Silverado defensive end Keenan Graham, who verbally committed to UCLA but is now considering Utah, poses for a photo. Graham earned the honor of Home News Defensive Player of the Year.
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 | 8 p.m.
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The Southeast Division's top football recruit is also the Home News Defensive Player of the Year.
Keenan Graham, the UCLA-bound senior defensive end from Silverado, led the Skyhawks in sacks, tackles and fumble recoveries this season while bringing a game-changing presence to every game.
"I told (former Silverado defensive coordinator) Tony Tuioti last year that one of my goals this season was to get Defensive Player of the Year," Graham said. "It feels great. I'm excited and honored to get it. There have been a lot of great players who have won it in the past."
The publication has picked an All-Henderson Football Team the past nine years, including selecting offensive and defensive players of the year.
Graham's numbers — 57 tackles, seven sacks and three fumbles recoveries — weren't overly impressive, but Silverado coach Andy Ostolaza said Graham's biggest contribution was in changing how offenses attacked the 'Hawks.
Despite battling injuries at major positions all year, Silverado only allowed 14 points per game as Graham forced offenses to take the ball away from his side of the field to allow the 'Hawks to stack the opposite end.
"There were a lot of teams this year that tried to stay away from him and most of the time, because of his speed, he'd cross the field and still get involved," Ostolaza said.
Graham was also the Sunrise Region's defensive player of the year and part of the All-Sunrise Region first team for the second consecutive season.
Even with Graham leading the way, Silverado finished 4-5 and failed to make the postseason.
Though the season is over, Graham continues to train in preparation for his freshman year at UCLA — he verbally committed to the school last month and will sign in February. He runs every day to keep his conditioning up while hitting the weight room to add to his 6 foot, 3 inch, 230-pound frame.
"I'm hoping to get to play as a freshman so I have to keep it up, he said. "I'm excited to get to the next level."
Jared Harmon can be reached at 990-8922 or [email protected].
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