2016 MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio high school football Division I preseason state poll

Video: Amir Riep Ultimate Highlights


1. Colerain (Cincinnati) – 12-2, state semifinalist, Region 2 finalist
Many believe the Cardinals are the No. 1 team in Ohio - again. It's hard to argue they're not. Colerain returns seven first team all-GMC players and a defense that could rival the best Ohio's ever produced. Senior defensive back and Ohio State commit Amir Riep (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) headlines a senior-laden secondary that is ridiculously talented and also includes Keontae Jones (6-1 175) and Darrian Beavers (6-2, 210). Jones has 17 offers including Wisconsin, Iowa, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Louisville. Beavers has been offered by Ball State and Miami (Ohio). The linebacking corps includes senior Kyle Bolden (6-1, 212) and junior Dan Bolden (6-1, 218). Kyle Bolden holds offers from Illinois, Indiana and Cincinnati among others. Dan Bolden has been offered by Iowa State. Senior defensive lineman Howard Watkins (6-5, 280) holds 11 offers, including Illinois, Indiana, Louisville, East Carolina and Rutgers. The offense will be led by senior running back and three-year starter Monalo Caldwell (5-9, 210) who ran for 1,343 yards and 18 touchdowns last year.

2. Wayne (Huber Heights) – 14-1, state runner-up, Region 2 champion
The Warriors made the playoffs for the 13th time in 17 years and advanced to their fourth state championship game – and second-straight – where they fell to St. Edward again. Wayne lost the 2010 and 2014 state championship games to St. Edward as well. It dropped the 1999 state final to St. Ignatius. There's plenty of expectation and optimism surrounding this year's team – again. The Warriors return six first team all-GWOC Central players, including one of the country's top underclass prospects in junior receiver L’Christian 'Blue' Smith (6-foot-5, 205 pounds), who caught 54 passes for 1,311 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. Smith holds multiple offers including Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Michigan State. Senior receiver Matthew Wilcox Jr. (5-10, 185) has committed to Bowling Green. He scored 15 total touchdowns and led the team in receiving with 58 receptions (for 753 yards) last season. The offensive line is anchored by seniors Ben Jackson (6-2, 260) and Sean Martin (6-4, 320). The ground game is stacked. Senior running back Frederick Pitts V (5-9, 200) ran for team-high 867 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. He'll be joined in the backfield by a pair of transfers. Senior running back Josh Wills (5-11, 205) arrives from Bethel, where he ran for 2,231 yards and 31 touchdowns in two years. Senior running back Ray James (5-10, 180) arrives from Xenia, where he ran for 735 yards and scored nine total touchdowns last year. The defense will be strong up front. Junior defensive end Alex Reigelsperger (6-4, 235) holds seven offers, including Iowa, Kentucky, Pitt, Purdue and Rutgers. He had 60 tackles and 9.5 sacks as a sophomore. Senior defensive lineman Mazon Walker (6-0, 280) had 80 tackles and nine sacks last season. Head coach Jay Minton is 216-74 in 18 years.

3. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) – 5-5
After going 36-8 with two D-I state titles from 2012-2014, the Crusaders stumbled last season. Expect a rebound. Moeller may field the best lines in the state this season. The offensive front will feature seniors Jacob Gall (6-3, 290) and Samari Saddler (6-2, 285) and sophomore Zach Carpenter (6-3, 270). Senior running back Hunter Hughes (5-11, 195 with 743 yards rushing and three touchdowns) and junior running back Colin Thurman (5-10, 190 with 392 yards and a touchdown) were the team's top two rushers last season. Senior tight end Matt Dotson (6-5, 235 with 191 yards receiving and two touchdowns) has committed to Michigan State. The defense must replace its top 10 tacklers but does return a pair of standout linemen in junior Aeneas Hawkins (6-3, 265) and senior Jeremy Meiser (6-3, 260). Meiser is committed to Old Dominion, while Hawkins has offers from Florida State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Florida and Tennessee among others.

4. Pickerington Central – 8-3, Region 2 first round
The Tigers have won the OCC Ohio Division title 11 of the last 13 years and have been in the playoffs 12 of those seasons. Expect similar results. Pick Central is loaded. Senior quarterback Darius Coker (6-3, 215) holds offers from Ohio Dominican and Robert Morris, while senior running back Garon Howard (6-1, 215) holds an offer from Ohio Dominican. Junior athlete Xavier Henderson (6-1, 185) holds 11 offers including Michigan State, Mississippi and Kentucky. Junior tight end Trenton Gillison (6-5, 220) holds 14 offers including Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Pitt and Tennessee. The defense is led by senior defensive back Morgan Ellison (6-1, 221), who has offers from Ohio, Miami (Ohio), Toledo and Youngstown State. Head coach Jay Sharrett is 128-28 in 13 years.

5. Mentor – 8-4, Region 1 quarterfinalist
The Cardinals return one of the state's top underclass quarterback prospects in junior Tadas Tatarunas (6-4, 200), who threw for 2,963 yards and 24 touchdowns last year. Defensively Mentor returns a ton of talent, including senior defensive back Michael Ballentine (6-0, 178 with 114 tackles) and senior linebacker Ryan Bischof (6-2, 220 with 164 tackles).

6. St. Xavier (Cincinnati) – 7-5, Region 2 quarterfinalist
The Bombers have been to the postseason seven times in a row. Senior quarterback and Penn State commit Sean Clifford (6-3, 210) threw for 1,746 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Has accounted for 29 career touchdowns. Up front senior offensive lineman Matt Bockhorst (6-4, 295) has committed to Clemson. Junior athlete Pete Rumpke (6-2, 170) ran for six touchdowns last year. Senior Louie Raines (5-11, 165) was the team's second-leading receiver last year (with 383 yards receiving and two touchdowns). The defense must replace its top six tacklers.

7. St. Edward (Lakewood) – 14-1, D-I state champion, Region 1 champion
The Eagles matched expectations last season and captured the program's third state title and second straight. Graduation hit hard. Senior defensive back Melvin Jackson (5-11, 165) holds an offer from Toledo after 65 tackles last year. Junior kicker Mason Lawler (6-3, 187) is a good one. Senior defensive end Justin Herold (6-1, 255 with 82 tackles) is one to watch.

8. Hilliard Davidson (Hilliard) – 11-2, Region 2 semifinalist
The Wildcats returned to the postseason for the eighth-straight season and for the 14th time in 16 years. Head coach Brian White (168-43 in 17 years) and company will lean on senior running back Ryan Royer (5-11, 195), who ran for 1,514 yards and 20 touchdowns last year. He holds an offer from Davidson.

9. Olentangy Liberty (Powell) – 7-4, Region 1 first round
The Patriots, riding back-to-back playoff appearances, could make a statement this season. Senior defensive back Brendon White (6-2, 196) is committed to Ohio State, while senior tight end Drew Rosi (6-4, 230) is headed to Toledo. Linebacker Ed Warinner (6-2, 222) is one of the state's top junior prospects. He has nine offers including Rutgers and Colorado State. Junior receiver Johnny Wiseman (5-10, 170) and senior defensive back Will Fowler (6-0, 175) were all-Central District.

10. Whitmer (Toledo) – 9-3, Region 1 quarterfinalist
The Panthers have been the Northwest Ohio playoff pacesetter recently, with nine Division I appearances in 10 years. Defense will be a strong suit with the return of senior lineman Kyle Walsh (6-1, 205), senior linebacker Luke Walling (6-1, 201) and junior defensive back Sam Stickels (5-9, 170). All three were first team all-Northwest District last year.

Keep an Eye On * Springboro – 9-3, Region 2 quarterfinalist
The Panthers keep rolling. Boro is 36-8 the last four years with four D-I playoff berths. Head coach Ryan Wilhite (72-33) and company will lean on a strong ground game powered by senior running back Liam Foley (5-10, 195) and junior Dylan Jones (6-2, 200). Foley ran for 674 yards and six touchdowns last year, while Jones ran for 883 and 13, respectively. Boro's most explosive player is senior receiver and Toledo commit Nick Kovacs (6-2, 195), who caught 78 passes for 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns last year. Senior linebacker Ethen Miller (5-9, 190) led the team in tackles with 70.

* Hilliard Bradley – 7-3
The Jaguars appear on the cusp. Senior quarterback Will Phillis (6-4, 225) returns after throwing for 2,009 yards and 19 touchdowns en route to earning all-OCC honors. Junior receiver Kory Taylor (6-5, 195) is one of the state's top underclass prospects. He holds multiple offers, including Boston College, Rutgers, Kentucky, Marshall and Iowa State. Senior running back Robbie Hyrmer (5-11, 195) ran for 823 yards and five touchdowns last year. The lines are anchored by seniors Brendan Bordner (6-5, 240) and Nick Dewolf (6-3, 270). Bordner, who had 47 tackles and 19 tackles for loss last year, holds 29 offers, including West Virginia, Vanderbilt, Syracuse and Boston College. DeWolf, who has 71 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss in two years, holds offers from Air Force and Youngstown State.

* Solon – 9-3, Region 1 quarterfinalist
The Comets made the playoffs for the 15th time in 17 years last season. Expect another postseason berth. Senior offensive lineman Chris Glaser Jr. (6-4, 270) has committed to Miami (Ohio). He chose the Redhawks over Virginia, Syracuse, Cincinnati and Iowa State. Other key returning seniors include defensive back Darryl Sinclair (5-10, 165 with an offer from Bowling Green), receiver Jake McCurry (6-0, 180), quarterback Joe Bubonics (5-9, 160), running back Melvin Jackson (5-10, 175) and offensive lineman Nate Westrich (5-11, 250). McCurry set single-season school records for receptions (60) and receiving yards (930) last year and had 11 touchdowns. Sinclair doubles as a receiver and had 1,000-plus all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns. Head coach Jim McQuiade is 110-40 in 13 years at Solon and 186-102 in 27 years overall.

* Stow-Munroe Falls (Stow) – 13-1, state semifinalist, Region 1 finalist
The Bulldogs have reached 10 wins two times in the last three years and were in the Final Four last season. Expect another solid run. Senior quarterback and Buffalo commit Kyle Vantrease (6-3, 233) has thrown for 3,435 yards and accounted for 44 touchdowns in two years. Senior offensive lineman Michael Miranda (6-4, 285) is committed to Penn State.

* Westerville South – 4-6
The Wildcats have some impressive talent. Senior linebacker Christian Nkansah-Wiafe (5-11, 195) holds offers from Illinois, Cincinnati, Bowling Green and Toledo. Senior defensive back Dominique Long (6-1, 175) has committed to Michigan State. Junior athlete Jaelen Gill (6-1, 180) holds 21 offers (including Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, UCLA and Penn State) and is considered the No. 1 junior prospect in Ohio by 247sports.com.

* McKinley (Canton) – 7-4, Region 1 first round
After going 3-7 in 2014, the Bulldogs earned the program's 23rd playoff berth in last year. Senior quarterback Dominique Robinson (6-3, 215) is committed to Miami (Ohio). Senior defensive back Kadeem Trotter (6-3, 196) is committed to Syracuse. Senior defensive lineman Reggie Corner (6-0, 233) is headed to Akron. He had 56 tackles and eight tackles for loss last year.

* Elyria – 6-5, Region 1 first round
The Pioneers have reached the playoffs three years running. Expect that string to reach four. Senior running back Chris Atkinson (6-1, 205) is searching for his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season. He has 2,423 yards and 32 touchdowns in two years. Junior quarterback Donte Beckett (5-11, 170) threw for 864 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 617 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Defensively the Pioneers return three seniors – defensive back Brendon Price (5-10, 185), linebacker J.T. Brown (5-11, 195) and defensive end Malique King (6-3, 230) – that logged over 100 tackles each as juniors.

* Lakota West (West Chester) – 7-3
The Firebirds finished just outside the playoffs last year (17th in computer points). Expect a return to the postseason. Senior running back Zelwyn Robinson (5-7, 180) is back after rushing for 607 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. He also led the team with 30 receptions for 408 yards and three touchdowns. Senior quarterback Tony White III (6-3, 200) returns after throwing for 1,003 yards and three touchdowns. The defense features a standout senior at each level in lineman David Gunny Walcott (6-1, 225), linebacker Alssan Ramsby (5-11, 205) and defensive back Marcos Aull (6-1, 185 with five interceptions).

* St. Ignatius (Cleveland) – 5-4
The Wildcats and legendary coach Chuck Kyle (entering his 34th season) are coming off a rare season with no postseason berth. Key returning seniors include receiver James Leyden (6-2, 225 with an offer from Youngstown State), offensive lineman John Spellacy (6-1, 285 committed to East Carolina) and kicker Colin Goodfellow (6-2, 190).