21 defensive national player of the year candidates for the 2023 high school football season

These 21 athletes were dominant forces on defense this fall

The 2023 high school football season is officially in the books.

To put a bow on an exciting few months of action, SBLive Sports is highlighting some of the top players from the best teams across the country.

We started with the top offensive players, and now we're featuring 21 standouts who deserve consideration for 2023 defensive national player of the year. 

Keylan Abrams, jr., DeSoto (Texas) 

Abrams was a terror for DeSoto all season, piling up 85 total tackles, 21.5 sacks and eight quarterback hurries. The Purdue commit had six sacks in a victory over Duncanville and helped lead DeSoto to the Class 6A title.

Caleb Benning, sr., Omaha Westside (Nebraska)

Benning starred on both sides of the ball for Omaha Westside, which finished 13-0 in one of the most dominant seasons in Nebraska history. The Nebraska commit had six interceptions and 19 pass breakups on defense while catching seven touchdowns as a receiver. 

Davin Brewton, sr., Red Bank Catholic (New Jersey)

Brewton flew around the field this fall, notching 132 total tackles (16 for loss), three sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The Pitt linebacker commit had a pick-six and a fumble return touchdown for the Non-Public B state champions.  

Sammy Brown, sr., Jefferson (Georgia) 

Another two-way standout, Brown recorded 153 total tackles, two interceptions and three blocked kicks as a senior. The five-star Clemson commit also scored 41 touchdowns on offense for Class 5A semifinalist Jefferson. 

Bryce Fitzgerald, jr., Columbus (Florida) 

Fitzgerald was a weapon at the back end of a Columbus defense that stifled opponents all season. The four-star junior picked off 10 passes and returned two for touchdowns. The Explorers claimed a second straight 4M state championship.

Marco Jones, jr., San Ramon Valley-Danville (California)

A rising four-star junior who recently picked up an offer from Alabama, Jones recorded 166 total tackles during his junior season. He also had three interceptions (returning one for a touchdown), four pass breakups and three forced fumbles. 

Melvin Laster, sr., Liberty North (Missouri) 

A four-star UNLV commit, Laster ended his Liberty North career with three consecutive Class 6A defensive player of the year honors. The middle linebacker led the team in tackles en route to a state championship. 

Iakopo Malufau, jr., Skyridge (Utah)

Malufau is a game-wrecker who can play defensive end and linebacker for Skyridge, a Class 6A finalist. He tallied 62 total tackles (24 for loss) and 15.5 sacks as a junior. 

Cole McConathy II, sr., Spanish Fort (Alabama)

Alabama’s all-time sack king, McConathy II will graduate from Spanish Fort with a state-record 63 sacks. The four-star Miami commit notched 24.5 sacks as a senior, a new single-season Alabama record. He had 111 total tackles, 36.5 going for loss. 

Brayden Platt, sr., Yelm (Washington) 

Platt, a four-star prospect, shined on both sides of the ball for a Yelm team that reached the Class 3A final. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound rock of a linebacker will play college football in the Big Ten for Oregon. 

Dorian Pringle, sr., Massillon (Ohio)

Pringle scored 14 touchdowns this fall for Division II state champion Massillon, but the Bowling Green commit is best known for his defensive prowess at linebacker. The senior had 74 total tackles (24.5 for loss), eight sacks, three forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. 

Dom Purcell, sr., Bishop Watterson (Ohio)

Purcell recorded 21 tackles (2.5 for loss), a sack and a forced fumble in the Division III final. Bishop Watterson didn’t get the win, but the Navy commit set a new state championship game record for tackles. The linebacker finished his senior season with 162 total tackles (38 for loss), seven sacks, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. 

Quinton Reese, sr., Ramsay (Alabama) 

Reese had 176 total tackles (27 for loss), four sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles for Class 5A finalist Ramsey. The star linebacker will play college football for Alabama. 

Shea Robertson, sr., Coeur d’Alene (Idaho) 

Robertson led the state of Idaho in multiple categories as a senior, including total tackles (173), tackles for loss (26) and tackles per game (14.4). The Eastern Washington commit’s 358 career tackles are a Coeur d’Alene school record. The Vikings made it all the way to the Class 5A title game before falling to Highland. 

Jamie Tyson, sr., Mainland Regional (New Jersey)

Tyson was New Jersey’s leading interceptor this fall with 12 picks, returning four to the end zone. The Villanova commit also scored 11 touchdowns on offense as Mainland Regional finished a perfect 14-0 while claiming the program’s first state title. 

Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, sr., St. John Bosco (California)

A four-star Notre Dame commit, Viliamu-Asa is one of the best defensive players to come through national power St. John Bosco. He piled up 114 total tackles as a senior, including 18 in a 43-42 win over Centennial. 

Deshawn Warner, sr., Desert Edge (Arizona)

A ferocious pass rusher, Warner piled up 63 total tackles (20 for loss), 16 sacks and eight forced fumbles as a senior for Class 5A runner-up Desert Edge. The four-star prospect is committed to Kansas. 

Charles Williams, sr., Marin Catholic (California)

Williams had 11 interceptions for Division 3-A state champion Marin Catholic. The senior corner returned three of those picks for touchdowns while also running for 1,450 yards and 30 scores on offense. 

Prince Williams, so., Bishop Gorman (Nevada) 

Williams was a dominant edge presence for Bishop Gorman, recording 96 total tackles (24 for loss), 10 sacks, 26 quarterback hurries and four forced fumbles. He helped the Gaels finish 12-0 overall en route to the Class 5A Division I championship. 

Jayden Woods, jr., Mill Valley (Kansas)

Woods filled up the stat sheet from the defensive end position this fall with 71 total tackles, seven sacks, eight pass deflections and two forced fumbles. He is a four-star prospect whose offers include Alabama, LSU and Notre Dame. 

Nasir Wyatt, jr., Mater Dei (California)

An edge-setter for Mater Dei, Wyatt had 12 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, seven pass deflections and two forced fumbles in 11 games as a junior. Of his 36 total tackles, 18.5 went for loss. The four-star junior was a defensive leader for a Monarchs team that captured the Open Division state title. 

(Nasir Wyatt photo by John Bowers) 

Vote: Who was national high school football offensive player of the year in 2023?

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports