Vote Now: Who is the top returning player in Hernando County, Florida for the 2023 season?

We have 13 players for your consideration out of the 352

Let’s take a closer look at some of the best-returning players in high school football for the 2023 season out of Hernando County (Florida).

Our list includes some of the best in the region and players who proved to be invaluable to their teams last season in making key passes, catches, runs, tackles and sacks at the end of the game, being clutch on offense or helping lead the defense as the top player in the county. 

Plenty of worthy names are on this list, so be sure to vote in our poll for who you think will be the top returning player for the upcoming season. Voting will close on August 31st, just in time for the start of the regular season.

Editor’s note: Our corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. This poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other player that may not be mentioned in our poll.

Christian Cromer, RB, Nature Coast: Talk about your proverbial battering ram of a running back. Since his sophomore year and on, Cromer is a load to take down when he lines up in the backfield. Last season the tailback scored 23 touchdowns and rushed for 1,147 yards. Cromer is a Navy commitment. 

Jackson Hoyt, QB, Nature Coast: The southpaw is already committed to the University of Florida for baseball and heads in preparing for another season as the Sharks’ starting quarterback. In 2022, Hoyt threw for 1,018 yards and eight scores. Hoyt also ran for 638 and scored four touchdowns. 

Aydan Cespedes, LB, Nature Coast: Cespedes was the team’s second-leading tackler from a year ago. At 6-foot-2, 185-pounds, the junior made 102 tackles, nine for a loss and a sack.

Trenton Hayes, OL/DL, Springstead: Hayes was a major contributor last season, helping the Nature Coast Sharks rushing attack for nearly 2,700 yards on the ground. Hayes is now at Springstead.

Connor Mccazzio, RB, Springstead: Arguably the other top running back out of Hernando County was Mccazzio, who helped lead the Eagles into the postseason. Just a sophomore in 2022, the tailback rushed for 1,123 yards and scored 10 times.

Michael Rizzuto, DE, Springstead: Not a lot of edge rushers in Hernando County could play up to the level Rizzuto have effort wise every play. Rizzuto will be an anchor on the Eagles’ defense after making over 60 tackles, 15 for loss and six sacks in 2022.

Braden Joyner, QB, Central: Joyner had a strong junior campaign throwing the ball for the Bears. The signal caller completed 112-of-184 passes for 1,671 yards and 18 touchdowns. 

Ryan Wood, LB, Central: The hard hitting junior linebacker was the Bears’ leading tackler last season. Wood accumulated 88 total tackles and four sacks for Central. 

John Capel III, ATH, Hernando: Capel III, son of former Hernando star John Capel, did a little bit of everything for the Leopards last season. The athlete threw for 272 yards and rushed for 662 with six total touchdowns. 

Westin Fenimore, LB, Hernando: The 5-foot-11, 200-pound linebacker had a strong junior campaign last year. Fenimore made 111 tackles, 16 for a loss and two sacks.

Cybyron Peeples, DE, Hernando: No other player might have been as productive as Peeples when it comes to defensive ends in Hernando County. Peeples had 74 tackles, 12 for a loss and 10 sacks in 2022.

Matthew Frazier, DE, Weeki Wachee: As a junior for the Hornets, Frazier had to play both ways and stood out for Weeki Wachee. Along with 111 reception yards, Frazier had 85 tackles and 9.5 sacks in 2022.

Noah Frazier, TE, Weeki Wachee: Frazier has seen his stock go up during the off-season as a tight end. The tight end is coming off a solid sophomore season in which he caught 17 passes for 211 yards and two scores. 

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.