Mater Dei sophomore quarterback JT Daniels is the Gatorade state player of the year, it was announced Monday.
Daniels passed for Orange County single-season records of 4,849yards and 67 touchdowns. Mater Dei went 13-1 this season, won the Trinity League championship and advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 championship game. He completed 75 percent of his passes.
According to the press release announcing Daniels’ selection, “The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Daniels as California’s best high school football player.”
Also according to the press release, Daniels has a 4.14 grade-point average, has volunteered with a group that helps the homeless and with Mater Dei’s “Monarchs Four Marines” program that supports Marine Corps families living at Camp Pendleton.
By being a state player of the year, Daniels is a candidate for Gatorade national player of the year.
“The kid earned the award statistically and leadership-wise and what he did for the Mater Dei offense this year,” Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said.
“Everybody will pat him on the back for this but the person who cares less about it is JT. He will hand out the credit for it to the offensive line and the receivers.”
Previous Mater Dei players who have been named Gatorade state player of the year are quarterbacks Matt Barkley and Matt Leinart.
