After snapping a nearly three-decade drought last year, Cincinnati's suddenly on a win streak. Corey Kiner, a senior running back at Roger Bacon High School, was named the 2020 winner of the Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association's Mr. Football award on Thursday. Kiner joins last year's recipient quarterback Evan Prater of Wyoming High School as back-to-back honorees from the Queen City. Cincinnati's last winner before that was Norwood High School's Marc Edwards in 1992.
Kiner edged runner-up Reid Carrico from Ironton to add his name to a list of previous winners that includes Joe Burrow, Robert Smith, Charles Woodson, Maurice Clarett, Curtis Enis, Andy Katzenmoyer and Mitch Trubisky.
Van Wert's Owen Treece was third and Pickerington Central's Lorenzo Styles Jr. fourth in voting conducted by sportswriters from around the state.
Kiner caps his career ranked third in Ohio history in total points (772), total touchdowns (125) and rushing touchdowns (116). His 7,130 rushing yards ranks 10th all-time.
“Being named Mr. Football means the world to me,” Kiner told the OPSWA. “I am very honored to win this award not only for myself, but for my school. My father told me that I would do great things in high school football but I would never thought that it would amount to this.”
“Corey is a one of a kind,” Roger Bacon head coach Mike Blaut said. “He’s a once in a lifetime talent. His skill set is second to none. He is competitive, fast, quick, strong, smart, has great instincts, all the tools a running back needs.”
Other finalists for the award included Mason Sullivan, Kirtland, RB, Senior; Ian Kipp, Mentor, QB, Sr.; Peter Pedrozo, Westerville South, QB, Sr.; Beau Brungard, New Middletown Springfield, QB, Jr.; and Davis Singleton, Byesville Meadowbrook, QB, Sr.
Ohio Mr. Football Winners:
1987: Buster Howe, RB-DB-K-P, Zanesville, Ohio State
1988: Robert Smith, RB, Euclid, Ohio State
1989: Robert Smith, RB, Euclid, Ohio State
1990: Bobby Hoying, QB, St. Henry, Ohio State
1991: Derek Kidwell, QB-DE, Fostoria, Bowling Green
1992: Marc Edwards, RB-LB, Norwood, Notre Dame
1993: Curtis Enis, RB-LB, Mississinawa Valley, Penn State
1994: Charles Woodson, DB-RB, Fremont Ross, Michigan
1995: Andy Katzenmoyer, LB, Westerville South, Ohio State
1996: Derek Combs, RB-DB-KR, Grove City, Ohio State
1997: Tony Fisher, RB, Euclid, Notre Dame
1998: Ryan Brewer, RB, Troy, South Carolina
1999: Bam Childress, DB-WR-KR, Bedford St. Peter Chanel, Ohio State
2000: Jeff Backes, RB-DB, Upper Arlington, Northwestern
2001: Maurice Clarett, RB, Warren G. Harding, Ohio State
2002: Ben Mauk, QB, Kenton, Wake Forest/Cincinnati
2003: Ray Williams, RB, Cleveland Benedictine, West Virginia
2004: Tyrell Sutton, RB, Archbishop Hoban, Northwestern
2005: Delone Carter, RB, Copley, Syracuse
2006: Brandon Saine, RB, Piqua, Ohio State
2007: Bart Tanski, QB, Mentor, Bowling Green
2008: Erick Howard, RB, North Canton Hoover, Akron
2009: Erick Howard, RB, North Canton Hoover, Akron
2010: Akise Teague, RB-DB-KR, Youngstown Ursuline, Cincinnati
2011: Maty Mauk, QB, Kenton, Missouri/Eastern Kentucky
2012: Mitch Trubisky, QB, Mentor, North Carolina
2013: Dante Booker Jr., LB, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio State
2014: Joe Burrow, QB, Athens, Ohio State
2015: Keishaun Sims, RB-DB, Massillon Perry, Ashland
2016: Michael Warren, RB, Toledo Central Catholic, Cincinnati
2017: Joey Baughman, QB, Wadsworth, Elon
2018: Cade Stover, LB, Lexington, Ohio State
2019: Evan Prater, QB, Wyoming, Cincinnati
2020: Corey Kiner, RB, Roger Bacon, LSU
Roger Bacon senior running back Corey Kiner ranks third in Ohio history in scoring, total touchdowns and rushing touchdowns.
Photo by Roger Bacon High School
