GAINESVILLE (December 17) — The finalists for the 2019 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Football and Football Coach of the Year have been announced following balloting by a statewide panel of high school football coaches and prep media representatives.
Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in his classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in his class. The two overall winners will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
2019 Mr. Football Finalists (Area players in bold)
Henry Parrish Jr., Senior, Running Back, Columbus, Class 8A Player of the Year
Rushed for 2,343 yards on 273 carries (8.6 avg.) with 33 TDs. Caught a pair of TD passes late in the fourth quarter of the state final to help Columbus to its first state championship. Has committed to the University of Pittsburgh.
Demarkcus Bowman, Senior, Running Back, Lakeland, Class 7A Player of the Year
The 2018 Mr. Football runnerup gained 1,570 yards on 141 carries (11.1 avg.) with 24 TDs in 2019. Gained 5,083 yards rushing and scored 70 TDs during his career. The Under Armour All-American has committed to Clemson University.
Morven Joseph, Senior, Defensive End, Lake Gibson Class 6A Player of the Year
Joseph helped his team to an undefeated regular season record (11-0) with 115 tackles, including 66 solo stops while producing 13 sacks, 28 tackles for loss and 44 quarterback hurries. Has committed to Florida State University.
Jaylon Worsham, Senior, Quarterback/Defensive Back, Wakulla, Class 5A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state Final Four by completing 135-of-217 passes for 2,480 yards and 22 TDs. Rushed for 1,475 yards on 141 carries (10.5 avg.) with 12 TDs.
Donell Harris Jr., Senior, Defensive End, Gulliver Prep, Class 4A Player of the Year
Helped his team to an unbeaten regular season (10-0) by posting 60 total tackles (39 solo) with 19 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. Named an Army All-American game participant. Has committed to Texas A&M University.
Thaddius Franklin, Junior, Running Back, Chaminade-Madonna, Class 3A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state championship by rushing for 2,282 yards on 288 carries (9.9 avg.) with 28 TDs. Broke Travis Henry’s (1996 Mr. Football) state title-game record of 325 yards by rushing for 333 yards on 47 carries with five TDs.
Ryle Aguila, Senior, Quarterback, Champagnat Catholic, Class 2A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state championship by completing 174-of-247 passes for 2,689 yards and 25 TDs. Rushed for 554 yards on 63 carries (8.8 avg.) with six TDs.
Tre’ven Smith, Senior, Running Back/Defensive Back, Blountstown, Class 1A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state championship game by rushing for 1,950 yards on 156 carries (12.5 avg.) and 22 TDs. Finished with 38 total TDs (10 receiving, 4 kick returns and 2 defensive scores). Broke Thaddius Franklin’s day-old state title game record by rushing for 365 yards and five TDs in the state championship game.
Ty Poorman, Senior, Quarterback, The Master’s Academy, Independent Player of the Year
Led his team to the Sunshine State Athletic Conference title by completing 175-of-299 passes for 2,887 yards and 29 TDs.
2019 Football Coach of the Year Finalists:
Jeff Rolson, Apopka, Class 8A Coach of the Year
In his first year at Apopka, Rolson led his team to a 12-2 record and a state runnerup finish. Prior to Apopka, he compiled a 37-13 record in four years at Osceola, including a state runnerup finish in 2007.
Cameron Duke, Edgewater, Class 7A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 13-2 record and a state runnerup finish after advancing to the state Final Four in 2018. In three years at Edgewater has posted a 34-7 record after serving as head coach at Lake Highland Prep for there years.
Mike Bennett, Escambia, Class 6A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 14-1 record and a state runnerup finish. In three years at Escambia has posted a 31-7 record after coaching at Pensacola High School for 18 years, where he won a state title in 2009.
Elijah Williams, Jones, Class 5A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 13-2 record and a state runnerup finish. In four years at Jones he has an overall record of 44-7. He also coached six years at Oak Ridge where he posted a 46-17 mark.
Matt Toblin, Bolles (Jacksonville), Class 4A Coach of the Year
In his first year at Bolles, Toblin led his squad to an 11-2 record and a state runnerup finish. His overall record is 65-27, which includes a seven-year stint at Ponte Vedra and a state runnerup finish in 2016.
Dameon Jones, Chaminade-Madonna, Class 3A Coach of the Year
In his fourth year at Chaminade, Jones led his squad to a 12-2 record and a third straight state championship. He has posted a 45-10 record at the school with an overall record of 116-28 (nine years at Hallandale High School).
Hector Clavijo, Champagnat Catholic, Class 2A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 10-3 record and the Class 2A state title. In two years at Champagnat, Clavijo has posted a 19-9 record with a state runnerup finish in 2018 before this year’s state-title victory.
Beau Johnson, Blountstown, Class 1A Coach of the Year
Johnson led his squad to a 13-1 record and a state runnerup finish. In two years at the school he has a 21-4 record.
Jermel Jones, The Master’s Academy, Independent Coach of the Year
Jones compiled a 9-2 record and led his squad to the Sunshine State Athletic Conference title. In five years at TMA he has posted a 31-22 record.
Final voting numbers by class (top five):
Class 8A
Player School Points
Henry Parrish Jr. Columbus 127
Jalen Carter Apopka 98
Ryan Jankowski Vero Beach 57
Joseph Nieves Ponte Vedra 49
Timmy McClain Seminole 44
Coach School Points
Jeff Rolson Apopka 169
Dave Dunn Columbus 114
Andres Perez Steinbrenner 59
Don Stark Seminole 50
Lenny Jankowski Vero Beach 39
Class 7A
Player School Points
Demarkcus Bowman Lakeland 174
Derek Wingo St. Thomas Aquinas 95
Isaiah Connelly Edgewater 93
Cooper Davis Viera 42
E.J. Perry Armwood 27
Coach School Points
Cameron Duke Edgewater 154
Roger Harriott St. Thomas Aquinas 90
Evan Davis Armwood 65
Grant Thompson Niceville 44
Damenyum Springs Fleming Island (Orange Park) 22
Class 6A
Player School Points
Morven Joseph Lake Gibson 124
Frank Peasant Escambia 104
Tony Bartalo Gaither 93
Kyeandre Magloire Lake Minneola 83
Tre Simmons Jefferson 32
Coach School Points
Mike Bennett Escambia 239
Corey White Central 83
Dave Marino Palmetto 39
Kirk Karsen Gaither 34
Eddie Frasier Dillard 32
Class 5A
Player School Points
Jaylon Worsham Wakulla 103
Johnny Richardson Lake Wales 94
Avarius Sparrow Jones 93
Terrance Lewis Northwestern 47
Ja’Quavion Fraziars Dunnellon 44
Coach School Points
Elijah Williams Jones 196
Max Edwards Northwestern 137
Scott Klees Wakulla 81
Tavaris Johnson Lake Wales 37
Matt Thompson Jesuit 24
Class 4A
Player School Points
Donell Harris Jr. Gulliver Prep 125
Caziah Holmes Cocoa 103
Gregory Spann Lakewood 89
Drake Roberts South Walton 39
Caden Fordham Bolles (Jacksonville) 34
Coach School Points
Matt Toblin Bolles (Jacksonville) 194
Earl Tillman Booker T. Washington 126
Cory Moore Lakewood 79
Ty Lawrence South Sumter (Bushnell) 27
Earl Sims Gulliver Prep 22
Class 3A
Player School Points
Thaddius Franklin Chaminade Madonna 141
Willie Taggart Jr. Florida High 117
Jamarian Samuel Trinity Catholic (Ocala) 66
Luke Cohn Trinity Prep 31
Kyjuan Herndon Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 27
Coach School Points
Dameon Jones Chaminade Madonna 180
Jarrod Hickman Florida High 134
Danny Williams Lakeland Christian 59
Matt Adams Pensacola Catholic 35
Mark Brunell Episcopal (Jacksonville) 30
Class 2A
Player School Points
Ryle Aguila Champagnat 156
Cornelius Shaw Victory Christian 143
Michael Trigg Seffner Christian 49
Robt. Parker-Crawford Maclay 37
Isaiah Knowles Seffner Christian 29
Coach School Points
Hector Clavijo Champagnat Catholic 180
Kendrick Stewart Victory Christian 152
Travis Puleo Seffner Christian 50
David Penland University Christian (Jacksonville) 35
Tommy Lewis Westminster Academy 19
Class 1A
Player School Points
Tre’ven Smith Blountstown 119
Vinsonta Allen Madison County 116
Jackson Beach Lafayette (Mayo) 55
Joe Brunson Baker 44
Ke’Shaun Mitchell Madison County 35
School Points Coach
Beau Johnson Blountstown 175
Mike Coe Madison County 158
Matt Brunson Baker 85
Demir Boldin Pahokee 35
Mark Beach Lafayette (Mayo) 12
Independent
Player School Points
Ty Poorman The Master’s Academy 144
Ben Anderson Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville) 93
DJ Clark St. Stephen’s 42
Coach School Points
Jermel Jones The Master’s Academy 160
John Livingston Discovery Academy 50
Jim Stomps Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville) 42
