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The Register’s All-County football team for 2023:
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nasir Wyatt, Mater Dei, Jr., LB
One internal challenge for the Mater Dei defense often resonated with Nasir Wyatt.
Get rid of old ways
The junior outside linebacker took the adage to heart and funneled the message toward areas that made him better.
He committed to being more punctual and more of a vocal leader. And he shed setbacks to play his best in the final game, helping a dominant unit finish with a shutout in the state championship game.
Even on a defense loaded with standouts, Wyatt stood out the most to earn Orange County Defensive Player of the Year for 2023.
“Nasir Wyatt is one of the most disruptive defensive players we have had to compete against over the past few years,” Coach Jason Negro of rival St. John Bosco said. “Game planning for Mater Dei’s defense starts with trying to neutralize Wyatt.”
At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Wyatt used his combination of lanky size and speed to relentlessly pursue the ball, especially in the backfield.
In a 35-0 win against Serra of San Mateo in the state Open Division final, he recorded two of the Monarchs’ four sacks to finish with a team-leading 16.
On the season, Wyatt also led Mater Dei in tackles for loss with 21 and tied for second in passes defensed (seven).
He accomplished it all despite sometimes being triple-teamed.
Wyatt didn’t just record tackles. He delivered punishing blows. The Trinity League’s co-defensive MVP forced a fumble in the state final and finished the season with three caused fumbles.
“(He) plays as violently as anybody in the high school game,” Negro said.
“He’s a playmaker on defense,” Mater Dei coach Frank McManus added.
Wyatt encountered his share of adversity. He was injured early in the CIF-SS Division 1 final against St. John Bosco but bounced back against Serra.
He showed the same type of resiliency after St. John Bosco’s 28-0 triumph over Mater Dei in league.
Wyatt leaned on the defense’s motto of parting with old habits.
He dedicated himself to film study to correct mistakes and followed the example of top defensive leaders such as Semi Taulanga, Tanner Williams, Jeilani Davis and Zabien Brown.
“It feels so good to see how much the defense grew at the end of the year,” Wyatt said. “We wanted to keep putting our names on that legacy.”
With Wyatt adding to his list of contributions, that’s exactly what Mater Dei did.
“He’s striving every day,” McManus said. “Nasir definitely took some steps forward with his leadership.”
