Jurkovec Named 2018 U.S. Army Player of the Year Finalist
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Committee today announced its list of six finalists for the prestigious U.S. Army Player of the Year Award. The award is given annually to the nation’s most outstanding high school senior football player, and is the most prestigious individual award given in high school football.
"The six Player of the Year finalists are a diverse group of student-athletes with unique strengths and talents, much like the Soldiers who make up our Army team,” said Elizabeth F. Wilson, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for marketing. “We congratulate these six finalists and look forward to the winner’s announcement on January 5 during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Awards Show."
The six finalists are:
QB Phil Jurkovec - Notre Dame commit
QB Trevor Lawrence - Clemson commit
ATH Derion Kendrick - Clemson commit
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown - Uncommitted
DE Micah Parsons - Uncommitted
LB Dax Hollifield - Uncommitted
Jurkovec is Notre Dame's prized recruit as the five-star committed to the Irish at the end of his sophomore season.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder has put up nothing short of big-time stats this fall and it's more impressive when you consider he didn't play past halftime in most of the regular season. On the year, Jurkovec has completed 211-of-278 passes for 3,528 yards, 36 touchdowns and just four interceptions. On the ground, he has rushed 105 times for 1,031 yards and 19 scores.
In 32 career games, Jurkovec has completed 491-of-709 passes for 7,761 yards, 68 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has rushed 317 times for 2,762 yards and 38 touchdowns.
While Jurkovec has stats hard to top, Lawrence might be the only player in the 2018 class with better stats.
Lawrence has played in 55 games compared to Jurkovec's 32, but the Clemson commit has completed 831-of-1037 passes for 13,760 yards, 160 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
Notre Dame offered every finalist but Lawrence, as the Irish had sights set on Jurkovec early in his process.