After a week and half of voting, the fans have decided who the 2023 Gridiron Football Player of the Year is as Westwood High School (TX) 2027 QB Kavian Bryant received 14,263 votes, which is over 8,000 votes more than the second place finisher. This rising star is certainly grateful for the Panther fans that have done their part to give him this awesome accomplishment.
“It’s truly shocking to win this as a freshman. I am just thankful for this honor. I was shocked that I won, but I know the work that I put into it.”
Westwood High School (TX) 2027 QB Kavian Bryant
Being the youngest finalist on the list, that didn’t stop the fans from choosing this very talented Texas signal caller. Bryant first came onto the scene for Gridiron Football when he was a Player of the Week after a standout performance against Huntington High School throwing for 290 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 58 yards and two more touchdowns.
That single game performance was just one indication of what the talented freshman quarterback can do as he consistently made plays with both his arm and legs.
Bryant put up numbers that would excite a four year veteran senior quarterback as in his first full season as the starting quarterback, he threw for 2,282 yards and 33 touchdowns while also rushing for 812 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground. All in all, Bryant accounted for 3,094 total yards and 42 total touchdowns.
“I had several goals going into the year, but I feel like that I accomplished most of them. I had the help from all of my teammates. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am at today.”
Westwood High School (TX) 2027 QB Kavian Bryant
Not only were the numbers impressive, but Bryant showed poise and maturity above his years as he led the Panthers to a 9-3 record and a second round playoff finish.
Bryant’s head coach Richard Bishop has been around some good players, but perhaps none with more upside than him.
“It takes a special person to do what he is doing. He is a high character kid and obviously, the talent speaks for itself. It’s the second time in my career that I have a guy like this one. The first was Alan Bowman. He played four years at Grapevine for us when I was the OC there. Alan’s my boy, but I feel that Kavian has all the intangibles that Alan had plus he’s got the extreme athletic ability to put on top of that. Alan was a true pocket kid and had the mentality and the intangibles and the leadership and all those things, but I think you see the image of that in Kavian plus the athleticism. His ceiling is as high as any player that I’ve coached.”
Westwood High School (TX) Head Coach Richard Bishop
Just when you would think that the Gridiron Football Player of the Year has a bright future on the football field, he may have an even brighter future on the basketball court as one of the best basketball players in the state of Texas.
The star point guard is a scoring machine on the court as he has averaged 30 points per game playing for his dad Kadrian Bryant, who is the team’s head basketball coach, including a 55 point effort in the semifinals. Leading the Panthers to a 27-9 overall record and a semifinal appearance, Bryant showed that he is a general for both sports.
“In both sports, I try to be a leader in getting everybody involved, telling them what to do, keeping their head in the game, and doing the things that will help the team win.”
Westwood High School (TX) 2027 QB Kavian Bryant
After certainly making a great first impression in both sports, Kavian Bryant certainly wants to show that this is only the beginning to an outstanding career.
When it comes to a potential Gridiron Football Player of the Year repeat in 2024, Kavian Bryant says that we just have to tune in and find out.
“Next year, we are going deep in the playoffs. It is going to be crazy next year. As far as repeating for Gridiron Football Player of the Year, we will just have to wait and see.”
Westwood High School (TX) 2027 QB Kavian Bryant
Once again, congratulations to Westwood High School (TX) 2027 QB Kavian Bryant for that honor and he will be rewarded with a special letterman jacket patch that he will receive in a couple of weeks that says 2023 Gridiron Football Player of the Year!
To find out who the other finalists were, click below!
