Vote Today: 2027 MD/DC Preseason POY Nominees

The 2027 MD/DC preseason Player of the Year race is officially underway. We've broken down the top nominees at every position across the region, giving you a clear look at the standouts ready to make noise this fall. You'll get to cast your vote for the overall Preseason POY, and once voting closes on August 22nd, 2026, we'll reveal both the Voter's Choice and my personal selection. Head below, check out the full list of nominees, and make your voice heard before the deadline.

QUARTERBACKS

Trysten Johnson Trysten Johnson 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Maret School | 2027 State MD - Maret School

Brett Paukstis Brett Paukstis 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB St. Albans | 2027 State MD - St. Albans

Oliver Noll Oliver Noll 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Calvert Hall College | 2027 State MD - Calvert Hall

Nyeem Woods Nyeem Woods 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB St. John's College | 2027 State MD - St. John's College

Justin Dixon Justin Dixon 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Concordia Prep | 2027 State MD - Concordia Prep

Tristan Sabb Tristan Sabb 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB DeMatha | 2027 State MD - DeMatha Catholic

RUNNING BACKS

Da’Jon Talley-Rhodes Da’Jon Talley-Rhodes 6'1" | 215 lbs | RB St.John's College | 2027 State MD - St. John's College

Japhya Rouson Japhya Rouson 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB St. John's College | 2028 State MD - St. John's College

Terrance Grant Jr. Terrance Grant Jr. 6'0" | 215 lbs | RB DeMatha | 2027 State MD - DeMatha Catholic

Kodi Gardner Kodi Gardner 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB Riverdale Baptist | 2027 State MD - Riverdale Baptist

Alijah Bah Alijah Bah 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Paint Branch | 2027 State MD - Paint Branch

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

Michael Nnabuife Michael Nnabuife 6'5" | 230 lbs | TE St. Frances Academy | 2027 State MD - St. Frances Academy (TIGHT END)

Myles McAfee Myles McAfee 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Archbishop Spalding | 2027 State MD - Archbishop Spalding

Carlos Ferguson Carlos Ferguson 6'4" | 180 lbs | WR McDonogh | 2027 State MD - McDonogh

Xavier Brown Xavier Brown 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR Bishop McNamara | 2027 State MD - Bishop McNamara

Eli Ferugson - St. Frances Academy

Jhalil Anderson - Coolidge

ATHLETES

Carter Bonner Carter Bonner 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH St. Frances Academy | 2027 State MD - St. Frances Academy

Kyle Davis Kyle Davis 6'5" | 225 lbs | ATH Georgetown Preparatory School | 2027 State MD - Georgetown Prep

Sa’Nir Brooks Sa’Nir Brooks 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB/DB St. Frances Academy | 2027 State MD - St. Frances Academy

Christopher Quick Christopher Quick 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH St Charles | 2027 State MD - St. Charles

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Jared Taylor Jared Taylor 6'5" | 305 lbs | OL DeMatha | 2027 State MD - DeMatha

Owen Reilly Owen Reilly 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Bel Air | 2027 State MD _ Bel Air

Josiah Ampofo Josiah Ampofo 6'3" | 265 lbs | DL/EDGE St. John's College | 2027 State MD - St. John's College

Kevin Nesbitt Kevin Nesbitt 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL DeMatha | 2027 State MD - DeMatha

Jaiden Lindsay Jaiden Lindsay 6'4" | 280 lbs | OL Good Counsel | 2027 State MD - Good Counsel

Kendon Bauer Kendon Bauer 6'6" | 315 lbs | OL Linganore | 2027 State MD - Linganore

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Jaheim Bond Jaheim Bond 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL Quince Orchard | 2027 State MD - Quince Orchard

Tyler Frederick Tyler Frederick 6'3" | 262 lbs | DL Gonzaga College | 2027 State MD - Gonzaga Prep

Cahron Wheeler Cahron Wheeler 6'5" | 235 lbs | EDGE St. Paul's | 2027 State MD - St. Paul's

Sean Saint Fleur Sean Saint Fleur 6'4" | 270 lbs | DL DeMatha | 2027 State MD - DeMatha

Jayden Travers Jayden Travers 6'4" | 260 lbs | DL St. Frances Academy | 2027 State MD - St. Frances Academy

Cain Van Norden Cain Van Norden 6'7" | 295 lbs | DL/OL St. Frances Academy | 2027 State MD - St. Frances Academy

Alexander Taylor Alexander Taylor 6'3" | 245 lbs | EDGE St. Frances Academy | 2027 State MD - St. Frances Academy

LINEBACKERS

Caden Cashman Caden Cashman 6'4" | 220 lbs | LB/TE McDonogh | 2027 State MD

Lawtrell Bowlding Lawtrell Bowlding 6'2" | 185 lbs | LB North Point | 2027 State MD - North Point

Mason Johnson Mason Johnson 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB St. Mary's | 2027 State MD - St. Mary's

Jaxon Sullivan Jaxon Sullivan 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Patuxent | 2027 State MD - Patuxent

Ethan Stanford Ethan Stanford 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB/ATH Bishop McNamara | 2027 State MD - Bishop McNamara

Jago Woodwards - Gonzaga

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Raylaun Henry Raylaun Henry 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB St. Frances Academy | 2027 State MD - St. Frances Academy

Kynair Crumb - DeMatha Catholic

Tyler Butler-Simpson Tyler Butler-Simpson 5'11" | 185 lbs | DB St. John's College | 2027 State MD - St. John's College

Marcus Turpin Marcus Turpin 6'3" | 165 lbs | ATH Gilman School | 2027 State MD - Gilman

Damari Moore Damari Moore 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Dundalk | 2027 State MD - Dundalk

EDGE DEFENDERS

James Pace III James Pace III 6'4" | 235 lbs | EDGE DeMatha | 2027 State MD - DeMatha Catholic

Anthony Sweeney Anthony Sweeney 6'4" | 220 lbs | EDGE St. Frances Academy | 2027 State MD - Good Counsel

Cahron Wheeler Cahron Wheeler 6'5" | 235 lbs | EDGE St. Paul's | 2027 State MD - St. Paul's

Rion Jackson Rion Jackson 6'5" | 215 lbs | EDGE Annapolis | 2027 State MD - Annapolis

Josiah Ampofo Josiah Ampofo 6'3" | 265 lbs | DL/EDGE St. John's College | 2027 State MD - St. John's College