Since the award debuted in 1985, the Maryland Gatorade Football Player of the Year honor has recognized many of the state’s top high school football players before they went on to standout college careers, NFL success, and even national championships. Many recipients became NFL players, while others starred at the college level or found success in coaching, business, and other careers after their playing days.
Montgomery County has produced 13 of the 41 winners (31.7%). Good Counsel is tied for first of all Maryland schools with four winners (Jelani Jenkins twice, Kendall Fuller, Aaron Chiles). Sherwood is tied for second with three winners (Richie Anderson, Tyree Foreman, Travis Levy). Damascus is tied for second with two winners (Jake Funk and Bryan Bresee). Other Montgomery County schools with one winner each are Paint Branch, Watkins Mill, Bullis, and Quince Orchard.
Inspired by a recent MoCoGridiron post, here’s a look at every Maryland Gatorade Football Player of the Year:
The first recipient was Karl Edwards of Aberdeen in 1985. A dominant tackle and the nation’s top heavyweight wrestler in high school, Edwards continued his football career at the University of Maryland.
In 1986, Kevin Lyles of Calvert Hall earned the award before playing at the University of Virginia. Gilman’s Leon Newsome followed in 1987, eventually starring at Princeton University, where he became an All-Ivy League defensive standout.
Sherwood’s Richie Anderson won in 1988 before enjoying one of the most successful professional careers of any Maryland recipient. After playing at Penn State, Anderson spent 13 seasons in the NFL, earning a Pro Bowl selection as a fullback with the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys.
DeMatha’s Bryce Bevill rounded out the decade in 1989, later playing defensive back at Syracuse before continuing his career in the CFL and Arena Football League. Wilde Lake’s Raphael Wall (1990) played at the University of Maryland, followed by Sherron Gudger of McDonough (1991), who played defensive back at North Carolina.
Linganore’s John Seymour (1992) continued at Penn State, while Forestville’s DeSean Moore (1993) played running back at Syracuse. Quarterback Bobby Sabelhaus of McDonogh captured the 1994 award as one of the nation’s most highly publicized recruits before signing with Florida, later transferring to San Jose State and eventually pursuing a career in film production.
Baltimore Dunbar’s Tommy Polley (1995) went on to Florida State, winning a national championship before becoming a second-round NFL Draft pick. He played six NFL seasons and appeared in Super Bowl XXXVI with the St. Louis Rams.
Sherwood’s Tyree Foreman (1996) played at Virginia before building a long career as a college football assistant coach. Oxon Hill’s Walter Cross earned the honor in 1997 before signing with Virginia.
One of Maryland’s greatest defensive linemen followed in 1998 when Paint Branch’s Darnell Dockett won the award. After starring at Florida State, Dockett became a three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle during an 11-year NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals. Watkins Mill’s Erik Noll closed out the decade in 1999 before playing offensive line at Penn State.
Mario Merrills of Wilde Lake (2000) and Chris Wilson of Catonsville (2001) both continued their careers at major college programs, playing at Maryland and Penn State.
Gilman’s Victor Abiamiri earned the 2002 honor before starring at Notre Dame. He was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles where he played for three seasons.
Eleanor Roosevelt produced back-to-back winners beginning with Derrick Harvey in 2003. Harvey helped Florida win the 2006 national championship, earned Defensive MVP honors in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game, and was selected eighth overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played in Jacksonville for three seasons and one for the Denver Broncos. Teammate Derrick Williams followed in 2004 after becoming the consensus No. 1 overall high school recruit in the nation. Williams starred at Penn State before reaching the NFL and playing for the Detroit Lions in 2009 and 2010.
Snow Hill’s Ben Tate won in 2005 before starring at Auburn and rushing for more than 2,300 yards during his NFL career, primarily with the Houston Texans. McDonough’s Derrek Drummond earned the 2006 award before playing at the University of Maryland.
Good Counsel linebacker Jelani Jenkins became the first and still only two-time Maryland Gatorade Football Player of the Year, winning in both 2007 and 2008. Jenkins starred at Florida before playing four NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Linganore’s Zach Zwinak wrapped up the decade in 2009, later producing a 1,000-yard rushing season at Penn State.
Gilman continued its tradition of producing elite talent with Darius Jennings winning in 2010. Jennings went on to Virginia before carving out a multi-year NFL career as a return specialist with the Browns and Titans. Another Gilman standout, Cyrus Jones, earned the award in 2011 before winning two national championships at Alabama and later Super Bowl LI with the New England Patriots.
Good Counsel’s Kendall Fuller received the honor in 2012 before developing into one of Maryland’s most accomplished NFL defensive backs, winning Super Bowl LIV with the Kansas City Chiefs and later playing for Washington and Miami. DeMatha’s Taiwan Deal won in 2013 before starring at Wisconsin.
Bullis quarterback Dwayne Haskins captured the 2014 award before rewriting Ohio State passing records, finishing third in the 2018 Heisman Trophy voting, and becoming the 15th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. Haskins tragically passed away in April 2022.
Damascus running back Jake Funk earned the 2015 honor, later starring at Maryland and winning Super Bowl LVI as a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams. Sherwood’s Travis Levy followed in 2016 before playing at Boston College. Wise defensive back Anthony Lytton Jr. won in 2017 and later played at Florida State and Penn State.
Damascus defensive lineman Bryan Bresee earned the 2018 award after becoming the nation’s consensus No. 1 recruit. He starred at Clemson before being selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.
St. Frances Academy’s Blake Corum capped the decade in 2019. Corum became one of Michigan’s greatest running backs, helping lead the Wolverines to the 2023 national championship, setting the school’s all-time rushing touchdown record, and later being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams, where he still plays.
Quince Orchard’s Chop Robinson (Demeioun Robinson) won in 2020 before playing at Maryland and Penn State, eventually becoming a first-round NFL Draft pick by the Miami Dolphins. St. Frances Academy defensive lineman Derrick Moore earned the honor in 2021 and helped Michigan win the 2023 national championship.
DeMatha’s Jason Moore followed in 2022 after signing with Ohio State. Good Counsel linebacker Aaron Chiles received the award in 2023 before signing with the University of Florida. Archbishop Spalding quarterback Malik Washington won in 2024 after signing with the University of Maryland, where he remains the starting quarterback. The most recent recipient is Jireh Edwards of St. Frances Academy, who captured the 2025 honor before committing to play at Alabama.
