Who are the top high
school football players heading into the 2025 season? This is the latest
article in a series cataloging the top prep players in the Great Lakes
Region. Athletes from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York,
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are eligible for recognition.
All players mentioned are also eligible to make @EFrantMP’s Annual Preseason All-Great Lakes Football Teams, which will be released in August.
Here's a look at last year’s 2024 All-Great Lakes squads:
offense/
defense.
2025 Great Lakes Region Names to Know: Defensive Backs
*
Ace Alston,
Anderson (Cincinnati, Ohio), 5-11, 165, jr.
*
Da`ron Barksdale,
Steel Valley (Munhall, Pa.), 5-10, 175, sr.
*
Colton Benaitis,
Lockport (Ill.), 6-1, 185, sr. (Central Michigan)
*
Kindall Brown,
Maple Heights (Ohio), 5-10, 170, sr. (Ohio)
*
Demari Clemons,
Washington (Massillon, Ohio), 5-9, 155, sr.
*
Gabriel Davis-Ray,
Columbus Academy (Gahanna, Ohio), 6-3, 185, sr. (Northwestern)
*
Brayden Dozier,
Maple Grove (Minn.), 5-11, 170, sr. (North Dakota State)
*
Kaleb Elkins,
Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.), 6-3, 185, jr.
*
Carsen Eloms,
Fishers (Ind.), 6-0, 175, sr. (Wisconsin)
*
Kaden Gebhardt,
Olentangy (Lewis Center, Ohio), 6-2, 200, sr. (Clemson)
*
Gerald Green Jr.,
Moore Catholic (Staten Island, N.Y.), 6-1, 175, sr. (Boston College)
*
Nick Hankins Jr.,
Belleville West (Ill.), 6-0, 190, sr. (Illinois)
*
Tavares Harrington,
Chicago Mt. Carmel (Ill.), 6-3, 175, jr.
*
Elbert Hill,
Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio), 5-10, 175, sr. (USC)
*
Ronnie Hill,
Sterling Heights Stevenson (Mich.), 6-1, 183, sr. (Iowa)
*
Simaj Hill,
St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.), 6-1, 180, sr. (West Virginia)
*
RJ Holland,
Pickerington Central (Ohio), 6-2, 175, sr.
*
Gabriel Jenkins,
Imani Christian Academy (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 6-1, 187, jr.
*
Rihyael Kelley,
Winton Woods (Cincinnati, Ohio), 6-3, 180, sr. (Rutgers)
*
Deacon King,
Westfield (Ind.), 6-1, 197, sr.
*
Jordan Lampkins,
Bolingbrook (Ill.), 6-0, 180, sr. (Minnesota)
*
Lennox Lemon, Washington (Massillon, Ohio), 6-1, 176, sr. (Kent State)
*
Brandon Lockley Jr., St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.), 6-2, 216, jr.
*
Amar'e Miller,
Pickerington North (Ohio), 6-0.5, 175, sr.
*
Ryan Miller, Pickerington North (Ohio), 6-2, 190, sr. (Ohio)
*
Traverse Moore,
DeWitt (Mich.), 6-0, 175, sr. (Central Michigan)
*
Isaac Nelson,
Carmel (Ind.), 6-2, 200, sr.
*
Chris Newell Jr.,
Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio), 5-10, 180, sr. (Buffalo)
*
Joey O'Brien,
La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.), 6-3, 185, sr.
*
Isaac Patterson,
Westerville South (Ohio), 6-0, 185, sr. (Pitt)
*
Henry Perrymond,
Cleveland Heights (Ohio), 5-11, 167, sr.
*
Robert Reddick,
Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.), 6-2, 170, sr. (Kansas)
*
Kyshawn Robinson,
Westinghouse (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 5-9, 160, sr.
*
Kobe Russell,
Prescott (Wis.), 6-1, 189, sr. (North Dakota State)
*
Matt Sieg,
Fort Cherry (McDonald, Pa.), 5-11.5, 190, sr. (Penn State)
*
Victor Singleton,
Central Catholic (Toledo, Ohio), 5-11, 160, sr. (Texas A&M)
*
Emoni Smith,
Westland (Galloway, Ohio), 6-1, 175, sr. (Purdue)
*
Martece Smith,
Hammond Morton (Ind.), 6-1, 165, sr. (Toledo)
*
Vincent Smith,
Sandburg (Orland Park, Ill.), 6-2, 200, sr. (Northern Illinois)
*
Tommy Thies,
Fenwick (Oak Park, Ill.), 6-0, 195, sr. (Miami, Ohio)
*
Brayden Thomas,
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), 6-1, 175, sr. (Michigan State)
*
Messiah Tilson,
Guilford (Rockford, Ill.), 6-2, 165, sr. (Kentucky)
*
Jay Timmons,
Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.), 5-11, 185, sr. (Indiana)
*
Jordan Vann,
Middletown (Ohio), 6-1, 195, sr. (Michigan State)
*
Jakob Weatherspoon,
Avon (Ohio), 5-10, 172, sr. (Ohio State)
*
Omar Williams Jr.,
Lafayette Jefferson (Ind.), 6-3, 170, sr. (Northern Illinois)
*
Jaidon Windom,
King (Detroit, Mich.), 6-1, 170, sr. (Cincinnati)
