Warren G. Harding: 2024 Football Regular Season Schedule...
08/23/2024- @ Canton McKinley
08/30/2024- Akron Buchtel
09/06/2024- @ Massillon Perry
09/13/2024- Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
09/20/2024- Youngstown Ursuline
09/27/2024- @ Solon
10/04/2024- @ Boardman
10/11/2024- Youngstown Cardinal Mooney
10/18/2024- Massillon Washington
10/25/2024- @ Austintown Fitch
With scrimmages kickoff off this week, let's take a look into the opposing athletes that Warren G. Harding fans will have to watch out for this season.
To my knowledge, the following athletes meet at least one of these three requirements...
A) They were an All-Conference, County, District, or State selection in 2023.
B) They have at least one FBS scholarship offer.
C) They have a previous standout performance against Harding.
NOTE- The following opinions are strictly mine and don't necessarily reflect the thoughts of anybody within Harding's football program.
'25 OL Phillip Bowser: Youngstown Ursuline
If you there's one thing that everyone knows about the football program at Youngstown Ursuline, it's that their kids are going to be tough and disciplined. That's especially true with them being under the leadership of head coach Dan Reardon, who once took the same freshmen varsity players that went 1-9 in 2018 (the season before he got there) and nearly won state with them in 2021. With that level of growth with the same talent pool over the course of three years, just imagine how the athletes are who only know his way of coaching.
These days, offensive lineman Phillip Bowser can be found dominating the trenches up front for the Fighting Irish. Checking in at 6-foot-5 and a very lean 265 pounds, he makes life much easier for his teammates by making it much harder for the opposition. The media certainly thinks so as in 2023, he was a 1st Team All-Steel Valley Conference, All-Mahoning County. and Division III All-Northeast Inland District selection while he was also named to the OHSAA All-Division III 2nd Team.
To date, Bowser's offer sheet includes the likes of Akron, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Marshall, UMass, Ohio U, Robert Morris, Saint Francis University, Temple, Western Michigan, and Youngstown State University.
'25 QB Sherrad Bennard III: Massillon
The first of a plethora of Massillon Tigers on this list, Sherrad Bennett III is also one of the newest additions to a program coming off of their first OHSAA state championship of the playoff era (post-1972). In 12 games last year for Bennett High School (Buffalo, NY), he completed 102-of-166 passes for 1,799 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just four intercepions while gaining 212 rushing yards and another score on 49 carries. His average of 4.3 yards per carry should improve for a Massillon squad that's armed with elite offensive linemen up front and loaded with talent that will look to spread the field and keep opposing defenses guessing.
On my end, it's uncertain how heavy of a workload that Bennard will get as the Tigers still have the luxury of having experienced quarterback Jalen Slaughter on the roster, who we will discuss below. However, head coach Nate Moore just showed the entire state how effective his system can be with rotating a running threat under center as DaOne Owens accounted for 2,868 yards & 33 touchdowns worth of total offense, which included 1,302 rushing yards & 15 touchdowns on 140 carries. Time will tell how this season will play out, but Bennard will look to add his ingredients to Moore's recipe for success.
Recruiting wise, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Syracuse, UConn, Boston College, and Dartmouth are among the schools with eyes closely watching Bennard.
'27 ATH Brayden Bryant: Austintown Fitch
The first of a few stellar sophomore-to-be athletes who will be discussed, Brayden Bryant has "big play potential" writen all over him. Fitch has been known to have some serious speed on roaming their halls, which is often showcased every spring during track & field season. That's exactly the case here as Bryant placed 3rd in the 100 meter dash at the 2024 Division I Austintown Region Track & Field Championships with a time of 10.96. In doing so, he advanced to the OHSAA Division I State Track & Field Championships. There he put the finishing touches on his freshman year of high school by placing 8th in the finals as he clocked a 11.21 in a stiff -3.4 wind.
Anybody that advances to the OHSAA State Track & Field Meet is a monster of an athlete. For a freshman to do it and actually make the podium is beyond impressive, especially if you're familiar with the level of talent across Ohio. Bryant didn't waste any time setting a nice table up for himself moving forward and with Fitch head football coach T.J. Parker set to apply that high level skill to the gridron for the next three years, the Falcons will be in great shape as the young man continues to grow his game.
That said, the football coaching staffs at both Kentucky and Toledo have already seen enough of Bryant as each has extended a scholarship offer. My gut feeling is that more will be on the way sooner than later.
'27 DE Brady Bush: Solon
Another one of the youngest athletes on this list, Brady Bush saw heavy action last year as a freshman for Solon. At 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, he's extremely quick off of the line, handles opposing offensive linemen very well, and flies to the football. He has an excellent motor and has shown a willingness to chase down opponents on the opposite side of the field.
While the Comets are coming off an extremely rare one-win season, Bush is one of a few sophomores on their roster with a high ceiling that's ready to lead them back into contention in the Division II-Region 5 playoff race. At this early stage of his high school football career, he already has a ton of varsity experience on his side. By the time that he's a senior, he could impose a serious problem for opposing teams. As for Harding, this will be their only regular season matchup against Solon as next season, their Suburban League (National Conference) schedule won't allow them to face the Raiders moving forward.
That said, it's very likely that it won't take long for him to make an impression against Harding as he already holds an offer from Kent State. If he's already good enough to garner a scholarship offer, he's definitely one who needs to be watched out for as he continues to get even better.
'25 WR Jacques Carter: Massillon
The first of several Massillon Tigers on this list who return from their 2023 Division II state championship run, Jacques Carter led them in receiving yardage. In 14 games played, the 5-foot-10, 160-pound athlete hauled in 41 catches for 796 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 50 rushing yards and another score on seven carries.
Carter's efforts during his junior campaign continue to garner recognition. For starters, he was a 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District and Division II Honorable Mention selection at wide receiver. In addition to being recognized by the media, college coaches have expressed strong interest as he's received official offers from Temple, Bowling Green, Miami (OH), Eastern Kentucky, Ohio University, and Southern Illinois.
With the key loss of outgoing transfer Emy Louis Jr. (14 catches for 364 yards & 7 TDs in 2023) to Pickerington North, look for Carter to be among the Tigers to take his game to an even higher level this fall for head coach Nate Moore. With a state playoff championship now on their resume, they have the formula to success. Repeating will be a challenge, but if anybody is equipped to face it, it's Carter.
'25 TE/DE Demetrice Coates: Akron Buchtel
At 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Demetrice Coates is solid on both sides of the ball for Buchtel. He's so athletic at the defensive end position, he scored on a 36-yard "pick-6" last season, which is a tribute to his excellent hands and great awareness. He's a reigning 2nd Team All-Division IV selection.
While his main recognition comes from his work on the defensive side of the ball, Coates is a huge big play threat at tight end as quarterback Stevie Diamond, who we'll discuss momentarily, does a great job of finding him in space across the middle. Last year, Coates had several long touchdowns and big gains for the Griffins, who are notorious for playing a tough nonconfence schedule. They won't back down from a challenge and Coates is sure to be one of their main guys.
Central State, Baldwin Wallace, Wittenburg, and Heidelberg have all put their names in the hat for Coastes' services beyond high school. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see that list multiply this season.
'26 CB Dennis Clark: Cardinal Mooney
At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Dennis Clark brings a high level of athleticism to Cardinal Mooney's defensive backfield. In 2023, he registered 43 tackles, three interceptions, one sack, and a defensive score for an extremely young group of Cardinals. As a result of his efforts, he was a Division IV 1st Team All-Northeast Inland District and 2nd Team All-Division IV selection.
Following football season, Clark was part of Mooney's boys 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 relay teams that made it to the 2024 OHSAA State Track & Field Championships in Dayton. After battling against the tough field, Clark took the podium with his teammates as they placed 5th in the 4x400 with a tme of 3:26.88.
With the work ethic that Clark displayed through his sophomore year of high school, one can only imagine just how conditioned and disciplined he'll get as he continues his progreession as a young athlete. It's still pretty early, but his future is looking bright.
'26 CB De'Mari Clemons: Massillon
With their facilities, superior coaching across the board, strong history of sending athletes off to the next level, and a rabid fan base that's capable of selling out any venue, Massillon is a very popular destination for athletes looking for the ultimate high school football experience. I imagine that those were among the reasons why junior-to-be cornerback De'Mari Clemons made his way to Tigertown from Bennett High School in Buffalo, New York.
In 21 career games at Bennett, Clemons registered 78 tackles, 17 pass deflections, 4 interceptions, 1.0 tackles for a loss, and one fumble recovery. With two years left of high school, he already boasts offers from the likes of Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, Pitt, Syracuse, West Virginia, and his hometown school, the University of Buffalo. With head coach Nate Moore's aforementioned ability to promote his athletes, that list is almost sure to be even more loaded before it's all said and done.
Coming into this football season, the Tigers already weren't short on talent at the skill positions as is. The addition of Clemons should keep their roster fresh throughout the season. That's a dangerous thought regarding an experienced team coming off of a state championship run.
'25 OL Nolan Davenport: Massillon
Two years ago, Nolan Davenport was a 6-foot-6, 230-pound sophomore tight end for Massillon. In fact, he even caught a 34-yard touchdown in Massillon's 41-12 victory over Harding in 2022. Today, he's 50 pounds heavier and a 3-star prospect at offensive tackle according to both Rivals and 247 Sports. Last season, he helped pave the way up front for the Tigers to collectively average 239.8 rushing yards per game at a rate of 6.6 yards per carry en route to the 2023 OHSAA Division II state championship. The media definitely took notice as he was a named a 2023 All-Stark County, Division II 1st Team All-Northeast Inland, and 2nd Team All-Division II selection.
On June 6, 2024, Davenport gave a verbal commitment to the Wisconsin over the likes of Michigan State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Stanford, Arkansas, Louisville, NC State, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, etc.
With a state title under his belt and his future already set up in Madison, it's hard to imagine life getting much sweeter for Davenport. The idea of him wanting even more for his career shouldn't exactly be the most grand thought for opposing teams as he's already gone against some of the absolute best that Ohio has to offer. That said, he's scheduled to match up against six out-of-state opponents this fall who are all new additions to the Tigers' schedule from 2023. Recent history gives us zero indication that these fresh challenges will be too much for one of the newest Badgers.
SS Tairan Davis Jr.: Youngstown Ursuline
You'd be hard pressed to find another strong safety at the high school level with faster reflexes than Tairan Davis Jr. At 5-foot-11, 176 pounds, he reacts very quickly to the ball. So much so, his 2023 resume on defense included 101 tackles (70 solo), 3 pass deflections, 2.0 tackles for a loss, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, and a touchdown. Those efforts earned him 1st Team All-Steel Valley Conference, All-Mahoning County Selection, and Division III 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District selections.
Offensively, Davis hauled in 29 catches for 408 yards & 4 touchdowns. Those numbers should improve drastically this season with the expectation of dynamic Ursuline athlete D.C. Ferrell making the switch from wide receiver to quarterback.
On April 9, 2024, Davis committed to Akron over the likes of Temple and Ohio University. Solid get for the Zips, but as previously mentioned, he should have even more opportunities to shawcase his abilities this season. Nobody should sleep on this one just yet.
QB Stevie Diamond: Akron Buchtel
As a diehard Harding fan, I've seen plenty of matchups against Akron Buchtel over the years. Despite the Raiders' overall dominance in the win column, one thing has always been true about the Griffins. Their kids are super tough and no matter how many times you knock them down, they're going to get right back up and continue to compete.
That is exactly the case with senior-to-be quarterback Stevie Diamond. To date, he is 216-of-444 for 3,169 yards, 30 TDs, & 17 INTs in his career while racking up 284 rushing yards and another 8 touchdowns on the ground. In two career matchups aganst Harding, he's completed nearly 50% of his passes for 321 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. Again, while that may not indicate the most flawless performances, his efforts throughout the course of a game prove that he's only a play away from making something happen.
To date, Marshall and Central State have both extended offers. If sets of eyes from those schools believe in Diamond, he's certainly worth keeping tabs on when he comes to Mollenkopf in week 2.
'25 LB Rocco DiFlorio: Austintown Fitch
With Austintown Fitch's long history of producing solid defensive players, it should come as no surprise to see them have a linebacker included in this discussion. Now, Rocco DiFlorio has entered the chat.
Checking in at 6-foot, 200 pounds, DiFlorio is a tackling machine for the Falcons as he totaled 110 in 2023 with 15 of them resulting in a loss of yardage for the opposition. He was also credited with 5.5 sacks and five pass deflections. Those numbers led to All Mahoning County, Division II 1st Team All-Northeast Inland District, and 3rd Team All-Division II selections.
From where I stand, things have been quiet on the college recruiting front for DiFlorio. However, with Fitch's track record of sending their student athletes off to the next level, I doubt that it will be an issue in the long run.
'25 ATH D.C. Ferrell IV: Youngstown Ursuline
This is a very interesting one here, but it's certainly not a surprising one. Anybody who has seen D.C Ferrell IV play knows that the young man, as Stephen A. Smith would say, "is box office." Offensively, he hauled in 56 catches for 838 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding 74 yards rushng and was 2-of-4 passing for 43 yards. Defensively, he ecorded 27 solo tackles, had 10 pass deflections, and hauled in five interceptions while n special teams, he averaged 27.8 yards per kickoff return.
Those numbers garnered Ferrell All-Mahoning County, Division III 1st Team All-Northeast Inland District, and 2nd Team All-Division III selections as a wide receiver last fall.
That said, the "interesting" part about all this is Ferrell is expected to make a switch to the quarterback position. While it's a litle early for a victory lap, his skillset could lead to him making an even bigger impact offensively, which is sayng an awful lot. In any case, it should easily add to his current scholarship offer list of Saint Francis, Walsh, and Slippery Rock.
'25 DE/LB Michael "C.J." Fowler II: Canton McKinley
Canton McKinley already had a wealth of talent returning this season, especially in their 2025 class. However, one of a slew of incoming transfers who should make an immediate impact is Michael "C.J." Fowler II.
Last year for St. Pius X High School (Houston, TX), Fowler registered 1 tackles (21 solo), seven tackles for a loss, and three sacks. These efforts earned him Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools All-Division I-District 2 selection while he was also named to the TAPPS 1st Team All-Division I squad. The idea of adding more firepower to a McKinley defensive front that already includes Dior Garner and K’Vuone McNeal is an insane thought.
Fowler's move to Northeastern Ohio gave Tiffin University the opportunity to get an upclose look at the defensive presence, so an offer was extended. However, with the number of college coaches traveling on State Route 77 and getting off on Fulton Rd. these days, expect this list grow exponentially in the upcoming months.
'25 LB John Frangos: Youngstown Ursuline
Coming into this season with over 250 career tackles on his resume, linebacker John Frangos is a force in Ursuline's experienced linebacker core. Last season, he led the Fighting Irish with 106 tackles while also adding six tackles for a loss, four pass deflections, two sacks, and two interceptions.
His efforts in 2023 reulted in a spot on the All-Mahoning Valley Team. With the graduations of several key teammates from last year, look for him to raise his intensity level up a few notches as the Fighting Irish look to bounce back from their stunning loss to Chardon in the Region 9 Final.
In addition to excelling on the football field, Frangos also excels in the classroom as he currently carries a 4.0 grade point average. That should be a major selling point as his head coach Dan Reardon will look to get him on a college football roster after this season.
'25 RB Ja'Meir Gamble: Massillon
The second leading rusher on the 2023 Divsion II state champion Massillon Tigers, tailback Ja'Meir Gameble should yield a much heavier workload due to the departure of quarterback Da'One Owens, who as mentioned earlier, rushed for 1,302 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. In addition to that, the absence of current Bowling Green Falcon Dorian Pringle should open up more scoring opporunities as well as he plowed his way to 246 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 50 carries last season.
Be that as it may, Gamble still got in on the action as he tallied 948 rushing yards and five touchdowns of his own on 142 carries while he caught 8 passes for 106 yards and an additional score. While he won't be alone in the running back room, he'll be expected to play a huge role as the Tigers will look to make a repeat run at state.
Since earning Division II 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District and Division II Honorable Mention selection last season, Gamble has been rewarded with scholarship offers from both Temple and Central Michigan.
'25 OL/DL Dior Garner: Canton McKinley
When you think of the more dominant linemen in Ohio's class of 2025, Dior Garner's name should be towards the top of your list. At 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, the senior-to-be is a monstrous, well-conditioned force on both sides of the ball.
Garner's efforts from last season include 52 tackles (12 for a loss), three pass breakups, and two sacks. Offensively, he only allowed one sack in 13 games. His role as a wall up front this upcoming season will be extremely beneficial to teammates Jamar Johnson and Nino Hill, who will both be discussed momentarily. Overall, Garner's resume earned him 2023 selections on the All-Federal League 2nd Team and Division I All-Northeast Inland District Honorable Mention.
Fans of the Bulldogs should be happy to know that Garner's football playing days will extend beyond the high school level as on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, he verbally commited to Bowling Green State University. The Falcons won the recruiting war over the likes of North Carolina State, Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH), Youngstown State, etc.
'25 FS Tyler Hackenbracht: Massillon
One of the anchors of Massillon's state championship-winning defensive backfield, Tyler Hackenbracht has moe than just an "Eye Of The Tiger." He has an eye for the football as he compiled 54 tackles (25 solo), 12 pass deflections, three interceptions, and two interceptions in 2023.
As a result of his efforts, he was an All-Stark County, Division II 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland, and Division II Honorable Mention selection.
Tyler's father, Massillon Safeties Coach Dan Hackenbracht, played college football at Michigan State. In fact, he's a former teammate of 1996 Warren G. Harding alum LaVaile Richardson. Meanwhile, Dan's daughter, Sam Hackenbraht, is currently putting the finishing touches on her senior softball season as a catcher for Ohio State. On January 17, 2024, Tyler added his name to his family's tradition of NCAA athletes when he officially committed to Toledo. The other schools in the mix for his services included Temple and Miami (OH).University.
'26 G Logan Hayes: Canton McKinley
A 6-foot-5, 255-pound junior-to-be, Logan Hayes didn't waste any time making an impact for Canton McKinley. His size, strength, and quick feet allowed him to be a force up frontas a sophomore last year for the Bulldogs who were not only potent with their ground attack, but will love it even more this season as they added former Glenoak tailback Jamar Johnson, a reigning 2nd Team All-Division I selection, to share the workload with returning senior Nino Hill.
In a world where social media now makes it easier than ever for college coaches to have access to potential prospects in the country, the University of Kentucky has already extended an offer to Hayes, who is only starting to scratch the surface of his potential.
With McKinley's expectations extremely high this season, Hayes will look to elevate his game as he tries to help this current group of Bulldogs try to emerge as a serious contender in Division I.
'25 RB Nino Hill: Canton McKinley
At halftime of Warren G. Harding's season opener against Canton McKinley last year, the two old rivals were knotted at 14 points apiece. In the second half, the Bulldogs unleashed Nino Hill, who didn't play in at all in the first two quarters. The tailback made his presence felt as he tallied 158 rushing yards & two touchdowns on just 11 carries as McKinley closed the game with 19 unanswered points in their 33-14 victory in Warren. He'd go on to finish the season with 938 rushing yards & seven touchdowns en route to being named a 2nd Team All-Federal League selection.
Now checking in at 6-foot, 200 pounds, Hill will look to put the exclamtion point on his high school football career in a revamped offensive backfield that includes two huge incoming transfers in quarterback Kam Montgomery and fellow tailback Jamar Johnson, who will both be discussed momentarily. Despite the fact that the workload will be spread around more, that philosphy will only keep Hill fresher and make him even more dangerous on his touches.
On June 25, 2025, Hill kicked off his summer with a commitment to the University of Buffalo. The Bulls won the battle for his services over the likes of Ohio State (perferred walk on offer), Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, East Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, Louisinana-Monroe, Miami of Ohio, Toledo, UMass, and Youngstown State.
'25 K/P Brock Huggins: Massillon Perry
If you thought that kickers would be neglected from this discussion, you couldn't have been more wrong as Massillon Perry's Brock Huggins is the first of two on this list. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior-to-be has a powerful leg that he more than knows how to use.
Last season, Huggins made 34 of his 35 extra points for Perry. In fact, 34 also equals the number of kickoffs that he nailed into the end zone hile his career-long 45-yard field goal suggest that if you want to keep the Panthers scoreless, allowing them to get inside of your 30-yard line likely won't yield the best results. If by chance you do in fact limit Perry's offense, the likelihood of being rewaded with great field position is also slim as his 39 yards per punt average also inculded a long of 64 yards.
Those efforts resulted in 1st Team All-Federal League, All-Stark County, and Division II 2nd Team-All Northeast Inland District selections for Huggins, who also holds an offer from Charleston.
'25 RB Donald Johnson Jr.: Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
In nine football games played last year for Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Donald Johnson Jr. carried the ball 174 times for 1,024 yards and 16 TDs. The problem for Harding is that 233 yards and 4 touchdowns out of that production came in week 4 when the Fighting Irish came back to knock off the Raiders 42-28. Unfortunately for Johnson, his health made him unavailable in the week 11 rematch as Harding ounced on St. Vincent-St. Mary 35-0.
Despite injuries prematurely ending his junior year campaign, Johnson was a 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District and All-Ohio Honorable Mention selection in Division II.
While there hasn't been many (public) rumblings on the recruiting front, I'd personally vouch for Johnson to any college football coach. This young man can play as his overall presence alone is a huge difference maker for the Fighting Irish. Time will tell what happens with him beyond high school, but I hope that ultimately, he lands on a campus somewhere.
'25 RB Jamar Johnson: Canton McKinley
Warren G. Harding's football program would be the first to tell you that slowing down Canton McKinley tailback Nino Hill was already a tall enough task for opposing defenses. Now, the Bulldogs ground attack will have even more extra sauce to it in incoming transfer Jamar Johnson.
In the last two seasons fo Glenoak, the tailback has totaled 2,005 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 295 carries. Last fall, he caried the ball 194 times for 1,315 yards and 7 touchdowns en route to 1st team selections in the Federal League, Stark County, and Division I Northeast Inland District while he was listed on the 2nd Team All-Division I squad.
As I've said for a couple others above, I haven't heard much about Johnson's college recruitment. That said, I have to imagine that McKinley head coach Antonio Hall is receiving plenty of phone calls regarding his 5-foot-11, 200-pound proven talent at tailback.
'26 DB Lennox Lemon: Massillon
In addition to working with his caching staff to develop his talent, Massillon head coach Nate Moore could sell water to a whale. Even if you never met him, one glance at his social media accounts would give you a good idea of just how hard he works to promote his young athletes to the next level.
In the case of rising junior defensive back Lennox Lemon, he didn't need to set the world fire statistically to get noticed by coaching staffs at the next level. Rather, he played his role among his loaded team and came up big when it mattered most as he registered 14 tackles (nine solo), seven pass deflections, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and one blocked kick.
To date, Lemon has scholarship offers from Temple, Akron, and Ohio University. As impressiive as that is for an athlete his age, I have to believe that this is just the beginning.
'25 TB Mylen Lenix: Massillon
The son of former Cleveland Glenville linebacker Freddie Lenix, Mylen Lenix is carving out his own legacy as a Massillon Tiger. In 11 games last year, he ushed for 332 yards and six touchdown on 32 carries. While those numbers may not jump off the stat sheet, he'll always be emembered for scoring the lone touchdown, a 6-yard run, in Massillon's 7-2 triumh over Archbishop Hoban in the 2023 OHSAA Division II state championship game.
For that alone, Lenix's name will live on foreveer in Tigertown. However, playing for a head coach the baliber of Nate Moore often results in playing opportunities beyond the high school level. As it appears, Lenix won't be an exception to that unwritten rule as he currently holds offers from Temple and Saint Francis University.
With the Tigers being crowded at the tailback position, it will be inteting to see just how much Lenix's role will increase as he heads into his senior year. that said, we already know that he's capable of coming up big in the biggest mooments.
'27 TE/DE Dom Letlow: Cardinal Mooney
We can't talk about the promising rising sophomores on Harding's schedule without mentioning Dom Letlow. At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, he already possesses tools that make him extremely effective off the edge on defense. Even when he's not making tackles, the pressure that he applies to opposing quarterbacks makes him just as disruptive.
His game reminds me of former Mooney defensive end Taylor Hill, a 2008 alum who played collegiately at Michigan. As great of a compliment as that is, Letlow is out to make his own name with this generation of Cardinals. With programs like Harding, Youngstown Ursuline, Steubenville, and Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph on the slate, he'll have an abundance of opportunities to show the state that he's going to be a problem for a while.
Meanwhile, the University of Kentucky didn't hesitate to make a move on Letlow as they extended a scholarship offer on November 1, 2023. A couple months later on January 30, 2024, Akron xtended an invitation for him to become a Zip.
'25 ATH Dante McClellan: Canton McKinley
You'd be hard pressed to find a more complete football player than Dante McClellan. Of course, he's not the first elite athlete to roam the halls of Canton McKinley High School and history strongly suggests that he won't be the last. In this young man's case, he's a 6-foot-2, 210 pound stud who can fly across the field.
Equipped with great hands and a keen nose for the football, McClellan hauled in 32 catches for 518 yards and two touchdowns while compiling 75 tackles (13 for a loss), four sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble during the Bulldogs' 9-4 campaign in 2023. His efforts led to 1st Team honors in the Federal League, Stark County, and Northeast Inland District while being voted a 2nd Team All-Division I selection at linebacker.
Not only does McClellan check every box for a strong McKinley squad, he's done the same for his 22-team college offer list. On Monday, April 22, 2024, he announced his verbal commitment to the University of Missouri over the likes of USC, Michigan State, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Louisville, Pitt, Tennessee, Minnesota, etc.
'25 DE K’Vuone McNeal: Canton McKinley
Last season, K'Vuone McNeal reportedly played 11 football games with a broken finger. However, his 15 tackles for a loss and 11.0 sacks hardly suggests that he was limited. The media certainly didn't think so as the 6-foot-3, 235-pound defensive end was an All-Stark County, Federal League Honorable Mention, Division I 1st Team All-Northeast Inland District, and Division I Honorable Mention selection.
To date, Bowling Green, Kent State, Buffalo, Marshall, Grand Valley State, and Tennessee State University have all extended scholarship offers to McNeal.
Wth good health to go along with a loaded group of Bulldogs at his side moving forward, it's going to be difficult for opposing offenses to gain much traction on the McKinley defense.
'25 LB Vito McConnell: Massillon
For most high schools, losing two linebackers the caliber of Dorian Pringle (Bowling Green) and Cody Fair (Navy) to graduation would be depleting. For Massillon, it'd just open up more opportunities for their hungry group of Tigers, which includes rising senior Vito McConnell.
Last year, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound linebacker totaled 36 tackles (19 solo), 4.0 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, three pass deflections, one sack, and one fumble recovery. While those numbers didn't come with any recognition from the sports media, his overall resume led to his verbal commitment to Miami (OH) University on March 19, 2024. He chose the Redhawks over the likes of Bowling Green, Buffalo, Army, Dartmouth, Kent State, Marshall, and Temple.
With a larger leadership role this fall, maybe a 1st team selection or two will come with it for McConnell. In any case, I'd like to believe that the free college education that awaits him is far more meaningful.
'25 OL/DE Michael Millin: Massillon Perry
While Massillon Perry doesn't have the biggest presence on this list (at least compared to two of their Stark County counterparts), it should be noted that they'll return eight starters on both offense and defense (16 total) this fall. That's an awful lot of experience. Among those leaders is Michael Millin.
Last year, the 6-foot-2, 235-pounder was a force off the edge for the Panthers. His quickness creates an explosion off the line makes him difficult for opposing offensive tackles to deal with. While that's easy to see on film, his All-Stark County and Division II 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District honors came courtesy of his work on Perry's offensive line.
With Perry's reputation of running an old school Wing-T offense, Millin is a tool up front that could ignite a Perry squad that's looking to bounce back to their dominating days from a decade ago when they were big a big threat in Division II.
'25 QB Kam Montgomery: Canton McKinley
As previously mentioned, the already-loaded football roster of Canton McKinley's got a lot more crowded since last fall. One of the biggest new names that the entire state of Ohio will hear about is Kam Montgomery. After throwing for 570 passing yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore for College Park High School (The Woodlands, TX), in 2022, his production more than tripled last year as he tossed for 1,625 yards and 21 touchdowns.
With the departure of graduating senior quarterback Keaton Rode, Montgomery will look to spread the wealth with his new set of weapons. At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, he'll always have great views of guys like Keith Quincy, Dante McClellan, Nino Hill, and Jamar Johnson, just to name a few, racing across the field to get open. With his size, it won't surprise me to see him utilize his legs by tucking the ball and taking off more than this report might suggest.
To date, Montgomery has official offers fromBowling Green, Walsh, and Brown University, where he could potentially become a future teammate of current Harding senior defensive back Airiz Coleman Bey. On Thursday, August 22, both of these young men will look to give each other a long night.
'27 RB/LB Javier Moore: Canton McKinley
As I've noted several times already, Canton McKinley is stockpiled with an abundance talent. While much will be said about some of their returning lettermen and incoming transfers, they also have some rising sophomores who not only showed some great signs as freshmen last year, but they've also showcased their potential to college coaches.
That perfectly describes Javier Moore, who will look to make his footprint alongside a very experienced group of Bulldogs. A 6-foot, 200-pounder who provides depth at both tailback and linebacker, an added bonus to that is that he has the luxury of observing and competing against some of Ohio's best at those positions in practice every day, which will only be beneficial to his development.
The coaching staff at the University of Kentucky has already received the memo on Moore as an official offer was extended on May 20, 2024. If an SEC school is already getting the party started, we can expect plenty more news in the future.
'25 WR/DB Keith Quincy: Canton McKinley
Alphabetically speaking, the last couple of names that were discussed emphasize a point that some may be tried of hearing by now. If this was a show on NBC, it'd be called, "Canton McKinley's Got Talent" and if you know anything about wide receiver Keith Quincy, you know that he's worth the show's infamous "golden buzzer."
At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Quincy was the Buldogs' leading receiver last year as he hauled in 43 catches for 903 yards and six touchdowns while dfensively, he brought down six interceptions and scored two more touchdowns. As a result, He was a 1st Team All-Federal League, Division I 1st Team All-Northeast Inland District, and 2nd Team All-Division I selection.
To date, Quincy holds offers from both Temple and the University of Akron. Again, after all of the Bulldogs that we've already discussed, it's a foregone conclusion that moving forward, the communication between their staff and college coaches is going to be petty constant. Stay tuned.
'27 WR/CB Khyier Robinson: Solon
By now, everybody should realize that Ohio's talent pool of underclassmen will carry on the torch of great football that the Buckeye State has always been known for. Another name that we have to add to that list is Solon's Khyier Robinson. As I previously mentioned earlier, a big part of the Comets' rare down season in 2023 can be attributed to their youth. This season, young leaders should emerge from those lumps and get them back where they need to be.
Expect one of them to be Robinson, a versatile 6-foot-1, 184-pound athlete who didn't wait for the summer to make a great impression on coaches at the next level. On April 30, 2024, the Universities of Akron and Toledo got the bidding war started as both extended scholarship offers. Two days later, their MAC Conference counterarts Kent Stat and Miami (OH) University also submitted their requests for his services.
If Solon does indeed emerge back into the mix in Division II-Region 5, it will only add more fuel to the fire that is Robinson's recruitment.
'25 K/P Anthony Ruggles: Austintown Fitch
While I'm known to take every chance that I can get to talk about the toughness of Austintown Fitch's athletes, we must discuss their special teams unit. In doing so, we have to start out by talking about kicker Anthony Ruggles. Dare I say, but we may not have seen a stronger leg out of Austintown since Super Bowl XXXIV legend Jeff Wilkins was setting it off in Falcon Stadium in the late 80's.
Of course, Ruggles has a long way to go if he was to come close to matching Wilkins' resume, but this kid can literally kick it out of the stadium. After receiving All-Mahoning County and Division II Northeast Inland District Honorable Mention selections, he took that mementum into the offseason and has dominated the camp circuit. In fact, after his performance at the Kohls Kicking National Scholarship Camp, he was given a 5-star rating and named the 16th best kicker in the entire country (#1 in Ohio). On top of that, he has a young protege behind him on Fitch's roster in junior-to-be Jaxon Faulkner.
I'm sure that we'll be digging a lot deeper into Faulkner's potential in the near future. Right now, the University of Akron wants Ruggles to be part of their future as an offer was extended on May 7, 2024.
'25 QB Jalen Slaughter: Massillon
As mentioned above, the addition of incoming transfer quarterback Sherrad Bennard III makes me wonder how that will effect the workload of Jalen Slaughter. That said, what I'm not about to do is completely disregard what he has alwways been to his team.
After 35 career games played, Slaughter currently ranks 4th in Massillon history in completions (262), passing yards (4,112), and touchdowns thrown (49). In 2022 against Harding, he went 14-of-19 for 248 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-12 victory over the Raiders. After splitting time with the dynamic DaOne Owens last year and potentially with Bennard this season, it will be interesting to see what his role with the Tigers will be moving forward.
In any case, his future is pretty safe as both Kent State and Akron have both extended scholarship offers.
'26 DE A.J. Snyder: Youngstown Ursuline
No preview of Harding opponents would be complete without a strong presence from Youngstown Ursuline. That'd be the case in any year, but as long as they are under the watch of current head coach Dan Readon, you can bet your last dollar that the Fighting Irish will be a force.
This year, look for junior-to-be defensive end A.J. Snyder to continue to raise his level of play. In 2023, he totaled 84 tackles (50 solo), seven tackles for a loss, and five sacks. His efforts resulted in All-Mahoning County and a Division III 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District selection.
Recruitng wise, it's still very early for the 6-foot-2, 220-pound sure tackler. If I know Coach Reardon (which I do), I know that he'll do everything in his power to make sure that Snyder eventually makes it to the next level. For now, he'll continue to perfect his craft at one of the most successful programs in the Mahoning Valley.
'26 WR Devonte Taylor: Youngstown Ursuline
While we're on the subject of Youngstown Ursuline, we have to discuss the potential of their dynamic wide receiver Devonte Taylor. As a sophomore in 2023, he hauled in 40 catches for 679 yards and eight touchdowns. In a Division III playoff game against Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph on November 10, 2023 , he scored the longest touchdown in Ursuline history on a 99-yard pass from quarterback Jack Ericson.
Taylor's efforts in 2023 reulted in an All-Mahoning County, 1st Team All-Steel Valley, and Division III 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland selection. As I mentioned above, with athlete D.C. Ferrell IV switching to quarterback this season, look for Taylor to improve on his numbers in his junior season.
To date, Taylor has official scholarship offers from Indiana, Cincinnati, Temple, Youngstown State, Toledo, and East Carolina. As always with these young stars, espect that list to grow as his career progresses.
'25 WR Braylyn Toles: Massillon
As we approach the end of the preview, we head back to Stark County for another look at the returning stars for the reigning 2023 Division II state champion Massillon Tigers. This time, we look at what wide receiver Braylyn Toles brings to the table.
At 5-foot-8, 150 pounds, Toles isn't going to intimidate anybody with his size. Quite frankly, he doesn't have to as he can often been found simply running past or winning jump balls against opposing defenders. In 14 games played last season, he hauled in 46 catches for 619 yards while leading the Tigetrs with eight touchdown catches. In two career games against Harding, he's hauled in 10 catches for 128 yards and one score.
While Toles' efforts (to my knowledge) have yet to yield a scholarship offer, he was listed as a Division II All-Northeast Inland District Honorable Mention. As far as college goes, Toles' size may be an issue because his game is cerainly not. In any case, I hope that everything eventually works out for him beyond this season.
'25 DL Michael Wright Jr.: Massillon
I'm not sure if the phrase "Last, but not least" was ever more fitting than it is right now for Massillon senior Michael Wright Jr. On paper, the seemingly undersized 5-foot-11, 280-pound defensive tackle doesn't jump off the page for most college recruiters. However, while I'm not quick to speak for high school football coaches, I can promise you that there isn't one in Ohio that will overlook the 2023 1st Team All Stark County, Northeast Inland District, and Division II selection.
Widely known in Tigertown as "Big Mike," Wright amassed 36 tackles (30 solo), 15.5 tackles for a loss, three pass deflections, and two forced fumbles while offensively, he tallied 118 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns on 29 carries during Massillon's 16-0, state championship campaign last fall. His heart and intensity more than makes up for his lack of height as he was a key piece on a stacked defense that eventually sent three young men to Division I FBS programs in defensive end Chase Bond (North Carolina State), linebacker Dorian Pringle (Bowling Green), and linebacker Cody Fair (Navy).
On July 23, 2024, Wright committed to Younsgtown State University over the likes of Bowling Green, Ashland, Ohio Dominican, Mercyhurst, Grand Valley State, and Southern Illinois. 247 Sports has 141 high school football prospects in Ohio ranked, but Wright isn't one of them. Meanwhile, Massillon has six out-of-state opponents this season in NFL Academy (UK), Bergen Catholic (NJ), Canisius (NY), DeMatha Catholic (MD), Football North (ON), and Miami (FL) Edison. All of which are loaded with college football prospects. Hopefully for them, they won't rely solely on 247 Sports' Ohio prospect rankings because if anybody sleeps Wright, they'll be in for a rude awakening.
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