The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) presents both an Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year award in the state of Wisconsin each season for Large School and Small School.

There are 14 weeks in the 11-player football season when regular and postseason are included, meaning we're halfway through with seven games complete.

This week, we'll be looking at the top contenders for WFCA Large and Small School Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

It takes the right combination of name recognition, statistical success, and team success to win the award, which is available to players from any grade but has traditionally gone to a senior. Generally, the player must be from a very successful team that is either unbeaten or a favorite to compete for a state title.

Previous Articles:
Large School Offensive Player of the Year Favorites
Large School Defensive Player of the Year Favorites
Small School Offensive Player of the Year Favorites

To be clear, the Small School Defensive Player of the Year is presented by the WFCA. However, below is my take on the top ten candidates right now (in alphabetical order), though there is a long ways to go before the selection is made after Level 4 of the postseason, and more candidates could certainly emerge.

Adam Anderson, DL, Lake Country Lutheran - Anderson will likely be a three-time All-Conference selection and has continued to put pressure on opposing offenses in his senior season. He’s among state leaders with 17 tackles for loss, recording 42 tackles and seven sacks this season. He also has a forced and recovered fumble.

Wyatt Graffin, DL, Columbus - Graffin is an outstanding two-way lineman for the Cardinals, earning WFCA Small School All-State as both an offensive and defensive lineman. The Central Michigan recruit has 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in his senior campaign, also returning a fumble 41 yards for a touchdown.

Zach Hellendrung, DL, Boyceville - Hellendrung is a four-year varsity player for Boyceville with a really interesting athletic profile. He’s 6-3, 240 pounds but in addition to his exploits on the defensive line, leads the Bulldogs in rushing this season. The North Dakota State commit also has a team-high 36 tackles this year with 10 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Berkley Kuiper, LB, Kenosha St. Joseph - Kuiper is a key piece of a talented defense that allows just seven points per game this year. The Lancers’ leading tackler, he has 38 tacklers with 10.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

Max Matthias, LB, Two Rivers - Matthias has been a four-year varsity starter, playing his first two seasons on the defensive line before shifting to linebacker last season. He entered his senior year with 408 tackles and has another 49 already, including 9.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

Gavin Mauer, DB, Edgar - Mauer is a key piece of a talented Edgar defense. He’s among state leaders with five interceptions and also has four passes defenses. He’s not just a pass defender, as Mauer has 32 tackles this year, including four for loss.

Carson Roemhild, DB, Boyceville - Roemhild was also listed among our favorites for the Small School Offensive Player of the Year, and with a state-leading (tied) seven interceptions, he gets the nod on defense as well. Roemhild also has 12 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries this season.

Kobe Russell, DB, Prescott - The North Dakota State commit has played all over the field for the Cardinals. On defense, he generally lines up as a single high deep safety, but still finds his way into many players with a team-high 59 tackles. He’s also the team’s leading passer and rusher with 1,542 total yards of offense.

Tucker Streit, DB, Edgar - Edgar has allowed just 12 points this year with five shutouts, and it’s hard to pick just one defender to be on this list. Streit is a multi-year standout for the defending state champions, sitting at 41 tackles so far this year with seven tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and an interception.

Ryan Westrich, DL, Bonduel - Westrich is a four-year varsity player and a beast on both sides of the ball for the Bears. An All-State tight end last year, he has 59 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, and two forced fumbles on defense for the Bears.