Vote now: Who was the Indiana high school football defensive player of the year for the 2022 season?

We're taking one more look at the top individual performers of the 2022 Indiana high school football season with fan votes for the offensive and defensive players of the year. 

Check out the write-ups on each player and then vote in the poll, which will remain open until Sunday, March 5 at 11:59 p.m.

Lee Alexander, LB, Warren Central

A senior linebacker for the Warriors, Alexander had an exceptional season. The 6-foot, 200-pounder tallied 101 total tackles (8.5 TFL), a sack, an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery while helping Warren Central to two wins in the 6A state playoffs. Alexander was selected to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team.

Aiden Beadles, LB, South Putnam

Beadles was all over the field for South Putnam this year as he was third in the state with 174 total tackles, including breaking the school's single-season record with 100 solo tackles. The 6-3, 205-pound junior also had 18 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. After leading the Eagles to a 7-3 overall record, Beadles was named the county defensive player of the year and was selected to the IFCA 1A Junior All-State Team.

Drayk Bowen, LB, Andrean

Bowen had an incredible career at Andrean and finished it off with another accolade-filled season. The 6-2, 230-pound senior helped lead the Fighting 59ers to a 10-4 record with 144 total tackles (19 TFL), 5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt. The Notre Dame commit was selected to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team and the Indiana Preps Top 22 Team as well as being named Indiana Preps Player of the Year and IndyStar’s Mr. Football. Bowen was selected to compete in the All-American bowl.

Owen Bright, LB, Center Grove

A linebacker for this season's 6A state champion, Center Grove, Bright was a key part of a Trojan defense that held three playoff opponents to 10 points or less. The 6-0, 220 pound junior had 91 total tackles (13 TFL) and five sacks and was named to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team.

Nylan Brown, LB, Ben Davis

Brown, a junior, cemented himself as a playmaker for the Ben Davis defense. In 10 games, he had 109 total tackles (8 TFL), three sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery while the Giants finished with a 6-4 record. The 6-0, 230-pounder was selected to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team.

Tylen Cunningham, LB, Lawrence Central

Cunningham has been a standout linebacker for the Bears for the past three. As a senior last fall, the 5-10, 210-pounder racked up 155 tackles (17.5 TFL), 5.5 sacks, 2 interceptions (one for a touchdown), 3 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Cunningham was an all-county selection and was named to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team.

Tyler Dikos, LB, Westfield

Dikos had an impressive senior season. The 6-1, 215-pounder totaled 142 tackles (4.5 TFL), 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery for the Shamrocks while leading them to an 8-4 overall record. The senior was a 1st team All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference selection and was named to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team.

Kendrick Gilbert, DL, Cathedral

Gilbert, a senior who signed with Kentucky, anchored the Cathedral defensive line during the past two seasons. This fall, the 6-5, 270-pounder had a total of 31 tackles (1.5 TFL), 3 sacks, a pass deflection, a forced fumble, and a blocked field goal while helping to lead the Irish to a 10-2 record. Gilbert was named to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team and was selected to compete in the 2022 Army All-American Bowl.

Will Heldt, LB, Carmel

A 6-6, 230-pound Purdue commit, Heldt was an IFCA Top 50 All-State Team selection this season. The senior tallied 82 tackles (7 TFL), 6 sacks, 4 pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a blocked field goal for the Greyhounds who finished with a 6-4 record.

Gannan Howes, DB, Hanover Central

Howes had a great senior season for the Hanover Central defense. The 5-11, 175-pounder had 69 total tackles (5.5 TFL), a sack, a forced fumble, and he was tied for the third highest total of interceptions in the state with seven. Howes was named to the IFCA 3A Senior All-State Team.

Isaiah Hunter, DB, Perry Meridian

Hunter was a three-year varsity contributor for Perry Meridian and excelled on both sides of the ball for the Falcons this season. Defensively, the 5-10, 165 pounder tallied 43 tackles (3 TFL), he was tied for third in the state with seven interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Following the season, Hunter was a 1st team All-Mid State Conference selection.

Carter Jarvis, LB, Western (Russiaville)

Jarvis finished off his four-year varsity career with a strong senior campaign. The 6-0, 200-pound linebacker was sixth in the state with 159 total tackles (12 TFL) and had 3 blocked field goals, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery while helping the Panthers to a 6-5 overall record and a first place finish in the Hoosier-East Conference. He was selected to the IFCA 4A Senior All-State Team.

Joshua Mickens, DL, Lawrence Central

One of the most sought after recruits in Indiana for the 2023 class, Mickens lived up to the hype with a dominant season on the Lawrence Central defensive line. The 6-5, 225-pounder made 74 total tackles (20.5 TFL), 6.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles which earned the Ohio State signee All-American honors as well as a selection to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team.

Ashton Pesetski, DL, Carroll (Fort Wayne)

Pesetski had a breakout junior season for the Chargers, who finished as the 6A state runner-up. The 6-2, 220-pound defensive end tallied 95 total tackles (21 TFL), 11 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery for a Carroll team that finished 13-1. Pesetski was named to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team and was a 1st team All-Summit Conference selection.

Seth Pirtle, DB, Sullivan

A junior, Pirtle had a breakout season and solidified himself as one of the top pass defenders in Indiana. The 6-0, 165-pound safety helped the Golden Arrows to a 7-5 record while tallying a state-leading nine interceptions to go along with 45 tackles (1 TFL) and three fumble recoveries.

John Purdy, LB, Castle (Newburgh)

A standout senior linebacker, Purdy put together a dominant final season as he led the state in with an astounding 200 total tackles (5 TFL) to go along with two sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles, and a blocked punt on a Knights team that finished 8-5. The 6-0, 210-pounder was named 1st team All-Southern Indiana Athletic Conference and was selected to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team.

Evan Sherrill, DL, Hamilton Southeastern

Sherrill, a 6-0, 235-pound senior, earned IFCA Top 50 All State and All-Hoosier Conference honors after tallying 49 total tackles (16.5 TFL), 8.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery while helping lead the Royals to a 12-1 overall record and a Hoosier Crossroads Conference title.

Michael Thacker, DL, New Palestine

Only a sophomore, Thacker has established himself as one of the top defensive linemen and top recruits in the state. The 6-2, 260-pounder impressed with 103 total tackles (a state leading 34.5 TFL), 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt for the Dragons who finished with a 12-1 record and a Hoosier Heritage Conference title. Thacker was the only sophomore selected to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team.

Nicholas Thompson, DB, Bishop Luers

A Toledo commit, Thompson was a standout for the Bishop Luers secondary. The 6-2, 185-pound senior had 79 total tackles (5 TFL), 2 interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery while leading the Knights to an 8-6 record and a 2A semi-final finish. He was named to the IFCA Top 50 All-State Team.

Luke Wilhelm, LB, Yorktown

Wilhelm was a difference-maker for the Yorktown defense this season. The 6-0, 176-pound linebacker was second in the state with 183 total tackles (5 TFL) and added an interception while leading the Tigers to a 9-4 record. Wilhelm earned an All-Hoosier Heritage Conference selection and he was named to the IFCA 3A Senior All-State Team.

Brady Wolf, DL, Fishers

Wolf made a statement this season on Fishers' defensive line as he was named to the IFCA 6A Junior All-State Team and was a All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference selection. The 6-2, 205-pound junior tallied 47 total tackles (21.5 TFL), was tied for the third highest total in the state with 14 sacks, forced one fumble and recovered another while helping the Tigers to a 7-4 record.

Download the SBLive Sports App

To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App