Trio of Gators Signees Named Gatorade State Players of the Year
Wednesday, January 3, 2024 | Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Three of the newest class of Gators were named Gatorade State Players of the Year on Wednesday, being honored for their outstanding senior high school seasons.
Quarterback DJ Lagway (Willis, Texas), linebacker Aaron Chiles (Olney, Maryland), and running back Kahnen Daniels (West Point, Mississippi) take home the prestigious awards in their respective home states.
In a record-breaking senior season, Lagway passed for 4,604 yards and a 6A state record 58 touchdowns. Lagway led the Willis Wildkats to a 12-1 record, their first district title since 2002 and a trip to the 6A-Division II regional final. Lagway completed 72.1 percent of his passes and averaged 354.2 yards per game. He also led the team in rushing yards (957) and touchdowns (16) and was named District 13-6A Player of the Year, having led Willis to the first 10-win season in program history.
In addition to taking home the award for the state of Texas, Lagway is one of three finalists for the Gatorade National Player of the Year award, a top honor awarded to one of the 51 individual winners from the States and D.C. Former winners of this national award include former Gator Emmitt Smith, Peyton Manning, and Kyler Murray.
Chiles, a native of Olney, Maryland, totaled 122 tackles, including 22 for a loss, along with 15 sacks. Chiles was a 2023 Under Armour All-American Game selection, and he forced two fumbles, blocked two punts and one extra point while anchoring a defense that allowed just 9.3 points per game.
Daniels snags the award for the magnolia state. The Mississippi native led the West Point High School Green Wave to an 11-3 record and the Class 5A state championship this past season. He rushed for 2,730 yards and 30 touchdowns, averaging 9.6 yards per carry. Daniels was named the state's Class 5A "Mr. Football," and was selected to play in the U.S. Army Bowl in December.
The Gatorade State Player of the Year award was established in 1985 to recognize the nation's most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport. Additionally, through Gatorade's "Play It Forward" program, all 607 State Gatorade Player of the Year recipients are empowered to award a $1,000 grant from Gatorade to a community organization that helps young athletes realize the benefits of playing sports.
Quarterback DJ Lagway (Willis, Texas), linebacker Aaron Chiles (Olney, Maryland), and running back Kahnen Daniels (West Point, Mississippi) take home the prestigious awards in their respective home states.
In a record-breaking senior season, Lagway passed for 4,604 yards and a 6A state record 58 touchdowns. Lagway led the Willis Wildkats to a 12-1 record, their first district title since 2002 and a trip to the 6A-Division II regional final. Lagway completed 72.1 percent of his passes and averaged 354.2 yards per game. He also led the team in rushing yards (957) and touchdowns (16) and was named District 13-6A Player of the Year, having led Willis to the first 10-win season in program history.
In addition to taking home the award for the state of Texas, Lagway is one of three finalists for the Gatorade National Player of the Year award, a top honor awarded to one of the 51 individual winners from the States and D.C. Former winners of this national award include former Gator Emmitt Smith, Peyton Manning, and Kyler Murray.
Chiles, a native of Olney, Maryland, totaled 122 tackles, including 22 for a loss, along with 15 sacks. Chiles was a 2023 Under Armour All-American Game selection, and he forced two fumbles, blocked two punts and one extra point while anchoring a defense that allowed just 9.3 points per game.
Daniels snags the award for the magnolia state. The Mississippi native led the West Point High School Green Wave to an 11-3 record and the Class 5A state championship this past season. He rushed for 2,730 yards and 30 touchdowns, averaging 9.6 yards per carry. Daniels was named the state's Class 5A "Mr. Football," and was selected to play in the U.S. Army Bowl in December.
The Gatorade State Player of the Year award was established in 1985 to recognize the nation's most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport. Additionally, through Gatorade's "Play It Forward" program, all 607 State Gatorade Player of the Year recipients are empowered to award a $1,000 grant from Gatorade to a community organization that helps young athletes realize the benefits of playing sports.
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