Sports
2015 Gridiron Glory Player of the Year Watch List
By: Nick Komjati
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From Justin Roush in 1999 to Hunter Sexton in 2014, Gridiron Glory has crowned the region’s player of the year each of the last 16 seasons.
Sexton will return to Jackson for his senior season to defend his title, but a wealth of explosive players are poised to prevent him from becoming the first back-to-back “Gridiron Glory Player of the Year.” With preseason practices now in full swing, we’ve narrowed the list to five players with the best shot to take home the honors in November.
- Justice Jenkins – RB (Trimble Tomcats)
Hunter Sexton may have taken down Jenkins in the final vote in 2014, but there is no doubt the Trimble running back is the most explosive player in the region.
After rushing for just 581 yards in 2013, Jenkins was the spark that powered the potent Tomcat offense in 2014. Trimble scored a program high 50.7 points per game, thanks to Jenkins’s 1,613 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns. Trimble head coach Phil Faires called Jenkins their “go-to guy”, and with the graduation of offensive linemen Tanner Koons and Micah Couch, along with dynamic playmaker Austin Downs, Trimble will need exceptional performances out of Jenkins.
If Jenkins can put up similar numbers this season without the strong supporting cast of 2014, he’ll have the Glouster community behind him during the final vote.
- Hunter Sexton – QB (Jackson Ironmen)
Half of Gridiron Glory’s player of the year winners have been quarterbacks, including three of the last four. With Joe Burrow’s departure from Athens High School, Sexton might be the most talented returning quarterback in the region.
The dual-threat quarterback was a large reason why Jackson rolled to an undefeated regular season in 2014, when he eclipsed 800 passing yards and 700 rushing yards on his way to 12 touchdowns.
Sexton provides some consistency for a program in the midst of a clear transition. Jackson is one of three remaining members of the SEOAL, meaning that few familiar opponents appear on the 2015 schedule. In addition, Reagan Williams graduated, Sexton’s largest target and Jackson’s defensive anchor for the last several years. While another undefeated regular season seems unlikely for the Ironmen, consistency at the quarterback position is something many teams envy.
- Chase Roberts – RB (Maysville)
Year in and year out, the MVL stands as (arguably) the strongest conference in Gridiron Glory’s coverage area. However, after winning three-straight player of the year awards from 2005-2007, an MVL player has been unable to reclaim the prize.
In 2015, Maysville running back Chase Roberts may be the best bet. Roberts rushed for eight touchdowns in 2014 and led the Panthers to a one-loss regular season. Only Tri-Valley outgained the Maysville offense, which scored 35.6 points per game in its 10 wins.
However, the only two teams to beat Maysville in 2014 were able to shut down Roberts and shut out his entire offense. Roberts returns poised for another strong season in the MVL, but his success against Tri Valley will be the ultimate test of whether or not he can take Maysville to the next level.
- Lane Little – QB (Logan)
After a season-ending injury in the first game on 2013, Logan quarterback Lane Little returned to the field in 2014 and showed flashes of outstanding play. In his first game back from injury, Little racked up 306 yards passing and five touchdowns against a Lancaster team that shut down the Logan offense in 2013. Little and the Chieftains offense looked like a well-oiled machine, but started the year 0-2 after falling 43-42 to Lancaster and 44-40 to Teays Valley.
While the Logan offense struggled to score at the same clip against Jackson, Zanesville, and Warren, they return loaded and could be one of the most improved teams in the region. Surrounded by weapons like Bryce McBride and Isaiah Smith, it’s easy to see Little leading the Chieftains back to the top of the SEOAL and a possible playoff appearance.
- Hunter Edwards/Alex Mount – QB/RB (Nelsonville-York)
As the Athens Bulldogs enter a rebuilding season, it looks like the right time for a new team to take control of the TVC-Ohio. The team with the best résumé is the Nelsonville-York Buckeyes, led by the combination of Hunter Edwards and Alex Mount in the backfield. Both are entering their junior seasons after breakout years in 2014.
Edwards threw for 1,180 yards and tallied 11 touchdowns in his sophomore season, while Mount rushed for 1,205 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Mount averaged just over 6.0 yards per carry in 2014 and is predicted to set the pace for the Buckeyes in 2015.
With strong seasons from Edwards and Mount this season, the Buckeyes may find themselves in the mix for the postseason. The Nelsonville-York defense allowed opposing offenses to score more than 14 points in just 4-of-11 games last season, meaning similar results, combined with Edwards/Mount in 2015, could produce a special outcome.
Dark Horse Candidates:
Colin Slaboden – WR (Tri-Valley)
Tri-Valley fans made their voices heard on Twitter this week, as they projected a productive season from wide receiver Colin Slaboden. Slaboden hauled in 22 receptions for 489 yards and four touchdowns last season and is Tri Valley’s most dangerous offensive weapon.
However, the Scotties are in the midst of a quarterback battle and need to decide which passer will be delivering the ball to Slaboden when they open the season against Licking Valley in Dresden. If the passing game remains strong, Slaboden could challenge the top five in the final vote.
Kaileb Sheets – WR (Meigs)
#TheReturn is upon us, Meigs fans.
Some of you might recognize Kaileb Sheets as the quarterback of the 2014 Wahama White Falcons, but before his move to Wahama, Sheets was a wide receiver for the 2013 Meigs Marauders.
After a year away, Sheets has returned to Meigs, bringing one of the region’s best playmakers to the TVC-Ohio once again. His elusiveness and ability to break tackles will delight Marauder fans and irritate opposing defenses all season.
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