Vote: Who should be SBLive's Tampa Bay high school football defensive player of the week (9/15/2023)?
High school football is back in the Sunshine State and so begins our Player of the Week polls for areas all around the state. Teams started off the regular season with some great individual performances in Week 5.
As such, we have nine athletes nominated this week for the SBLive’s Tampa Bay Defensive Football Player of the Week award from September 21-22, and we ask you, the fans, to help decide who should indeed be the top athlete selected. Voting will conclude on Saturday, September 30 at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced in next week's poll.
Here are this week's nominations.
Manasseh Alexis, LB, Northeast: Alexis was all over the field in the Vikings' win, notching 15 tackles and fumble recovery.
Jaylen Erby, DB, Tarpon Springs: Erby tallied 13 tackles and an interception in the Spongers’ 21-16 loss to rival East Lake.
Cam Smith, DB, East Lake: The defensive back helped shift the momentum in the Eagles’ favor in a 21-16 rivalry win over Tarpon Springs. Smith had six tackles and two interceptions.
Dallas Golden, DB, Berkeley Prep: The defense led the way in the Buccaneers’ 35-7 win over Tampa Catholic as Golden notched two interceptions.
Jonathan Zilton, DL, Lakewood: Spartans’ defensive line played exceptionally in the 12-7 win over Miami Edison. Zilton had six tackles, three for loss and two sacks.
Noel Brown, DT, Clearwater: The defensive tackle played spectacular in the 27-26 loss to Largo. Brown tallied nine tackles, four for loss and three sacks.
Johnnie Tyson, DB, Tampa Bay Tech: Tyson led the defensive effort in the Titans’ 39-30 win over Gaither with 11 tackles.
Quentin Pope, DB, Durant: Pope had two interceptions in the Cougars’ 47-17 victory against Lennard last week.
Landen Whitenton, DE, Seminole: The defensive lineman had nine tackles and three went for a loss in the Warhawks’ 62-21 rout of Hollins last week.
-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl
