MaxPreps National Football Player of the Year Watch

While Jake Browning and Kyler Murray continue to put up big numbers every week, some other players are starting to work their way into the MaxPreps National Football Player of the Year Watch.

Among those are Bishop Gorman sophomore quarterback Tate Martell, who has led the Gaels to several big wins. Then there is Tyler Hutchinson, who seems to set an Illinois state record every time he steps onto the field. Also include Nick Johns, who has Gonzaga as one of the surprise teams of the year.

See pro photo galleries from last week's football games


Jake Browning, Folsom (Calif.)
No state records for Browning this week, but he did continue his incredible touchdown pass rate by throwing seven in a 61-13 win over Burbank (Sacramento). Browning is averaging 6.8 touchdown passes per game. If Folsom plays another 15-game season, as it did in 2013, Browning would have over 100 touchdown passes if he continues that pace. With 165 career touchdown passes, Browning ranks 10th all-time. Next on the list are Brett Henson of Hatch Valley (N.M.) with 166, Graham Harrell of Ennis (Texas) with 167 and Rhett Lashlee of Shiloh Christian (Springdale, Ark.) with 171.



Kyler Murray, Allen (Texas)
Plano limited Murray to just 48 yards rushing on seven carries with two touchdowns, but he had a big game through the air, completing 22 of 33 passes for 331 yards and two scores. Murray leads the Dallas area with 1,338 yards passing (80 of 123) with 12 touchdowns. He also has 475 yards rushing with 11 touchdowns.



Tyler Hutchinson, Greenville (Ill.)
Hutchinson has several state records and even a national record to his credit. Last year in the Illinois playoffs, Hutchinson attempted a national record 87 passes in one game. This year, Hutchinson threw a state record nine touchdown passes in one game. Last week, the 6-foot-5 signal caller completed 36 of 59 passes for 443 yards and seven touchdowns.



Austin Kafentzis, Jordan (Sandy, Utah)
Despite losing to Herriman 63-42, Jordan got a big game out of Kafentzis, who completed 18 of 30 passes for 418 yards and four touchdowns and also ran for 147 yards on 26 carries with two scores. For the season, he has completed 71 of 130 passes for 1,340 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing 123 times for 898 yards and 11 scores.



Kellen Overstreet, Penney (Hamilton, Mo.)
The nation's leading rusher racked up 252 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries. He also had an 89-yard touchdown reception in the 47-8 win over Plattsburg. For the season, Overstreet has 27 touchdowns and has rushed for 1,587 yards on 136 carries.



Reggie Gallaspy, Southern Guilford (Greensboro, N.C.)
North Carolina had a number of top backs returning from last year, including Rocky Reid of Concord, Nyheim Miller-Hines of Garner Magnet and Johnny Frasier of Princeton, but so far Gallaspy has been the state's top rusher. In just five games, Gallaspy has 1,404 yards rushing with 18 touchdowns. His lowest output was a 241-yard effort against Grimsley while last week against Ben L. Smith he had his best performance of the season with 354 yards.



Brandon Wimbush, St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.)
Wimbush led St. Peter's Prep to a third-straight win as he threw for 241 yards and ran for 69 more in a 48-10 win over Seton Hall Prep. He also threw for two touchdown passes and ran for two others.



Malik Bakker, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
Bakker has been a big reason why the Ironmen are 2-0 and ranked No. 1 in the Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings. He had three touchdowns and 78 yards rushing in a win over St. Joseph's Prep. He also ran for 124 yards and a touchdown in Don Bosco Prep's win over St. Thomas Aquinas two weeks ago.



Tate Martell, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
The sophomore's play at quarterback has been crucial to Bishop Gorman's success. He threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns in the come-from-behind 43-42 win over Centennial (Corona, Calif.) and he also threw for 194 yards and three touchdowns in a lopsided win over Santa Margarita. He has completed 40 of 72 passes for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns while also rushing for 222 yards.



Nick Johns, Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)
He doesn't have a lot of yardage, throwing for only 434 yards on the season, but the 6-5, 225-pound Johns has been a leader for Gonzaga, which has racked up impressive wins over Neshaminy, Centreville, Georgetown Prep and McKinley.