The 2026 Illinois high school football season just wrapped up the regular-season with plenty of Peoria-area players having put together a great nine-game stretch.
Now is your chance to let us know which player was the most valuable during the regular-season. So, who will it be?
Here are 13 Peoria-area regular-season MVP candidates during the 2026 campaign, listed in alphabetical order. Information about each candidate is below. Vote from now until noon Friday, Oct. 23 at pjstar.com.
This vote has no bearing on who will be selected as the Journal Star Player of the Year or will make the annual All-Area team, which are scheduled to be announced after the season.
2026 Fans' Choice for Peoria-area football regular season MVP
Owen Adams, El Paso-Gridley
- MVP moment: The 6-foot-2, 180-pound all-state senior quarterback completed 71.4% (10-for-14) of his passes for 229 yards and found four different receivers for touchdowns in a 43-0 win over Colfax Ridgeview/Lexington in Week 3.
Myles Alger, Elmwood/Brimfield
- MVP moment: The 5-foot-9, 190-pound running back sliced through the Hamilton West Hancock defense for 349 yards and four TDs on 9.2 yards per carry in a 62-40 win in Week 8.
Dylan Anderson, Pekin
- MVP moment: The 6-foot, 170-pound senior wide receiver recorded 141 total yards (84 rushing, 57 receiving) with two TDs, along with six tackles, an interception and forced a fumble in a 34-7 victory against East Peoria in Week 3.
Deshaun Anderson-Davis, Peoria High
- MVP moment: The 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior running back had 314 yards from scrimmage, rushing for 267 yards and four TDs to go with a 47-yard receiving score in a 60-22 win over Champaign Centennial in Week 5.
Eli Carder, Richwoods
- MVP moment: The 6-foot, 160-pound junior quarterback had 412 all-purpose yards and six total TDs — four passing TDs and two rushing scores — in a 56-50 nonconference loss to Marion in Week 6.
Riley Fogleson, South Fulton
- MVP moment: The 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior running back scored five TDs, while rushing for 339 yards on 13.6 yards per carry in a 45-40 win over Warsaw West Hancock in Week 2.
Brody Fritz, Morton
- MVP moment: The 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior quarterback passed for 208 yards and three TDs in helping end Washington's 27-game Mid-Illini Conference win streak with a 56-30 victory in Week 4.
Dallas Harder, Peoria Notre Dame
- MVP moment: The 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior running back rushed for 188 yards and four TDs — three scores and 137 yards coming in the first quarter — in a 55-7 win over Richwoods in Week 2.
Troy Keever, Tremont
- MVP moment: The 6-foot, 160-pound senior fullback produced five TDs – four rushing (1, 79, 64 and 67 yards), a 40-yard fumble return for a TD and kicked five extra points – while rushing for 254 yards in a 47-28 win over Seneca in Week 4.
Rafael "RJ" Jackson, East Peoria
- MVP moment: The 5-foot-8, 200-pound senior running back rolled up 269 yards and five TDs on 24 carries, averaging 11.2 yards a touch to become the program's all-time leading rusher in a 55-30 win over Springfield Southeast in Week 1.
Carson Noy, Farmington
- MVP moment: The 6-foot-5, 190-pound sophomore quarterback put together an incredible 399 total yards (369 passing, 30 rushing) and six TDs — three passing, three rushing — despite a 62-60 overtime loss to Illini West in Week 7.
Jayden Schmick, Dunlap
- MVP moment: The 5-foot-7, 185-pound senior running back rushed for 93 yards on 21 carries with a 34-yard TD in a 30-26 victory over Metamora in Week 3.
Jeeter Schweigert, Metamora
- MVP moment: The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior quarterback threw for a school-record effort with 457 yards and five TDs to beat Washington 41-7 for the first time since spring 2021 in Week 7.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Who is the 2026 Peoria Journal Star high school football regular season MVP? Cast your vote