2016 Ohio high school football Division I Region 3 preview

Video: Daniel Davis III's highlights vs. Northmont High
See the Springfield athlete in action


Players to Watch

* Daniel Davis III, Senior ATH, Springfield
Davis ran for 1,259 yards, had 700 yards receiving and scored 23 touchdowns last year.

* Ryan Royer, Senior RB, Davidson
Royer ran for 1,514 yards and 20 touchdowns last year.

* Brendan Bordner, Senior DE, Bradley
Bordner had 47 tackles and 19 tackles for loss last year.

* Caleb Stoneburner, Senior WR, Coffman
Stoneburner is a Boston College commit.

* Leonard Taylor, Junior TE, Springfield
Taylor is a Michigan commit.

* Xavier Henderson, Junior ATH, Pickerington Central
Henderson holds 11 offers including Michigan State, Mississippi and Kentucky.

* L’Christian Smith, Junior WR, Wayne
Smith had 54 receptions for 1,311 yards and 17 touchdowns last year.

* Will Phillis, Senior QB, Bradley
Phillis threw for 2,009 yards and 19 touchdowns last year.

* Trenton Gillison, Junior TE, Pickerington Central
Gillison holds 14 offers, including Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Pitt and Tennessee.

* Alex Reigelsperger, Junior DE, Wayne
Reigelsperger had 60 tackles and 9.5 sacks last year. He holds seven offers, including Iowa, Kentucky, Pitt, Purdue and Rutgers. Teams To Beat

* 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.

* 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 Trent 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.

Teams To Watch

* 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.

* Central Crossing (Grove City) – 7-4, Region 2 first round
The Comets are looking for their third-straight playoff berth. Expectations are high. Senior quarterback Deric Williamson (5-11, 215) returns after earning all-Central District honors. Senior offensive lineman Jacob Kaiser (6-3, 280) is solid.

* Dublin Coffman (Dublin) – 7-4, Region 2 first round
The Rocks reached the postseason for the seventh-straight time last year and for the 13th time in 15 seasons. Expect both those streaks to grow. Coffman will feature a pair of solid prospects on offense in lineman Ben Frye (6-2, 230) and receiver Caleb Stoneburner (6-4, 200). Frye is committed to Duke, while Stoneburner is headed to Boston College.

* 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.

* Springfield – 3-7
Former Trotwood-Madison and state champion head coach Maurice Douglass begins year No. 3 with the Wildcats, who are 5-15 under his lead and 7-33 the last four seasons. Expect a turnaround. Talent is not in question in Springfield. Douglass, who led Trotwood to four straight state finals before taking the job at Springfield, will field a talented roster littered with college prospects. Senior athlete Danny Davis (6-1, 175 with 882 yards rushing, 12 touchdowns, 430 yards receiving and six receiving scores) holds 10-plus offers, including Michigan State, Penn State, Iowa and Kentucky. Last year he ran for 1,259 yards, had 700 yards receiving and scored 23 touchdowns. Junior tight end Leonard Taylor (6-6, 258) holds 13 offers and is committed to Michigan. He's also being pursued fiercely by Ohio State. Defensive back Moses Douglass (5-11, 167) is a highly sought after sophomore prospect. He holds 10 offers, including Iowa, Purdue and Syracuse.

Keep An Eye On

* Beavercreek- 7-3
After going 3-7, the Beavers flipped the script. Senior running back Justin Terrell (5-10, 160 with 239 yards rushing and three total touchdowns) will log ample touches. Senior linebacker Jack Knipper (6-2, 240) is the team's top returning tackler (he made 52 stops last season).

* Hilliard Darby (Hilliard) – 9-3, Region 2 quarterfinalist
Senior lineman Keegan Farrell (5-10, 250) will anchor the Panthers' lines. He was all-Central District last year.

* Fairmont (Kettering) – 2-8
The Firebirds have finished 2-8 five times in the last six years and find themselves under new management. Head coach Dave Miller steps up in competition after leading a successful small school program at Covington. Bruising senior running back Nick Moreland (5-10, 230) returns after rushing for 457 yards and six touchdowns. Expect senior running back Jake Perkins (5-8, 160) to log touches too. He ran for 440 yards and scored three total touchdowns.

* Lancaster – 8-3, Region 2 first round
The Golden Gales' defense will be led by senior defensive end Luke Sheridan (6-1, 230), who had 43 tackles and nine tackles for loss last year.

* Lincoln (Gahanna) – 7-4, Region 2 first round
The Lions have gone 7-3, 3-7, 7-3 and 7-4 the last four years.

* Pickerington North - 5-5
The Panthers have a good one in junior offensive lineman Alex Williams (6-6, 220), who has committed to Iowa State.

* Reynoldsburg, 7-4, Region 2 first round
The Raiders went from 3-7 to the postseason last year. Senior receiver J.J. Cooper (6-4, 180) holds offers from Boston College, Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and Buffalo.

* Upper Arlington (Columbus) – 8-4, Region 2 quarterfinalist
The Golden Bears are entering their 91st season of football.

Also In This Region

Westland (Galloway) 4-6
Grove City 3-7
Thomas Worthington (Worthington) 1-9