CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Virginia High School League announces its 2024 Class 2 All-State Football Team. Glenvar junior quarterback Brody Dawyot is the Class 2 Offensive Player of the Year, and Graham senior defensive lineman Omarri Hill is the Class 2 Defensive Player of the Year. Graham head coach Tony Palmer is the Class 2 Coach of the Year.
Selected as the Class 2 first-team all-state quarterback and punter, the 6’5”, 220-pound Dawyot passed for 2,964 yards, 49 touchdowns, and rushed for 703 yards and 12 touchdowns. He finished his junior campaign with 3,667 total yards and 61 total TDs. The record-setting junior enters his final season next fall with 7,012 career passing yards, which is 18th all-time in the VHSL record book. His 95 career passing touchdowns are eighth all-time, and his 8,654 career total yards (1,642 rushing yards) are closing in on tenth all-time (9,421 yards by Shoalin McGuire from Magna Vista). Dawyot’s total TD responsibility is currently sixth all-time with 124 (95 passing/29 rushing).
A first-team all-state selection for the third straight year, the 6’0”, 275-pound Hill tallied 93 Tackles, 59 assists, 13 sacks, and 27 tackles for loss. He finished his brilliant career as a four-year starter for the G-Men, registering 281 tackles, 174 assists, 84 TFLs, 21sacks, and four fumble recoveries. Additionally, Hill earned Southwest District and Region 2D Defensive Player of the Honors for the second straight season in 2024. His great uncle is the former Detroit Tigers great Willie Horton, who played 18 big league seasons, 15 in Detroit, and had his number #23 retired by the Tigers in 2000.
Palmer led Graham to a 15-0 season and its third-state title under his guidance (2018, 2022, 2024) with a 31-8 win over Strasburg in the Class 2 finals at Salem Football Stadium. His G-Men completed their second undefeated season and third state finals appearance since 2022. The former Graham running back and defensive back on the G-Men’s1989 Division 3 state title team, his 10 seasons have produced a 113-18 overall record. Since 2021, his teams are 54-3 with two Class 2 state titles and a runner-up finish. This is Palmer’s third VHSL Coach of the Year Award (2013, 2022, 2024).
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.
