Vote: Who should be SBLive's Texas Defensive High School Football Player of the Week? (10/22/2023)
Texas high school football Week 9 is officially in the books.
Each week throughout the season, SBLive is taking a look at the top high school football performers across the Lone Star State. We gathered the best of the best, separated offense from defense, and now it’s your turn to cast your vote on a winner.
Here are SBLive’s Texas Defensive Football Player of the Week nominees for October 19-21. Scroll down to read about this week’s list and cast your vote in the poll below. Voting remains open until Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
Know of a performance worthy of recognition we may have missed? Let us know who we missed. Drop a note to andy@scorebooklive.com or @SBLiveTX on Twitter and Instagram and back it up with stats.
TEXAS DEFENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL NOMINEES
Aaden Benjamin, sr., Shadow Creek
In double-overtime, Benjamin returned a two-point conversion pass 101 yards to the end zone, lifting Shadow Creek to a walk-off 25-23 win over Dawson.
Jayden Collins, sr., Guyer
Collins intercepted a pass with 34 seconds remaining to seal a 24-18 victory over Allen.
Gerard Culotta, sr., Lake Creek
Culotta recorded 12 tackles and a sack in Lake Creek’s 27-20 win over Huntsville.
Brayden Daniel, so., Hutto
Daniel compiled eight total tackles, one sack and three quarterback hurries in Hutto’s 38-33 win over Copperas Cove.
Edgar DeLuna, sr., Sonora
DeLuna had 15 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in a 60-26 rout of Anthony. The senior also piled up 243 yards of total offense and five touchdowns.
Joseph Foster, jr., Timberview
Foster had a pick-six and returned a blocked kick for a touchdown as Timberview blanked Sunset, 90-0.
Payton Luther, jr., Westlake
Luther returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown in Westlake’s 65-14 trouncing of Austin. It was one of two pick-sixes for the Chaparrals.
Rolando Martinez, jr., Abernathy
Martinez had a big game on both sides of the ball for Abernathy. The junior intercepted a pair of passes on defense and ran for 260 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-0 shutout of Littlefield.
Kahlil Smith, sr., Reedy
Smith had three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a 45-3 win over Frisco.
Zina Umeozulu, sr., Guyer
Jayden Collins wasn’t the only defensive standout for Guyer as Umeozulu, a four-star Texas commit, recorded three sacks in the victory over Allen.
(Edgar DeLuna photo by Paul Witwer)
—
-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports
