Introducing the 2025 Mansfield News Journal Football Special Award Winners
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MANSFIELD — It is time to hand out the Mansfield News Journal Special Awards for the 2025 high school football season.
The News Journal has named the defensive and offensive players of the year along with the first-ever MNJ Mr. Football Award.
Let's meet this year's winners.
2025 Mansfield News Journal Defensive Player of the Year
Sam Gwirtz, Shelby
Gwirtz earned Division IV first team All-Ohio, Division IV Northwest District Defensive Player of the Year, Division IV first team All-Northwest District and first team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference honors during his senior year. He led the team with 154 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and a defensive TD. The Whippets allowed just 10.9 points per game in 2025 with four shutouts with Gwirtz as the leader of the defensive side of the football.
2025 Mansfield News Journal Offensive Player of the Year
Joe Caudill, Lexington
Caudill earned Division III first team All-Ohio, North Central Ohio Football Coaches Association Defensive Lineman of the Year – Big Schools; Division III Northwest District Offensive Player of the Year, Division III first team All-Northwest District, Ohio Cardinal Conference Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference honors during a magical senior season that saw him make an impact on both side of the ball. Caudill finished 112-for-189 with 1,730 yards and 25 touchdowns to go with 671 rushing yards on 126 carries with eight scores. He led the Minutemen with 2,412 all-purpose yards. On defense, he tallied 59.5 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions for an exceptional two-way season. He is headed to Michigan State to play tight end next fall.
2025 Mansfield News Journal Mr. Football Award
Brayden DeVito, Shelby
DeVito is the recipient of the first-ever MNJ Mr. Football Award. DeVito earned Ohio Mr. Football Runner-Up, Division IV Ohio Offensive Player of the Year, Division IV first team All-Ohio, North Central Ohio Football Coaches Association Offensive Back of the Year – Big Schools, Division IV Northwest District Offensive Player of the Year, Division IV first team All-Northwest District, Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Year and first team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference honors during a historic 2025 season. DeVito completed 196-of-281 passes for 3,200 yards and 41 touchdowns while running for 1,223 yards on 149 carries with 26 touchdowns. He also added three catches for 15 yards and recorded 33 tackles, one tackle for loss, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two touchdowns for a grand total of 69 total touchdowns in 2025 while leading the Whippets to their first state championship game appearance in program history.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Introducing the 2025 Mansfield News Journal Football Special Award Winners
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