Carroll County Times 2023 All-County football: Westminster’s Casey Heisig completes journey from backup to Defensive Player of the Year

Coming into this season, Westminster’s Casey Heisig knew the shoes he had to fill following the graduation of Andy Schneider, the Carroll County Times 2022 Defensive Player of the Year.

Determined to uphold a standard, Heisig went to work, training in the offseason and developing into the best version of himself in time to lead the Owls defense.

“Andy was such a good mentor for me and I knew it was going to be tough to fill his shoes,” Heisig said. “I had my coaches, family and teammates behind me and that’s what fueled me from that first workout in the weight room.”

On a unit filled with talent, it was the linebacker at the center of it all, leading the county with 100 tackles with 18 tackles for loss. With Heisig, the Owls defense allowed just 16.5 points per game en route to an undefeated run through the county and the outright championship.

For his efforts, Casey Heisig has been named the 2023 Carroll County Times Defensive Player of the Year.

“To go from a guy that was a backup last year to now the Defensive Player of the Year in our county, that doesn’t happen without tremendous work ethic,” Westminster coach Chris Bassler said.

While many around the county were painfully introduced to the former backup after he dominated with a double-digit tackle performance, the senior made sure is presence was felt early and often in the Westminster locker room from Day 1 of offseason workouts.

“I knew coming in that we would have a leadership role that needed to be filled with all the graduating players,” he said. “I wanted to step up and lead the way for us this year.”

With the defense under Heisig’s command this season, many Owls saw themselves playing some of their best football. Armed with Jah Donald on the defensive line and Rakim Warfield on the back end, the unit proved to be among the county’s elite thanks to the man in the middle.

“He was the heart and soul of our defense,” Bassler said. “A lot of the success from our guys came because they followed his lead and matched the effort and intensity he brought to the table every day.”

Heisig knew that excelling not only individually, but as the defense’s quarterback was crucial if the Owls were going to have any success.

“We play a very assignment-based defense,” he said. “My job was to get everyone in the right spots and then go out there and execute. I had to know the ins and outs our system and make sure guys knew what they were doing.”

Heisig looks at his senior year fondly, not just because of the accomplishments of winning a county championship and Defensive Player of the Year, but because of the impact he was able to have on the Westminster football program.

“This was the best season I’ve ever had in my 12 years playing football,” he said. “This award is a great way to end it.”

All-County first team defense

Jacob Dell, Francis Scott Key, senior, defensive line

Dell finished with 10 tackles for loss and forced three fumbles for the Eagles.

Jah’Sir Donald, Westminster, senior, defensive line

Donald finished with 10 sacks for the county champion Owls.

James Graham, South Carroll, junior, defensive line

Graham finished the season with 71 tackles and five sacks for the Cavaliers.

Anthony Hesselbein, Manchester Valley, senior, defensive line

Hesselbein finished with six sacks for the Mavericks.

Victor Tejada, Winters Mill, sophomore, defensive line

Tejada burst on the scene this year, finishing with nine sacks for the Falcons.

Nico Baez, Winters Mill, senior, linebacker

Baez was the leading tackler for the Falcons, finishing with 68 tackles.

Trey Helmick, Century, senior, linebacker

Helmick was a force on defense for the Knights this season, often stepping up and make critical stops and leading the unit through times of adversity.

Kevin Kern, Liberty, senior, linebacker

Kern finished with 60 tackles for the Lions.

Jack Leannarda, Francis Scott Key, junior, linebacker

The Eagle junior finished as one of the top tacklers for the team with 73.

Nick LePreato, senior, Manchester Valley, linebacker

LePreato finished with 66 tackles and three sacks for the Mavericks.

Nico Mariscano, Liberty, senior, linebacker

Marsicano finished with 79 tackles and two sacks for the Lions.

Kameron Reid, Manchester Valley, senior, linebacker

Reid finished with 60 tackles, also added two sacks.

Jackson Shekore, South Carroll, senior, linebacker

Finished with 84 tackles and two interceptions.

Cooper Whitcomb, Westminster, junior, linebacker

Finished with 16 tackles for loss and five sacks for the Owls.

Tyler Carroll, Winters Mill, senior, defensive back

Carroll finished the season with 32 tackles and two interceptions.

Ben Stevens, Francis Scott Key, senior, defensive back

Stevens finished with 79 tackles and six interceptions for the Eagles. Also scored a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown this year.

Rahkim Warfield, Westminster, junior, defensive back

Teams shied away from Warfield in crucial moments of the game. When they didn’t, the junior burned them for four interceptions and 12 pass breakups.

Kamdyn Koch, Winters Mill, senior, punter

The University of Nebraska signee averaged 33.5 yards per punt.