Preseason Ohio All-State high school football team

Video: Ian Kipp Highlights
Watch the Mentor quarterback in action against St. Edward last year.

Ohio’s reputation for being one of the country’s top high school football landscapes is well established and earned.

Entering the 2020 season, only Texas (17), California (15), Florida (14) and Georgia (eight) have more teams ranked in the MaxPreps Preseason Top 100 teams than Ohio. The Buckeye State is represented by No. 36 Pickerington Central, No. 41 Mentor, No. 47 St. Edward (Lakewood), No. 66 La Salle (Cincinnati) and No. 73 Washington (Massillon). 

La Salle, the defending Division II state champion, shares the lead with Dublin Coffman for the number of players selected to the Preseason All-Ohio team. Both schools have four.

Massillon Washington, the D-II state runner-up last year, has three selections. Lakota West (West Chester), Northmont (Clayton), St. Ignatius (Cleveland), Pickerington Central and Archbishop Hoban (Akron) each have two.

In all, 44 schools are represented. First Team Offense

QB — Ian Kipp, Mentor | 6-2 | 195 | Sr.
Named Ohio’s Division I State Co-Offensive Player of the Year last season by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association (OPSWA). Also selected MaxPreps All-Ohio. Has thrown for 3,525 yards and 32 touchdowns and rushed for 1,449 yards and 24 touchdowns in two years. Holds five offers. Top 40 dual threat quarterback prospect nationally.

QB — Brady Lichtenberg, St. John's Jesuit (Toledo) | 6-2 | 190 | Sr.
Cincinnati commit selected the Bearcats over Ohio, Bowling Green, Akron, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Toledo and Western Michigan. Top 40 pro-style quarterback prospect nationally. Two-time OPSWA D-II All-Ohio.

RB — Corey Kiner, Roger Bacon (Cincinnati) | 5-10 | 205 | Sr.
Ohio’s No. 7 overall prospect and the country’s No. 8 running back prospect. Ran for 2,298 yards and 40 touchdowns last season. Holds 20-plus offers, including Louisville, Cincinnati, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State, USC and Wisconsin. Committed to LSU. First team OPSWA D-IV All-Ohio.

RB — Jaylen Anderson, Perry | 5-11 | 212 | Sr.
West Virginia commit is Ohio’s No. 9 overall prospect and the country’s fifth ranked all-purpose back prospect. Ran for 1,086 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 51 passes for 883 yards and 11 touchdowns last season en route to being named first team OPSWA D-IV All-Ohio. Has 2,642 career rushing yards and 34 touchdowns and 1,642 career receiving yards and 29 touchdowns. Choose the Mountaineers over Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pitt, Louisville and Georgia Tech.

WR — Jayden Ballard, Washington (Massillon) | 6-2 | 175 | Sr.
Ohio’s No. 2 overall prospect and the country’s No. 5 receiver prospect. Committed to Ohio State over Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt and Washington State. Caught 68 passes for 1,202 yards and 18 touchdowns last season for OHSAA D-II state runner-up. First team OPSWA D-II and MaxPreps All-Ohio.

WR — Lorenzo Styles, Pickerington Central | 6-1 | 170 | Sr.
Notre Dame recruit is Ohio’s No. 5 overall prospect and the country’s No. 19 receiver prospect. Holds 18 offers. Picked the Fighting Irish over Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, Auburn, Florida and Pitt. First team OPSWA D-I All-Ohio.

TE — Jack Pugh, Hilliard Bradley | 6-5 | 235 | Sr.
Ohio’s 10th ranked overall prospect and the No. 14 tight end prospect nationally. Wisconsin commit holds 20 offers, including Minnesota, Northwestern, Pitt and West Virginia.

OL — Ben Christman, Revere (Richfield) | 6-6 | 299 | Sr.
Ohio State commit is Ohio’s No. 6 overall recruit and the country’s No. 6 guard prospect. First team OPSWA D-III and MaxPreps All-Ohio. Added 52 tackles and seven tackles-for-loss on defense. Holds 22 offers, including Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, Pitt and Florida.

OL — Tegra Tshabola, Lakota West (West Chester) | 6-6 | 320 | Jr.
Ohio’s No. 2 overall 2022 prospect and the country’s sixth ranked tackle prospect. Ohio State commit. Holds 13 offers including Michigan, Penn State, USC, Oklahoma and LSU.

OL — Thomas Rimac, Brunswick | 6-6 | 280 | Sr.
West Virginia commit is the country’s No. 60 tackle prospect and Ohio’s No. 30 overall prospect. Holds 17 offers, including Cincinnati, Indiana, Minnesota, Pitt, Purdue, Wisconsin and Louisville. OPSWA D-I All-Ohio.

OL — Mao Glynn, Walnut Hills (Cincinnati) | 6-4 | 280 | Sr.
Considered the nation’s No. 31 guard prospect. Committed to Cincinnati. OPSWA D-I All-Ohio.

OL — David Wohlabaugh, Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls) | 6-6 | 280 | Sr.
Family has a history of football prowess. Father (David) played nine seasons in the NFL after starring at Syracuse. Brother (Jack) signed with Ohio State before transferring to Duke (where he starts on the OL). Committed to Kentucky over Arizona State, Purdue, Pitt, Maryland, West Virginia and others. Top 60 tackle prospect nationally.

AP — Marquael Parks, Orrville | 5-9 | 160 | Sr.
Two-time first team OPSWA D-V All-Ohio owns 121 career touchdowns, which ranks second all-time in Ohio history. Should break the record (133) next season. Had 3,089 all-purpose yards, including 2,285 rushing, this season. Scored 43 touchdowns (rushing, receiving, kick return and fumble return). Defensively had four interceptions. Holds nine offers, including Purdue, Cincinnati, Army, Ohio, Temple and Toledo. Top 25 Ohio prospect and Top 50 athlete prospect nationally. MaxPreps All-Ohio last season.

K — Garrison Smith, Norwalk | 5-10 | 170 | Sr.
First team OPSWA D-III and MaxPreps All-Ohio last season when he hit all 50 point-after-attempts and was 11-of-12 on field goals, including makes from 53, 51 and 50 yards. Nine of his 11 field goals were from beyond 40 yards. Had 32 touchbacks. First Team Defense

DL — Jack Sawyer, Pickerington North | 6-5 | 220 | Sr.
Ohio’s top overall prospect and the No. 3 overall prospect nationally. First team OPSWA D-I All-Ohio and MaxPreps All-Ohio. Committed to Ohio State. Had 17 sacks and 15 tackles-for-loss last season. Doubles as a quarterback (passed for 977 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 361 yards and six touchdowns). 

DL — Michael Hall Jr., Streetsboro | 6-3 | 290 | Sr.
Ohio’s No. 3 overall prospect and the No. 5 defensive tackle prospect nationally. Committed to Ohio State. First team OPSWA D-III and MaxPreps All-Ohio. Had 68 tackles, 17 tackles-for-loss, five sacks, four caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries last year. Owns 17 offers including Alabama, Arizona State, Minnesota, Michigan State, Tennessee and Penn state.

DL — Najee Story, Solon | 6-4 | 235 | Sr.
Northwestern commit is the No. 8 overall prospect in Ohio and the 18th ranked strongside defensive end prospect nationally. Picked Northwestern over Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Michigan and Tennessee among others.

DL — Darryl Peterson, Archbishop Hoban (Akron) | 6-3 | 235 | Sr.
Top 20 overall Ohio prospect holds offers from Alabama, Michigan and West Virginia among others. Wisconsin commit named First team OPSWA D-II and MaxPreps All-Ohio after setting a school record for sacks in a season (21). Had 45 tackles, 24 tackles-for-loss and three-forced fumbles. Two-year starter. MaxPreps All-Ohio as a junior.

LB – Reid Carrico, Ironton | 6-3 | 225 | Sr.
Ohio State commit is No. 2 inside linebacker prospect in the country. Holds 30 offers including Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, LSU and Oklahoma. Was OPSWA D-V Ohio Defensive Player of the Year and MaxPreps All-Ohio last season. Doubles as a running back (1,545 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior).

LB — Gabe Powers, Marysville | 6-4 | 215 | Jr.
Ohio’s No. 1 2022 overall prospect and the country’s fourth ranked outside linebacker prospect. Holds 17 offers including Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Stanford.

LB — Damon Ollison ll, Archbishop Hoban (Akron) | 6-0 | 215 | Sr.
Top 40 outside linebacker prospect nationally. Holds offers from Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona State, Michigan State and Rutgers. First team OPSWA D-II All-Ohio.

DB – Jaylen Johnson, La Salle (Cincinnati) | 6-1 | 200 | Sr.
Ohio’s No. 11 overall prospect and a Top 25 safety prospect nationally. Ohio State commit. Had 61 tackles and 10 tackles-for-loss last year. Holds 15 offers, including Penn State, Pitt, Michigan State, Purdue and Indiana. MaxPreps All-Ohio as a junior.

DB — Devonta Smith, LaSalle (Cincinnati) | 6-0 | 185 | Sr.
Former Ohio State commit and cousin of former Alabama star and NFL MVP Shaun Alexander picked up an offer from the Crimson Tide in February and committed on June 29. Had 72 tackles, five interceptions and two forced fumbles last year for the OHSAA D-II state champions. Top 30 cornerback prospect nationally.

DB — Jyaire Brown, Lakota West (West Chester) | 6-0 | 165 | Jr.
Ohio State commit is considered the nation’s No. 16 cornerback and Ohio’s No. 3 overall 2022 prospect. Played last season at Warren Eastern High School in New Orleans (finished Louisiana 4A state runner-up).

DB — Rod Moore, Northmont (Clayton) | 5-11 | 180 | Sr.
Ranked the 13th overall prospect in Ohio and a Top 30 safety prospect nationally. Had 66 tackles and four interceptions last season. Michigan commit owns 25 offers, including Cincinnati, Indiana, Kentucky, Pitt, Iowa, Notre Dame and Wisconsin.

AP — Bryon Threats, Dublin Coffman | 5-10 | 190 | Sr.
The second-highest ranked recruit in Purdue’s current class. Top 40 athlete prospect nationally projects as cornerback. Holds 16 offers (including West Virginia, Michigan State, Toledo, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa State, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati and Boston College).

P — Mitchell Tomasek, Worthington Kilbourne (Columbus) | 6-3 | 180 | Sr.
First team OPSWA D-I All-Ohio selection last year after averaging 47 yards per punt (46 for 2,161) with a long of 77. Dropped 16 inside the 20. Also passed for 1,415 yards and nine touchdowns as quarterback. Second Team Offense

QB — Joe Labas, Brecksville-Broadview Heights | 6-4 | 190 | Sr.
Top 50 prospect overall in Ohio and nationally as a pro-style quarterback. Threw for 2,233 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 435 yards and eight touchdowns last season as the Bees rebounded from an 0-10 season to reach the OHSAA D-II playoffs and win the Suburban League National Division title. Committed to Ball State over Toledo, Bowling Green, Akron, Central Michigan and Massachusetts. OPSWA D-II All-Ohio.

QB — Connor Ashby, Hoover (North Canton) | 6-1 | 175 | Sr.
Already holds program records for career passing yards (4,222) and touchdowns (48). Threw for 1,970 yards and 27 touchdowns last season en route to earning first team OPSWA D-II All-Ohio honors. Despite holding 10 offers for football, committed to Kent State for baseball. Hit .380 with 18 RBI and 13 stolen bases as a sophomore when he earned first team All-Stark County honors.

QB — Cameron Blair, Sandy Valley (Magnolia) | 6-1 | 178 | Sr.
OPSWA D-V state Player of the Year last season after setting the Stark County record for career touchdown passes (89 and counting). Has thrown for 6,736 career yards. Threw for 33 touchdowns and ran for 13 more as a junior. Owns school records for career passing yards, passing touchdowns and total touchdowns.

RB — Stephan Byrd, Canal Winchester | 6-0 | 195 | Jr.
Ohio’s No. 5 overall 2022 prospect and the country’s 19th ranked running back prospect. Had 1,704 all-purpose yards (1,499 rushing) and 25 touchdowns as a sophomore. Holds 10 offers, including Minnesota, Iowa State, Cincinnati, Michigan and West Virginia.

RB — Gi'Bran Payne, LaSalle (Cincinnati) | 5-11 | 190 | Jr.
Ohio’s No. 7 overall 2022 prospect and a Top 25 running back prospect nationally. Ran for 790 yards and accounted for 12 touchdowns last season for OHSAA D-II state champs. Holds 14 offers including Alabama, Michigan, Penn State, Northwestern, Indiana, Cincinnati, Purdue and Minnesota.

WR — Andrew Wilson-Lamp, Washington (Massillon) | 6-3 | 175 | Sr.
Top 75 receiver prospect nationally and a Top 20 prospect overall in Ohio. Committed to West Virginia on Jan. 27. Holds 14 offers, including Penn State, Wisconsin, Pitt, Vanderbilt and Michigan State.

WR — Markus Allen, Northmont (Clayton) | 6-2 | 190 | Sr.
Michigan recruit caught 51 passes for 1,099 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. A Top 20 prospect overall in Ohio and a Top 100 receiver prospect nationally. Holds 30 offers, including Wisconsin, West Virginia, Virginia, Pitt, Purdue, Syracuse, Michigan State, Kentucky, Kansas, Navy, Army, Boston College and Cincinnati.

WR — Armond Scott, Euclid | 6-3 | 200 | Sr.
Top 75 receiver prospect nationally and a Top 20 prospect overall in Ohio. Holds 10 offers, including Boston College, Cincinnati, Iowa State, Wake Forest and Michigan State.

TE — Mitchell Evans, Wadsworth | 6-7 | 240 | Sr.

OL — Paul Rodriguez, Mason | 6-5.5 | 305 | Sr.
Top 75 tackle prospect nationally. Committed to Kentucky over Cincinnati, Iowa State, Maryland, Purdue, Rutgers and others.

OL — Terrence Rankl, Washington (Massillon) | 6-6 | 280 | Sr.
A top 100 tackle prospect nationally who is committed to Pitt. Holds 24 offers, including Arizona State, Cincinnati, Duke, Iowa State, Kentucky, Purdue, Tulane and Vanderbilt.

OL — Kevin Toth, Hudson | 6-6 | 270 | Sr.
Rutgers commit holds 12 offers, including Army, Toledo, Kent State, Massachusetts and Akron.

AP — Liam Clifford, St. Xavier (Cincinnati) | 6-2 | 190 | Sr.
Penn State commit is a Top 25 overall prospect in Ohio and Top 50 athlete prospect nationally. OPSWA D-I All-Ohio. Caught 77 passes for a Great Catholic League South Division-best 1,180 yards and 13 touchdowns. Picked Penn State over Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Tennessee, Duke, Kentucky, Cincinnati and Toledo.

K — Declan Mangan, St. Ignatius (Cleveland) | 5-11 | 165 | Sr.
First team OPSWA D-I All-Ohio last season when 34 of his 52 kickoffs were touchbacks. Also hit field goals of 47, 48, 49, 53 and 56 yards (which is the second-longest kick in program history). Averaged 34.6 yards per punt. Second Team Defense

DL —Jamarius Dinkins, Walnut Ridge (Columbus) | 6-6 | 255 | Sr.
Top 40 SDE prospect nationally holds 12 offers, including Cincinnati, Kentucky, West Virginia, Michigan State and Iowa State. OPSWA D-II All-Ohio.

DL — Hammond Russell, Dublin Coffman | 6-3 | 245 | Sr.
Picked West Virginia over Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan State, Purdue, Pitt and Kentucky among others. Considered a top 50 SDE prospect nationally. OPSWA D-I All-Ohio.

DL — Dontay Corleone, Colerain (Cincinnati) | 6-2 | 295 | Sr.

LB — Kameron Vargas, Whitmer (Toledo) | 6-1 | 215 | Sr.
Led the Panthers with 118 total tackles last season en route to being named first team OPSWA D-I All-Ohio and the Northwest District D-I defensive Player of the Year. Also had seven tackles for loss, two sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two interceptions and a blocked kick.
LB — Cameron Junior, Middletown | 6-1 | 210 | Sr.

DB — CJ Hicks, Archbishop Alter (Kettering) | 6-4 | 215 | Jr.
Ohio’s No. 4 overall 2022 prospect and the country’s No. 15 athlete prospect. Ohio State commit looks to move to linebacker in college. Registered 48 tackles last season. Holds 28 offers, including Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, Iowa and Nebraska. OPSWA D-III All-Ohio last season.

DB — AJ Kirk, Dublin Coffman | 6-0 | 200 | Sr.
The younger brother of former Ohio State and NFL star Mike Doss holds 16 offers including Ohio State, Florida, Arizona State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Michigan and Minnesota. The Buckeyes are listed as his favorite.

DB — Iesa Jarmon, LaSalle (Cincinnati) | 6-1 | 180 | Sr.
Holds 20 offers. Committed to Cincinnati over Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Northwestern and Pitt among others. Had 31 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries last season. A top 65 cornerback prospect nationally.

DB — Shawn Gates, East (Akron) | 6-0 | 175 | Sr.
Top 60 cornerback prospect picked Boston College over Michigan State, Iowa State and several Mid-American Conference schools. Also excels in baseball (outfield) and track and field (hurdles).

DB — Michael Gravely Jr., Glenville (Cleveland) | 6-1 | 193 | Sr.
Michigan State commit is a top 75 safety prospect nationally. Holds 12 offers including Colorado, Cincinnati, Pitt, Temple, Wake Forest and West Virginia.

AP — Quintell Quinn, St. Francis DeSales (Columbus) | 6-0 | 190 | Sr.
Two-time OPSWA All-Ohio and first team All-Central District selection has led the Stallions in tackles (189 total) the last two seasons as a linebacker. Also has 26 tackles-for-loss over that span. Last season he produced a program single-season record 1,808 yards rushing at running back. Holds offers from Akron and Ball State.

P — Matthew Dapore, Springboro | 5-11 | 165 | Sr.
OPSWA D-I All-Ohio. Averaged 37.7 yards per punt. Also made 48-of-50 PATs and 10-of-17 field goals (47 longest) as a kicker.