44 Delaware football players win Mini Max awards from Maxwell Football Club

Wilmington Friends Senior Quarterback Ryan Tattersall celebrates a TD

As most Delaware high-school sports fans know, the Tattersall family from Wilmington Friends School are legends.

Friends won the 2022 Class 2A Championship led by head coach Rob Tattersall, associate head coach Bob Tattersall — the state’s all-time leader in coaching victories in 53 seasons and 331 wins — quarterback and defensive end Robby Tattersall, who was that year’s 2A Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Class 2A selection,  and little brother Ryan (well, he was 6-4) Ryan playing a key role at defensive back and seeing some time at quarterback.

Ryan, now a senior and the 2024 Class 2A first-team quarterback, has added another honor to the family trophy case as one of 44 high-school football players from across the state selected as 2024 Mini Max High School Award winners, Maxwell Football Club President Mark Dianno announced.

The 44 players were nominated by their coaches throughout the 2024 season and were evaluated based on criteria that include football performance, academics, and community service.

“The actual award just means so much because it’s not just football and I pride myself on what I work on outside of football,” said Tattersall. “It’s not just school but the services I work on outside of school. To be able to share an award my brother also won, it keeps a tradition of what Friends Football is all about. My grandfather was here for 53 years and now my dad was able to take over after him. Friends Football is a community and a family, so to be able to share it with my actual family just means so much.”

The Maxwell Football Club will select one player from Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey as each state’s Player of the Year. These will be announced at the annual Mini-Maxwell Awards on February 2, 2025, at the Drexelbrook Catering and Event Center in Drexel Hill, PA. The winner of the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware Player of the Year awards will be the candidates for the Club’s 38th Jim Henry Award as the Outstanding Player in the region. The winner of the Jim Henry Award will also be announced at the Mini-Max Awards on February 2, 2025.

On this year’s honorees, Maxwell Football Club President Mark Dianno said, “This is another exceptional class of student-athletes who will represent the Mini Max Award very well. During their high school careers, they had to contend with circumstances of the pandemic impacting their families, communities, schools, teachers, academics, practices, coaches, and games; yet they consistently rose to meet those challenges and performed extraordinary feats on the fields, in their classrooms and in their respective communities. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and all the members of the Maxwell Football Club, we congratulate and salute this exceptional group of student-athletes on being 2024 Mini-Max Award winners and wish them much success in their future endeavors.”

Comments from other Mini Max Delaware winners

Delaware Live Sports spoke to some winners after their return to school from the holiday break. All expressed pride at receiving the honor.

“I’m honored to have received this award, said Salesianum defensive lineman Luke Guzevich. “I believe it is a testament to the work I have put in over the years in the classroom, the weight room, and on the field. However, I could not have done it without the help of everyone around me, including my teammates, coaches, and family.”

Saint Mark’s quarterback James Campbell said, “It shows that my dedication to the game and leadership towards my teammates is being noticed by others”

“It’s a proud moment knowing my hard work and dedication made an impact on my team, said Howard running back and linebacker Xavier Grier. “This recognition gives me confidence to keep striving for excellence on and off the field.”

“My brother was nominated two years ago, so I knew what the award was,” said Tatnall linebacker Jack Homer. “When I got the text from the coach, I was very excited. It’s a big award that includes a few states with a lot of good representation and talent. The people are awesome.”

The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully vested in the community through programs to promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership. To learn more, visit www.maxwellfootballclub.org

The 44 2024 Delaware Mini Max Winners are listed alphabetically by school:

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