San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy of Gilbert Perry fame won it. Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson of Tucson Salpointe Catholic won it in back-to-back seasons.
Who will be the next Arizona high school football player to take home the Ed Doherty Award, handed to the top player in the state at the end of this season?
The Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission and the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club have released the Doherty Award watch list for the 2023 season. This week is the start of the Doherty Award medallions given to top performers from each week for the rest of the season.
Salpointe's Bijan Robinson (5) smiles after making a one-handed sideline catch against Chandler's defense during their Open Division semifinal game at Hamilton High School in Chandler on Nov. 23, 2019
Here is the watch list in alphabetical order:
Connor Ackerley, Tempe Corona del Sol, QB, Sr.
Donovan Aidoo, Gilbert Higley, DB, Sr.
Cam Allen, Phoenix Central, QB, Fr.
Khameron Athy, Central, RB, Sr.
Jack Atkinson, Scottsdale Christian, QB, Sr.
Gage Baker, Surprise Paradise Honors, QB, Sr.
Jaxson Banhie, Salpointe Catholic, RB, Sr.
Noah Banhie, Salpointe Catholic, DT, So.
Elijah Beamon, Queen Creek Casteel, WR, Jr.
Khalil Bender, Tempe McClintock, WR, So.
Shamar Berryhill, Tucson Sabino, WR, Jr.
Savaughn Berryhill, Sabino, WR, Sr.
Emiliano Berthely, Douglas, Athlete, Sr.
Greg Bienvenue, Mesa Desert Ridge, OL, Sr.
Nano Birdno, Flagstaff, TE/DE, Sr.
Bryce Black, Casteel, RB, Sr.
Bobby Blackburn, Gilbert Campo Verde, RB
Rico Blassingame, Tolleson, WR, So.
Jack Bleier, Chandler Basha, LB, Sr.
Nikko Boncore, Glendale Cactus, WR/DB, Jr.
Mason Bray, Scottsdale Saguaro, QB, Sr.
Nash Brewer, Show Low, Athlete/QB, Sr.
Chase Brown, Flagstaff, QB, So.
Navi Bruzon, Peoria Liberty, QB, Sr.
JJ Brutus, American Leadership West Foothills, DE, Jr.
Tyson Buckley, Camp Verde, QB, Sr.
Noah Carter, Peoria Centennial, DE/TE, Sr.
Michael Casillas, Morenci, RB, Sr.
Jaxon Castro, Chandler Arizona College Prep, QB, Jr.
Christian Clark, Phoenix Mountain Pointe, RB, Sr.
Kason Colbert, Tucson Mica Mountain, RB/LB, Sr.
Luis Cordova, Salpointe Catholic, OL/DL, Sr.
Kody Cullimore, Gilbert Highland, RB/S, Sr.
Tony Cumberland, Scottsdale Desert Mountain, OL/DL, So.
Samuel Delgado, Tucson Catalina Foothills, RB, Sr.
Kezion Dia-Johnson, Goodyear Desert Edge, WR, Sr.
Sam Earle, Campo Verde, LB, Sr.
Nijrell Eason II, Higley, DB, Sr.
Gideon Enter, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran, LB/RB, Sr.
Gunner Fagrell, Higley, QB, So.
Kalen Fisher, Highland, QB, Jr.
Tayt Ford, Yuma Catholic, RB, Sr.
Izzy Foz, Central, WR/CB/K, Sr.
Jack Freeburg, Desert Mountain, WR, Sr.
Bridger French, Coconino, RB, Sr.
Braylon Gardner, Liberty, WR, Sr.
Champ Gennick, Mesa Red Mountain, LB, Sr.
Lucas George, Queen Creek, RB, Jr.
Jack Germaine, Mesa Mountain View, QB, Sr.
Aundre Gibson, Desert Edge, DB, Sr.
Cayden Gibson, Arizona College Prep, DE, Sr.
James Giggey, Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain, DE/LB/RB, Sr.
Gavin Gilbert, Tucson Tanque Verde, RB/LB, Sr.
Kody Guy, Williams Field, QB, Jr.
Cameron Hackworth, Sabino, QB, Sr.
Daxen Hall, Higley, RB, Sr.
Luke Haugo, Higley, QB, Jr.
Dajon Hinton, Saguaro, Athlete, Jr.
Dillon Hipp, Desert Mountain, TE, Sr.
Shane Hooper, Bagdad, WR, Sr.
Wyatt Horton, Phoenix Pinnacle, QB, Jr.
Josh Jackson, Florence, RB, Sr.
Plas Johnson, Chaparral, WR, Sr.
Titus Johnson, Goodyear Millennium, QB, Sr.
Jaxson Jones, Yuma Catholic, DE, Sr.
Kaleb Jones, Mountain Pointe, OL, Jr.
Marcel Jones, Chaparral, QB, So.
Jonathan Kamara, Desert Edge, LB/SS, Sr.
Devan Kennedy, Brophy Prep, DE, Sr.
Jaxon Knutson, McClintock, QB, Jr.
Carson Kolb, Horizon, LB, Sr.
Nate LaDuke, American Leadership Queen Creek, DB, Sr.
Chase Laux, Oro Valley Canyon del Oro, DB, Sr.
Carter Lavrusky, Horizon, OL, Sr.
Dylan Lee, Williams Field, RB, Sr.
Jimmy Leon, Mica Mountain, DE, Sr.
Braesen Leon, Marcos de Niza, QB, Sr.
Elijah Little, Phoenix Thunderbird, RB, Jr.
Miles Lockhart, Basha, DB/RB, Sr.
Sebastian Lopez, Bisbee, QB/DB, Jr.
Kayden Luke, Canyon del Oro, RB, Sr.
Garrett Martin, Saguaro, DE, Jr.
Jeremiah Martinez, Pima, RB/LB, Sr.
Jaedon Matthews, Saguaro, RB, Sr.
Toby Mealer, Hamilton, OL, Sr.
Hezekiah Millender, Desert Edge, QB, Jr.
Luke Moga, Sunnyslope, QB, Sr.
Adam Mohammed, Glendale Apollo, RB, Sr.
Josh Morales, Paradise Honors, WR, Sr.
Prince Mugisha, Tucson, RB/LB, Sr.
Bubba Mustain, Tucson Pusch Ridge, QB/Athlete, Sr.
Zayden Neill, Gilbert San Tan Charter, QB, Sr.
Uriah Nelmons, San Tan Charter, WR, Jr.
Jeremiah Newcombe, Casteel, DB/WR, Sr.
Nash Ott, Yuma Catholic, QB, So.
Beckham Pellant, Hamilton, QB, Sr.
Cooper Perry, Notre Dame Prep, WR, Jr.
McKy Peters Mesa, LB/RB, Sr.
Noah Petrauschke, Kingman Lee Williams, QB, Sr.
Brandon Phelps, Americah Leadership Gilbert North, WR, Sr.
Jayden Plotkin, River Valley, RB, Jr.
Logan Powell, Brophy Prep, OL, Jr.
Tommy Prassas, Basha, DB, Sr.
Karter Raban, Snowflake, RB, Jr.
Gabe Ricketts, Bradshaw Mouhntain, RB, Sr.
Dezmen Roebuck, Marana, Athlete, Jr.
Logan Roger, Desert Ridge, LB, Sr.
Mardale Rowe, Brophy Prep, DE, Sr.
JoJo Ruelas, Safford, QB, Sr.
Elijah Rushing, Salpointe Catholic, DE, Sr.
Tristen Sanchez, Morencio, DE, Sr.
Daylen Sharper, Brophy Prep, WR, Sro.
Deacon Shea, Notre Dame, LB, Sr.
Naji Sherrod, Hamilton, LB, Sr.
David Simmons, Lakeside Blue Ridge, WR, Sr.
Tyton Slade, American Leadership Gilbert North, WR/DB, Sr.
Gariel Smith, Walden Grove, QB, Sr.
Nate Spivey, Salpointe Catholic, DB/RB, Jr.
Junior St. Cyre, Mesa, RB, Sr.
Keaton Stam, Liberty, LB, Sr.
Dylan Tapley, Desert Mountain, WR/DB, Sr.
Diesel Taylor, Perry, QB, Jr.
Uriah Tennette, Prescott, Athlete, Jr.
Cree Thomas, Brophy Prep, DB, Jr.
Isaiah Thomas, Paradise Honors, WR/RB, Sr.
Jayden Thoreson, Mica Mountain, QB, Jr.
Don Tinsley, Perry, RB, Sr.
Andrew Trapp, Scottsdale Christian, WR, Sr.
Jacob Trapp, Scottsdale Christian, RB, Sr.
Noah Trigueros, Notre Dame, QB, Sr.
Kennedy Urlacher, Chandler, DB, Sr.
Ca'lil Valentine, Chandler, RB, Sr.
Dean Vincent, Pinnacle, LB, Jr.
Raiden Vinces-Bright, Corona del Sol, WR, Jr.
Deshawn Warner, Desert Edge, DE, Sr.
Eoch Watson, American Leadership Queen Creek, QB, Sr.
American Leadership Academy Queen Creek, QB, Sr.
Jaden Wetzel, Flagstaff, RB, Jr.
Conner White, American Leadership Gilbert North, QB, Jr.
Keona Wilhite, Salpointe Catholic, DL, Sr.
Jonathan Williams, Mohave, RB/LB, Sr.
Demond Williams Jr., Basha, QB, Sr.
Santana Wilson, Desert Mountain, DB, Sr.
Jon Wilson, Liberty, RB, Sr.
Malachi Wilt, Tonopah Valley, QB, So.
Jason Wood, Marana, QB, Sr.
Sa'Kylee Woodard, Canyon del Oro, DL, Sr.
Prayer Young-Blackgoat, Coconino, TE/DE, Sr.
CASTRO, GIBSON ON THE ED DOHERTY WATCH LIST
