Drew Lock, T.J. Green, Skylar Thompson, Ryan Willis are four finalists for Simone Award
The winner of the 32nd annual Thomas A. Simone Memorial Award will be a quarterback. That much is certain.
The four finalists for the honor — given to the top football player in the Kansas City area — are all signal-callers. Rockhurst senior T.J. Green, Lee's Summit senior Drew Lock, Fort Osage junior Skylar Thompson and Bishop Miege senior Ryan Willis were named finalists Tuesday as part of a ceremony at Arrowhead Stadium's Hall of Honor.
Lock, an MU commit, is a finalist for the award for the second straight year. He threw for 2,717 yards and 28 touchdowns in 10 games this season.
Green completed 65 percent of his passes and threw for 2,651 yards and 33 touchdowns while leading Rockhurst to the Missouri Class 6 state championship game. Green is the son of former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green.
Thompson, the only junior among the group, passed for 2,385 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Indians, and he also ran for nine touchdowns.
Willis, a KU commit, was named the Eastern Kansas League offensive player of the year after leading the Stags to the Kansas Class 4 Division I state title. He passed for 3,003 yards and 35 touchdowns for the unbeaten Stags.
Blue Springs' Dalvin Warmack won the previous two Simone Awards. Warmack is now at Kansas State.
Finalists for other awards:
• Frank Fontana Award (best small class player): St. Joseph Lafayette senior Drew Cortez, Bishop Miege junior Dawson Downing, Oak Grove senior Aaron Graham, Maryville senior Brody McMahon, Bishop Miege senior Ryan Willis.
• Buck Buchanan Award (best big class lineman/linebacker): Shawnee Mission East senior Kyle Ball, Blue Springs senior Carlos Davis, Blue Valley senior A.J. Harris, Rockhurst senior Luke Ritter.
• Bobby Bell Award (best small class lineman/linebacker): Piper senior Colton Beebe, Oak Grove senior Dalton Brinegar, Kearney junior Cale Garrett, Kearney senior Tanner Owen.
• Otis Taylor Award (best wide receiver): Fort Osage senior Jesse McBee, Lee's Summit junior Zach Mitchell, Shawnee Mission North senior Nick Perez, Blue Springs junior Terrance Sanders.
To reach Sam McDowell, call 816-234-4869 or send email to smcdowell@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SamMcDowell11.
This story was originally published December 2, 2014 at 11:55 PM with the headline "Drew Lock, T.J. Green, Skylar Thompson, Ryan Willis are four finalists for Simone Award."