When you look at the players of the year on The Oregonian/OregonLive all-state football teams this season, one thing you’ll notice is that ironmen need not apply.
Of the seven players in Class 6A, 5A and 4A who won the state’s top awards, only one was a full-time two-way player.
Cascade’s Matthew Hinkle, who was the 4A defensive player of the year as a disruptive defensive end for the state champion Cougars but also was one of the best true fullbacks in the state, lead-blocking for offensive player of the year Bryce Kuenzi but also gaining 690 yards and scoring 12 touchdowns on 56 carries.
So, we wanted to honor some of the state’s best two-way players and have you vote for who would win what we would call the Bednarik Award after NFL Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik, known as the last of the NFL’s true two-way players.
Besides Hinkle, here are 14 other players among the state’s top three classifications to consider for the award.
OG/DE Mark Bailey, so., Silverton
The Foxes had to rebuild their offensive line this fall, making it the one question mark as they looked to improve upon their semifinal run in the 2024 Class 5A playoffs. Bailey’s development this fall helped enable Silverton to establish a solid running game on its way to the state title, and he was the only sophomore to make the 5A all-state first team — plus, he was a second-team pick as an edge rusher.
OG/DT Isaac Bean, sr., Sherwood
Bean entered his final season winning the lightweight division at the Metro Area Lineman Challenge, and he built off that as he moved from linebacker to defensive tackle, earning Pacific Conference defensive lineman of the year honors with 45 tackles (10 for loss) and 6.5 sacks and making the 6A all-state team on both sides of the ball.
WR/DB Griffyn Boomer, sr., Tillamook
Boomer was the most dangerous playmaker in the Cheesemakers offense this fall, catching 59 passes for 1,063 yards and 14 touchdowns while also making 44 tackles and five interceptions in the secondary.
OT/LB Brody Buzzard, sr., Marist Catholic
Buzzard was already known as a tackling machine in the middle of the Spartans defense, leading all 4A defenders during the regular season with 101 tackles, but he also developed into a solid offensive lineman this fall, making the all-state second team.
WR/CB Luke Carli, sr., Wilsonville
Carli had a tough act to follow in Nick Crowley, who graduated in June after nabbing first-team all-state honors at receiver and corner as a senior. However, he acquitted himself well for the eventual 5A quarterfinalist, catching a team-high 65 passes for 900 yards and 16 touchdowns while making 29 tackles and breaking up six passes.
TE/LB Kawai Chamberlin, jr., Willamette
Chamberlin arrived from Sheldon this fall as the state’s No. 3 recruit in the class of 2027 according to 247Sports, and his strong performance this season with 103 tackles (15 for loss) and two interceptions to go with 16 catches for 218 yards and four touchdowns will just whet coll8ege coaches’ appetites further.
WR/S Connor Conneely, sr., Summit
Conneely fought through a bone bruise in his ankle that sidelined him for several games to help lead the Storm to the 5A title game, finishing the year with 42 catches for 595 yards and six touchdowns while making 59 tackles with seven interceptions and four pass breakups.
TE/DE Charlie Dexter, sr., Churchill
Dexter was a disruptive force in opposing backfields for the 5A semifinalist, finishing with 23 tackles for loss and seven sacks among his 61 tackles while also catching 25 passes for 391 yards and five touchdowns.
RB/LB Kaleb Fox, sr., Marshfield
Fox was one of the critical pieces in the Pirates’ turnaround from a two-win season a year ago to the 4A semifinals this year, making a team-high 104 tackles (19.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks, seven hurries, four forced fumbles, four pass breakups and an interception while also rushing for 389 yards and four touchdowns.
RB/LB Bam Layna, sr., Hood River Valley
Layna was not only the Eagles’ lone first-team 5A all-state selection for his work in the backfield (1,196 yards, 20 touchdowns), but he also was the leader of their defense with six tackles for loss.
WR/CB Josiah Molden, jr., West Linn
Molden established himself as one of the state’s top cover corners from his first start as a freshman two years ago. This season, he expanded his repertoire to become the Lions’ top receiver, catching a team-high 39 balls for 613 yards and seven touchdowns.
WR/DB Staton Barnes, sr., Junction City
Barnes was the main man in the Tigers’ offense this season, rushing for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns, but he also was a stalwart in the secondary during their turnaround from a one-win season to a 4A quarterfinalist with 47 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception.
TE/LB Sam Vyhlidal, sr., Lake Oswego
The 6A state champions have several candidates, including WR/CB Jalen Bauman and RB/LB Justin Craigwell, but neither was a two-way first-team all-state selection like the University of Washington-bound Vyhlidal, who caught 17 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns while making 34 tackles (11.5 for loss) and 9.5 sacks.
OT/DT Quinn Wicklow, sr., Jesuit
The 3-star recruit has several FCS offers as an offensive tackle, but besides earning 6A all-state first-team honors on that side of the ball, the 6-7, 260-pounder received second-team recognition as a run-stuffing interior presence on defense.
— René Ferrán is a freelance reporter for The Oregonian/Oregon Live. René grew up in Portland and has written about high school sports in the Pacific Northwest since 1993, with his work featured at the Idaho Press Tribune, Tri-City Herald, Seattle Times, Tacoma News Tribune, The Columbian and High School on SI. He can be reached at rferran.oregonianhssports@gmail.com