75 high school football players to watch across Southwestern Indiana in 2024

It's time again to talk high school football.

We are one month until the start of the season with the first Friday under the lights on Aug. 23. The Courier & Press sports staff will begin our preseason coverage in full next week. What better place to start than playmakers on the gridiron?

Here are 75 football players, in alphabetical order, to watch in Southwestern Indiana in 2024. Note: this list won't include anyone confirmed out for the season like Brooks Thomas (Harrison) or James Mercer (North). Also as a reminder, the best of the best are included but so are those vital to a team's success or potential breakout players from across the area.

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Coleton Adamson, Castle

The senior offensive lineman was an All-State and Second Team All-SIAC selection.

Brooks Aigner, Boonville

The senior lineman was an All-PAC selection last season.

Parker Belwood, Castle

The senior totaled 54 tackles (four for loss), three interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Grant Boyd, Pike Central

The junior was the Chargers' leading rusher with 576 yards on 107 carries and five touchdowns. All-PAC selection.

Ben Brasher, North

The senior is one of the top returning offensive lineman in the SIAC. Second Team All-SIAC and All-City selection.

Xavier Brooks, Harrison

The senior wide receiver is one the top players returning for the Warriors and a potential offensive playmaker.

Alex Broshears, Memorial

The senior linebacker led the team with 184 tackles (18 for loss) plus two interceptions. All-State, First Team All-SIAC and All-City selection.

Ty Brown, South Spencer

The senior quarterback/defensive back totaled 1,378 offensive yards and 21 touchdowns, plus a team-high 91 tackles and six interceptions. All-State and All-PAC selection.

Max Bueltel, Jasper

The junior quarterback and third-year starter accounted for 886 offensive yards and 15 total touchdowns.

Nathaniel Cano, Central

The senior saw time at quarterback (211 yards), wide receiver (14 receptions) and defensive back (30 tackles) last season for the Bears.

AJ Coates, Reitz

The junior linebacker was second on the team with 83 tackles (13 for loss) plus five sacks and two forced fumbles. All-City selection.

Drake Cox, Princeton

The senior defensive back is the Tigers' top returning tackler at 65. Also had 73 rushing yards and two touchdowns. All-PAC selection.

Ben Davies, Reitz

The senior quarterback completed 66 percent of his passes for 1,997 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Grant Davis, Boonville

The junior quarterback threw for 1,027 yards for 11 touchdowns to only five interceptions.

Cohen Edwards, Perry Central

The senior had 562 rushing yards with seven touchdowns plus registered 52 tackles (nine for loss).

Luke Ellspermann, Memorial

The senior receiver totaled 1,425 offensive yards and 16 scores while leading the team with 52 catches for 670 yards. First Team All-SIAC and All-City selection.

Caden Erny, Jasper

The senior had 276 rushing yards with eight touchdowns plus 20 tackles and four interceptions in the secondary.

Darion Fellows Jr., Bosse

The senior defender had 42 tackles (14 for loss) and a team-high 5.5 sacks.

Tyler Fetter, Forest Park

The senior running back/defensive lineman was among the PAC leaders with 11.5 sacks. All-PAC selection.

Matthew Fisher, Memorial

The senior quarterback completed 63 of 104 passes for 835 yards and eight touchdowns with zero interceptions in an injury-shortened season. First Team All-SIAC at punter.

Antonio Floyd Jr., Bosse

The senior is in line for a bigger role after rushing for 395 yards on 61 carries and five touchdowns.

Zach Foster, Gibson Southern

The junior had 56 tackles, 11 pass deflections and five interceptions in the secondary. Also listed at quarterback (6 for 10, one touchdown). All-PAC selection.

Will Friday, Reitz

The junior defensive lineman had 56 tackles (seven for loss) and four sacks.

Jed Galvin, North Posey

The senior running back rushed for 1,323 yards and 26 touchdowns. Also caught 25 passes for 505 yards and three touchdowns, plus 51 tackles on defense.

Jett Goldsberry, Heritage Hills

The junior quarterback passed for 1,206 yards and 16 touchdowns, ran for 1,351 yards and 20 touchdowns, plus had 80 tackles and three forced fumbles. All-State and All-PAC selection.

Luke Grayson, North

The senior linebacker had 59 tackles (8.5 for loss) and five pass deflections. Could also see time at quarterback.

Blake Green, Vincennes Lincoln

The junior linebacker registered 120 tackles (eight for loss) with one sack and one interception. First Team All-SIAC selection.

Will Hambrick, Vincennes Lincoln

The senior linebacker had 102 tackles with two fumble recoveries and one interception. Second Team All-SIAC selection.

Parker Hart, Heritage Hills

The senior linebacker had 131 tackles (11 for loss) and two fumble recoveries. Also a starter on the offensive line. All-State and All-PAC selection.

Nash Hostetter, Mount Vernon

The junior wide receiver caught 32 passes for 811 yards and nine touchdowns. All-PAC selection.

Dylen Kendrick, Memorial

The junior running back emerged late in the season with 387 yards and three scores including 100-yard games in the postseason against Reitz and East Central.

Brody Klem, Gibson Southern

The junior defensive lineman had 73 tackles (an impressive 35 for loss) and 10 sacks. All-State and All-PAC selection.

Shane Krieger, Mount Vernon

The junior defensive lineman/running back had 67 tackles (five for loss) and 199 yards with three touchdowns. All-PAC honorable mention.

Gavin Leach, Castle

The senior linebacker led the Knights with 139 tackles and three interceptions. Committed to Toledo.

Xavion Lesure, Washington

The junior running back/linebacker 403 yards with five touchdowns, 112 tackles and two forced fumbles. All-PAC honorable mention.

Jack Levin, Jasper

The junior totaled 65 tackles with one interception on defense and 245 rushing yards with two touchdowns on offense.

Luke Lindsey, Vincennes Lincoln

The senior had 699 total offensive yards and six touchdowns, plus went 42 of 46 on extra points and 2 of 5 on field goals. Second Team All-SIAC selection.

JJ Lowery, Memorial

The junior defensive back had 34 tackles and a team-high four interceptions. First Team All-SIAC and All-City selection.

Jaxon Lueken, Forest Park

The junior led the team with 934 offensive yards and nine touchdowns. Will also see time in the secondary.

Nehemiah Madison, Reitz

The senior had 21 tackles, one sack and two interceptions as a starter in the secondary.

Tate Mallory, Mater Dei

The junior quarterback completed 134 of 236 passes for 1,536 yards last season.

Trace Martin, North Posey

The senior linebacker had 51 tackles for the state runner-ups. All-PAC honorable mention.

Parker Mattingly, Memorial

The senior offensive lineman was an All-State and Second Team All-SIAC selection.

Ty Mauck, North Posey

The senior had 86 tackles (13 for loss), two sacks and one fumble recovery. All-PAC selection.

Max McCool, Castle

The senior running back rushed for 1,089 yards (7.9 per carry) and 11 touchdowns. Also caught nine passes for 132 yards and one score. First Team All-SIAC selection.

Gary McCoy, Tecumseh

The junior is a two-way starter on the line and a three-way mainstay on offense for the Braves.

Brayton McCrary, Vincennes Lincoln

The senior running back led the Alices with 1,136 rushing yards on 167 carries and nine touchdowns.

Nate McDurmon, Mater Dei

The senior lineman was an All-State selection last year and registered 46 tackles.

Coltyn McNabb, North Daviess

The junior running back led the Cougars with 1,426 yards on 141 carries and 16 touchdowns. All-State selection.

Hunter Meredith, Heritage Hills

The senior running back had 809 yards and 12 touchdowns plus 88 tackles and six pass deflections on defense. All-PAC selection.

Brennan Messel, North Knox

The third-year starting quarterback had 930 total offensive yards and 11 touchdowns plus 52 stops on defense.

Parker Murphy, Washington

The senior linebacker led the Hatchets with 164 tackles (16.5 for loss), 4.5 sacks and two interceptions. All-PAC honorable mention.

Gavin Myers, North Posey

The senior defensive lineman had 65 tackles (14 for loss) and one forced fumble. All-State and All-PAC selection.

Cam Novotny, Gibson Southern

The senior caught 12 passes for 118 yards and converted 12 of 14 field goal attempts with a long of 45. All-PAC honorable mention.

Benny Patterson, Castle

The senior defensive lineman had 70 tackles (13 for loss), a team-high four sacks and two forced fumble. All-State and Second Team All-SIAC selection. Committed to Cincinnati.

Matt Pegram, North

The senior defensive back had 59 tackles (seven for loss) and one interception.

Beau Rose, Gibson Southern

The senior linebacker had a team-high 130 tackles (10 for loss), six sacks and three forced fumbles. All-State and All-PAC selection.

Jason Rucker, North

The senior running back 704 rushing yards (7.5 per carry) and eight touchdowns plus another 153 yards receiving.

Tyson Ruhe, Jasper

The senior offensive tackle was a First Team All-SIAC selection, plus had nine tackles on defense.

Tyler Ruxer, Heritage Hills

The junior wide receiver had 27 catches for 545 yards and nine touchdowns. Also had 58 tackles and three interceptions on defense. All-State and All-PAC selection.

Brady Schickel, Mount Vernon

The junior defensive lineman had 58 tackles and 7.5 sacks. All-State and All-PAC selection.

Ethan Schraner, Tell City

The senior linebacker and offensive lineman had 41 tackles and one fumble recovery. All-PAC honorable mention.

Davis Schwartz, Southridge

The senior linebacker had 82 tackles (four for loss) and three pass deflections. All-PAC selection.

Alex Smith, Heritage Hills

The senior defensive back had 128 tackles, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries. Also had 323 rushing yards and one touchdown. All-PAC selection.

Eliot Smith, Jasper

The senior linebacker/running back had 59 tackles including 10 for loss.

Ethan Stofleth, Mater Dei

The senior running back led the Wildcats with 504 yards on 113 carries and three touchdowns.

Jalen Sutton, Harrison

The senior fullback/linebacker will be an important two-way player for the Warriors.

Landon Terry, Tell City

The senior had 1,440 rushing yards, school-record 14.2 per carry, and 22 touchdowns. Also registered 34 tackles and two sacks. All-State and All-PAC selection.

Noah Terry, Tell City

The senior had 1,341 rushing yards (10.99 per carry) and 15 touchdowns. Also led the team with 45 tackles plus two forced fumbles. All-State and All-PAC selection.

Tizhaun Tomlinson, Bosse

The senior wide receiver had 66 catches for 928 yards and seven touchdowns. Second Team All-SIAC selection.

Jasseim Ussery, Reitz

The senior is the Panthers' top returning rusher with 315 yards and one touchdown.

Trey Ward, Castle

The senior linebacker had 125 tackles (nine for loss), three sacks and one forced fumble.

Rolan Whitehead, Southridge

The senior linebacker had 64 tackles (five for loss), three pass deflections and one interception.

Trey Willard, Heritage Hills

The senior defensive lineman had 69 tackles (seven for loss), two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks.

Noah Wright, Southridge

The senior totaled 439 offensive yards and six touchdowns. Had 45 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. All-State and All-PAC selection.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: 75 high school football players to watch across Southwestern Indiana in 2024