Vote: Who should be SBLive’s Central Florida Defensive Player of the Week (10/16/2023)?
Defenders held their own last Friday in district battles and other games across Central Florida.
Athletes from seven counties turned in gutsy performances during Week 8 games. We looked at teams from Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River counties and nominated 18 athletes for this week’s SBLive Central Florida Defensive Football Player of the Week from Oct. 12-14.
We ask you, the fan, to decide who should be the top player selected. Voting will conclude on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced in next week’s poll.
Congratulations to last week’s winner: SBLive congratulates Viera High MLB James Olson for winning the Central Florida Defensive Player of the Week for Oct. 5-12.
Editor’s note: Our corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. The poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other player that may not be mentioned in our poll.
Here are this week's nominations:
Luke Prieto, OLB, Lake Mary: Physical junior made seven tackles, three solo, and one tackle for loss to lead the unbeaten Rams past Evans (Orlando), 36-6, in a key Class 4 Metro, District 2 game.
Tommie “Deuce” Wheeler Jr., OLB/WR, Mount Dora: Tough two-way senior (6-5, 207) made an incredible 17 tackles, 10 solo, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble in a 17-8 loss to The Villages.
Cori Smith, SS/FS, Seminole (Sanford): Talented athlete made 13 tackles, six solo, in the Seminoles’ nail-biting 49-42 victory against DeLand.
Rodney Joiner, DEF, Hagerty (Oviedo): Junior made six solo tackles, two tackles for loss, in the Huskies’ 54-0 Class 4M-3 romp against Colonial (Orlando).
Trenton Gummer, CB, Bishop Moore (Orlando): Stellar sophomore made four tackles and two interceptions to lift the Hornets past previously unbeaten Orlando Christian Prep, 25-15.
Xavier Tucker, WR/DB, Olympia (Orlando): Returned an interception 35 yards for a TD to lead the Titans past Dr. Phillips (Orlando), 31-21, in a key Class 4M-5 game.
Antawon Fields, OLB/RB, Dr. Phillips (Orlando): Senior recorded a 97-yard scoop-and-score in the Panthers’ loss to Olympia.
Hudson McCandless, S, Oviedo: Senior made an interception that set up a long TD run one play later in a 53-14 victory against Lake Howell (Winter Park).
Andrew Bowles, MLB/OLB, Lake Minneola: Senior turned in a strong effort with seven tackles, three solo, to lead the Hawks to a 62-14 Class 4 Suburban, District 5 victory against South Lake (Groveland).
Joshua Wilson Jr., CB, Lyman (Longwood): Senior defensive back had a great night with 10 tackles, seven solo, in a 39-16 Class 3M-2 victory against East River (Orlando).
Quinton Evans, MLB/OLB, Eustis: Junior turned in a superb effort with 12 tackles, four solo, in a 57-0 Class 2S-10 victory against Umatilla.
Noah Renes, QB/MLB, Viera: Fantastic freshman (6-3, 210) turned in a superb performance with 16 tackles, seven solo, four tackles for loss, two sacks and one fumble recovery in a 26-0 Class 4S-11 victory against Harmony.
Dennis King III, MLB/OLB, Mainland (Daytona Beach): Recorded a scoop-and-score to lead the unbeaten Buccaneers (7-0) past Deltona, 65-0, in a 3S-9 game.
Joe Macau, DL, Trinity Prep (Winter Park): Talented seventh-grader made the game-sealing interception in a 13-7 victory against Trinity Christian.
Dai’veon Parham, MLB/OLB, Cocoa: Senior standout (6-3, 200) turned in a super effort with 13 tackles, eight solo, five tackles for loss, and one sack in a 28-3 Class 2S-12 victory against previously unbeaten Titusville (7-1).
T.J. Monroe, WR/CB, Heritage (Palm Bay): Scored on a pick-6 to lead the Panthers past Melbourne, 35-0.
Nate Edwards, DEF, Astronaut (Titusville): Recorded a 40-yard pick-6 to lift the War Eagles past Space Coast (Cocoa), 34-14.
Zane Sherrer, OLB/SB, Cocoa Beach: Senior returned a blocked punt for a TD and scored on a 10-yard run to lift the Minutemen past Out-of-Door Academy (Sarasota), 26-20, in overtime.
