Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school football. America's source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2022 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Jack Nash of
Colony (Palmer) is the 2022 MaxPreps Alaska High School Football Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound junior quarterback and safety helped the Knights go 9-2 and capture the Division I state championship – the first title in school history.
Nash and Colony avenged both of their losses in the state playoffs, including a 46-33 win over Bartlett in the semifinals where he accounted for 343 offensive yards and six touchdowns. He came through with the biggest play of the game on the defensive side of the ball, however, intercepting a pass late in the first half and returning it 87 yards for a touchdown to give the Knights a 21-19 lead.
In the state championship game rematch against Juneau-Douglas, which beat Colony 42-13 back in early September, Nash reached the end zone on the ground from 10 yards out in the final minute to give the Knights a 14-7 win.
For the season, Nash completed 90 of 157 pass attempts for 1,305 yards and 19 touchdowns. He added another 1,351 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. Defensively, he led Colony with 103 tackles and leads the nation according to statistics submitted to MaxPreps in interceptions with 12, including three pick-sixes.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team, which will be released January 10.
Past MaxPreps Alaska Players of the Year2020 – Jordan Holland, WR/DB, Bettye Davis East Anchorage (Anchorage)
2021 – Kyler Johnson, QB, Bettye Davis East Anchorage
