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The Jim Leonhard Award is given annually to the top senior defensive back as part of the WSN Senior Football Awards. The award is named after former Flambeau High School and University of Wisconsin athlete Jim Leonhard, who went on to great success in the NFL with the Bills, Ravens, Jets, Broncos, and Saints.

The pre-season watch list was trimmed down to 20 semi-finalists, and five finalists for the award have now been selected. Winners will be announced the week of the state finals.

Cole Brenner was limited to just six games as a junior but still earned First Team All-Conference recognition. Healthy all season, he's really broken out in the 2024 campaign with 77 tackles and a state-high eight interceptions this year. He also leads the team with 31 catches for 545 yards and nine scores. "Not only is he an incredible pass defender but he is also a big hitter," said Orioles coach Jeff Koenig. "With his speed, he can cover sideline to sideline and he can make our defense right when needed."

Marvanous Butler-Brown is a standout two-way player for the Crusaders. Not only is he an extremely explosive receiver with a team-best 36 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns, he's a shutdown corner on the outside. He has 44 tackles this year with two interceptions. He's a huge problem in the return game as well. "He's a great kid and a great player," said head coach Bill Young.

Grant Dean is a special player who has a huge impact for Neenah in all phases of the game. On offense, he led the team with 962 rushing yards in just nine games. He has also been a big-time factor in the return game. Defensively, he’s a bullet in the secondary for head coach Steve Jung, recording 22 tackles and an interception from his safety spot. He was recently announced as the FVA Player of the Year on both offense and defense. "He tracks the ball very well, makes tackles at the line of scrimmage from his safety position and makes big plays in big games," said head coach Steve Jung. "His numbers defensively are lower this year as we have only played him certain games and situations this year defensively."

Tre Poteat is one of the top cornerbacks to come out of the state in some time, as the son of former Badgers assistant Hank Poteat stayed at Verona when his father took a job at Iowa State. A three-time All-Conference and WFCA All-State choice last year, Poteat is dynamic on both sides of the ball, recording 35 tackles with five interceptions and four forced fumbles. He also ran for 244 yards and a touchdown and led the Wildcats with 36 catches for 469 yards and six scores. Poteat, who is committed to Tennessee, scored a total of six touchdowns on returns - four on punts, one on a kickoff, and one on an interception. "He simply shuts down half of the field and no one throws to that side or runs to that side," said head coach Andrew Riley. "It's going to be a forced fumble or int if it comes to his side."

Logan Zahour is a multiple time First Team All-Conference pick in the North Shore, earning First Team All-Conference on both offense and defense the past two seasons, also earning Honorable Mention All-State recognition from the WFCA. This year he has 42 tackles, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and six interceptions on defense, as he has 15 picks in his career. He is again the team's leading receiver with 35 catches for 757 yards and nine scores, adding 362 rushing yards as well. "He is equally good against the run and the pass and this year he became our schools all-time leader in career interceptions," said head coach Brian Leair. "His stats would have likely been much higher but he did not play in the second half of many of our games due to our team leading by a comfortable margin."

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.