Vote: Who should be the South Florida Defensive Player of the Week (11/13/2023)?
With the season on the line, every play counts in the playoffs, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
South Florida football features some of the most explosive offensive talent in the nation, which magnifies the importance of being strong on defense. After all, defense wins championships, right?
In the regional quarterfinals, we saw plenty of standout performers on defense.
Now it’s time to recognize those top players in our South Florida Defensive Player of the Week poll. Vote as often as you’d like, and spread the word! Voting concludes on November 18 at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced next week.
(Reminder: Players, coaches and schools are encouraged to submit nominations to @JoeFrisaro on X).
The choices this week are:
Gabriel Birnbaum, LB, Monarch: With three sacks in Monarch’s 40-7 win over Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Birnbaum now has 20 ½ sacks on the season. The Florida Atlantic commit has been one of the top defenders in Broward County. In the Class 4M playoffs, Monarch next faces Santaluces.
Elijah Cannon, CB, Coconut Creek: The Cougars improved to 9-2 with a convincing 42-6 blowout of Piper in Class 3M action. Cannon gave us one of the most exciting plays of the week with an interception that he returned more than 90 yards for a touchdown.
Jermaine Dalias, DB, American Heritage: From start to finish, the Patriots were in control, cruising to a 63-13 win over North Broward Prep. Dalias got into the scoring with a 32-yard interception return, along with making two tackles. Heritage next faces King’s Academy (West Palm Beach).
Aaron Ford, LB, West Boca: The dramatic ending rightfully gained most of the attention in West Boca’s 23-22 upset over Atlantic. The Bulls won it on a last-second Hail Mary pass play. A key defensive play earlier in the game also was a huge moment. Trailing by a touchdown, West Boca’s defense was in the red zone when Ford snared a deflected pass for a key interception in the second quarter.
Ben Hanks Jr., DB, Booker T. Washington: The four-star defensive back has a knack for making the big play. Hanks did so in the Tornadoes’ 34-8 win over North Miami Beach, scooping up a blocked field goal and returning it 94 yards for a touchdown.
Brenden Leal, LB, Western: The Wildcats blanked Cypress Bay, 51-0, and will next play Palmetto in the Class 4M playoffs. Leal has been a standout for Western, and he now has 101 tackles on the year.
Anthony Mattison, LB, Norland: The Vikings overwhelmed Miami St. Brendan, 55-0, in the Class 2M playoffs. Mattison had a fumble recovery and a couple of tackles in the shutout.
Willis McGahee IV, LB, Columbus: Columbus breezed by Goleman, 49-6, in quarterfinal action. McGahee showed why he’s one of the top defenders in South Florida, recording four tackles, along with a sack, two fumble recoveries and one caused fumble.
Jivari Milton, LB, Miramar: In a 23-0 shutout against Hialeah American in Class 3M play, the Patriots defense helped set up the offense. Milton sacked American quarterback Santiago Villaman for a safety to open the scoring.
Nicholas Rodriguez, LB, St. Thomas Aquinas: You don’t see what Rodriguez was involved with very often. Rodriguez weaved his way about 50 yards for a touchdown on a blocked field goal in St. Thomas’ 63-6 win against Plantation. Justin Bodford blocked the field goal, recovered the ball and after running a bit, lateralled to Elijah Dimanche, who ultimately lateralled to Rodriguez, who did the rest. The touchdown made it 28-0 at the time. Rodriguez added three sacks and eight tackles.
Amari Wallace, DB, Miami Central: Credit Miami Edison for putting up a valiant fight against the Rockets. And give special kudos to Wallace, Central’s four-star junior safety who is drawing interest from college heavyweights such as LSU, Alabama, USC, Tennessee and Penn State. Wallace picked off two passes, including a 34-yard scamper for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that sealed Central’s 31-13 victory.
