Video: Player of the Year Watch - small schools
See highlights of some of the amazing players on our short list.MaxPreps selects a Small Schools All-American Team at the end of the football season. The following 10 athletes are currently in consideration for the Small Schools National Player of the Year honor, one that still goes to players with huge accolades. Past winners include Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans.
Small Schools Player of the Year watch list
Sage Surratt, Lincolnton (N.C.)
One of the nation's top basketball players, Surratt has been setting receiving records in North Carolina, first at East Lincoln and now at Lincolnton. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound wideout has 71 catches for 1,047 yards and 14 touchdowns. As a junior at East Lincoln, Surratt caught 96 passes for 1,772 yards and 23 touchdowns. For his career, he has 289 catches for 4,569 yards and 59 touchdowns. He is three receptions short of tying the state record for career receptions (292).
Blake Dunn, Saugatuck (Mich.)
Dunn has led Saugatuck to a 9-0 season and is the national leader in touchdowns scored with 38. He has 31 touchdowns rushing, four on kickoff returns, two on interception returns and one on a punt return. The team's quarterback, Dunn has thrown for 654 yards and 10 touchdowns and he has rushed for 1,689 yards on just 108 carries. For his career, Dunn has rushed for 6,662 yards.
Don Ragsdale, Pisgah (Sandhill, Miss.)
Ragsdale is among the national leaders in rushing with 2,568 yards and 35 touchdowns. He has helped Pisgah to an 8-2 overall record. The junior has three games over 300 yards this year, including a 453-yard outing against St. Joseph Catholic in a 49-34 win.
Jonah Barnett, Mt. Gilead (Ohio)
Barnett has been the leading rusher in Ohio and one of the leading rushers in the nation this year with 2,357 yards and 35 touchdowns. He tied a state record in the second game of the season when he rushed for nine touchdowns in a 64-49 win over Crooksville. He also rushed for 492 yards on 38 carries in the win.
DJ Taylor, Huntland (Tenn.)
Taylor has rushed for over 5,000 yards in his career at Huntland and is one of the leading rushers in the state this year with 2,047 yards. He has gained over 300 yards in a game four times this year, including a 396-yard performance on 51 carries with six touchdowns in a 54-53 win over Grace Christian Academy last week.
Shaun Wade, Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)
One of the top-ranked defensive backs in the nation, Wade has been a huge factor in Trinity Christian Academy's success over the past four seasons. He has 38 tackles with four interceptions and also has 17 receptions for 384 yards and six touchdowns on offense for a team ranked as the No. 2 small school team in the nation by MaxPreps.
Lamont Wade, Clairton (Pa.)
A standout at defensive back, Wade has been spectacular on offense in averaging over 17 yards per carry. He has gained 1,410 yards on just 79 carries for a team ranked as one of the top small school teams in the nation by MaxPreps. He also has 20 touchdowns and 134 points on the season.
Jared Smith, Pewamo-Westphalia (Pewamo, Mich.)
Smith is on his way to becoming one of the all-time leading rushers and scorers in the state of Michigan. He earned MaxPreps Small Schools All-American honors as a junior after rushing for 3,243 yards and 53 touchdowns. In leading his team to a 9-0 record and a No. 1 ranking in its division, Smith has rushed for 1,898 yards and 28 touchdowns. For his career, Smith has gained 7,277 yards and scored 110 touchdowns.
Jayden Borders, Shelby (N.C.)
Borders has helped lead Shelby to a 9-0 record and a spot in the MaxPreps Small Schools national football rankings. A MaxPreps Small Schools All-American as a junior when he caught 93 passes for 1,732 yards and 26 touchdowns, Borders has caught 52 passes for 1,165 yards and 15 scores this year. For his career, Borders has 233 receptions for 4,092 yards and 51 touchdowns.
