USA Today High School Football Player of the Year
The USA Today High School Football Player of the Year is the award given by defensive high school football players in America.
The award has been given since 1982, the year the newspaper began, and each player was part of the
USA Today All-USA high school football team
.
Winners
Offense
Defense
Year | Player | Pos. | High School | College | NFL[1] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1982 | Henry Harris | LB | Columbia (Ga.) |
Georgia | No | |
1983 | Ron Stallworth | DT | Woodham (Fla.) | Auburn | Yes | Two-year NFL career |
1984 | Quintus McDonald | LB | Montclair (NJ) | Penn State | Yes | Three-year NFL career |
1985 | John Foley | LB | St. Rita (Ill.) | Notre Dame |
No | |
1986 | Marc Spindler | DT | West Scranton | Pittsburgh | Yes | Nine-year NFL career |
1987 | Todd Collins | LB | Jefferson County High | Carson-Newman |
Yes | Nine-year NFL career, two Super Bowl appearances |
1988 | Sean Gilbert | LB | Aliquippa (Pa.) |
Pittsburgh | Yes | Played 11 NFL seasons |
1989 | Oliver Gibson | LB | Romeoville (Ill.) | Notre Dame | Yes | Nine-year NFL career |
1990 | Derrick Brooks | LB | Booker T. Washington (Fla.) | Florida State | Yes | Nine-time NFL All-Pro |
1991 | Dexter Daniels | LB | Valdosta | Florida | Yes | Played four NFL games |
1992 | Jammi German | HB | Fort Myers (Fla.) |
Miami (Fla.) | Yes | Four-year NFL career |
1993 | Lamont Green | LB | Southridge (Fla.) |
Florida State | Yes | Played in the NFL in 1999 |
1994 | Kory Minor | LB | Bishop Amat (Calif.) | Notre Dame | Yes | Four-year NFL career |
1995 | Andy Katzenmoyer | LB | Westerville South (Ohio) | Ohio State | Yes | Lambert award winner in college
|
1996 | David Warren | DE | John Tyler (Tex.) |
Florida State | No | Played in the CFL |
1997 | Dennis Johnson | DE | Harrodsburg | Kentucky | Yes | Three-year NFL career |
1998 | Cory Redding | LB | North Shore (Tex.) | Texas | Yes | 12-year NFL career |
1999 | D.J. Williams | LB | De La Salle (Calif.) | Miami | Yes | Ten-year NFL career |
2000 | Shaun Cody | DL |
Los Altos (Calif.) | USC | Yes | Seven-year NFL career |
2001 | Ahmad Brooks | LB | C. D. Hylton (Va.) |
Virginia | Yes | 11-year NFL career |
2002 | Antonio Cromartie | DB | Lincoln (Fl.) | Florida State | Yes | 11-year NFL career |
2003 | Ted Ginn Jr. | DB | Glenville (Ohio) | Ohio State | Yes | 14-year NFL career |
2004 | Kenny Phillips | DB | Carol City (Fl.) |
Miami | Yes | Eight-year NFL career |
2005 | Gerald McCoy | DL | Southeast (Okla.) |
Oklahoma | Yes | Active in NFL since 2010[7] |
2006 | Marvin Austin | DT | Ballou (Wash., DC) | North Carolina | Yes | Five-year NFL career |
2007 | Patrick Peterson | DB | Blanche Ely (Fla.) | LSU | Yes | Active in NFL since 2011[7] |
2008 | Manti Te'o | LB | Punahou (Hawai'i) | Notre Dame | Yes | Active in NFL since 2013 |
2009 | Lamarcus Joyner | DB | St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) |
Florida State | Yes | Active in NFL since 2014 |
2010 | Jadeveon Clowney | DE | South Pointe | South Carolina | Yes | First overall pick in 2014 NFL draft
|
2011 | Mario Edwards Jr. | DE | Ryan High (Tex.) | Florida State | Yes | Second round pick in 2015 NFL draft |
2012 | Su'a Cravens | DB | Vista Murrieta (CA.) | USC | Yes | Second round pick in 2016 NFL draft |
2013 | Jabrill Peppers | DB | Paramus Catholic (NJ) | Michigan | Yes | First round pick in 2017 NFL draft |
2014 | Trenton Thompson | DT | Westover Comprehensive (GA) | Georgia | Yes | Undrafted, Signed by Cleveland Browns |
2015 | Rashan Gary | DT | Paramus Catholic (NJ) | Michigan | Yes | First round pick in 2019 NFL draft |
2016 | Shaun Wade | DB | Trinity Christian High School (Florida) | Ohio State | Yes | Fifth round pick in 2021 NFL draft |
2017 | Solomon Tuliaupupu | LB | Mater Dei | USC | – | |
2018 | Kayvon Thibodeaux | DE | Oaks Christian School | Oregon | – | |
2019 | Justin Flowe | LB | Upland | – | ||
2020 | Ga'Quincy McKinstry | CB | Pinson Valley | Alabama | – | |
2021 | Walter Nolen[5] | DT | Powell (TN) | Texas A&M | – | |
2022 | Caleb Downs[8] | DB | Mill Creek (GA) | Alabama | – |
See also
- USA Today All-USA high school football team
References
- ^ a b Indicates whether the player played in the National Football League
- ^ Sports-Reference.com: Dan Kendra
- ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: Brock Berlin
- ^ "Former Ohio State quarterback Tate Martell retires from football".
- ^ a b "All winners, USA Today High School Sports Awards: Cade Klubnik, Kiki Rice among recipients". USA Today. July 31, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ "2023 USA TODAY High School Sports Awards". USA Today Sports. July 30, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b As of end of 2011 season
- ^ "2023 USA TODAY High School Sports Awards". USA Today Sports. July 30, 2023 – via YouTube.