Spotlights
Who Are The Top Players & What Roles Will They Play During The Season?

2024 Nat Moore Trophy Down To The Final 4

2024 Nat Moore Trophy Down To The Final 4

By Trish Christakis - CBS4

On Wednesday, December 4th, the best high school football senior in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties will gather with their families at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens as the annual Nat Moore Trophy will be awarded, announced live at 7:30 p.m. with a special airing on CBS Miami and streaming on CBSMiami.com.

This yearly event has indeed become an event and honor that prospects all over the region hold in high esteem – and something that they can proudly carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Following in the footsteps of last year’s winner Jeremiah Smith (Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna), who is now a freshman star at The Ohio State University, the list has narrowed to just four student/athletes for this year.

THE NAT MOORE AWARD

A native of Florida, born in Tallahassee, Nat Moore grew up in Miami, where he attended Miami Edison Senior High and Miami-Dade Community College.

At the University of Florida, he was a star running back and later inducted into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1978. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1974 and was a star wide receiver for thirteen seasons from 1974 to 1986.

Over his 13-year playing career, Moore recorded 510 receptions for 7546 receiving yards and 74 touchdowns and ranks in the top three in Dolphin’s history in each of those three categories.

Moore retired in 1986 as an all-time Dolphin great.

He is currently the team's senior vice president of special projects and alumni relations. His post-retirement career is filled with humanitarian work and philanthropy.

In 1984, the NFL voted Moore as "Man of the Year" for outstanding service to his community and he received the Byron White Humanitarian Award in 1986.

In 1998, he created the Nat Moore Foundation, which works with disadvantaged kids in Miami-Dade County in efforts to make sure they receive the best education possible.

FOUR OF THE BEST ARE HEADED TO HARD ROCK STADIUM

The nominations are in and here are the four finalists. The voting period opened on Nov. 19 and closes on Nov. 30.

Here's a look at each of the four finalists and their stats (names in alphabetical order):

Ben Hanks Jr.

Miami Booker T. Washington

  • CB/WR
  • 6' 1" and 170 pounds
  • Stats: (Offense) 9 Rec., 235 Yds., 3 TD (Defense) 13 Interceptions, 33 Tackles, 18 career interceptions.

VIDEO: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16372248/Ben-Hanks-Jr

Ezekiel Marcelin

Miami Central

  • LB
  • 6' 0" and 210 pounds
  • Stats: 5 sacks, 10 solo tackles, 1 interception, 24 career sacks
  • 3.76 GPA

VIDEO: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17070413/61b097dc386d9a07dc1faba9

Malachi Toney

Plantation American Heritage

  • Wide Receiver 
  • 5' 10" and 190 pounds
  • Stats: 58 Receptions, 1,008 yds, 12 TDs, 28 career TDs.

VIDEO: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17846385/Malachi-Toney

Ennio Yapoor

Miami Norland

  • Quarterback
  • 6' 1" and 220 pounds
  • Stats: 2646 YDS, 18 TD Passing, 9 TD Rushing, 109 Career TD Passing, 41 Career Rushing TD, 5-year starter
  • 4.2 GPA

VIDEO: https://www.hudl.com/profile/14792479/Ennio-Yapoor

You too can nominate your favorite high school football player at NatMooreTrophy.com.

The CBS Miami team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSMiami.com.