Vote: Who should be High School on SI's Michigan Division 1 football Player of the Year?

Read through the candidates cast your vote for the 2024 Division 1 Player of the Year

Bryce Underwood, the nation's top 2025 football prospect, finished a stellar career in 2024. / Photo by Scott Hasse

The 2024 Michigan high school football season is over, and High School on SI is highlighting some of the top players in every classification in Michigan.

We start with the top performers in Division 1 Michigan high school football. The following players are included in our Division 1 Player of the Year poll at the bottom of the page.

There are plenty of talented players in Michigan high school football, and our nominations in no way discredit any athlete who is not nominated.

The poll will close on Saturday, December 29 at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced on Monday.

Michigan high school football Division 1 Player of the Year

Bryce Underwood, QB, Belleville

Underwood wrapped up his high school career as arguably the best quarterback the state of Michigan has ever seen at the prep level. He set the all-time state record for passing touchdowns with 146, blazing past the previous number of 128 held by Stockbridge’s Mason Gee-Montgomery (2014-16). 

In his senior season the University of Michigan signee posted a completion rate of over 70 percent to go along with nearly 3,000 total yards and 40 total touchdowns. 

Tommy Carr, QB, Saline

Carr is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports.The junior signal-caller threw just three interceptions compared to 26 touchdowns and over 2,500 yards. Carr also ran for just over 300 yards and six additional scores.

Justin Jones, RB/DB, Howell

The senior ball carrier set school records this season with 1,735 yards and 27 touchdowns. Jones also led the team in receiving with 25 catches, 436 yards and five touchdowns. On defense he recorded 56 tackles (three for loss), two forced fumbles and an interception. 

Corey (CJ) Sadler Jr., WR/RB/DB, Cass Tech

In a state championship season the junior playmaker impressed in all three phases of the game. As a receiver he had 33 catches for nearly 700 yards and six touchdowns, and on the ground he posted over 100 yards and two more scores. Sadler also had a perfect completion percentage on 12 pass attempts for 223 yards and three touchdowns. 

On defense he had 23 tackles and a sack, and he even returned a punt for a touchdown. He holds 20 NCAA Division I offers heading into his senior season.

Samson Gash, WR/KR/PR, Detroit Catholic Central

Gash recorded 45 catches for 800 yards and 12 touchdowns in his junior season. He also put up 174 yards and two touchdowns on four kick returns and 278 yards on 16 punt returns. 

Bobby Kanka, DL, Howell

The senior Michigan signee was a monster on the defensive front this season. Kanka recorded 79 tackles (15 for loss), 11.5 sacks, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and an interception. 

Logan Criteser, DL, Macomb Dakota

Criteser set a new school record with 16 sacks this season. He also had 23 tackles for loss (37 total), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a blocked punt. 

Lamar Fairfax, DL, Belleville

The senior Memphis commit had 105 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and nine sacks this season.

Terry is Grandville's all-time leader in career rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. This season he posted almost 1,800 yards and 26 touchdowns. He averaged over seven yards per carry and had two games with over 200 yards on the ground.

Alex Graham, DB, Cass Tech

The USC signee had 35 tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception. He also scored eight touchdowns, with six coming as a receiver and one each on punt return and kickoff return. 

Jayden Terry, RB, Grandville

Terry is Grandville's all-time leader in career rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns. This season he posted almost 1,800 yards and 26 touchdowns. He averaged over seven yards per carry and had two games with over 200 yards on the ground.

Editor’s note: Our corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition.

This poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other player who may not be mentioned in our poll.

We do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

---

Correction: Desmond Straughton of Roseville and Jonathan Pittman of Mona Shores were included in the poll, but they were removed because they will be included in our Division 2 poll.

More Michigan high school sports coverage from High School on SI

Top pass catchers in Michigan high school football entering 2024 season

Top running backs in Michigan high school football entering 2024 season

Top offensive lineman in Michigan high school football entering 2024 season

Top defensive backs in Michigan high school football entering 2024 season

Top linebackers in Michigan high school football entering 2024 season

Top defensive linemen in Michigan high school football entering 2024 season

---

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App