2022 MaxPreps Small Town All-America High School Football Team

Quarterback Connor Cuff and head coach Scott Surratt led Carthage (Texas) to an historic ninth state championship in school history and the No. 1 ranking in the Small Town Top 25 high school football rankings. As a result, they also head the MaxPreps Small Town All-America Team.

Cuff was the offensive player of the game in the Class 4A Division II championship game where Carthage defeated Wimberley 42-0. He threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns and also rushed for a score. For the season, he threw for over 4,000 yards and 52 touchdowns in leading Carthage to a 16-0 record. He is the MaxPreps Small Town All-America Player of the Year.

Surratt won his ninth state championship at Carthage, tying Gordon Wood for the most career state titles in Texas history. He is 205-29 in 16 seasons with 14 district championships and 13 seasons in which he has won at least 10 games. Surratt is the MaxPreps Small Town Coach of the Year.

Players on the Small Town All-America Team come from schools that have an enrollment of less than 1,000 students in towns that have a population of less than 10,000 people. Many of the players on the All-America team are headed to play at Division 1 colleges next year, including Cuff who has committed to play baseball at University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
MaxPreps Small Town All-America Football Team

First team offense
WR — Kolby Luna, Kellogg (Idaho)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200 | Year: Senior
Set state records in single-season receiving with 95 catches for 1,753 yards and 21 touchdowns and he also set a career record for receiving touchdowns with 47.

WR — Jaden Gibson, Rabun County (Tiger, Ga.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175 | Year: Senior
Among the national leaders with 109 catches for 1,950 yards and 29 touchdowns this year, Gibson also set career receiving records in Georgia with 5,124 yards, 274 catches and 59 touchdowns. Named to the all-state team by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

WR — Camden Crooks, Cushing (Okla.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185 | Year: Senior
The all-state selection grabbed 67 passes for 1,528 yards and 23 touchdowns and concluded his career with 228 catches for 4,180 yards and 53 touchdowns. He had 60 career touchdowns, including five touchdowns this year on punt returns and one on a kickoff return.

TE — Benjamin Brahmer, Pierce (Neb.)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 220 | Year: Senior
The captain of the Lincoln Star Journal's Class C-1 all-state team and a member of the newspaper's Super Team, Brahmer led all tight ends in the nation with 81 catches for 1,525 yards and 21 touchdowns, including 11 catches for 249 yards and three touchdowns in the state championship game against Aurora.

OL — Roger Alderman, Sonora (Calif.)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 270 | Year: Senior
Headed to play at Utah, Alderman was ranked No. 46 in the state among all players by 247Sports. He was also the Mother Lode League most valuable player.

OL — Devin McRae, Telfair County (McRae, Ga.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 280 | Year: Senior
An all-state selection by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution who will play at Wake Forest next year.

OL — Rikter Connally, Seminole (Texas)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 295 | Year: Senior
The offensive line player of the year in District 2-4A Division II will play at TCU next year. He ranks as one of the top 85 offensive tackles in the nation by 247Sports.

OL — Gage Stanaland, Jim Ned (Tuscola, Texas)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 288 | Year: Senior
Earned offensive MVP honors in District 3-3A Division I. He's headed to play at Oklahoma State.

OL — Cooper Starks, North Mac (Virden, Ill.)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 320 | Year: Senior
The Vanderbilt commit was named to the Coaches Class 1A all-state team and ranks among the top 30 players in the state of Illinois by 247Sports.

AP — Braeden Wisloski, Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 185 | Year: Senior
The Pennsylvania News Class 2A state player of the year after leading SCA to its sixth straight state championship. He rushed for 1,964 yards and 25 touchdowns on 165 carries. He also caught 12 passes for 265 yards and four touchdowns.

K — Will Soulliere, Frankenmuth (Mich.)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 155 | Year: Junior
An all-state selection by the Associated Press, Soulliere connected on 68 of 69 extra points and kicked 13 field goals with a long of 42.

First team defense

DL — Gabriel Moore, Louisville (Miss.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 245 | Year: Senior
An all-state pick in Mississippi by the coaches association, Moore racked up 116 total tackles with 39 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

DL — Deejay Holmes Jr., Pahokee (Fla.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 240 | Year: Senior
Among the national leader in sacks with 32.5. He also had 41 hurries, 117 total tackles and 27.5 tackles for loss

DL — Walteze Champ, Homer (La.)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 230 | Year: Senior
The Class 1A defensive player of the year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, Champ had 101 tackles, 10 sacks, and three defensive touchdowns on the season. He led Homer to the Division IV Non-Select championship game.

DL — Jailen Ruth, Hawthorne (Fla.)
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 190 | Year: Senior
The Florida Dairy Farmers Class 1R player of the year, Ruth had 94 tackles and 27 tackles for loss while also racking up 19 sacks. He caused seven fumbles and had a pair of interceptions.

LB — Suntarine Perkins, Raleigh (Miss.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200 | Year: Senior
Besides rushing for 2,078 yards on 170 carries with 32 touchdowns, Perkins also had 92 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions on defense while earning all-state honors. Named the MaxPreps Mississippi Player of the Year.

LB — Sean Burks, Cuero (Texas)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 205 | Year: Senior
Lled the nation in tackles for the second year in a row, posting 257 tackles this year after making 270 tackles as a junior. He was the defensive MVP of District 12-4A Division II

LB — Ashton Bennett, Gunter (Texas)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 200 | Year: Senior
The unanimous District 8-3A defensive player of the year, Bennett led Gunter in tackles with 123, including 15 tackles for loss, five sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. He also rushed for 613 yards on 70 carries with 11 touchdowns.

DB — Quinton Martin, Belle Vernon (Pa.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 195 | Year: Junior
A member of the Post Gazett's Super 22 and the Pennsylvania Football News Class 3A all-state team, Martin rushed for 1,279 yards and 22 touchdowns, caught 28 passes for 424 yards and six scores and also had four interceptions on defense. 

DB — Tackett Curtis, Many (La.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220 | Year: Senior
The Class 2A state defensive player of the year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, Curtis led Many to the Division III nonselect championship while making 112 tackles, six sacks, 16 tackles for loss and four interceptions. He also rushed for 1,115 yards and 14 touchdowns. Named the MaxPreps Louisiana Player of the Year.

DB — Max Johnson, Hazard (Ky.)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 170 | Year: Senior
A member of the Courier-Journal's all-state team, Johnson had 93 tackles, eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries on defense. He rushed for 1,673 yards and had 26 touchdowns.

DB — Bryson Washington, Franklin (Texas)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 195 | Year: Senior
The overall MVP in District 11-3A Division I, Washington led Franklin to a second straight Class 3A Division I state championship and 32 consecutive wins. He rushed for 2,131 yards on 244 carries with 30 touchdowns. He also had 72 tackles on defense.

AP — Dalton Brooks, Shiner (Texas)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 190 | Year: Senior
Unanimous MVP in District 15-2A Division I, Brooks rushed for 2,519 yards and 36 touchdowns and had 120 tackles and two interceptions on defense.

P — Declan Duley, El Paso-Gridley (El Paso, Ill.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200 | Year: Senior
Ranked among the top 10 punters in the nation, Duley recently signed to play at Illinois next year. He was honorable mention all-state by the Illinois state coaches association.

Second team offense
WR — Josh Suarez, Taft (Texas)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 175 | Year: Senior
Among the national leaders in receptions, Suarez caught 111 passes for 1,871 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also had 97 tackles on defense. He was the overall MVP of District 16-3A Division II.

WR — Joseph McVay, Earle (Ark.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185 | Year: Junior
An all-state selection, McVay racked up 110 receptions for 1,561 yards and 24 touchdowns.

WR — Dre'lon Miller, Silsbee (Texas)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185 | Year: Junior
Named the district MVP, Miller caught 59 passes for 1,399 yards and 21 touchdowns.

TE — Carter Nelson, Ainsworth (Neb.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205 | Year: Senior
One of the top junior tight ends in the nation, Nelson earned all-state honors by the Lincoln Star Journal after catching 28 passes for 525 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also ran 119 times for 761 yards and 14 scores and completed 47 of 83 passes for 663 yards and 15 touchdowns.

OL — Henry Engel, Lena-Winslow (Lena, Ill.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 230 | Year: Senior
Also a top wrestler in the state, Engel earned a spot on the Illinois Coaches Association all-state team.

OL — Jack Kraus, Andale (Kan.)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 240 | Year: Senior
A record-breaking shot putter in the state, Kraus has also never lost a high school football game (51-0). He made the Wichita Eagle's Top 11.

OL — Kaden Stanton, Beggs (Okla.)
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 315 | Year: Senior
Stanton made the Oklahoman all-state team and is headed to play at New Mexico State.

OL — Peyton Jurgajtis, Falls City (Texas)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 305 | Year: Senior
Selected to play in the Blue-Grey All-American game, Jurgajtis was also the district lineman of the year and was all-state as a junior.

OL — J.R. Moore, Refugio (Texas)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205 | Year: Senior
All-state as a junior, Moore again earned all-district honors as a senior while leading Refugio to a district championship and a runner-up finish in the state tournament.

AP — J.J. Acosta, Taft (Texas)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 185 | Year: Senior
Led the nation in total offense, completing 281 of 392 passes for 4,269 yards and 40 touchdowns while also rushing 182 times for 1,543 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was the Offensive MVP of District 16-3A Division II.

K — Gage Tumlinson, Wimberley (Texas)
Height: 5-7 | Weight: 165 | Year: Senior
Among the national leaders in kick scoring with 86 PATs and nine field goals, including a long of 43.

Second team defense

DL — Bryston Dixon, Leroy (Ala.)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 270 | Year: Senior
Earned Class 3A all-state honors by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. A Georgia Tech signee, Dixon had 79.5 tackles this year including 32 tackles for loss and five sacks.

DL — Tristen Sanchez, Morenci (Ariz.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 202 | Year: Junior
The Conference 2A defensive player of the year, Sanchez racked up 106 tackles and was among the national leaders with 23.5 sacks. He also had 38 tackles for loss.

DL — Matthew Scicchitano, Mount Carmel (Pa.)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 260 | Year: Senior
An all-state player by the Pennsylvania Football News, Scicchitano had 66 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss this year.

DL — Joe Gutshall, Lorena (Texas)
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 280 | Year: Senior
The Class 3A state defensive player of the year as a junior, Gutshall had another strong season as a senior with 42 tackles, six tackles for loss, and four sacks.

LB — Darren Meier, Marion Local (Maria Stein, Ohio)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 195 | Year: Senior
Besides scoring 21 touchdowns on offense, Meier earned Division VI state defensive player of the year honors while leading Marion Local to a state championship.

LB — Philip Laverde, Kirtland (Ohio)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 195 | Year: Senior
The co-state defensive player of the year along with Darren Meier of Marion Local, Laverde had 161 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and six sacks.

LB — Riley Marx, Andale (Kan.)
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220 | Year: Senior
One of the top all-around athletes in the state of Kansas, Marx was the Wichita Eagle's state defensive player of the year. Marx was also a state runner-up in wrestling as a junior and he is one of the top javelin throwers in the state.

DB — Kooper Ebel, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn (Hartley, Iowa)
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 215 | Year: Senior
An all-state selection in Iowa, Ebel led his team on offense and defense. He ran for 2,511 yards and 32 touchdowns on 268 carries and also threw for 824 yards (51 of 95) with six touchdowns. On defense he had 78 tackles with three interceptions.

DB — Keon Tucker, Noxapater (Miss.)
Height: 5-7 | Weight: 135 | Year: Senior
Earned all-state honors after finishing among the national leaders in interceptions with 11. He also had 65 tackles.

DB — Isaiah Warnick, Falkville (Ala.)
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 175 | Year: Senior
Dominated on both sides of the ball as he caught 46 passes for 1,027 yards and 15 touchdowns and also had 11 interceptions on defense to go with 52 tackles. He earned a spot on the Alabama Sports Writers Association's Class 2A all-state team.

DB — Daunte Hall, East Duplin (Beulaville, N.C.)
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 175 | Year: Senior
Hall made the Associated Press all-state team in North Carolina. He had seven interceptions and 12 passes defensed while also making 94 tackles.

AP — Will Scott, Hawley (Texas)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 160 | Year: Senior
The district player of the year, Scott had 113 tackles on defense with 11 tackles for loss and four interceptions. He also caught 44 passes for 739 yards and nine touchdowns for the Class 2A-1 state champions.

P — Stephen Brantley, East Surry (Pilot Mountain, N.C.)
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 225 | Year: Senior
Ranked as one of the top 15 punters in the nation, Brantley averaged 41.2 yards per punt