GAINESVILLE, Fla. — With the final step to fully closing the 2017 season is almost here, we are proud to reveal our candidates for our Class 3A Player of the Year candidates. For Coach of the Year, five coaches are selected as candidates based upon the resume they had for the season. For Player of the Year, three players are selected on offense and three on defense as candidates for Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. One player from each classification of the six candidates total will be selected as the Overall Player of the Year for their respective classification.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Watch the first team reveal for all eight classifications including the award winners for Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Overall Player of the Year, this Wednesday night on the FloridaHSFootball.com Gridiron Report on Varsity Sports Network, starting at 8:00 p.m. EST / 7:00 p.m. CST by clicking here.
Without further ado, here at the candidates for 2017 Class 3A Player of the Year:
Offense
• RB Shaun Shivers, Sr., Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna – The top rusher in Class 3A, Shivers blew by opposing defenses with 2,241 yards rushing, scoring 27 touchdowns in the process.
• QB/ATH Jordan Travis, Sr., Palm Beach Gardens Benjamin – Torched opposing offenses with his ability to throw or scrambling for yards on the ground. Travis finished with over just over 3,000 yards of total offense to his name and was responsible for 40 offensive touchdowns through the air or on the ground.
• RB Jerzhan Newton, So., Clearwater Central Catholic – One of the biggest offensive contributors to the Marauders undefeated regular season, Newton made the most of it rushing for 1,365 yards and 15 touchdowns while contributing 38 tackles on defense.
Defense
• DL Cameron Williams, Sr., Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna – A force on the Lions’ defense, Williams collected up 72 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, had 32 quarterback hurries and broke up four passes.
• DL Joel Morris, Sr., Melbourne Central Catholic – One of the leaders of the defense for the Hustlers, Morris made the most of it his senior season, collecting up 130 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, three quarterback hurries, forcing seven fumbles while recovering a fumble.
• DB Keidron Smith, Sr., West Palm Beach Oxbridge Academy – One of the toughest lockdown corners in the state, Smith did not give up a score all season until the state championship game against Chaminade-Madonna.
