Vote: Who should be the Minnesota high school football Class 5A Player of the Year?

Read through the candidates and cast your vote!

Minnesota high school football is over, and many players stood out in the 2023 Class 5A season.

SBLive has chosen 20 standout athletes who had top seasons in the 2023.

Read through the candidates and cast your vote. Voting will end on December 12 at 11:59 p.m.

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

SBLive's Minnesota high school football 2023 All-State defense

SBLive's Minnesota high school football 2023 All-State offense

Minnesota high school football Class 5A Player of the Year nominees

Maxwell Woods – Chanhassen

A Class 5A state champion, Woods was one of the premier playmakers in the state this season.

Woods finished with 1,851 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, according to stats submitted to mnfootballhub.com. In the Class 5A Prep Bowl, Woods ran for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

Woods is committed to North Dakota State.

Savion Hart – St. Thomas Academy

Hart was on the other sideline in the Class 5A Prep Bowl, and he was equally as impressive. Hart ran for 226 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Hart finished his senior season with 2,642 yards at 8.9 yards per carry with 39 touchdowns.

D’Mario Davenport – Andover

Davenport was the leading rusher for the Huskies, and he caught the second most passes. His versatility helped an Andover offense that propelled it to the Class 5A semifinal.

Davenport finished with 1,111 rushing yards for 23 touchdowns while catching 39 passes for 702 yards and nine touchdowns.

Cameron Begalle – Andover

Begalle was one of the top producers on the outside for one of the top offenses in the state. The junior had the speed and smooth route-running to pull away from defensive backs. He finished the season with 74 receptions, 1,252 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

Nolan Ginskey – Owatonna

The junior led the Owatonna offense to the Class 5A quarterfinals. His big plays came when he was lined up in the slot and in the backfield, and the Huskies made clear plans to get the ball in his hands.

Ginskey posted stellar numbers in 2023. He finished with 73 receptions for 1,194 yards and eight touchdowns.

Emerson Mandell – Irondale

Emerson is committed to Wisconsin, and he’s got the size to thrive at the Division 1 level. He’s listed at 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds, and he’s nominated for MFCA’s Mr. Football.

Wyatt Bell – Rogers

Bell is 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, which he used all of to overwhelm defensive lineman. Bell is committed to North Dakota.

Bart McAninch – Mankato West

McAninch was one of the top playmakers in from the quarterback position in Class 5A. McAninch finished the season with 2,037 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 635 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.

Greg Meidl – Mankato West

Meidl was the force on the offensive line for a Mankato West offense that was one of the highest scoring in Class 5A. He is committed to Army.

Haden Katzenberger, Monticello

Katzenberger was a touchdown machine for the Magic. He caught 35 passes for 756 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Wyatt Gilmore – Rogers

One of the top prospects in the state, Gilmore looked the part in the 2023 season. Few players move at 6-foot-4, 255 pounds like Gilmore. He is committed to Oklahoma.

Sam Macy – Chanhassen

Macy was a critical piece in the Class 5A championship squad. He’s 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and committed to Minnesota.

Jalen Smith – Mankato West

Smith is one of the smoothest athletes in the state, and he was a threat to make a play as a defensive back every time an offense threw in his direction. He had just over 550 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

He is committed to Minnesota.

Max Mogelson – Two Rivers

Mogelson was the Northstar district defensive player of the year. He was key in helping Two Rivers to an 8-2 record. He is committed to UNLV.

Kaleb Weikel – Andover

The inside linebacker Weikel tied for the most total tackles in Class 5A at 142. He had 13 tackles for a loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception.

Jett Feeney – Moorhead

Feeney threw it more than any quarterback in Class 5A. But he did so with impressive efficiency. Feeney completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 2,385 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Kalvin Eull – Rogers

Eull was one of the top running backs in Class 5A this season. He finished third in rushing yards with 1,635. He scored 22 touchdowns in 2023.

Luke Dobbs – St. Thomas Academy

Dobbs was a touchdown machine for the Class 5A runner-up. He caught 13 touchdown passes in 2023. He had 49 receptions for 901 yards. 

Teddy Knapp – St Thomas Academy

Knapp was a menace for opposing quarterbacks all season. He finished with 13 sacks on the season, the most in Class 5A. He also had 54 total tackles this season. 

Jacob Ginskey – Owatonna

Ginskey led Class 5A with 2,547 passing yards this season. He completed 60 percent of his passes for 9.7 yards per attempt. He also threw for 21 touchdowns and four interceptions.

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