Mount Tahoma’s Elijah Durr Named Washington’s Gatorade State Player of the Year

Husky commit anchors the defensive backfield for 13-0 T-Birds, a 3A title challenger.

Husky commit Elijah Durr.

CHICAGO — In its 41st year celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Elijah Durr of Mount Tahoma High School is the 2025-26 Gatorade Washington Football Player of the Year.

“Elijah is easily the most game-changing player I’ve seen on the field this year,”

- Jeff Scoma, head coach of Gig Harbor High School.

Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their excellence in sport, academics and community.

The award recognizes Durr as Washington’s best high school football player, and he joins an elite legacy that spans professional athletes and coaches to CEOs, such as Peyton Manning (1993-94, Isidore Newman School, LA), Nick Singleton (2021-22, Governor Mifflin High School, PA) and Keelon Russell (2024-25, Duncanville High School, TX).

At the time of his selection, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior defensive back and wide receiver had led the T-Birds (13-0)