The Putnam County football team recently announced seven players earned 2024 All-Region honors.
The War Eagles went 5-6 overall in 2024 and made a trip to the Class A Division I state playoffs before the season ended. However, head coach Joel Harvin is proud of his players in his second year.
Harvin said he believes even more War Eagles deserve to be honored but also realizes not all can.
“I think these guys deserve all the attention they’re getting,” he said. “I believe we should have had a few more make it, but I understand we are also in a bigger region with teams that have good players on them.”
Senior Rashod Daniel highlighted the list by being named the Class A Division I Region 4 Athlete of the Year by the coaches. He played running back and linebacker for the War Eagles this year.
Daniel, a 5-foot-10, 210-pounder, rushed for 1,257 yards and 20 touchdowns during his senior year on offense. Defensively, Daniel racked up 28 tackles as he played sparingly on that side of the ball.
Daniel, a former Army commit, was happy to win the award. He thanked his teammates and coaches.
“First, I want to start by saying I’m very excited to win athlete of the year,” Daniel said. “I just want to thank my coaches for bringing out the best in me as a player and showing me that I can play anywhere on the field as long as I’m consistent. I also want to thank my teammates for sacrificing time in the offseason working with me and pushing me to be better every single day.”
Harvin said he wasn’t surprised Daniel earned the Athlete of the Year award.
“I think Rashod showed just how versatile he was this year by returning kicks, playing linebacker, and running back,” Harvin said. “He also had a few completions as a quarterback. Overall, he kept our team together and made huge plays on both sides of the ball throughout the year. He’s the example of a true Ironman for us, and we couldn’t be more proud of him. He is truly deserving of it.”
Senior offensive lineman Noah Long and junior linebacker Christian Farley earned first-team honors.
Junior running back Branan Griffin, senior tight end Bryce Brabham, junior offensive lineman Joe Ward, and junior defensive lineman Steve Grandt were also named to the All-Region second team.
Putnam County also had six players — Isaac Pope, Don Dorsey, Japeth Nelson, Bill Waters, Jayson Smith, and Alex Jimenez — named to the All-Region honorable mention team.
Harvin said he is proud of all 13 Putnam County players for being honored by the other coaches in the region.
“I am proud of these guys for all their effort in the offseason, and it’s easy to see why they were selected as All-Region players,” he said. “The great thing about these guys is seeing how hard they worked day-inand- day-out, and how that hard work leads to this recognition. They deserve it.”