The 2023 Arizona High School Football Season saw record breaking performances, a first-time Open Division Champion, and playoff contenders from every corner of the state. While championships are won as a team, ArizonaVarsity and our partners at Integrity Electrical Services want to make sure that the individual performances that stood out above the rest are properly recognized.

Below, you'll see this year's nominees and winners for the 2023 2A-6A Integrity Electric / Arizona Varsity Players of the Year. ArizonaVarsity.com's staff of 10 voters cast their ballots for the 4A-6A winners, while 2A and 3A was decided by myself and Chilly.

Tuddy Smart helped lead Pima to a 13-1 record an an appearance in the 2A State Championship. Smart had 16 total touchdowns in 2023, 12 on offense as a dual-threat RB, two on interception returns, and another two on kick returns. Defensively, Smart had 8 interceptions and an eye-popping 27 tackles for a loss, including five tackles for a loss in the 2A championship.

Jack Atkinson led Scottsdale Christian to a 2A State Championship in 2023, passing for five scores in the win over previously undefeated Pima, and throwing for 43 TDs and nearly 3,000 yards on the season.

Malachi Wilt set the 2A passing yardage record in 2023 with 4,407 yards, and led Tonopah Valley to the quarterfinals of the 2A playoffs as a sophomore!

Jack Atkinson led Scottsdale Christian to their first state championship since 1983, avenging a loss to Pima in the process. Atkinson was voted the AIA's 2A Offensive Player of the Year, and is signed to play college football with Washington University in St. Louis

Gage Baker shattered state passing records on his way to leading the entire country in passing in 2023. Baker led Paradise Honors to the 3A State championship, and 753 total points scored on the season- an average of 54 points per game.

Cameron Hackworth led Sabino to a 3A Championship, beating Paradise Honors in the process. Not only did he throw for nearly 4,000 yards and 40 TDs during the 2023 season, but he was a true weapon as a runner, with over 900 rushing yards and an additional 15 scores on the ground. Hackworth also made an impact on the other side of the ball, bringing in 3 interceptions as a defensive back.

Sophomore Joe Yoney Jr. had Mohave one game away from an appearance in the 3A Championship, and had an electric season as a dual-threat QB. Yoney Jr. threw for over 2000 yards and had 28 TD passes, but it was his SEVEN 100+ yard rushing games and 17 rushing TDs that set him apart as one of the state's most exciting young athletes.

Even in a state championship loss, Gage Baker produced over 600 yards of total offense and set the Arizona state record for most completions in a single game with 46- breaking his own record of 44.

Baker is now the Arizona record holder for completions in a single season, passing yards in a single season, touchdown passes in a single game, touchdown passes in a season, and career touchdown passes.

Kayden Luke didn't just rush for 2,307 yards en route to a state championship, he also anchored Canyon del Oro's defense with 42 solo tackles. Luke had both the game-saving tackle in 4 overtimes against Arizona College Prep, as well as the game-winning touchdown.

Tayt Ford scored 8 rushing touchdowns in Yuma Catholic's 4A playoff run alone, and had 22 total on the 2023 season. Ford had nine 100+ yard rushing games in 2023, and added 231 yards receiving as a dual-purpose pass catching back.

Bridger French broke Coconino's single-season rushing touchdown record, and found the end zone a total of 28 ties in 2023, in just 11 games. Eight different times this season, French accounted for at least 3 TDs in a single game.

In a UNANIMOUS selection, every ArizonaVarsity voter gave Kayden Luke their first place vote for 4A Player of the year. Luke adds this latest honor to being named the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl "Bijan Robinson Player of the Year," and the AIA 4A Conference Player of the Year. Luke cemented this award by averaging an astonishing 212 rushing yards per game in the 4A playoffs while leading the Dorados in tackles in the 4A quarterfinals.

Deshawn Warner caused an absurd 8 fumbles in 2023 while leading Desert Edge to a 5A Championship appearance. Warner led the Scorpions in tackles for a loss (20), as well as sacks (16), and added two interceptions, both return for a touchdown. On top of all that, Warner served in spot duty on both offense, catching and running for a TD pass, and special teams, hitting 16 extra points.

Daxen Hall average 231 yards of offense per game on his way to back-to-back 5A titles, and added 36 touchdowns. In the state championship against Desert Edge, Hall had 336 yards of offense and two scores. Hall had 8 games in 2023 where he averaged at least 8 yards per carry, and finished the season with over 2,200 yards on the ground.

Adam Mohammed went over 2,000 yards rushing for Apollo this season, and was personally responsible for 276 points, rushing for 39 TDs, and scoring as a receiver, kick returner, and even on an interception return. In the five weeks leading up to the 5A semifinal between Apollo and Higley, Mohammed score 22 times on just 69 offensive touches.

Adam Mohammed squeaked out a victory with the most first place votes amongst ArizonaVarsity staff, and is your 2023 Integrity Electric / ArizonaVarsity Player of the Year! Mohammed was the BJ Media RB of the Year, as well as the AIA 5A Conference Player of the Year after setting the 5A Conference record for total TDs in a season with 46, and leading Apollo to their first semifinal appearance in nearly 4 decades.

Navi Bruzon went undefeated against the state of Arizona in 2023, including games against 11 teams that made their respective playoffs, and 6 games against 2023 Open Teams. Bruzon threw two TDs while rushing for over 100 yards and an additional score to beat rival Centennial in Open Division Championship- earning Liberty their first-ever Open Title.

Bruzon threw 32 TDs, over 3,200 yards, and rushed for almost 1,000 more during Liberty's 13 game season, and was responsible for 12 TDs in the playoff run alone.

Demond Williams Jr. had 54 offensive TDs to only 5 turnovers in 2023, and completed an unbelievable 77% of his passes this season. Williams went undefeated against the Chandler Unified School District, and had five games this season where he had at least as many TD passes as he did incomplete passes. Williams led all 6A QBs in rushing yards, and rushing TDs, and is the first QB in 6A history to score 20 rushing TDs in a single season.

Noah Carter did it all for Centennial in 2023. He led the team in receptions, receiving TDs, sacks, and punt return yards- even taking two to the house. In an age when elite 6A teams don't have players playing on both sides of the ball, much less dominating, Noah Carter was a threat to make a play whenever he was on the field, and led his team to a 6A Open Championship appearance.

Navi Bruzon took half the ArizonaVarsity media first place votes, and adds the 6A Integrity Electric / ArizonaVarsity.com Player of the Year Award to a trophy case that already includes the 2023 AZNFF Frank Kush Player of the Year, the 2023 Ed Doherty Award, the 2023 Maxpreps Arizona Player of the Year, and the AIA 6A Conference Player of the Year, in addition to being last year's Arizona Cardinals Player of the Year.

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