2017 Ohio football Division II preseason state poll and preview

Video: Jay Volpenhein highlights
Watch the senior quarterback and reigning ECC offensive player of the year in action against Troy in last year's playoffs.

With competitive balance making its debut and new regional alignments in place, Division II appears wide open. The early favorites are a pair of defending state champions in LaSalle (D-II) and Hoban (D-III). The Lancers have won three straight D-II titles, while Hoban has won two straight in D-III. After that it gets cloudy. Expect Anderson, Troy, Turpin and Holland Springfield to make strong postseason pushes. Also, don't be shocked if someone not on this list makes a march towards Stark County.

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Here's a look at what to expect in D-II...

EF'S JJH/MP OHIO HS PRESEASON TOP 10

1. Archbishop Hoban (Akron) – 14-1, D-III state champion, Region 9 champion
The Knights are coming off back-to-back state titles but bump up a division due to competitive balance. No worries. Senior receiver Garrett Houser (30 receptions, 946 yards, 31.5 yards per catch, nine touchdowns) has committed to Navy, while fellow senior receiver Nate Bauer holds 12 offers (including Boston College, Maryland, Syracuse and Minnesota). Senior running back William Collier is being pursued by Minnesota and Youngstown State. Junior offensive lineman Nolan Rumler has committed to Michigan (over Alabama). Senior defensive back Daulson Fitzpatrick holds offers from Bowling Green, Western Michigan and Central Michigan. Senior defensive end Daeshon MartinLuke Murphy holds 13 offers, including Minnesota, Rutgers, Pitt and Boston College.

2. La Salle (Cincinnati) – 13-2, D-II state champion, Region 8 champion
The Lancers started 2-2 last year and then won 11 straight games and their third straight state title. Graduation took its toll, but plenty of talent remains. Senior quarterback Griffin Merritt, senior defensive lineman Zach Rumpke, senior tight end Josh Whyle (Cincinnati) and junior linebacker Brody Ingle were all first team All-Greater Catholic League South Division last season. Merritt was the GCL South’s leading passer with 1,930 yards and 21 touchdowns. A new stable of running backs will be called upon.

3. Anderson (Cincinnati) – 7-4, Region 8 quarterfinalist
The Redskins return five All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference players from an offensive unit that averaged 42.6 points per game last season. Senior quarterback Jay Volpenhein was named the ECC’s co-offensive player of the year after throwing for 3,541 yards and 43 touchdowns. He also ran for 929 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior running back Kyle Blaha (1,242 all-purpose yards, 16 total touchdowns), senior receiver Amadaz Jones (73 receptions, 917 yards, 13 touchdowns), senior receiver Austin Watt (40 receptions, 550 yards, eight touchdowns) and junior offensive lineman Zeke Correll are also back.

4. Troy – 10-2, Region 8 semifinalist
The Trojans had arguably Ohio’s most surprising season last year. After going 2-8 in 2015, Troy won 10 games and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Both losses were to Miamisburg. Defense will be a serious strength moving forward. Senior lineman Joah Stricker (56 tackles, 7.5 sacks), senior lineman Christian Nation (59 tackles), junior back Sam Jackson (48 tackles, seven interceptions), senior back Derek Mcdonagh (55 tackles), senior linebacker LB John Wehrkamp (62 tackles) and senior back Zach Boyer (32 tackles) were all All-Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division selections last season. Junior linebacker Shane Shoop is the team’s leading returning tackler (69 stops). He also generated four forced fumbles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries last season. Senior linebacker Zack Schwausch (36 tackles) returns as well.

5. Springfield (Holland) – 10-1, Region 6 quarterfinalist
The Blue Devils are looking for the program’s third straight playoff berth (which would be a first) and sixth overall. Junior quarterback Aj Gucciardo has already broken or tied eight school records and holds an offer from Kent State. Last year he threw for 2,506 yards and 29 touchdowns. Senior offensive lineman Tyler Long has committed to Toledo. Senior receiver LaKeith Jackson is a weapon.  

6. Barberton - 8-3, Region 5 quarterfinalist
The Magics are coming off their first playoff berth since 1998 and just the program’s third overall. Expectations and excitement are high. Senior quarterback Zane Ries (2,560 yards passing, 26 touchdowns) returns, as does one of his favorite targets - senior receiver Garrett Turnbaugh. Both hold an offer from Ohio Dominican. Senior linebacker Keye Thompson (offers from Ohio, Akron and Bowling Green) headlines the defense.

7. Turpin (Cincinnati) – 11-1, Region 8 semifinalist
The Spartans offense will feature senior quarterback Lucas Smith (1,607 passing yards, 25 total touchdowns), while the defensive headliners include senior defensive backs Griffen Durso (three interceptions) and Will Hausfeld (six interceptions). Hausfeld (nine total touchdowns) doubles as an offensive threat at running back where he was the team’s leading receiver last season (27 receptions).  The senior specialists – kicker Harry Sand (9-for-9 field goals last year) and punter Jake Silverstein – are seasoned.

8. Benedictine (Cleveland) – 3-7
The Bengals bump up from D-III, but expect the seven-time state champion to compete immediately. Six of last year’s seven losses were by a touchdown or less. Senior athletes Keith Williams (66 tackles) and Christopher Jefferson return as does a pair of seasoned quarterbacks - Levi Pokersnik (senior) and Nicholas Demchuk (junior). Senior kicker John Dosen is a good one. Keep an eye on senior receiver Michael Williams.

9. Washington (Massillon) – 8-3, Region 7 quarterfinalist
The Tigers feature one of Ohio’s top junior prospects in athlete Jamir Thomas. The projected linebacker is a Top 200 recruit nationally according to 247sports composite rankings and holds seven offers (including Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and West Virginia). Senior defensive end tandem of Ty Keirns and Myron Welch (offers from Miami and Bowling Green) is a good one.

10. Sidney – 4-6
The Yellows Jackets own one postseason appearance in program history (1989), but expectations and excitement are high. So is the squad’s talent level. Senior running back/defensive back Isaiah Bowser (1,877 rushing yards, 30 total touchdowns) has committed to Northwestern, while senior defensive lineman Devan Rogers (108 tackles) is headed to Toledo. Other key returners include sophomore defensive back Darren Taborn (29 tackles) and junior linebacker Christian Townsend (36 tackles). Keep an eye on quarterback Andre Gordon (Iowa State offer) who is one of the country’s Top 200 junior prospects (247sports composite rankings). Gordon, who missed the final nine games last season with a broken wrist, accounted for 22 touchdowns as a freshman. He is a two-sport star that also holds D-I basketball offers (Toledo and Wright State). Difficult GWOC North slate awaits.

Teams to Watch…

* Westerville South (Westerville) – 1-9
The Wildcats feature the state’s most explosive and versatile senior in all-purpose and defensive back Jaelen Gill. The 26th ranked prospect in the country and the No. 2 all-purpose back by the 247sports composite rankings, Gill, who is headed to Ohio State, was recently named one of Top 10 playmakers in high school football by MaxPreps. Gill rushed for 1,553 yards and 19 TDs as a sophomore. Fractured his fibula and missed his entire junior season. Seniors Jeriel Adarquah-Yiadom (defensive end) and Jonnie Woods (defensive back) are ones to watch.

* St. John's Jesuit (Toledo) – 6-4
The Titans will feature two of Ohio’s top senior prospects in linebacker Dallas J. Gant (Ohio State) and offensive lineman Austin Beier (Minnesota).

* North Ridgeville – 3-7
The Rangers will rally around two of Ohio’s best in senior running back Shomari Williams (1,530 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns) and senior linebacker Jamir Malone (120 tackles, 25 tackles-for-loss).

* Avon – 10-1, Region 6 quarterfinalist
The Eagles, who are looking for their eight straight playoff berth, will feature senior offensive lineman Jimmy Mckenna (Purdue) and senior linebacker Kyle Kudla.

* Kings (Kings Mill) –8-3, Region 8 quarterfinalist
The Knights return senior tight end Tommy Bauman (34 receptions, 544 yards, five touchdowns), senior offensive lineman Sam Burgin, junior specialist Hunter Jessee, junior running back Jake Stylski (803 yards, 10 touchdowns), senior receiver Justin Wise (50 receptions, 499 yards, four touchdowns) and senior linebacker Ethan Young. All were All-ECC last year.

Keep an eye on…
Teays Valley (Ashville)
Wooster
Hudson
Perrysburg
Ashland
Winton Woods (Cincinnati)
Lima Senior (Lima)
Wadsworth