Vote: Who should be SBLive’s Central Florida Defensive Player of the Week (10/23/2023)?
Defensive players battered the opposition and then some last week in games across Central Florida.
Athletes from seven counties turned in strong performances during Week 9 games. We looked at teams from Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River counties and nominated 17 athletes for this week’s SBLive Central Florida Defensive Football Player of the Week from Oct. 19-21.
We ask you, the fan, to decide who should be the top player selected. Voting will conclude on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced in next week’s poll.
Congratulations to last week’s winner: SBLive congratulates Cocoa Beach OLB/SB Zane Sherrer for winning the Central Florida Defensive Player of the Week for Oct. 12-14.
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:
Jaden Brown, DB, Edgewater: Returned a punt 88 yards for a TD to lead the unbeaten Eagles (9-0) past Horizon, 45-0, and the Class 3 Metro, District 3 title.
Luke Prieto, OLB, Lake Mary: Steady junior stepped up again, recording five tackles, two solo, to lead the unbeaten Rams (8-0) past Apopka, 49-21, in a key Class 4M-2 game.
Malachi Davey, DB, Apopka: Athletic senior returned an interception 95 yards for a TD in the Blue Darters’ loss to Lake Mary.
Justin Brown, DB/RB, DeLand: Made an interception in the end zone to help the Bulldogs beat previously unbeaten University High (Orange City), 14-3, and win the Class 4 Suburban, District 9 title.
Ethan Pritchard, LB, Seminole (Sanford): Junior enjoyed another stellar game, recording nine tackles, four solo, in a 48-0 Class 4M-2 romp against Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs).
D’Antre Robinson DL, Jones (Orlando): The Texas commit made two solo tackles, a sack and an interception to lead the Tigers past Wekiva (Apopka), 68-47, in a key Class 3M-3 game.
Jerard Smith, MLB/OLB, Dr. Phillips (Orlando): Senior stepped up to make eight tackles, two solo, to lead the Panthers past West Orange, 10-3, in a key Class 4M-5 game.
Ameer Elghazaly, SS, West Orange (Winter Garden): Junior turned in a stellar effort with 12 tackles, three solo, and one fumble recovery in a loss to Dr. Phillips.
Jabarri Gardner, OLB/ILB/HB, Lyman: Senior stayed busy in a 49-21 loss to Oviedo, recording 11 tackles, nine solo.
Elijah McGhee, LB/RB, Mount Dora: Stellar sophomore made 10 tackles, five solo, in a 40-7 romp against Lake County rival Tavares.
Tola Dixon, Jr., WR/RB/SS, Halifax Academy: Scored on a pick-6 and a fumble recovery in the end zone to lift the Knights past Trinity Christian, 40-0.
Dai’veon Parham, MLB/OLB, Cocoa: Athletic senior (6-3, 200) turned in another strong performance with 10 tackles, five solo, one tackle for loss, and one sack, to lead the Tigers past Astronaut (Titusville), 63-0.
Caden Davis, ILB, Eau Gallie (Melbourne): Junior made 11 tackles, five solo, to lead the Commodores past Bayside, 45-0.
Tanner Campbell, OL/DL, Melbourne Central Catholic: Junior recorded 10 tackles, seven solo, and one tackle for loss, in a 38-0 victory against Cocoa Beach.
Jessie Perez, RB/OLB, Holy Trinity Episcopal (Melbourne): Returned a fumble 57 yards for a TD and ran for a score to lead the Tigers past American Heritage (Delray Beach), 38-15.
Elijah Anderson, DB, Vero Beach: Senior made two interceptions to lead the Indians (7-1) past Martin County (Stuart), 28-3.
Connor O’Brien, ATH/DB/QB, St. Edward’s School (Vero Beach): Sophomore had a superb night, recording 13 tackles, nine solo, and one fumble return for a TD in a 37-21 victory against Faith Christian (Orlando).
