Prep football | 11 from Manatee County earn All-State honors

Four players each from Manatee and Braden River were named to All-State teams in their respective classes Thursday, giving Manatee County a final total of 11 players to pick up state honors for their performances this fall.

Palmetto also had one player honored Wednesday. One each from Southeast and Bradenton Christian picked up honors earlier this week.

Pirate offensive lineman Alex Salguero and Hurricane athlete Kavious Price led the way as first-team selections for Classes 7A and 8A, respectively. Both were also named to the Herald's All-Area first team last month. Salguero, a Marshall commit, paved the way from the right tackle spot to BRHS' best season in program history. Price led the county with 738 receiving yards and 40 catches, and shared the top spot in the area with eight receiving touchdowns during the regular season.

The Canes also placed two players on the All-State second team. Quarterback A.J. Colagiovanni, a second-team All-Area selection, and kicker Nickolas Null, a first-team All-Area choice, were critical cogs in the Hurricanes' prolific offense and helped the Canes reach the second round of the postseason.

Colagiovanni led the area with 2,083 passing yards and 18 touchdowns during the regular season, and also ran for 395 yards and nine touchdowns. Null made all 42 of his extra-point attempts and sunk four field goals.

Braden River cornerback Tyrone Collins also earned second-team All-State honors after leading the area with nine interceptions, as did Palmetto defensive lineman David Belvin, a Florida Atlantic commit, who had 5 1/2 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss. Both were first-team All-Area selections.

Demetrius Lawson was the area's lone third-team selection. The Pirate safety racked up six interceptions during the regular season and was also a first-team All-Area choice.Manatee wide receiver Tarique Milton, BRHS quarterback Jacob Huesman, Southeast offensive lineman Michael Davis and Bradenton Christian linebacker Brett Gerber were all honorable mentions. Milton hauled in eight touchdown catches during the regular and finished second in the area in receiving yards, Florida International-commit Huesman threw for 1,560 yards 67.7 completion percentage, Davis paved the way for the county's leading rusher and Gerber racked up 169 tackles in nine games.

Milton and Huesman were both first-team All-Area selections, Gerber was a second-team choice, and Davis was an honorable mention.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 12:20 PM with the headline "Prep football | 11 from Manatee County earn All-State honors ."