These are the best high school football players in Greater Cincinnati
Here’s a sneak peek at the Cincinnati Enquirer’s list of the top 25 high school football players in each class.
The 2024 high school football season in Southwest Ohio officially begins in less than a week, as Elder and Withrow start on August 22nd.
To help prepare fans for the season, The Enquirer has compiled top-10 rankings for each division in Ohio, as well as Northern Kentucky and Indiana.
Southwest Ohio’s selection of Division I teams is the cream of the crop. The Greater Miami Conference and Greater Catholic League-South will once again flex their muscles, but new to the mix this year is Winton Woods. Can the Warriors return to their state champion form in their first year in the big leagues?
Check out the top 10 teams in Division I below.
University sports: Fall in love with the Enquirer’s 2024 preseason coverage
1. Princeton
Record 2023: 12-1, Division I, Region 4, regional semifinals
Influential players: QB Deangelo Birch, RB David Hambrick, RB Teryntino Brown-Foreman, WR Antonio Hunter, WR Landen Miree, OL Jonathan White, DE Khy’Lek Jarrett, LB Paul Nelson, LB Andre Parker, Jr., LB Greg Williams, DB Andrew Wells
Season outlook: Defense is the name of the game for the Vikings. Nelson is the reigning Ohio DI Defensive Player of the Year and is supported by Jarrett, Parker and Williams. But they can also score a lot of points; last year they scored 30 points in eight games.
Princeton has a packed schedule, opening the season against Moeller before facing Lakota West, Mason and Hamilton in the first six weeks.
2. Winton Woods
Record 2023: 8-4, second round of Division II, Region 8 playoffs
Influential players: QB Seaonta Stewart Jr., RB Tyler Gooding, RB Isaiah Garrett, TE Ryan Cooley, WR Charles Mathis II, OL Raphael Greene, DL Delan Massey-Wright, DE Jaylen Mercer, LB Justin Hill, LB Erick Morris, DB Donmiel Rogers, Jr .
Season outlook: The Warriors allowed nine points per game in 2023, which is by far the best in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference. With defensive coordinator Carlton Gray and Alabama newcomer Justin Hill, their defense will be one of the best teams in town.
Look for Winton Woods to be more consistent on offense. In the final seven games of 2023, the Warriors only scored 20 points once. With Stewart as a dual-threat quarterback and Gooding and Garrett in the backfield, they will run all over the field. Cooley and Mathis return as lead receivers to give the offense a really dynamic look.
3. St. Xavier
Record 2023: 7-5, second round of Division I, Region 4 playoffs
Influential players: QB Chase Herbstreit, ATH Daniel Vollmer, RB Jacob Britt, WR Cam Taylor, OL Tucker Kattus, DL Gordy Sulfsted, LB Jakobe Clapper, DB Brayden Reilly
Season outlook: Steve Specht’s troops cannot be kept under control for long.
A second-round playoff appearance would satisfy many DI teams in southwest Ohio, but not the Bombers, who strive to advance deep into the postseason every year.
Quarterback Chase Herbstreit has had another offseason to mature and will have reliable offensive weapons in Daniel Vollmer, Jacob Britt and Cam Taylor. Gordy Sulfsted, Jakobe Clapper and Brayden Reilly are the big names on defense, but with the Bombers having one of the most well-staffed sidelines in Southwest Ohio, new faces are sure to emerge at key moments.
There are no free weeks for the Bombers. They travel to Lakota West, Centerville and Trinity (Kentucky) and host Indianapolis Cathedral, Withrow, Cleveland St. Ignatius and Life Christian Academy (Virginia).
Can St. Xavier win the GCL this year? These five players are worth keeping an eye on for the Bombers
4. Moller
Record 2023: 10-5, Division I semifinalist
Influential players: QB Matt Ponatoski, RB Desmon Gault Jr., WR Jovan Love, WR Roman Mason, WR Matthew Fogler, TE Sam Hamilton, TE Cooper McCutchan, OL Marty Adkins, OL Mateo Armento, DL Jonah Hayes, DL Thomas Gerke, LB Conner Cuozzo , DB Micah Rice, DB Griff Daley
Season outlook: Are the Crusaders inevitable? They started 2023 1-3 under new head coach Bert Bathiany, but still made it to the semifinals for the third year in a row.
They’re losing a ton of Division I talent from last year (Alex French, Jewett Hayes, Karson Hobbs, Jordan Marshall, Kyler Paul and Drew Robinson), but just as many are returning. Ponatoski, who broke the school record for most passing yards in a season as a sophomore, is a DI recruit for football and baseball. Receivers Jovan Love, Roman Mason, Matthew Fogler, Sam Hamilton and Cooper McCutchan are all being watched by college scouts. Although Marshall is gone, six offensive linemen return to the offensive line to protect Ponatoski and pave the way for Desmon Gault Jr.
Micah Rice, Conner Cuozzo, Jonah Hayes and Thomas Gerke will form a defense in 2023 that held eight opponents to 10 points or less.
The Crusaders have one of the toughest schedules in the state. Outside of league play, they travel to Princeton, Bishop Dwenger (Indiana), St. Ignatius and Muskegon (Michigan) and play a neutral site game in Ironton against Benedictine Academy (Georgia).
The Chaos Mob: Three reasons why Moeller Football could be a state championship contender in 2024
5. Lakota West
Record 2023: 11-3, Division I, Region 4, runner-up
Influential players: QB Jackson Smith, QB Sam Wiles, RB Braydon Johnson, RB Kenyon Norman, WR Trey Barnette, TE Luka Gilbert, TE Xavier Ratica, OL Vincent Giordano, OL Christian O’Neal, LB Grant Beerman, LB/TE Reilly Newman, LB Micah Markley, LB Cam Thomas, DB Finn Mason
Season outlook: The Firebirds had a slow start to 2023 while they had to sort out their quarterback situation. Don’t expect that to be the case this season.
Sam Wiles took over in the second half of the season and will take that experience into his senior year. Luka Gilbert looks to be the best receiver and has a long catch radius at 6’1″. Lead runner Braydon Johnson returns, as does national champion 4×100 relay player Kenyon Norman.
Since transferring from Colerain, head coach Tom Bolden has kept Lakota West’s defense at the same level as his former school. That was evident in the Firebirds leading the GMC in points allowed every year since 2020 and boasting consistent production from DI recruits. Grant Beerman has committed to Purdue and Cam Thomas has multiple offers. In short, the emphasis on defense is at an all-time high at West Chester.
If Lakota West can survive the initial challenge from St. Xavier, Hamilton and Princeton, the team should be well positioned for the rest of the season.
6. Hamilton
Record 2023: 8-4, second round of Division I, Region 4 playoffs
Influential players: QB Antonio Mathis, RB/LB Gracen Goldsmith, WR/DB Marlon Reed, WR/DB RJ Shephard-Ruffin, WR/DB Cairon Navey, DL Trey Verdon, LB CJ Bryant, DB Carter Isaacs, DB Jailen Morris
Season outlook: Look for the Big Blue as a contender in the Greater Miami Conference this fall.
Antonio Mathis and RJ Shephard-Ruffin lead the offense, while Trey Verdon and Carter Isaacs are the defensive playmakers. Hamilton has nine of its top 10 tacklers back from 2023; the defense will play a big role in keeping the Big Blue competitive, while the offense can iron out any potential issues.
The GMC schedule is never easy and this year is no exception. Hamilton travels to Lakota West in Week 2 and Mason in Week 4 before Oak Hills and Princeton visit Virgil Schwarm Stadium. Hamilton also gets an early test from neighborhood rival Badin, who will test the Big Blue’s defense.
7. Milford
Record 2023: 11-1, second round of Division I, Region 4 playoffs
Influential players: QB Luke Brand, WR/DB Ethan Melgard, WR/DB Caden Bailey, RB/DB Tim Dick, OL/DL Daniel Walker, DL Sione Lolo, LB Christian Felix, DB Isaiah Carranza, DB Carter Ings, K Mason Cooper
Season outlook: The Eagles have no plans to slow down after the first undefeated regular season in school history. They lose a 1,000-yard rusher in Nate Webster, three of their top four receivers from 2023 and plenty of experience in the trenches, but can count on a younger cast to step up.
Brand and Walker are two of the best players in the city at their positions and will serve as leaders. Head coach Tom Grippa knows how to get the best out of his players.
Milford plays Winton Woods in Week 3, Anderson in Week 6 and the Kings in Week 8. These three games will not only serve as a litmus test, but will also be crucial to where the Eagles finish in the ECC.
8. Elderly
Record 2023: 7-5, second round of Division I, Region 4 playoffs
Influential players: QB Eli Roden, RB Joey Thamann, TE Brayden Boeing, WR Christopher Paff, DL Chris Cowans, LB Maddox Arnold, LB Luke Fortkamp, LB George Guidugli, DB Derek Uran, S Cooper Sandhas, S Joey DiTullio
Season outlook: The Panthers are looking to end their streak of second-place finishes in the Greater Catholic League-South. The toughest part will be replacing quarterback Ryan Brass, who contributed 2,795 all-purpose yards in 2023. It will be a team effort, split between Roden, Thamann and Paff.
Elder returns a veteran defense that fits perfectly in the tough lifestyle of the GCL-South. Arnold and Fortkamp were selected to the league last year, but Cowans, Guidugli, Uran and DiTullio return as key playmakers on defense.
Elder has the advantage of two home games in the league (St. Xavier in Week 6 and La Salle in Week 10). Their Week 7 game against Moeller at Nippert Stadium is also a must-see.
9. Bricklayer
Record 2023: 7-6, Division I, Region 4, regional semifinals
Influential players: QB Caden Ashhurst, RB Temi Adesanya, WR Branden Dunn, OL/LB Cameron Hunter, DL Juan Bates, LB Ryan Davis, S Preston Estoesta, K Max Gogul
Season outlook: The Comets have lost a lot of productivity from last year, but being one of the biggest schools in Ohio, they will always have a lot of different characters.
Temi Adesanya averaged 4.3 yards per carry last year. Cameron Hunter, a transfer from Fenwick, will make an immediate impact on both sides of the ball. Preston Estoesta is the only returning player who had multiple interceptions last year.
Mason opens its season away at 2023 Region 3 regional semifinalist Gahanna Lincoln.
10. Oak Hill
Record 2023: 5-6, first round of Division I, Region 4 playoffs
Influential players: QB Wil Kraus, RB Max Supe, WR Sipho Mkwananzi, DL Julian Harris, LB Max Rhodes, LB Cooper Harrison, DB Anthony Young, DB Kane Powell
Season outlook: The Highlanders had a constant rotation of quarterbacks last year due to injuries. If they stay healthy this fall, Wil Kraus will take all the snaps, allowing Max Supe to take over most of the running. Supe also played a key role on punt and kickoff returns.
Oak Hills loses a lot of defensive production, but Max Rhodes returns as a statistical and emotional leader. As one of the best linebackers in southwest Ohio, he has drawn attention from several Mid-American Conference schools.
