# USA Today High School Football Player of the Year

The USA Today High School Football Player of the Year is the award given by USA Today to the best offensive and defensive high school football players in America.
The award has been given since 1982, the year the newspaper began, and each player was part of the USA Today All-USA high school football team.

## Winners
### Offense

| Year | Player | Pos. | High School | College | NFL | Notes |
| 1982 | John Paye | QB | Menlo School | Stanford | Yes | Two year NFL career |
| 1983 | Ryan Knight | RB | Rubidoux | USC | No | |
| 1984 | Hart Lee Dykes | WR | Bay City | Oklahoma State | Yes | Two-year NFL career |
| 1985 | Jeff George | QB | Warren Central | Illinois | Yes | 13-year NFL career |
| 1986 | Emmitt Smith | RB | Escambia | Florida | Yes | Pro Football Hall of Fame, 4x rushing champion |
| 1987 | Todd Marinovich | QB | Mission Viejo | USC | Yes | Two-year NFL career |
| 1988 | Terry Kirby | RB | Tabb | Virginia | Yes | Ten-year NFL career |
| 1989 | Andre Hastings | WR | Morrow | Georgia | Yes | Eight-year NFL career |
| 1990 | Marquette Smith | RB | Lake Howell | FSU / Central Florida | Yes | Two year NFL career |
| 1991 | Stephen Davis | RB | Spartanburg | Auburn | Yes | Three-time Pro Bowler |
| 1992 | Ron Powlus | QB | Berwick (PA) | Notre Dame | Yes | Played in one NFL season |
| 1993 | Josh Booty | QB | Evangel Christian | LSU | Yes | Three-year NFL career |
| 1994 | Dan Kendra | QB | Bethlehem Catholic | Florida State | No | |
| 1995 | Tim Couch | QB | Leslie County | Kentucky | Yes | First overall pick in NFL draft |
| 1996 | Travis Minor | RB | Baton Rouge Catholic | Florida State | Yes | Eight-year NFL career |
| 1997 | Ronald Curry | QB | Hampton High | North Carolina | Yes | Seven-year NFL career |
| 1998 | Chris Simms | QB | Ramapo | Texas | Yes | Eight-year NFL career |
| 1999 | Brock Berlin | QB | Evangel Christian | Florida/Miami | Yes | Played in two NFL seasons |
| 2000 | Joe Mauer | QB | Cretin-Derham Hall | N/A | No | Went to Major League Baseball; 2009 American League MVP |
| 2001 | Maurice Clarett | RB | Warren Harding | Ohio State | No | Drafted, but never played in NFL |
| 2002 | Chris Leak | QB | Independence | Florida | Yes | Made NFL roster for one season, did not play |
| 2003 | Brian Brohm | QB | Trinity | Louisville | Yes | Three-season NFL career |
| 2004 | Ryan Perrilloux | QB | East St. John (La.) | LSU / Jacksonville State | No | Signed and released by NY Giants Played in Arena and in France Ligue Élite de Football Américain |
| 2005 | Mitch Mustain | QB | Springdale | Arkansas / USC | No | Played in Arena Football League |
| 2006 | Jimmy Clausen | QB | Oaks Christian (Calif.) | Notre Dame | Yes | Second-round pick in 2010 draft |
| 2007 | Terrelle Pryor | QB | Jeannette (Pa.) High School | Ohio State | Yes | 2011 Supplemental draft |
| 2008 | Garrett Gilbert | QB | Lake Travis (Tex.) High School | Texas / SMU | Yes | Sixth round pick in 2014 NFL draft |
| 2009 | Seantrel Henderson | OT | Cretin-Derham Hall | Miami | Yes | 7th round pick in 2014 NFL draft |
| 2010 | Kiehl Frazier | QB | Shiloh Christian | Auburn / Ouachita Baptist | No | |
| 2011 | Dorial Green-Beckham | WR | Hillcrest (Mo.) High | Missouri / Oklahoma | Yes | Second-round pick in 2015 NFL draft |
| 2012 | Max Browne | QB | Skyline High School | USC / Pittsburgh | No | |
| 2013 | Leonard Fournette | RB | St. Augustine High School (LA) | LSU | Yes | First-round pick in 2017 NFL draft |
| 2014 | Kyler Murray | QB | Allen (TX) | Texas A&M / Oklahoma | Yes | First overall pick of the 2019 NFL draft |
| 2015 | Jacob Eason | QB | Lake Stevens High School (WA) | Georgia / Washington | Yes | Fourth-round pick in 2020 NFL draft |
| 2016 | Tate Martell | QB | Bishop Gorman (NV) | Ohio State / Miami / UNLV | No | |
| 2017 | Trevor Lawrence | QB | Cartersville High School | Clemson | Yes | First overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft |
| 2018 | DJ Uiagalelei | QB | St. John Bosco | Clemson / Oregon State / Florida State | – |
| 2019 | Bryce Young | QB | Mater Dei High School | Alabama | Yes | First overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft |
| 2020 | Cade Klubnik | QB | Westlake (TX) | Clemson | – | |
| 2021 | Cade Klubnik (2) | QB | Westlake (TX) | Clemson | – |
| 2022 | Lamar Sperling | RB | Archbishop Hoban (OH) | Buffalo | – | |
| 2023 | DJ Lagway | QB | Willis (TX) | Florida | – |
| 2024 | Julian "JuJu" Lewis | QB | Carrollton (GA) | Colorado | – |

### Defense

| Year | Player | Pos. | High School | College | NFL | Notes |
| 1982 | Henry Harris | LB | Columbia (Ga.) | Georgia | No | |
| 1983 | Ron Stallworth | DT | Woodham (Fla.) | Auburn | Yes | Two-year NFL career |
| 1984 | Quintus McDonald | LB | Montclair (NJ) | Penn State | Yes | Three-year NFL career |
| 1985 | John Foley | LB | St. Rita (Ill.) | Notre Dame | No | |
| 1986 | Marc Spindler | DT | West Scranton | Pittsburgh | Yes | Nine-year NFL career |
| 1987 | Todd Collins | LB | Jefferson County High | Carson-Newman | Yes | Nine-year NFL career, two Super Bowl appearances |
| 1988 | Sean Gilbert | LB | Aliquippa (Pa.) | Pittsburgh | Yes | Played 11 NFL seasons |
| 1989 | Oliver Gibson | LB | Romeoville (Ill.) | Notre Dame | Yes | Nine-year NFL career |
| 1990 | Derrick Brooks | LB | Booker T. Washington (Fla.) | Florida State | Yes | Nine-time NFL All-Pro |
| 1991 | Dexter Daniels | LB | Valdosta | Florida | Yes | Played four NFL games |
| 1992 | Jammi German | HB | Fort Myers (Fla.) | Miami (Fla.) | Yes | Four-year NFL career |
| 1993 | Lamont Green | LB | Southridge (Fla.) | Florida State | Yes | Played in the NFL in 1999 |
| 1994 | Kory Minor | LB | Bishop Amat (Calif.) | Notre Dame | Yes | Four-year NFL career |
| 1995 | Andy Katzenmoyer | LB | Westerville South (Ohio) | Ohio State | Yes | Butkus and Lambert award winner in college |
| 1996 | David Warren | DE | John Tyler (Tex.) | Florida State | No | Played in the CFL |
| 1997 | Dennis Johnson | DE | Harrodsburg | Kentucky | Yes | Three-year NFL career |
| 1998 | Cory Redding | LB | North Shore (Tex.) | Texas | Yes | 12-year NFL career |
| 1999 | D.J. Williams | LB | De La Salle (Calif.) | Miami | Yes | Ten-year NFL career |
| 2000 | Shaun Cody | DL | Los Altos (Calif.) | USC | Yes | Seven-year NFL career |
| 2001 | Ahmad Brooks | LB | C. D. Hylton (Va.) | Virginia | Yes | 11-year NFL career |
| 2002 | Antonio Cromartie | DB | Lincoln (Fl.) | Florida State | Yes | 11-year NFL career |
| 2003 | Ted Ginn Jr. | DB | Glenville (Ohio) | Ohio State | Yes | 14-year NFL career |
| 2004 | Kenny Phillips | DB | Carol City (Fl.) | Miami | Yes | Eight-year NFL career |
| 2005 | Gerald McCoy | DL | Southeast (Okla.) | Oklahoma | Yes | 11-year NFL career |
| 2006 | Marvin Austin | DT | Ballou (Wash., DC) | North Carolina | Yes | Five-year NFL career |
| 2007 | Patrick Peterson | DB | Blanche Ely (Fla.) | LSU | Yes | Active in NFL since 2011 |
| 2008 | Manti Te'o | LB | Punahou (Hawai'i) | Notre Dame | Yes | Seven-year NFL career |
| 2009 | Lamarcus Joyner | DB | St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) | Florida State | Yes | Active in NFL since 2014 |
| 2010 | Jadeveon Clowney | DE | South Pointe | South Carolina | Yes | First overall pick in 2014 NFL draft |
| 2011 | Mario Edwards Jr. | DE | Ryan High (Tex.) | Florida State | Yes | Second round pick in 2015 NFL draft |
| 2012 | Su'a Cravens | DB | Vista Murrieta (CA.) | USC | Yes | Second round pick in 2016 NFL draft |
| 2013 | Jabrill Peppers | DB | Paramus Catholic (NJ) | Michigan | Yes | First round pick in 2017 NFL draft |
| 2014 | Trenton Thompson | DT | Westover Comprehensive (GA) | Georgia | Yes | Undrafted, Signed by Cleveland Browns |
| 2015 | Rashan Gary | DT | Paramus Catholic (NJ) | Michigan | Yes | First round pick in 2019 NFL draft |
| 2016 | Shaun Wade | DB | Trinity Christian High School (Florida) | Ohio State | Yes | Fifth round pick in 2021 NFL draft |
| 2017 | Solomon Tuliaupupu | LB | Mater Dei | USC | – | |
| 2018 | Kayvon Thibodeaux | DE | Oaks Christian School | Oregon | Yes | First round pick in 2022 NFL draft |
| 2019 | Justin Flowe | LB | Upland | Oregon / Arizona | |
| 2020 | Ga'Quincy McKinstry | CB | Pinson Valley | Alabama | Yes | Second round pick in 2024 NFL draft |
| 2021 | Walter Nolen | DT | Powell (TN) | Texas A&M / Ole Miss | – | |
| 2022 | Caleb Downs | DB | Mill Creek (GA) | Alabama / Ohio State | – | |
| 2023 | Sammy Brown | LB | Jefferson (GA) | Clemson | – | |