PHOENIX (September 6, 2023) — The Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission (ASEC) and
its managed entity, the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC) have released the Ed Doherty Award Week 3 Watch List for the 2023 season.
Nearly 150 high school football players across Arizona representing all divisions, from 1A to 6A were selected, based on their participation and exceptional performances during the first three weeks of the season, as well as on their good academic standing.
Locally, Mikey Casillas and Tristen Sanchez from Morenci, Jeremiah Martinez from Pima and JoJo Ruelas from Safford were named to the list for their performances in the first three weeks of the season.
“With Arizona bursting at the seams with incredible talent, the Arizona Sports & Entertainment
Commission is honored to assume the guardianship of the Ed Doherty Award,” said Nikki Balich,
executive director. “In 2023, we are expanding the Watch List, shining a brighter spotlight on the
growing high school football talent across the state, and celebrating not just the players, but also
their schools and communities. This season promises to be exciting.”
Added Rob Yowell, co-chairman of the Ed Doherty Award Selection Committee, “Now that the
season is underway and games have been played, our work with the Ed Doherty Award Selection
Committee really kicks into action. Every year we are impressed by the amount of talent in
Arizona. We are looking forward to recognizing great performances in the weeks to come, and to
the journey ahead in selecting and celebrating our next member of the Doherty Club.”
2023 Ed Doherty Award Week 3 Watch List
SR Connor Ackerley QB Corona del Sol
SR Donovan Aidoo S Higley
FR Cam Allen QB Central
SR Khameron Athy RB Central
SR Jack Atkinson QB Scottsdale Christian
SR Gage Baker QB Paradise Honors
SR Jaxson Banhie RB Salpointe Catholic
SO Noah Banhie DT Salpointe Catholic
JR Elijah Beamon WR Casteel
SO Khalil Bender WR McClintock
JR Shamar Berryhill WR Sabino
SR Savaughn Berryhill WR Sabino
SR Emiliano Berthely ATH Douglas
SR Greg Bienvenue OL Desert Ridge
SR Nano Birdno TE/DE Flagstaff
SR Bryce Black RB Casteel
JR Bobby Blackburn RB Campo Verde
SO Rico Blassingame WR Tolleson
SR Jack Bleier LB Basha
JR Nikko Boncore-Montoya WR/CB Cactus
JR Mason Bray QB Saguaro
SR Nash Brewer ATH Show Low
SO Chase Brown QB Flagstaff
SR Navi Brunson QB Liberty
JR JJ Brutus DE/RB American Leadership Academy West Foothills
SR Tyson Buckley QB Camp Verde
SR Noah Carter DE/WR Centennial
SR Michael Casillas RB Morenci
SR Jaxson Castro QB Arizona College Prep
SR Christian Clark RB Mountain Pointe
SR Kason Colbert RB/LB Mica Mountain
SR Luis Cordova OT/DT Salpointe Catholic
SR Kody Cullimore RB Highland
SO Tony Cumberland DL Desert Mountain
SR Samuel Delgado RB Catalina Foothills
SR Kezion Dia-Johnson WR Desert Edge
SR Sam Earle LB Campo Verde
SR Nijrell Eason CB Higley
SR Gideon Enter RB Arizona Lutheran
SO Gunner Fagrell QB Higley
JR Kalen Fisher QB Highland
SR Tayt Ford RB Yuma Catholic
SR Ismail Foz CB/WR Central
SR Jack Freeburg WR Desert Mountain
SR Bridger French RB/QB Coconino
SR Braylon Gardner RB/WR Liberty
SR Champ Gennicks LB Red Mountain
Jr Lucas George RB Queen Creek
YR First Name Last Name Position High School
SR Jack Germaine QB Mountain View Mesa
SR Aundre Gibson CB Desert Edge
SR Cayden Gibson DE Arizona College Prep
SR James Giggey DE Bradshaw Mountain
SR Gavin Gilbert RB/LB Tanque Verde
JR Kody Guy QB Williams Field
SR Cameron Hackworth QB Sabino
SR Daxen Hall RB Higley
JR Luke Haugo QB Higley
JR Dajon Hinton ATH Saguaro
SR Dillon Hipp TE Desert Mountain
SR Shane Hooper WR Bagdad
JR Wyatt Horton QB Pinnacle
SR Josh Jackson RB Florence
SR Plas Johnson WR Chapparral
SR Titus Johnson QB Millennium
SR Jaxson Jones DE Yuma Catholic
JR Kaleb Jones OT Mountain Pointe
SO Marcel Jones QB Chaparral
SR Jonathan Kamara LB Desert Edge
SR Devan Kennedy DE Brophy
JR Jaxon Knutson QB McClintock
SR Carson Kolb LB Horizon
SR Nate Laduke FS American Leadership Academy Queen Creek
SR Chase Laux S Canyon del Oro
SR Carter Lavrusky OL Horizon
SR Dylan Lee RB Williams Field
SR Jimmy Leon DE Mica Mountain
SR Braesen Leon QB Marcos de Niza
JR Elijah Little RB Thunderbird
SR Miles Lockhart CB Basha
JR Sebastian Lopez QB/DB Bisbee
SR Kayden Luke RB Canyon del Oro
JR Garrett Martin DE Scottsdale
SR Jeremiah Martinez ATH Pima
SR Jaedon Matthews RB Saguaro
SR Toby Mealer OL Hamilton
JR Hezekiah Millender QB Desert Edge
SR Luke Moga QB Sunnyslope
SR Adam Mohammed RB Apollo
SR Josh Morales WR Paradise Honors
SR Prince Mugisha RB/LB Tucson
SR Bubba Mustain QB Pusch Ridge
SR Zayden Neil QB San Tan Charter
JR Uriah Nelmons WR San Tan Charter
SR Jeremiah Newcombe CB Casteel
SO Nash Ott QB Yuma Catholic
SR Beckham Pellant QB Hamilton
JR Cooper Perry WR Notre Dame
YR First Name Last Name Position High School
SR McKy Peters LB/RB Mesa
SR Noah Petrauschke QB Lee Williams
SR Brandon Phelps WR American Leadership Academy Gilbert North
JR Jayden Plotkin RB River Valley
JR Logan Powell OT Brophy
SR Tommy Prassas S Basha
JR Karter Raban RB Snowflake
SR Gabe Ricketts RB Bradshaw Mountain
JR Dezmen Roebuck ATH Marana
SR Logan Rogers LB Desert Ridge
SR Mardale Rowe DE Brophy
SR JoJo Ruelas QB Safford
SR Elijah Rushing DE Salpointe Catholic
SR Tristen Sanchez DE Morenci
SO Daylen Sharper WR Brophy
SR Deacon Shea LB Notre Dame
SR Naji Sherrod LB Hamilton
SR David Simmons WR Blue Ridge
SR Tyton Slade WR/DB American Leadership Academy Gilbert North
SR Gariel Smith QB Walden Grove
JR Nate Spivey DB/RB Salpointe Catholic
SR Junior St. Cyr RB Mesa
SR Keaton Stam LB Liberty
SR Dylan Tapley ATH Desert Mountain
JR Diesel Taylor QB Perry
JR Uriah Tennette WR/QB/DB Prescott
JR Cree Thomas CB Brophy
SR Isaiah Thomas WR/RB Paradise Honors
JR Jayden Thoreson QB Mica Mountain
SR Don Tinsley RB Perry
SR Andrew Trapp ATH Scottsdale Christian
SR Jacob Trapp RB Scottsdale Christian
SR Noah Trigueros QB Notre Dame
SR Kennedy Urlacher S Chandler
SR Ca’Lil Valentine RB Chandler
JR Dean Vincent LB Pinnacle
JR Raiden Vines-Bright WR Corona del Sol
SR Deshawn Warner DE Desert Edge
SR Enoch Watson QB American Leadership Academy Queen Creek
JR Jaden Wetzel RB Flagstaff
JR Conner White QB American Leadership Academy Gilbert North
SR Keona Wilhite DL Salpointe Catholic
SR Jonathon Williams ATH Mohave
SR Demond Williams Jr QB Basha
SR Santana Wilson CB Desert Mountain
SR Jon Wilson RB Liberty
SO Malachai Wilt QB Tonopah
SR Jason Wood QB Marana
SR Sa’Kylee Woodard DL Canyon del Oro
SR Prayer Young-Blackgoat TE/DE Coconino
Watch List players could potentially receive an Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallion when the
Selection Committee announces its weekly picks beginning Wednesday, September 13. However, nominees are not limited to those appearing on the Watch List. Players chosen will be presented with a medallion at their respective schools each week.
The 2023 Ed Doherty Award recognizing Arizona’s most outstanding high school football player
will be announced at a special luncheon for all nominees on Saturday, December 9. For more
information on the award or to purchase tickets to the ceremony, please visit www.azsportsent.com, or call 480.517.9700.
About the Ed Doherty Award
Since its inception in 1987, the Ed Doherty Award has served as the State of Arizona’s highest individual high school football honor, annually recognizing the most outstanding player on and off the field. Recipients are selected for demonstrating athletic excellence and unwavering integrity,
along with a commitment to academics, community, and school pride.
About the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club
The Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club is the most meaningful advocate of high school football in
the State of Arizona. Its mission is to represent Arizona amateur athletics by bringing national attention to the extraordinary qualities of young people in their pursuit of athletic achievement, academic advancement, and greater social affinity.
About the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission
The Commission collaborates with hundreds of partners to help fulfill the mission of bringing national and international sporting events to the state; assisting in the promotion of existing events and Arizona sports teams; providing volunteer recruitment and organization for large-scale sporting events; and developing youth sports programs. In 2009, it assumed oversight of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2012, the Grand Canyon State Games and the Lori Piestewa National Native American Games. ASEC was the founding organization and owner of the 2015 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. For more information on the Commission, call 480.517.9700 or visit www.azsportsent.com.
