Western linebacker Julian Mendez is the Broward 7A-5A Defensive Player of the year

When he was a sophomore, Julian Mendez was one of the best pass rushers in Broward County. By the time he got to his senior season in Davie last year, Mendez was the total package.

Finally, the Western linebacker is the Miami Herald’s Broward County Defensive Player of the Year for Classes 7A-5A.

Mendez, who was a second-team All-Broward selection as a sophomore in 2022 and a first-team all-county selection as a junior in 2023, did a bit of everything as the centerpiece of one of the best defenses in Florida last season. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior racked up 111 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.

“I feel like I became more versatile over the years,” said Mendez, who had 17 sacks as a sophomore and 16 as a junior. “Senior year, I think I perfected it. … I just became way more versatile that I was three, four years ago.

“We have so many packages in our defense, it’s like I play everywhere.”

With Mendez in the middle of their defense, the Wildcats gave up just 15.2 points per game despite playing against one of the hardest schedules in the state—only three South Florida teams ranked among the top 50 in the state by MaxPreps played a harder schedule, according to MaxPreps.

Even weeks later, Mendez still agonized about the way his senior year ended, though. Despite forfeiting three games in the regular season because of the use of an ineligible player, Western still made it to the Region 4-7A championship and led Columbus in the final minute before losing 27-25 on a field goal with four seconds left.

In the loss, the Wildcats held the Explorers to just 158 passing yards. As they did all year, Mendez and Western’s defense gave the Wildcats a chance to take down a top opponent.

Although he still hasn’t signed with a college program, Mendez, slightly undersized for his position, embodies what has made Western a perennial contender over the last decade or so.

“Everything’s aggression,” he said. “You’ve got to be disciplined. You’ve got to be focused.

“I’m definitely going to take it on to the future of my life.”