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Player Of The Year Snapshots: SEOAL

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With just five weeks of league play, teams in the SEOAL must have playmakers that rise to the occasion when needed. With a battle for the league crown beginning in Week 6, teams will need their leaders to step up to ensure a run in the season's final five weeks. Through non-conference play, there were some players that impressed the Gridiron Glory staff enough for inclusion on our Gridiron Glory Player of the Year watch list. Here are some profiles at possible candidates for the "Super Six" from the SEOAL.

 

Cory McCarty: By Brad Friedman

Despite Logan’s 1-5 start, senior captain Cory McCarty has proved to be one of the SEOAL’s most versatile and hard-working players. Though McCarty only stands 5-foot-10, he has proven himself worthy against opposing teams on both sides of the ball.

As the starting running back, McCarty leads his team with 634 rushing yards and has reached the end zone twice through six weeks of play. With his 49 tackles, McCarty has also stepped up to be, “the quarterback of the defense (at the middle linebacker spot)” as his coach Kelly Wolfe stated.

“Cory is a very, very tough player with a good work ethic…He always shows up to practice and never complains,” Wolfe said. The Logan head coach also applauded McCarty’s improvement with his vision when running the ball.

“I have high expectations for Cory as we chase the SEOAL title,” Wolfe added. “He was one of the better athletes in the league and (the direction of the team) leans heavily on Cory.”

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Dylan Leffingwell: By Carly Maurer

 

Dylan Leffingwell, senior quarterback and defensive back for the Warren Warriors, is easily the best pocket passer in the SEOAL. 

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 215 pounds, Leffingwell has thrown for 668 yards so far this season with 55 completed passes out of 98 attempts giving him a passing percentage of 56.1 percent.  He has thrown 7 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. His longest completion of the season comes in at 44 yards.

Although most of his playmaking comes from within the pocket, Leffingwell has a rushing game as well, as he has scored 3 touchdowns. With his performance so far it is easy to see why he is a strong contender on the SEOAL Player of the Year watch list. 

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Wade Jarrell: By Mark Dohner

Junior quarterback Wade Jarrell has been the focal point of Gallia Academy’s offense in the first half of the 2012 season. Jarrell, a two-year starter, has exhibited noticeable signs of maturity on the field with his exceptional decision-making and pinpoint accuracy. His dual-threat ability is what makes him stand out. He plays a critical role in the Blue Devil’s rushing attack and his ability to maneuver when the pocket collapses allows him to extend plays and target open receivers.
 
When the offense is rolling, Jarrell is rolling. In the Blue Devil’s three wins this season, Jarrell and the offense have averaged over 51 points, notably beating TVC-Ohio division leader Athens, 52-34. With the offenses stellar play; the defense has also played outstanding, allowing less than 20 points per game in each of the Blue Devils’ victories.
 
Jarrell has had an incredible season thus far. In his first five games, he has completed 42 of his 65 passing attempts for a total of 713 yards. His 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions through the air have given him an outstanding quarterback rating of 141.2. Jarrell has also contributed exceptional numbers on the ground; accumulating 252 yards on 64 carries, adding an additional three touchdowns. When considering a Player of the Year, Wade Jarrell indubitably denotes characteristics of such.
 
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Alec Osborne: By Carter Eckl
 

 

Alec Osborne has entered his final season as a Jackson Ironman with a bang, which has landed him on our Player of the Year watch list. He plays offense and defense as a wide receiver and a defensive back.

This 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior has caught four passes for 90 yards and a touchdown so far this season. His touchdown was a huge 68-yard reception against Wellston in Week 2, which helped propel his team to a crucial win.

His offensive production is not the only thing that brings him into our spotlight. His contributions on the defensive side of the ball have stood out the most. He had two touchdown-saving interceptions against the Athens Bulldogs inside the red zone. He also forced a fumble in that game causing yet another Athens turnover. 

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Morgan Landrum: By Sarah Kahler

 

A strong component of the Jackson Ironmen and their driving force is senior running back Morgan Landrum. This season, Landrum has had 62 rushes with a total of 383 yards, giving him an average of 6.18 yards per carry.
 
This season he was not able to play in the teams fifth game against Wheelersburg when Jackson lost 40-14 and was very limited in their close game with Athens the week before due to suffering a concussion. He was able to return in Week 6, adding 65 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown to help the Ironmen defeat Warren.
 
Landrum's health going forward will be very important to both his team's success and his chances at bring home Player of the Year.