Vote now: Midlands high school football 2024 Offensive Player of the Year
It’s time to vote for The State’s 2024 high school football Offensive Player of the Year from Midlands-area teams.
Voting ends at noon Monday, Dec. 23, and the winner will be announced with the all-area football team.
Below are the nominees. You can vote as many times as you would like.
Offensive Player of Year Nominees
AJ Brand, QB, Irmo: Virginia Tech signee threw for 2,600 yards, rushed for 2,029 and accounted for 57 touchdowns in helping the Yellow Jackets to the Class 5A Division II championship game. Brand also was named S.C. Gatorade Player of the Year and a Shrine Bowl all-star game selection.
Kendall Byrd, WR, AC Flora: Junior caught 83 passes for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Tylin Drakeford, WR, Camden: Junior had 1,380 all-purpose yards and accounted for 15 touchdowns. Drakeford also played on defense and had 54 tackles, four passes defensed and an interception.
Caleb Ford, RB, Cardinal Newman: Senior was the SCISA 1-4A Co-Player of the Year and rushed for 2,346 yards with 17 total touchdowns.
Tydarion Grier, RB, Fairfield Central: Senior rushed for 2,184 yards, had 208 yards receiving and had 39 total touchdowns. Grier was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl.
Donovan Murph, WR, Irmo: Junior caught 96 passes for 1,328 yards and 12 touchdowns. Reclassified from the Class of 2026 to Class of 2025 and is ranked as a four-star prospect.
Desmond Washington, QB, Keenan: Senior threw for 2,789 yards, rushed for 244 and had 29 total touchdowns. Washington was Region 4-3A Player of the Year.
Aiden Wiles OL, North Central: Senior has 52 pancake blocks and also scored four touchdowns on offense. Defensively, he had 52 tackles (16 for loss), 4.5 sacks and blocked two kicks. Wiles was picked to play in the Shrine Bowl and signed with The Citadel.
Will Wilson, QB, Richland Northeast: Senior threw for 2,482 yards, rushed for 1,144 yards and accounted for 42 touchdowns despite missing two games because of injury. Wilson signed with N.C. State, was named Richland County Football Player of Year, was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl and is a finalist for South Carolina’s Mr. Football honor as player of the year.
Amadre Wooden, RB, Batesburg-Leesville: Junior rushed for 2,138 yards (third most in school history) and had 26 touchdowns.
This story was originally published December 16, 2024 at 9:30 AM.
