Video: Biaggio Ali Walsh two long TD runsThis week's National Player of the Year Watch includes the grandson of the "Greatest of All-Time" along with prolific passers from Texas and Colorado.
National Football Player of the Year Watch
Biaggio Walsh, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
The grandson of Muhammad Ali carried the ball just two times in a 69-7 win over Durango, but he gained 120 yards and scored touchdowns of 70 and 50 yards. For the season, Walsh has gained 1,005 yards on just 95 carries with 13 touchdowns in helping Bishop Gorman to the No. 1 ranking in the nation.
Tavien Feaster, Spartanburg (S.C.)
While Austin Scott has been a huge factor in making Spartanburg the top team in South Carolina, Feaster has been equally important. He has caught 25 passes for 523 yards and six touchdowns and has also carried the ball 82 times for 578 yards and six scores. Feaster is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 1 all-purpose running back in the nation.
Travis Lockhart, Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Lockhart has led Hamilton to an undefeated record (8-0) and a spot in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard at No. 25. Lockhart has thrown for 1,943 yards and 21 touchdowns, including 334 yards in a 38-35 win over Brophy College Prep last week.
Alan Lamar, DeSoto Central (Southaven, Miss.)
Lamar had a huge game last week in an 87-86 loss to Olive Branch, rushing for 421 yards on 59 carries with nine rushing touchdowns, a touchdown on a punt return and a touchdown pass. For the season, Lamar has gained 1,890 yards on 215 carries with 34 total touchdowns.
Chris Helbig, Holy Family (Broomfield, Colo.)
The state leader in passing yardage with 2,590 yards, Helbig holds the Colorado state record for passing yards in a game with 607, which he achieved in the first game of the season. Last week, Helbig threw for 500 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-14 win over Berthoud. In just 17 varsity games, Helbig has thrown for 5,707 yards and 63 touchdowns.
Shelton Eppler, Navasota (Texas)
Shelton Eppler, Navasota
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
The Rattlers are 32-2 with Eppler under center, including 6-0 this year after a 70-6 win over Sterling last week. In that game, Eppler was nearly perfect as he completed 22 of 23 passes for a career-high 543 yards and eight touchdown passes. Eppler has a .737 completion percentage (123-for-167) for 2,180 yards and 29 touchdowns with just one interception.
Nathan Rourke, Edgewood Academy (Elmore, Ala.)
Behind the play of Rourke, Edgewood Academy has the longest active win streak among 11-man teams in the nation at 65 in a row. Rourke has thrown for 2,379 yards (116-for-160) and is second in the nation with 40 touchdown passes. He has thrown at least six touchdown passes in a game three times and he has only two interceptions on the season.
Trevor Speights, McAllen Memorial (Texas)
Speights has rapidly risen up the all-time rushing list in Texas this year, as he currently stands in fifth place all-time. With 8,605 career yards, Speights ranks only behind Ken Hall of Sugar Land (11,232 yards), Johnathan Gray of Aledo (10,889), Traylon Shead of Cayuga (10,292) and Wes Danaher of Calallen (8,855). For the season, Speights has rushed 149 times for 1,932 yards and 30 touchdowns this year.
Romello Harris, Tulare Union (Calif.)
One of the leading rushers in California, Harris will rank among the state's all-time leaders by the time he is done. With 6,910 career rushing yards, he is 1,119 yards away from becoming the Central Section's all-time rushing leader. Harris has 1,542 yards on 165 carries with 21 touchdowns this year. As a junior, Harris rushed for 2,561 yards and 31 scores.
Simi Fehoko, Brighton (Salt Lake City)
Already committed to Stanford, Fehoko is in the middle of another huge season for Brighton. As a junior, the 6-foot-4 Fehoko caught 65 passes for 1,644 yards and 24 touchdowns. Through eight games this year, he has grabbed 45 passes for 1,168 yards and 10 scores.
