There are so many words to use for Jaden Gibson’s career and 2022 season. But perhaps none do justice. We’ll say this – in a season and career that is as epic and historical as any athlete could want, Gibson’s final campaign was legendary. It will never be forgotten, and it ends with a BLITZ Player of the Year title in tow.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 1,950 receiving yds (2nd-most in single-season in state history)
• 29 TD (Single-Season State Record)
• 109 receptions
• 1 rush TD (30 total TD)
• 82 kick return yds
• 83 punt return yds
• 1 INT
• Career: 5,124 rec yds (State Record), 59 rec TD (State Record), 62 total TD, 274 receptions, 6 200-yd rec games

Jaden Gibson’s career was jaw-dropping. His video-game like numbers began in 2021, hauling in passes from Gunner Stockton after leaving Dawson County for Rabun County. The wideout had 1,296 receiving yards and 11 TD catches in 2019-2020 with Dawson, and 3,828 yds and 48 TD as a Wildcat. There’s no denying the benefit Gibson had to become the state’s all-time best pass-catcher and earn himself a DI opportunity at Virginia. Gibson had a remarkable junior year of 1,878 yards and 19 TD on 86 receptions. There really wasn’t any way realistically to expect more as a senior. But he did it anyway. 1,950 yards on 109 catches, with 29 finding the end zone. His yardage is the 2nd-most in state history in a single-season, and the 29 TDs is the top spot in a single year. All-time, he stands alone in both yards and TDs in Georgia history. It’s unlikely the yardage mark gets topped anytime soon, if ever. The TD mark should be safe for awhile too. During this historic year, Gibson had a career-high 285 yards at Elbert County (8th most in a single game in state history) and 4 TD. That game saw him set the state records for TD catches all-time and receiving yards all-time. He had 3 200-yard games in 2022 and 6 in his career.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Jaden Gibson – 79 pts (13 1st-place votes)
2. Sammy Brown – 60.5 pts (4)
3. Cam Lacy – 30.75 pts
4. Jaiden Daniels – 20.25 pts (1)
5. Keegan Stover – 16.5 pts
6. Andrew Shockley – 14.5 pts (1)
7. Caiden Tanner – 8 pts
8. Kade Moledor – 8 pts

Voting included our 19-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts; 7th-8th 0.25 pts

Jaden Gibson truly dominated the voting. He had only one vote that was 4th place, with 13 1st-place votes and the rest 2nd-3rd. Sammy Brown grabbed 4 1st-place tallies, and both Jaiden Daniels and Andrew Shockley had a 1st-place vote.

HISTORY OF FOOTBALL POY

• 2022 – Jaden Gibson – Rabun Co SR WR
• 2021 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co SR QB
• 2020 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co JR QB
• 2019 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co SO QB
• 2018 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co FR QB
• 2017 – Bailey Fisher – Rabun Co SR QB
• 2016 – Bailey Fisher – Rabun Co JR QB
• 2015 – Bailey Fisher – Rabun Co SO QB
• 2014 – Charlie Woerner – Rabun Co JR WR/RB/DB
• 2013 – Joseph Mancuso – Union Co SO QB
• 2012 – Tyler Dominy – Dawson Co SR QB
• 2011 – Kevin Ellison – Habersham Central SR QB
• 2010 – Ashely Lowery – White Co SR RB/DB
• 2009 – Ashely Lowery – White Co JR RB/DB

The Football POY award has lived at Rabun County since Charlie Woerner took it in 2014. After him came a 3-peat of Bailey Fisher, then the unprecedented 4-peat of Gunner Stockton. Now Jaden Gibson keeps it with the Wildcats for the 9th straight year. He becomes the first WR exclusive to win it (Woerner was a WR/RB/DB the year he won it).

WHO WILL WIN IT NEXT YEAR?