Fall Season Standout Players: Part I

Now that the 2022 high school football season has come to a close, let's take a closer look at the top players from Maryland during the Fall. From the WCAC to the MIAA, there were many elite players who stood-out throughout the state, and we're excited to highlight some of them in this Fall Season Standout Series. Continue below for part one and start reading!   2023 6'3 200 QB - Myles Slade - St. John's   Myles Slade brought a WCAC title back home to St. John's this Fall, and he proved himself as an elite dual-threat QB who can make a lot of noise at the D1 power five conference level. If his injuries hadn't plagued Slade like they did all season long, he most certainly could've been the top ranked dual-threat quarterback in the area. Slade demonstrated his elite rush attack throughout the year, and he thrived out of the read option formation.   Myles Slade made, arguably, the play of the year in Maryland high school football this year. Slade threw the WCAC Championship-sealing touchdown to his wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='477672' first='Asa' last='Gregg'] for all of the marbles. It was a game-winning play for the ages, and it was the perfect cherry on top of a decadent performance this season from phenom quarterback Myles Slade. Myles Slade will absolutely make a huge impact on whichever program he chooses to attend, and his overall skills as a football player must not go overlooked by coaches at the next level. Slade is a phenomenal player with a bright future.   Highlights: <a href="https://t.co/fUKFz9yKu7">https://t.co/fUKFz9yKu7</a>   2025 6'4 190 QB - [player_tooltip player_id='272253' first='Malik' last='Washington'] - Archbishop Spalding   [player_tooltip player_id='272253' first='Malik' last='Washington'] performed better than any other quarterback in the state this season, and there's simply no denying the fact that the Fall of 2022 belongs to him in the record books. Washington threw for 2,979 yards and 29 touchdowns in 12 games, which led the state, and he also achieved 1st team All-MIAA QB honors. He more than established himself as the leader of the Spalding Cavaliers' program, and, moving forward, teams should be on high alert when they match-up with Spalding. [player_tooltip player_id='272253' first='Malik' last='Washington'] is a very rare athlete with immense talent, and the fact that he just an MIAA championship as a Sophomore is an absolutely jaw-dropping achievement.   [player_tooltip player_id='272253' first='Malik' last='Washington'] and his favorite receiver, [player_tooltip player_id='251380' first='Maxwell' last='Moss'], put on a show this season, and they were by far the most productive quarterback-wide receiver tandem in Maryland. Washington threw 21/29 of his touchdowns to Moss, and they completely terrorized their opponents all season long. Spalding only lost one game the entire season, and that loss was to New Jersey area powerhouse Don Bosco Prep. Washington still led the offensive to nearly 30 points on offense against Bosco, and, even in defeat, he still managed to shine bright for his team. It was an absolute pleasure to cover [player_tooltip player_id='272253' first='Malik' last='Washington']'s breakout season this year, and, after watching him, my prediction is that he returns as an even more dynamic dual-threat quarterback for the 2023 season. If you're a quarterback scout then, it's simple, you should know the name [player_tooltip player_id='272253' first='Malik' last='Washington'] by now.   Highlights: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16051382/633e3d46b534d20c101835b7">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16051382/633e3d46b534d20c101835b7</a>   2025 6'0 175 QB - [player_tooltip player_id='250315' first='Denzel' last='Gardner'] - DeMatha   [player_tooltip player_id='250315' first='Denzel' last='Gardner'] performed brilliantly this season, and the Sophomore quarterback led the Stags all the way to the WCAC Championship game. Gardner is a dual-threat phenom in every sense, and his elite versatility was on full display this Fall. The read-option formation meshes perfectly with Gardner's game, and he proved that with his offensive efficiency out of that formation against elite defenses. His list of accomplishes already, as a Sophomore, are remarkable, and he deserves a ton of credit for the overall dominance of this DeMatha football team. His leadership in the game and on the sidelines also inspires the defense to do their part, and they often go above and beyond for him because [player_tooltip player_id='250315' first='Denzel' last='Gardner'] leads by example. DeMatha has a very bright future for the next two years with [player_tooltip player_id='250315' first='Denzel' last='Gardner'] under center, and there's no doubt in my mind that Gardner's performance will be on an even higher level next Fall. [player_tooltip player_id='250315' first='Denzel' last='Gardner'] is the heartbeat of this Stags team, and he already possesses a D1 power five conference offer from Boston College. Every college scout in America should know the name [player_tooltip player_id='250315' first='Denzel' last='Gardner'], and his highlights from this season are truly spectacular.   Highlights: <a href="https://t.co/5le0YPtSSr">https://t.co/5le0YPtSSr</a>   2024 6'1 175 QB - [player_tooltip player_id='264047' first='Brenton' last='Toles'] III - St. Mary's Ryken   [player_tooltip player_id='264047' first='Brenton' last='Toles'] proved that he's one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in Maryland. His overall performance was absolutely electric this season, and that performance is represented perfectly by the WCAC Offensive Player of the Year Award and 1st Team All-WCAC Honors that Toles received as a result. Toles has offers from D1 power five conference schools such as Maryland, Pitt, and South Carolina, and there's no doubt in my mind that the offers will continue to roll in after such a standout season that Toles put forth. The St. Mary's Ryken quarterback will enter the Fall 2023 season as one of the elite dual-threat QBs in the entire WCAC, which means that [player_tooltip player_id='264047' first='Brenton' last='Toles'] will be one of the top quarterbacks competing in the most elite high school football conference in America. Quarterback scouts nationwide must know of [player_tooltip player_id='264047' first='Brenton' last='Toles'] III, or BT3, because he is going to be a very special player at the next level. His highlights speak for themselves.   Highlights: <a href="https://t.co/AHARzeyrZr">https://t.co/AHARzeyrZr</a>   2024 6'6 210 QB - [player_tooltip player_id='249088' first='Winston' last='Watkins'] - Mount Saint Joseph   [player_tooltip player_id='249088' first='Winston' last='Watkins'] led Mount Saint Joseph's to a very solid 7-4 overall record and a very impressive 5-1 MIAA conference play record. Watkins showed spectacular development this season, and, as a result, his numbers improved exponentially in almost every statistical category. Watkins threw for 2,089 yards and 23 touchdowns in ten games, and he also added two rushing touchdowns with his legs. [player_tooltip player_id='249088' first='Winston' last='Watkins'] is clearly one of the elite dual-threat quarterbacks in the DMV, and he gets better every single time that he takes the field. The All-MIAA quarterback finished the season with an average QBR of over 100.0, and there's no doubt in my mind that Watkins will return a much stronger player in 2023, as he did last season. [player_tooltip player_id='249088' first='Winston' last='Watkins'] deserves a lot of attention from D1 scouts because he has a ton of potential and a very high ceiling.   Highlights: <a href="https://t.co/Kzig67heeG">https://t.co/Kzig67heeG</a>

Now that the 2022 high school football season has come to a close, let's take a closer look at the top players from Maryland during the Fall. From the WCAC to the MIAA, there were many elite players who stood-out throughout the state, and we're excited to highlight some of them in this Fall Season Standout Series. Continue below for part one and start reading!