Amat’s McCutcheon Honored : Prep football: Versatile player named winner of the Glenn Davis Award.

It did not matter whether Daylon McCutcheon was playing on defense, offense or special teams. Whenever he was on the football field, good things usually happened for La Puente Bishop Amat.

The annual task of selecting the top high school player in Southern California was made easy this year by McCutcheon’s exceptional versatility.

As a result, he was presented the Glenn Davis Award earlier this week. The award is given each year by The Times in honor of the 1946 Heisman Trophy winner who attended Army and Bonita High in La Verne. Davis is retired and living in Palm Desert.

Although there were other candidates, including defensive lineman Kory Minor of Bishop Amat and quarterback Kevin Feterik of Los Alamitos, none matched McCutcheon’s credentials.

As a three-year starter, McCutcheon excelled at several positions, including safety, cornerback, kickoff and punt return specialist and wide receiver. When Tom Salter replaced Mark Paredes as coach this season, one of his first acts was moving McCutcheon to running back. The senior responded by rushing for 2,450 yards and 28 touchdowns--school records--despite facing one of the area’s toughest schedules.

McCutcheon, 5 feet 10, 175 pounds, showed his speed last Saturday night in the Southern Section Division I championship against Santa Ana Mater Dei. On his second carry, he broke loose for an 84-yard touchdown run before 26,295 at Anaheim Stadium. Mater Dei won, 28-21, ending Bishop Amat’s perfect season.

“I’ve got a lot of things to feel proud about, but not winning a CIF title certainly hurts,” McCutcheon said. “It makes me feel like I didn’t come up with that big play we needed. As a team leader, it’s my responsibility to make those big plays.”

Although he is not large, his speed and moves have impressed college recruiters. He is visiting Michigan this weekend and has trips planned for USC, Washington, Colorado and Nebraska next month. National signing day is Feb. 8.

McCutcheon, 18, enjoyed running this season but projects himself as a college defensive back.

“To be honest, I like defense better and think my size is better suited to it,” he said. “That’s not to say I’m ruling out running back or wide receiver, but it’s just a preference at this time.”

His father, Lawrence McCutcheon, was a star back for Colorado State and the Rams. Daylon’s parents never married, and he was raised by his mother, Debbie Sterling. Until the last two years, Daylon did not know his famous father. But that has changed.

“My father came to quite a few of my games this season and has offered some great advice,” Daylon said. “Every kid wants to know his father, and this has been a very special relationship for me.”

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Past Winners

A look at past Glenn Davis Award winners and some of their accomplishments: * 1993: Glenn Thompkins, Eisenhower High, QB/DB--Signed with UCLA. Played on special teams in every game as a freshman.

* 1992: Travis Kirschke, Esperanza, DL--Signed with UCLA. Played extensively the last two seasons, starting seven games as a sophomore.

* 1991: Billy Blanton, Mater Dei, QB--Signed with San Diego State. After redshirting his freshman season, Blanton has played extensively the last two seasons. He started five games as a sophomore, passing for 1,586 yards and 15 touchdowns.

* 1990: John Walsh, Carson, QB--Signed with Brigham Young. A two-year starter who has thrown for 8,390 yards and 66 touchdowns. Although he has a year of eligibility remaining, there is speculation he will make himself available for the NFL draft.

* 1989: Kevin Copeland, Dorsey, WR--Considered one of the nation’s top high school recruits, Copeland died of a congenital heart defect during a game against San Pedro his senior season.

* 1988: Derek Brown, Servite, RB--In three years at Nebraska, he rushed for 2,784 yards and 23 touchdowns. Entered the NFL draft a year early and was selected by the Saints in the fourth round in 1993. A spot starter the last two seasons.

* 1987: Russell White, Crespi, RB--Had three productive seasons at Cal, finishing as the school’s leading rusher with 3,495 yards and 40 touchdowns. Drafted by the Rams in the third round in 1993. Cut before the start of this season. Now out of football.