Five Iowa high school standouts are up for the Class 4A regular season football Player of the Year, and fans have until Friday, November 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT to cast their votes. High School On SI narrowed the field from hundreds of candidates across the state, weighing individual statistics alongside each player's importance to his team and his team's win-loss record.
According to Yahoo Sports, which published the finalist list and the voting details, a separate vote will later recognize the Player of the Year in each class once playoff results are factored in. The winners of the regular season honor will be announced after voting closes.
Meet the Five Nominees
Ethan Carpenter, Clinton, Senior, Running Back/Linebacker
Carpenter rarely left the field for the River Kings. He carried the ball 221 times for 1,388 yards and 20 touchdowns, added seven catches for 79 yards and two more scores, and recorded 32.5 tackles on defense with 5.5 for loss and a pick-6. He closed his season with 211 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 43-6 win.
Texton Bollers, Clear Creek Amana, Junior, Quarterback
Bollers led all of Class 4A with 1,821 passing yards, completing 59 percent of his throws for 17 touchdowns. He added 343 yards rushing and six more scores. In a tough loss to defending state champion Cedar Rapids Xavier, he threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
Cash Parks, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Senior, Quarterback
Parks, a Bemidji State commit, has the unbeaten Saints on the short list of title contenders. He has thrown for 1,092 yards and 11 touchdowns on 66 percent passing, rushed for 235 yards and eight scores, and even caught a touchdown pass. In a Homecoming win over Williamsburg, he went 5-for-8 for 110 yards with three touchdown completions.
Jayden Stephens, Waverly-Shell Rock, Junior, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
One of the state's top prospects, Stephens has 45 receptions for 835 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging nearly 19 yards per catch. Defensively he has 27.5 tackles and five interceptions, one returned for a score. Against playoff qualifier Algona, he caught three passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
Justin Ehlers, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Junior, Quarterback/Defensive Back
Ehlers completed 60 of 92 passes for 1,112 yards and 14 touchdowns without throwing a single interception, posting a quarterback rating of 217. He added 348 rushing yards and five scores plus two interceptions on defense. In a win over Lewis Central, he went 7-for-10 for 151 yards and rushed for 50 more and a touchdown.
How the Winner Is Chosen
As Sports Illustrated's high school coverage explains, the selection committee considered hundreds of worthy candidates before settling on five nominees, balancing raw production with each player's value to his team's success. Fans now decide the final outcome through online voting.
FAQ
When does voting close for the Iowa Class 4A Player of the Year?
Voting closes Friday, November 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT, according to Yahoo Sports.
Who are the five Class 4A finalists?
Ethan Carpenter of Clinton, Texton Bollers of Clear Creek Amana, Cash Parks of Cedar Rapids Xavier, Jayden Stephens of Waverly-Shell Rock, and Justin Ehlers of Sergeant Bluff-Luton.
Will playoff performance count?
No. This vote covers the regular season only. A separate vote for each class will include playoff performance along with regular season results.