Bruising back, terrific twins
Offensive Player of the Year RB Cedric Baxter Jr., Edgewater junior
6-2, 210 pounds
Buzz: The runaway choice for offensive player of the year, Baxter led the Eagles to the Class 7A region semifinals as he carried the ball 202 times for 1,718 yards and 26 TDs.“He’s always doing the right thing in the classroom and on the field,” Edgewater coach Cameron Duke said.“He does the small things great, and that allows for the big things to take care of themselves.”
All-Area players QB Julian Calvez Jones senior
6-3, 190 pounds
Buzz: Led Tigers to Class 6A state semifinals while completing 61% of passes for 3,134 yards, 26 TDs and 10 interceptions. Also rushed 102 times for 561 yards and 6 TDs.
WR Darren Lawrence Seminole junior
6-2, 190 pounds
Buzz: Emerged as playmaker for Seminoles while finishing with 54 catches for 782 yards and 11 TDs. “Goldie” added 4 rushing TDs and converted 16 2-point conversions.
WR Jayden Gibson West Orange senior
6-5, 185 pounds
Buzz: Oklahoma signee led 8A region finalists with 56 receptions for 857 yards and 13 TDs. Helped Warriors claim district title with TD interception return vs. Osceola.
WR Aidan Mizell Boone junior
6-3, 180 pounds
Buzz: Caught 3 touchdown passes in a game three times in 2021 while leading Braves with 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and 18 TDs.
WR Alex Saunders Oviedo senior
6 -3 , 1 8 5 pounds
Buzz: South Dakota signee averaged 100 receiving yards per game while hauling in 68 passes for 1,002 yards and 8 TDs for 6-4 Lions.
OL Josiah Chenault
Seminole junior
6-3, 290 pounds
Buzz: Earned all-Seminole Athletic Conference honor at center for 8A region finalists, with three different players taking snaps for an offense averaging 340 yards per game.
OL Kris Herrera Dr. Phillips senior
6-1, 265 pounds
Buzz: Credited for his toughness and described as “a finisher” throughout the season, Herrera stood out for Panthers vs. one of most challenging schedules in area.
OL Dyson Hurlburt Apopka senior
6-3, 240 pounds
Buzz: All-Metro West selection anchored Blue Darters’ line that paved the way for 33 rushing touchdowns and 182 rushing yards per game in a 12-3 state runner-up season.
OL Thomas Meyer Lake Brantley senior
5-11, 265 pounds
Buzz: Selected to all-Seminole Athletic Conference team in back-to-back years after helping Patriots’ triple-option offense amass 273 rush yards per game and 27 TDs.
OL Ryan Muragin Bishop Moore senior
6-4, 295 pounds
Buzz: Three-year starter helped Hornets bounce back from 0-4 start to reach Class 5A region semifinals after upsetting No. 1 seed Dunnellon 21-20 in the first round.
Defensive Players of the Year DB Demari Henderson. Seminole senior
6-0, 160 pounds
Buzz: UCF signee made immediate impact after missing first four games with an injury. Demari scored 3 touchdowns on special teams, 2 touchdowns on defense, and 2 touchdowns on receptions while finishing with 47 tackles, 3 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery.
DB Ja’Cari Henderson, Seminole senior
6-0, 160 pounds
Buzz: Ja’Cari shares honor with twin brother after blocking 6 kicks and scoring 2 touchdowns on special teams. UCF signee also caught 2 passes for touchdowns, scored 2 touchdowns on defense, and finished with 48 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.
ATH Oniel Senatus Celebration junior
5-11, 170 pounds
Buzz: Rushed for 1,654 yards and 22 TDs, caught 26 passes for 224 yards and 2 TDs, made 8 special teams returns for 287 yards and 1 TD, and added 47 tackles (33 solo) in regular season.
K/P Colton Boomer Lake Mary senior
5-10, 175 pounds
Buzz: Converted 7 of 10 field-goal attempts with a long of 43 yards and went 39-for-41 on extra-point tries. Pinned 7 punts inside 20-yard line and averaged 34 yards on 22 attempts.
DL Zane Durant Lake Nona senior Ironman Player of the Year TE/DE Eddie Kelly, West Orange senior
6-4, 265 pounds
Buzz: An imposing defender and blocking tight end, the USF signee emerged as a pass-catcher late in the season with 23 receptions for 383 yards and 6 TDs. Kelly led team with 20.5 tackles for loss and ranked third with 72 total tackles. He also had 4.5 sacks, 6 pass breakups and 3 turnovers, including a fumble recovery for TD. “There’s not another guy in our program that could have done all of that for us,”West Orange coach Mike Granato said. 6-1, 251 pounds
Buzz: Penn State signee came away with 66 tackles (28 for loss) with 15 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. Also rushed for 4 TDs and scored 1 receiving TD.
DL Brendan Flakes West Orange senior
6-4, 260 pounds
Buzz: Northwestern signee tallied 75 tackles (40 solo) while leading Warriors’ defense with 13.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and 20 hits on opposing quarterbacks.
DL Jordan Phillips Ocoee senior
6-2, 285 pounds
Buzz: Nearly impossible to block according to an opposing coach, Tennessee signee had 56 tackles (29 for loss), 11.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 3 rushing TDs.
DL John Walker Osceola junior
6-4, 300 pounds
Buzz: Defensive tackle turned in team-high 77 tackles (41 solo) and 13 sacks for Kowboys while also forcing 3 fumbles and intercepting 2 passes.
LB Travion Barnes Apopka senior
6-0, 210 pounds
Buzz: Led Blue Darters’ defense with 100 tackles (70 solo), 5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles. Returned 1 interception for a touchdown.
LB Andrew Harris Lake Brantley junior
6-2, 190 pounds
Buzz: Consistent playmaker for Patriots, led team with 103 tackles (91 solo), 14 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and 1 blocked punt.
LB Josiah Robinson Apopka senior
5-11, 210 pounds
Buzz: Splitting time between linebacker and safety, Coastal Carolina signee ranked second on team with 77 tackles (51 solo). Also blocked a punt and returned a fumble for TD.
LB Stephen Sparrow
Jones senior
6-0, 190 pounds
Buzz: Disruptive as an outside backer and cornerback, Sparrow ranked second on team with 60 tackles (36 solo) while leading way with 3 INTs and 2 forced fumbles.
DB Bo Mascoe Osceola junior
5-11, 170 pounds
Buzz: Mascoe led Orlando area with 7 INTs, 2 of which he returned for touchdowns. Also scored TDs on a kick return and fumble recovery and totaled 41 tackles.
DB Matthew McDoom West Orange senior
5-11, 175 pounds
Buzz: Coastal Carolina signee broke up 11 pass attempts and scored 1 TD each on an INT and kick return. Finished with 70 tackles (44 solo), recovered 2 fumbles and forced 1 fumble.
DB Neil Vertilus
Winter Park senior
5-11, 180 pounds
Buzz: Blocked 4 punts and 2 field-goal attempts, recorded 53 tackles and 2 INTs and scored 3 TDs while gaining 631 all-purpose yards as a returner, rusher and receiver.
ATH JaCorey Thomas Boone senior
6-0, 200 pounds
Buzz: Georgia signee had 81 tackles (37 solo), 4 forced fumbles, 2 INTs, 2 blocked kicks and 2 TDs on special teams. Also finished with 36 receptions for 601 yards and 5 TDs.