Vote: Who should be SBLive's Tampa Bay Florida high school football offensive player of the week (10/17/2023)?
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 8.
As such, we have 25 athletes nominated this week for the SBLive’s Tampa Bay Offensive Football Player of the Week award from October 12-13, and we ask you, the fans, to help decide who should indeed be the top athlete selected. Voting will conclude on Saturday, October 21st at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced in next week's poll.
Congratulations to last week's winner: Elijah Mason, RB, Gaither
Here are this week's nominations:
Dallas Sims, WR, Clearwater Academy International: The Minnesota commitment came down with the catch of his high school career, hauling in a 36-yard Hail Mary touchdown to lift the Knights to a 35-33 win over Sarasota Riverview.
Joaquin Kavouklis, QB, Clearwater Academy International: The freshman signal caller led the Knights on the comeback trail and threw the game-winning 36-yard heave for the win over Sarasota Riverview.
Joseph Troupe, Berkeley Prep: Troupe carried the ball five times for 82 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-6 win over Dunedin.
Jeff Jones, QB, St. Petersburg: One of the area's most athletic runners carried the rock 22 times for 188 yards and two touchdowns in a 17-10 win over Pinellas Park.
Nikolas Bearden, QB, Shorecrest Prep: Bearden threw for 96 yards and added 182 on the ground and three total touchdowns in a win over Sarasota Christian.
Riley Smith, TE, Calvary Christian: The tight end caught three passes for 36 yards and scored two times in a 27-3 win over Clearwater.
Willie Burgess, RB, Lakeside Christian: Burgess rushed for 158 yards on seven carries and scored a touchdown in a 52-6 defeat of City of Life Christian Academy.
Trey Hedden, QB, Tampa Catholic: The Furman commitment completed 9-of-13 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown in the Crusaders' 38-17 win over Blake.
Joshua Balloon, RB, Middleton: The running back carried the ball 15 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-25 win over Brandon.
Grover Colbert, RB, Brandon: Though in a losing effort, Colbert rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Emmanuel Lee, RB, Durant: Leading the way in a 28-13 win over rival Newsome, Lee rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
Greg Smith III, QB, Sumner: Smith III threw for 194 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-7 defeat of rival Riverview.
Malik Brown, WR, Sumner: Brown caught three passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Sharks.
Andrew Diaz, RB, Steinbrenner: Diaz went off in a 32-22 win over Palm Harbor University, running the ball 24 times for 177 yards and scoring four touchdowns.
Eli Millian, QB, East Lake: Millian was perfect in the Eagles' 42-7 win over Sickles, completing 10-of-10 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
Nathan Carter, RB, Osceola: Carter rushed for 121 yards on 25 carries in the Warriors' 13-10 win over Countryside.
Dillon Rose Bailey, QB, Bloomingdale: The Bulls' quarterback compiled 219 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-13 win over Spoto.
Malachi Peterson, RB, Largo: Peterson rushed for 119 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown in a 34-0 win over Seminole.
Justin Thurman, RB, Jesuit: The Notre Dame commitment rushed for over 100 yards and scored twice in a thrilling 36-35 win over Gaither.
Jayce Nixon, QB, Gaither: Nixon had a big night in the Cowboys 36-35 loss to Jesuit, throwing for 273 yards and four touchdowns.
Devin Blunt, RB, Strawberry Crest: The running back rushed for 154 yards on 18 carries and scored three times in the Chargers' 34-30 loss to Alonso.
Dallas Wilson, WR, Tampa Bay Tech: The Titans' wide receiver caught three passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in a 23-20 comeback win over Wharton.
Trey Whirley, QB, Northeast: Whirley was just offered a preferred walk-on at South Carolina after throwing for four touchdowns in a 49-7 win over Hollins.
Eric Archield Jr., QB, Robinson: The Knights' signal caller was on fire in a 35-14 win over Jefferson, throwing for 274 yards and five touchdowns.
JC Mirasola, QB, Plant: Mirasola led the way in a 42-0 win over Plant City, throwing for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl
