Star's Prep Football Players of Year since 1999
- Updated
The top high school players as picked by the Arizona Daily Star.
Salpointe receiver/cornerback/returner Cameron Denson, stiff-arming Scottsdale Chaparral’s Hayden Pate in the Lancers’ state title victory, also fended off urges to talk to other schools once he verbally committed to Arizona. “Some rumors started … but I stayed true to the UA,” he said.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star 2013
Martinez only spent his final two seasons with CDO but was the Star’s defensive player of the year both of those seasons before he left to Stanford. He broke Craig Vesling’s single-game school record for tackles with 18, set a single-season school records with 10 touchdown catches and was named to the AZFCA Big 25 twice. (Photo by David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star)
- David Sanders
Canyon del Oro linebacker Blake Martinez, a junior, was the defensive player of the year. Great size and strength complemented Martinez's uncanny knack for finding the guy with ball, evidenced by the junior's staggering 111 tackles and nine sacks. Photo by Greg Bryan, Arizona Daily Star
- Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Star
Canyon del Oro running back Ka'Deem Carey averaged nearly 200 yards and 3 TDs per game, running for over 12 yards per carry on the year. Here Carey takes off on a touchdown run against the Tucson Badgers . (Mike Christy for the Arizona Daily Star)
- Mike Christy
Running back Adam Hall of Palo Verde racked up 1,500 yards, 31 offensive TDs and four special teams TDs. Here he looks for running room in the second quarter of their 4A playoff game against Santa Rita. Hall scored soon after to tie the game at 7-7. Photo by James Gregg/Arizona Daily Star
- James Gregg
Salpointe Catholic High School's Kris O'Dowd, offensive lineman, was player of 2006. It's also uncommon for one to be as dominant as O'Dowd, who pancaked so many would-be tacklers on their backs it was impossible to keep track. He emerged as one of American's best players.tDean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
- Dean Knuth
Thatcher High School player Heath Allred was the 1A-3A Player of the Year for 2006. Thatcher started the year 0-3. Then Allred became a megastar. He rushed for 1,973 yards this season 732 yards came in the four-game 2A state tournament - as the Eagles rebounded to win the state title. Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
- Dean Knuth
Sabino running back Glyndon Bolasky was named the Arizona Daily Star Player for 2005 when he rushed for 1,711 yards and 25 touchdowns, including 415 yards and six scores to help the Sabercats reach the 4A state finals. Mamta Popat/Arizona Daily Star.
- MAMTA POPAT
Salpointe Catholic Jack Darlington, a standout receiver, was the 2004 Southern Arizona football player of the year. Darlington led Salpointe in receptions (45) and receiving yards (1,079), and scored nine touchdowns as the Lancers advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state playoffs. Photo by Benjie Sanders/Arizona Daily Star.
- Benjie Sanders
Graunke was named the All-Southern Arizona Player of the Year in 2003 when he had one of the most prolific passing seasons Tucson has ever seen. The 6-foot 180-pound quarterback threw for a city-record 3,372 yards, which is also still standing as the best mark statewide in 5A history. Chris Richards / Arizona Daily Star
- CHRIS RICHARDS
Catalina's Philip Pickett, as a running back, rushed for 1740 yards and 17 touchdowns his senior year, breaking school records for rushing yards in a season and yards on the ground in a game. That same year, the 2002 Arizona Daily Star’s Southern Arizona Player of the Year also recorded 71 tackles from the linebacker position.
- A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Sunnyside's Philo "The Phantastic" Sanchez was named the Arizona Daily Star's Player of the Year after racking up 2,479 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2001. That effort helped Sunnyside win its first state title. Douglas Ridge/for the Arizona Daily Star
- Douglas Rider / for the Daily Star
Sahuaro High School quarterback Reggie Robertson led the Cougars to the 4A state championship game (but lost), completed 203 of 342 passes for 34 touchdowns and 2,933 yards while throwing just five interceptions in 1999. Photo by Jeffry Scott / Arizona Daily Star.
- Jeffry Scott
Salpointe receiver/cornerback/returner Cameron Denson, stiff-arming Scottsdale Chaparral’s Hayden Pate in the Lancers’ state title victory, also fended off urges to talk to other schools once he verbally committed to Arizona. “Some rumors started … but I stayed true to the UA,” he said.
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star 2013
Ironwood Ridge High School quarterback Tyler Williams was selected as the offensive player of the year for 2012. Photo by Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Star
- Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Star
Ironwood Ridge High School linebacker Scott Simmons was selected as the defensive players of the year for 2012. Photo by Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Star
- Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Star
Martinez only spent his final two seasons with CDO but was the Star’s defensive player of the year both of those seasons before he left to Stanford. He broke Craig Vesling’s single-game school record for tackles with 18, set a single-season school records with 10 touchdown catches and was named to the AZFCA Big 25 twice. (Photo by David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star)
- David Sanders
Ironwood Ridge senior Mitch Fischer was the Arizona Daily Star's offensive player of the year for 2011 for football. Photo by David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star.
- David Sanders
Canyon del Oro running back Ka'Deem Carey was the offensive player of the year. Photo by Greg Bryan, Arizona Daily Star
- Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Star
Canyon del Oro linebacker Blake Martinez, a junior, was the defensive player of the year. Great size and strength complemented Martinez's uncanny knack for finding the guy with ball, evidenced by the junior's staggering 111 tackles and nine sacks. Photo by Greg Bryan, Arizona Daily Star
- Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Star
Canyon del Oro running back Ka'Deem Carey averaged nearly 200 yards and 3 TDs per game, running for over 12 yards per carry on the year. Here Carey takes off on a touchdown run against the Tucson Badgers . (Mike Christy for the Arizona Daily Star)
- Mike Christy
Running back Adam Hall of Palo Verde racked up 1,500 yards, 31 offensive TDs and four special teams TDs. Here he looks for running room in the second quarter of their 4A playoff game against Santa Rita. Hall scored soon after to tie the game at 7-7. Photo by James Gregg/Arizona Daily Star
- James Gregg
Canyon del Oro quarterback Daniel Nicholas was the Star's Southern Arizona player of the year for 2007. He led the Dorados to the 4A-I state finals, passing for more than 2,000 yards. Photo by Greg Bryan/Arizona Daily Star
- Greg Bryan
Salpointe Catholic High School's Kris O'Dowd, offensive lineman, was player of 2006. It's also uncommon for one to be as dominant as O'Dowd, who pancaked so many would-be tacklers on their backs it was impossible to keep track. He emerged as one of American's best players.tDean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
- Dean Knuth
Thatcher High School player Heath Allred was the 1A-3A Player of the Year for 2006. Thatcher started the year 0-3. Then Allred became a megastar. He rushed for 1,973 yards this season 732 yards came in the four-game 2A state tournament - as the Eagles rebounded to win the state title. Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
- Dean Knuth
Sabino running back Glyndon Bolasky was named the Arizona Daily Star Player for 2005 when he rushed for 1,711 yards and 25 touchdowns, including 415 yards and six scores to help the Sabercats reach the 4A state finals. Mamta Popat/Arizona Daily Star.
- MAMTA POPAT
Salpointe Catholic Jack Darlington, a standout receiver, was the 2004 Southern Arizona football player of the year. Darlington led Salpointe in receptions (45) and receiving yards (1,079), and scored nine touchdowns as the Lancers advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state playoffs. Photo by Benjie Sanders/Arizona Daily Star.
- Benjie Sanders
Graunke was named the All-Southern Arizona Player of the Year in 2003 when he had one of the most prolific passing seasons Tucson has ever seen. The 6-foot 180-pound quarterback threw for a city-record 3,372 yards, which is also still standing as the best mark statewide in 5A history. Chris Richards / Arizona Daily Star
- CHRIS RICHARDS
Catalina's Philip Pickett, as a running back, rushed for 1740 yards and 17 touchdowns his senior year, breaking school records for rushing yards in a season and yards on the ground in a game. That same year, the 2002 Arizona Daily Star’s Southern Arizona Player of the Year also recorded 71 tackles from the linebacker position.
- A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
Sunnyside's Philo "The Phantastic" Sanchez was named the Arizona Daily Star's Player of the Year after racking up 2,479 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2001. That effort helped Sunnyside win its first state title. Douglas Ridge/for the Arizona Daily Star
- Douglas Rider / for the Daily Star
Sahuaro High School quarterback Reggie Robertson led the Cougars to the 4A state championship game (but lost), completed 203 of 342 passes for 34 touchdowns and 2,933 yards while throwing just five interceptions in 1999. Photo by Jeffry Scott / Arizona Daily Star.
- Jeffry Scott
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Today begins the countdown to the high school football season.
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