Friday evening, it was announced that the 2025 Gridiron Football Player of the Year is Ascension Catholic High School (Donaldsonville, LA) RB Trevin Simon.
“He is such deserving of that honor. I’ve said it numerous times that foremost as great a football player he is, it takes a backseat to the person that he is. He’s got a great family and a great support system that has molded him to be the young man that he is. I can’t preach that enough. I was told a long time in the profession when your best players are your best people, you’ve got an opportunity to be successful. As a team, the reason we were so successful was because of him and then you go to the accoladed and the records that he was able to break this year, he was truly a joy to coach and it was a luxury to get the ball to him and you knew he was going to get the job done.”
Ascension Catholic Head Coach Taylor James
After starting with 25 finalists and then narrowing it down even further to five finalists, the honor would go to the Bulldogs’ star running back that led Ascension Catholic all the way to the Division IV State Championship Game. Not only did Simon led the team to the championship, but he did so by breaking a lot of records along the way.
In Louisiana high school football history, there is now only one name on top of the record books for most rushing yards in a season (3,915) and most rushing touchdowns in a season (58). Every single week, Simon put up video game numbers along the way highlighted by a Gridiron Football Player of the Week performance in the semifinals in which he ran for 369 yards and six touchdowns against Westminster Christian Academy (Opelousas). Simon knew he had the ability to have a big season, but even he was shocked on what kind of season he was going to have.
“Not at all. It was a new position, so I didn’t think I was going to do as well as I did this year. To break those records, mean a lot because it shows that I put a lot of effort and attitude in the moment every time that I stepped on the field.”
Ascension Catholic RB Trevin Simon
What made this single season performance even more surprising is that this was the first year that Simon played running back full time as the team had to replace former Gridiron Football All-American and Ascension Catholic great Chad Elzy at the position. Not only did Simon fill those shoes, but he beat a lot of Elzy’s records in the process. As of now, Simon is leaning towards playing football at Kentucky State, which is where Elzy started his college career before now transferring to Southeastern Louisiana University.
“Switching to the running back position, he (Chad) helped a lot because he assumed I was going to be put there so he would always talk to me about it that I would lead the team next year when he’s gone. Once the season was going on, he would text me and motivate me every week that this was my team and that I would take the leading role.”
Ascension Catholic RB Trevin Simon
Like Elzy, Simon got to participate in this year’s Gridiron Football All-American Bowl Game and although he did not play in the game, he still was a part of the festivities and got to form bonds with a lot of talented players.
“I thought the bowl game week was great. I wasn’t practicing, but just being a part of the atmosphere and being with some great athletes was a great opportunity and I had a great time just meeting new people.”
Ascension Catholic RB Trevin Simon
Even though it is Trevin Simon’s name that is on the top of the record book and that he gets the honor of being the Gridiron Football Player of the Year, he also recognizes that those honors cannot be accomplished by just him.
“I’d like to thank my family, especially my brother Eric for always supporting me and just the Ascension Catholic community for always being there and supporting the team even after tough losses and big wins.”
Ascension Catholic RB Trevin Simon
Trevin Simon now joins the following players below to be named Gridiron Football Player of the Year.
GRIDIRON FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR:
2022: Lutcher High School (LA) QB D’Wanye’ “Lunch” Winfield
2023: Westwood High School (TX) QB Kavian Bryant
2024: Riverside Academy (LA) RB Dedric Lastie
2025: Ascension Catholic (LA) RB Trevin Simon
For winning the Gridiron Football Player of the Year, Simon gets a gold letterman jacket patch that says, “Gridiron Football Player of the Year.”
Also, congratulations to our other 24 finalists for Gridiron Football Player of the Year. You can watch the finalists show below to learn more about our other finalists.
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