Four South Florida Players Named 2026 Nat Moore Trophy Finalists

MIAMI, Fla. (KCNC-TV) - The CBS Miami Nat Moore Trophy finalists for 2026 were announced Tuesday evening during the 7 p.m. newscast. Four high school athletes from South Florida will compete for the award, which recognizes the top player in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties. Fans can begin voting immediately to help determine the winner.

The list of finalists includes Andre Hyppolite of North Miami Beach Senior High School, Nicholas Lennear III of Miami Carol City Senior High School, Mark Matthews of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, and Amir "A1" Sears of Christopher Columbus High School. Each player represents a different facet of the sport, ranging from versatile skill positions to dominant offensive line play.

Hyppolite, a four-star prospect committed to the University of Miami, has played multiple positions for the Chargers. He recently filled in at quarterback when the starter was injured. His head coach, Jeff Bertani, noted that Hyppolite credited his success to hard work and loyalty to the team.

Lennear III is a five-star wide receiver who transferred to Miami Carol City for his senior year after three seasons at Miami Northwestern. Also committed to the University of Miami, he began playing football at age 5. He stated that he prefers to let his performance on the field speak for itself rather than focusing on recruitment attention.

Matthews, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive tackle at St. Thomas Aquinas, is a five-star recruit committed to Texas A&M. He has played football for only three years, having previously competed in basketball. Matthews said he credits his basketball background for developing the flexibility and movement that make him effective on the line. His primary goal is winning a national championship with his team.

Sears, who reclassified from the class of 2028, is rated as the top athlete in the class of 2027. He committed to the University of Miami in August. Known for playing on both offense and defense, Sears said his father taught him to stay humble and grounded despite his rising status.

Public voting runs through Sunday, Nov. 29. The fan vote accounts for 10 percent of the final decision, while a selection panel determines the ultimate winner. Last year, Cooper of Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School won the trophy. Previous recipients include Ohio State wide receiver in 2023 and University of Miami players in 2024 and 2022. The award is named after Nat Moore, who played 13 seasons with the Dolphins from 1974 to 1986 and has remained active in South Florida community work.