2023 Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Football Player of the Year: Maury QB Au’Tori Newkirk

NORFOLK — All-state voting meetings can sometime be contentious, which is why Maury football coach Dyrri McCain was prepared to argue his case for Class 5 Player of the Year.

But to his surprise, he didn’t have to say much about his choice, junior quarterback Au’Tori Newkirk.

“The coaches all came to a common agreement that he was the player of the year, and it wasn’t even close,” McCain said. “I thought I would have to, but the fact that they recognized that and I didn’t have to speak on him is only a credit to the work that he’s put in. It was a good thing to see that I didn’t even need to press it, and that everybody else kind of spoke on him on his behalf and I didn’t have to do it.”

There also wasn’t much discussion about the best player in Hampton Roads either: Newkirk also was an easy choice as the 2023 Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Football Player of the Year.

“He’s the perfect example of putting in the time and putting in the work to get what he’s deserved,” McCain said about Newkirk, who played junior varsity last season. “I think it’s a testament to who he is and the work that he’s put in to get where he’s at.”

After every game this season, including the state championship, Newkirk was never one to show much emotion. But when he learned he was this year’s recipient, he jumped around covering his mouth, and celebrated with his coach with a special handshake.

“It’s a stepping stone in history, that’s how I think about it,” said Newkirk, who is 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds. “A lot of people can’t say that. Now it’s a stepping stone for more to come.”

Newkirk and McCain, not surprisingly, want to raise the bar higher for next season, which is almost unthinkable considering what he did this season.

As a first-year starter, he helped lead the Commodores to a 15-0 record, including regular-season victories over nationally-ranked Highland Springs and perennial state power Dinwiddie. He topped it off with a victory over Stone Bridge in the Class 5 state title game. In that game he completed 10 of 13 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns, and also rushed for 54 yards and two more scores.

He finished the season 175 of 256 passing for 3,670 yards and 44 touchdowns with just five interceptions. His yards rank second on the all-time single-season South Hampton Roads list. His touchdown total is fourth.

Newkirk also had 4,430 all-purpose yards with 57 total touchdowns — both rank second on the all-time South Hampton Roads list.

Newkirk was the Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year, Class 5 Region A Offensive Player of the Year and Eastern District Offensive Player of the Year.

He has a chance to join elite company as only four players have won the Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Player of the Year twice since the award was first given in 1982. Those players were Wilson quarterback Aaron Sparrow (1989-90), Landstown wide receiver Percy Harvin (2004-05), Salem running back Kevin Whaley (2006-07) and Lake Taylor running back Malik Newton (2018-19)

“It think there’s a high possibility that Au’Tori will join that list. I have faith in him,” McCain said. “I don’t think it’s something that he will personally be chasing for his own goal. Just like this year, it was about finishing a goal, and the rest will come. But I have faith that he will be state player of the year again and All-Tidewater Player of the Year again.”

Newkirk, who credits his mother Natoya, for keeping him humble and grounded, said winning another state title is first and foremost on his list. But winning the award for a second consecutive time is definitely up there.

“That’s not my main goal,” he said, “but it will be something that I would like to achieve.”

Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com

Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Players of the Year

2023 – Au’Tori Newkirk, Maury

2022 – Jordan Bass, Phoebus

2021 (spring) – Ethan Vasko, Oscar Smith (2020 season was postponed because of COVID-19)

2019 – Malik Newton, Lake Taylor and Keandre Lambert, Maury

2018 – Malik Newton, Lake Taylor

2017 – Cam’Ron Kelly, Oscar Smith

2016 – Darriel Mack Jr., Norview

2015 – Wayne Davis, Lake Taylor

2014 – Shiheem Johnson, Lake Taylor

2013 – Andrew Brown, Oscar Smith

2012 – Brandon Moore, Lake Taylor

2011 – J.J. Williamson, Oscar Smith

2010 – Demetrious Nicholson, Bayside

2009 – Phillips Sims, Oscar Smith

2008 – Perry Jones, Oscar Smith

2007 – Kevin Whaley, Salem

2006 – Kevin Whaley, Salem

2005 – Percy Harvin, Landstown

2004 – Percy Harvin, Landstown

2003 – Terry Mitchell, Landstown

2002 – Vince Hall, Western Branch

2001 – Mike Biehl, Salem

2000 – DeAngelo Hall, Deep Creek

1999 – Larry Edwards, Bayside

1998 – Marques Hampton, Tallwood

1997 – Ronyell Whitaker, Lake Taylor

1996 – James Boyd, Indian River

1995 – Deon Dyer, Deep Creek

1994 – Mike Pishioneri, Kempsville

1993 – Charles Jackson, Maury

1992 – Chris Waddler, Norcom

1991 – Lamonte Still, Cox

1990 – Aaron Sparrow, Wilson

1989 – Aaron Sparrow, Wilson

1988 – Jeff Rust, First Colonial

1987 – Mark Hill, Norview

1986 – Alton Grizzard, Green Run

1985 – Keith McMeans, Kempsville

1984 – Joe Matyiko, Kellam

1983 – T.J. Morgan, Kempsville

1982 – Wil Forbes, First Colonial