COUNCIL ROCK HIGH SCHOOL NORTH STANDOUT NAMED GATORADE® PENNSYLVANIA FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (December 3, 2015) — In its 31st year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Brandon McIlwain of Council Rock High School North as its 2015-16 Gatorade Pennsylvania Football Player of the Year. McIlwain is the first Gatorade Pennsylvania Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Council Rock High School North.
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 McIlwain as Pennsylvania’s best high school football player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award announced in December, McIlwain joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Wes Welker (1999-00, Heritage Hall HS, Okla.), Terrell Suggs (1999-00, Hamilton HS, Ariz.), Anquan Boldin (1998-99, Pahokee HS, Fla.) and Jerome Bettis (1989-90, Mackenzie HS, Mich.).
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior quarterback threw for 1,720 yards and 17 touchdowns by completing 147-of-252 passes this past season, leading the Indians (7-4) to a Class AAAA, District 1 playoff appearance. A returning Class AAAA Honorable Mention All-State selection as named by the Pennsylvania Football News, McIlwain rushed for another 1,545 yards and 30 touchdowns on 227 carries. Also a defensive back, McIlwain collected 62 tackles and two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. A participant in the national Elite 11 quarterback camp, he captured MVP honors at the Elite 11 semifinals in Los Angeles.
Also one of the nation’s top prep baseball prospects, McIlwain has maintained a 3.99 GPA in the classroom. A member of his school’s health activism club and a mentor to local at-risk elementary school students, he has volunteered on behalf of Athletes Helping Athletes, Philadelphia’s SHARE Food Program and The Jessie Rees Foundation’s Never Ever Give Up foundation to fight cancer.
“From what I’ve seen in the last four years, Brandon has a work ethic second to none,” said Vince Bedesem, head coach at rival Council Rock South. “He’s always perfecting his craft, whether it’s football or baseball. Brandon is a born leader on and off the field. He carries himself at a high level all the time.”
McIlwain has verbally committed to play football on scholarship at the University of South Carolina in the fall of 2016.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
McIlwain joins recent Gatorade Pennsylvania Football Players of the Year Ben DiNucci (2014-15, Pine-Richland High School), Andrew Ford (2013-14, Cedar Cliff High School), Matt Bodamer (2012-13, Port Allegany High School), Noah Spence (2011-12, Bishop McDevitt High School), Brendan Nosovitch (2010-11, Allentown Central Catholic High School), Kyle Smith (2009-10, Lancaster Catholic High School), Zach Barket (2008-09, Schuylkill Haven Area High School) and Brendan Beal (2007-08, Liberty High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.
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One Response
I set my schedule this season for 7 games featuring McIlwain, and I was lucky to see him all four seasons at Rock North. An athlete at this level is a rarity in local high school ball; outside of the power football programs. I wish him the very best in football and/or baseball; whichever he may choose.