Over the last week, football fans got to vote for their favorite player for the 2023 Gridiron Football Player of the Year. Gridiron Football narrowed down their final nominees to 26 and let the fans decide to see who will be this year’s top player. Players from three different states were represented to see who will be the second annual Gridiron Football Player of the Year as last year, it was former Lutcher High School QB and current Ragin’ Cajun signal caller D’Wanye Winfield that took home the crown last fall.
The winner will receive a special letterman jacket patch from us at Gridiron Football, which says “Gridiron Football Player of the Year.”
After a week of voting, the results are in. Keep in mind. These rankings were only decided by the votes from the fans and are not of the opinions of Gridiron Football. Tomorrow, we will reveal #6-10, but for now, here are the players that finished #11-26.
Gridiron Football Player of the Year Finalists (#11-26 Based On Number Of Votes):
#11: Opelousas High School (LA) 2025 RB D’Shaun Ford: 1,277 votes
Opelousas High School (LA) 2025 RB D’Shaun Ford was a freight train in a physical rushing attack for the Tigers this past season. One of the top running backs in the state of Louisiana was a nightmare for linebackers and defensive backs to try and tackle. The four star running back set program records that were once set by former LSU and New Orleans Saint great Devery Henderson with 1,797 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. Ford was our GF POTW during semifinals week when he rushed for 213 yards and a touchdown to send the Tigers to the state championship.
#12: Oakdale High School (LA) 2024 QB Deekota Johnson: 928 votes
Oakdale High School (LA) 2024 QB Deekota Johnson was a dual threat for the Warriors in leading the program to an eight win season. The Gridiron Football All-American accounted for 1,330 total yards and 23 touchdowns this season and was highlighted by his performance in the last game of the regular season where he had 12 carries for 367 yards and six total touchdowns plus two two point conversions in a GF POTW performance against Rosepine High School.
#13: Evangel Christian Academy (LA) 2024 WR and Clemson signee Parker Fulghum: 871 votes
Evangel Christian Academy (LA) 2024 WR and Clemson signee Parker Fulghum put on a clinic as a receiver this season as he and his quarterback brother Peyton Fulghum connected plenty of times over the course of the season for the Eagles. The future Clemson Tiger had 70 catches for 1,418 yards and 18 touchdowns his senior season highlighted by a GF POTW performance in which he had six catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 4 49-0 win over Bossier High School.
#14: Pine High School (LA) 2024 RB and Louisiana Christian signee James Owens: 847 votes
Pine High School (LA) 2024 RB and Louisiana Christian signee James Owens is not only a Gridiron Football All-American, but he is a GF POTY finalist. As a multi-purpose back for the Raiders, Owens showed that he can not only run the ball, but he can catch it as well accounting for 1,665 total yards (1,000 rushing, 650 receiving), and 25 total touchdowns.
#15: St. Martin’s Episcopal High School (LA) 2025 RB and LSU commit Harlem Berry: 736 votes
St. Martin’s Episcopal High School (LA) 2025 RB and LSU commit Harlem Berry is the number one running back in America. He showed why with a marvelous junior campaign including 2,080 rushing yards and 37 total touchdowns. The five star prospect was our GF POTW back in Week 3 when he had 221 yards rushing and five touchdowns plus three catches for 106 yards and two more touchdowns in a 58-28 win over Riverdale. As one of the most exciting players not only in Louisiana, but in the country, Berry is certainly a favorite to be a GF POTY finalist next season.
#16: Lafayette Christian Academy (LA) 2024 QB and LSU signee Ju’Juan Johnson: 650 votes
Last year’s Gridiron Football POTY runner-up had himself quite of an encore season. Lafayette Christian Academy (LA) 2024 QB Ju’Juan Johnson led the Knights to another state championship game and did so while breaking some records along the way. During his senior year, the LSU signee broke Evangel Christian Academy legend Brock Berlin’s record for most yards (14,451) and total touchdowns (171). In the season opener, Louisiana’s Mr. Football earned GF POTW honors with an 8 touchdown performance against Acadiana. He carried that performance to a season in which he had 5,094 total yards (3,597 passing; 1,497 rushing) and 66 total touchdowns (41 passing, 25 rushing).
#17: DeSoto High School (TX) 2024 QB and Sam Houston signee DJ Bailey: 599 votes
DeSoto High School (TX) 2024 QB DJ Bailey did a lot of winning and putting up video game numbers over his incredible prep career with the Eagles. His senior season proved to be no different as he led his team to an undefeated state championship with 3,661 total yards and 49 total touchdowns. In just over a two year span, Bailey has not only won two state championships, but he also threw for 7,349 yards and 89 touchdowns. This standout Texas High School quarterback has excited a lot of Sam Houston fans as he has signed to play college football with the Bearkats.
#18: Oak Grove High School (LA) 2025 QB and Louisiana Tech commit Jackson Bradley: 463 votes
Oak Grove High School (LA) 2025 QB and Louisiana Tech commit Jackson Bradley continues to show why he has been one of the most productive winning quarterbacks in Louisiana high school football history after leading the Tigers to back to back state championships. The 6’3, 200 pound dual threat quarterback constantly showed off his rocket arm and ability to use his legs all season long by accounting for 3,130 all-purpose yards and 43 total touchdowns. Still with another year left to go, Bradley has a chance to be right back on this list as he goes for winning his third straight championship in 2024.
#19: Cecilia High School (LA) 2025 QB Diesel Solari: 450 votes
Cecilia High School (LA) 2025 QB Diesel Solari had himself an incredible junior campaign. Although he was never officially a GF POTW, he was always constantly in the running week in and week out. Solari was fun to watch while leading the Bulldogs to one of their best seasons in school history with 3,081 total yards and 52 total touchdowns. The dual threat quarterback had 1,493 passing yards and 1,588 yards rushing to go with 19 touchdown passes and 33 touchdown runs. What is even scarier about Solari is that he is coming back for another year after leading the Bulldogs to a state championship runner-up finish and is one of the leading candidates to be on this list next fall.
#20: Westwood High School (TX) 2026 WR Kaysn Dial: 413 votes
Westwood High School (TX) 2026 WR Kaysn Dial was a GF POTY finalist when he became the first player from the state of Texas to be a GF POTW. Dial got that distinction really early in the season as he had six catches for 161 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver plus an 80 yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a two point conversion pass to help lead the Panthers to a 52-44 win over Palmer. Overall, Dial had himself a very productive season as only a sophomore for the Panthers with 48 catches for 754 yards and nine touchdowns.
#21: Aledo High School (TX) 2024 LB and LSU signee Davhon Keys: 406 votes
Aledo High School (TX) 2024 LB Davhon Keys showed why he was one of Texas’ top senior players and why he signed to play college football in Baton Rouge at LSU. Keys was certainly a key for the Bearcats on their way to a state championship as he consistently made numerous amount of plays on both sides of the football with 17 touchdowns on offense plus 169 tackles, 23.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, 12 QB hurries, 3 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 blocked punt, and a blocked field goal on defense.
#22: Jewel Sumner High School (LA) 2026 ATH Jamohn Dyson: 297 votes
Jewel Sumner High School (LA) 2026 ATH Jamohn Dyson is one of the youngest players and one of the most versatile players to be a GF POTY finalist. This past season, this two way player made plays everywhere as he had 984 yards and 10 touchdowns as a running back/wide receiver to go along with 64 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 sacks, 4 INTs, 9 PBUs, 2 FFs, and a fumble recovery on defense. Slicin’ Dyson, as he is nicknamed, played a big part in the Cowboys’ 18-14 first round playoff victory over South Beauregard with two catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns on offense plus four tackles, a tackle for loss, and two interceptions on defense.
#23: Cecilia High School (LA) 2024 RB and Louisiana Christian signee Corey Broussard: 203 votes
Cecilia High School (LA) 2024 RB and Louisiana Christian signee Corey Broussard was a great sidekick to Diesel Solari in what was a dynamic Bulldog backfield last fall. Broussard helped carry the Bulldogs’ running game all the way to the Division II (Non-Select) State Championship Game with 1,218 yards and 22 touchdowns highlighted by a GF POTW performance in a Week 12 playoff game against Iota where he ran for over 200 yards and six touchdowns.
#24: Hutto High School (TX) 2024 WR and Tulsa signee Alex Green: 182 votes
Hutto High School (TX) 2024 WR and Tulsa signee Alex Green had one of the most prolific receiving seasons in Texas High School football history with 101 catches for 2,056 yards and 19 touchdowns. Averaging 20 yards per catch and 187 yards per game, Green had the 8th most receiving yards in one season for any Texas high school football program. A perfect example of how dominant Green was as a receiver was when he was our GF POTW back in Week 7 with an incredible outing in a 52-31 win over Temple High School with 16 catches for 300 yards and six touchdowns.
#25: Northwest High School (LA) 2024 RB Ja’Vain Reese: 180 votes
Northwest High School (LA) 2024 RB Ja’Vain Reese was a Gridiron Football POTY finalist when he helped lead the Raiders to the semifinals for the first time in program history as he was the POTW in Week 12 with a five touchdown, 176 yard performance including the game winning two point conversion to send the Raiders to the semifinals. It was fitting that Reese was the one who did it as he was the bell cow for the Raiders with 1,925 yards and 30 touchdowns. He ended his prep career on a high note in the 2023 Gridiron Football All-American Bowl Game as he scored one of the two touchdowns in the game to help Team West get a 14-7 victory over Team East.
#26: Lafayette High School (LA) 2025 QB Kevon’te Landry: 179 votes
Lafayette High School (LA) 2025 QB Kevon’te Landry was a Gridiron Football POTY finalist because of his incredible performance when he was our Week 5 Player of the Week with 449 total yards and eight total touchdowns in a 59-29 win over St. Martinville. Overall, Landry showed off his versatility in Garrett Kreamer’s offense with 2,337 total yards and 27 touchdowns throwing, rushing, and receiving. He is certainly going to be a player to keep an eye on that could be back on this list next season.
