Ed Doherty Award

Ed Doherty Award
Awarded forGiven to the best player at the high school level of football
LocationArizona
CountryUnited States
Presented byThe Active 20-30 Clubs of Arizona (1987–2012)
Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club (2017–present)
History
First award1987
Most recentDezmen Roebuck

The Ed Doherty Award is an honor given annually to the top high school football player in Arizona. The award was established in 1987 and named after legendary former Arizona and Arizona State coach Ed Doherty. It is awarded by the Active 20-30 Clubs of Arizona. After a hiatus from 2013 to 2016, it was revived by the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club.

Award winners

Year Player Position High School College Ref.
1987 Kevin Galbreath RB Maryvale Arizona State
1988 Eric Drage WR/DB Santa Rita BYU
1989 Mike Ciasca OL Sahuaro Arizona
1990 Mario Bates RB Amphitheater Arizona State
1991 Sam Salts WR/DB/K St. Mary's Mesa Community College

Western New Mexico State
1992 Mike Mitchell RB Brophy Stanford
1993 Kevin Schmidtke RB Mountain View (Pima County, Arizona) Arizona
1994 Scooter Sprotte RB/LB Lakeside Arizona
1995 Ryan Kealy QB St. Mary's (2) Arizona State
1996 Adam Hall RB Corona Del Sol Arizona State
1997 Todd Heap TE Mountain View (Mesa, Arizona) Arizona State
1998 Bobby Wade RB/WR/DB Desert Vista Arizona
1999 John Beck QB Mountain View (Mesa, Arizona) (2) BYU
2000 Mike Bell RB Tolleson Arizona
2001 Mike Nixon QB/DB/K Sunnyslope Arizona State
2002 Kyle Caldwell DE/FB Saguaro Arizona State
2003 Zach Miller TE Desert Vista (2) Arizona State
2004 Chris McGaha WR/DB Moon Valley Arizona State
2005 Kyle Williams RB/WR Chaparral Arizona State
2006 Everson Griffen DE/RB Agua Fria USC
2007 Tim Ruben QB Saguaro (2) Boise State
2008 Adam Hall WR/DB Palo Verde Arizona
2009 Ramon Abreu LB Marcos de Niza Arizona State
2010 Teddy Ruben QB Saguaro (3) Scottsdale Community College

Troy
2011 Ka'Deem Carey RB Canyon del Oro Arizona
Kelvin Fisher RB/DB Higley Arkansas

UTEP

Brett Hundley QB Chandler UCLA
Izzy Marshall LB Mountain Pointe Arizona State
Teddy Ruben (2) QB Saguaro (4) Scottsdale Community College

Troy

2012 Ryan Finley QB Paradise Valley Boise State

NC State

Cole Luke DB Hamilton Notre Dame
Jalen Ortiz RB/DB Centennial UCLA

Wyoming

Jake Roh WR/LB Chaparral (2) Boise State
Tyler Williams WR/DB Ironwood Ridge Air Force
Priest Willis DB Marcos de Niza (2) UCLA

Texas A&M

2013 Not Awarded
2014
2015
2016
2017 Brock Purdy QB Perry Iowa State
2018 Bijan Robinson RB Salpointe Texas
2019
2020 Ty Thompson QB Mesquite Oregon

Tulane
2021 Nicco Marchiol QB Hamilton (2) West Virginia

Northwestern
2022 Devon Dampier QB Saguaro (5) New Mexico

Utah
2023 Navi Bruzon QB Liberty Arizona State

Highland Community College

CSU Pueblo
2024 Dezmen Roebuck WR/DB Marana Washington
2025 Roye Oliver III WR Hamilton (3)

Beginning in 2024, a female winner was also recognized for flag football.

Year Player Position High School College Ref.
2024 Samaya Taylor-Jenkins WR/S Hamilton
Katelyn Jewell QB/S Canyon View Florida Gateway College
2025 Samaya Taylor-Jenkins (2) WR/S Hamilton (2)

References

  1. 1 2 3 Morales, Javier (2024-12-15). "Dezmen Roebuck ninth player from Southern Arizona to earn prestigious Ed Doherty Award | ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com". Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  2. 1 2 Obert, Richard (September 5, 2017). "Ed Doherty Award, given to top Arizona HS football player, returns after 5-year absence". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  3. 1 2 Obert, Richard (December 14, 2019). "Salpointe Catholic RB Bijan Robinson becomes first repeat winner of Ed Doherty Award". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  4. ↑ Thomas, Madison (2025-04-25). "'He's one of one' Marana's Dezmen Roebuck presented with Ed Doherty Award". KGUN 9 Tucson News. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  5. ↑ Morales, Javier (December 19, 2021). "Ed Doherty Award: Top Southern Arizona talent honored as nominees | ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com". Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Barry Sollenberger's 1993 Phoenix Metro Football" (PDF). 1993. p. 37.
  7. ↑ Wallace, David (September 16, 2015). "White Mountains' all-time greatest football players". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Player Bio: Ryan Kealy - Arizona State University Official Athletic Site". Arizona State University Athletics. 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  9. 1 2 "HONOREES". Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  10. ↑ "Player Bio: Todd Heap". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  11. ↑ Obert, Richard (October 29, 2014). "Desert Vista's all-time greatest football players". azcentral. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  12. ↑ Alvira, Zach (2019-12-29). "Gilbert players nominated for Doherty Award". gilbertsunnews.com. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  13. ↑ "Player Bio: Kyle Caldwell - Arizona State University Official Athletic Site". Arizona State University Athletics. 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  14. 1 2 Obert, Richard (December 18, 2021). "Hamilton QB Nicco Marchiol thanks former ASU OC Noel Mazzone after winning Doherty Award". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  15. ↑ "Chris McGaha - Football". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  16. 1 2 @gridironarizona. “Congratulations to the last batch of Ed Doherty Medallion winners for this season....” Twitter, November 14, 2024, 1:59 p.m., x.com/gridironarizona/status/1857151360082288700.
  17. ↑ Odegard, Kyle (2008-01-25). "Saguaro's Ruben wins Doherty Award". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  18. ↑ Newberry, Joe (2009-02-09). "Quick Hits". Arizona Desert Swarm. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  19. ↑ Krider, Dave (2010-02-08). "Weekend Notes: Undersized Massachusetts center snags 40 rebounds". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  20. ↑ Obert, Richard (December 9, 2017). "Perry QB Brock Purdy adds Gatorade POY honor to go with Doherty Award". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  21. ↑ Associated Press (2018-12-08). "Salpointe Catholic's Bijan Robinson wins Ed Doherty Award". KVOA. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  22. ↑ Alvira, Zach (2021-01-09). "Mesquite's Ty Thompson named 2020 Ed Doherty Award winner". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  23. ↑ Alvira, Zach (2022-12-20). "Saguaro QB Devon Dampier wins Ed Doherty Award, several others honored". East Valley Tribune. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  24. ↑ Obert, Richard (December 9, 2023). "Liberty QB Navi Bruzon wins 2023 Ed Doherty Award, MaxPreps AZ HS Football POY". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  25. ↑ Obert, Richard. "Hamilton star wins Doherty award for top Arizona HS football player". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  26. ↑ Seeker, Jeff (2024-12-17). "Jewell Wins Ed Doherty Award". Canyon View High School. Retrieved 2025-05-09.
  27. ↑ Morales, Andy (December 14, 2024). "Dezmen Roebuck, Samaya Taylor-Jenkins and Katelyn Jewell earn Ed Doherty recognitions". azpreps365.com. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  28. ↑ Stanley, Logan. "Hamilton flag receiver Samaya Taylor-Jenkins wins Ed Doherty Award". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2026-01-04.