California high school football yearly awards watch list for CIF Southern Section
The 2023 high school football regular season is officially over.
The postseason is upon us, where the following players down below could separate themselves for 2023 yearly awards, including Player of the Year, Most Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, Breakout and Freshman of the Year honors.
Here are names to be considered for those awards, accompanied with their final regular-season stats.
- NOTE: This is not a list of nominees, just a watch list. Players not listed could win any of these awards.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Darius Curry, LB Poly, QB, Sr. — 2,625 yards, 36 TDs, 6 INTs, 123.6 QBR
Elijah Brown, Mater Dei, QB, Sr. — 2,095 yards, 29 TDs, 4 INTs, 72%
Cornell Hatcher, Corona Centennial, RB, Sr. — 1,852 yards, 32 TDs, 185ypg
Corona Centennial's Cornell Hatcher. (Jann Hendry)
Photo by Jann Hendry
Caleb Sanchez, St. John Bosco, QB, Sr. — 2,286 yards, 21 TDs, 4 INTs, 75%
Aiden Rubin, San Clemente, RB, Sr. — 1,738 yards, 20 TDs, 174ypg
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brady Smigiel, Newbury Park, QB, So. — 3,094 yards, 42 TDs, 12 INTs, 116 QBR
Dylan Riley, Rancho Verde, RB, Sr. — 1,852 yards, 27 TDs, 185ypg
Wyatt Becker, Sierra Canyon, QB, Jr. — 2,186 yards, 28 TDs, 5 INTs, 128 QBR
Sierra Canyon's Wyatt Becker. (Heston Quan)
Trey Wilson, Rancho Cucamonga, RB, Sr. — 1,361 yards, 14 TDs, 151ypg
Cincere Rhaney, Gardena Serra, RB, Sr. — 1,516 yards, 18 TDs, 151ypg
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Carnell Ferguson, Sierra Canyon, LB, Sr. — 54 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 12 sacks, 2 FR
Dylan Williams, LB Poly, LB, Sr. — 69 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 FF, INT
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, St. John Bosco, LB, Sr. — 68 tackles, 10 TFL, INT
St. John Bosco's Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. (Heston Quan)
Noah Mikhail, Bonita, LB, Jr. — 143 tackles, 14 TFL, 2 INTs
Jaden Williams, Mission Viejo, DE, Jr. — 86 tackles, 23 TFL, 10.5 sacks, FF
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shane Rosenthal, Newbury Park, WR, Jr. — 81 receptions, 1,270 yards, 14 TDs
Isaiah Dillon, Oxnard Pacifica, ATH, Jr. — 50 receptions, 980 yards, 17 TDs
Jackson Askins, Valencia, QB, Sr. — 1,781 yards, 17 TDs (+ 5 rushing TDs), 3 INTs, 70%
Jarrett Nielsen, LB Jordan, QB, Jr. — 3,126 yards, 27 TDs, 9 INTs, 121 QBR
John Sanders, St. Francis, QB, Jr. — 1,810 yards, 20 TDs (+8 rushing), 8 INTs, 102 QBR
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Elijah Wilson, St. Monica Prep, RB — 1,009 yards, 9 TDs (thru 6 games)
Ryan Rakowski, Palos Verdes, QB — 1,616 yards, 20 TDs, 2 INTs, 141 QBR (10-0 as a starter)
Richie Wesley, Sierra Canyon, DE — 44 tackles, 10 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 14 hurries, FR
Gavin Williams, Damien, DB — 39 tackles, 5 INTs, 2 PD
Kingston Anetema, North Torrance, WR — 66 receptions, 1,148 yards, 14 TDs
Brady Edmunds, Huntington Beach, QB — 1,786 yards, 18 TDs, 9 INTs, 88 QBR
