Now that Ben Davis’ Mark Zackery IV has been named 2024 IndyStar Mr. Football, presented by the Indianapolis Colts, let’s take an early look at the contenders going into next season.
A lot can happen between now and August. We will revisit the race again in the weeks leading up to the 2025 season. For now, here is how I see the top contenders for the race. Keep in mind, only seniors are eligible for the award. And, only the Mr. Football position award winners are eligible to win overall Mr. Football award.
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Something to consider: Five of the past seven Mr. Football winners were state champions as juniors. Three of those (Pioneer’s Jack Kiser in 2018, New Palestine’s Charlie Spegal in 2019 and East Central’s Josh Ringer in 2023) also won as seniors. Andrean’s Drayk Bowen, the 2022 winner, won a Class 2A state title as a junior and was runner-up as a senior. Zackery won a 6A title as junior with Ben Davis but did not advance out of the sectional as a senior despite scoring four touchdowns in a loss to Brownsburg, which went on to win state.
The two in that span who did not win state titles as a junior were Center Grove running back Carson Steele (2020) and Gibson Southern quarterback Brady Allen (2021). Both of those players won state title as seniors, however; Steele won a 6A championship and Allen a 3A title.
Just some information to keep in mind when you start thinking ahead to next year. Here are 10 players I think could start the conversation:
The 6-foot, 195-pound quarterback checks the box as a state champion after leading Heritage Hills to the Class 3A state title as a junior.
Goldsberry rarely left the field for the 14-1 Patriots, passing for 1,807 yards and 26 touchdowns with four interceptions and running for 1,676 yards and 28 TDs. He also recorded 40 solo tackles (58 total) with 2 ½ sacks and one interception and performed as Heritage Hills’ primary punter, averaging 39.5 yards.
Heritage Hills will move up to 4A next season via the tournament success factor, but I would expect the Patriots to again be among the top teams in their class. In three years (two as a full-time starter), Goldsberry has 3,293 passing yards and 43 passing TDs and 3,259 rushing yards and 54 rushing TDs. Impressive. He might play a different position in college but he will certainly be one of the leading contenders going into next season.
I will have a story coming on Finch Jr. at some point this winter, but the 6-4, 265-pound defensive end might be the most talented player in the class overall. But it is difficult for defensive players to win this award. Zackery was technically the Mr. Football position award winner at defensive back but also had great offensive stats.
On a team full of defensive standouts this season, Finch Jr. was the team’s leading tackler with 92 total (57 solo), including 24 for a loss. He also had seven sacks, two caused fumbles and a blocked punt.
Finch, rated as the state’s top prospect by 247Sports, has offers from Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee, Wisconsin and several others.
The 6-1, 200-pound King started off the season as a part-time running back and full-time safety but eventually became the primary ball carrier for the Class 6A state runner-up. King posted six 100-yard games and two 200-yard games on his way to 1,440 rushing yards and 18 rushing TDs, along with eight catches for 116 yards and two TDs.
King was also an important part of the defense with 39 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery as a junior. He recorded 70 tackles and interception as a junior.
It will be interesting to see how King is used as a senior with the Shamrocks losing a lot of talent to graduation. Purdue was heavily involved prior to the coaching change. King also has offers from West Virginia and several Mid-American Conference programs.
Is there a more exciting returning player in the state than the 6-foot, 180-pound Hicks? He also fits the category of winning a state championship as a junior after Decatur Central claimed a Class 5A title with a victory over Warsaw.
Hicks led the Hawks with 54 catches for 877 yards and 13 TDs and was third on the team with 479 yards and five rushing TDs. He also averaged 48.8 yards on eight kickoff returns, returning two for touchdowns, and had 32 tackles and four interceptions on defense, returning two of those for scores.
Hicks’ resume, so far, looks a lot like Zackery’s. His offer list includes Indiana, Purdue, Cincinnati, Northwestern and Vanderbilt.
The 6-2, 180-pound Guilford is either ranked just behind Finch Jr. or just ahead of him by most recruiting services for the designation of the top in-state prospect in the 2026 class. He already locked into a college decision when he committed to Penn State two weeks ago.
His high school numbers are not on the same level as some others on this list, however. Guilford caught 35 passes for 556 yards and three TDs as a junior and averaged 27 yards on seven kickoff returns. For his high school career, he has 61 receptions for 930 yards and seven TD catches.
His Northrop team was also just 2-8 last season.
The 6-4, 235-pound Gibbs, a linebacker, was one of just five juniors on the Indiana Football Coaches Association Top-50 all-state team.
Gibbs piled up more than 60 tackles and three interceptions last season, returning one for a touchdown on a team that finished 12-1 and won a Class 6A regional. He also caught 35 passes for more than 600 yards and nine TDs.
Gibbs is one of the most highly touted recruits in the class. He has offers from Indiana, Illinois, Cincinnati and several Mid-American Conference programs.
The Toledo commit has a state championship under his belt and another state finals appearance as a sophomore in Class 5A.
Polston, a three-year starter completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,069 yards and 21 touchdowns with eight interceptions as a junior and rushed for 301 yards and five TDs. In three seasons, Polston has 5,366 yards and 55 TD passes and 1,108 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs.
The Hawks will move up to Class 6A next year, which will obviously make it tougher to advance in the tournament. But with Polston, Hicks (above) and several others returning, Decatur Central could again make some noise.
The 6-1, 175-pound Bardo is one of the most exciting players in the class. He finished his junior season with 36 catches for 581 yards and eight touchdowns for a Penn team that finished 8-3 with a loss to Crown Point in the sectional championship.
Bardo’s recruitment has taken off with offers from Indiana, Cincinnati, Louisville, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt and several MAC schools.
It is possible for an offensive lineman to win Mr. Football?
It seems unlikely. But the 6-6, 315-pound Novak, a Wisconsin recruit, is one of the top recruits in the class and was named to the IFCA Top-50 all-state team as a junior. Novak committed to the Badgers over offers from Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky and several others.
Ranes fits the “state championship as a junior” category after New Palestine won a Class 4A title last month.
The 6-1, 225-pound Ranes also put up great numbers, finishing with 2,238 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior and contributing 51 tackles, including seven for a loss, and one interception on defense.
Ranes ran for 166 yards and four TDs in the state championship win over East Noble, which is a good way to make an impression. The Dragons will move up to 5A next season.
Brock Brownfield, New Palestine: As noted with Novak, it is tough for lineman to get into the mix for the big award. But the 6-3, 265-pound Brownfield had 56 tackles, including 14 for a loss, and seven sacks for a state title team.
Terry Walker III, Lawrence Central: The talented quarterback passed for 1,467 yards and 17 TDs as a junior and ran for 377 yards and four TDs. Walker has offers from Ball State, Coastal Carolina, Virginia and Miami (Ohio).
Dominick Barry, Center Grove: The 6-4, 225-pound Barry, who has offers from Indiana, Cincinnati, Marshall, Duke, Washington, Kansas and others, caught 31 passes for 237 yards and five TDs from his tight end spot.
Brady Ballart, South Dearborn: The 6-2, 220-pound linebacker had 76 tackles, including 14 for a loss, and ran for 134 yards and two TDs. Ballart is committed to Louisville.
Fa’rel Carter, Decatur Central: Probably getting a little heavy on Decatur Central players. But Carter was fantastic down the stretch run to the Class 5A state title. He ran for 750 yards and nine TDs and caught 36 passes for 465 yards and one TD. Carter also had 30 tackles and three interceptions, averaged 34.1 yards on kickoff returns and 10.4 yards on punt returns.
Braylen Townsend, Bloomington South: Townsend ran for 2,149 yards and 25 TDs and caught 11 passes for 152 yards and two TDs for a 5A regional champion.
Reed Robinson, New Prairie: Robinson passed for 1,049 yards and 11 TDs and ran for 1,217 yards and 19 TDs for a New Prairie team that finished 9-4 and won a sectional title.
Omar Williams Jr., Lafayette Jeff: Williams caught 64 passes for 931 yards and 16 TDs for a 11-1 Class 5A sectional championship team.
Myles McLaughlin, Knox: Ran for 2,830 yards and 42 TDs — as a quarterback — to lead Knox to a 9-4 season and Class 3A sectional title.
Devin Craig, Lapel: Craig passed for 3,231 yards and 30 TDs as a junior and has 7,568 career passing yards with 70 passing TDs for his career to date.
Anthony Coellner, Carmel: Coellner passed for 1,896 yards and 17 TDs as a junior. It will be interesting to see how he looks for new coach Kevin Wright.
Mykul Campbell, Decatur Central: Yes, another Decatur Central mention. But Campbell is one of the top linebackers in the state and one of the five juniors to make the IFCA Top-50 all-state team.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 270-4904.
