Voting is open now for the 2026 South Bend Tribune preseason football player of the year poll, which can be found at the bottom of this article. Readers may vote as many times as they would like until the poll closes at 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday, Aug. 20.
Below is a list of 21 nominees from 21 South Bend Tribune coverage area schools, listed in alphabetical order by school.
Kaden Santana, Brandywine (Mich.)
The senior put up 460 yards and five touchdowns on 84 carries last season as the 2-7 Bobcats’ primary running back. However, with rushing leader and quarterback Kaeden Warfield graduated, Santana should step into an even larger workload this season.
Logan Moser, Bremen
The senior was not the 6-5 Lions’ primary running back last season, but he did compile 481 yards and four touchdowns on 72 carries, good for a team-high 6.7 yards per carry. With leading rusher Brayden Pearish graduated, Moser should get the majority of Bremen’s carries this season.
Max Cornelius, Buchanan (Mich.)
The junior was an immediate standout for the 6-4 Bucks last season with 1,069 yards and 11 touchdowns on 160 carries while standing at 5’8″ and weighing in at 165 pounds. New Buchanan head coach Nick File touted Cornelius as one of the Bucks’ “strongest” players in 2026.
Braylon Monroe, Concord
The first of many dual-threat quarterback nominees, the junior compiled 1,354 yards and 10 touchdowns with four interceptions through the air and 485 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground for the 5-5 NorthWood Panthers last season. After transferring to Concord in the offseason, he is slated to takeover for the talented Bo Brunner, who is now at Valparaiso University.
Giovanni Orue, Edwardsburg (Mich.)
The junior running back was an All-Wolverine Conference Second Team selection last season for the 6-4 Eddies, sure to step into an even larger role this season. He had 889 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.
Micah Jarrell, Elkhart
The senior quarterback was an All-NIC Second Team selection for the 6-4 Lions last season. He led Elkhart in passing and rushing last season with 1,644 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions in the air, and 842 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground.
Carter Diaz, Goshen
The senior quarterback was an All-NLC honorable mention last season for the 2-8 RedHawks with 1,552 passing yards and 13 touchdowns with six interceptions. Diaz also rushed for 241 yards and three touchdowns.
Braxton Laird, Jimtown
The senior offensive lineman was an All-INSC Honorable Mention last season for the 2-8 Jimmies.
Archer Rust, John Glenn
The junior quarterback was an All-INSC selection last season for the 2-8 Falcons with 887 passing yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions, also rushing for 512 yards and five touchdowns.
Reed Raymond, La Porte
The senior was an All-DAC and IFCA Junior All-State selection last season for the 4-7 Slicers, compiling 1,387 yards and 12 touchdowns on 271 carries. He also had 55 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Konnor Amor, LaVille
The senior was an All-INSC and IFCA Junior All-State selection last season for the 8-5 Lancers, who won an IHSAA 1A sectional championship. Amor compiled 561 yards and eight touchdowns on 17 receptions, and he had 314 yards and one touchdown as a punt and kickoff returner. On defense, he finished with 78 tackles to go with three interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Kadyn O’Neal, Mishawaka
The senior was an All-NLC and IFCA Junior All-State selection last season for the 10-2 Cavemen, compiling 1,366 yards and 17 touchdowns on 221 carries.
Siupeli Sete, Mishawaka Marian
The 6’0”, 285-pound junior is expected to become the Knights’ standout offensive lineman after the graduation of Indiana University commit Prescott Horvath, per first-year head coach Joe Calderone. Sete also finished with 47 tackles, including 5.5 for loss on the defensive line.
Tyler Pranger, New Prairie
The senior offensive lineman was a Second Team All-NIC selection last season for the 3-7 Cougars. New Prairie opens its season 8 p.m. ET Friday, Aug. 21 at home against La Porte.
Colt Granberg, Northridge
The senior linebacker had 136 tackles to earn All-NLC honors for the 3-7 Raiders in 2025.
Spencer Elliott, NorthWood
The junior wide receiver was an All-NLC selection for the 2-8 Goshen RedHawks last season, compiling 876 yards and seven touchdowns on 89 receptions. Elliott also had 151 rushing yards on 38 carries, and he put up 515 yards as a punt and kickoff returner. He transferred to NorthWood this offseason and was an IFCA Junior All-State punter last season.
Landon Hall, Penn
The junior quarterback compiled 2,297 yards, 26 touchdowns and just four interceptions as an All-NIC Second Team and IFCA Junior All-State selection for the IHSAA 6A sectional champion Kingsmen.
Benjamin Shively, Plymouth
The senior quarterback was excellent on the ground for the 4-7 Rockies, rushing for 1,108 yards and 10 touchdowns on 187 carries. Through the air, he had 788 yards, five touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Lamarr Shaw, South Bend Adams
The senior defensive lineman earned Second Team All-NIC and IFCA Junior All-State honors after recording 57 tackles as a junior in 2025. He also had 13.5 tackles for loss.
Kros Jones, South Bend Riley
The senior linebacker put up monster numbers for Elkhart in 2025 with 103 tackles. The First Team All-NIC and IFCA Junior All-State selection also had 23 tackles for loss before transferring to Riley.
James Criniti, South Bend Saint Joseph
The senior was a First Team All-NIC and IFCA Junior All-State choice after helping the Huskies win an IHSAA 4A regional title. He had eight interceptions to go with 108 tackles, leading a Saint Joseph defense that only allowed 9.9 ppg and held nine foes to seven or fewer points. Criniti also had eight receptions and rushed for 202 yards on offense.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Vote for the 2026 South Bend Tribune preseason football player of the year
Reporting by Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
