Oregon 6A Offensive POY Candidates (Ranked #1-15)
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As most know Player of the Year Awards have a lot to do with team success. You can be a highly recruited standout athlete, but if your team doesn’t do well, you most likely won’t be receiving many accolades. Have…
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Continue ReadingAs most know Player of the Year Awards have a lot to do with team success. You can be a highly recruited standout athlete, but if your team doesn’t do well, you most likely won’t be receiving many accolades. Have a look at Oregon’s Offensive POY candidates as we head into the playoffs.
OFFENSE
1. Brock Thomas Brock Thomas 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Sheldon | 2023 State OR Sr. QB Sheldon- Thomas’ 43 touchdown performance (22 passing, 21 rushing) from a year ago was incredibly impressive. He has played lights out all season, tossing 35 TDs with only 2 INTs, and rushing for another 10. The Irish haven’t had a player like this since Jordan Johnson back in the day.
2. Sam Leavitt Sam Leavitt 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB West Linn | 2023 State OR Sr. QB West Linn- If West Linn wins the state title, he will be your Oregon 6A player of the year. Same scenario for Thomas at Sheldon. The Washington St commit has been flawless all season, accounting for 31 TDs & 4 INTs.
3. Mark Hamper Mark Hamper 6'2" | 205 lbs | ATH West Linn | 2023 State OR Sr. WR West Linn- No one has been able to stop Hamper yet. He currently leads the state with 17 TD receptions, 50+ catches, and over 1000+ receiving yards. It’s a borderline crime his only two offers are from Portland St and Air Force.
4. Cru Newman Cru Newman 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Central Catholic | 2024 State OR Jr. QB Central Catholic- The returning Mt Hood POY as a sophomore and reigning state champ is the exception to the rule from a recruiting standpoint. Newman is just flat out better than everyone almost every Friday. His 21 TDs /1 INT is impressive, but his ability to escape and be a double-digit TD rusher speaks to his game.
5. Payton Roth Payton Roth 6'4" | 200 lbs | RB Jesuit | 2023 State OR Sr. RB Jesuit- It’s hard to tackle a kid that’s 6-4 200 pounds and can move. Roth will be a 2000+ yard back, with potentially 30 TDs before he is done. He should get an opportunity to prove himself against Central Catholic in the state quarterfinals next week.
6. Jordan Fisher Jordan Fisher 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Westview | 2023 State OR Sr. RB Westview- Statistically Fisher will go down as one of the best to ever play in the Metro League. The change in playoff structure is unfortunate as the Cats deserve to be in the championship bracket. Fisher is another 2000+ yard back when all is said and done.
7. Austin Rapp Austin Rapp 5'7" | 170 lbs | RB McMinnville | 2023 State OR Sr. RB McMinnville- Rapp has put together one of the best seasons of any player in McMinnville’s history, averaging 10 yards per carry, while rushing 147 times for 1,459 yards and 16 TDs.
8. Drew Rodriguez Drew Rodriguez 6'2" | 200 lbs | DB Sprague | 2023 State OR Sr. WR Sprague- Rodriguez will go down as one of the most versatile athletes ever to come out of the Valley and maybe the state. He averaged close to 20 yards a reception with 10 TDs on the year while consistently being double and triple teamed.
9. Avirey Durdahl Avirey Durdahl 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Adrienne Nelson | 2025 State OR So. QB Nelson- Sophomores are rarely mentioned if we are talking state POY candidates. Durdahl would be the exception, leading his team to an (8-1) record, while hitting on 65% of his passes with 18 TDs & 2 INTs.
10. Luke Leighton Luke Leighton 6'5" | 195 lbs | ATH Sheldon | 2023 State OR Sr. WR Sheldon- One of the only athletes listed as a POY candidate on both sides of the football. The 6-5 195 pound, 3* WR/LB, impresses with overall versatility. Over the last two years he has 73 catches for 1,212 yards and 16 TDs. He will be even better in college.
11, Wiley Donnerberg Wiley Donnerberg 6'4" | 200 lbs | ATH West Linn | 2024 State OR Jr. WR West Linn- Expect Donnerberg to be a major D1 recruit. One of the biggest reasons Hamper has destroyed the state is due to opponents having to account for both the Donnerberg’s. Heading into the playoffs Wiley has 29 catches for 586 yards and 4 TDs.
12. Daschel Smith Daschel Smith 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB South Salem | 2023 State OR Sr. QB South Salem- Smith just shows up every week and gets it done. For the second year in a row Daschel is a state statistical leader in multiple categories. He has been phenomenal all season leading the state in passing yards with 30+ TDs.
13. Jace Burton Jace Burton 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Jesuit | 2024 State OR Jr. WR Jesuit- Burton is only a junior and one of the state’s best defensive players. He has had a phenomenal year offensively for a running team, catching 30 passes for 551 yards and 6 TDs.
14. Zhaiel Smith Zhaiel Smith 6'0" | 185 lbs | ATH Central Catholic | 2025 State OR So. Slot Central Catholic- One of the most exciting sophomores on the west coast didn’t disappoint. Smith caught 22 passes for 507 yards and 9 TDs, averaging 23 yards per reception.
15. Jack Wagner Jack Wagner 6'4" | 185 lbs | QB Tualatin | 2023 State OR Sr. QB Tualatin- Wagner has had a good season, but they have not had the line play that they did last year. That said as Drew Corcoran Drew Corcoran 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Tualatin | 2023 State OR has played out of his mind on both sides of the ball. Look for Wagner to impress during the playoffs, currently hitting on 63% of his passes with 21 TDs/5 INTs.
15. Ryan Oliver Ryan Oliver 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Lakeridge | 2023 State OR Sr. QB Lakeridge- The player of the year award is indicative of team success, so it’s tough when your record is (3-6). The Pacers didn’t have a great season, but Oliver was on point putting up outstanding numbers almost every week. He hit on 75% of his passes (179/239) with 22 Passing TDs & 2 INTs.