Last week PrimeTimePreps announced their nominees for Hillsborough County’s Defensive Player of the Year for the 7A and 8A classes, with Plant City linebacker D.J. Haynes and Durant defensive end Leo Tabakovic each receiving nominations for their stellar play during the 2021 football season.
This week PrimeTimePreps followed up their defensive nods with their nominations for Offensive Player of the Year for the 7A and 8A classes and once again both Plant City and Durant each saw a player make the exclusive list of candidates.
Plant City’s nominee was senior running back Reggie Bush Jr. Bush rushed for a total of 856 yards with seven touchdowns, also earning a second-team spot on the Western Conference’s All-Conference team for the Federal Division.
In his most impressive performance of the year, Bush did it all against Plant High School as he racked up 265 yards and four touchdowns in the narrow 31-24 victory.
For Durant, it was dual threat quarterback Marcus Miguele. Miguele finished the year with 1,761 total yards (1087 passing and 674 rushing) to lead the district, along with 23 total touchdowns (15 passing and eight rushing). Along with his lead in total yards, Miguele finished sixth in the district in rushing yards and fourth in rushing touchdowns.
Miguele was instrumental in the Cougars’ 8-3 season in the first year under head coach Claybo Varnum, the team’s highest single-season win total since 2016, in addition to their first Redman Cup victory over Plant City since 2017.
Along with his Offensive Player of the Year nomination, Miguele was also recognized as a second-team member of the Western Conference’s All-Conference team for the Federal Division and was named one of the Plant City area’s Top 5 Athletes of 2021 by the Plant City Observer.
In addition to Bush and Miguele, this is the full list of nominees for Hillsborough County 7A-8A Offensive Player of the Year: Newsome running back Jason Albritton, Armwood quarterback Murdolph Jones, Wharton running back Arkese Parks, Alonso quarterback Elijah Rhoden, Steinbrenner running back Kirby Voorhees and Tampa Bay Tech quarterback Xavione Washington.