2025 Football Player of the Year Nominees

The 2025 football season gave us no shortage of stars, but a select few took things to a different level. These players didn’t just put up numbers — they defined their programs, shifted expectations, and delivered moments that will live in New Jersey football history. From record-breaking quarterbacks to two-way workhorses and do-it-all athletes with national attention, each nominee left a unique mark on the state this fall. Here’s a closer look at the standouts who turned Friday nights into must-see events and put their names firmly into the conversation as New Jersey’s best.

Jalen Parker, Winslow | QB

Winslow’s offense runs through Jalen Parker, and the junior quarterback just capped another huge year with 3,296 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, helping the Eagles win their second straight state title. Along the way, he officially broke New Jersey’s career passing touchdown record (107) and he still has a full season left.

Parker was at his best in big moments, including a five-touchdown performance against Shawnee and a game-sealing 88-yard strike in the state tournament. Already one of the most productive quarterbacks the state has ever seen, Parker now enters his senior year chasing numbers nobody thought were reachable.

Jack Cannon, Holmdel | QB

Holmdel’s historic run didn’t happen by accident... it happened because Jack Cannon played one of the most dominant seasons the state has seen. The senior finished with 2,747 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, while adding 1,673 rushing yards and 33 more scores on the ground. That’s 63 total touchdowns in a single year, numbers that reshaped Holmdel’s ceiling and powered the Hornets to their first-ever sectional title and a finish inside the NJ Top 20.

His season had plenty of highlights, but one performance sits on its own tier: the Neptune game, where Cannon accounted for nine touchdowns, six passing and three rushing, while piling up over 400 yards of total offense. It was the perfect snapshot of what made him so difficult to stop: poised enough to dice up secondaries, physical enough to run through anyone in front of him.

Nate Bailey, St. Joseph Regional | ATH 

When St. Joe’s needed a spark, they turned to Nathan Bailey and more often than not, he delivered. Despite missing time in 2025, Bailey’s versatility made him one of the most dangerous weapons in New Jersey. He contributed as both a running back and receiver, finishing the year with 533 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns, plus 295 rushing yards and 10 scores, helping the Green Knights claim the Non-Public A State Championship, the toughest title in the state.

Bailey’s impact wasn’t about volume — it was about moments. He opened the season with a statement, posting 84 yards and a touchdown against national powerhouse St. John’s (DC), then later exploded for 103 rushing yards and four touchdowns at St. Peter’s Prep, a performance that swung momentum in their postseason push. Whether stretching defenses vertically or grinding out yards between the tackles, Bailey brought matchup problems everywhere he lined up.

Jaylen Robinson, Washington Township | RB/LB 

For an undefeated Group 5 champion, there was no bigger tone-setter than Jaylen Robinson. The senior was the heartbeat of Washington Township’s perfect season, dominating on both sides of the ball and giving the Minutemen a physical identity every week. Offensively, he churned out 587 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, including back-to-back postseason explosions for 135 yards and 2 scores against Kingsway and then 122 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Group 5 final vs. Passaic Tech.

But Robinson’s true impact showed up on defense, where he was nothing short of a problem. He finished the year with 105 total tackles and 22.5 tackles for loss, routinely blowing up run lanes and halting drives before they started. In a schedule loaded with playoff teams, Robinson posted double-digit tackle performances three different times and forced offenses to account for him on every snap.

Mikahi Allen, Don Bosco Prep |LB

Few defenders in New Jersey impacted games the way Mikahi Allen did for Don Bosco Prep. On a defense loaded with talent, arguably the best in the state, Allen was the chess piece that made everything work. He lined up everywhere: crashing off the edge, playing downhill at linebacker, and even dropping into coverage. That versatility didn’t just show up on film — it earned him 20+ Power 5 offers, a recruiting haul reserved for elite prospects.

Allen finished 2025 with 58 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble, consistently showing up in the biggest moments. He posted season-high tackle numbers against Bergen Catholic and Seton Hall Prep, and recorded takeaways in multiple marquee matchups, including a fumble recovery against St. Peter’s Prep and an interception in the season opener against Melissa (TX). No matter the opponent, he found ways to disrupt.

Nyqir Helton, Winslow | WR

Winslow’s explosive passing attack didn’t run on one superstar - it ran on a duo, and Nyqir Helton was the receiver who turned Jalen Parker’s darts into scoreboard damage. The UNC commit wrapped up his senior season with 60 catches for 1,210 yards and 17 touchdowns, ranking among the most productive wideouts in New Jersey while helping power the Eagles to a Group 4 state championship.

Helton was Parker’s go-to option in every big moment, routinely flipping games with chunk plays. He cleared the 100-yard mark five times, including back-to-back statement outings of 135 yards against Camden Eastside and 148 yards versus Shawnee. His versatility made him more than a deep threat — he worked underneath, won contested throws, and stretched secondaries vertically with an 86-yard touchdown against Cherokee, one of the longest plays of the season.

Tyler Bell, St. Peter’s Prep | QB

St. Peter’s Prep rolled through one of the toughest schedules in New Jersey behind the steady play of senior quarterback Tyler Bell, who delivered another successful campaign. Bell threw for 1,767 yards and 29 touchdowns while adding 328 rushing yards and 5 more scores, establishing himself as one of the state’s most complete quarterbacks.

Week after week, Bell operated with poise, stretching defenses vertically and extending plays when pockets collapsed. His decision-making took a major leap, cutting down turnovers and consistently hitting explosive plays against elite competition. Whether attacking through the air or keeping drives alive on the ground, Bell gave the Marauders an offense capable of challenging anyone they lined up against.

Amari Sabb, Glassboro | ATH 

There aren’t many players in New Jersey who can truly do everything — but Amari Sabb is one of them. The senior standout has been the heartbeat of Glassboro’s rise, carrying the weight of a family name built on big-time talent while carving out his own identity as a true do-it-all playmaker. With 20+ Division I offers, Sabb backed up every bit of the hype with a season full of impact on offense, defense, and special teams.

On offense, Sabb posted 916 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, plus 823 rushing yards and 14 scores. He lined up everywhere — RB, WR1, slot, and Glassboro used him like a Swiss Army knife. His midseason explosion included a 191-yard, 3-TD receiving game vs. Deptford and a massive 273-yard, 4-touchdown rushing performance in the rematch against Schalick.

Defensively, Sabb was just as valuable, finishing with 29 tackles, six interceptions, and a pick-six. His ability to read quarterbacks, play the ball in the air, and close space made him one of the most feared defensive backs in Group 1.