Bracy did it all for the CCS Open 1 finalist Trojans, as one of the top running backs, receivers, defensive backs, and kick returners in the section.

The all-everything Swiss-army knife for Milpitas reached elite status this season, scoring a total of 25 touchdowns, and doing it three different ways. He ran for 11 touchdowns, had 13 receiving scores, and returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown in a win over North Salinas. Bracy is also part of a unique club, having compiled over 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving.

His production was hardly limited to the offensive side, or even as a kick and punt returner. Defensively, Bracy added five interceptions, with three of his picks coming in the post-season. His biggest defensive production came in the biggest games. In a huge non-league win over Antioch, he had 13 tackles and an interception. One of his post-season takeaways came in a section semifinal win over San Benito, and another came in the CIF regional loss to Pleasant Valley-Chico.

Bracy’s junior campaign was among the most anticipated in the section, after he dominated on both sides of the ball as a sophomore. Over the past two seasons, he has accounted for 13 turnovers defensively, including 11 interceptions. He has also scored 45 touchdowns, 41 of those from scrimmage on the offensive side of the ball.

In a two-game stretch to start the playoffs this season, the versatile athlete showed all of his skills in wins over Santa Teresa and San Benito. In the first round game, Bracy ran for 176 yards and two touchdowns, while catching four passes for 111 yards and two more scores.

A week later, he ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns, and added nine catches for 171 yards and a score. That game, of course, included an interception on defense, as the Trojans rallied from an 18-point deficit to down the Balers. Bracy had the game-winning five-yard touchdown run, after his 90-yard reception tied the game. His interception occurred with a minute and a half left in the game, and set up his game-winning touchdown.

Coming into his junior year, Bracy already had offers from Washington State and Eastern Washington, so one can imagine the attention he will receive this off-season. In the meantime, he will continue to excel athletically for the Trojans as a multi-sport athlete. He plays guard for the basketball team, and hit .343 with two home runs and 18 stolen bases last spring in baseball.

For all his production on the field, in all facets of the game, Tariq Bracy is the 2016 Prep2Prep Junior Player of the Year.

Others players considered for this award: Menlo’s JH Tevis, Bellarmine’s Cade Hall, St. Francis’ Tyler Manoa, and Half Moon Bay’s Chase Hofmann.