The All Sports Association held its annual awards banquet Friday at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, with NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks serving as keynote speaker for an evening that celebrated athletic achievement and community leadership.

Here’s a look at this year’s award winners.

Wuerffel Trophy: Michael Taaffe

The winner of the prestigious Wuerffel Trophy, often the highlight of the All Sports banquet outside of the guest speaker, is Michael Taaffe.

Taaffe, a redshirt senior and former walk-on safety at Texas, made an impact all over the field this past season. He recorded 38 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, two interceptions and a pass deflection — a performance that earned him first-team All-American and All-SEC honors. He is the first Longhorn to win the Wuerffel Trophy since Sam Acho in 2010.

Off the field, Taaffe has been heavily involved in promoting awareness of the dangers of fentanyl, working with Texas Against Fentanyl and Crime Stoppers of Houston. He also raised money to help victims of the 2025 Central Texas floods, visited children at Dell Children’s Hospital, distributed food with Welcome Table ATX and joined cleanups with the Trail Conservancy.

Professional Award: Alex Ward

Ward, the former Choctaw football player turned UCF and later Los Angeles Rams and now Las Vegas Raiders long snapper, is the 2026 professional award winner.

• “It’s an honor. Being from the area, I’ve been going to the All Sports Awards all my life, and I’ve looked up to all the pros that came in,” Ward said. “Now that I’m one of them, it’s just a huge full-circle moment.”

Ward credited his success to finding what best fit his skill set.

“I was never the all-star athlete. I was kind of just making my way,” Ward said. “I ended up finding long snapping. I basically went all in on it. Once I found what I was doing, I was doing all that I could as well as I could to get better.”

Male Collegiate Award: Jayce Brown

Brown, the former Choctaw multisport star, played a major role in the Indians’ 2021 state runner-up basketball campaign as a sophomore and was a go-to target in the wide receiver corps during Choctaw football’s 2022 Elite Eight run.

His stellar high school career earned him an offer to Kansas State, where he quickly emerged as one of the Big 12’s best wide receivers. This year, following the retirement of coach Chris Klieman, Brown transferred to LSU, taking his talents to the SEC and Baton Rouge.

Female Collegiate Award: Gracie Grant

Grant, a former Niceville golfer, is the female collegiate award winner. After a standout golf career with the Eagles, Grant took her game to Dallas Baptist University, where she was a member of the 2025 Patriots women’s golf team that won the NCAA Division II national championship.

Taylor Haugen Trophy: Harper Campbell

Campbell, the Niceville football star who helped lead the Eagles to the Final Four last season, is one of the top defensive players in the state and a Samford commit. He is the 2026 Taylor Haugen Trophy winner, given to the athlete who best embodies the spirit of Taylor Haugen.

• “It’s an honor. Being a part of the Taylor Haugen Foundation, that’s really cool,” Campbell said. “Becoming close with Kathy and Brian Haugen, I love being a part of the family.”

Haugen, whose life was tragically cut short during a Niceville-Fort Walton Beach football scrimmage, was known for the motto “Don’t Quit, Never Give Up.”

Niceville head coach Richard Morgan said he expects Campbell to become a team captain at some point during his Samford career and called him “everything you’d want in a football player.” Niceville Principal Charlie Marello said Campbell being the school’s nominee was a no-brainer, adding at the trophy presentation that if he were to make a mold of what he wanted Niceville students to be like, he would probably make a mold of Campbell.

Campbell takes the most rigorous classes offered at Niceville and serves as a middle school youth group leader at Crosspoint Church. He plans to study biblical studies at Samford with the goal of becoming a pastor after his playing career.

Amateur Award: Coleman Borthwick

Borthwick, the South Walton baseball star and Auburn commit, led the Seahawks on a Class 3A state runner-up campaign last year while leading the state in RBIs. He’s already off to a hot start this season with three home runs as South Walton has jumped out to a 4-1 record.

Borthwick also represented the United States at the 2025 U-18 Baseball World Cup, where Team USA won gold after beating Japan in the finals. He was named MVP of the entire tournament.

• “It’s something special. To represent the country is something everybody dreams about doing,” Borthwick said. “It’s something special that nobody could take away from me, and I’ll always remember this, no matter what.”

After high school, Borthwick hopes to play professional baseball with the goal of reaching the majors.

Male Scholastic Award: Deacon Avery

Avery, the Niceville baseball star and Coastal Carolina commit, has helped lead the Eagles to an undefeated start this season after an Elite Eight campaign last year. He led Class 5A in home runs last season and has been a driving force in the revitalization of Niceville baseball.

“I’m super honored and grateful. It’s a big deal,” Avery said. “I’m honored and excited to represent my school and my community. I thank All Sports. It’s a huge honor.”

Niceville head coach Justin Bruce called Avery the heart and soul of the program and views him as the prototype of what he wants his players to be like. Principal Charlie Marello said that when it comes to representing Niceville, he couldn’t imagine anyone better than Avery.

Avery carries a 4.0-plus GPA as an AP and dual-enrollment student, is involved in FCA and student government at Niceville, and volunteers at Crosspoint Church. After high school, he hopes to play professional baseball with the goal of reaching the majors.

Female Scholastic Award: Izzy Douglas

Douglas, the Fort Walton Beach two-way softball star, was the MVP of the Lady Vikings’ postseason run that saw them capture the first state title in program history. She hit seven home runs with 35 RBIs and recorded 109 strikeouts in the circle.

• “Winning this award is being able to steward what God has given to me, and to glorify and honor him,” Douglas said.

Fort Walton Beach head softball coach Taryn Gray recalled a moment from Douglas’ freshman year when the pair watched track sendoffs together and Douglas promised Gray that Fort Walton Beach softball would have a sendoff of their own someday — a promise she delivered on. Gray also said Douglas was tailor-made for this award.

Fort Walton Beach principal Lindsey Smith said Douglas not only represents the very best of student-athletes but exemplifies excellence in every aspect of being one.

Off the field, Douglas is an AP and dual-enrollment student on track to graduate with both her diploma and associate degree. She is involved in FCA and volunteers as a coach with Destin Little League. After high school, she plans to attend Southeastern University in Lakeland and study missional leadership.

Special Olympian Award: Ethan McCormick

McCormick, a Navarre High graduate, is the Special Olympian award winner. He participated in basketball, soccer, track, weightlifting and wrestling.

• “I’m blessed for this opportunity, and I’m just happy,” McCormick said.

McCormick made history in middle school when he became the first athlete with a disability to compete on his school’s wrestling and track teams. In Special Olympics competition, he earned silver medals at the state level in both 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 basketball. He also participated on Navarre’s weightlifting team.

McCormick is currently considering a range of opportunities that include earning a college degree, pursuing additional athletic opportunities or entering the workforce with the goal of buying his own house.