Press release
JACKSON ARNOLD NAMED 2022-23 GATORADE NATIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Eleven-Time NFL Pro-Bowler Jason Witten Surprised Arnold with Honor DENTON, Texas, Jan. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In its 38th year of honoring the nation's
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[{"type":"text","content":"Eleven-Time NFL Pro-Bowler Jason Witten Surprised Arnold with Honor\nDENTON, Texas, Jan. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In its 38th year of honoring the nation's most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Jackson Arnold of John H. Guyer High School in Denton, Texas is the 2022-23 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year. Arnold won the prestigious award for his accomplishments on and off the field, joining an impressive group of former Gatorade National Football Players of the Year who have combined for more than six NFL MVPs awards, 31 Pro Bowl appearances, six NFL first round draft picks and two became Hall of Famers.\nEleven-time NFL Pro-Bowler and former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten surprised Arnold with the news, while his family, coaches and teammates showed up with the trophy at school. Check out a video of the announcement here.\nThe Gatorade Player of the Year award recognizes athletes not just for their excellence on the playing surface, but for their commitment in the classroom and impact in their community. Arnold was selected from more than one million other student athletes who play high school football nationwide, topping the list of state winners in football who collectively boast an incredible list of accomplishments, including 27 with signed National Letters of Intent to play football at Division I colleges/universities and 32 with a GPA of 3.5 and above. \n\"This 2023 class is the 'year of the quarterback,' and there are likely five signal-callers rated among the Top 15 prospects in the country,\" says Greg Biggins, national recruiting analyst for 247 Sports. \"Arnold is in that group and easily among the nation's best. He has the kind of skill set that should make every Oklahoma fan very excited, and it wouldn't shock us if he sees the field sooner than later. He has a live, accurate arm and can put the ball anywhere he wants. He's also a very capable runner and can stress a defense with his arm or his legs. He's a tough kid who will stand in and take a shot and never shies away from contact. He's also a natural leader—a winner. And when you combine his on-the-field prowess with his high-end academic background, he is a very deserving choice for this honor.\"\nPenn State running back and 2021-2022 Gatorade National Player of the Year Nick Singleton added: \"Winning the Gatorade National...