Midwestern League POY Candidates + Others to Watch (OFFENSE)
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Referenced below are next season’s POY candidates on the offensive side of the ball. Please note that Player of the Year projections are NOT necessarily a reflection of an individual’s recruitment. POY Candidates #1-6 1. Noah Blair Noah Blair 6'2" |…
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Referenced below are next season’s POY candidates on the offensive side of the ball. Please note that Player of the Year projections are NOT necessarily a reflection of an individual’s recruitment.
POY Candidates #1-6
1. Noah Blair Noah Blair 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Thurston | 2025 State OR QB 25′ Thurston
2. Connor Dye Connor Dye 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Springfield | 2024 State OR RB 24′ Springfield
3.Walker Bonar WR 24′ Thurston
4. Luke Newell Luke Newell 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH Thurston | 2024 State OR TE 24′ Thurston
5. Jackson L Babbitt Jackson L Babbitt 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Springfield | 2024 State OR ATH 24′ Springfield
6. Caeleb Kasperek Caeleb Kasperek 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Springfield | 2024 State OR QB 24′ Springfield
OFFENSE
POY CANDIDATES: Thurston Sophomore QB Noah Blair Noah Blair 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Thurston | 2025 State OR returns after an impressive 2nd team all-conference season, where he threw for 22 TDs/4 INTs while hitting on 72% of his passes. The talented overall athlete will have a chance to be the two-time MWL Offensive POY and will be a favorite to win the award this season. Look for returning 1st team all-league RB Connor Dye Connor Dye 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Springfield | 2024 State OR of Springfield to be a POY favorite as well on both sides of the football, while looking to help the Millers jump back into the 5A top 10. He carried 142 times for 963 yards and 12TDs last season.
Two other Thurston receivers who will be in the mix include Walker Bonar and Luke Newell Luke Newell 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH Thurston | 2024 State OR . Bonar was a 1st team all-league WR last season, catching 55 passes for 618 yards and 8 TDs. Luke is the brother of Arizona St TE Jacob Newell. He had an outstanding junior season, averaging 26.1 yards per catch, with 16 receptions for 417 yards and 7 TDs. Expect both of these guys to have monster senior campaigns, with Blair airing it out and the Colts not having a true RB.
Other individuals to keep an eye on from a POY perspective, will be Springfield QB Caeleb Kasperek Caeleb Kasperek 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Springfield | 2024 State OR , who had a nice junior season passing for 18 TDs/5 INTs. Also, Millers’ WR Zack Sherman, who caught 12 passes for 202 yards and 4 TDs earning 2nd team honors, and Jackson L Babbitt Jackson L Babbitt 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Springfield | 2024 State OR who finished with 52 touches, 457 total yards, and 2 touchdowns.
Players to Watch: North Eugene put together a decent 5-5 season last year, with Devon Anderson Devon Anderson 6'2" | 170 lbs | ATH North Eugene | 2023 State OR being one of the best players to come through the school in some time, and moving on to play D1 ball at Idaho St. Expect 2nd team all-conference WR Kelin Knutson and dual threat athlete Demetrius Cartwright Demetrius Cartwright 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Willamette | 2024 State OR to be two of the top players in the league, if the Highlanders are going to be in the playoff picture. They combined for 945 total yards and 9 TDs last season.
Across the way, South Eugene has a talented kid in Ronan Schmidt who was a 1st team LB and honorable mention all-conference RB. South went 0-8 in conference, so as most know it’s tough to garner accolades when the team doesn’t win.
Offensive lineman which you will hear about include 6-5 260-pound 1st team returner Nate Williams Nate Williams 6'5" | 265 lbs | OL Springfield | 2024 State OR of Springfield. He has a chance to be a D1 kid, showing off his overall athleticism on the defensive side of the ball. He will compete with Hayden Weaver out of Eagle Point for lineman of the year honors. The 6-3 220-pound standout was a 1st team guy on both sides of the ball. 6-1 275-pound Guard Micah Hannah of Thurston also earned 1st team honors as a junior.