Florida High School Football 2023: Cast Your Vote for the Top 2-Way Player
Let's face it, there's players that are so good, their coaches just can't have them play one way.
They've got to help the team out on both ends of the ball. All season long, teams throughout the Sunshine State have featured many players that are 2-way standouts for their respective clubs. We went ahead and put a list together of some of the top 2-way players in the state of Florida.
We’ve selected 10 worthy candidates and ask you the fan to vote for who you think topped them all.
Voting will end on December 31st, 2023.
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. This 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 the nominations:
Malakhi Boone, RB/LB, South Sumter: The 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker started playing more on offense this season for the Raiders and its paid dividends. Boone on defense has made 97 tackles, 24 for a loss and eight sacks. On offense, Boone has rushed for 325 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
DJ Pickett, WR/DB, Zephyrhills: One of the most highly sought after players of the 2025 class, Pickett for the second straight year in a row has made a huge impact as a 2-way starter. Pickett on offense hauled in 53 passes for 1,053 yards and 16 touchdowns and on defense made 34 tackles and picked off a pass.
Dwayne Wimbley Jr., WR/DE, Westminster Academy: The Lions needed Wimbley Jr. this season to not just catch passes, but to also put pressure on opposing quarterbacks as an edge rusher. Wimbley Jr. did a pretty good job of that, hauling in 67 passes for 1,340 yards, 14 touchdowns and then on defense making 40 tackles, 14 for loss and eight sacks.
Blake Wallace, WR/DB, Spanish River: You might not have heard a bunch about the junior 2-way player, but should start taking a little closer look at him. Wallace excelled on both sides of the ball, compiling 1,085 yards, 17 touchdowns on offense and on defense making 33 tackles, intercepting four passes.
Charles Lester III, WR/DB, Venice: The Florida State commitment played both sides of the ball in 2022 when he was at Sarasota Riverview and nothing changed when he arrived at Venice. Lester III has caught nine passes for 192 yards and a touchdown and then at cornerback has made 39 tackles, picking off three passes.
Brock Stout, RB/LB, Jay: Anytime the Royals called upon Stout to make a play for them, he'd be there to do it at either running back or linebacker. Stout rushed for 1,437 yards, scoring 16 touchdowns on offense and then at linebacker tallied 21 tackles.
Christian Cromer, RB/LB, Nature Coast: The Navy commitment saw a lot of time at defensive end as well as his usual position at running back. This season, Cromer played linebacker and still made a big impact. Cromer rushed for 1,464 yards, 30 touchdowns and on defense made 21 tackles at linebacker.
Cam Anderson, RB/LB, Trinity Christian Academy: By the looks of it, Anderson is going to do everything in his power to will Trinity Christian Academy back to the state finals. The 2-way star on defense leads the Conquerors with 97 tackles, 14.5 for a loss and on offense has rushed for 325 yards and eight touchdowns.
Corniulis Mckenzie, RB/LB, Walton: Mckenzie was one of the top running backs all season long on the Florida Panhandle. When he wasn't terrorizing opposing defenses, he was lining up to play at linebacker as well. This fall, Mckenzie rushed for 1,318 yards, 23 touchdowns and on defense racked up 47 tackles, a sack and an interception.
Myles Graham, RB/LB, Buchholz: If you're an opposing offense or defense, seeing Graham line up either in the front seven or in the backfield is a scary sight. Graham, a University of Florida commitment, anchors the Bobcats' front seven on defense and then flips on offense as a power back on short yardage situations as well.
FHSAA 2023 CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 4M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 4S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 3M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 FHSAA CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl
