2017 Ohio Mr. Football watchlist

Keedrick Cunningham highlights Fairland High School
Watch the running back and AOW Nominee carry the ball 16 times for 402 yards and four touchdowns and catch three passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in a 46-28 win over rival Chesapeake. 

Three weeks ago we unveiled an initial list of 2017 Mr. Football candidates. This week we supply updates on those players as the playoffs begin.

Whoever the 31st annual winner is, their name will join a long list of Ohio prep legends. Former Ohio Mr. Football winners include Charles Woodson (1994), Maurice Clarett (2001), Mitch Trubisky (2012), Andy Katzenmoyer (1995), Curtis Enis (1993), Bobby Hoying (1990) and Robert Smith (1988-89). The list is legit.

2017 Mr. Football Contenders



* Daniel Bangura, Harvest Prep (Canal Winchester), RB
Senior set multiple Ohio career records – including the career state rushing record – in a 90-7 win over Fairfield Christian. Ran for 355 yards in the contest to become the state’s all-time leading rusher (finished with 9,441 yards). The previous record of 9,426 was set by Hoban’s Tyrell Sutton in 2004. Bangura also scored six first quarter touchdowns to set the state record for career rushing touchdowns with 121. The previous record of 118 was set by Chauncey-Dover’s Hubert Bobo in 1952. Bangura also broke a tie with Bobo for most career touchdowns in state history. He currently has 129. Bangura has 3,192 yards rushing, 42 rushing touchdowns and 46 total touchdowns this season. Since the start of his junior season, Bangura has rushed for 7,320 yards (318 per game) and scored 101 touchdowns (96 rushing) in 23 games. Harvest Prep hosts Hannibal River in the D-VII postseason.

* Ra'veion Hargrove, Trotwood-Madison, RB
Senior and Bowling Green recruit carried the ball 32 times for 213 yards and a touchdown in a 14-7 win over Wayne. Has rushed for 1,680 yards and 24 touchdowns on 141 carries. Averaging 11.9 yards per tote for the undefeated Rams. Has 27 total touchdowns. His career totals in rushing touchdowns (87) and total touchdowns (92) rank 12th and 18th all-time in Ohio history. Has 6,579 career rushing yards. Trotwood-Madison hosts Elida in the D-III playoffs.

* Joey Baughman, Wadsworth, QB
Senior and University of Virginia wrestling commit ran for 245 yards and five touchdowns and completed 22-of-33 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns as the Grizzlies won the Suburban League National Division title outright with a 49-35 win over Hudson. Has thrown for 2,608 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushed for 1,160 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. Has thrown just two interceptions.

* Isaiah Bowser, Sidney, RB
Senior and Northwestern recruit ran for 176 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries in a 40-8 win over Greenville. Has 2,389 yards and 25 touchdowns on 295 carries. Also has three touchdown receptions and two touchdown passes. The Yellow Jackets (9-1) are making their second playoff appearance in history and first since 1989. Play Dayton Belmont in the D-II postseason.

* Zane Ries, Barberton, QB
Senior led Magics to their first ever 10-0 season and first Suburban League American Division title by throwing for 211 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-14 win over Medina Highland. Has completed 133-of-179 passes for 1,944 yards, 28 touchdowns and zero interceptions this season. His 74-career touchdown passes rank 34 all-time in Ohio.

* Jay Volpenhein, Anderson (Cincinnati), QB
Senior ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and completed 6-of-11 passes for 82 yards in a 46-0 win over Walnut Hills. Has thrown for 3,205 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushed for 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. His 76 career touchdown passes ranks 33rd all-time in Ohio. Anderson hosts Troy in the D-II playoffs.



* Godwin Joe, Brush (Lyndhurst), QB
Senior completed 19-of-33 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 73 yards and a touchdown as the Arcs beat Madison 43-23 to clinch an outright Western Reserve Conference. Has thrown for 2,434 yards and 28 TDs and rushed for 693 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Career totals for total yards and touchdowns accounted for are 6,030 and 63, respectively. Brush hosts Hudson in a first round D-II playoff game.

* Mark Waid, Girard, QB
Junior threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 114 yards and a touchdown, but the Indians suffered their first loss of the season 4128 to Liberty.  Has thrown for 2,729 yards and 30 touchdowns and has rushed for 1,015 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. Girard travels to Lakeview for a first round D-IV playoff game. 

* Keagan Armitage, Ashland, QB
Senior completed 22-of-36 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 108 yards on 14 carries as the Arrows fell 34-31 to Wooster. Has completed 159-of-236 passes for 2,470 yards and 25 touchdowns and has rushed for 751 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Ashland travels to Columbus Mifflin for the first round of the D-II playoffs.

* Jornell Manns, Mansfield Senior, RB
Senior and Minnesota commit scored six touchdowns as the Tygers clinched a share of the Ohio Cardinal Conference title with a 54-6 win over rival Mansfield Madison. Manns rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries and caught six passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams. Has scored 35 touchdowns this season four different ways – rushing, receiving, punt return and interception return. Converted wide receiver has over 1,000 career yards rushing and receiving (1,600-plus). Mansfield plays at Bay in the first round of the D-III playoffs.

* Andrew Newsom, Tri-Valley (Dresden), QB
Senior threw for three touchdowns as the Scotties beat Maysville 30-7 to clinch the outright Muskingum Valley League title. Has accounted for 39 touchdowns (24 passing 15 rushing). Has thrown just three interceptions. 

* Tadas Tatarunas, Mentor, QB
Senior completed 10-of-17 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in a 55-6 win over Elyria that clinched an outright Greater Cleveland Conference title. Has thrown for 2,458 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Has also rushed for five touchdowns. Currently has 7,105 career passing yards and 63 touchdown passes. Both tallies rank second in Mentor history behind former Mr. Football winner and current Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Mentor hosts Stow-Munroe Falls in the first round of the D-I playoffs.



* Chase Wolf, St. Xavier (Cincinnati), QB
Senior and Wisconsin recruit completed 19-of-26 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in a 16-14 win over Louisville St. Xavier. Has thrown for 1,839 yards and 20 touchdowns (versus two interceptions) this season. Also has four touchdowns rushing. St. Xavier hosts Fairfield in the first round of the D-I playoffs.

* KJ Price, London, RB
Junior ran for 134 yards and a touchdown in a 22-14 loss to Whitehall-Yearling. Has rushed for 2,363 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. London travels to Wyoming for a first round D-IV playoff game. 

* Kolston Brewster, Perry, QB
Senior improved to 20-0 as a starter in the regular season as the Pirates beat Harvey 68-13. Has thrown for 2,249 yards, 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions this season.

* Jayden Cunningham, University School (Hunting Valley), QB
Senior and Youngstown State recruit completed 10-of-23 passes for 94 yards and ran for 19 yards in a 30-0 loss to Steubenville. Has accounted for 30 touchdowns this season (17 passing, 13 rushing) for the Preppers who open the D-III playoffs at Padua Franciscan.