Mike Ridaught
The finalists for the 2021 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Football and Football Coach of the Year were announced on Tuesday following balloting by a statewide panel of high school football coaches and prep media representatives.
Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in his classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in his class. The two overall winners will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
Hawthorne junior defensive end Jailen Ruth, who led the Hornets (10-1) to a state runner-up finish, finished third in the voting for the Class 1A POY. Ruth finished with 102 tackles, 29 tackles for a loss, 17 sacks, six fumble recoveries, and four caused fumbles.
Madison County senior linebacker Keshaun Mitchell was named the 1A POY after leading his team to an 11-3 record and the 1A state title. Mitchell finished with 147 tackles (93 solo) and had 16 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception for the Cowboys, who won their fourth state title in the past five years.
Three area coaches finished in the top five of the voting, led by Hawthorne coach Cornelius Ingram, who was the runner-up for the 1A COY. He helped guide the Hornets to a 10-1 record and their second straight state runner-up finish.
Adam Gore of state semifinalist Chiefland (11-2) finished fourth, while Andrew Thomas of region finalist Union County (Lake Butler) (12-1) finished fifth in the voting.
Mike Coe of Madison County (11-3) was named the Class 1A COY. Coe now has four state titles (2017-19 and 2021) and a pair of runner-up finishes (2011-12) during his 12 years as head coach, including a 135-26 record.
Buchholz wide receiver Quan Lee finished fifth in the voting for the Class 7A POY. The UCF signee caught 48 passes for 928 yards (19.3 average) in 2021 with 14 TDs.
Bobcats’ coach Mark Whittemore finished third in the voting for 7A COY after leading the Bobcats (12-2) to their first regional title in 30 years. Buchholz, which finished on top of the regional all-classification rankings, lost to eventual 7A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) in the state semifinals.
Senior running back Jaylon Glover of Lake Gibson (Lakeland), last year’s Class 6A POY, was named this year’s Class 7A POY. Glover, a Utah signee, led his team to a 9-4 record and a spot in the state Final Four by rushing for 2,377 yards on 312 carries (7.6 avg.) with 29 TDs.
Jayson Roberts, who led Tampa Bay Tech to a 14-1 record and a state runner-up finish, was named the Class 7A COY.
Final voting numbers by class (top five):
Class 8A
Player School Points
Ryan Browne Venice 124
Eden James Treasure Coast 88
Ahmad Haston Palm Beach Central 41
Collin Hurst Western 38
Maurice Smith Vero Beach 30
Coach School Points
John Peacock Venice 167
Jeff Rolson Apopka 107
Irvin Jones Treasure Coast 72
Mike Granato West Orange 32
Scott Perry Lake Mary 10
Class 7A
Player School Points
Jaylon Glover Lake Gibson 142
Dom Henry Nease 49
Richard Young Lehigh 39
Greg Gaines Tampa Bay Tech 34
Quan Lee Buchholz 29
Coach School Points
Jayson Roberts Tampa Bay Tech 112
Roger Harriott St. Thomas Aquinas 98
Mark Whittemore Buchholz 40
Cameron Duke Edgewater 34
Collin Drafts Nease 30
Class 6A
Player School Points
Taron Dickens Northwestern 116
Marquish Seabon Lake Wales 54
Julian Calvez Jones 52
Junior Vandeross Tampa Jesuit 39
LJ Turner Heritage 33
Coach School Points
Matt Thompson Tampa Jesuit 177
Ronnie Douglas Pine Forest 92
Elijah Williams Jones 37
Max Edwards Northwestern 22
Edwin Farmer Vanguard 15
Class 5A
Player School Points
Brady Denaburg Merritt Island 130
Zamarion Smith Wakulla 54
Omar Graham Stranahan 46
Wesley Bissainthe Miami Central 44
Marvin Jones Jr. American Heritage 20
Coach School Points
Hurlie Brown Merritt Island 136
Roland Smith Miami Central 123
LaVaar Scott Sebring 49
Kevin Mays Baker County 47
Thor Jozwiak Clearwater 10
Class 4A
Player School Points
Kemper Hodges South Walton 87
OJ Ross Cocoa 74
Mason Thomas Cardinal Gibbons 45
Kade Frew Bolles 42
Davin Wydner Cocoa 41
Coach School Points
Matt DuBuc Cardinal Gibbons 117
Ryan Schneider Cocoa 91
Richard Pettus The Villages 54
Cory Moore Lakewood 38
Matt Toblin Bolles 25
Class 3A
Player School Points
Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Chaminade-Madonna 70
Xavier Townsend Berkeley Prep 52
Leon Hart Edison 46
Davion Gause Chaminade-Madonna 39
Naykeem Scott Crescent City 39
Coach School Points
Dameon Jones Chaminade-Madonna 141
Dominick Ciao Berkeley Prep 100
Danny Williams Lakeland Christian 54
Jarrod Hickman Florida High 54
Jack Daniels Cardinal Newman 15
Class 2A
Player School Points
Ennio Yapoor Champagnat Catholic 106
Joshua Brown Munroe 64
Cam Miller Trinity Christian 42
Ty Keller First Baptist Academy 36
Colin Hurley Trinity Christian 35
Coach School Points
Verlon Dorminey Trinity Christian 151
Hector Clavijo Champagnat Catholic 88
Guerschom Demothenes Orlando Christian Prep 49
Bill Sparacio First Baptist Academy 47
Alex Lehky Munroe 20
Class 1A
Player School Points
Keshaun Mitchell Madison County 94
Kayleb Wagner Baker 84
Jailen Ruth Hawthorne 58
DeeJay Holmes Pahokee 32
DJ Oliver Port St. Joe 26
Coach School Points
Mike Coe Madison County 150
Cornelius Ingram Hawthorne 101
Marcus Buchanon Chipley 40
Adam Gore Chiefland 27
Andrew Thomas Union County 15
Independent Player School Points
Nehemiah Vann Seven Rivers Christian 58
Cortland Mitchell Osceola 46
Kyle Horvath Land O’ Lakes 44
Marcus McCrimmon Central Fla. Christian 44
Reggie Virgil Mt. Dora Christian 42
Coach School Points
Ben Bullock Lake Highland Prep 137
Mike Kintz Mt. Dora Christian 89
Robert Baughn Land O’ Lakes 45
Frank Andrea Eagle’s View 10
Cody Montgomery Osceola 10
2021 Mr. Football Finalists:
Ryan Browne, Senior, Quarterback, Venice, Class 8A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 14-1 record and the state championship by completing 175-of-290 passes for 2,636 yards with 31 TDs and 7 interceptions. Also rushed for 534 yards and 8 TDs.
Jaylon Glover, Senior, Running Back, Lake Gibson, Class 7A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 9-4 record and a spot in the state Final Four by rushing for 2,377 yards on 312 carries (7.6 avg.) with 29 TDs. The 2020 Class 6A Player-of-the-Year has signed with the University of Utah.
Taron Dickens, Junior, Quarterback, Northwestern, Class 6A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 10-4 record and a spot in the state Final Four by completing 230-of-327 passes (70.3%) for 3,743 yards with 42 TDs and 8 interceptions. Rushed for 572 yards on 101 carries (5.7 avg.) with 8 TDs.
Brady Denaburg, Senior, Quarterback/Kicker/Punter, Merritt Island, Class 5A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 13-2 record and a state runnerup finish by completing 256-of-426 passes (60.1%) for 3,220 yards with 30 TDs and 15 interceptions. Converted 19-of-26 field goal attempts with a long of 57 yards, was 44-of-44 on extra point attempts and averaged 38.9 yards per punt.
Kemper Hodges, Senior, Quarterback, South Walton, Class 4A Player of the Year
Led his team to a 10-2 record by completing 203-of-329 passes (61.7%) for 3,077 yards with 34 TDs and 13 interceptions. Rushed for 1,169 yards on 146 carries (8.0 avg.) with 26 TDs. Signed with the Air Force Academy.
Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Senior, Defensive Lineman, Chaminade-Madonna, Class 3A Player of the Year
Led his team to an 11-1 record and the state championship with 72 tackles (34 solo), had 17 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. Selected as an Under Armour All-America. Signed with Ohio State University.
Ennio Yapoor, Freshman, Quarterback, Champagnat Catholic, Class 2A Player of the Year
Led his team to an 11-3 record and the state championship by completing 230-of-335 passes for 3,300 yards with 26 TDs and 4 interceptions. Rushed for 530 yards on 124 carries (4.3 avg.) with 11 TDs.
Keshaun Mitchell, Senior, Linebacker, Madison County, Class 1A Player of the Year
Led his team to an 11-3 record and the state championship with 147 tackles (93 solo) and had 16 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and an interception.
Nehemiah Vann, Junior, Quarterback/Defensive Back, Seven Rivers Christian Independent Player of the Year
Completed 121-of-214 passes (56.5%) for 2,100 yards with 29 TDs and 3 interceptions. Rushed for 312 yards and 7 TDs. Had 35 tackles (21 solo) with 2 interceptions.
2021 Football Coach of the Year Finalists:
John Peacock, Venice, Class 8A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 14-1 record and the Class 8A state title. In 15 years at Venice has compiled a 149-38 record, including the 2017 Class 7A state championship.
Jayson Roberts, Tampa Bay Tech, Class 7A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 14-1 record and a state runnerup finish. Completed first undefeated regular season in school history and team earned first-ever trip to the state Final Four. In 11 years at TBT, Roberts has posted a 93-39 record.
Matt Thompson, Tampa Jesuit, Class 6A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 15-0 record and the Class 6A state championship, the school’s first state title in 53 years. Thompson has compiled a 99-22 record in nine years at Jesuit, with six state Final Four appearances.
Hurlie Brown, Merritt Island, Class 5A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 13-2 record and a state runnerup finish. In four years at Merritt Island has posted a 26-16 record.
Matt DuBuc, Cardinal Gibbons, Class 4A Coach of the Year
DuBuc led his squad to an 11-2 record and a second straight Class 4A state title. In six years at Cardinal Gibbons he has compiled a 63-12 record, including the 2018 Class 5A state championship.
Dameon Jones, Chaminade-Madonna, Class 3A Coach of the Year
Led his team to an 11-1 record and the Class 3A state title. In six years at Chaminade he has posted a 66-13 record with four state titles (2017-19 and 2021) and two runnerup finishes (2016 and 2020). In 16 years as a head coach (10 years at Hallandale), he has compiled a 140-30 record.
Verlon Dorminey, Trinity Christian, Class 2A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 10-4 record and the Class 2A state title after winning the 2020 Class 3A state title. In 31 years at Trinity has compiled a 307-81 record with nine state championships (2002-03, 2010, 2013-16, 2020-21).
Mike Coe, Madison County, Class 1A Coach of the Year
Led his team to an 11-3 record and the Class 1A state title. In 12 years as a head coach has compiled a 135-26 record with four state titles (2017-19 and 2021) and a pair of runnerup finishes (2011-12).
Ben Bullock, Lake Highland Prep, Independent Coach of the Year
Led his team to an 11-0 record and the Sunshine State Athletic Conference championship. In five seasons at LHP he has compiled a 28-20 record. In eight seasons overall he has a 49-31 record (Mt. Dora, Ocoee and LHP).