Pulaski County Senior Bryant Nottingham Named First-Team Punter
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Virginia High School League announces its 2025 Class 3 All-State Football Team. Lake Taylor senior running back Keon Johnson is the Class 3 Offensive Player of the Year, and Lake Taylor senior linebacker Devaughn Powell is the Class 3 Defensive Player of the Year. Lake Taylor head coach Hank Sawyer is the Class 3 Coach of the Year.
The 5’10”, 210-pound Johnson rushed for 2,319 yards and 42 touchdowns this season for the Titans. In the Class 3 state championship game win over Kettle Run, Johnson's bruising style of running gained 89 yards on 19 carries and three rushing touchdowns of one yard, four yards, and one yard. In each of his three touchdowns, he gave the Titans the lead. A standout outside linebacker, he also added three solo tackles and one tackle for loss. He finished the year with over 100 tackles, 23 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 2 touchdowns on defense.
The 6’1”, 215-pound Powell turned in a stellar senior season, producing 33 sacks and over 100 tackles, including 40 for loss. The defensive playmaker forced five fumbles, returned one for a touchdown, and intercepted a pass for another score. In the state title game, Powell led all players with three tackles for loss totaling 17 yards, one sack for 11 yards, and seven tackles, including four solos.
Sawyer's Titans completed a remarkable turnaround from a 3-win season in 2024 to a 13-2 record and a fourth state championship with a thrilling 48-42 double-overtime win over Kettle Run in the Class 3 title game played at Williams Stadium on the Liberty University campus. At Lake Taylor since 1999, Sawyer has led the Titans to seven state championship game appearances: 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2025.
The All-State football team consists of 32 players (Offense: one quarterback; four linemen; one center; three running backs; three receivers; one tight end; one kicker; one kick returner; one all-purpose offensive player; Defense: four defensive linemen; five linebackers; four defensive backs; one punter; one punt returner; one all-purpose defensive player).
Only those players selected to the all-region first-team are eligible for selection to the all-state team. The all-state selection committee comprises eight coaches, with two from each region.
Nottingham was selected as a first-team punter at the district and region levels. He did this while also serving as the starting place kicker, quarterback, and defensive back.
