Early Contenders: High School Football National Player of the Year Watch List

Video: Player of the Year watch list
See highlights of some of the most spectacular players in high school football.

Win big and put up video game numbers in the process.

That's the formula players like Terrelle Pryor, Derrick Henry and Kyler Murray have used to win MaxPreps National National Player of the Year honors over the past nine years.

It will likely be the formula once again this fall and we've identified 10 of the strongest candidates:

Dylan McCaffrey, QB, 6-5, 200, Sr., Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Committed to Michigan
McCaffrey burst on to the scene last season, throwing for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also rushed for 592 yards and 13 TDs in leading Valor Christian to a Colorado Class 5A state title. The younger brother of Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffrey, he earned MaxPreps Junior first team All-American honors last year. 247Sports has McCaffrey pegged as the No. 26 overall recruit in the 2017 class.

Tate Martell, QB, 5-11, 200, Sr., Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Uncommitted
Martell is a pure winner. He's 30-0 in his two seasons under center at Bishop Gorman and has directed the Gaels to consecutive Nevada Division 1 state titles. Last year he tallied 2,608 passing yards, 604 rushing yards and 41 total TDs. He's arguably the most exciting playmaker in the nation and a huge reason why the Gaels are our No. 3 preseason national team. Tabbed the No. 1 dual-threat QB in the country by 247Sports, California, Ohio State, UCLA, USC and West Virginia are in the picture recruiting-wise.

Najee Harris, RB, 6-2, 220, Sr., Antioch (Calif.)
Committed to Alabama
Harris is arguably the most complete back in the country. There's a reason he's regarded as the top overall prospect in the 2017 class by 247Sports. Harris racked up 2,744 rushing yards and 36 TDs on the ground last season. The versatile back also registered 129 receiving yards and three TDs in leading Antioch to an 11-1 record. He garnered MaxPreps Junior first team Offense All-American accolades.

Sam Ehlinger, QB, 6-1, 205, Sr., Westlake (Austin, Texas)
Committed to Texas
Ehlinger is a dynamic dual-threat QB who makes things happen. Ehlinger recorded 3,833 passing yards, 1,419 rushing yards and 71 total TDs in leading Westlake to the state title game. Ehlinger also helped snap Allen's 57-game win streak in the state semifinals, proving he's a gamer. His storybook season earned him the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year distinction. Rated the fourth best dual-threat QB in the 2017 class by 247Sports. Gage Moloney QB, 6-2, 210, Sr., Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Uncommitted
Moloney was on another level last season. The lefty gunslinger notched 3,969 passing yards and 47 TDs. But he can also burn you with his legs. Moloney logged 506 yards and 16 TDs on the ground. He guided the Trojans to the South Carolina Class 4A state championship and they will enter this season natinoally-ranked. Holds offers from Ohio, East Carolina, Appalachian State and Colorado State.

Kennedy Brooks, RB, 6-0, 197, Sr., Mansfield (Texas)
Uncommitted
Brooks might be the next big-time running back to come out of Texas. He put the team on his back and produced video game numbers last year. Brooks churned out 3,522 rushing yards (235 per game) and 42 scores in charging Mansfield to the 6A semifinals. Oklahoma, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Texas A&M have all offered.

Myles Brennan, QB, 6-3, 180, Sr., St. Stanislaus (Bay St. Louis, Miss.)
Committed to LSU
Brennan threw for an otherworldly 5,428 passing yards and 53 TDs a year ago. He also added 497 rushing yards and eight TDs on the ground in spearheading the Rock-a-Chaws to the Mississippi Class 4A state title game. Brennan collected MaxPreps Junior Second-Team Offense All-American honors for his efforts. He possesses a rocket arm and has a knack for the deep ball. The 6'3, 180-pound three-star prospect is rated the 22nd overall pro-style QB in the 2017 class by 247 Sports Composite. Brennan shows no signs of slowing down his prolific pace.

Dakereon Joyner QB, 6-1, 170, Jr., Fort Dorchester (North Charleston, S.C.)
Uncommitted
Joyner piled up 3,202 passing yards, 1,058 rushing yards and 51 total TDs as a sophomore to help Fort Dorchester run the table en route to a state title. The electric dual-threat QB collected the MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year honor for his accomplishments. He already holds offers from top-tier programs like Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

Shawn Robinson, QB, 6-1, 215, Sr., DeSoto (Texas)
Committed to TCU
Robinson is one of the most productive and exciting dual-threat QBs in the country. The future Horned Frog recorded 1,422 passing yards, 1,568 rushing yards and 31 total TDs in guiding Guyer to the state quarterfinals. But the playmaker took his talents to DeSoto in the off season, which has elevated expectations for the Eagles.

J.T. Daniels, QB, 6-1, 195, So., Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Uncommitted
Daniels was utterly sensational last season as a freshman. He totaled 3,042 passing yards and 33 TDs in leading Mater Dei to the Southern Section semifinals. The 2015 MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year has offers from Arizona, Arizona State, California, Notre Dame, UCLA and Washington. He's a big reason why the Monarchs will enter the year in the Top 10 nationally by MaxPreps.

Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year
2007 – Offense: Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette (Pa.)
2007 – Defense: Nick Perry, King (Detroit, Mich.)
2008 – Garrett Gilbert, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas)
2009 – Dillon Baxter, Mission Bay (San Diego, Calif.)
2010 – Dano Graves, Folsom (Calif.)
2011 – Johnathan Gray, Aledo (Texas)
2012 – Derrick Henry, Yulee (Fla.)
2013 – Kyler Murray, Allen (Texas)
2014 – Kyler Murray, Allen (Texas)
2015 – Derrick Brown, Lanier (Sugar Hill, Ga.)