Akron East High School senior Bangally Kamara HighlightsWatch the Pitt commit in action against Chardon.Who are Ohio's top returning high school football players entering the 2019 season? The Buckeye State has a deep talent pool. These are some of the sharks. Kickoff is coming.
Akron East senior Bangally Kamara was named first team OPSWA Division III All-Ohio and the All-Northeast Inland District Defensive Player of the Year last season. Three-star prospect (247sports.com) has committed to Pitt.
Photo by ScoutingOhio.com
Key names to know Fridays this fall.
Player, School, Ht, Wt, Graduating Class
* Bangally Kamara, East (Akron), 6-3, 195 (2020)First team
OPSWA Division III All-Ohio and reigning All-Northeast Inland District Defensive Player of the Year. Three-star prospect (
247sports.com) has committed to Pitt. Holds 26 offers including Michigan, Nebraska, Michigan State, Penn State, Purdue, Syracuse, Maryland and Kentucky. Had 73 tackles, eight sacks, nine pass breakups and a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown.
* DJ Bowman, Chardon, 5-10, 185 (2020)Second team
OPSWA Division III All-Ohio. Team’s leading tackler registered 109 stops, including 58 solo, three sacks and five tackles-for-loss. Had pick six against Perry.
* Mason Sawyer, Bishop Hartley (Columbus), 6-1, 220 (2020)Third team
OPSWA Division III All-Ohio. Had 78 tackles.
* Zach Love, Indian Valley (Gnadenhutten), 5-9, 165 (2020)Second team
OPSWA Division IV All-Ohio. Has accounted for 227 career tackles (over 100 each of the past two years) and 21 touchdowns.
* Gavin Norris, Keystone (La Grange), 5-10, 175 (2020)Third team
OPSWA Division IV All-Ohio. Had 117 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss and two sacks. Registered 18 tackles against both Buckeye and Firelands.
2018 Ohio HS Football Statewide Postseason Brackets
* Jack Howey, Bellevue, 6-1, 195 (2020)Third team
OPSWA Division IV All-Ohio. Sandusky Bay Conference’s leading tackler had 95 tackles and 12 tackles-for-loss.
* Colton Weber, Northwest (Canal Fulton), 5-8, 180 (2020)Third team
OPSWA Division IV All-Ohio. Registered 114 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss and eight sacks in eight games.
* Ian Mcclintock, Fairview (Fairview Park), 6-0, 175 (2020)First team All-Northeast Lakes District. Had 91 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, three blocked punts and two forced fumbles.
* Quintell Quinn, St. Francis DeSales (Columbus), 6-1, 180 (2021)First team All-Central District. Registered 91 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss and three sacks.
* Evan Schlensker, Badin (Hamilton), 6-0, 170 (2020)First team All-Southwest District and reigning Greater Catholic League Co-Ed Central Division Defensive Player of the Year. Had 122 tackles.
* Diego Neri, Northwest (Cincinnati), 6-2, 220 (2021)First team All-Southwest District. Had 91 tackles, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
2018 Ohio HS Football Statewide Statistics* Alec Maloney, Norwalk, 6-3, 220 (2020)First team All-Northwest District. Had 115 tackles, six sacks and an interception. Scored four touchdowns as running back.
* Kiron Anderson, Bishop Hartley (Columbus), 5-10, 220 (2020)First team All-Central District. Registered 78 tackles.
* Alhaji Sidibe, Beechcroft (Columbus), 6-0, 205 (2020)First team All-Central District.
* Noah Hopkins, Licking Valley (Newark), 6-2, 175 (2020)First team All-Central District. Had 17 tackles-for-loss.
* Cooper Graham, River Valley (Caledonia), 6-2, 200 (2021)First team All-Central District. Had 110 tackles.
2018 Ohio HS Football Pictures
* Ben Lahoski, Woodridge (Peninsula), 6-0, 185 (2020)First team All-Northeast Inland District and reigning Portage Trail Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Had 97 tackles, three fumble recoveries and an interception in eight games.
* Logan Hester, Hillsboro, 6-2, 180 (2020)First team All-Southeast District.
* Cade Roberts, Gallia Academy (Gallipolis), 5-10, 215 (2020)First team All-Southeast District. Had 61 tackles, six sacks and two fumble recoveries. Offensively caught 19 passes for 245 yards and a touchdown.
* Dakota Swepston, Waverly, 6-0, 200 (2020)First team All-Southeast District.
* Seth Burgess, New Lexington, 6-1, 210 (2020);First team All-Southeast District.
