All-State teams for the 2022 season will be dropping next week on FloridaHSFootball.com and in the led up to that, we have narrowed down the list of the five candidates that are in consideration for our Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year in each of the nine classifications as well as in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference. Also, one of the players between the Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year candidates will be named Overall Player of the Year for their classification.
And for the second year in a row, we are giving fans a vote to decide on who will win the fan vote for each of our three categories for Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year in every classification.
Voting will run through 9 PM EST / 8 PM CST on Thursday, February 16, 2023. You may vote unlimited times during the poll and the poll does have trackers to prevent bot voting.
Here are the candidates for the Class 3S Offensive Player of the Year, Class 3S Defensive Player of the Year, and Class 3S Coach of the Year along with polls for each section!
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
QB Damarcus Creecy, Mainland (Daytona Beach) – A highly accurate passer, Creecy threw for 3,420 yards and 32 touchdowns while having 13 interceptions. Creecy also added over 500 yards of rushing and two more touchdowns In helping the Buccaneers reach the Class 3S title game.
QB Trent Grotjan, Lake Wales – Grotjan excelled in the passing game for the Highlanders’ state championship run throwing for 2,610 yards and 28 touchdowns while also punting as well averaging 43.3 yards per punt.
WR Ajai Harrell, Mainland (Daytona Beach) – One of the top receivers in the state. Harrell was a force for the Buccaneers’ in their run to the state title with 81 catches for 1,306 yards receiving with 14 touchdowns plus adding in 650 more yards on the ground with 16 more touchdowns.
RB TJ Lane, Middleburg – Lane was one of the top running backs in the state in 2022 helping the Broncos reach the playoffs with 1,986 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns on 218 carries.
RB Cole Tabb, Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach) – Tabb was one of the top rushers regardless of classification rushing for 2,407 yards on 322 carries for 24 touchdowns. Furthermore, Tabb added 20 catches for 346 yards and two touchdowns. And if you think Tabb was done, he added two touchdowns on kickoff returns in helping the Indians reach the regional finals for the first time in many years.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DL Terrel James, Lake Wales – A disruptive force for the Highlanders’ defensive line, James racked up 29 sacks to go along with 108 tackles and 58 tackles for loss. James also knocked down two passes, forced two fumbles, and recovered two fumbles.
DL Ramon McCollough Jr., Mainland (Daytona Beach) – A key cog to the defensive line for the Buccaneers’ run to the state title game, McCollough had 50 total tackles, 35 tackles for loss, and six sacks in 2022.
ATH Carlos Mitchell, Lake Wales – A major factor on both sides of the ball for the Highlanders Mitchell had 81 tackles, nine tackles for loss along with eight interceptions and 17 pass breakups in the run for the state championship. On offense, Mitchell was a factor in the receiving game with 28 receptions for 815 yards and 12 touchdowns.
LB Jaden Robinson, Columbia (Lake City) – One of the top defensive athletes in the state, Robinson racked up 144 tackles, nine sacks, and two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns. To further add more to the defensive stats, Robinson also had 17 quarterback hurries, forcing six fumbles and returning four fumbles for a touchdown.
DL Ja’vieane Stevens, Dunbar (Fort Myers) – Stevens was a major factor for the Tigers’ historic run to the state semifinals with 103 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and causing two fumbles in a season that saw a lot of challenges that involved Hurricane Ian being a factor.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Frank Beasley, Choctawhatchee – In his second season at his alma mater, Beasley lead the Indians to their deepest playoff runs going 7-6 and reaching the regional finals.
Sammy Brown, Dunbar – Brown led the Tigers to their deepest playoff run in school history, reaching the state semifinals, and finishing the season 10-2 overall.
Demetric Jackson, Columbia (Lake City) – In his second season in charge at his alma mater, Jackson took the Tigers on their deepest playoff run since the 2015 season when they last reached the state semifinals finishing 9-4 overall.
TaVaris Johnson, Lake Wales – The Lake Wales alum finally got the Highlanders that coveted state championship they missed out on in the 1990s with a perfect 15-0 regular season.
Travis Roland, Mainland (Daytona Beach) – In his second year at his alma mater, Roland took the Buccaneers to a place he got to experience when he played for Mainland with a trip to the Class 3S state championship finishing the year 11-4 overall.
