- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,257,373
- Reaction score
- 59
We continue our high school football preview content asking for some feedback from the readers for our fan vote. Who do you think should be the Central Indiana Defensive Player of the Year? We included 15 players here.
Voting is open until noon Friday.
Jayce Brewer, Franklin Central, Sr.: The 6-5, 240-pound Michigan recruit has 45 solo tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 5 ½ sacks, three blocked field goals, one caused fumble and one interception over the past two seasons.
Willie Chapman, Pike, Sr.: The 6-1, 210-pound Miami of Ohio commit was second on the team last year with 81 tackles (65 solo) and led the Red Devils with 14 tackles for loss and three sacks. He also had one interception and one fumble recovery.
Drake Coellner, Carmel, Jr.: The 6-foot, 190-pound safety was fourth on Carmel’s team last year with 72 tackles (46 solo) and led the Greyhounds with four interceptions. The four-star prospect has several offers, including Michigan, Ohio State, Auburn, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M and others.
Kaleb Elkins, Warren Central, Sr.: The 6-3, 185-pound Purdue recruit was coming off a knee injury at the start of his junior season but recovered to finish with 27 solo tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. As a sophomore, Elkins had 28 solo tackles and six interceptions.
Olumide Fapetu, Westfield, Sr.: The 5-11, 210-pound Fapetu, a Harvard commit, led the Class 6A state runner-up Shamrocks last year with 112 tackles (56 solo) and was second on the team with 12 ½ TFLs as a junior. He also had 2 ½ sacks, one interceptions and one forced fumble.
Lucas Farmer, Cascade, Sr.: Farmerplayed a big role in helping Cascade to a Class 3A state championship as a junior, ranking second on the team with 68 solo tackles (78 total), along with five interceptions, one caused fumble and one sacks. Farmer has 239 career tackles, 13 TFLs, seven interceptions and three caused fumbles.
Sean Fox, Warren Central, Sr.: The 6-5, 225-pound Kentucky recruit was second on the team last year with 91 tackles, including 9 ½ for a loss, and 5 ½ sacks. The four-star prospect also caused three fumbles and had one blocked punt for the Warriors, a regional champion.
Will Hegwood, Roncalli, Sr.: The 6-1, 190-pound junior had 93 tackles (41 solo) as a junior for a Roncalli team that was the state runner-up in Class 4A. Hegwood also had 4 ½ TFLs, three interceptions and one caused fumble. In two seasons, he has 174 tackles, seven interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two caused fumbles.
Makyi Hines, Avon, Sr.: The 6-foot, 230-pound Hines made a team-leading 110 tackles (65 solo) with 10 ½ TFLs and 1 ½ sacks. Overall, Hines has 268 tackles (164 solo) and 25 ½ TFLs over his first three seasons of varsity football.
Sam Hirschy, New Palestine, Jr.: The 6-4, 270-pound Hirschy led the Class 5A state champions last year with 20 ½ TFLs and 8 ½ sacks. He finished with 46 solo tackles and 63 total. He has several offers, including from Indiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, Auburn, Kentucky, Missouri, among others.
Errol Kerns III, Lawrence Central, Sr.: The 6-foot, 195-pound Kerns, a Texas A&M recruit, led the Bears last season with 90 tackles (52 solo) and added three interceptions, three forced fumbles and four TFLs. The all-state safety also averaged 28.5 yards on kickoff returns and 18 yards on punt returns.
Trew Paxson, Center Grove, Sr.: The 6-1, 215-pound Paxson is coming off a season that saw him make a team-high 127 tackles, including 11 for a loss, along with three sacks. Paxson committed to Southeast Missouri State over several other offers.
Dami Sowunmi, Brownsburg, Sr.: The 6-4, 260-pound Missouri commit had a breakout junior year with 10 TFLs, five sacks, one fumble recovery and 36 total tackles, including 24 solo for the Class 6A state champions.
Keontay Toomer, Ben Davis, Sr.: The 6-2, 180-pound Toomer, a Louisville commit, led the Giants last year with 95 tackles, including 52 solo stops. He also had two TFLs, one fumble recovery and one caused fumbles. Toomer also caught five passes for 72 yards and one TD as a junior on offense.
Isaiah Young, Lapel, Sr.: The 5-9, 190-pound Young led Lapel’s 13-1 regional championship team on defense with 168 total tackles (64 solo) with 11 ½ TFLs, nine sacks and one interception. Young has 408 tackles, 22 ½ TFLs, nine sacks and six fumble recoveries for his career.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Who is the IndyStar 2026 Central Indiana Preseason Defensive Player of Year?
Continue reading...
Voting is open until noon Friday.
You must be registered for see images attach
Jayce Brewer, Franklin Central, Sr.: The 6-5, 240-pound Michigan recruit has 45 solo tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 5 ½ sacks, three blocked field goals, one caused fumble and one interception over the past two seasons.
Willie Chapman, Pike, Sr.: The 6-1, 210-pound Miami of Ohio commit was second on the team last year with 81 tackles (65 solo) and led the Red Devils with 14 tackles for loss and three sacks. He also had one interception and one fumble recovery.
Drake Coellner, Carmel, Jr.: The 6-foot, 190-pound safety was fourth on Carmel’s team last year with 72 tackles (46 solo) and led the Greyhounds with four interceptions. The four-star prospect has several offers, including Michigan, Ohio State, Auburn, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Texas A&M and others.
Kaleb Elkins, Warren Central, Sr.: The 6-3, 185-pound Purdue recruit was coming off a knee injury at the start of his junior season but recovered to finish with 27 solo tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. As a sophomore, Elkins had 28 solo tackles and six interceptions.
Olumide Fapetu, Westfield, Sr.: The 5-11, 210-pound Fapetu, a Harvard commit, led the Class 6A state runner-up Shamrocks last year with 112 tackles (56 solo) and was second on the team with 12 ½ TFLs as a junior. He also had 2 ½ sacks, one interceptions and one forced fumble.
Lucas Farmer, Cascade, Sr.: Farmerplayed a big role in helping Cascade to a Class 3A state championship as a junior, ranking second on the team with 68 solo tackles (78 total), along with five interceptions, one caused fumble and one sacks. Farmer has 239 career tackles, 13 TFLs, seven interceptions and three caused fumbles.
Sean Fox, Warren Central, Sr.: The 6-5, 225-pound Kentucky recruit was second on the team last year with 91 tackles, including 9 ½ for a loss, and 5 ½ sacks. The four-star prospect also caused three fumbles and had one blocked punt for the Warriors, a regional champion.
Will Hegwood, Roncalli, Sr.: The 6-1, 190-pound junior had 93 tackles (41 solo) as a junior for a Roncalli team that was the state runner-up in Class 4A. Hegwood also had 4 ½ TFLs, three interceptions and one caused fumble. In two seasons, he has 174 tackles, seven interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two caused fumbles.
Makyi Hines, Avon, Sr.: The 6-foot, 230-pound Hines made a team-leading 110 tackles (65 solo) with 10 ½ TFLs and 1 ½ sacks. Overall, Hines has 268 tackles (164 solo) and 25 ½ TFLs over his first three seasons of varsity football.
Sam Hirschy, New Palestine, Jr.: The 6-4, 270-pound Hirschy led the Class 5A state champions last year with 20 ½ TFLs and 8 ½ sacks. He finished with 46 solo tackles and 63 total. He has several offers, including from Indiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, Auburn, Kentucky, Missouri, among others.
Errol Kerns III, Lawrence Central, Sr.: The 6-foot, 195-pound Kerns, a Texas A&M recruit, led the Bears last season with 90 tackles (52 solo) and added three interceptions, three forced fumbles and four TFLs. The all-state safety also averaged 28.5 yards on kickoff returns and 18 yards on punt returns.
Trew Paxson, Center Grove, Sr.: The 6-1, 215-pound Paxson is coming off a season that saw him make a team-high 127 tackles, including 11 for a loss, along with three sacks. Paxson committed to Southeast Missouri State over several other offers.
Dami Sowunmi, Brownsburg, Sr.: The 6-4, 260-pound Missouri commit had a breakout junior year with 10 TFLs, five sacks, one fumble recovery and 36 total tackles, including 24 solo for the Class 6A state champions.
Keontay Toomer, Ben Davis, Sr.: The 6-2, 180-pound Toomer, a Louisville commit, led the Giants last year with 95 tackles, including 52 solo stops. He also had two TFLs, one fumble recovery and one caused fumbles. Toomer also caught five passes for 72 yards and one TD as a junior on offense.
Isaiah Young, Lapel, Sr.: The 5-9, 190-pound Young led Lapel’s 13-1 regional championship team on defense with 168 total tackles (64 solo) with 11 ½ TFLs, nine sacks and one interception. Young has 408 tackles, 22 ½ TFLs, nine sacks and six fumble recoveries for his career.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Who is the IndyStar 2026 Central Indiana Preseason Defensive Player of Year?
Continue reading...
