JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One by one, Xander Edwards ticks off his list of thanks like clockwork.
Coaches. Offensive linemen. God. Friends. Parents.
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Edwards, the Varsity 4 All-News4JAX offensive player of the year, doles out thanks and graciousness more than reflecting on his accomplishments, of which there are many.
The Bolles sophomore led the state in rushing (2,629 yards, 44 TDs), racked up the highest single-game total in state history (522 yards, 8 TDs against Baldwin) and finished runner-up in voting for Mr. Football while leading the Bulldogs to a 13-2 record and Class 2A runner-up spot. But before Edwards could embark on his unbelievable season that even took him by surprise, he had to make a big offseason decision.
What was his playing style going to be like? Would he be a player would could peel off a 70-yard run and leave everyone else behind, or would Edwards be content to stay 230 pounds and be more of a jackhammer-type of runner?
Edwards was a solid player as a freshman, rushing for 558 yards and eight touchdowns on 78 carries, more than a respectable 7.2 yards per carry average that most backs would love to have. He did that as a runner who was probably a bit more like a fullback.
That runs in the family.
His father, Marc, was a four-year player at Notre Dame at fullback and went on to become a second-round pick of the Niners in the 1997 NFL draft. He played nine years in the NFL. So, Xander leaned on his dad after Bolles wrapped up its 2024 season with a loss in the regional finals.
“Sometime last year after the season, me and my dad had a conversation to see if I wanted to be a, like a straight power back or can I run over people and then run around people. So, and again, he knows, he knows best, he’s been in the NFL, so he knows best, and I chose to listen to him,” Edwards said. “Started eating better, stopped eating junk, and lost all that weight, which obviously helped on the field, running around people, and also running over people.”
When he hit the field this year, Edwards (6-2, 215 pounds) had dropped roughly 20 pounds. He found another gear and never let up. He wasn’t just barreling into defenders or taking the angle out of bounds on carries, Edwards was flat out leaving would-be tacklers in the dust.
His lowest rushing total was 60 yards in a 56-6 win over Wolfson. Edwards had just four carries, two going for touchdowns, before going to the bench. His only other game with less than 100 yards came in the state championship loss to Cardinal Mooney when the Bulldogs were forced to throw it to try and catch up.
“Coming into the season, I did not expect to have those type of stats,” he said. “I knew I was going to have a good year, but not like that good year. So, it’s just a great feeling, honestly.”
Edwards refuses to talk about his success as only his success. Yes, he’s the player who gets the awards and the headlines, especially after his 522-yard rushing game made national headlines. Like any grateful offensive skill position player, Edwards calls his offensive linemen the best in the state.
“They’re awesome. And it’s just not the football part. They’re awesome dudes, awesome men who are going to go to college and do great things,” he said. “And it was amazing to be around them. I really liked running behind them. They made holes for me; it was all the O-line. Those are the O-line touchdowns and the O-line yards.”
Varsity 4 All-News4JAX players of the year
2025: Xander Edwards, Bolles (offensive); Asher Ghioto, Bolles (defensive).
2024: TJ Cole, Raines (offensive); Jyon Simon, Raines (defensive)
2023: Laython Biddle, Bartram Trail (offensive); Drake Stubbs, Mandarin (defensive).
2022: Orel Gray, University Christian (offensive); Grayson Howard, Jackson (defensive).
2021: Dom Henry, Nease (offensive); Jaheim Singletary, Riverside (defensive).
2020: Jadon Canady, Sandalwood.
2019: Myles Montgomery, Fletcher (offensive); Trevez Johnson, Bartram Trail (defensive).
Varsity 4 All-News4JAX football offense
First team
Position, Player, School, Class, Notable
QB T.J. Cole, Raines, Sr.
Elite signal caller who is a two-time All-News4JAX first-team selection and will leave Vikings as an all-timer and a 27-1 record as a starter there. Led Raines to back-to-back state championship games, including the 3A state title this season. Passed for 2,757yards, 40 TDs and just five picks. Rushed for 450 yards, four TDs. Class 3A player of the year and third in voting for Mr. Football. Leading passer in Raines history (5,569 yards, 83 TDs). Finished high school career with 124 total TDs.
RB Xander Edwards, Bolles, So.
All-News4JAX offensive player of the year. Perhaps the state’s best back had 44 rushing TDs this season. Rushed for state-leading 2,629 yards on 265 carries (9.9 ypc) and led Bulldogs to Class 2A state championship game. Class 2A player of the year and runner-up for Mr. Football.
RB Caleb Mattison, Bishop Kenny, Jr.
Area’s top back behind Bolles’ Edwards. Rushed for 1,726 yards, 28 TDs on 237 carries. Had massive game in postseason, rushing for 369 yards in second round of playoffs. Third team All-News4JAX last year.
WR Naeem Burroughs, Bolles, Sr.
Elite four-year starter for the Bulldogs. Had career highs in receiving TDs (18), catches (58), receiving yards (1,275). Added 19 tackles and an interception from his spot in the secondary. Added a punt return TD. Finished career with 174 catches for 3,782 yards, 52 receiving TDs. Three-time All-News4JAX first-team selection. Clemson signee.
WR Ziyon Butler, Raines, Sr.
All-time leading receiver in program history. Had 1,037 yards, 17 TDs on 47 catches for unbeaten state champs. Finished career with 1,922 yards on 45 catches, 30 TDs.
WR Somourian Wingo, St. Augustine, Sr.
Elite playmaker. Had 52 catches for 998 yards, 13 TDs for regional finalist. Added 3 rushing TDs. Finished career with 137 catches for 2,398 yards and 31 TDs. Signed with University of Miami. Two-time All-News4JAX first-team selection.
TE James Davis III, Bishop Kenny, Sr.
Big play threat for the Crusaders. The versatile 6-2, 205-pound athlete had 29 catches for 674 yards, 9 TDs. Added 3 rushing TDs as Kenny reached the regional finals.
OL James Holder, Bishop Kenny, So.
Major force on the line with college size (6-4, 305) who will be Power Four college recruit by the time he’s done. Top-graded lineman on Crusaders who helped clear the way for elite back Mattison.
OL Ryan Ingram, Bolles, Sr.
Second team All-News4JAX last year. Committed to Wagner. Graded out at a rock solid 89%.
OL Marcus Small, First Coast, Jr.
Big-time size (6-7, 293) and big-time contributor for Buccaneers. Mentioned by multiple coaches as top OL player in the Gateway Conference. Committed to Syracuse. Swing tackle can play both left and right side.
OL JJ Sparks, Bolles, Sr.
Major force on the area’s top offensive line. Signed with University of Miami. Two-time All-News4JAX first-team selection. Led Bulldogs with 94% grade.
OL Adrian Williams, Trinity Christian, Jr.
Rising star is a two-way monster (6-3, 295) who helped Conquerors reach back-to-back state semifinals with his play on both sides of the ball. Third on team in tackles (28). Added eight tackles for loss and three sacks.
ATH King Boylston, White, Jr.
Breakout season leading the highest-scoring regular season team in state history. Passed for 2,091 yards, 25 TDs with only six picks. Rushed for 712 yards and 13 TDs, more than doubling his scoring totals from 2024 (16 TDs to 38 TDs).
ATH Eliyjah Caldwell-Hardy, Impact Christian, Sr.
He shined on both sides of the ball for the 8-4 Lions, finishing second on the team with 74 tackles. But his main contributions this year were on offense. Rushed for 918 yards, 13 TDs and had 733 yards, 7 TDs on 32 catches. Averaged 172 all-purpose yards per game. Biggest recruit to come out of Impact. Signed with Michigan State.
ATH Brysen Wright, Mandarin, So.
Best all-around player in the area by a good margin. The top recruit in the country in the Class of 2028 was dominant all over the field. Had 983 yards receiving, 10 TDs on 46 catches. Had 63 tackles, five interceptions, three pick-sixes and two punt returns for TDs. NFL FLAG football player of the year.
K Noah Ash, Ponte Vedra, Jr.
Hands down the area’s top kicking specialist. Hit 55 of 56 PATs and 11 of 19 field goals with a long of 48. Had 74 touchbacks on 85 kickoffs.
Second team
Position, player, school, notable
QB Cole Rosendahl, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
In only season as starter, he passed for 3,425 yards and 32 TDs to lead Sharks to Class 5A state semifinals. Added five rushing TDs.
RB Fareed Coleman, Oakleaf, Sr.
Excellent season after bouncing back from injury-shortened junior season. Finished with 1,301 rushing yards, 11 TDs, and averaged 8.9 ypc. Added 165 yards receiving and a TD.
RB Shaunqueze Foster, Mandarin, Jr.
Split carries but was the No. 1 back for Mustangs. Rushed for 1,217 yards, 17 TDs (7.2 ypc).
WR King Mercer, White, So.
Huge season for highest-scoring regular season team in state history. Had 835 yards receiving, seven TDs. Added 646 more yards and three TDs rushing and on punt and kick returns.
WR Julio Santiago, St. Augustine, Sr.
Had 998 yards on 52 catches and nine TDs for regional finalist Yellow Jackets. Added TDs on interception and kickoff returns. Finished career (three previous season at Tocoi Creek) with 162 catches for 2,378 yards and 22 TDs.
WR Drew Watson, Beachside, Sr.
In the Barracudas’ system from Day 1. Had 50 catches for 919 yards, 10 TDs in final season. Finished career with program-record 2,381 yards receiving, 29 TDs and helped Beachside win first district title as a senior.
TE Corbyn Fordham, Bolles, Sr.
Had 27 catches for 311 yards and three TDs for Class 2A state runner-up Bulldogs. Second team All-News4JAX selection last year. Headed to Florida State.
OL Chris Jules, Oakleaf, Sr.
Third team All-News4JAX last year. Played both lines for the Knights. Mashed his way to 90 pancake blocks and cleared big lanes for RB Fareed Coleman. On defense, had 66 tackles and eight sacks.
OL Reid Koelbel, Bolles, Sr.
Three-year starter and integral piece of area’s top offensive line. Second-highest grade on Bulldogs’ line (91%).
OL Clayton Lee, West Nassau, Jr.
Absolute masher for the Sunshine State Athletic Association Atlantic state runner-up. Helped Warriors amass 4,634 rushing yards and 9 ypc during 12-2 season. Averaged 10 pancake blocks per game.
OL Brody McLeod, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Didn’t allow a sack for the second straight season and finished with 29 pancakes to help protect stellar QB Cole Rosendahl and the state semifinalist Sharks. Has committed to Dartmouth. Third team selection last year.
OL Jordan Scott, Raines, Sr.
Center and anchor of the Vikings line averaged three pancake blocks per game as Vikings won Class 3A state championship.
ATH Brenton James, St. Augustine, Jr.
First year as starter was elite. Passed for 2,780 yards, 36 TDs. Added 229 rushing yards, five more rushing TDs to lead Yellow Jackets to an 11-2 season.
ATH Eddie Jordan IV, Beachside, Sr.
Put exclamation point on record-setting career with 22 TD passes in final season and first district title. Passed for 8,147 yards and accounted for 107 TDs in career, both program records. Signed with Lafayette.
ATH Tony Kennedy Jr., First Coast, Sr.
Rushed for 1,048 yards, 12 TDs. Had 410 passing yards, two rushing TDs. Multi-position star for the Buccaneers. Had 31 tackles and two interceptions. Third team All-News4JAX last year at Parker.
K Parker Sirdevan, Fleming Island, Sr.
Hit 6 of 7 FGs with a long of 42. Had 21 touchbacks and averaged 41 yards per punt for the Golden Eagles. Third-team selection last year.
Third team
Position, player, school, notable
QB Aiden Phifer, Nease, So.
Breakout first season as starter. Passed for 2,003 yards, 20 TDs and added nine more rushing TDs for 9-3 Panthers.
RB Gino Addison, Middleburg, Sr.
Rushed for 1,103 yards on 156 carriers (7.1 ypc) and found the end zone for 18 TDs. Headed to North Carolina Central.
RB Nashawn Jacobs, Baldwin, Sr.
Rushed for 1,182 yards and 15 TDs on 153 carries. Had eight receptions for 197 yards and a couple more TDs to lead Indians into the playoffs.
RB KJ Palmer, Paxon, Jr.
The Golden Eagles have become a very strong program in the Sunshine State Athletic Association the last few years. Palmer had an excellent season for Paxon, rushing for 2,213 yards and 19 TDs on 264 carries. Added a kickoff return for a TD.
WR/RB Trendell Anderson, St. Augustine, Sr.
Emerged as a dual-threat player this year. He had 650 rushing yards (10 TDs) on 83 carries. As a WR, he added six TDs and 449 yards on 35 catches. Added two more TDs on kick returns. Finished decorated career with 42 total TDs, 3,177 all-purpose yards.
WR Tian Wyche, Mandarin, Jr.
Breakout season with 29 catches for 692 yards. Turned 11 of those grabs into TDs. All-Gateway selection.
TE Chase Phifer, Nease, Jr.
Big play receiving target after reeling in 32 catches for 500 yards and seven TDs for 9-3 Nease. Positioned to be one of area’s top recruits at that position next season.
OL Christian Bond, St. Augustine, Jr.
The 6-5, 315-pounder had a huge hand in helping QB Brenton James and RBs Trendell Anderson and Durell Preston thrive. Can play tackle and guard.
OL Bryce Daniels, Bradford, Jr.
Big size (6-4, 313) and versatile lineman can play center or guard. Helped Tornadoes go 11-2 and reach Class 2A regional final.
OL Arundai Mitchell, Raines, Sr.
Left tackle for 14-0 state champion Vikings. Could line up on defensive line, too. Allowed just two sacks all season.
OL Jack Mohlman, Nease, Sr.
Anchor on the Panthers offensive line. Headed to Middle Tennessee State. Graded out at 87% and had eight pancakes and 26 knockdowns.
OL Sam Smedley, Mandarin, Sr.
The 6-2, 265-pound tackle was an All-Gateway selection and huge part of a consistent line for Mustangs. Was Mandarin’s top OL of the week in seven of 13 games.
ATH Shamoi “Mo” Green, West Nassau, Jr.
In the Warriors’ three-headed rushing attack, he lit teams up to the tune of 1,236 yards on the ground, 22 TDs. Averaged 8.5 ypc as West Nassau raced to 12-2 record and SSAA title game.
ATH Tommy Offord, Palatka, Sr.
Four-year starter for Panthers. Rushed for career-best 1,379 yards, 21 TDs. Added seven passing TDs, 625 yards on the ground. Finished with 80 career TDs.
ATH Aydin Poe, Fernandina Beach, Jr.
Receiver/safety had an excellent season. Had 821 yards receiving and 12 TDs on 45 catches. On defense, he had 79 tackles and a couple picks for 7-6 Pirates.
K Tyler Sapp, Bradford, Sr.
Hit 47 of 48 PATs and 7 of his 8 FGs with a long of 45.
Honorable mention
Quarterback
Knox Annis, Mandarin, So.; Xavier Collins, Columbia, Jr.; Cy Cubbedge, Bradford, Sr.; Terel Dallas, Trinity Christian, Jr.; Jaidan Delaune, Riverside, Jr.; Gavin Hawkins, Bishop Kenny, Sr.; Landon Martin, Clay, Jr.; Jack McKissock, Oakleaf, Sr.; Ian Miller, Fernandina Beach, Sr.; Cody Ott, St. Joseph, Sr.; Gage Screws, Baldwin, Sr.; Gabe Taylor, Orange Park, Sr.; Cole Walker, Matanzas, Sr.; Jaden Weatherly, Bolles, Sr.
Offensive line
Jayden Adams, Oakleaf, Sr.; Caleb Barnes, Bolles, Sr.; Marquice Beals, White, Jr.; Anson Bivins, Clay, So.; Alex Citrullo, Fletcher, Sr.; Jay Futch, Paxon, Sr.; James Harding, Beachside, Sr.; Sean Hassan, Ponte Vedra, Jr.; Kerrick Jackson, Mandarin, Sr.; Marcus Martin-Owens, St. Augustine, Sr.; Trent Pavlus, Middleburg, Sr.; Andrew Smith, Bolles, Sr.; Corbett Yarbrough; Fleming Island, Sr.
Running back
Iyen Addison, Bradford, Jr.; D.J. Alderman, Hilliard, Jr.; Micah Anderson, Trinity Christian, Fr.; Jon Asbey, University Christian, Jr.; Andrew Dolan, Tocoi Creek, Sr.; Vincent Galella, Beachside, Sr.; Tisean Haynes, Raines, Sr.; Leonard Holton, Old Plank Christian, Sr.; John Lawson, Fort White, Jr.; Arthur Lewis IV, Bartram Trail, Sr.; Enrique Ordonez, Nease, Jr.; Tristian Mitchell, Parker, Fr.; Gavin Peterson, Bartram Trail, So.; Durell Preston, St. Augustine, Jr.; Elijah Richards, Wolfson, Sr.; Levi Ritter, Episcopal, So.; Delynno Ruise, Baker County, Sr.; Tadarius Washington, Raines, Sr.; Alex Winkles, Ponte Vedra, Jr.
Tight end
Ethan Watts, Fernandina Beach, Jr.
Receiver
Bryton Baker, Tocoi Creek, Sr.; Ladarian Baker, Matanzas, Sr.; Jaiden Barnett, Baldwin, So.; Kelvin Brown Jr., Raines, Sr.; Trace Burney, Oakleaf, Sr.; Kyren Caldwell, Columbia, Jr.; Nolan Caliendo, Flagler Palm Coast, So.; Camden Coffindaffer, St. Joseph, Jr.; Davitt Doherty, Ponte Vedra, Sr.; Brayden Felder, Nease, Sr.; John Harvey, Baldwin, Sr.; Marquez Hicks, Trinity Christian, Jr.; Demetrice Hugger, Riverside, Jr.; Maddox Hunstad, Beachside, Sr.; Joshua Jones, Fletcher, Sr.; Kemontae Nixon, Bradford, Sr.; Ethan Redding, Atlantic Coast, Sr. Nick Roberson, White, Sr.; Ethan Sherman, Raines, Sr.; Diondre Smith, Fletcher, Sr.; Cam Tietze, Bolles, Jr.; Brayden Wessinger, Episcopal, Jr.; Jordan Williams, Middleburg, Sr.
Athlete
Rayden Butts, Christ’s Church, So.; Michael Conner III, Oakleaf, Sr.; Jake Contner, Providence, Jr.; Jamison Denson, Westside, Sr.; Avery Griffin, West Nassau, Jr.; Josh Guy, Creekside, Sr.; Zay Hilliard, University Christian, Sr.; Michael Hills, Parker, So.; Jayden Jackson, Fort White, Sr.; Jacorri Lavoile, Eagle’s View, Sr.; Alexander Lee, Impact Christian, Jr.; Carlos Nedd, Christ’s Church, Jr.; Josiah Payton, Providence, Sr.; Chase Phillips, Bradford, Jr.; Antonio Queen, Jackson, Sr.; Jordan Robinson, NFEI, Sr.; Kyree Wilson, Mandarin, Jr.