Compiled By Stephen Spiewak/Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
National Player of the Year
Garrett Gilbert, QB, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
For those who believed he could not possibly top his record breaking junior season, Lake Travis quarterback Garrett Gilbert had other thoughts.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior from Lake Travis (Texas) accounted for an astounding 72 touchdowns and 4,851 passing yards, breaking his own record of 4,827 that he set last year.
More so than any other time in his career, Gilbert demonstrated that he is also a threat to use his legs, registering 21 rushing touchdowns.
Perhaps his finest achievement was leading his team once again to a 4A state title, a journey which included a victory over cross town rival and 5A power Westlake.
Gilbert’s career totals will permanently etch his place in Texas high school football history. He ranks first in passing yards (12,537), second in touchdowns (136) and second in completions (895).
Others considered: Marcus Lattimore, Russell Shepard, Ryan Kasdorf
MaxPreps All-American Team
First Team Offense
WR - Marlon Brown, Harding Academy (Memphis, Tenn.), 6-5, 210, Sr.
The 2008 Division II Mr. Football back winner averaged nearly 24 yards per catch and had 15 touchdowns. Brown did it all for Harding Academy, finishing the season with 1,836 total yards, including 40 catches for 959 yards.
WR - Terry Hawthorne, East St. Louis (Ill.), 6-1, 185, Sr.
On a team loaded with talent, Terry Hawthorne still managed to stand out. The News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year helped lead the Flyers to a 7A state title by scoring 28 total touchdowns, including four on interceptions and four on special teams. Caught 48 passes for 1,009 yards and also averaged 44.8 yards as a punter.
WR - Pat Patterson, Noxubee County (Macon, Miss.), 6-3, 215, Sr.
The best player on perhaps Mississippi’s best team, Patterson was named the 4A Offensive Player of the Year in the Magnolia State after Noxubee County finished the season undefeated. Grabbed 77 passes for 1,387 yards and 19 touchdowns on the year.
TE - Orson Charles, Plant (Tampa, Fla.) 6-3, 230, Sr.
No tight end in the country had more receiving yards than Charles, a favorite target of Georgia-bound teammate Aaron Murray. He finished the year with 75 catches for 1,421 yards and 21 touchdowns, helping Plant to a 4A state title.
OL - Thomas Ashcraft, Cedar Hill (Texas), 6-5, 290, Sr.
Ashcraft averaged eight pancakes per game and was a 5A first team All-State selection in Texas.
OL - Xavier Nixon, Jack Britt (Fayetteville, N.C.), 6-6, 275, Sr.
The Fayetteville Observer’s Cape Fear region Player of the Year and the Gatorade Player of the Year, Nixon will be blocking for years to come at the University of Florida.
OL - Morgan Moses, Meadowbrook (Richmond, Va.), 6-8, 340, Sr.
Virginia is never short on talent, and Moses proves that this season is no exception. The massive tackle is a two-time AAA all-state selection.
OL - D.J. Fluker, Foley (Ala.), 6-7, 331, Sr.
An Alabama Super 12 selection, Fluker will head to Alabama in the fall, where he will help fill the void left by Andre Smith, who recently declared for the NFL draft.
OL - Chris Watt, Glenbard West (Glen-Ellyn, Ill.), 6-5, 290, Sr.
Watt, who drew some support for Illinois’ state player of the year, led Glenbard West to the 7A state semifinals, where the Hilltoppers narrowly lost to East St. Louis and co-MaxPreps All-American Terry Hawthorne.
QB - Garrett Gilbert, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), 6-4, 210, Sr.
The MaxPreps National Player of the Year threw for an unprecedented 4,851 yards this season, leading Lake Travis to a 16-0 record and a Texas 4A state title. The future Longhorn also broke Graham Harrell’s career passing record by amassing 12,537 yards.
QB - Russell Shepard, Cypress Ridge (Houston, Texas), 6-2, 195, Sr.
Texas’ 5A offensive player of the year and a threat every time he touched the ball, Shepard accounted for 49 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards of offense. Shepard completed 115 of 211 passes for 1,849 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 257 times for 1,947 yards and 29 scores.
RB - Michael Ford, Leesville (La.), 5-10, 205, Sr.
A first team All-State selection in a talented Louisiana 4A Class, Ford rushed for 29 touchdowns, and added two on special teams. His season total of 2,953 rushing yards, on 340 carries, is fourth most in state history.
RB - Marcus Lattimore, Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.), 6-1, 204, Jr.
Arguably the nation’s most complete junior runner, Lattimore rushed for 2,314 yards on 312 carries with 30 touchdowns. He returns next year to help the Rebels try to win their seventh title in eight years, and perhaps a national crown.
RB - Zach Barket, Schuylkill Haven (Pa.), 5-10, 205, Sr.
Barket led the nation in rushing, piling up a mindboggling 4,187 yards on 406 carries, good enough for a Pennsylvania state record. He had 14 consecutive games of more than 200 yards rushing and scored a whopping 65 touchdowns, helping to lead the Hurricanes to the Class A semifinals.
ATH - Rueben Randle, Bastrop (La.), 6-3, 195, Sr.
With the departure of Randall Mackey, Randle shifted from wide receiver to quarterback this season, so the Rams could take full advantage of his athleticism. Playing out of his true position, Randle still accounted for 33 touchdowns. He completed 166 of 274 passes for 2,442 yards and 20 scores and ran 101 times for 680 yards and 12 touchdowns.
K - Jeff Budzien, Arrowhead (Hartland, Wis.), 5-11, 155, Sr.
A two-time All-State selection, Budzien is on his way to Northwestern in the fall. Budzien has been a weapon for one of Wisconsin’s most dominant programs. He did not miss a field goal shorter than 60 yards this season, connecting for a long of 55. He also had 45 touchbacks, seven field goals and 42 extra points.
First Team Defense
DL - Iuta Tepa, Poly (Long Beach, Calif.), 6-2, 215, Sr.
Tepa was a key cog in one of the nation’s stingiest defenses; he had 14 sacks and 102 tackles for a Jackrabbits team that lost just once.
DL - Nikita Whitlock, Wylie (Texas), 5-10, 235, Sr.
Wylie finished runner-up in Texas’ 5A-II division, thanks in large part to the work of Nikita Whitlock. The 5A defensive player of the year had 25 tackles for loss. He was also a terror on special teams, twice scoring on blocked punts.
DL - Donte Moss, Northside (Jacksonville, N.C.), 6-4, 235, Sr.
There wasn’t a bigger nightmare for North Carolina quarterbacks than Donte Moss. The imposing playmaker posted 25 sacks on the year, leading his team to the state semifinals.
DL - Ryne Giddins, Armwood (Seffner, Fla.), 6-4, 233, Sr.
The All-Suncoast Defensive Player of the Year according to the St. Petersburg Times, Giddins anchored a defense that was among the nation’s best. In a playoff game against Tampa Bay Tech, Giddins recorded two defensive touchdowns and had 75 tackles, 21 quarterback hurries, and five sacks.
LB - Jordan Whiting, Trinity (Louisville, Ky.), 6-1, 235, Sr.
A two-time first team All-State selection and the player of the year this year in Kentucky, Whiting played his best in big games. In a playoff rematch with St. Xavier, he was dominant, collecting 13 tackles by halftime as the Shamrocks went on to win yet another 6A title.
LB - Dorian Bell, Gateway (Monroeville, Pa.), 6-1, 200, Sr.
Bell was the Post-Gazette Player of the Year, excelling on both sides of the ball for a Gateway team that was nationally ranked for most of the season. Finished the season with 113 tackles, including 19 for loss, seven sacks and four forced fumbles. Also ran 83 times for 860 yards and 16 touchdowns.
LB - Manti Te’o, Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii), 6-3, 233, Sr.
One of the most highly recruited players from Hawaii, Te’o was a force on defense, collecting numerous individual awards while leading the Buff N Blue to another state title. Teo registered 129 tackles, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles. He also had three interceptions and returned an interception and a blocked punt for a score this year.
LB - Jelani Jenkins, Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 6-1, 210, Sr.
Jenkins was a stellar two-way player for legendary head coach Bob Milloy. He captured the Washington Post Defensive Player of the Year award after finishing with 101 tackles to go along with 22 touchdowns on offense.
LB - Vontaze Burfict, Centennial (Corona, Calif.), 6-2, 235, Sr.
Centennial went the distance this year, avenging a loss to De La Salle last year by beating the Spartans in the Division 1 bowl game. Burfict was a major reason why; he finished with an impressive 146 tackles despite teams scheming around him.
DB - Varmah Sonie, Apple Valley (Minn.), 5-9, 156, Sr.
Sonie beat out James Peterson and Anders Lee for Minnesota’s Mr. Football award after the athletic defensive back notched six interceptions, returning two for touchdowns, while contributing valuably on offense and special teams.
DB - Daytawion Lowe, Carl Albert (Midwest City, Okla.), 6-0, 175, Sr.
Lowe was The Oklahoman’s defensive player of the year after he finished the season with 127 tackles, a fumble recovery and a sack. He also had four interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns.
DB - Greg Reid, Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.), 5-9, 180, Sr.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution state player of the year, Reid helped Lowndes to the AAAAA semifinals. Starring at both defensive back and running back, Reid is one of the country’s most complete players bar none. Besides rushing for 1,242 yards and 16 touchdowns, the Florida-bound Reid also had nine interceptions on defense.
DB - Caleb Massey, Sulligent (Ala.), 6-2, 185, Sr.
Following a season where he picked off nine passes and made 80 tackles, Massey was named the Birmingham News State Defensive Player of the Year. He wasn’t too shabby on offense either, accounting for 51 touchdowns.
P – Pete Kontodiakis, Countryside (Clearwater, Fla.), 6-2, 190, Sr.
ProKicker.com's top-rated punter, Kontodiakos was a defensive weapon for Countryside. The Cougars held five opponents to single digits in the scoring column.
Second Team Offense
WR - Torsten Boss, Lowell (Mich.), 6-0, 170, Sr.
A four year starter for powerhouse Lowell, Boss has shattered Michigan receiving records. This season, he caught 65 passes for 1,505 yards and 18 touchdowns, helping him earn Division 1-2 Player of the Year honors.
WR - Alec Lemon, Arundel (Gambrills, Md.), 6-2, 180, Sr.
One of the nation’s leading receivers and arguably Maryland’s best player, Lemon had a season for the ages:103 receptions, 1,616 yards, and 23 touchdowns.
WR - Andre Debose, Seminole (Sanford, Fla.), 5-11, 180, Sr.
A talented, versatile threat for a Seminole team that upset Northwestern in the 6A state finals, Debose will continue his career at the University of Florida. Besides catching 26 passes for 661 yards and eight touchdowns, Debose also carried 118 times for 1,333 yards and 12 scores.
TE - Morrell Presley, Carson (Calif.), 6-3, 207, Sr.
The extremely athletic Presley is a MaxPreps California Division 1 first team selection. He is on his way to UCLA in the fall. Presley caught 35 passes for 605 yards and five touchdowns for the Colts.
OL - Seantrel Henderson, Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.), 6-7, 288, Jr.
Henderson, a first team All-State selection, is very athletic for his size and also stands out on the basketball team. He projects to be one of the nation’s top recruits next year.
OL - Xavier Su'a-Filo, Timpview (Provo, Utah), 6-5, 290, Sr.
Su’a-Filo was named Utah’s 4A Offensive Player of the Year, an unusual feat for an offensive lineman. His presence on the line helped lead Timpview to a state title.
OL - Kevin Graf, Agoura (Calif.), 6-6, 316, Sr.
A two-time MaxPreps Division II All-State selection, Graf will stay in-state and play for Pete Carroll at USC next season.
OL - Jeremiah Sirles, Bear Creek (Lakewood, Colo.), 6-8, 300, Sr.
Sirles was named to Colorado’s All-State team as a sophomore, and was named to the Rocky Mountain News’ All-Colorado team his junior and senior seasons. He’s been a major reason why Zach Thennel has been able to lead the state in passing two straight years.
OL - Kyle Koehne, Indianapolis Cathedral (Ind.), 6-6, 285, Sr.
Koehne helped lead Cathedral to a 4A state title. The Indianapolis Star All-City Player of the Year, Koehne was able to control one side the line almost by himself.
QB - Ryan Kasdorf, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), 6-2, 195, Sr.
Stepping into the shoes of Dayne Crist, Kasdorf had huge shoes to fill, and surpassed all expectations. Playing one of the toughest schedules in the country, Kasdorf threw for a whopping 3,291 yards and 36 touchdowns.
QB - James Boyd, Jordan (Los Angeles, Calif.), 6-5, 225, Sr.
A phenomenal athlete, Boyd torched opposing defenses to the tune of 4,266 yards (280 of 450) and 44 touchdowns through the air and 608 yards (84 carries) on the ground. The future Southern Cal Trojan dominated on defense as well with 104 tackles and eight sacks.
RB - Brandon Wegher, Bishop Heelan (Sioux City, Iowa), 5-11, 205, Sr.
What a remarkable senior campaign it was for the Iowa-bound Wegher. Leading his team to a 3A state title, he notched 51 touchdowns and gained 3,238 yards on 362 carries.
RB - Tyler Gaffney, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.), 6-0, 215, Sr.
Gaffney was the driving force behind Cathedral’s Division II title. He put an exclamation point on a historical season by scoring five rushing touchdowns in a rout of St. Mary (Calif.). He finished the season with 2,882 yards on 295 carries with 56 total touchdowns.
RB - Adam Hall, Palo Verde (Tucson, Ariz.), 6-4, 195, Sr.
Arizona’s player of the year, Hall’s 38 touchdowns and his ability to succeed almost anywhere on the field will not soon be forgotten in the Grand Canyon state.
ATH - Morgan Newton, Carmel (Ind.), 6-5, 200, Sr.
Newton, whose Carmel Greyhounds came up just short of another 5A state title, passed for 1,938 yards (170 of 261) and 22 touchdowns and rushing for 1,664 yards and 26 scores.
K - Andrew Ritter, Jackson Academy (Jackson, Miss.), 6-4, 205, Sr,
Ritter kicked four of his eight field goals from over 50 yards, including a 58 yarder. All but one of his 53 kickoffs went for touchbacks
Second Team Defense
DL - Dominik Davenport, Phoebus (Hampton, Va.), 6-1, 270, Sr.
The Daily Press tabbed Davenport as its Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight time this year. A rare four year starter for the Phantoms, Davenport also saw some time at linebacker.
DL - William Campbell, Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.), 6-5, 315, Sr
A member of the Detroit Free Press Dream Team, Campbell had 51 tackles, more than half of which went for a loss. He also recorded six sacks and scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery.
DL - Jacquez Smith, Ooltewah (Tenn.), 6-3, 235, Jr.
Smith has played as a freshman, and really came into his own this year. He was Tennessee’s 5A Mr. Football lineman, registering 13 sacks and 29 tackles for loss.
DL - Abry Jones, Northside (Warner-Robins, Ga.), 6-3, 270, Sr.
Georgia’s 5A defensive player of the year is incredibly athletic for his size. His quickness allowed his to total 91 tackles and 15 sacks this season.
LB - Scott McVey, St.Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio), 6-1, 220, Jr.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer Defensive Player of the Year and a Division 1 first team All-State selection, McVey was the defensive catalyst for the state champion Wildcats. In the title game against Elder, McVey had four solo sacks, helped on two others, and picked off a pass. Finished the year with 177 tackles and 18 sacks.
LB - Perry Jones, Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, Va.), 5-9, 190, Sr.
Virginia’s AAA player of the year, Perry made an impact at linebacker as well as running back for the Division 6 state champs. He recorded 119 tackles and 10 sacks on the season.
LB - Barkevious Mingo, West Monroe (La.), 6-5, 190, Sr.
Mingo netted Class 5A co-MVP honor after finishing the season with 59 tackles, seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries.
LB - Michael Doctor, Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.), 6-0, 205, Sr.
The Tulsa World All-State Player of the Year tallied 130 tackles on defense and 1,299 rushing yards, helping the Hornets to a 5A state title.
LB - Carlo Calabrese, Verona (N.J.), 6-3, 235, Sr.
The Star-Ledger anointed Calabrese New Jersey Defensive Player of the Year after he amassed 131 tackles. He also played quarterback for state champion Verona.
DB - Greg Brown, Garland (Texas), 5-7, 150, Sr.
A 5A first team All-State selection, Brown had an amazing season for the Owls. In addition to his 125 tackles, he forced five fumbles and picked off three passes.
DB - Dre Kirkpatrick, Gadsden City (Gadsden, Ala.), 6-4, 185, Sr.
Kirkpatrick is one of the most sought after secondary recruits in the country, and with good reason. A fabulous senior season that included six interceptions solidified Kirkpatrick’s place as Alabama’s 6A defensive back of the year.
DB - Chad Boyd, Archbishop Shaw (Marrero, La.), 5-10, 195, Sr.
A two-time 4A All-State player, Boyd’s fine play helped turn around Archbishop Shaw’s season. After starting the season with four straight losses, the Eagles made it to the state finals thanks to Boyd’s 126 tackles and five interceptions.
DB - Justin Green, Male (Louisville, Ky.), 5-10, 180, Sr.
An all-state pick by the Louisville Courier-Journal, Green is the fastest player that Bob Redman has ever coached at Male. Despite missing three games, he still led the Bulldogs to the 6A semifinals, and amassed 21 touchdowns while proving to be a shutdown cornerback on defense.
P - Tyler Listi, Archbishop Thomas More (Lafeyette, La.), 5-5, 167, Sr.
A 5A all-state selection in Louisiana, Listi averaged 51.8 yards per punts, with seven of 20 punts landing in the end zone.
