Explosive playmakers, disruptive defender
All-Area athletes are chosen from FHSAA state series schools in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and southwest Volusia counties. Selections were made by the Sentinel with input from coaches.
Ocoee playmaker Asaad Waseem, imposing Kissimmee Osceola defensive tackle John Walker and versatile athlete Javon Ross of DeLand sit atop the Orlando Sentinel Varsity football all-area team.
Waseem is the offensive player of the year and Walker is the defensive player of the year for the 2022 season. Ross is this year’s Ironman, which goes to a player that contributes for their team in multiple ways.
“That describes him well because he rarely came off the field,” DeLand coach Rick Darlington said of Ross. “He’s definitely an old-fashioned Ironman.”
The all-area team features 28 players from FHSAA state series schools in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and southwest Volusia counties. The all-area second team and all-area small-school teams also consist of 28 players from the Orlando area.
State semifinalists Ocoee, Osceola and Jones have three players named to the all-area first team. Osceola and Jones each landed two additional players on the second team.
State runner-up Apopka has two players on the first team, as does DeLand, Edgewater, Seminole, West Orange and Winter Park.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR WR Asaad Waseem
Ocoee,5-11,170,Sr.
Buzz: Waseem, who signed to play for Colorado and coach Deion Sanders, scored 3 touchdowns in a game four times and finished with 82 receptions for 1,481 yards and 20 touchdowns. Also a contributor on defense and special teams, he entered the Class 4M state semifinals with 12 tackles, 2 interceptions and 619 yards on punt and kick returns. “He was special,” Ocoee coach Aaron Sheppard said. “We knew we could always depend on him anytime he touched the ball.”
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR DL John Walker
Osceola, 6 -4 , 3 0 0 , Sr. Buzz: A central figure along the defensive front for the state semifinalist Kowboys, Walker racked up 79 tackles, including a team-best 42 solo stops, with 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.“He was just so disruptive in every game, even through the constant doubleteams,” Osceola coach Eric Pinellas said.“From our perspective, at a school that’s produced some pretty good defensive linemen, he’s probably the best that’s ever walked through here.”
IRONMAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR ATH Javon Ross
DeLand, 5-9, 165,Jr.
Buzz: The shifty slot receiver rushed 112 times for 849 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 27 passes for 551 yards and 4 scores. As a safety, he recorded 30 tackles, broke up 11 passes, and recorded 4 interceptions while also forcing a fumble, blocking a kick and scoring a TD.“He’s just a really smart football player that understands the game,” Darlington said. “He’s really elusive, and he’s got the guts to go catch a punt and get good yardage.”
All-Area Players QB TJ Moore
DeLand, 6 -2 , 2 1 5 , Jr.
Buzz: Passed for 1,276 yards, 13 touchdowns and 7 interceptions on 58 of 116 attempts and rushed 200 times for 1,267 yards and 9 TDs. RB Cedric Baxter Jr.
Edgewater, 6 -2 , 2 1 0 , Sr. Buzz: Averaged 7.9 yards per carry on 174 touches for 1,375 yards and 13 TDs despite suffering injury in seventh game of season.
RB John Celestin
Lake Minneola, 5-9, 180, Sr. Buzz: Entered region championship game at state champion Lakeland with 195 carries for 1,522 yards and 33 TDs for 10-2 team.
RB Taevion Swint
Osceola, 5 -1 0 , 1 8 0 , So. Buzz: Rushed 224 times for 1,666 yards and 20 TDs. Added 527 yards and 5 TDs as a receiver and return specialist for state semifinalist. WR Jordyn Bridgewater
West Orange, 6 -0 , 1 6 0 , Jr. Buzz: Spent time at quarterback early in season and totaled 12 TDs while averaging 22.5 yards per catch on 39 receptions for 876 yards.
WR Izaiah Jean-Baptiste
Winter Park, 5 -1 0 , 1 7 0 , Sr. Buzz: Averaged 16.2 yards on 49 catches for 793 yards and 15 TDs. Also scored twice on runs and three times on special-team returns.
TE Dylan Wade
Jones, 6 -5 , 2 3 5 , Sr.
Buzz: Entered Class 3M state semifinals with 402 yards and 10 TDs on offense and 34 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT and 1 fumble recovery. OL Josiah Chenault
Seminole, 6 -3 , 2 9 0 , Sr. Buzz: Did not allow a sack in each of the past two seasons as starting center for team that averaged 32.3 points per game.
OL D’Jaun Gilbert
Edgewater, 6 -2 , 2 8 5 , Sr. Buzz: Leader in trenches for team that went undefeated in regular season while averaging 238.6 rush yards (337.2 total yards) per game. OL Ethan Manning
Oviedo, 6 -1 , 2 5 0 , Sr.
Buzz: Four-year starter helped Lions average 364.5 yards per game (191.6 passing, 172.9 rushing) while finishing with 10-2 record.
OL Jimarion McCrimon
Osceola, 6 -5 , 2 6 0 , Sr.
Buzz: Capped four-year career by grading out at 90% on the season with 42 pancakes for Class 4S state semifinal team
OL Josh Raymond
Lake Mary, 6 -4 , 2 9 0 , Jr. Buzz: Anchored offensive line for a team that averaged 151.8 yards passing and 89.9 yards rushing en route to Class 4M region finals. K/P Erwin Eberhardt
Hagerty, 5 -1 0 , 1 5 5 , Sr.
Buzz: Went 25-for-26 on extra points and 8-for-8 on field goals with a long of 37 yards. Also averaged 35.7 yards per punt on 22 attempts. DL Kaven Call
Apopka, 6 -3 , 2 1 0 , Sr.
Buzz: Three-time state final starter finished with 53 tackles, 9 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 blocked kicks and 1 forced fumble.
DL Sincere Edwards
Wekiva, 6 -2 , 2 4 0 , Jr.
Buzz: Led Mustangs defense with 78 tackles (49 solo), which included 27 tackles for loss, along with 16 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries.
DL Kamran James
Olympia, 6 -6 , 2 5 5 , Sr.
Buzz: Finished with 1 9 tackles for loss and 4 1 tackles in all for Titans with 6 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
DL Calvin Smith Ocoee,6-4,230,Sr.
Buzz: Entered state semifinals with 107 tackles, 19.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception and 1 blocked punt. DL Preston Watson
Seminole, 6 -2 , 2 5 5 , Jr. Buzz: Recognized as a disruptive force at defensive tackle for
9-3 team that faced three state finalists and one state semifinalist. LB Malik Bryant Jones,6-3,234,Sr.
Buzz: Led 3M state semifinalists with 10 tackles for loss, 6 sacks and 2 forced fumbles while tallying 73 tackles and 1 fumble recovery.
LB Michael Harris
Lake Brantley, 6 -1 , 1 9 0 , Sr. Buzz: Defensive leader led Patriots with 104 tackles (47 solo) and added 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
LB Noah Nixon
West Orange, 6 -2 , 2 3 0 , Sr. Buzz: Recorded 112 tackles (13 for loss) for Warriors with 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 1 blocked punt. LB Rashad Watson
Apopka, 6 -0 , 2 1 0 , Sr.
Buzz: Led Blue Darters with 151 tackles (9.5 TFL) and finished with 3 sacks, 3 blocked kicks, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 2 recoveries. DB Jayden Gillens
Jones,5-11,180,Sr.
Buzz: Entered Class 3M state semifinals with 4 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 498 offensive yards and a 35-yard average on punt returns. DB Torian Roberts
Winter Park, 5 -1 1 , 1 74 , Sr. Buzz: Scored 6 TDs while finishing with 44 tackles, 11 pass breakups, 3 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 22 receptions for 338 yards. DB Ahlston Ware
Ocoee,6-0,168,Sr.
Buzz: Impacted both sides of ball while scoring 5 TDs and finishing with 36 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 blocked kick.