Poll: Which Broward high school football player is your Defensive Player of the Year?

The 2022 high school football season is over and once again Miami-Dade County had its share of top performers.

This week, the Miami Herald is asking you to vote on who you think was the best of those players on defense in Miami-Dade County this season.

Below is a look at 10 of the top candidates from this season. Take our poll below to cast your vote. The poll will be open until Monday, Jan. 2, around 10 p.m.

You may vote as often as you like until then.

Here are the candidates:

▪King Mack, St. Thomas Aquinas: Mack, a Penn State commit, recorded 50 tackles, returned an interception for a touchdown, broke up nine passes and returned five combined punts and kickoffs for touchdowns for the Class 3M state champion Raiders.

▪Gavin Peacock, Monarch: Peacock led the Knights’ defense with 123 tackles including 37 for loss, seven sacks, five forced fumbles and blocked a field goal to help Monarch make it to the Class 4M regional semifinals.

▪Jeno Junius, Chaminade-Madonna: Junius was a force on defense for the Class 1M state champion Lions, totaling a team-high 129 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two interceptions, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

▪Kenley Israel, Miramar Everglades: Although his team struggled to a 4-6 record, Israel stood out with his ability to disrupt offenses and finished the season with 20 sacks.

▪David Vadala, American Heritage: Vadala made his presence felt all season with 176 tackles, eight sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles and a blocked punt to lead the Patriots to the Class 2M final.

▪ Tre Rigby, Miramar: Rigby was prolific in the Patriots secondary, intercepting five passes and forming one of the key cogs in a defense that was among the most dominant in Broward.

▪ Jalyn Jackson, Fort Lauderdale: Jackson led the state with a staggering 32.5 sacks to lead the Flying L’s to the Class 3M regional quarterfinals.

▪Harlem Howard, Blanche Ely: Howard was one of the best safeties in the state, finishing with six interceptions to lead the Tigers to a turnaround 10-1 season and an appearance in the Class 3M regional finals.

▪Armondo Blount, Dillard: Blount, a phenom for the Panthers, finished with 17 sacks to cap another strong season and lead them to the Class 3M regional semifinals.

▪ Greg Otten, Cardinal Gibbons: Otten was the anchor on one of the county’s best defenses totaling a team-high 85 tackles and leading the Chiefs to the Class 2M regional finals.

This story was originally published December 21, 2022 at 8:00 AM.