Meet the Herald-Tribune All-Area Football Defense for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties
The Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte High School Sports Awards will be back with an exciting live event again in 2023. The program is produced with the support of Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota Ford.
The nine-month student-athlete recognition program will culminate in an in-person show, featuring the top student-athletes from the Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte area. The event’s time, date and venue are still to be determined and will be announced soon.
Nominees for player of the year for 24 state-sanctioned sports will be announced throughout the year in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, on its website www.heraldtribune.com, and on its many social platforms.
During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with the player of the year for each sport. The awards showcase will also feature other premier awards for both on- and off-the-field accomplishments of student-athletes, coaches and teams, including a courage award and coach of the year, team of the year, and the boys and girls athlete of the year awards.
All official nominees who RSVP can attend this event at no charge thanks to sponsors. Check the website listed above regularly for updated information on how to attend.
The Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte High School Sports Awards is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, which is the largest high school sports recognition program in the country. Last year’s show can still be viewed online at this link. This year, one school from the area will win a $1,000 donation to its school’s athletic department. More details on that are coming soon.
ALL-AREA DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Da'marcus Abner, Riverview, senior
The 6-foot-1, 255-pounder finished with 64 tackles, six sacks, 11 tackles for loss, three caused fumbles and four fumble recoveries, one for a touchdown.
Dont'a Abner, Riverview, junior
The 6-foot-1, 253-pounder, playing in eight games, had 41 tackles, three sacks, seven tackles for loss, two caused fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Brandon Bass, Booker, senior
Totaled 71 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception.
Myron Charles, Port Charlotte, sophomore
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Pirate tackle ended the season with 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup.
Ean Johnson-Kelley, Manatee, sophomore
The 6-foot-1, 260-pounder had 52 tackles, five sacks, 20 hurries and one caused fumble.
Trenton Kintigh, Venice, senior
Playing in nine games, the 6-foot-2, 270-pounder recorded 73 tackles and one QB hurry.
Jack MacKinnon, Cardinal Mooney, senior
Finished the year with 58 tackles, 13 sacks, and 26 tackles for loss. Voted to FACA first team.
Alvoid Kennon, Manatee, sophomore
The 6-foot, 250-pounder finished with 28 tackles, 12 for loss, three sacks and five QB hurries.
Drew Rumph, Palmetto, senior
The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder finished with 44 tackles, four sacks and one caused fumble.
Zekilunn Singleton, Booker, senior
Finished with 12.5 sacks, 64 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Damon Wilson, Venice, senior
The future Georgia Bulldog finished with 94 tackles, 10 sacks, nine hurries, two fumble recoveries and two caused fumbles.
LINEBACKERS
Aidan Dangler, Braden River, senior
A FACA first-teamer, Dangler recorded 91 tackles, three sacks, three QB hurries and two caused fumbles.
Jack Huber, Venice, senior
Totaled 114 tackles, one sack, two QB hurries and one interception.
J.R. Rosenberg, Cardinal Mooney, senior
FACA first-team selection. Totaled 90 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles, four passes defensed.
George Leibold, Cardinal Mooney, junior
Finished with 126 tackles, five interceptions, one returned for a touchdown.
Thomas Johnson, Palmetto, senior
Finished with 76 tackles, one interception, three passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Eli Seed, Venice, junior
Led Venice in tackles with 127. Added three interceptions and three passes defensed.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Daron Jean, Manatee, junior
Totaled 20 tackles, four interceptions, 12 passes defensed.
Eric Bell, Port Charlotte, junior
Finished with 40 tackles, 10 passes defensed, one interception and one TD.
Teddy Foster, Cardinal Mooney, junior
Finished with 38 tackles, two interceptions and nine passes defensed.
Elliot Washington, Venice, senior
The future Penn State product finished with 56 tackles, four interceptions, four passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.
Charles Lester, Riverview, senior
Finished with 42 tackles, four interceptions and 18 passes defensed.
Tyler Pack, Sarasota, senior
Finished with three interceptions and 49 tackles.
Lauriel Trotman, Riverview, senior
Playing safety, the senior finished with 32 tackles and one interception.
HONORABLE MENTION
Tyler Beck, Out-of-Door, senior
Gage Cameron, Parrish, sophomore
Randall Collins, Sarasota Christian, sophomore
Gabe Dickerson, Lemon Bay, senior
Carson Fisher, Bradenton Christian, sophomore
Levi Freed, Lakewood Ranch, junior
Jaylon Fulton, North Port, senior
Griffin Gisotti, Cardinal Mooney, junior
Rashad Hill, Booker, junior
Desmond Hough, Port Charlotte, senior
Dalin Koscielski, Lakewood Ranch, junior
Josh Langborgh, Bradenton Christian, junior
Caleb Matelau, Bradenton Christian, sophomore
Damontez McDowell, Manatee, junior
Carson Moore, Lemon Bay, senior
Jayden Munoz, Lakewood Ranch, junior
Cael Newton, Charlotte, senior
Anthony Nguyen, Bradenton Christian, junior
Deylen Platt, Venice, junior
Jordan Radkey, Parrish, sophomore
Tyreek'e Robinson, Manatee, junior
Trey Schwartz, Lakewood Ranch, sophomore
Carson Spenn, Sarasota Christian, sophomore
Gavin Stanford, Booker, senior
Cooper Stark, Bradenton Christian, junior
Charlie Tack, Out-of-Door, junior
Connor Trim, Charlotte, senior
Sage Youtzy, Venice, senior
Jaquavious Washington, Venice, senior
THE SELECTION PROCESS
At the conclusion of each high school season, the Herald-Tribune sends the area athletic directors a nomination form for coaches to select and rank players for our All-Area teams. A combination of Herald-Tribune research and the coaches’ player rankings lead to the teams being selected. An athlete of the year for each sport will be announced at the Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Area High School Sports Awards show.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Meet the Herald-Tribune All-Area Football Defense for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties
