California high school football yearly awards watch list for CIF Southern Section

Top football players that are on the watch list for 2023 yearly awards, like Player of the Year and more

The 2023 high school football regular season is officially over.

The postseason is upon us, where the following players down below could separate themselves for 2023 yearly awards, including Player of the Year, Most Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, Breakout and Freshman of the Year honors.

Here are names to be considered for those awards, accompanied with their final regular-season stats.

• NOTE: This is not a list of nominees, just a watch list. Players not listed could win any of these awards. 

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Darius Curry, LB Poly, QB, Sr. — 2,625 yards, 36 TDs, 6 INTs, 123.6 QBR

Elijah Brown, Mater Dei, QB, Sr. — 2,095 yards, 29 TDs, 4 INTs, 72%

Cornell Hatcher, Corona Centennial, RB, Sr. — 1,852 yards, 32 TDs, 185ypg

Corona Centennial's Cornell Hatcher. (Jann Hendry) / Photo by Jann Hendry

Caleb Sanchez, St. John Bosco, QB, Sr. — 2,286 yards, 21 TDs, 4 INTs, 75%

Aiden Rubin, San Clemente, RB, Sr. — 1,738 yards, 20 TDs, 174ypg

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Brady Smigiel, Newbury Park, QB, So. — 3,094 yards, 42 TDs, 12 INTs, 116 QBR

Dylan Riley, Rancho Verde, RB, Sr. — 1,852 yards, 27 TDs, 185ypg

Wyatt Becker, Sierra Canyon, QB, Jr. — 2,186 yards, 28 TDs, 5 INTs, 128 QBR

Sierra Canyon's Wyatt Becker. (Heston Quan)

Trey Wilson, Rancho Cucamonga, RB, Sr. — 1,361 yards, 14 TDs, 151ypg

Cincere Rhaney, Gardena Serra, RB, Sr. — 1,516 yards, 18 TDs, 151ypg

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Carnell Ferguson, Sierra Canyon, LB, Sr. — 54 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 12 sacks, 2 FR

Dylan Williams, LB Poly, LB, Sr. — 69 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 FF, INT

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, St. John Bosco, LB, Sr. — 68 tackles, 10 TFL, INT

St. John Bosco's Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa. (Heston Quan)

Noah Mikhail, Bonita, LB, Jr. — 143 tackles, 14 TFL, 2 INTs

Jaden Williams, Mission Viejo, DE, Jr. — 86 tackles, 23 TFL, 10.5 sacks, FF

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Shane Rosenthal, Newbury Park, WR, Jr. — 81 receptions, 1,270 yards, 14 TDs

Isaiah Dillon, Oxnard Pacifica, ATH, Jr. — 50 receptions, 980 yards, 17 TDs

Jackson Askins, Valencia, QB, Sr. — 1,781 yards, 17 TDs (+ 5 rushing TDs), 3 INTs, 70%

Jackson Askins, Valencia may be most dangerous player, team in D2 playoffs

Jarrett Nielsen, LB Jordan, QB, Jr. — 3,126 yards, 27 TDs, 9 INTs, 121 QBR

John Sanders, St. Francis, QB, Jr. — 1,810 yards, 20 TDs (+8 rushing), 8 INTs, 102 QBR

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Elijah Wilson, St. Monica Prep, RB — 1,009 yards, 9 TDs (thru 6 games)

Ryan Rakowski, Palos Verdes, QB — 1,616 yards, 20 TDs, 2 INTs, 141 QBR (10-0 as a starter)

Richie Wesley, Sierra Canyon, DE — 44 tackles, 10 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 14 hurries, FR

Sierra Canyon's Richie Wesley is the next big thing

Gavin Williams, Damien, DB — 39 tackles, 5 INTs, 2 PD

Kingston Anetema, North Torrance, WR — 66 receptions, 1,148 yards, 14 TDs

Brady Edmunds, Huntington Beach, QB — 1,786 yards, 18 TDs, 9 INTs, 88 QBR

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