Video: Junior year - Cody Kirkbride
See the lineman from Bishop Hartley in action2016 MaxPreps/JJHuddle Ohio Division IV State Poll
1. Bishop Hartley (Columbus) – 12-3, state champion, Region 12 championIn
year No. 9 under head coach Brad Burchfield (86-19 at Hartley), the
Hawks are coming off their fifth regional title in six years. They are
serious threats to repeat as state champs. Burchfield (117-44 overall)
said “I really believe that this could be our best team. Of course that
guarantees nothing, but I love the leadership, ability and brotherhood
of this group.” The talent is there. The Hawks return 10 starters on
defense and six on offense. They have 27 total letterwinners back. Key
returning seniors are quarterback
Jake Ruby (6-foot, 180 pounds),
linebacker/offensive lineman
Cody Kirkbride (6-4, 235), offensive lineman/linebacker
Thomas Casimir (6-0, 230), defensive back/receiver
Jaden Manley (5-11, 175), defensive back/running back
Cam'Ron Culver (5-11, 165), linebacker/running back
Marquette Dixon (5-11, 180), linebacker
Jack Baughman (6-1, 215), running back
Nick Onega (5-11, 200) and defensive end
Nicholas Dawes (6-4, 235). Keep an eye on junior offensive lineman
Maximus Stienecker (5-11, 220) and sophomore tight end
Jordan Kirkbride (6-4, 220). They open the season at Toledo Central Catholic.
2. Archbishop Alter (Kettering) - 10-2, Region 14 semifinalistThe
Knights have been to the playoffs 15 years in a row and won
back-to-back state titles in 2008-09. They should challenge for their
fifth state final appearance. Alter returns 10 All-GCL players led by
senior quarterback
Ryan Markoff (6-2, 195 with 607 yards passing, 946
yards rushing and 19 total touchdowns) and senior linebacker
David Rueth
(6-3, 200 with 66 tackles). In addition to Reuth, the defense, which
returns its top six tacklers, will feature arguably the division's best
linebacking corps with the return of junior standouts
Alden Simms (6-1, 215 with 99 tackles),
Jordan Coovert (6-2, 180 with 67 tackles) and
Lane Harshbarger (5-10, 190 with 106 tackles). Senior defensive back
Kyle Roshong (6-1, 190 with 83 tackles) is a good one. The offensive line anchors are seniors
Jack Mochty (6-2, 210) and
Nick Busher (6-3, 310). The senior wide receiving duo of
Matt Zelinski (6-4, 190) and
JP Schimpf (6-2, 195) is seasoned.
3. Woodridge (Peninsula) – 11-1, Region 11 semifinalistThe
Bulldogs are coming off three straight playoff trips and looking to
make an extended postseason run. The offense should be lethal with the
return of junior quarterback
Mason Lydic (5-11, 180 with 1,615 yards
passing and 20 touchdowns), senior running back
King Sanders (5-11, 190
with 1,063 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns) and senior offensive lineman
Dontae Craft (6-1, 170). All three were first team all-Northeast Inland District. Also back is junior running back/linebacker
Robert Singletary (5-8, 190), who ran for eight touchdowns and had 75 tackles last year. Senior receiver
Jacob Margroff (5-11, 180) caught 40 passes for 570 yards and seven touchdowns last season. The defense will feature junior linebacker
Spencer Robinson (5-9, 195), who was all-district and led the team in tackles (121).
4. Indian Hill (Cincinnati) - 11-1, Region 14 semifinalist Coming
off their first postseason berth since 2007, the Braves have the
firepower and tools for a deep postseason run. The offense features
senior quarterback
Reed Aichholz (6-5, 220 with Eastern Michigan offer),
who threw for 2,568 yards and 31 touchdowns and ran for 1,105 yards and
16 touchdowns last season. He is the reigning AP Southwest District
Offensive Player of the Year. Other key returners include senior
linebacker
Dan Becker (6-4, 240 with 136 tackles), senior
receiver/defensive back
Dawson Aichholz (6-1, 190 with 46 receptions, 888 yards receiving, seven receiving touchdowns and four interceptions), senior defensive back
Dorian McGruder (5-9, 180 with 56 tackles), junior athlete
Colin Shaw (6-2, 180 with 39 receptions for 526 yards and three touchdowns) and senior running back/linebacker
Zarian Hunter Cure (6-0, 190 with 420 yards rushing and six touchdowns). Expect senior
Ben Wirthlin (5-11, 165 with 33 receptions for 363 yards), junior
Mick Oakes (6-2, 205 with 51 tackles) and sophomore linebacker
Demetrius Baylor (6-2, 205 with 63 tackles and 8.5 sacks) to contribute heavily.
5. Johnstown-Monroe (Johnstown) - 12-1, Region 14 finalistThe
Johnnies have made the postseason four of the last five years and have
reached three regional finals over that span. Expect another extended
run. Senior offensive lineman
Jeff Nogaj (6-5, 325) has committed to
Iowa State. He'll help open holes for a three-pronged senior ground game
featuring quarterback
Cody Workman (5-11, 180), running back
Andrew Sayer (5-11, 195) and running back
Justin Franklin
(6-1, 203). Workman has 2,551 career rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.
Sayer ran for 1,106 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, while Franklin
ran for 772 and 10, respectively. The defense is strong. Senior
defensive lineman
Hunter Alley (6-4, 210) had 77 tackles and 26
tackles-for-loss last year. Also back are senior linebacker
Jesse Farley (5-11, 160 with 71 tackles), senior defensive back
Isaia Jacob (5-10, 160 with 60 tackles) and defensive end
Brandon Siegfried (6-5, 200 with 52 tackles and 16 sacks).
6. Crestwood (Mantua) – 10-3, Region 11 finalistThe
Red Devils made back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in
program history last year. It was the school's fourth trip overall.
Expect another memorable run. Crestwood returns a potent offense led by
senior running back
Logan Thut (6-foot-2, 190 pounds), the reigning
all-Northeast Inland District Offensive Player of the Year. Thut ran for
1,973 yards and 27 touchdowns last year. Also back is senior
quarterback/defensive back
Jordan Fabry (6-3, 185). Senior offensive lineman
Aaron Cox (6-4, 235) is a good one. The defense will be led by senior defensive lineman
Cameron Morgue (6-1, 250) and senior linebacker
Michael Picone (6-0, 180 with 81 tackles and four fumble recoveries).
7. Clinton-Massie (Clarksville) - 11-2, Region 14 finalistThe
Falcons are 52-4 the last four years and won back-to-back state titles
in 2012 and 2013. Head coach Dan McSurely (205-70 in 20 years) and staff
will lean on several new - and experienced – faces. Senior running back
Brad Hunt (5-8, 200) and junior running back
Jacob Wolf
(6-2, 210) will carry the bulk of the load. Hunt ran for 469 yards and
eight touchdowns last year, while Wolf ran for 305 and eight,
respectively. Other key contributors will be senior tight
end/linebacker
Tyler Uetrecht (6-2, 220 with three receiving touchdowns) and junior receiver/defensive back
Luke Richardson (6-0, 160 with three receiving touchdowns). The defense returns five players that logged over 30 tackles a year ago.
8. Bellevue – 10-3, Region 12 finalistThe
Redmen have been to the playoffs four times in five years and should
make another deep trip. Senior quarterback
Alec Foos (6-1, 190) returns,
as does junior running back
Bryce Ray
(6-0, 205). Foos was the Northwest District Offensive Player of the
Year, while Ray was first team all-district. Foos ran for 1,794 yards
and 28 touchdowns and threw for 1,526 yards and 20 touchdowns last year.
As a sophomore he ran for 1,229 yards, had 454 yards receiving and
scored 31 total touchdowns.
9. Steubenville – 13-1, state runner-up, Region 13 championBig
Red earned its 28th postseason berth last year and won a third-straight
regional title. Another deep postseason run should be in the cards for
veteran head coach Reno Saccoccia (315-54 in 30 years). Senior tight end
Charles Reeves Jr. (6-6, 240) holds 13 offers, including Alabama, Michigan,
Penn State, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Nebraska.
10. Ursuline (Youngstown) – 8-6, state semifinalist, Region 11 championThe Irish finished the regular season 5-5 and advanced to the Final Four. Key returning seniors are defensive back/receiver
Dawalyn Washington (6-0, 188), defensive back/receiver
Dakota Hobbs (5-8, 155) and lineman
Jeff Marx (6-1, 293).
Keep an Eye On
* Wyoming (Cincinnati) – 8-3, Region 14 quarterfinalistThe
Cowboys return 13 starters including seven on offense. Senior
quarterback
Andrew Marty (6-4, 225) is a special talent that has
committed to Northwestern. He returns after being lost for the season
with a knee-injury in Week 3. Marty has accounted for 30 career
touchdowns. Senior receiver
Jake Edmonds (5-11, 170) returns after catching 56 passes for 718 yards and 10 touchdowns. Also back is senior tight end
Jack Gildea (6-4, 215) and sophomore athlete
Joey Edmonds
(5-10, 160) who threw for 953 yards and 14 touchdowns as Marty's
back-up last season. The defense will be led by sophomore linebacker
Pierson Rogers (5-11, 200 with 85 tackles), senior defensive back
Deandre Griffin (5-9, 165 with 59 tackles and five interceptions) and senior defensive back
Elijah Kemper (5-11, 165 with 36 tackles). Junior defensive line
Joshua Malone (6-4, 250 with 72 tackles) is one to watch.
* Meadowbrook (Byesville) – 9-2, Region 13 quarterfinalistThe
Colts, who recorded their first winning season since 2005 in 2013,
earned the program's first playoff berth last season. Time to continue
the climb. Senior quarterback
Konnor Roberts (6-0, 190) returns after
earning first team All-Eastern District honors. Roberts threw for 1,841
yards and 18 touchdowns last year. He also ran for four touchdowns.
Other key returners are senior receiver
Parker Black (6-2, 190), senior receiver
Ben Davis (5-11, 180), senior running back
Trevor Stevens (5-11, 180) and junior offensive lineman
Jud Ramage
(5-11, 190). Black caught 37 passes for 735 yards and 13 touchdowns,
while Davis had 46 receptions for 728 yards and four touchdowns. Stevens
ran for 380 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Meadowbrook returns four
defenders that logged over 30 tackles, led by defensive lineman Ramage
(57 tackles).
* Shelby – 5-5The
Whippets haven't been to the playoffs since 2010 but that should change
this season. Junior quarterback
Brennan Armstrong (6-2, 195) currently
holds six offers, including North Carolina, Virginia and Iowa State.
Other key contributors are junior running back
Devon Brooks (5-9, 155), senior defensive lineman
Devin Williams (6-2, 290) and senior defensive lineman
Derek Rose (6-1, 200).
* Jonathan Alder (Plain City) – 9-2, Region 12 quarterfinalistThe Pioneers feature one of the state’s top recruits in senior tight end
Trey Pugh (6-5, 225), who has committed to Northwestern. Also back are senior defensive back
Andrew Koening (6-3, 190), junior quarterback
Preston Eisnaugle (5-11, 170) and junior defensive back
Bryan Blacka (5-11, 175).
* Kenton Ridge (Springfield) – 8-4, Region 12 semifinalistThe
Cougars return a solid offensive nucleus led by senior running
back/linebacker
Kobe Holtz (5-11, 205), who was first team all-CBC
Kenton Division last year after rushing for 379 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He also had 95 tackles. Also back is senior quarterback
Noah Schleinitz (6-0, 175) and senior receiver
Jordan Bailey
(5-11, 155). Schleinitz threw for 813 yards and nine touchdowns and ran
for 474 yards and five touchdowns last year, while Bailey caught 16
passes for 431 yards and seven touchdowns.
* Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (Chardon) – 7-4, Region 11 quarterfinalistThe Lions have a solid nucleus back in junior linebacker
Chase Kline (6-4, 215), senior athlete
Savion Grove (5-11, 185), junior defensive lineman
Manni Malone (5-10, 215) and junior kicker
Gabe Brkic (6-2, 170).
* Indian Lake (Lewistown) – 8-3, Region 12 quarterfinalistThe
Lakers earned the program’s first playoff berth last year and
expectations are high. Senior quarterback and reigning CBC Mad River
Division Offensive Player of the Year
Alex Jacobs (6-1, 200) returns
after throwing for 1,430 yards and 19 touchdowns and running for 742
yards and five touchdowns. A pair of standout receivers return in senior
Tyler Replogle (6-2, 180) and junior
Collin Coburn
(6-2, 200). Coburn had 27 receptions for 417 yards and nine touchdowns,
while Replogle had 24 for 308 and five, respectively. Senior linebacker
Branden Henderson (5-10, 180 with 69 tackles) spearheads the defense.