Vote: Who should be SBLive's 2023 Southwest Florida Defensive Player of the Year?
This season was highlighted by dynamic defenses and elite defensive players in Southwest Florida. Now it's time to decided who was the best.
You can help us decide by voting in SBLive's 2023 Defensive Player of the Year poll below. All statistics listed are up through the regional semifinal games.
Voting concludes December 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
Congratulations to the winner of last week's Southewest Florida Defensive Player of the Week poll: Ethan Crossan of First Baptist Academy.
Here are the nominees:
Khari Bendolph, DL, Naples: Made 22 tackles for loss, 60 tackles total, and finished with 13 sacks.
Tommy Cusick, DB, First Baptist Academy: Totaled 128 tackles, 11 for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles.
Kensley Faustin, DB, Naples: Snagged five interceptions, had 12 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Micah Fils-Aime, DL, Golden Gate: Set a school record with 12 sacks and had 90 tackles, including 30 tackles for loss.
Bryan Fitzgerald, LB, Fort Myers: Led the area with 151 tackles, averaging 13.7 tackles per game.
Kye Garcia, LB, Dunbar: Finished with 97 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two fumble recoveries.
Victor Georges, DB, East Lee: Had seven interceptions, 14 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 71 tackles.
Marcus Kelley, Jr., DB, Mariner: Had a team high 71 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three interceptions, plus had 10 receiving TDs.
Gavin Postudensek, LB, Estero: Had 72 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions, and three fumble recoveries.
Leroy Roker, DB, Bishop Verot: Led the area with seven interceptions, plus had seven pass breakups and 47 tackles.
Ryan Peterson, DL, Bishop Verot: Made 55 tackles, 17.5 of them for loss, and had 6.5 sacks, a blocked punt and a blocked field goal.
Ethan Thomas, LB, Evangelical Christian: Tallied 25 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and 77 tackles, all team highs.
Quarice Vance, DL, South Fort Myers: – His 16 sacks and 34 tackles for loss were among the best in the area, and he finished with 101 tackles.
