Evans High senior quarterback Will Jackson, who committed to Maryland at the end of May, was the big winner Saturday at the 14th Annual Orlando QB Shootout, taking home overall MVP honors for an event that has featured past winners such as former FSU quarterback Deondre Francois.
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Lake Brantley quarterback Jackson Stecher, last year’s winner, was on hand but did not work out.
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Jackson showed off his big arm and the ability to make a variety of throws while also winning the accuracy challenge. The top two challengers at the event, held at Central Florida Christian Academy, were Daniel Proenza, a recent transfer to Seminole High from Port Orange Spruce Creek, and Jupiter’s Johnny Moses.
Jackson, who started his high school career at Lake Minneola, transferred to Evans this past spring after a season in Georgia at Camden County in Kingsland, where he passed for nearly 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Pictures: 2026 Orlando QB Shootout
“It feels good. This is what you work for, putting all of the hours in, early mornings, late nights, so this is just a stepping stone for my future,” Jackson said. “So I just need to keep working and keep doing what I’m doing and I’ll eventually get to bigger things.
“It means a lot. I’m from the Orlando area, been living here almost all my life, so just being able to go out there and perform and show my talents is always a good thing and also to be able to be an example for the younger kids, as well.”
He knows that there have been some pretty big names to walk away with MVP honors at the annual camp.
“Those are legends and just being able to follow in their footsteps and now create my own path is a great feeling,” Jackson said.
The event is not only for quarterbacks, with drills and analysis provided for every football position.
Another recent college commit, Sincere Wilkerson of Edgewater, also participated Saturday and he earned the offensive line MVP. Wilkerson committed to Coastal Carolina last week.
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Wilkerson has emerged as one of the top offensive line prospects in Central Florida and has been working hard to chisel his big body into playing form. He is currently 6-4 and 330 pounds, down from about 355, and he is carrying the weight well. Coastal would like him to get a little bit leaner.
“I feel like I’m getting better and better every day, at Edgewater and with my trainer and just being able to come out to camps and stuff and being able to perform,” Wilkerson said. “I’m carrying about the same weight and I’m trying to lose weight, but I’ve been working out so the muscle has probably increased.”
The charismatic Wilkerson said he is excited about his commitment to Coastal, but also said he will entertain any offers that come along.
“I feel good. It’s still out there until, God-willing, something bigger comes … Georgia did text me,” Wilkerson said. “But for right now it’s Coastal because they have a good program and it’s somewhere where I can get good snaps and I wanted to be able to find somewhere where I could commit before the season and have a safe spot, just in case.
“You know how it can be. Something could happen and you could lose it all, so just to have a spot secured is a blessing.”
He was recruited to Coastal by offensive line coach Nick Gilbert.
“I was No. 1 on their board and they showed me the most love,” Wilkerson said. “Some of their linemen were cool, so I’ve messaged with them and the school has a decent feel and I like the school in general.”
Shootout award winners
Here are the other winners from the 2026 Orlando QB Shootout, including graduating class or age, plus school or hometown:
Girls overall MVP: Justice Felton, 2030, Dr. Phillips
Varsity quarterback MVP: Daniel Proenza, 2028, Seminole
Ninth and 10th grade QB MVP: Gavin Pritzkau, CFCA
Youth QB MVP: Andrew Bennett, 12, Orlando
Middle school QB MVP: Shane Stella, 13, Orlando
Youth offensive line MVP: Jude Pomianek, 11, Clermont
Varsity running back MVP: Justin Felton, 2027, Dr. Phillips
Varsity wide receiver MVP: Cameron Fuse, 2028, Lakeland
Youth wide receiver MVP: Lawrence Luncan, 10, Orlando
Varsity linebacker MVP: Zedekiah Leser, 2028, Kissimmee Gateway
Youth linebacker MVP: Payton Blackman, 13, Orlando
Varsity defensive back: Jaden Bolton, 2027, Innovation
Youth defensive back: Christian Hyppoilite, 12, Orlando
Varsity defensive line: Josaih Arrington, 2027, CFCA
Middle school defensive line: Namaj Drye, 14, Orlando
The event is put on by Ponte Vedra Nease High head football coach Collin Drafts and Orlando trainer Lo Wood and features numerous coaches who played high school football in Orlando and went on to bigger things at various levels.
The event is, in part, a fundraiser for the Aaron Jones Foundation, which donates money to charities and is named for the former NFL defensive end who starred at Apopka High and Eastern Kentucky.
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Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.