Finalists revealed for the 1st Yukica Football Player of the Year Award

The votes are in and the list of players for the inaugural Yukica Football Player of the Year award has been whittled down to three finalists.

The finalists were chosen by a vote of NHIAA football head coaches and statewide media from a list of 10 semifinalists that was released earlier this month.

This year’s finalists are:

JJ Bright (RB/LB), Souhegan

• Bright, a senior, helped Souhegan advance to the Division II semifinals. He rushed for 1,471 yards and 21 touchdowns on 116 attempts, caught 18 passes for 356 yards and three TDs and finished third on his team in tackles.

Ty Miles (OT/DT), Londonderry

• A dominant two-way lineman, Miles, a senior, has earned 14 Division I scholarship offers and has verbally committed to play college football at Holy Cross. His Londonderry team earned the No. 4 seed for the Division I playoffs and will face Pinkerton Academy in Saturday’s semifinals.

Caden Michaud (RB/DB), Pinkerton

• Michaud, a senior, helped Pinkerton finish first in Division I Central and earn the top seed for the Division I playoffs. Entering Saturday’s Division I semifinals against Londonderry, Michaud has run for 916 yards and 13 touchdowns on 105 carries, and has six receptions for 196 yards and a TD. He has scored 16 total touchdowns.

The award is sponsored by the Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter of the National Football Foundation and given to the most outstanding NHIAA football player in New Hampshire.

This year’s winner will be announced on Nov. 23.