Jersey Sports Zone is excited to formally announce the six finalists for the 2023 Zoneman Trophy — JSZ’s high school football player of the year in New Jersey. The winner will be announced next week.


The History of the Zoneman Trophy

By Rich Chrampanis, Jersey Sports Zone Chief Operating Officer

In the year 2000, I received the great honor of a Heisman Trophy ballot as I started my tenure on television at WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I was so excited to get the chance to weigh in on such a significant award and it got me thinking of bringing the same kind of excitement to our high school football coverage. So we built a trophy and instead of the Heisman, the Zoneman was born. During my 15 years, we were fortunate to have some outstanding winners of our award starting with former Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins linebacker Lawrence Timmons, former Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson and current Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, who caught the game-winning TD pass for Clemson in the 2016 National Championship game.

The Zoneman tradition is still going strong in South Carolina, began its New Jersey chapter on the Jersey Shore and is now a statewide honor. We’re excited to continue this tradition in New Jersey high school football as we will present the most outstanding player in the state with our Sixth Annual Zoneman Trophy.

Previous Zoneman Trophy Winners:

2017: Ashante Worthy, Freehold Boro QB

2018: Jalahn Dabney, Somerville QB

2019: Fadil Diggs, Woodrow Wilson DL/WR | Texas A&M

2020: Audric Estime, St. Joe’s (Mont.) RB | Notre Dame

2021: LeQuint Allen, Millville RB | Syracuse

2022: Micah Ford, Toms River North QB


Zoneman Trophy Balloting

The 2023 Zoneman Trophy will be voted on by coaches from each conference in the state (SFC, WJFL, NJIC, Big Central, and Shore) as well as Jersey Sports Zone’s staff of multimedia journalists and other credentialed media around the state. Each ballot includes a first-place vote (three points), a second-place vote (two points), and a third-place vote (one point).

We are honored to announce the 2023 Zoneman Trophy Finalists in alphabetical order!


Lotzeir Brooks | Millville WR/DB

Brooks’ 2023 junior season campaign was one that rewrote record books in South Jersey. The Thunderbolts’ star junior is now South Jersey’s all-time leader in career receiving yards and career touchdown catches and still has another season left to play at the Cumberland County powerhouse. This year alone, he racked up 61 catches, 1,295 receiving yards and 22 touchdown receptions. But that is just half of Brooks’ impact on the game – he’s a star defensive back at Millville and logged six interceptions this season. Brooks is only a junior and is considered a national-level recruit. 

Brooks is the second Millville player to be named a Zoneman Finalist (LeQuint Allen, 2021 – Zoneman Trophy winner).


Trashon Dye | Passaic Tech RB/LB

Dye put together one of the great seasons for a two-way player that we’ve seen in the JSZ era. The Passaic native was one of New Jersey’s most dangerous rushing threats – he had 227 carries for 2,114 yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. Dye was only one of two players in the entire state to rush for over 2,000 yards this season. He was just as dominant on the defensive side of the ball and totaled 141 total tackles in the middle of PCTI’s vaunted defense. Dye’s recruitment is now open after decommitting from Syracuse.

Dye is the first player from Passaic Tech to be named a Zoneman Trophy finalist.


Micah Ford | Toms River North QB

The reigning Zoneman Trophy winner, Ford has returned to the proverbial podium as a finalist for the second year in a row. Ford is the motor that powers the Toms River North machine that’s won back-to-back Group 5 state championships. His senior season numbers aren’t as prolific as they were back a year ago, but his impact on the Mariners is undeniable. Ford tallied 869 passing yards and 15 touchdown passes to go along with 1,700 rushing yards and 14 touchdown runs. Ford has given a verbal commitment to play at Stanford.

Ford was the first junior to win the Zoneman Trophy and if he were to win again, he would be the first-ever repeat Zoneman in JSZ history.


Stephen Ordille | Mainland RB

After a virtually nondescript junior season at Mainland, Ordille exploded onto the scene as a senior and helped the Mustangs reach the promised land. Ordille’s prowess as a physical runner was a major reason why Mainland completed a perfect season with a Group 4 state championship – they were also the first true-South Jersey team to ever finish 14-0. Ordille chewed up 1,841 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns on only 207 carries this season.

Ordille is the first player from Mainland to be named a Zoneman Trophy finalist.


Emanuel Ross | Red Bank Catholic WR/DB

How was Red Bank Catholic able to win their second Non-Public B state championship in the last three years? More than a few fingers are pointed in the direction of Emanuel Ross. Ross starred at wide receiver and defensive back but also played an integral role on special teams – his impact was felt in every facet of the game. Ross had 48 catches, 718 receiving yards and 11 touchdown catches to go along with 27 tackles and one interception in his senior season. Ross has given a verbal commitment to play at Stanford.

Ross is the third Red Bank Catholic Casey to be named a Zoneman Trophy finalist (Steve Lubischer, 2018; Alex Brown, 2021).


Kaj Sanders | Bergen Catholic RB/DB

Crusaders’ head coach Vito Campanile said all preseason that Sanders was on the cusp of a remarkable senior campaign at Bergen Catholic. Well, he wasn’t wrong. Sanders, a true home-run hitter from the backfield, racked up 1,053 rushing yards and 17 touchdown runs on just 125 carries. He also oversaw the back-end of Bergen Catholic’s defense at free safety and notched 35 tackles. Bergen Catholic won its third-straight Non-Public A state championship this fall and Sanders’ play was one of the big reasons why.

Sanders is the fifth Bergen Catholic player to be named a Zoneman Trophy finalist (Johnny Langan, 2017; Rahmir Johnson, 2018; Steve Angeli, 2021; Malachi Mercer, 2022).