MaxPreps 2017 Ohio preseason high school football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: L'Christian "Blue" Smith highlights for Wayne High School
See the uncommitted and highly touted receiver prospect in action last season.

1. Pickerington Central
2016 record: 12-2
Head coach: Jay Sharrett

The Tigers have unfinished business after reaching the final four last year and falling 29-27 to eventual state champion St. Xavier. Talent is on overload.

Seniors Trenton Gillison (tight end) and Xavier Henderson (defensive back) have committed to Michigan State. Senior defensive back Jeremiah Wood holds 11 offers including Cincinnati, Rutgers, Kentucky and Iowa State. Senior tight end Alex Morgan has committed to Toledo.



Other key returning seniors include offensive linemen Brody Egan and Trey Madison and defensive back Jalen Mitchell. Junior defensive tackle DeWayne Carter holds six offers, including Tennessee, Indiana and Kentucky. The quarterback? Super sophomore Demeatric Crenshaw (Kentucky offer). It's time. See the MaxPreps Ohio Football Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. St. Xavier (Cincinnati)
2016 record: 10-5
Head coach: Steve Specht

The Bombers became the first team to enter Ohio’s playoffs 5-5 and win a state title (the program’s third overall). They must replace 12 All-Greater Catholic League selections.

Senior quarterback Chase Wolf (1,291 yards and 15 touchdowns) has committed to Wisconsin and takes over full-time under center. He has two outstanding targets in senior receivers Cameron Specht (68 receptions, 655 yards, three touchdowns) and Andrew Wittrock (50 receptions, 569 yards, nine touchdowns).

Senior defensive end Blake Bacevich has committed to Cincinnati. He had 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack and a fumble recovery against St. Ignatius in last year’s state championship.

See the MaxPreps Ohio football playoff brackets



3. Wayne (Huber Heights)
2016 record: 11-1-1
Head Coach: Jay Minton

The Warriors return enough talent to make a third big school state final in four years.

The headliner is senior receiver L'Christian 'Blue' Smith, who holds 14 offers including Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State. Junior quarterback Rashad McKee directs the offense. The defense features senior defensive end Alex Reigelsperger (Kentucky) and senior defensive back Demetrius Ross.

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4. Colerain (Cincinnati)
2016 record: 11-1
Head coach: Tom Bolden

The Cardinals split a pair of overtime games with St. Xavier last season, dropping the postseason meeting 29-23.



The linebacking corps will feature two good ones in senior Dan Bolden and junior Ivan Pace. The offense is loaded. A pair of quarterbacks that earned All-Greater Miami Conference honors last year return in senior Gunnar Leyendecker (10 total touchdowns) and junior Deante Smith (11 total touchdowns). Junior running backs Jarin "JJ" davis and Syncere Jones and senior receiver Ja’von Hicks (Cincinnati) were also All-GMC selections.

See the MaxPreps Ohio football stat leaders

5. La Salle (Cincinnati)
2016 record: 13-2
Head coach: Pat McLaughlin

The Lancers started 2-2 last year and then won 11 straight games and their third-straight state title. Graduation took its toll, but plenty of talent remains.

Senior quarterback Griffin Merritt, senior defensive lineman Zach Rumpke, senior tight end Josh Whyle (Cincinnati) and junior linebacker Brody Ingle were all first team All-Greater Catholic League South Division last season. Merritt was the GCL South’s leading passer with 1,930 yards and 21 touchdowns. A new stable of running backs will be called upon.

McLaughlin takes over as head coach after serving in that capacity at Princeton for three years. He is La Salle's third head coach in four years. The Week 1 meeting with Colerain is big one.

Also see:
Preseason All-Ohio Teams: Small School Offense, Small School Defense
Ohio Preseason Polls: Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV, Division V, Division VI, Division VII