Meet The Fresno Bee’s top prep football performers of the year. Plus who made the All-Star team
For a week, fans voted for The Fresno Bee’s The Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Small School Player of the Year.
Your voices were heard with votes that came in early and often.
The Player of the Year went to Central High senior wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter, who is headed to Cal next season.
He tallied 73,664 votes (50%) to earn the accolade.
Defensive Player of the Year went to Fresno State-bound linebacker Tyler Mello of Hanford.
Mello accumulated 37,600 votes (62%) in the poll for top defensive player.
And for the Small Schools Player of the Year, that honor went to Andre Bravo of Strathmore.
He earned 37,045 of the votes (43%).
Here are looks at the honored players:
Jeremiah Hunter
Hunter had a busy season that was capped off when he helped Central to the CIF Division 1-AA state title when he had seven receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown in a 34-19 victory over Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth.
He was also named the Tri-River Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year.
For the season, Hunter had 79 receptions for 1,194 yards and 16 touchdowns.
He said it: “I always knew my family supported me, so I wasn’t really surprised, but this just confirmed it for me that they truly do support me and I can’t ask nothing more from them than that and I love them for it.”
Tyler Mello
The Fresno State signee had a monster year for Hanford.
He helped the Bullpups to an 11-1 record and led the team with 145 tackles (84 solo) and recorded 13.0 tackles for a loss, nine sacks for a loss of 42 yards with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Mello was named the West Yosemite League Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts.
He said it: “It means a lot. I’m thankful for my friends, family and the community in general that voted and recognized me for this honor. The biggest takeaway (from this season) was being able to be a unit with my brothers and being able to play well with each other.”
Andre Bravo
The senior was productive for Strathmore.
As a receiver, he had 26 receptions for 435 yards and nine touchdowns and defensively he had 45 tackles and a team-high nine interceptions. He also had nine pass deflections.
He was voted the East Sequoia League Defensive Most Valuable Player.
The Spartans finished 11-2 and 5-1 in the ESL.
He said it: “It means a lot knowing that I gave it my all for one last time for my senior year and makes me feel appreciated by my community. It was a fun season and I’m proud to be honored with player of the year.”
The Bee’s All-Star Team
WR Jeremiah Hunter, Central
RB Kendall Milton, Buchanan
LB Tyler Mello, Hanford
WR Andre Bravo, Strathmore
DE Tobin Phillips, San Joaquin Memorial
DL Ricky Correia, Central
DL Jalen O’Neal, Bullard
LB Je’kob Jones, Central
LB Dominic Mendez, Central
DE Hudson Walker, Redwood
DB Jose Valencia of Tulare Western
WR Mac Dalena, San Joaquin Memorial
WR Jalen McMillan, San Joaquin Memorial
QB Juaron Watts-Brown, Hanford
RB Dai’Jon Giddens, Roosevelt
Athlete Mikey Ficher, Tulare Western
RB/DB Blake Spomer, Kingsburg
FB Adam Rodriguez, Selma
WR Tory Horton, Washington Union
RB Bobby Staley, Caruthers
RB Johnny Solorio, Riverdale
RB/OLB Daniel Trujillo, Lindsay
QB Trent Calvert, Dos Palos
DT Keanu Williams, Clovis
CB C.J. Jones, Buchanan
ATH Quali Conley, Central
QB Jameson Silva, Central
QB Isaiah Robles, Clovis
OL Zane Rix, Buchanan
OL Cade Foraker, Clovis North
LB Mateo Morales, Clovis West
LB Tanner Ewell, Clovis West
LB Blake Bladwin, Clovis East
WR David Pierro, Clovis West
QB Finn Collins, San Joaquin Memorial
RB Kosi Agina, Sanger
RB Jordan Hornbeack, San Joaquin Memorial
WR Velltrey Jefferson, Edison
OL Kevin CIsneros, San Joaquin Memorial
OL Martin Navarette, Bullard
OL Jason Lopez, Sanger
DB Deandre Greeley, Bullard
DB Dezjhon Malone, Edison
LB Nick Alarcon, San Joaquin Memorial
DL Aric Eades, San Joaquin Memorial
DL Gerardo Sifuentes, Roosevelt
DL Nate Sayaseng, Sunnyside
WR/CB Mike Rios, Reedley
QB Juaron Watts-Brown, Hanford
DL Mason Brosseau, Hanford
QB Justin Hollady, Lemoore
RB/CB Tairyn Johnson, Tulare Western
QB Hector Nava, Porterville
ATH Willie James, Tulare Union
QB Elijah Burrell, Tulare Western
OL Marcus Ocaranza, Tulare Union
DB Jordan Burrell, Tulare Western
WR/DB Travis Hall, Kingsburg
OL Dirk Nelson, Central Valley Christian
QB Tyce Griswold, Central Valley Christian
RB Jaalen Renning, Central Valley Christian
OL Karson Oliver, Central Valley Christian
RB Aaron Moreno, Selma
RB Tyree Martin, Dos Palos
QB Joey Ramirez, Selma
WR Xavier Worthy, Central
RB Quali Conley, Central
RB Tristan Risley, Clovis
LB Marcus Garvey Correia, Redwood
RB/LB Lonnie Wessel, Golden West
TE Sam Olson, Redwood
K Cesar Lopez, Dinuba
WR Brandon Hernandez, Buchanan
QB Noah Collazo, Sanger
ST Michael Jacot, Clovis North
WR Kai Sunamoto, Bullard
DB Kobe Jenkins, Bullard
RB Dominic Martinez, Orosi
FB/SS Matt Tiger, Immanuel
RB/LB Danny Cortez, Reedley
This story was originally published December 31, 2019 at 12:11 PM.
