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

July 24, 2024

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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.

More: 6 high school football storylines to follow in SW Indiana in 2024

High school football: Here are the schedules for every team across SW Indiana in 2024

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.

Castle’s Parker Belwood (8) is celebrated after scoring a touchdown as the North Huskies play the Castle Knights during the IHSAA Class 5A Sectional 16 championship game in Newburgh, Ind., Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.

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.

Memorial’s Alex Broshears (35) celebrates after a tackle as the East Central Trojans play the Memorial Tigers during the 2023 IHSAA 4A Regional at Enlow Field in Evansville, Ind., Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.

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.

Jasper’s Max Bueltel (22) runs the ball as the Jasper Wildcats play the North Huskies at Bundrant Stadium in Evansville, Ind., Friday evening, Oct. 7, 2022.

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.

Reitz’s AJ Coates (0) runs the ball for a touchdown as the Reitz Panthers play the Castle Knights at John Lidy Field Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.

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.

Reitz’s Ben Davies (14) looks to pass as the Reitz Panthers play the Memorial Tigers at the Reitz Bowl in Evansville, Ind., Friday Sept. 29, 2023.

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.

Boonville's Grant Davis (3) passes the ball as the Heritage Hills Patriots play the Boonville Pioneers Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. — Boonville’s Grant Davis (3) passes the ball as the Heritage Hills Patriots play the Boonville Pioneers Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

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.

Memorial’s Luke Ellspermann (3) passes as the East Central Trojans play the Memorial Tigers during the 2023 IHSAA 4A Regional at Enlow Field in Evansville, Ind., Friday, Nov. 10, 2023.

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.

Memorial’s Matthew Fisher (2) hands off to Memorial’s Porter Rode (6) as the Memorial Tigers play the Mater Dei Wildcats at Enlow Field Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.

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.

Bosse’s Antonio Floyd Jr. (11) runs the ball as the Bosse Bulldogs play the Harrison Warriors at Enlow Field in Evansville, Ind., Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.

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.

North Posey’s Jed Galvin (33) carries the ball as the North Posey Vikings play the Mater Dei Wildcats in their sectional semifinal game in Evansville, Ind., Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. — North Posey’s Jed Galvin (33) carries the ball as the North Posey Vikings play the Mater Dei Wildcats in their…

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