High school football: Top 25 Ohio players from the Class of 2022

Ahead of the 2021 high school football season, MaxPreps is breaking down the top senior prospects in the country state-by-state as rated by 247Sports. We continue the series with Ohio, which opens play Aug. 19.

Southwest Ohio is the state’s top region with nine players ranked in the top 16 and 11 listed overall, including three from Lakota West (West Chester) and two each from Wayne (Heights Wayne) and Archbishop Alter (Kettering).

247SPORTS: Complete Ohio player rankings

By position, offensive linemen dominate the selections with eight, including seven tackles. There are also four running backs and three tight ends as offensive players own 17 of the 25 spots.

As of Aug. 3, 23 have committed to colleges. Ohio State headlines the list with four, while Cincinnati and Indiana have three each. Purdue and Penn State have two, with both Nittany Lions' recruits among the state’s top 5. Ohio's Top 25 football players from Class of 2022

1. C.J. Hicks | Archbishop Alter (Kettering)
6-3 | 220 | LB | Ohio State commit
First team MaxPreps All-State last year after registering 61 tackles, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception (returned for a TD).

2. Drew Allar | Medina
6-4.5 | 228 | QB | Penn State
Top 10 quarterback prospect nationally threw for 2,857 yards and 26 touchdowns last season.

3. Aamil Wagner | Wayne (Huber Heights)
6-4.5 | 228 | OT | Undecided
Top 10 tackle prospect nationally was second team MaxPreps All-State last year.

4. Gabe Powers | Marysville
6-4 | 230 | LB | Ohio State
First team MaxPreps All-State last season after making 61 tackles, six TFL, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception in eight games.  

5. Kaden Saunders | Westerville South
5-10 | 172 | WR | Penn State
Second team MaxPreps All-State last year when he caught 45 passes for 946 yards and scored 15 total TDs in eight games.

6. Jyaire Brown | Lakota West (West Chester)
6-0 | 178 | CB | Ohio State
Top 20 cornerback prospect nationally was first team Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association (OPSWA) D-I All-Ohio last year.

7. Gi’Bran Payne | La Salle (Cincinnati)
6-0 | 170 | RB | Indiana
Top 20 running back prospect nationally was limited to 43 carries (235 yards and five TDs) last year.

8. Tegra Tshabola | Lakota West (West Chester)
6-5 | 340 | OT | Ohio State
Four-year starter was first team MaxPreps All-State last year.

9. Trey Bixby | St. Edward (Lakewood)
6-5 | 235 | DL | Minnesota
Top 35 defensive line prospect nationally also holds offers from Michigan State, Penn State, Arkansas and Cincinnati.

10. Elijah Brown | Wayne (Huber Heights)
6-5 | 230 | TE | Alabama
Top 15 tight end prospect nationally caught 20 passes for 278 yards and a TD last season.

11. Brody Foley | Anderson (Cincinnati)
6-5.5 | 236 | TE | Tennessee
Second team OPSWA D-II All-Ohio last year at defensive line.

12. Blake Miller | Strongsville
6-6 | 315 | OT | Clemson
Dominant run blocker did not allow a sack last season.

13. Carter Smith | Olentangy Liberty (Powell)
6-6 | 280 | OT | Indiana
Three-star recruit was second team OPSWA D-I All-Ohio last year.

14. Ryan Baer | North (Eastlake)
6-7 | 320 | OT | Undecided
Second team MaxPreps All-State last year after not allowing a sack. Michigan State considered the favorite among his 28 offers.

15. Alex Afari | Lakota West (West Chester)
6-2 | 195 | ATH | Kentucky
First team OPSWA D-I All-Ohio last year when he returned one of his two interceptions for a TD.

16. Derrick Shepard | Archbishop Alter (Kettering)
6-3 | 295 | DL | Cincinnati
Picked the Bearcats over Indiana, Florida State, Kentucky, California, Michigan, Northwestern and Michigan State.

17. Isaiah Jones | London
6-2 | 215 | LB | Indiana
Second team OPSWA D-III All-Ohio last year after making registering 70 tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles.

18. Stephan Byrd | Canal Winchester
6-0 | 195 | RB | Cincinnati
First team OPSWA D-II All-Ohio last year after accounting for 1,863 all-purpose yards (1,363 rushing) and 23 TDs.

19. Kaleb Johnson | Hamilton
6-1 | 215 | RB | California
Ran for 786 yards and eight TDs on 114 carries last year (10 games).

20. Kentrell Marks | Valley Forge (Parma Heights)
6-1 | 180 | RB | Purdue
First team OPSWA D-II All-Ohio last year when he ran for 1,262 yards and 20 TDs on 112 carries.

21. Charlie Kenrich | Lakota East (Liberty Township)
6-4 | 220 | ATH | Purdue
Slot back looks to play tight end in college. Caught 13 passes for 290 yards and two TDs and carried the ball 33 times for 245 yards and a TD in eight games last season.

22. Ethan Green | Ross (Fremont)
6-7 | 255 | OT | Cincinnati
Top 100 tackle prospect nationally was first team OPSWA D-II All-Ohio last season.

23. Maurice Hamilton | Cleveland Heights
6-4 | 345 | OIL | West Virginia
Top 35 interior lineman prospect nationally is nicknamed “Mr. Pancake.”

24. C.J. Doggette | Pickerington Central
6-4 | 230 | DL | Cincinnati
Named honorable mention OPSWA D-I All-Ohio last year after helping the Tigers reach the state final.

25. Avery Henry | St. Clairsville
6-6 | 305 | OT | Iowa State
Three-star recruit is a Top 100 tackle prospect nationally.