The 2026 Indiana high school football season kicks off this week, which means it's time to vote for The Star Press Preseason Player of the Year, brought to you by IU Health. This preseason, The Star Press has given you 30 players to watch on both offense and defense, as well as the top games to watch and detailed breakdowns of each of the 10 high school football teams in our East Central Indiana coverage zone. With the season just a few days away, it's time for the fans to make their voice heard on the preseason player of the year. The poll will remain open until Friday, Aug. 21, at noon ET. You may vote as many times as you'd like. Please vote using the poll found by scrolling to the bottom of this story — votes submitted via email will not be counted. Here's a quick look at the nominees for Preseason Player of the Year, featuring two nominees per school pulled from the offensive and defensive players to watch lists:
Brady Bannister, RB/LB, Blackford: Also a star on the wrestling mat, Bannister led the Bruins in rushing last season with 185 carries for 908 yards (4.9 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns. He is also the Bruins' most productive returning defender after logging 47 tackles and a fumble recovery last year. Kamari Taylor, RB, Blackford: Taylor broke out as a freshman with 115 carries for 586 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and four touchdowns, but a torn ACL cost him his sophomore season. He is now ready to make his return and is expected to be one of the top backs in the Central Indiana Conference. Aven Thomas, RB, Delta: Thomas logged over 1,000 all-purpose yards last season, carrying the ball 153 times for 892 yards (5.8 yards per carry) while also returning punts and the occasional kick for the Eagles. Carter Jackson, WR/DB, Delta: Jackson is the top returning receiver for Delta after hauling in 10 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns last year. He also led the team in kick return yardage and had a kick return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff against Yorktown. On defense, Jackson logged 25 tackles and a team-high 13 passes deflected as the Eagles' free safety last year. Leighton Brown, RB, Jay County: Brown led Jay County in rushing last season and was a second-team all-conference selection in the Allen County Athletic Conference. He is expected to remain the engine of the Patriots' offense as a senior. Blake Bonifas, DL, Jay County: Bonifas will anchor the trenches for Jay County and has big shoes to fill with the graduation of Aiden Phillips, a first-team all-conference selection by the Allen County Athletic Conference a year ago. Caden Dance, WR/DB, Monroe Central: Dance ran the ball 58 times for 227 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and six touchdowns last season. Defensively, he recorded 19 tackles and a team-high eight pass breakups last season, along with two interceptions and a fumble recovery that he returned for a 92-yard touchdown. Carson Siekmann, WR/DB, Monroe Central: Siekmann started under center for the Golden Bears last year but will move out to wide receiver for his senior season. As a sophomore, he caught seven passes for 65 yards and a touchdown and ran for another touchdown. Kye Hiatt, WR/DB, Muncie Central: Hiatt, also a star track athlete, led the Bearcats in receiving last year with 16 catches for 261 yards and four touchdowns. He might be even more impactful as a safety on defense, as the IFCA Junior All-State selection is the Bearcats' top returning tackler with 67 stops and also had six interceptions last year. Demarshuwn Clemens, DL, Muncie Central: At 6-foot-4, 262 pounds, Clemens is a monster on the defensive interior for the Bearcats. The IFCA Junior All-State selection finished third on the team with 59 total tackles last season, had a team-high 10 tackles for loss with 2.5 sacks and brought down two interceptions as well. He is a fast-rising prospect and currently holds Division I offers from Missouri, Kansas, Miami (Ohio) and San Diego State. Carson Bell, QB, New Castle: Bell is a two-year starter under center who completed 48.3% of his passes and threw for 1,342 yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions last season. Luke Sherrell, RB/LB, New Castle: Sherrell led the Trojans in rushing last season with 588 yards on 114 carries (5.2 yards per carry) and four touchdowns. He is also the Trojans' top returning defender after totaling 48 tackles, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks as a junior last season. Cash Cowley, RB/DL, Shenandoah: Cowley is coming off a big junior season in which he carried the ball 141 times for 1,070 yards (7.6 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns while adding 14 receptions for 151 yards and three more touchdowns. On defense, Cowley was second on the team last season with 80 total tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and two sacks. Brendan Pruett, LB, Shenandoah: Pruett returns to the middle of the Raider defense after finishing third on the team with 55 tackles last season. He also had five tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Eli Wright, RB/LB, Wes-Del: Wright was Wes-Del's second-leading rusher a season ago with 71 carries for 583 yards (8.3 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 36 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one interception that he returned for a touchdown. Zach Gillam, DB, Wes-Del: Gillam finished second on the team in tackles as a sophomore, racking up 57 total tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He also deflected four passes, recovered three fumbles and had one interception which he returned for a touchdown. Braylon Black, RB/LB, Winchester Community: Black recorded 17 tackles with two tackles for loss across six appearances last year and is also expected to play a big role in the Golden Falcons' backfield this season. Brennan Lanter, WR/DB, Winchester Community: Lanter logged 14 tackles, six pass deflections and one fumble recovery for Winchester last season. Sam Tokar, QB, Yorktown: Tokar is coming off a fantastic junior campaign that saw him earn all-Hoosier Heritage Conference honors. The Indiana baseball commit completed 65.7% of his passes for 1,960 yards and 21 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He also ran for an additional 183 yards and three more touchdowns. Chris Wilson, OL/DL, Yorktown: Wilson is the highest-rated football recruit to ever play in Delaware County — at least in the era of star ratings. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound edge rusher holds a 4-star rating and is the fifth-highest rated recruit in the state of Indiana for the Class of 2027, according to 247sports composite rankings. He is also the only player in the area's history to achieve a 4-star rating in the 247sports composite (which dates back to 2000). Wilson logged 25 tackles with seven tackles for loss and four sacks along with four passes deflected, a forced fumble and an interception. He committed to West Virginia in June.
Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@usatodayco.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: VOTE for The Star Press IU Health Preseason Football Player of the Year