The Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch Award is presented annually to the state's top senior running back as part of the WSN Senior Football Awards. The award is named after former Wausau High School athlete Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, who went on to play for the University of Wisconsin and the University of Michigan before starring at end in the NFL for 12 seasons. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the National High School Hall of Fame, and later went on to serve as Wisconsin's athletic director from 1969 to 1987.
The pre-season list will be trimmed down to 25 semi-finalists halfway through the year, with five finalists chosen at the start of the playoffs. Winners are announced the week of the state finals.
Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch Pre-Season Watch List:
Ebrahim Amara, Madison East
Derek Anderson, Pulaski
Dillon Bean, Westby
Derek Bertelsen, Grantsburg
Marcus Boothe, Iowa-Grant
Tyler Bozacki, Abundant Life
Tyler Caldwell, Lodi
Levi Campion, Poynette
Reid Christ, Arcadia
Craig Christman, Kewaunee
Brian Cobbs, Milwaukee Lutheran
Dillon Dollar, Florence
Tyler Dorn, New Glarus / Monticello
Luke Drumel, Greendale
Luke Eichinger, Assumption
Austin Elliott, Mount Horeb / Barneveld
Jake Entringer, New Holstein
Jeremiah Erdmann, Oakfield
Aaron Fenner, Hustisford
Derek Fritsch, Kiel
Nico Fulsom, Antigo
Max Gierszewski, Aquinas
Cory Giesseman, Sturgeon Bay
Joseph Glynn, Hartford
Caleb Goff, Beloit Memorial
Melvin Gordon, Kenosha Bradford
Jordan Gottman, Big Foot
Isaiah Gray, Oshkosh North
Miles Groeschel, Fond du Lac
Casey Haase, Weyauwega-Fremont
Joe Hauser, Clintonville
Jamie Hofer, Middleton
Steve Hoffman, DeForest
Bradley Huempfner, Chippewa Falls
Donald Jackson, St. John's NW Military Academy
David Jones, Marshall
Brian Kampstra, Randolph
Pete Karczewski, Catholic Memorial
Kevin Kowalkowski, Northern Elite
Trevor Landon, Lancaster
Collin Laursen, Mondovi
Logan Lauters, Cedarburg
Shawn Lenius, Poynette
Matt Lennon, Reedsburg
Dylan Loerscher, Colby
Kevin MacCudden, Waukesha West
Nick Martinez, Markesan
Riley Mattice, Shoreland Lutheran
Joey Mayefski, Winneconne
Connor McCullough, Brookfield Central
Ryan McDonald, Verona
Jesse McKune, Elmwood
Dustin Moore, Alma Center Lincoln
Cody Nelson, Peshtigo
Weston Nemitz, River Ridge
Brady Nold, Oconomowoc
Derek Olesiak, Birchwood
Jake Perner, Black River Falls
Devin Peterson, Iola-Scandinavia
Tony Peterson, Frederic
T.J. Polkoski, Northwestern
Hayden Potts, Plymouth
Joe Poulin, Saint Croix Central
Luke Pryzbylka, Muskego
Justin Przeracki, West Allis Hale
Nick Radlinger, River Valley
Manny Ramirez, Cambria-Friesland
Jordan Ratliffe, Milwaukee Vincent
Justin Rhenlund, Hurley
Curtis Rich, Lakeland
Joe Ritchay, Wisconsin Rapids
Nick Romani, Whitewater
Cody Rosemeyer, Gilman
Eric Schultz, Appleton East
Ryan Schwanebeck, Pittsville
Aunie Seifert, Saint Croix Falls
Jorie Skrzypchak, Edgar
Chris Smith, Brown Deer
Danny Strause, Rio
Landon Strilzuk, Luck
Colton Sweitzer, Arrowhead
Cody Taber, Janesville Parker
Michael Terry, Milwaukee South
Cody Thede, New Holstein
Dylan Thill, Turtle Lake
Dylan Tully, De Soto
Matt Vogel, Jefferson
Steve Vogl, New Berlin West
Tyler Wagner, Wauzeka-Steuben
Eric Walczak, Somerset
Derek Watt, Pewaukee
Lance Wendt, Wild Rose
Ledell White, Milwaukee Riverside
Alex Wolf, Mondovi
Alex Yacko, Wisconsin Dells
Trevor York, Badger
Pre-season watch lists are compiled from all-conference teams, stats leaders, film evaluations, WSN Player Rankings, and coach input. Players do not have to be on the pre-season list to be considered for the semi-final or finals list.
Tag(s): News Travis Wilson Senior FB Awards
