Vote: Who should be SBLive’s Central Florida Defensive Player of the Week (11/6/2023)?
Rivalry week brought out some hard-nosed defensive performances last Friday across Central Florida.
With playoff seeding on the line, athletes from seven counties turned in strong performances during Week 11 games. We looked at teams from Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River counties and nominated 14 athletes for this week’s SBLive Central Florida Defensive Football Player of the Week from Nov. 2-4.
We ask you, the fan, to decide who should be the top player selected. Voting will conclude on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced in next week’s poll.
Congratulations to last week’s winner: SBLive congratulates Lake Mary OLB Aireese Martin for winning the Central Florida Defensive Player of the Week for Oct. 26-28.
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 (Orlando): Stellar junior defensive back had a 23-yard pick-6 to lead the unbeaten Eagles (10-0) past rival Boone, 42-14, in the “Battle for the Spirit Battle.” Edgewater is seeded first in its region for the Class 3 Metro playoffs.
Luke Prieto, OLB, Lake Mary: Fiery junior made six tackles, three solo, recovered a fumble on the game’s first series, and later blocked a punt and scooped up the ball inside the 5-yard line and ran it in for a TD in a dominating 31-0 victory against previously unbeaten and defending Class 3 Suburban state runner-up Mainland (Daytona Beach). The Rams are seeded first in their region for the Class 4M playoffs.
Aaron Reabe, MLB/OLB, Bishop Moore (Orlando): Made six tackles, five solo, three tackles for loss, and three sacks to lead the Class 2M playoff-bound Hornets past Kathleen (Lakeland), 49-14.
D’Antre Robinson, DL, Jones (Orlando): The senior and Texas commit made eight tackles, seven solo, and three sacks to lead the Class 3M playoff-bound Tigers (7-3) past Dr. Phillips (Orlando), 37-10.
Quinton Evans, MLB/OLB, Eustis: Tough junior (6-foot, 211 pounds) made 11 tackles, five solo, and three tackles for loss to lead the Panthers past Merritt Island, 32-28.
Yadriel Garcia, WR/CB/OLB, Orlando Christian Prep: Talented senior made seven tackles, six solo, to lead the Class 1M playoff-bound Warriors past Northside Christian (St. Petersburg), 35-16.
Dominic Maultsby, RB/ATH, University (Orange City): Made nine tackles, three solo, and one tackle for loss to lead the Class 4S playoff-bound Titans past Deltona, 41-0.
Elijah McGhee, LB/RB, Mount Dora: Super sophomore made 11 tackles, seven solo, and two tackles for loss, to lead the Hurricanes past Lake Howell (Winter Park), 28-24.
Samadrae Hawkins, MLB, Cocoa: Senior turned in another strong performance with nine tackles, seven solo, two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks to lead the defending Class 2S state champ past rival Rockledge, 26-0, in the Barbecue Bowl.
Izzy Montanez, OLB/SS, Rockledge: Junior made 10 tackles, five solo, for the Raiders in their loss to Cocoa.
Antwuan Fedrick, SB/WR/CB, Palm Bay (Melbourne): Recorded a 90-yard pick-6 to lead the Pirates (7-3) past Satellite (Beach), 35-21, and give coach Dan Burke his 250th career victory, the most by any high school football coach in Brevard County.
Caden Davis, ILB, Eau Gallie (Melbourne): Junior made 11 tackles, five solo, and one tackle to lead the Class 3S playoff-bound Commodores (9-1) past Melbourne, 50-0.
Nate Lopez, ATH, Titusville: Senior turned in another superb effort with 14 tackles, six solo, one tackle for loss, and one sack, and rushed nine times for 98 yards and a score lead the Class 2S playoff-bound Terriers (9-1) past Viera, 35-28.
Brendan Sposato, ILB/FB, Sebastian River: Star senior made 15 tackles, 11 solo, and five tackles for loss to lead the Sharks (6-4) past Paxon School for Advanced Studies (Jacksonville), 15-14, and win the Sunshine State Athletic Association Atlantic championship.
