ARIZONA SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT COMMISSION ANNOUNCES 2025 ED DOHERTY AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST
149 Student-Athletes Recognized as Early Candidates for Arizona’s Most Prestigious High School Football Honor
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SCOTTSDALE (September 9, 2025) – The Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission (ASEC) and its managed entity, the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (GCSGC) today announced the 2025 Ed Doherty Award Preseason Watch List, recognizing 149 of the state’s top high school football players across all classifications, from 2A through 6A.
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These student-athletes were selected based on their standout performances during the 2024 season, as well as their demonstrated leadership, character, and commitment to excellence — qualities that reflect the legacy of the late Coach Ed Doherty.
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Watch List players will be evaluated weekly throughout the 2025 season. Those delivering exceptional performances will be honored with Ed Doherty Award Nomination Medallions during on-campus ceremonies. Additional players not currently named to the Watch List remain eligible to be nominated during the season.
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“The Ed Doherty Award is more than a recognition of talent on the field — it’s a celebration of leadership, character, and the impact these young men have in their communities,” said Nikki Balich, Executive Director of the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission and Executive Director of the Ed Doherty Award. “This preseason watch list showcases the best of Arizona high school football, and we’re proud to honor these athletes as they begin their journey toward one of the state’s most prestigious awards. We can’t wait to watch their seasons unfold.”
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The 2025 Ed Doherty Award recipient, honoring Arizona’s most outstanding high school football player, will be announced at a special luncheon for the top 10 nominees on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
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About the Ed Doherty Award
Since its inception in 1986, the Ed Doherty Award has served as the State of Arizona’s highest individual high school football honor, annually recognizing the most outstanding player on and off the field. Recipients are selected for demonstrating remarkable ability combined with diligence, perseverance, hard work, and integrity in their pursuit of excellence, while also celebrating a commitment to academics, community, and school pride.
About the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club
The Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club is the most meaningful advocate of high school football in the State of Arizona. Its mission is to represent Arizona amateur athletics by bringing national attention to the extraordinary qualities of young people in their pursuit of athletic achievement, academic advancement, and greater social affinity.
About the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission
The Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission (ASEC) is a non-profit organization created in 1988. The Commission collaborates with hundreds of partners to help fulfill the mission of bringing national and international sporting events to the state; assisting in the promotion of existing events and Arizona sports teams; providing volunteer recruitment and organization for large-scale sporting events; and developing youth sports programs. In 2009, it assumed oversight of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2012, the Grand Canyon State Games and the Lori Piestewa National Native American Games. ASEC was the founding organization and owner of the 2015 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. For more information on the Commission, call 480.517.9700 or visit www.azsportsent.com.
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The watch list is as follows:
2A Conference
Gavin Canning, RB, Fr., Desert Star, 2A
Luke Cardis, QB, So., San Tan Charter, 2A
Keegan Corona, WR, Sr., Pima, 2A
Aaron Crawford, WR, Jr., Chandler Prep, 2A
Kody Dodson, QB, Jr., Chandler Prep, 2A
Jude House, CB, Jr., Phoenix Christian, 2A
Dawson Judd, QB, Sr., Benson, 2A
Abner Lopez, CB, Fr., Heritage Academy, 2A
Justin Paris, DB, Fr., Desert Star, 2A
Brain Valentino, RB, Jr., San Carlos, 2A
Corey Webb Jr., EDGE, Sr., Tonopah Valley, 2A
Kaelan Williams, WR, So., Heritage Academy, 2A
3A Conference
Ammon Alexander, OL, Sr., Benjamin Franklin
Jevon Christmas, RB, Sr., Dysart
Jeffrey Cochran, WR, Sr., Round Valley
Jaxson Crick, DL, Fr., Round Valley
Anthony Dimas, CB, Jr., Sabino
Chad Johnson, QB, Sr., Thatcher
Ryan Jones, LB, Sr., Thatcher
Deacon Maish, DE, Sr., River Valley
Caden Palmquest, TE, So., Chandler Valley Christian
Dominic Painter, WR, Sr., Pusch Ridge Christian
Ty Sather, WR, Sr., Benjamin Franklin
Asher Vance, DB, Jr., Crismon
Jett Walker, RB, Sr., Show Low
Gavin Wyler, QB, Jr., Benjamin Franklin
4A Conference
Isaac Buchanan, RB, So., Maryvale
Isaac Gonzalez, LB, So., Cholla
Lucas Leist, RB, Jr., Lee Williams
Daryl Little II, WR, So., Thunderbird
Javier Pursel, DE, Sr., Thunderbird
Zach Smith, QB, Sr., Arcadia
Zihyon Walters, DE, Sr., Tempe
Evan Wheeler, WR, Sr., Mica Mountain
5A Conference
Kaiden Agbunag, QB, Fr., McClintock
Jhaheem Brown, WR, So., Desert Edge
Collin Campbell, OT, Sr., Williams Field
Mikyal Davis, CB, Jr., Desert Edge
Donivan Dixon, QB, Sr., Cactus Shadows
Jayden Easterling-Flores, ATH, So., Desert Edge
Jalanie George, EDGE, So., Desert Edge
Kendrick Gilmore, EDGE, Sr., Betty H. Fairfax
MJ Glenn, LB, Jr., Williams Field
Chase Grohman, IOL, Jr., ALA-Gilbert North
Evan Heinrich, QB, Sr., Arizona College Prep
Courshawn Hill, RB, Sr., Williams Field
Jake Jones, DL, Sr., Campo Verde
Nathan Jones, EDGE, Jr., Notre Dame Prep
Malachi Joyner, IOL, Sr., Williams Field
Omar Kaba, OT, Sr., Williams Field
Nekhi Lambeth, DB, So., Desert Edge
Liam McNeal, OL, So., Horizon
Jalayne Miller, IOL, Sr., Desert Edge
Khavontae Paul, QB, Sr., Ironwood
Anthony Rodarte, WR, Fr., Desert View
Blake Roskopf, QB, Jr., Desert Edge
Zerek Sidney, WR, Jr., Desert Edge
Trey Smith, WR, Jr., Williams Field
Kenny Sonnah, CB, So., Desert View
Jayden Thomas, WR, Sr., Buena
Aveon Williams, ATH, Sr., Casa Grande Union
6A Conference
Josh Anderson, LB, So., Brophy College Prep
Tristan Armstrong, WR, Sr., Saguaro
Talon Arnett, WR, Sr., Mountain View
Amos Augustine, WR, So., Perry
Jaden Baldwin, WR, Jr., Basha
Mikey Barth, K, Jr., Basha
Amare Bell, DL, Sr., Cesar Chavez
Khalil Bender, ATH, Sr., ALA-Queen Creek
Rico Blassingame, WR, Sr., Tolleson Union
Legarrette Blount Jr., WR, So., Mountain Pointe
Justice Brathwaite, CB, Sr., Higley
Kash Brock, WR, Sr., Basha
Jacob Brown, RB, Sr., Hamilton
Tyler Burnstein, EDGE, Sr., Liberty
Karmello Calloway, OL, So., Centennial
Elijah Carothers, S, Jr., Centennial
Chris Chaney, RB, Jr., Salpointe Catholic
Jaylyn Colter, LB, Sr., Mountain Pointe
Eli Cramer-Cronin, LB, Sr., Basha
Colton Dermer, LS, Sr., Sandra Day O’Conner
Hudson Dunn, LB, Sr., Liberty
Nasim Eason, CB, Jr., Higley
Gunner Fargrell, QB, Sr., Higley
Luke Farrell, QB, Jr., Corona Del Sol
Bear Fisher, TE, Sr., Queen Creek
Devin Fitzgerald, WR, Sr., Brophy College Prep
TJ Fo’ilefutu, ATH, Sr., Liberty
Brady Goodman, QB, Sr., Mountain View
RJ Gory, WR, Jr., Salpointe Catholic
Camren Hamiel, CB, Sr., Desert Ridge
Jake Hildebrand, OT, Jr., Basha
Torrin Hill, WR, So., Centennial
Mekhi Hodge, TE, Jr., Mountain Pointe
Beau Jandreau, LB, Sr., Hamilton
Niko Jandreau, S, Sr., Hamilton
Caleb Johnson, EDGE, Jr., Basha
Marcel Jones, QB, Sr., Saguaro
Jai Jones, ATH, Jr., Chandler
Hamisi Juma, ATH, Sr., Chandler
Braylon Kasper, WR, Jr., ALA-Queen Creek
Derrick LeBlanc Jr., DL, Jr., Hamilton
Mason Lewis, CB, Sr., Basha
Benjamin Lowther, OT, Jr., Centennial
Jaden Maxey, OT, Sr., Sandra Day O’Conner
Donovan McNabb Jr., WR, Jr., Brophy College Prep
Will Mencl, QB, Jr., Chandler
Colten Meyer, QB, Sr., Marana
Ryder Noche, ATH, Jr., Brophy College Prep
Roye Oliver III, WR, So., Hamilton
Taylan Patterson, ATH, Jr., Basha
Bryce Pollard, OL, Sr., Centennial
Brady Powell, TE, So., Brophy College Prep
Shane Reiersgaard, IOL, Jr., Brophy College Prep
Tait Reynolds, QB, Sr., Queen Creek
Marquis Richardson, S, Sr., Hamilton
Noah Roberts, RB, Jr., Basha
Sean Roebuck, WR, Jr., Marana
Devante Roebuck, RB, So., Hamilton
Evan Romero, K, Sr., Mesa
David Rushing, WR, Jr., Salpointe Catholic
Tristan Sailor, ATH, So., Basha
Talan Scott, TE, Jr., ALA-Queen Creek
Jaxson Scully, QB, So., Hamilton
Daylen Sharper, ATH, Sr., Brophy College Prep
Tucker Smith, IOL, Sr., Sandra Day O’Conner
Kael Snyder, QB, Jr., Perry
Kingston Spivey, CB, Sr., Hamilton
Paz St John, DL, Sr., Liberty
Sire Stewart, OT, Jr., Chandler
Kydel Stone, CB, Sr., Saguaro
Sinei Tengei, EDGE, Sr., Westwood
Aaron Thomas, OT, Sr., Mountain Pointe
Aidan Thompson, DL, So., Liberty
Zeth Thues, S, Sr., Liberty
Dontay Tyson, WR, Jr., Peoria
Rylan Umphrey, QB, Sr., Brophy College Prep
Hayden Utley, EDGE, Sr., Marana
Bastian Vanden Bosch, LB, Sr., Brophy College Prep
Case Vanden Bosch, QB, Sr., Brophy College Prep
Drew Varsano, QB, Sr., Pinnacle
Broderick Vehrs, QB, Sr., Basha
Landon Wade, EDGE, So., Basha
Rex Waterman, OT, Sr., Hamilton
Aidan Whitaker, ATH, Jr., McClintock
Derek Worden, OT, Sr., Queen Creek
Dajohn Yarborough, OL, Jr., Basha
Jaxon Zembrycki, EDGE, Jr., Chandler