2016 Ohio Preseason Football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Top 25 preseason Early Contenders - No. 15 Colerain


1. Colerain (Cincinnati)
Head coach: Tom Bolden
2015 record: 12-2
Team preview

Many believe the Cardinals are the No. 1 team in Ohio. 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 holds offers from Illinois, Indiana and Cincinnati, among others. Dan 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.

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2. Archbishop Hoban (Akron)
Head coach: Tim Tyrrell
2015 record: 14-1
Team preview

The Knights snapped a five-year absence from the postseason and then some in winning the program's first state title (Division III). A second could be coming.

Senior running back Todd Sibley Jr. (5-10, 214) ran for 2,059 yards and 24 touchdowns last year. Originally committed to Ohio State, Sibley is now headed to Pitt. Senior quarterback Danny Clark (6-4, 223) is committed to Ohio State. Last year he threw for 2,297 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Senior kicker Grant Kersh (5-11, 180) is a good one as well.

The defense will be tough again with the return of junior defensive lineman Daeshon Coppinger (6-3, 245), senior linebacker Marc Westover (5-10, 200) and junior defensive back Nate Bauer (6-0, 180).

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3. Wayne (Huber Heights)
Head coach: Jay Minton
2015 record: 14-1
Team preview The Warriors made the playoffs for the 13th time in 17 years and advanced to their fourth Division I 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 and dropped the 1999 state final to St. Ignatius. There's plenty of expectation and optimism surrounding this year's team.

The Warriors return six first team all-GWOC Central players, including one of the country's top underclass prospects in junior receiver L’Christian Smith (6-5, 205), 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) - so 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.

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4. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati)
Head coach: John Rodenberg
2015 record: 5-5
Team preview

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.

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5. Central Catholic (Toledo)
Head coach: Greg Dempsey
2015 record: 12-3
Team preview

The Fighting Irish are 51-7 the last four years and own two state titles (one each in Divisions II and III) during that span. They'll contend for a third.

Senior running back Michael Warren (5-11, 200) is one of the state's top prospects and owns eight scholarship offers, including Iowa, Kentucky, Rutgers and Iowa State. He has rushed for over 2,000 yards each of the last two seasons (5,022 yards total) and has scored 59 touchdowns.

The defense will feature a top prospect as well in senior defensive end James Hudson (6-5, 280), who holds 21 offers including Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Miami (Fla.) and Nebraska.