How Usa Today Network Writers Chose Ohio’s Best Football Players
Usa today network writers chose the 2025 ohio’s best football players from a pool of all-state and nationally ranked players.
As a preview to The 2025 football seasonThe High School Sports Staff of Usa today network ohio’s 21 newspapers And websites have compiled its annual oho’s best list.
The staff determined a pool of Ohio High School Athletic Association Athletes based on Criteria Including State and National Recognition, Team Success with their Leadership and More. Writers ranked that pool of athletes from 1 to 25. The totaled points provided this final ranking.
This is the last of a four-port series that also included Girls volleyball, Boys Soccer and Girls Soccer,
No. 1 ‒ matt ponatoski, cincinnati moeller
Ponatoski is the reigning Mr. Football and Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year (In Football and Baseball). The two-sport kentcky committee LED Moeller to the Division I State Final Last Season While Throwing for more than 4,000 yards and 55 touchdows.
No. 2 (tie) ‒ cinesere Johnson, Cleveland Glenville
Johnson was the division IV defensive player of the year and a first-team all-ohioan. The Ohio State Commit Register 205 Tackles, 31 for Loss, 8½ Sacks, Forced Three Fumbles and Two Pass Breakups for the Tarblooders.
No. 2 (tie) ‒ Victor Singleton, TOLEDO Central Catholic
Singleton was the Division III co-defensive player of the year and a first-team all-ohioan. The Texas A & M Commit Register Four Intercepts and Six Pass Breakups for the State Runner-Up Fighting Irish.
No. 4 ‒ Jamier Brown, Huber Heights Wayne
The junior is the nation’s top receiver and no. 8 player in the country for the 2027 class, according to 247Sports. Last Season, Brown Caught 63 Passes for 1,035 Yards and 13 Touchdowns.
No. 5 ‒ Elbert Hill IV, Akron Hoban
Hill was a first-team divhyion II all-ohioan. A Cornerback, The Four-Star Recruit and Southern California Commit Had 56 Tackles, Two Sacks, Five Interceptions and Two Interceptions and Two DefenseVe TouchDowns, and He Broke Up 26 Passeses. He Also Returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and had five tds on offense (Three receiving and two rushing).
No. 6 ‒ Sam Greer, Akron Hoban
Greer was a first-team division II all-ohioan. An Offensive Tackle, The Four-Star Recruit and Ohio State Commit Helpeed Hoban Rush for 3,545 Yards and 45 TDS on 468 Carries a year ago. The knights gained 236.3 yards per game on the ground and 7.6 yards per carry.
No. 7 ‒ Brayden Fogle, Lexington
Last Season, Fogle Earned First-Team All-State, First-Team All-Northwest District and First-Team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference Honors as a Wide Receiver After making 59 CATCHES for 792 Yard and Fite Touchdowns. The Senior has committed to georgia.
No. 8 ‒ favorite akih, delaware hayes
A Four-Star Recruit Who did not take up football until his freshman yearAkih burst onto the Scene Last Fall by Rushing for 1,653 yards and Amassing 21 Total Touchdowns. Ranked the no. 6 Running Back Nationally By Rivals, The 6-Foot, 190-Pound Akih Earned First-Team All-DISTRICTRICT and All-State in Division I and Committed to oho state in JuneHe chose the Buckeyes Over miami and usC.
No. 9 ‒ ja’kobe clappper, cincinnati st. Xavier
The Senior is one of Several Division I Commits in St. Xavier’s linebacker group. Clapper Committed to Notre Dame in May after A Junior Season that Included 105 Total Tactles (54 SOLO), 11½ tackles for loss, 4½ skeks, two Sacks, Two Fumble Recoveries and A FOMPLED FOURCED FOUMBLE
No. 10 (tie) ‒ CJ Sanna, Olentangy
A 6-3, 225-Pound Linebacker, Sanna AMASSED 97 Tackles ‒ Including 37 Solo and Nine for Loss ‒ with Seven Sacks, Two Forsed Fumbles and Two Fumble Recoveries in Powering The Braves to EIST WORS Fall. The first-team all-message and third-team all-state honoree in Division I Committed to Ohio State in AprilAnd Two Months Later Won the state discus championship (194 Feet, 11 inches). Sanna plans to graduate early and enroll at osu in January.
No. 10 (Tie) ‒ Maxwell Riley, Avon Lake
Riley was a first-team division II all-ohioan. The ohio state committee and four-star recruit is ranked the no. 11 Offensive Tackle in the Country and the No. 7 player in ohio, according to the 247Sports composite.
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No. 12 ‒ Shahn Alston, Paneesville harvey
Alston was second-team all-ohio in division II and is a usC committee. Alston Finished His Junior Year With 131 Carries for 1,104 Yards and 16 Touchdowns and 14 Receptions for 184 Yards. He Missed The First two Games Last Season While Recovering from Knee Surgery.
No. 13 ‒ Ace Alston, Cincinnati Anderson
Alston is one of two anderson players to be ranked in the state’s top four the 2027 class by 247Sports. The 5-11 Cornerback Had three interceptions last year, including one in the division II state championship game.
No. 14 ‒ Kaden Gebhardt, Olentangy
A 6-2, 200-Pound Safety and Four-Star Recruit Who Committed to cleanson in MarchGebhardt Had 94 Tackles, Including 32 SOLO and Five for Loss, Along with five pass breakups, two interceptions and two touchdowns last fall as a junior. Gebhardt amassed more than 30 divisions I offers, was named first-team all-distach and all-state and is 247Sports’ Top Recruit in Central Ohio Regardless of position. Gebhardt also was on Olentangy’s State Championship Baseball Team in the spring.
No. 15 ‒ Ben Congdon, Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley
CONGDON is a 6-7, 285-Pound Offensive Tackle Committed to Miami. The four-star recruit was an honorable mention all-ohioan last year and is ranked as the no. 13 recruit in the state.
No. 16 ‒ Brayton Feister, Akron Hoban
Feister was second-team division II all-state. The Four-Star Recruit Rushed for 2,104 Yards on 296 Carries and Scored 26 Touchdowns. He’s also a standout linebacker, where he is being recruited by more than 20 divisions.
No. 17 ‒ Adam Guthrie, Washington Court House Miami Trace
Guthrie is a 6-7, 285-Pound Three-Star Prospect at Offensive Tackle Who is Committed to Clemson.
No. 18 ‒ Storm Miller, Strongsville
Miller was a division I first-team all-ohioan. The Texas A & M Recruit Finished 2024 with 90 Tackles, 20 for Loss, 10 Sacks and An Interception from His Linabacker Position.
No. 19 ‒ Jakob Weatherspoon, Avon
Weatherspoon was a first-team divhyion III all-ohioan. A Safety, The North Carolina Commit Made 59 Tackles Last Season. He Also Had Two Interceptions and Seven Pass Breakups.
No. 20 ‒ Cam Thomas, West Chester Lakota West
A third-team all-set linebacker in division I last season, The Illinois Commit Had 84 Tackles (35 SOLO), 14½ tackles for Loss, Four Sacks, Three Forced Fumbles, A Fumble Recovery and An Interacation Laust Season.
No. 21 ‒ Devlan Daniel, Cincinnati Indian Hill
As a sophomore last year, daniel was the cincinnati hills league’s offensive player of the year and a first-team all-state selection in division iv. Expected to be Indian Hill’s Quarterback in 2025, Daniel was a running back last year with 2,260 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns. He also had two interceptions and two socks.
No. 22 ‒ Daniel Vollmer, Cincinnati St. Xavier
Volmer is a multipurpaose threat. In 2024, He LED the Greater Catholic League-South with 834 rushing yards and 13 scores while also catching 18 passes for 211 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 27.2 yards per kickoff return, including a 97-yard touchdown in the postseason. The third-team all-set running back has committed to vanderbilt.
No. 23 ‒ Henry Ohlinger, Grandview Heights
The 6-1, 210-Pound Running Back and Four-Star Recruit Did a Little Bit of Everything for the Bobcats Last Fall as a Junior, Rushing for 1,788 Yards and 28 Touchdowns, Catching Six Passes for 168 yard and amsing All-purpose touchdowns. Ten of that came from 50 or more yards. The Indiana Commit Also Had 63 Tackles, Including 14 for Loss and Nine Sacks, At Linebacker. Ohlinger earned first-team all-districk and all-state on offense in Division Vi.
No. 24 ‒ pete eglitis, watterson
A three-year starter and linchpin of the Defending Division III State Champions, effective offensive lineThe 6-7, 290-Pound Eglitis Helped Pave The Way For A Unit that Averaged 39.9 Points and 368.3 Yards in 2024. Watterson’s offense was largely balanced betteren the Run and PASS. The Three-Star Tackle Committed to Iowa State in June.
No. 25 ‒ rihyael kelley, cincinnati winton woods
The 6-3 Senior Safety Committed to Alabama in June. He Had Two Interceptions and Provided Stellar Pass Defense for the Warriors in 2024.
Others receiving votes
Lual AleuCincinnati winton woods; Nathan Bernhard, Ashland; Landry BredeMentor; Ace brownAkron Hoban; Jonathan BrownDesales; Caden Carter, Cuyahoga falls walsh jesuit; Demari ClemonsMassillon washington; Luke collinsGahanna lincoln; Payton cookHoban; Parker crimElida; Levi DavisOleentangy orange; Gabe davis-ray, Columbus academy; Brayden devitoShelby; Malachi Eravin, Pickerington north; Preston fryzel, TOLEDO Central Catholic; Sam HamiltonCincinnati moeller; Carson HarrisBatavia; Jance henryHoban; Antwoine Higgins, Cincinnati anderson; Allen Hill, Youngstown Chaney; Ryder hooks, Liberty Township lakota East; Marcus hughbanksBatavia; Kalel JohnsonCincinnati taft; Jordan karhoffDesales; Grady kinseyGnadenhutten Indian Valley; Nick kinseyHoban; Joey KopecCuyahoga Valley Christian Academy; Robert Lathon, Hartley; Pj macfarlaneLakota East; Cooper mccutchan, Moeller; Aaron mcfarlandCincinnati oak hills; Jaylen Mercer, Winton woods; Landen Miree, Cincinnati princeton; Jarin Mock, Pickerington north; Casey Myser, Medina highland; Andre parkerPrinceton; Milan ParrisWalsh jesuit; Phil Partin, Akron manchester; Jamir Perez, Cleveland Glenville; Reinaldo perezColumbus academy; Henry perrymond, Cleveland heights; Jermaine polkToledo st. Francis; Aden reederCincinnati st. Xavier; Brayden reellySt. Xavier; Arthur Scott, Streetsboro; Devonte taylor, Youngstown Ursuline; Brayden thomasLakewood st. Edward; Lucas tielsch, Copley; Derek uranElder; Mike van der OordCleveland St. Ignatius; D’Angelo WhiteCleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph; Jamarcus Whyce, Trotwood-modison; Mason Wilhelm, St. Edward; Ja’dyn williams, Massillon