DRAPER, Utah, May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In its
36th year of honoring the nation's most elite high
school athletes, Gatorade today announced Jaxson Dart of Corner Canyon High School in
Draper, Utah is the 2020-21
Gatorade National Football Player of the Year. Dart won the
prestigious award for his accomplishments on and off the field,
joining an impressive group of former Gatorade National Football
Player of the Year winners who have combined for six NFL MVPs
awards, 31 Pro Bowl appearances, six NFL first round draft picks
and two became Hall of Famers.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor
Lawrence virtually surprised Dart with the news, while his
family, coaches and teammates showed up with the trophy at school.
Check out a video of the announcement here.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic
excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and
exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field,
distinguishes Dart as the nation's best high school football
player. A national advisory panel comprised of sport-specific
experts and sports journalists helped select Dart from more than
one million high school football players nationwide.
Competition for the national award was fierce. Dart topped the
list of state winners in football who collectively boast an
incredible list of accomplishments, including 36 with signed
National Letters of Intent to play football at Division I
colleges/universities, 20 First Team All-State selections
(including two 2019 selections due to coronavirus pandemic season
cancellations) and 13 with a GPA of 4.0 and above.
"I can't really recall a quarterback improving from junior to
senior year to the degree of Jaxson
Dart, who took his game to an elite level this past fall,"
said Steven Wiltfong, director of
recruiting for 247Sports. "A four-year starter, he made the game
look like everyone else was moving in slow motion as he racked up
nearly 6,000 yards of total offense and 79 total touchdowns, 67 of
them coming through the air. Accurate to all levels of the field,
he's a strong-armed passer with a high football IQ. He added a
running element to his game this past season, breaking teams down
when he pulled the ball down as well. I think Dart is a national
championship-caliber quarterback at the next level, and I'm excited
to see what he does at USC."
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior quarterback passed for 4,691
yards and 67 touchdowns this past season, leading the Chargers to a
14-0 record and the Class 6A state championship. Dart completed 240
of 345 passes, throwing just four interceptions, while also rushing
for 1,195 yards and 12 TDs on 128 carries. The MaxPreps National
Player of the Year, he was also selected Mr. Football by the
Deseret News. Dart was ranked as the nation's No. 19 recruit in the
Class of 2021 by
ESPN.
Dart has assisted elderly members of his community and has
volunteered locally on behalf of a food bank and clothing donation
drives.
Dart has maintained a 3.98 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a
National Letter of Intent to play football on scholarship at the
University of Southern California this
fall.
"Time and again, we see Gatorade National Players of the Year go
on to great things, such as playing on professional teams, winning
National Championships, as well as becoming coaches and role models
for future generations of athletes," Gatorade Senior Vice President
and General Manager Brett O'Brien.
"Jaxson Dart joins a list of
impressive student-athletes who have won the prestigious award and
we are confident he is headed for a lifetime of similar
accomplishments."
Each year a selection committee evaluates the nation's top
talent in the District of Columbia
and all 50 states, choosing national winners in 12 different
sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country,
boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls
soccer, and boys and girls track and field.
Gatorade is dedicated to recognizing, supporting and keeping
athletes in the game because of the lifelong skills sports instill
on and off the field. Since the program's inception in 1985,
Gatorade Player of the Year award recipients have won hundreds of
professional and college championships, and many have also turned
into pillars in their communities, becoming coaches, business
owners and educators. Previous winners include a distinguished list
of athletes, such as Peyton Manning,
Abby Wambach, Jayson Tatum, Derek
Jeter, Elena Delle Donne and
many other sports icons.
To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program,
check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit
playeroftheyear.gatorade.com, on Facebook at
facebook.com/GatoradePOY or follow us on Twitter at
twitter.com/Gatorade.
PREVIOUS GATORADE
NATIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS
|
YEAR
|
NAME
|
HOMETOWN
|
STATUS
|
2019-20
|
Arik
Gilbert
|
Marietta,
GA
|
Louisiana State
University
|
2018-19
|
Jake Smith
|
Scottsdale,
AZ
|
University of Texas,
Austin
|
2017-18
|
JT Daniels
|
Santa Ana,
CA
|
University of
Georgia
|
2016-17
|
Tate
Martell
|
Las Vegas,
NV
|
Played at Ohio State
and University of Miami
|
2015-16
|
Jacob
Eason
|
Lake Stevens,
WA
|
Indianapolis
Colts
|
2014-15
|
Kyler
Murray
|
Allen, TX
|
Arizona
Cardinals
|
2013-14
|
Andrew
Brown
|
Chesapeake,
VA
|
Indianapolis
Colts
|
2012-13
|
Max Browne
|
Sammamish,
WA
|
Played at USC and
University of Pittsburgh
|
2011-12
|
Johnathan
Gray
|
Aledo, TX
|
Played at University
of Texas, Austin
|
2010-11
|
Justin
Worley
|
Rock Hill,
SC
|
Retired from Chicago
Bears
|
2009-10
|
Malcolm
Jones
|
Westlake Village,
CA
|
Played at
UCLA
|
2008-09
|
Garrett
Gilbert
|
Austin, TX
|
Dallas
Cowboys
|
2007-08
|
Matt
Barkley
|
Santa Ana,
CA
|
NFL Free
Agent
|
2006-07
|
John
Brantley
|
Ocala, FL
|
Retired from
Baltimore Ravens
|
2005-06
|
Mitch
Mustain
|
Springdale,
AR
|
Retired from San
Antonio Talons (AFL)
|
2004-05
|
Greg
Paulus
|
Syracuse,
NY
|
Played at Syracuse
University and Duke University
|
2003-04
|
Jeff Byers
|
Loveland,
CO
|
Retired from Carolina
Panthers
|
2002-03
|
Kyle
Wright
|
Danville,
CA
|
Retired from San
Francisco 49ers
|
2001-02
|
Lorenzo
Booker
|
Ventura,
CA
|
Retired from Chicago
Bears
|
2000-01
|
Joe Mauer
|
St. Paul,
MN
|
Retired from
Minnesota Twins
|
1999-00
|
Brock
Berlin
|
Shreveport,
LA
|
Retired from Detroit
Lions
|
1998-99
|
Chris
Lewis
|
Long Beach,
CA
|
Played for Stanford
University
|
1997-98
|
Ronald
Curry
|
Hampton,
VA
|
Retired from St.
Louis Rams
|
1996-97
|
Travis
Minor
|
Baton Rouge,
LA
|
Retired from St.
Louis Rams
|
1995-96
|
Tim Couch
|
Hyden, KY
|
Retired from
Cleveland Browns
|
1994-95
|
Brock
Huard
|
Puyallup,
WA
|
Retired from Seattle
Seahawks
|
1993-94
|
Peyton
Manning
|
New Orleans,
LA
|
Retired from Denver
Broncos
|
1992-93
|
Ron Powlus
|
Berwick,
PA
|
Retired from
Philadelphia Eagles
|
1991-92
|
Chris
Walsh
|
St. Paul,
MN
|
Retired from
Minnesota Vikings
|
1990-91
|
Marquette
Smith
|
Lake Howell,
FL
|
Retired from Carolina
Panthers
|
1989-90
|
Robert
Smith
|
Euclid, OH
|
Retired from
Minnesota Vikings
|
1988-89
|
Terry
Kirby
|
Tabb, VA
|
Retired from Oakland
Raiders
|
1987-88
|
Curtis
Bray
|
Monroeville,
PA
|
Deceased (played at
University of Pittsburgh)
|
1986-87
|
Emmitt
Smith
|
Pensacola,
FL
|
Retired from Arizona
Cardinals
|
1985-86
|
Jeff
George
|
Indianapolis,
IN
|
Retired from Oakland
Raiders
|
About Gatorade
The Gatorade Company, a division of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), meets
the needs of consumers who participate in Sports and Fitness,
through brands that include Gatorade, Propel, Muscle Milk, Evolve
and Bolt24. The solutions they provide are driven by a deep
understanding of the unique needs and occasions of different types
of sports and fitness. Gatorade, their marquee brand, is
underpinned by more than 50-year history of studying the best
athletes in the world and sports-nutrition research by the Gatorade
Sport Science Institute, allowing it to provide
scientifically-formulated products that meet athletes' needs both
on and off the field. For more information and a full list of
products, please visit www.gatorade.com.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion
times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the
world. PepsiCo generated more than $70
billion in net revenue in 2020, driven by a complementary
food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade,
Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, Tropicana and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product
portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages,
including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail
sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in
Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning
with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the
marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of our business
strategy and brands. For more information, visit
www.pepsico.com.
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SOURCE The Gatorade Company