The country’s top five players on the defensive side of the ball tapped for the award
2023 All-American Bowl to be Played Sat., Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
STAMFORD, Conn. – December 28, 2022 – The All-American Bowl Selection Committee announced the finalists for the Defensive Player of the Year Award, given annually to the top defensive player in the country.
The All-American Bowl’s Defensive Player of the Year winner will be named during the 2023 All-American Bowl Awards Show on Friday, January 6th in San Antonio, Texas.
Past winners of the award include Jaelan Phillips, Micah Parsons, and Bryan Bresee.
This year’s finalists are:
| NAME | POSITION | SCHOOL | CITY | STATE |
| CJ Allen | LB | Lamar County High School | Barnesville | GA |
| Drayk Bowen | LB | Andrean High School | Merrillville | IN |
| Vic Burley | DL | Warner Robins High School | Warner Robins | GA |
| Caleb Downs | DB | Mill Creek High School | Hoschton | GA |
| Blake Nichelson | LB | Manteca High School | Manteca | CA |
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