JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – We unveiled our Varsity 4 All-News4JAX football teams on Thursday night and we’re honoring the stars of the independent classifications Friday. This includes teams who played in the Sunshine State Athletic Association or other independent programs like Zarephath Academy.
Offense
Position, Player, School, Class, Notable
QB Jordan Durham, Zarephath Academy, Sr.
Rewrote state passing records and led the country with 6,047 yards (287 for 403), TDs (62) and just 6 INTs. Averaged 403.1 passing yards per game. Added 10 rushing TDs. Signed with West Carolina.
QB Drew Zak, Christ’s Church, Sr.
Passed for 1,816 yards in balanced Eagles offense. Threw 22 TDs against just 4 INTs for the area’s top Sunshine State Athletic Association program.
RB Skyler Freeman, West Nassau, Jr.
Major reason for Warriors massive turnaround. Rushed for 751 yards, 15 TDs. Had 166 yards receiving on 7 catches, 3 TDs.
RB Kenyon Gardner, Paxon, Sr.
Big weapon for Golden Eagles. Had 1,528 rushing yards, 13 TDs on 149 carries (10.3 ypc). Had 325 yards receiving on 12 catches and a TD.
RB Kyree Wilson, Christ’s Church, So.
Best independent back in the area. Rushed for 1,737 yards, 20 TDs on 167 carries (10.4 ypc) for a strong Eagles team. In the 2025 conversation as the top returning independent player along with West Nassau’s Clayton Lee.
WR Terrell Brant, Zarephath Academy, Sr.
Had 82 catches for 2,086 yards and 26 TD catches for the high-powered Eagles.
WR Davion Brown, Zarephath Academy, Sr.
Had 43 catches for 1,045 yards, 13 TDs in 10 games.
WR Jeremiah Kes, St. Joseph, Sr.
Flashes’ biggest pass-catching threat. Had 933 yards receiving on 40 catches and 14 TDs.
TE Ethan Watts, Fernandina Beach, So.
Had 29 catches for 274 yards and 4 TDs. Added a rushing TD, too.
OL Roger Dale Emery III, Paxon, Sr.
Anchor of Golden Eagles line that allowed ground game to rush for 2,320 yards and average 7.7 ypc.
OL Ty Cobb, Christ’s Church, Sr.
Three-year starter for the Eagles. Had 15 pancake blocks. Gatlinburg All-American Game selection.
OL Jay Futch, Paxon, Jr.
Another big piece of stout Golden Eagles line. Big center handled things up front and helped first-team RB Gardner thrive.
OL Clayton Lee, West Nassau, So.
Huge part of Warriors offense and turnaround. The 6-7, 300-pounder has major college size. Had 60 pancake blocks and made huge lanes for RB Freeman and QB Pryce Arnold.
OL Christian Murray, Christ’s Church, Sr.
Captain had 17 pancake blocks and helped open the way for the Eagles powerful rushing attack. Gatlinburg All-American Game selection.
K Adrian Hemelt, St. Joseph, Sr.
Hit 3 of 5 FG tries with a long of 41 yards. Hit 46 of 47 PATs and had 14 touchbacks on kickoffs.
ATH CJ Barnes, Christ’s Church, So.
Had 833 receiving yards on 33 catches, 11 TDs for 9-2 Eagles.
ATH Kemontae Nixon, Interlachen, Jr.
Big 6-5 pass catcher had 30 catches for 669 yards, 12 TDs and averaged 22.3 yards per catch.
ATH Treyvon Tompkins, Stanton, Sr.
Rushed for 977 yards, 15 TDs. Had 77 yards receiving, TD. Added 37 tackles, 4 INTs as the Blue Devils doubled their win total in 2024.
Defense
Position, Player, School, Class, Notable
DL Jeremiah Crespin, Old Plank, Jr.
Had 53 tackles, 20 TFL and team-best 7 sacks for Defenders. Also blocked 2 punts.
DL Jack Fox, St. Joseph, Sr.
All over the field. Best defensive push on the team along the line (62 tackles, 18 TFL, 9 sacks). Forced 2 fumbles and recovered one. On offense, he rushed for 1,181 yards, 13 TDs and averaged 8.9 ypc.
DL Kalani Tucker, Fernandina Beach, Jr.
Had 42 total tackles, 13 TFL, forced 2 fumbles and recovered one of those. Added 5 sacks.
LB Asher Glisson, St. Joseph, So.
All over the field for the Flashes. Had 136 tackles, 13 TFL and 4 sacks. Forced and recovered a couple fumbles.
LB Javon Johnson, Paxon, So.
Had 116 tackles, forced 3 fumbles and scooped up a couple recoveries. Had a pick and 3 sacks for Golden Eagles.
LB Connor Murray, Christ’s Church, Sr.
Had 71 tackles, 20 TFL, 13 sacks, forced 4 fumbles and recovered 2 fumbles. Had 23 sacks, 34 TFL over last 3 seasons.
LB Garrett Rica, West Nassau, Sr.
Team leader in tackles (97 total). Had 15 TFL, 4 sacks, forced 2 fumbles and recovered one. Also blocked a FG.
DB Jamal Banks, Zarephath Academy, Fr.
Had 41 tackles and team-leading 6 INTs for 13-2 Eagles. Added 177 yards receiving on 11 catches, TD.
DB Nick Braddock, West Nassau, Jr.
Safety had 96 total tackles, 5 TFL, 2 pass breakups, 3 fumble recoveries and a pick.
DB Ke’shaun Pinkney-Rogers, Paxon, Sr.
Had 97 tackles, 14 TFL and a couple sacks for Golden Eagles. Team-best 3 INTs and 3 fumble recoveries to go along with 2 forced fumbles.
DB OJ Swift, Fernandina Beach, Jr.
Had 48 tackles, sack and a couple TFL. But a ballhawk for the Pirates, tying for second in the area with 7 INTs as Fernandina played for SSAC title. Took 2 back for defensive TDs.
P Hunter Moore, Old Plank, Sr.
Had 34 tackles, 5 INTs from his spot in the secondary. As a punter, averaged 35.4 yards per kick with a long of 54. Added 117 rushing yards, TD on offense.
ATH Ethan Garland, Hilliard, Jr.
Bright spot for the Red Flashes. Led team with 6 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries from DB position. At receiver, he had 611 yards on 30 catches, 7 TDs. Passed for 4 TDs and rushed for 398 yards and 5 TDs.
ATH Josh Jones, Zarephath Academy, Jr.
Another one of the potent Eagles weapons, he had 48 catches for 846 yards, 7 TDs. On defense, he had 40 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, 3 sacks and 3 INTs.
ATH Beck Rohe, Fernandina Beach, So.
Filled multiple roles for the Pirates. Had 305 rushing yards, 2 TDs. Played QB and passed for 600 yards, 8 TDs. Had 266 receiving yards, 3 TDs. On defense, he had 44 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 TFL, a pick, forced a fumble and had a fumble recovery.
Honorable mention
Pos., Player, School, Class
QB Ben Aguayo, Interlachen, So.
DL Davin Ashitey-Amarh, Stanton, Jr.
TE/DE Nicolas Barbosa, Old Plank, Fr.
QB John Bishop, Bishop Snyder, Sr.
WR Michael Bishop, Bishop Snyder, Sr.
RB Dylan Carter, Bishop Snyder, Sr.
RB Marcus Carter, Eagle’s View, Sr.
WR/DB Ladarius Clark, Zarephath Academy, Jr.
DL Fortune Emmanuel, Stanton, Jr.
ATH Raymond Evans, St. Joseph, Sr.
ATH Avery Griffin, West Nassau, So.
LB/OL Joseph Guidry, Bishop Snyder, Sr.
OL Jonathan Holloway, Paxon, Sr.
RB Troy Howell, Old Plank Christian, Jr.
WR Jeremiah Jordan, Fernandina Beach, Jr.
RB Jacorri Lavoile, Eagle’s View, Jr.
ATH Allan Massaline, Zarephath Academy, Jr.
WR Nathan McCartney, Harvest, Jr.
WR Kaleb McKinnon, Interlachen, Jr.
QB Ian Miller, Fernandina Beach, Jr.
QB Cody Ott, St. Joseph, Jr.
LB Owen Peters, Stanton, Sr.
ATH Raszir Phelps, Interlachen, Jr.
WR Mikael Pitre, Stanton, Jr.
DB Aydin Poe, Fernandina Beach, So.
ATH Garrett Ridley, Interlachen, So.
DB Grey Saleeba, Christ’s Church, Sr.
DL Xavier Shepard, Christ’s Church, Sr.
RB D’ante Simms, Fernandina Beach, Jr.
DB/WR Temiko Smith, Zarephath Academy, Sr.
TE Grady Stevens, West Nassau, Sr.
DB Zion Green, Christ’s Church, Fr.
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