Drew Allar, Gabe Powers, C.J. Hicks, Blake Miller and Kaden Saunders headline the Buckeye State's top prep players.
Reinforcing
that the Buckeye State is one of the country's most fertile for prep
football, the 2021 MaxPreps Preseason Ohio All-State Football Team contains some
of the country's top high school prospects and players. This lineup is loaded with nationally acclaimed recruits and returning all-state honorees.
The offensive line, tight ends, linebackers and defensive backs are exceptionally strong.
St. Francis DeSales (Columbus) senior linebacker Jonathan Thompson.
Photo by Jeff Harwell/Graphics by Ryan Escobar
QB: Drew Allar, Medina | 6-4.5 | 228 | Sr.Penn State commit is a Top 150 prospect nationally according to 247sports. Was second team Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association (OPSWA)
Division I All-Ohio last year after throwing for 2,857 yards and 26 touchdowns.
QB: Te'Sean Smoot, Springfield | 6-0 | 170 | Sr.First team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio last year after leading the Wildcats to the state semifinals (lost 12-10 to eventual champion St. Xavier). Threw for 2,269 yards and 24 TDs and ran for 603 yards and nine TDs in 10 games. Uncommitted prospect holds 19 offers including Kentucky, Marshall, Army, Navy, Air Force and several Mid-American Conference schools.
RB: Stephan Byrd, Canal Winchester | 6-0 | 195 | Sr.Cincinnati commit is a Top 40 running back prospect nationally. First team OPSWA
D-II All-Ohio last year after accounting for 1,863 all-purpose yards (1,363 rushing) and 23 TDs.
WR: Kaden Saunders, Westerville South | 5-10 | 172 | Sr.Penn State commit is a Top 100 overall and Top 10 receiver prospect nationally. Picked the Nittany Lions over Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Oregon among others. First team OPSWA
D-II All-Ohio and second team
MaxPreps All-State last year when he caught 45 passes for 946 yards and scored 15 total TDs in eight games.
TE: Brody Foley, Anderson (Cincinnati) | 6-5.5 | 236 | Sr.Tennessee commit is a Top 25 tight end nationally and one of the state’s top 15 overall prospects. Second team OPSWA
D-II All-Ohio last year at defensive line. Caught 25 passes for 233 yards and a TD last season.
OL: Aamil Wagner, Wayne (Huber Heights) | 6-4.5 | 228 | Sr.Top 125 prospect nationally and state’s No. 4 overall is uncommitted. Ohio State considered the favorite. Holds 30 offers, including Notre Dame, Penn State, Stanford, Maryland and Kentucky. First team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio and second team
MaxPreps All-State last year.
OL: Blake Miller, Strongsville | 6-6 | 315 | Sr.Dominant run blocker did not allow a sack last season. Clemson commit is a Top 20 tackle prospect nationally.
OL: Ryan Baer, North (Eastlake) | 6-7 | 320 | Sr.First team OPSWA
D-II All-Ohio and second team
MaxPreps All-State last year after not allowing a sack. Top 40 tackle prospect nationally is uncommitted. Holds 28 offers. Favorites include Michigan State, Kentucky, Illinois, Virginia and Cincinnati.
AP: Drew Ramsey, Elder (Cincinnati) | 6-1 | 200 | Sr.Second team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio and
MaxPreps All-State selection carried the ball 129 times for 721 yards and 14 TDs and had 55 receptions for 762 yards and eight TDs last season. Was also named GCL South Tri-Player of the Year. Has accounted for 34 career touchdown, 1,395 career receiving yards and 1,040 career rushing yards.
K: Owen Wiley, Avon Lake | 5-11 | 165 | Sr.Third team OPSWA
D-II All-Ohio last year after connecting on 14-of-17 field goals (long of 44). Also went 39-of-39 in PATs.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Brogan McCaughey, St. Xavier (Cincinnati) | 6-1 | 185 | Sr.First team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio last year after throwing for 2,708 yards and 28 TDs. Uncommitted. Holds 11 offers (Ohio, Bowling Green, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), Akron, Eastern Michigan, Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, Youngstown State, Yale and Penn).
QB: Mekhi Lynn, Princeton (Cincinnati) | 6-2 | 180 | Sr.Buffalo commit picked the Bulls over Indiana, Cincinnati, Toledo, Ball State and Miami (Ohio). Third team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio last year after throwing for 1,429 yards and 17 TDs and rushing for 358 yards and six TDs in eight games.
RB: Gi’Bran Payne, La Salle (Cincinnati) | 6-0 | 170 | Sr.Limited to 43 carries (235 yards and five TDs) last year. One of the state’s Top 10 overall prospects and a Top 25 running back recruit nationally. Indiana commit also holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Northwestern and Penn State.
RB: Kaleb Johnson, Hamilton | 6-1 | 215 | Sr.California commit and Top 40 running back prospect nationally ran for 786 yards and eight TDs on 114 carries last year (10 games). Picked the Golden Bears over Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Pitt, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Iowa State.
WR: Anthony Brown, Springfield | 5-10 | 170 | Jr.Third team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio last year after catching 40 passes for 829 yards and nine TDs in 10 games. One of the state’s Top 10 junior prospects. Uncommitted. Holds 19 offers, including Wisconsin, West Virginia, Tennessee, Purdue, Pitt, Penn State, Minnesota, Maryland, Cincinnati and Kentucky.
TE: Elijah Brown, Wayne (Huber Heights) | 6-5 | 230 | Sr.
Alabama commit is a Top 15 tight end prospect nationally. Caught 20 passes for 278 yards and a TD last season.
OL: Gavin Rohrs, Marysville | 6-4 | 310 | Sr.One of the state’s Top 65 overall prospects. Second team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio last year. Holds offers from Akron, Ball State, Liberty, Dartmouth and Penn.
OL: Maurice Hamilton, Cleveland Heights | 6-4 | 345 | Sr.West Virginia commit is a Top 35 interior lineman nationally and Top 20 overall Ohio prospect. Purdue, Iowa State and Toledo among his eight offers.
AP: Charlie Kenrich, Lakota East (Liberty Township) | 6-4 | 220 | Sr.Purdue commit plays slot back but looks to play tight end in college. Caught 13 passes for 290 yards and two TDs and carried the ball 33 times for 245 yards and a TD in eight games last year.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Brenan Vernon, Mentor | 6-5 | 245 | Jr.Ohio’s No. 2
overall junior prospect and a Top 10 defensive line recruit nationally.
Holds 13 offers, including Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, Penn State,
Tennessee and West Virginia. Committed to Notre Dame.
DL: Luke Montgomery, Findlay | 6-5 | 260 | Jr.State’s No. 3 overall junior prospect and a Top 5 offensive line recruit nationally. Second team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio on defense last season. Holds 32 offers, including Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, Michigan, Penn State and Notre Dame.
DL: Trey Bixby, St. Edward (Lakewood) | 6-5 | 235 | Sr.Minnesota commit is a Top 45 defensive line prospect nationally and the state’s No. 10 overall player. Also holds offers from Michigan State, Penn State, Arkansas and Cincinnati.
LB: Gabe Powers, Marysville | 6-4 | 230 | Sr.Ohio State commit is the state’s No. 2 overall prospect regardless of position and the country’s No. 3 linebacker prospect. OPSWA D-I Ohio defensive player of the year and first team
MaxPreps All-State last season after making 61 tackles, six TFL, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception in eight games. Also rushed for 594 yards and six TDs.
LB: Jonathan Thompson, St. Francis DeSales (Columbus) | 6-2 | 215 | Sr.Cincinnati commit is one of the state’s Top 40 overall prospects. First team OPSWA
D-III All-Ohio last year. Was the Central District D-III POY after registering 55 tackles, 23.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, five QB hurries, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal. Also ran for 582 yards and six TDs as a running back.
DB: Jyaire Brown, Lakota West (West Chester) | 6-0 | 178 | Sr.
Top 125 prospect overall and Top 20 cornerback recruit has committed to Ohio State. First team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio.
DB: Delian Bradley, Springfield | 6-0 | 180 | Sr.Tone of Ohio’s Top 25 overall prospects. Uncommitted. Holds 24 offers, including Nebraska, Arizona State, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Pittsburgh and Kentucky. First team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio and second team
MaxPreps All-State last year (66 tackles and six interceptions).
DB: Sonny Styles, Pickerington Central | 6-4 | 215 | Jr.Ohio’s top overall and the nation’s top safety prospect in 2023. Holds 22 offers. Notre Dame and Ohio State considered favorites. Honorable mention OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio and first team All-Central District last year.
DB: Delany Wilburn, Groveport-Madison | 6-0 | 185 |Sr.Second team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio last year after returning two of his five interceptions for TDs. Had 44 tackles. One of the state’s Top 50 overall prospects. Holds offer from Colorado.
AP: Alex Afari, Lakota West (West Chester) | 6-2 | 195 | Sr.
Top 40 athlete prospect nationally has committed to Kentucky. First team OPSWA
D-I All-Ohio last year.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Derrick Shepard, Archbishop Alter (Kettering) | 6-3 | 295 | Sr.
Cincinnati commit is a Top 50 defensive line prospect nationally. Picked the Bearcats over Indiana, Florida State, Kentucky, California, Michigan, Northwestern and Michigan State.
DL: Ashton Duncan, Ironton | 6-3.5 | 242 | Sr.Miami (Ohio) commit is one of the state's Top 50 overall prospects. First team D-IV All-Southeast District last year. Doubles as a standout tight end.
DL: Tyler Gillison, Pickerington Central | 6-4 | 240 | Sr.Cincinnati commit is one of the state’s Top 35 overall prospects. Second team D-I All-Central District last year.
LB: Chris Jackson, Central Catholic (Toledo) | 6-3 | 210 | Sr.Second team OPSWA
D-II All-Ohio last year after registering 36 tackles and six interceptions. One of state’s Top 45 overall prospects. Uncommitted. Holds seven offers, including Iowa State, Kentucky and Minnesota.
LB: Trevor Carter, Ironton | 6-2 | 205 | Jr.State’s No. 4 overall junior prospect and a Top 15 linebacker recruit nationally. Holds 16 offers, including Wisconsin, West Virginia, Tennessee, Pitt, Nebraska, Michigan, Michigan State, Kentucky, Cincinnati and Arkansas.
LB: Isaiah Jones, London | 6-2 | 215 | Sr.Indiana commit is one of the state’s Top 30 overall prospects. Second team OPSWA
D-III All-Ohio last year when he had 70 tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles.
DB: Terence Thomas, Boardman (Youngstown) | 5-11 | 185 | Sr.Purdue commit is one of Ohio’s Top 50 overall prospects. Honorable mention OPSWA
D-II All-Ohio last year. Also holds offers from North Carolina State, Boston College, Kentucky and Marshall.
DB: Nathanael Sulka, Chardon | 6-4 | 202 | Sr.First team OPSWA
D-III All-Ohio last year after helping Hilltoppers win the state title. Had 60 tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Added five offensive TDs. One of the state’s Top 55 prospects. Committed to Youngstown State.
DB: Eli Coppess, Pickerington North | 6-1 | 200 | Sr.Miami (Ohio) commit is one of the state’s Top 60 overall prospects. Second team D-I All-Central District last season.
P: Rece Verhoff, Columbus Grove | 5-10 | 160 | Sr.Two-time OPSWA
D-VI All-Ohio selection. Hit 13 fields goals, averaged 39.5 yards per punt and made 53-of-55 PATs last season. Also averaged 54.9 yards per kickoff with 39 touchbacks.
