Vote: Who should be SBLive’s Central Florida Defensive Player of the Week (11/13/2023)?
Central Florida defensive players came out strong and then some in the first round of the playoffs last Friday.
Athletes from seven counties turned in gutsy performances during Week 12 games. We looked at teams from Orange, Osceola, Lake, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River counties and nominated 16 athletes for this week’s SBLive Central Florida Defensive Football Player of the Week from Nov. 9-11.
We ask you, the fan, to decide who should be the top player selected. Voting will conclude on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced in next week’s poll.
Congratulations to last week’s winner: SBLive congratulates Bishop Moore LB Aaron Reabe for winning the Central Florida Defensive Player of the Week for Nov. 2-4.
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 nominees:
Antwone Robinson, LB, Apopka: Blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and made another fumble recovery to lead the defending Class 4 Metro state runner-up Blue Darters past Evans (Orlando), 22-13, in a Region 1 quarterfinal game.
Levi Monzon, MLB/OLB, Lake Mary: Junior made nine tackles, two solo, one tackle for loss, and a blocked field goal to lead the Rams past Boone (Orlando), 42-38, in a Class 4M, Region 1 quarterfinal barnburner.
CJ Nassar, WR/DB, Boone (Orlando): Freshman made a big interception in a loss to Lake Mary.
Na’Koma Simpson, FS/SS, Seminole (Sanford): Senior made five tackles, one solo, and one sack to lead the Seminoles past Hagerty (Oviedo), 42-3, in a Class 4M, Region 1 quarterfinal.
Alfred Thomas, LB, Dr. Phillips (Orlando): Powerful senior (6-1, 220) made 14 tackles, six solo, and one tackle for loss in a 17-15 come-from-behind Class 4M, Region 2 quarterfinal victory against Olympia (Orlando).
Jayden Alexander-Felton, OLB/LB, Edgewater (Orlando): Talented senior recovered a fumble early in the game and then made a big sack to lead the unbeaten Eagles (11-0) past First Coast (Jacksonville), 37-6, in a Class 3 Metro, Region 1 quarterfinal game.
Jacquez Varner, ATH, Jones (Orlando): Made an interception and a long reception to set up a touchdown to lift the Tigers past Oviedo, 33-7, in a Class 3M, Region 1 quarterfinal game.
Jake Conti, MLB, Bishop Moore (Orlando): Senior made 13 tackles, six solo, to lead the surging Hornets (8-3) past Ed White (Jacksonville), 42-22, in a Class 2M, Region 1 quarterfinal game. Bishop Moore has won eight straight.
Devin Hammond, WR/CB/RB, Leesburg: Junior returned a blocked punt 25 yards for a TD in a 29-19 victory against Auburndale in a Class 3S regional quarterfinal game.
Xavier Dalton, DE/TE, Mount Dora Christian: Dynamic senior (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) recorded a 59-yard scoop-and-score to lead the Bulldogs past Saint Stephen’s Episcopal (Bradenton), 28-7, and win the Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA) Class 5A state championship.
Zavier Mincey, DB/FS/ATH, Mainland (Daytona Beach): Stellar senior athlete (6-3, 192) made an interception to key a 62-0 shutout of Satellite (Beach) in a Class 3 Suburban, Region 3 quarterfinal.
Jermane Hayes, WR/CB, University High (Orange City): Versatile junior returned an interception 52 yards for a TD and caught a TD pass to lead the Titans to a 42-0 romp against New Smyrna Beach in a Class 4S, Region 3 quarterfinal.
Javon Ross, WR/DB, DeLand: Stellar two-way athlete had a 25-yard scoop-and-score, an interception and a 5-yard TD run to lead the Bulldogs past Spruce Creek (Port Orange), 35-25, in a Class 4S, Region 3 quarterfinal.
Dai’veon Parham, LB, Cocoa: Senior had a 30-yard interception for a TD to lead the defending Class 2S state champion Tigers past Eustis, 54-7, in a regional quarterfinal game.
Josiah Allen, ATH, Titusville: Made nine tackles, two solo, to lead the Terriers past Palm Bay, 13-7, in a Class 3S regional quarterfinal.
Xavier Lherisse, DB, Eau Gallie (Melbourne): Sophomore made five tackles, four solo, returned an interception 64 yards for a TD, and returned two punts for 55 yards to lead the Commodores past Merritt Island, 62-22, in a Class 3S regional quarterfinal game.
