This is the most fun part of the year for us, we get to recognize outstanding performances from players. We name an Offensive, Defensive and Wildcard player of the year for freshman newcomers, sophomores, and upper classmen. The wildcard can be an offensive player, defensive player or special teams player, at the discretion of the editing and selection team.
Congratulations to all of our winners!
Freshman Offensive player of the year:
Ahijah Landrum-Hamilton, a freshman at Denver South High School. Its always tough to earn a spot as a freshman in 4A which is exactly what he did.
Key Highlights of Alijah’s Freshman Year:
- Statistical Achievements: Alijah has accumulated impressive stats, with a total of 804 receiving yards. This achievement places him in the top 23 in Colorado, top 5 in Division 4A, and top 1 in 4A Southeast Metro for receiving yards.
- Game Performance: Throughout the season, Alijah has demonstrated consistent performance. Some of his notable game stats include:
- 7 receptions for 155 yards with a long of 45 yards and 2 touchdowns against Skyline.
- 8 receptions for 144 yards with a long of 44 yards and 1 touchdown against Longmont.
- 9 receptions for 80 yards with a long of 37 yards and 1 touchdown against FNWHS.
- All-Purpose Yards: Alijah’s total all-purpose yards for the season is 864, which includes 804 yards from receptions and 60 yards from special teams.
Freshman Defensive Player of the Year:
La’Darius Willingham from Aurora Central High School. He showed great range and excellent form during his time of the field. We unfortunately did not catch him play live but hope to next year!
Key Highlights of La’Darius’s Freshman Year:
- Statistical Achievements: La’Darius was all over the field this year. He is ranked in the top 91 in Division 4A for sacks and top 12 in 4A Metro 2. His stats include:
- 2.0 sacks, placing him at #91 in Division 4A and #12 in 4A Metro 2.
- 1 interception, ranking him at #19 in 4A Metro 2.
- Defensive Performance: His season totals include:
- 40 total tackles, with 14 solo tackles and 26 assists.
- 2.0 total sacks, with a notable performance against GWHS and Thornton.
- 1 interception, achieved in the game against Adams City.
- Team Impact: La’Darius’s efforts have been vital for Aurora Central, especially in a challenging season where the team recorded a 3-7 league record and finished 4th in their league.
- Game Highlights: Some of his standout games include:
- 10 total tackles (3 solo, 7 assists) and 1.0 tackle for loss against Hinkley.
- 6 total tackles (1 solo, 5 assists) and 1.0 sack against FMHS.
- 1 interception against Adams City, showcasing his ability to disrupt the opposing team’s offense in the pass game as well.
Sophomore Offensive Player of the year:
Joey Foot from Longmont High School. Joey is what we like to call “The QBs best friend.” Watching him play there was not a single 50-50 ball that was thrown that we didnt see him come down with. He is 174 lbs but he plays with the strength of someone around 200. He routinely destroyed any man coverage he faced and breaks tackles like a madman. There was once instance where he broke no less than 3 tackles on the 5 yard line and waltzed into the end zone. Watching him play its hard to believe he is only a sophomore.
- Statistical Achievements: Joey has accumulated impressive stats, with a total of 1156 receiving yards. This places him at #319 nationally, #5 in Colorado, and #1 in Division 4A for receiving yards.
- Game Performance: Throughout the season, Joey has shown remarkable consistency. Some of his notable game stats include:
- 8 receptions for 218 yards with a long of 74 yards and 2 touchdowns against Denver South.
- 9 receptions for 176 yards with a long of 53 yards and 3 touchdowns against Greeley West.
- 8 receptions for 180 yards with a long of 62 yards and 1 touchdown against Monarch.
- All-Purpose Yards: Joey’s total all-purpose yards for the season is 1263, which includes 1156 yards from receptions and 119 yards from kick returns.
- Team Contribution: His efforts were pivotal in Longmont’s overall performance, with the team achieving a 5-6 record and a 2nd place finish in their league.
Sophomore Defensive Player of the year:
Caden Miller from Ponderosa High School. We could tell Caden was going to be a problem this year right off the bat against Golden just based on how fast he was getting off the ball. He is listed at 165 lbs but looks more like 190 in person and he is every bit that strong. He has fantastic backside pursuit, hits hard, and has great form tackling. He is another one its hard to believe he is only a sophomore. He had 14 tackles against Palmer Ridge. That is just crazy town.
Key Highlights of Caden’s Sophomore Year:
- Statistical Achievements: He is ranked in the top 143 in Colorado for total tackles, top 27 in Division 4A, and top 6 in 4A Southeast Metro. His stats include:
- 90 total tackles, placing him at #143 in Colorado and #27 in Division 4A.
- 4.0 sacks, ranking him at #167 in Colorado.
- Defensive Performance: Caden’s defensive contributions have been significant. His season totals include:
- 41 solo tackles and 49 assists, totaling 90 tackles.
- 4.0 sacks, with notable performances in several games.
- 2 fumble recoveries and 1 caused fumble, showcasing his ability to disrupt the opposing team’s offense.
- Game Highlights: Some of his standout games include:
- 12 total tackles (7 solo, 5 assists) and 1.0 tackle for loss against Legend.
- 14 total tackles (7 solo, 7 assists) against Palmer Ridge.
- 1.0 sack in multiple games, demonstrating his consistent pressure on the quarterback.
Upperclassman Offensive Player of the year:
Blake Barnett from Erie HS. There were a bunch of outstanding upper classmen this year and we watched a LOT of film. When it came down to it, Blake is just plain fun to watching. Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 215 lbs, Barnett played key roles as QB as well as FS. Some key highlights:
- Passing Efficiency: Barnett completed 147 out of 237 passes, accumulating 2,202 yards with a completion rate of 62%, averaging 15.0 yards per completion. He threw 29 touchdowns against 7 interceptions, showing his accuracy for a HS QB and decision-making skills.
- Rushing Prowess: On the ground, Barnett carried the ball 154 times for a total of 970 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. He demonstrated his scoring ability with 23 rushing touchdowns.
- All-Purpose Yards: Barnett’s versatility is further highlighted by his all-purpose yards, totaling 3,172 for the season. This includes his rushing and passing yards, underlining his ability to contribute significantly in multiple facets of the game.
Barnett’s performance was pivotal in leading Erie High School to a 13-1 record, including a perfect 4-0 in league play, and achieving a #4 state ranking.
Upperclassman Defensive Player of the year:
Mikey Munn from Windsor High School. Very seldom does someone from CO place highly in the nation in a stat, especially something like interceptions. He was 7th in the nation for interceptions. Absolutely crazy ball hawking ability and just overall understanding of the game.
Key Highlights from his senior year:
- Interceptions: Munn led the state and Division 4A with a remarkable total of 12 interceptions, placing him 7th nationally. This statistic not only demonstrates his ability to read the game and make crucial plays but also his impact in turning the tide in favor of Windsor.
- Tackles: He recorded a total of 78 tackles, with an impressive average of 6.0 tackles per game. This includes 44 solo tackles, underscoring his reliability in one-on-one situations and his role as a cornerstone of Windsor’s defense.
- Additional Contributions: Beyond interceptions and tackles, Munn also contributed with 1 caused fumble and 2 fumble recoveries, further showcasing his versatility and knack for making significant defensive plays.
Upperclassman Wildcard of the year:
Gavin Lockett from Pueblo West. Hes on the leaderboard for passing, rushing and on the defensive side didn’t have crazy stats but we have seen him cover a TON of ground playing safety. He is just an all around great athlete who contributes basically everywhere. Some of his key highlights:
- Passing Excellence: Lockett completed 112 out of 193 attempts, amassing 1,473 yards with an average of 13.2 yards per completion. He threw 14 touchdowns against 6 interceptions, demonstrating his ability to lead the offense effectively.
- Rushing Dominance: On the ground, Lockett was equally impressive, carrying the ball 165 times for a total of 1,211 yards, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. He scored 24 rushing touchdowns, highlighting his dynamic playmaking ability and his significant contribution to the team’s scoring.
- Total Offensive Yards: Combining his passing and rushing efforts, Lockett accumulated a total of 2,684 yards for the season. This total underscores his role as a key offensive weapon for Pueblo West, capable of making big plays in various situations.
Lockett’s performance during the 2023 season, particularly his ability to excel in multiple roles, makes him a unique and valuable player. His contributions as a quarterback and a runner, along with his knack for scoring, and ability to cover a lot of ground on defense as a safety make him our wildcard of the year.