Tren'Davian Dickson of Navasota (Texas) was not in consideration for Medium Schools National Player of the Year even at the conclusion of the regular season. But then the playoffs began.
After catching 51 passes for 1,229 yards and 24 touchdowns during the regular season, Dickson added 39 catches for 934 yards and 15 touchdowns in the postseason in helping Navasota win the Texas Class 4A-1 championship. He was at his best in the championship game, when he caught 12 passes for 175 yards and four touchdowns, including a pair of scores in overtime, as the Rattlers defeated Argyle 42-35.
Jess Simpson, Buford
Photo by Cecil Copeland
Dickson finished the season as the nation's leader in receiving yardage with 2,163 yards. His receiving yardage total ranks third all-time in Texas history. Meanwhile, his 39 receiving touchdowns not only led the nation, but they also set a national record. Dickson easily surpassed the previous total of 34, posted by Kirby Moore of Prosser (Wash.).
Dickson thus finishes his junior season as the MaxPreps Medium Schools National Player of the Year and he heads the Medium Schools All-American Teams.
Jess Simpson of Buford (Ga.) is the MaxPreps Medium Schools National Coach of the Year. In his 10th year as the head coach of the Wolves, Simpson has amassed a record of 138-8 with seven state championships in the past eight seasons.
Simpson won a Class 4A state championship this year after moving up from Class 3A, where he won a state title in 2013. His team has won three straight state championships with 40 straight wins (43 including two forfeit losses).
The Medium Schools All-American Teams consist of 60 players, 30 on the first and 30 on the second team, from schools that compete in state enrollment divisions that are generally between 1,000 and 2,000 students.
MaxPreps 2014 Medium Schools All-American Football Teams
Tren'Davian Dickson is the MaxPreps 2014 Medium Schools National Player of the Year.
Photos by MaxPreps photographers/Graphic by Ryan Escobar
First Team Offense
WR – Tren'Davian Dickson, Navasota (Texas), 6-0, 160, Junior
Honors: MaxPreps National Junior Player of the Year; MaxPreps Medium Schools Player of the Year; Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston Team; Associated Press Class 4A All-State Team.
Stats: 90 receptions, 2,163 yards (led the nation), 39 touchdowns (national record).
WR – Nolan Borgersen, Westwood (Washington Township, N.J.), 6-2, 190, Senior, Boston College
Honors: MSG All-Metro Team; MSG All-New Jersey Team; NJ.com All-State Team; NJ.Com All-Group 2 Team; Ridgewood News All-Suburban Team; American Family Insurance New Jersey All-State Team.
Stats: 90 receptions, 1,324 yards, 19 touchdowns.
Career: 247 receptions, 4,212 yards, 52 touchdowns.
WR – Tyron Johnson, Easton (New Orleans), 6-2, 200, Senior, LSU
Honors: Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State Team; Under Armour All-American Game; Times Picayune All-Metro Large Schools Team; American Family Insurance Louisiana All-State Team.
Keenan Walker, Chaparral
File photo by Steve Paynter
Stats: 94 receptions, 1,589 yards, 17 touchdowns.
TE – Hale Hentges, Helias (Jefferson City, Mo.), 6-5, 235, Senior, Alabama
Honors: Missouri Coaches Association Class 4 All-State Team; American Family Insurance Missouri All-State Team; Media Class 4 All-State Team; Under Armour All-American Game; Central Missouri Class 4 All-District Team.
Stats: 52 receptions, 969 yards, 11 touchdowns.
OL – Keenan Walker, Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 6-6, 285, Senior, Arizona
Honors: Arizona Republic All-Arizona Team; Under Armour All-American Game; Arizona Republic All-Division II Team.
OL – Ryan Bates, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.), 6-5, 271, Senior, Penn State
Honors: Sports Writers Class 3A All-State Team; American Family Insurance Pennsylvania All-State Team; Philadelphia Daily News All-Southeastern Pa.; Under Armour All-American Game; Eastern Pa. Football Big Schools All-Area Team; Pa. Football News Class 3A All-State Team; Pa. Football News Class 3A Lineman of the Year.
OL – Jerry Tillery, Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport, La.), 6-6, 315, Senior, Notre Dame
Honors: Sports Writers Class 3A All-State Team; US Army All-American Game; Shreveport Times All-City Defensive Player of the Year; American Family Insurance Louisiana All-State Team.
Stats: 93 tackles, 15 TFL, 7 sacks.
OL – Lester Cotton, Central (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), 6-5, 324, Senior, Alabama
Honors: Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State Team; Under Armour All-American Game; AL.com Super All-State Team; Tuscaloosa Region Player of the Year; ASWA Lineman of the Year Candidate; American Family Insurance Alabama All-State Team.
OL – Henry Roberts, Bellevue (Wash.), 6-6, 270, Senior, Washington
Honors: Seattle Star Times All-State Team; Associated Press Class 3A All-State Team; Seattle Star Times All-Area Team; US Army All-American Game.
QB – Brett Rypien, Shadle Park (Spokane, Wash.), 6-2, 185, Senior, Boise State
Honors: Seattle Times All-State Offensive Player of the Year; American Family Insurance Washington All-State Team; Associated Press Class 3A State Player of the Year.
Stats: 345 completions, 541 attempts, 4,552 yards, 50 touchdowns.
Career: 993 completions, 1,580 attempts, 13,009 yards, 138 touchdowns.
QB – Shelton Eppler, Navasota (Texas), 6-1, 185, Junior
Honors: Associated Press Class 4A All-State Team; Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston Team.
Nick Brossette, University Lab
Photo by Parker Waters
Stats: 286 completions, 427 attempts, 5,444 yards, 71 touchdowns.
RB – Markell Jones, Columbus East (Ind.), 5-10, 205, Senior, Purdue
Honors: Associated Press Class 4A All-State Team; All-Central Indiana Player of the Year; Indy Star Mr. Football; Gatorade State Player of the Year; American Family Insurance Indiana All-State Offensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 312 carries, 3,536 yards, 60 touchdowns.
Career: 790 carries, 7,930 yards, 128 touchdowns.
RB – Nick Brossette, University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.), 6-0, 207, Senior, LSU
Honors:
Sports Writers Association Class 3A State Offensive Player of the Year;
Times-Picayune Baton Rouge Area Small Schools Player of the Year; Under
Armour All-American Game; American Family Insurance Louisiana All-State
Team.
Stats: 220 carries, 1,833 yards, 31 touchdowns.
Career: 8,704 yards, 137 rushing touchdowns, 163 total touchdowns.
RB – Reggie Gallaspy, Southern Guilford (Greensboro, N.C.), 5-11, 205, Senior, N.C. State
Honors: Associated Press All-State Team; American Family Insurance North Carolina All-State Team; Greensboro News Record Player of the Year; NCPreps.com All-State Team.
Stats: 349 carries, 3,318 yards, 52 touchdowns.
Career: 808 carries, 6,773 yards, 98 touchdowns.
AP – AJ Gray, Washington County (Sandersville, Ga.), 6-2, 210, Senior, Georgia Tech
Honors: American Family Insurance Georgia All-State Offensive Player of the Year; Georgia Sports Writers All-Classifications Player of the Year; Class 3A Offensive Player of the Year; Macon Telegraph All-Middle Georgia Player of the Year; Gatorade State Player of the Year.
Stats: 97 completions in 183 attempts for 1,776 yards and 21 touchdowns, 225 carries for 2,325 yards and 39 touchdowns.
K – Joey Gogol, Marist (Atlanta), 6-0, 180, Senior, Uncommitted
Honors: Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State Team; Atlanta Journal Constitution All-DeKalb Team.
Stats: 16 field goals in 20 attempts, long of 53, 40 of 41 extra points, 33 touchbacks.
Career: 30 field goals.
First Team Defense
DL – Trenton Thompson, Westover (Albany, Ga.), 6-4, 300, Senior, Georgia
Honors:
US Army All-American Game; American Family Insurance Georgia All-State
Team; Sports Writers Association Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 84 tackles, 36 TFL, 4 sacks.
DL – Devonaire Clarington, Washington (Miami), 6-6, 225, Senior, Uncommitted
Honors: Under Armour All-American Game; US Army All-American Game; American Family Insurance Florida All-State Team.
Stats: 45 tackles, 8 TFL, 6 sacks.
DL – Albert Huggins, Orangeburg-Wilkinson (Orangeburg, S.C.), 6-3, 280, Senior, Clemson
Honors: US Army All-American Game; American Family Insurance South Carolina All-State Team; Times & Democrat Defensive Player of the Year.
Porter Gustin, Salem Hills
Photo by Joel Moffat
Stats: 73 tackles, 10 sacks.
Career: 208 tackles, 28 sacks.
DL – Ryan Buchholz, Great Valley (Malvern, Pa.), 6-5, 235, Senior, Penn State
Honors: All-Southeastern Pa. Team; Sports Writers Class 3A All-State Team; Eastern Pa. Football All-Big School Team; Pa. Football News Class 3A All-State Team.
Stats: 28 TFL, 10 sacks.
LB – Porter Gustin, Salem Hills (Salem, Utah), 6-5, 240, Senior, Uncommitted
Honors:
US Army All-American Game; American Family Insurance Utah All-State
Defensive Player of the Year; Salt Lake City Tribune All-State Team;
Coaches Association Class 4A All-State Team; Deseret News Class 4A state
MVP.
Stats: 152 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2,864
yards passing, 22 touchdown passes, 92 carries, 891 yards rushing, 10
touchdowns.
LB – Richard McBryde, Charles Henderson (Troy, Ala.), 6-2, 215, Senior, Auburn
Honors: AL.com Super State Defensive MVP; Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State Team; Under Armour All-American Game; American Family Insurance Alabama All-State Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 147 tackles, 19 TFL, 1 blocked kick.
LB – Jerome Baker, Benedictine (Cleveland), 6-1, 208, Senior, Ohio State
Honors: US Army All-American Game; JJ Huddle All-Ohio First Team Defense; American Family Insurance Ohio All-State Team; Cleveland Plain Dealer All-Area Team; Associated Press All-Ohio Division IV Defensive Player of the Year.
Stats: 89 tackles, 3 sacks.
LB – Tyrin Ferguson, Karr (New Orleans), 6-2, 210, Senior, Nebraska
Honors: Sports Writers Association Class 4A State Defensive MVP; Times Picayune Large Schools All-Metro Team.
Christian Kirk, Saguaro
Photo by Jim Willittes
Stats: 104 tackles, 18 assists, 23.5 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 29 hurries, 1 blocked kick, 1 safety.
LB – Leo Lewis, Brookhaven (Brookhaven, Miss.), 6-2, 230, Senior, Ole Miss
Honors: Mississippi Association of Coaches Class 5A State Defensive Player of the Year; Clarion-Ledger Targeted 22; Under Armour All-American Game; American Family Insurance Mississippi All-State Team.
Stats: 76 tackles.
DB – Christian Kirk, Saguaro (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 5-11, 200, Senior, Texas A&M
Honors:
Gatorade State Player of the Year; Under Armour All-American Game;
Arizona Republic All-Arizona Team; Arizona Republic Division III Player
of the Year.
Stats: 159 carries, 1,692 yards, 25 touchdowns,
61 receptions, 1,187 yards, 17 touchdowns, 49 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2
blocked field goals.
DB – Austin Joyner, Marysville-Pilchuck (Marysville, Wash.), 5-11, 186, Senior, Uncommitted
Honors: Seattle Times All-State Defensive Player of the Year; American Family Insurance Washington All-State Offensive Player of the Year; HeraldNet.com Offensive Player of the Year; Associated Press Class 3A All-State Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year.
Stats: 133 carries, 1,768 yards, 32 touchdowns.
DB – Tarvarus McFadden, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 6-2, 195, Senior, Florida State
Honors: US Army All-American Game; Sun-Sentinel All-Broward County Team; American Family Insurance Florida All-State Team.
Stats: 40 tackles, 5 interceptions.
DB – Larry Scott, Hubbard (Ohio), 6-0, 219, Senior, Michigan State
Honors: All-Ohio Division III Offensive Player of the Year; JJ Huddle All-Ohio First Team Offense; Vindicator Player of the Year; Semper Fidelis Game; American Family Insurance Ohio All-State Team.
Stats: 295 carries, 2,819 yards rushing, 38 touchdowns, 38 tackles, 5 TFL, 5 interceptions.
P – Joseph Charlton, Flora (Columbia, S.C.), 6-5, 180, Senior, South Carolina
Honors: The Midlands All-Area Team.