Bryant's leadership, commitment earn him the 2021 Naples Daily News Broxson Trophy
Entering high school, Stanley Bryant III didn't intend on being a quarterback.
Bryant initially played receiver during his first two years. Then last year, in the midst of the program's worst loss in over two decades against Palmetto Ridge, Naples coach Rick Martin converted the wide receiver to the signal-caller in that game.
Since then, Bryant has only gotten better, and his senior year proves just that.
With hard work, and his commitment to learn the quarterback position, Bryant has been selected as the winner of the 2021 Naples Daily News Broxson Trophy.
"It’s an honor to win this prestigious award," Bryant said. "To represent Naples High, my family, teammates, and all the Naples High recipients that have come before me is an honor."
Bryant becomes the ninth Naples player to win the award, joining Duane Coleman, Josh Greco, Jamelle Eugene, Spencer Adkins, Craig Wingate, Carlos Hyde, Manny Morgan, and Tyler Byrd.
"I can't even put into words what it means to me, and probably what it means to him and his family," Martin said. "Stanley came in last year, not a quarterback, we worked our butts off, he worked his butt off, learned the position to do everything possible, to do everything to the best of his ability."
His senior season was one to remember, as he rushed 128 times for 1,152 yards (9.0 YPC) and 21 touchdowns, while adding 375 yards through the air with five more touchdowns, as Naples advanced to a regional semifinal while blowing out every opponent it faced this year in the regular season.
"After that first loss to Palmetto, the next day we watched film and I started learning my position and everyone else’s around me," Bryant said. "I wanted to make sure a game like Palmetto never happened again while I was playing for Naples High School."
Martin admitted last year that he was unsure if Bryant would be able to master the offense in short order, especially after Naples was searching for answers following the 38-0 loss to Palmetto Ridge.
"I gotta be honest. We didn't know how it was going to work," Martin said. "We didn't know if this experiment was going to do what it did. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He was out there working. He was on the markerboard with me learning the offense. He's watching film with me.
"He's doing all these things, so you see a kid that's worked his career, and to win that award is so fulfilling for our program. He goes down with some of the greats that we've ever had, and we're thankful for it."
Bryant said that upon hearing that Martin said he was among the greats, he felt honored, especially with who Martin has played and coached against.
"Hearing that from a coach, who is like family, means a lot," Bryant said of Martin's comments. "He’s seen hundreds of guys come through here in his 22 years, he’s played and won with one of, if not the best player to come through Naples High, Duane Coleman.
"So for him to say something like that about me means a lot. For my family that is just the expectation, my parents preach excellence every day."
Naples Daily News Broxson Trophy winners
2021: Stanley Bryant III, Naples
2020: Malique Dieudonne, Palmetto Ridge
2019: Charles Toombs, Immokalee
2018: Jensen Jones, St. John Neumann
2017: Fred Green, Immokalee
2016: Jacquez Carter, Lely
2015: Tyler Byrd, Naples
2014: Antwan Dixon, South Fort Myers
2013: J.C. Jackson, Immokalee
2012: Manny Morgan, Naples
2011: Tshumbi Johnson, Immokalee
2010: Sammy Watkins, South Fort Myers
2009: Dallas Crawford, South Fort Myers
2008: Carlos Hyde, Naples
2007: Craig Wingate, Naples
2006: Brian Rolle, Immokalee
2005: Brian Rolle, Immokalee
2004: Spencer Adkins, Naples
2003: Jamelle Eugene, Naples
2002: Josh Greco, Naples
2001: Duane Coleman, Naples
2000: Walner Belleus, Immokalee
Follow Southwest Florida Sports Writer Alex Martin on Twitter: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples quarterback Stanley Bryant III wins 2021 Broxson Trophy
