BRANDON — Otter Valley Union High School senior quarterback Carson Leary has been named Gatorade’s Vermont football player of the year.
Leary is the first player from Otter Valley to receive the award, which is based on athletic excellence, academic achievement and high character on and off the field. Gatorade, in collaboration with USA Today High School Sports, made the announcement Thursday morning.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback and defensive end powered the Otters to the Division III state title and a perfect season this fall. Also a North-South senior selection, Leary piled up 2,484 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns while throwing for 988 yards in the air and tacking on 13 passing touchdowns for the 11-0 Otters.
As a defensive end, Leary compiled 15 sacks for a defense that yielded an average of 11 points a game.
“Carson Leary has a rare combination of size and speed that you don’t often see at this level,” said OV coach Jim Hill in a news release. “He has a chiseled physique and is the fastest player on the team. His work ethic and leadership sets the tone for the entire team.”
Leary has maintained an 87.9 average in the classroom. A member of the National Honor Society and OV’s prom committee, he has served as the secretary of his graduating class and volunteered on behalf of the LifeBridge Christian Church, the news release said.