14 times.
Kris Harley, DL, 6-3, 260, Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Playing on the interior of the line, Harley collected 91 tackles and five sacks to help lead Warren Central to a 5A crown.
Blake Renaud, LB, 6-1, 225, De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Reynaud was named the Bay Area's Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Spartans to an Open Division bowl game victory. He finished with 59 tackles.
Cortland Dunlop, LB, 6-1, 205, Hazelwood Central (St. Louis, Mo.)
Dunlop was the leader of a Hazelwood Central defense that was good enough to help the Hawks capture their second straight Class 6 crown. On the year, he finished with a stellar 162 tackles.
Nick Lifka, LB, 6-2, 240, Naperville North (Naperville, Ill.)
Playing in one of the most competitive conferences in the state, Lifka, an all-state selection, still managed to record 116 tackles, two sacks, and three blocked kicks.
Stephone Anthony, LB, 6-3, 220, Anson (Wadesboro, N.C.)
Anthony is developing into a mega recruit, after a junior season in which he posted 120 tackles and four interceptions, earning him a spot on the All-Observer team.
Brent Calloway, LB, 6-3, 225, Russellville (Ala.)
A 5A first team all-state pick, Calloway totaled 18 tackles for loss to go along with 11 sacks; he has already committed to Alabama.
For the second season in a row, Florence was selected to Alabama's 5A all-state first team. In addition to his work in the secondary, Florence also starred at receiver and punt returner for Valley.
A playmaker in the secondary, Harris intercepted six passes and blocked three kicks. He was the district player of the year and was a AAA all-state pick.
Johnson was a quarterback's nightmare. Not only did he intercept six passes, but he returned three of those for touchdowns.
One of South Panola's many talented underclassmen, Market earned all-state honors after compiling 64 tackles and seven pass breakups for the 6A champs.
A starter since his freshman season, Broekemeier is a talented quarterback, but also earned all-state recognition for his work as a punter.
