Rivals 2025 Utah high school football Player of the Year honors

The high school football season around the country is wrapping up and with that comes honors for coaches and players from the 2025 season. One state that has really seen its stock rise when it comes to the gridiron is that of Utah high school football.

We continue into the Beehive State of Utah as Rivals looked through the season and selected award nominees from this past season. Who were the best players for the 2025 season, though?

Rivals give you the Utah high school football honorees for the 2025 season.

Player of the Year: Helaman Cusaga, QB, Corner Canyon

One of the stars you will see on ESPN2 playing in the Overtime Nationals high school football championship game tonight is our pick for Utah’s Player of the Year. Cusaga has not only done it with his arm, but with his legs this season as the future Texas A&M Aggie led the Chargers to the Utah High School Athletic Association (UHSAA) Class 6A state championship. Now with a chance to add a national crown under his belt, Cusaga is a competitor like none other. This season so far, Cusaga has completed 210 of 307 passes for 3,487 yards and 37 touchdowns. The quarterback has also added 567 yards and 10 scores via the ground game. You might see some other passers in the state with better stats, but Cusaga did it on a weekly basis against top flight competition.

Offensive Player of the Year: Nate Dahle, QB, Ridgeline

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound quarterback put up some video game-like numbers this past season for Utah’s Class 4A state champions. Dahle was seemingly unstoppable for opposing defenses as the dual-threat quarterback put up some massive numbers in his final season behind center. The signal caller through the air completed 70 percent (248 of 352) of his passes for 4,005 yards and 54 touchdowns. That wasn’t it, however, as Dahle also rushed for 1,014 yards on 131 carries and added 10 rushing scores. We don’t know of a player that produced more offense than Dahle, who was the heart and soul of the Ridgeline offense.

Defensive Player of the Year: Peyton Carter, LB, Skyline

Having nearly 200 total tackles is an insane statistic and to do it for one of the better teams in Utah, a 9-4 Skyline team that has won 14 state championships, certainly makes it that much more impressive. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound linebacker was named the Class 4A, Region 10 Defensive Player of the Year and once you start looking at the numbers, they jump out at you. Carter finished his senior campaign racking up 194 total tackles, with 91 of them being solo. Throw in that Carter also notched four sacks, two interceptions, eight passes batted away and three fumble forces, the senior stuffed the stat sheet on a weekly basis as the Eagles reached Utah’s 4A state quarterfinal round, losing to the eventual state runner-up.

Coach of the Year: Eric Kjar, Corner Canyon

Another one of the honorees on this list comes from Corner Canyon, but this time it’s the man who makes it all go at the top in head coach Eric Kjar. We know that many expected the Chargers to get back to the mountain top, but one point in time, it wasn’t an absolute sure thing. When Corner Canyon fell to Lone Peak, 42-21, during the regular season, that certainly could’ve taken the team one of two ways. Motivate and deteriorate. Having championship-level experience and knowing the pulse of his squad, Kjar led the team on seven straight wins, which culminated with a 35-20 revenge victory over Lone Peak in the Class 6A state title game. Now with a chance to show his brilliance against St. Frances Academy on a national stage, Kjar has a shot to pull off another program-changing victory like last year’s IMG Academy win in Draper.

How to Follow Utah High School Football

For Utah high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Beehive State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Utah.