The Fab 40: Warren G. Harding Opponents (Individuals) To Watch In 2026

With Warren G. Harding set to kick off their 2026 football season in three weeks, it’s officially time to get into FOOTBALL MODE!  One of the things that I like to do is to provide a list of opposing players to watch out for.  

To my knowledge, the following athletes meet at least one of these requirements...

A) They were an All-Conference, County, District, or State selection in 2024.

B) They have at least one college scholarship offer.

C) They have a previous standout performance against Harding.

D) Seemingly favorable changes to a school’s coaching staff. 

E) I’ve actually seen them in action (game film/in person, workout videos, etc.)

NOTE- The following opinions are strictly mine and don't necessarily reflect the thoughts of anybody within Harding's football program.  

‘30 ATH Johnny Adams Jr.: Massillon

For as loaded as Warren G. Harding’s football schedule is, it’s crazy that an incoming freshman is leading off this list.  That said, longtime Raider fans may actually recognize the name as Johnny Adams Jr. is the son of a former gridiron legend who went to battle in Mollenkopf Stadium on more than one occasion.

A 2008 alum of Akron Buchtel High School, Johnny Adams Sr. was a four-year starter for the Griffins.  In his career, he accounted for over 4,000+ all-purpose yards, hauled in nine interceptions, and scored 37 touchdowns.  In fact, despite the fact that Harding actually holds an all-time record of 12-1 against Buchtel, the longest score in the history of the series is actually an 81-yard fumble return by Adams in 2007.  That explosiveness led to an outstanding collegiate football career at Michigan State, where he elevated from a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2010 to earning First Team All-Big Ten honors in 2011 and 2012, and a professional football career that spanned from 2013 to 2018.  In his first season as a member of the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2015, he was named CFL West All-Star.

Fast forward to 2026, it appears the apple hasn’t fallen too far from the tree as Adams Jr. enters his freshman season at Massillon with scholarship offers from Pitt, UTEP, Arkansas State, Akron, Miami (OH), and North Texas.  With lineage on his side to go along with the coaching and resources in Tiger Town, the sky is the limit for this talented young athlete who, as of the release of this write up, has yet to to see varsity football action.  However, with the current climate of college football, it's now more difficult than ever for high school athletes to get their foot in the door as the transfer portal has dominated recruiting in recent years.  With that being said, if multiple Division I schools have already placed their names in the hat for Adams Jr., I think that it will be in everybody’s best interest to keep their eyes open.

‘28 Anthony Blalock Jr.: Austintown Fitch

While Austintown Fitch has been one of the more elite football programs throughout the Mahoning Valley in recent memory, this fall has the potential to be the season for them to take a larger step forward as they will be armed with a plethora of offensive weapons.  The foundation of their attack will begin with the big hogs up front, which will feature one of the most sought out offensive linemen in the entire country for the class of 2028 in junior-to-be Anthony Blalock Jr.

Checking in at 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, Blalock is a monstrous behemoth who moves his opposition with great force.  While the Falcons are never short of talent at the tailback position, they’re currently armed with, statistically, the best one that they’ve ever had in senior Deon'Dray Richard, who we will discuss more in depth later on in this piece.  What I can tell you about him right now is that he’ll continue to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the powerful force of Blalock.

On July 13, 2026, Blalock verbally committed to Alabama over the likes of Ohio State, Indiana, Texas Tech, Penn State, Florida State, Cal, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Iowa State, Louisville, Maryland, Cincinnati, Syracuse, and North Carolina.  With the biggest decision of his life out of the way, he can focus on helping the Falcons in their quest to make a push in Division I: Region 1 that includes perennial powerhouses the likes of Lakewood St. Edward, Canton McKinley, Mentor, etc.  Quiet as kept, Fitch’s brand new, state of the art indoor training facility opened up this past February.  That will provide even more resources and motivation for studs like Blalock to get even better, which is big for the Falcons’ program.

'27 OL Seth Bowen: Youngstown Ursuline

While it isn’t my goal to make this a huge point of emphasis, we all know that Youngstown Ursuline’s football program took a major hit last year.  As a result, numerous athletes transferred to other schools.  With the grueling schedule that the Fighting Irish plays, it will make the long road that they have ahead of them that much harder.

Having said the above, don’t expect Ursuline’s football program to crash and burn.  With interim head coach Tony Stephens in charge, expect him and his staff to bring a high level of toughness out of their young athletes.  In fact, there isn’t a better example to lead off with to explain that point than senior center Seth Bowen.  At 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, he’s an absolute force on the offensive front for the Fighting Irish.  As a sophomore in 2024, he was a 2nd Team All-Steel Valley Conference selection.  While he didn’t get the opportunity to showcase his capabilities for long last year, he’ll come into this fall with an intense hunger to show the world the leader that he can be.  Despite the offensive weapons that they lost from last year, whoever has the ball in their hands will have a stout safety net protecting them.

As of today, Bowen holds offers from Gannon, Allegheny College, Ohio Wesleyan, and Bethany College.  While the 2025 season didn’t do his recruitment any favors, expect that to change very quickly moving forward as he gets back to dominating under the lights.  

'27 ATH Brayden Bryant: Cardinal Mooney

Cardinal Mooney High School is no stranger to top notch talent.  Now, with the presence of second year head coach Frank Colaprete, expect that trend to gain momentum as he and his staff have already proven that they can maximize the potential of their athletes.  In his first year on the sidelines of his alma mater, the Cardinals won eight more games than they did in the 2024 season.

As impressive as that sounds, much of that effort was done without the services of senior-to-be Brayden Bryant, who has been one of the state’s more impressive athletes since he burst onto the scene as a freshman for Austintown Fitch.  So much so, he’s now one of the first athletes that I’ve ever included in three of my preseason “Players to Watch” Lists.  More on that later, but at the 2024 OHSAA State Track & Field Championships, he placed eighth in the boys 100 meter dash with a time of 11.21.  The following football season, he hauled in 17 catches for 246 yards & 4 touchdowns as a sophomore for the Falcons.

Despite only making five appearances last football season for the Cardinals, that was more than enough time for Bryant to showcase his electric skillset as he finished his junior campaign with 19 catches for 375 yards and five touchdowns.  Defensively, he registered 27 tackles, 10 pass deflections, five interceptions, one fumble recovery, and another score.  His efforts continue to be handsomely rewarded as his current offer list includes the likes of Kentucky, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Akron, Old Dominion, Toledo, Miami (OH), James Madison, and Youngstown State.  With as big of a splash as he’s made throughout his college recruitment, I have a feeling that his best days are still ahead of him.

'27 RB/LB Christian Culler: Massillon

Checking in at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, Christian Culler is the second Tiger from an absolutely loaded Massillon squad on this list.  Yet, he’s still one of the more underrated football players in Stark County.  This past season, he was third on the team in tackles (54; 27 solo) and tackles for a loss (10.0; tied with classmate Isaac Maxheimer), tied for first in forced fumbles (three; Braylon Gamble), and and in a three-way tie for first in interceptions (3; tied with Gamble & Deontay Malone).  Mind you, he did this while also on the same field as linebacker Ja’Dyn Williams, a 1st Team All-Division II selection who is now on the roster of the reigning NCAA FBS national champion Indiana Hoosiers.

In addition to his workload on the defensive side of the ball, Culler also racked up 155 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 18 carries (8.6 yards per carry) for the Tigers.  On October 17, 2025, he had three carries for 13 yards and one touchdown on offense while totaling five tackles (three solo), 1.0 tackle for a loss, and a forced fumble against Harding.  At the conclusion of last season, he was named a 2025 Stark County Honorable Mention selection.

This season, Culler will have some new company at the linebacker position, which we will discuss momentarily.  That said, with Williams now at the next level and the Tigers’ elite coaching, there’s room for Culler to have an even bigger role in the Tigers defense this season as he has more than proven that he can contribute to a winning brand of football.  So much so, he is currently entertaining scholarship offers from Clarion and West Liberty University.

'27 SS Shad Davis: Canton McKinley

Since the advent of the sport, “Canton McKinley” has always been one of the biggest names in high school football.  With their recent upgrades to their coaching staff and facilities, expect that to strengthen sooner than later.  “Exhibit A” in this write up is Shad Davis, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound strong safety who has been a major defensive force for the Bulldogs since his sophomore season.  He has great awareness, a strong nose for the football, and a great overall feel for the game.  Davis’ career totals include 125 tackles, 16.0 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, three sacks, and two forced fumbles.  Last season, his production (75 tackles, 8.0 tackles for a loss, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles) led to 1st Team selections in the Federal League, Stark County, and Division I Northeast Inland District while he also racked up 2nd Team All-Division 1 honors.  To date, he has reeled in scholarship offers from the likes of Akron, Kent State, Miami (OH), and Youngstown State University. 

With McKinley’s ability to develop their talent, especially with the presence of world renown Mike Winkler as their Director of Strength & Conditioning, expect Davis to continue to shine bright.  The margin for error will be minimal as following their week one showdown with Harding, the Bulldogs will go on the road to battle perennial juggernaut Lakewood St. Edward before heading into their solid Federal League slate, and of course, anchoring their schedule with their annual clash with Massillon.  Win or lose, expect the big stages to bring the absolute best out of Davis.

'27 RB/LB Brady Desmond: Cardinal Mooney

Whether you were around for their 1973 OHSAA Class AAA state championship or you witnessed their run in from the mid 2000’s into the early 2010’s, many of my readers are old enough to remember when Cardinal Mooney was one of the strongest football programs in the entire state.  Last season, the “Mooney” that our generations know of started to resurface just a little bit under new head coach Frank Colaprete.  A big part of that was the play of tailback Ike Lake, who finished his senior season with 146 carries for 1,105 yards (7.6 yard per carry) and 14 touchdowns.

That said, when Mooney matched up with Harding on October 9, 2025, it was fullback Brady Desmond that left the biggest mark on the game for the Cardinals.  While the Raiders limited him to 36 rushing yards and one touchdown on his five carries, the bulk of that came on his 34-yard touchdown run at the 8:53 mark of the first quarter.  That was the only touchdown of the game for either team as the Cardinals held on for a 7-3 victory at Mollenkopf Stadium.

Desmond would go on to finish the season with 104 carries for 559 yards and 13 touchdowns while defensively, he totaled 46 tackles (27 solo), three tackles for a loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery.  As a result, he was named to the All-YSN Team and the OPSMA named him a 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District selection.  Lake’s graduation will open up even more opportunities for the 5-foot-10, 205-pound Desmond, who averaged 5.4 yards per carry as the second option offensively.  Between that and his overall toughness, don’t be shocked if he really takes off this fall, especially with Colaprete’s proven ability to get the most out of his talent.

‘27 ATH Vinnie Fecko: Ursuline

While we’re still pretty early into this list, we’ve already touched on just how “pedigree” can affect generations.  For some, it seems like football is just meant for them.  If anybody knows about winning at the high school football level, it’s former Cardinal Mooney head coach P.J. Fecko.  In his 20-year stint as the head of the Cardinals, he compiled 158 wins, won four state championships (2004, 2006, 2009, 2011), and three state runner-up finishes (2005, 2007, 2013).

Today, Vinnie Fecko is the one making a name for himself.  Ironically, the son of P.J. is downing the colors of his father’s old arch rival in Youngstown Ursuline.  Last season, Vinnie got off to a hot start with a stellar performance at Steubenville when he totaled 127 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries as the Fighting Irish left the hostile confines of "Death Valley” with a 37-7 victory.  A week later, Vinnie came through with another solid outing when he finished with 48 rushing yards and another score on 11 carries in a 34-7 victory over Columbus Bishop Hartey.

Just as the Fighting Irish were off to as hot of a start as you could imagine, their season was canceled after just two games.  While many student athletes departed Ursuline to play elsewhere, Vinnie is one of the more elite players who returned to represent 750 Wick Street in Youngstown.  As I said earlier, you can expect the same level of toughness from Ursuline’s program, especially with Vinnie fresh and waiting to take on a heavy workload.

‘27 RB/LB Brayton Feister: Massillon

This century alone, Massillon has sent eight linebackers off to play Division I college football.  The most impressive thing about that is that six of those guys graduated this decade as Caiden Woullard (2020- Miami of Ohio & Oklahoma), Maverick Clark (2023- Mercyhurst), Dorian Pringle (2023- Bowling Green), Cody Fair (2023- Navy), Vito McConnell (2023- Miami of Ohio), and Ja’Dyn Williams (2026- Indiana) were all key contributors on the Tigers’ recent defensive units.  As crazy as that sounds, that list is already guaranteed to grow by at least two more over the next couple years as two of the most sought out linebackers in the entire nation (in their respective classes) will now call Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium their home field.

The oldest of the pair of brothers is senior-to-be Brayton Feister, who has one of the most lengthy resumes anywhere.  As a sophomore at Archbishop Hoban in 2024, his 1,583 rushing yards & 22 touchdowns led to an OPSWA First Team All-Division II selection at tailback.  Later on in the 2024-25 school year, he finished the wrestling season as the Division II state runner up in the 215-pound class.  While he followed that up with 116 carries for 1,098 yards & 17 touchdowns last season, he was even more productive on the defensive side of the ball as his 133 tackles (39 for a loss), 13 sacks, four forced fumbles, two interceptions, and two defensive scores not only lead to First Team All-Ohio honors at linebacker, but the OPSMA also named him the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year in Division II.  

A three-time Max Preps All-American, it’s been reported that Brayton has done 41 reps of 225 pounds on the bench and at Massillon’s Football Showcase on May 14, 2026, he clocked a 4.44 40-yard dash, reaching a top speed of 23.8 miles per hour in front of over 100+ college football coaches.  They’re all definitely in on the hype as Oregon headlines an offer list that includes Indiana, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Georgia, Florida State, Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan, USC, Louisville, Washington, Auburn, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Wisconsin, Cal, SMU, UCLA, Missouri, Purdue, Arizona State, Pitt, Boston College, West Virginia, Rutgers, Maryland, Colorado, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Southern Mississippi, Boston College, Toledo, Central Michigan, James Madison, Kent State, Miami (OH), and Ohio University.

‘28 EDGE/LB Brydon Feister: Massillon

While Brayton Feister is the definition of “must see TV,” his 6-foot-4, 240-pound younger brother Brydon doesn’t take a backseat to anybody.  In fact, the insane thing about him is that while he was also a First Team All-Summit County, Northeast Inland District, and Division II selection at linebacker for Archbishop Hoban, you can legitimately argue that football isn’t even his best sport as the junior-to-be has a career record of 47-3 and is already a two-time OHSAA Division II Wrestling state champion.

As of August 1, 2026, 247 Sports has Brydon ranked as the 24th best college football prospect in Ohio for the class of 2028.  However, I’m not sure if there’s 23 football players in the entire Buckeye State, let alone just for his class, that holds an offer list that’s as loaded his as Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Minnesota, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida State, Auburn, Cal, Arizona State, Purdue, Kent State, and Ohio University are all currently in on the bidding war.

With Massillon’s history of developing athletes at the linebacker position, there’s no telling how much better Brydon could actually get.  In any event, anticipate another year of stingy, hard hitting defense from the Tigers’ front seven.

'27 OL/DL Dayvionne Floyd: Massillon

Long before any of us were born, Massillon was putting Ohio high school football on the map.  So much so, they’re currently ranked second in the nation with 968 all-time wins.  They trail the 971 victories by Valdosta (GA), whom the Tigers defeated 28-17 in their only head-to-head matchup ever on August 18, 2023.  That victory jumpstarted what would eventually become their 16-0 Division II state championship winning season.

While we’re already well into the discussion of the weapons that help make them a preseason favorite to potentially make another run at a state crown, one aspect that we have yet to talk about is their offensive line.  That’s where senior Dayvionne Floyd enters the conversation.  At 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, he has helped open up gaping holes against some of the stiffest competition that Ohio has to offer. His efforts not only led to him being named 1st Team All-Stark County, the OPSMA also named him 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District.  In addition, his coaches named him their “Ducky Schroeder Award” winner that they give out to their best offensive lineman. 

As of today, Floyd holds football scholarship offers from Capital, West Liberty, and Clarion. With Massillon’s all-time victory winner in head coach Nate Moore leading the way, that list is very likely to grow as he’s well known for helping his players get into quality colleges.  For now, Floyd will look to help the Tigers plow their way to another triumphant football season.

'27 S Braylon Gamble: Massillon

When your own father is considered one of the greatest football players to ever compete for your school, it adds another layer to the motivation to become great.  That’s the luxury that Massillon senior Braylon Gamble has as his father, Brian Gamble, was an absolute beast at both tailback and strong safety for the Tigers in his day.   From 2004 to 2006, Brian compiled 2,487 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, hauled in 56 catches for 991 yards and an additional eight touchdowns while defensively, he registered 184 tackles (21 for a loss), 16 pass deflections, and seven interceptions.  As a senior in 2006, he helped lead Massillon to a berth in the OHSAA Division I State Championship Game before eventually going on to play for Illinois and Ashland University.  In 2017, he was inducted into the Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame.

Fast forward two decades later, Braylon isn’t living in the shadow of his father.  Rather, the 6-foot-1, 195 pound safety has succeeded in making a name for himself as last season, he registered 46 tackles (25 solo), seven pass deflections, 3.5 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.  On October 17, 2025, he compiled four tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, and 0.5 tackles for a loss in the Tigers’ 42-10 victory over Harding.  His efforts throughout the season earned him 1st Team All-Stark County and 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District selections.  

On April 11, 2026, Braylon originally committed to Miami of Ohio.  However, momentum started to shift just over a month later on May 13, which is when he received his first Power-4 offer from Boston College.  On June 14, he officially flipped his commitment to the Golden Eagles.  His other offers included Toledo, Bowling Green, Kent State, Ohio University, New Mexico, Howard, UT Martin, and Mercer.

'27 OT/DT Marcus Garner Jr.: Massillon

While we’re still well inside the top half of this list, you can already get a sense that Massillon is going to have its fingerprints all over this list.  It’s a testament to the program that head coach Nate Moore and his staff have in Tiger Town as they’re expected to be one of the better teams in all of Ohio.  With that, we’ll get back to where it all begins for their offense. 

The second of three Tiger offensive linemen on this list, Marcus Garner is a 6-foot-3, 280-pound bully up front.  While mainly found playing offensive tackle, he also registered 18 tackles (5 solo), 1.5 tackles for a loss, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery.  His efforts earned him 1st Team All-Stark County and an OPSMA All-Northeast Inland District Honorable Mention selection.  

To date, Garner has scholarship offers from Kent State and Youngstown State.  While incoming transfers and rising talent could slightly affect his usage rate (mainly defensively), that’d only mean that we’re going to see a fresher version of him when he is on the field.  Not exactly a welcoming thought for opposing teams.

'27 EDGE/LB Rashad Harris: Austintown Fitch

The situation that came to light at Youngstown Ursuline last year left a lot of “what if” questions.  They had a plethora of young athletes with a world of potential.  While some like the aforementioned Bowen and Fecko stayed, many others opted to spread their wings and fly elsewhere.  The first that we’ll talk about who should soar this fall is linebacker/edge rusher Rashad Harris.

As a sophomore in 2024, Harris totaled 48 tackles and eight sacks, one of which came against Harding on September 20, 2024.  In Ursuline’s two games last year, he registered 12 tackles and one sack, with the bulk of that coming in their final game against Columbus Bishop Hartley (nine tackles and one sack).  There was so much left in the tank for Harris, who will now exert that energy as a senior for Austintown Fitch.

While the stolen season prevented Harris from fully showing what he can do, it didn’t prevent Youngstown State University from extending him his first offer to the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder on May 6, 2025.  Two weeks later, it was followed up by an offer from Findlay.  I imagine that being among the first to put their names in the hat for Harris is a good thing as he may end up being one of the biggest sleepers in the entire state.  In any event, expect a strong campaign for Coach T.J. Parker’s Falcons this fall.

‘27 WR Darius Hill: Canton McKinley

It’d be impossible for me to discuss potential impact players on Harding’s football schedule without mentioning Canton McKinley senior wide receiver Darius Hill.  At 5-foot-7, 165 pounds, he might not jump off of the scouting report on paper.  However, opposing teams would be foolish to not know exactly where he is on the field at all times as he’s proven to be lightning in a bottle who is capable of striking very quickly.

In two career games against Harding, Hill has snagged a total of five catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns (9, 24).  Last season, he hauled in 46 catches for 530 yards and eight scores.  As a result, he was named 1st Team All-Federal League, All-Stark County, and an OPSMA All-Northeast Inland District Honorable Mention selection.  To date, he has collected scholarship offers from Ohio Wesleyan and Heidelberg.

As my readers should know by now, I am very big on COACHING!  As special as we know certain athletes to be, we often ignore the impact that the adults in place have in enhancing the abilities of their young athletes.  In McKinley’s case, they’re coming off of a solid first year of leadership under current head coach Renard “Renzy” Parnell.  Not only is he heading into his second year as the leader of the Bulldogs, but the aforementioned presence of Coach Mike Winkler, McKinley’s Director of Strength & Conditioning,  should only continue to push a player like Hill to even greater heights.  In any event, expect Hill to have a heavy workload when the Raiders invade Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on August 21.

‘27 WR Gio Jackson Jr.: Massillon

Graduation took a huge toll on Massillon wide receiving corps as Braylyn Toles (4th in school history with 1,936 receiving yards) and Jacques Carter (10th in school history with 1,356 receiving yards) both walked the stage in 2025.  However, that opened the door for Gio Jackson Jr. to emerge as the top wideout for the Tigers as last season, he led the team in catches (43), receiving yards (533), and receiving touchdowns (eight).  That includes his dynamic performance against Harding on October 17, 2025 when he hauled in six catches for 61 yards and a 14-yard touchdown.

Jackson’s work throughout his junior year campaign resulted in an All-Stark County Honorable Mention and 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District selections.  To top it all off, he received scholarship offers from the likes of Toledo, Kent State, Miami (OH), Buffalo, Central Michigan, Ball State, Dartmouth, etc.

On June 15, 2025, Jackson committed to the Redhawks of Miami (OH).  That’s a huge get for someone who just got his first major taste of experience last season and is very likely to get much better moving forward.  If that happens, keep an eye on the attention that colleges will give him as Massillon is already guaranteed to send several of their athletes to Power-4 schools next summer.  Don’t be surprised if one of them eventually comes for the 6-foot-4, 185-pound wide receiver who is only just starting to take off.

‘27 WR/DB Ray Javey: Cardinal Mooney

If you’re familiar with my work, you know that I’m very high on Ray Javey, who was originally a dynamic wide receiver and defensive back for Youngstown Ursuline.  Unfortunately, his junior season came to a halt after just two games. Thankfully, he still has a year left to showcase his abilities at the high school level, which is something that he has done since his freshman year.

After registering nine tackles (six solo) in 2023, Javey exploded as a sophomore in 2024 by hauling in 16 catches for 413 yards (25.8 yards per catch) and six touchdowns.  Defensively, he totaled 34 tackles (28 solo), eight pass deflections, three interceptions, and 1.0 tackles for a loss.  Last year, he was on pace to have another huge season as in Ursuline’s two games, he had eight tackles (six solo), 2.0 tackles for a loss, two pass deflections, and one interception while adding 97 receiving yards on just five catches.

At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Javey has more than proven that he is a big play waiting to happen.  Had he been able to play out his entire junior season, we might be having a completely different conversation about him right now in regards to his accomplishments and current college recruitment status.  Now, under the leadership of a proven winner in Cardinal Mooney head coach Frank Colaprete, he’ll have an opportunity to be a strong brick to the fresh foundation that the Cardinals have built.   

'27 LB Exavier Johnson: Toledo Scott

You can’t talk about Warren’s better players/teams without mentioning 2004 alum Richard Davis.  To date, he ranks seventh in carries (377), sixth in rushing yards (2,515), and fourth in rushing touchdowns (39) for a career in Harding history.  Most importantly, his class compiled a record of 36-4 at the varsity level and made three playoff appearances, which includes a Division I state runner-up finish in 2002. 

Today, Davis doubles as the head coach for both the football and track & field teams at Toledo Scott High School.  One of the main guys that he’ll be showcasing this fall is senior Exavier Johnson, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound linebacker whose style of play is reminiscent of former Harding all-state linebacker James Johnson (class of 2003).  Last season, Exavier registered 120 tackles (eight for a loss), four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.  

As a result of Exavier’s output from his junior season, he was awarded 1st Team All-TCAL, All-Toledo Blade Special Mention, 1st Team All-Northwest District, and OPSMA All-Division II Honorable Mention selections.  If Davis’ history of improvement every year back when he was an athlete at Harding is any indication of how he develops his players now, expect even bigger things from Exavier this fall.

'28 TE Legacy Lee: Canton McKinley

As football fans, especially with fantasy sports leagues at an all-time peak, we crave statistics.  After all, the majority (if not all) of us don’t have San Francisco 49er Juszczyk on our fantasy football draft boards simply because he’s widely considered one of the best fullbacks in the NFL.  Rather, we target guys who we feel are guaranteed to put up big numbers!  That said, when tailback Christian McCaffrey needs a big block out of the offensive backfield or if the 49ers are in a short-yardage situation, Juszczyk is among the top options as he helps create big plays.  In other words, his contributions to the game usually don’t show up on the stat sheet.

That pretty much describes Canton McKinley junior Legacy Lee.  Even if you were to scowl the Canton Repository’s website for his statistics, you probably wouldn’t find much as up to this point, his role in the Bulldogs’ offense hasn’t been to put up big numbers.  However, if you watch him play, you’ll realize that he’s part of the secret sauce that makes his teammates go as he’s a powerful 6-foot-5, 220-pound tight end who blocks as well as an offensive lineman.  At the same time, his size, skill set, and solid hands make him an option in the passing game, especially inside of the red zone.

Since Lee’s contributions to the game aren’t often found on a stat sheet, he has yet to collect any accolades from the media.  That said, what he does have means an awful lot more than anything that even the most prestigious media outlet could give him as he already has football scholarship offers from Howard, Kent State, and Miami of Ohio.  Who knows, with his youth and another offseason under his belt, maybe he’ll become the high school equivalent of Tony Gonzalez this season.  In any event, just know that if Division I colleges are already well aware of his abilities, then McKinley’s opposition better always be aware of where he is on the field.

'27 TB/DB Jonathan Lemon: Massillon Perry

After leading Massillon Perry to a record of 5-5 in his first season as their head coach, Spencer Leno should have very high hopes heading into his sophomore campaign at the helm.  While he’ll miss the presence of graduated senior Connor Shephard (1,020 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025), the Panthers should expect big things out of rising senior Jonathan Lemon.

Last season against Harding, Lemon displayed a high level of toughness on both sides of the ball as he finished the contest with 17 carries for 82 yards in their 25-15 victory at Mollenkopf Stadium.  For the season, he totaled 742 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 105 carries.  Those numbers led to him being awarded 2nd team selections in the Federal League and Northeast Inland District.  To date, he holds scholarship offers from Ohio Dominican and Mount St. Joseph.

With Shephard now representing the Golden Eagles of Clarion University, expect Lemon to be a key piece for a Perry program that lost all five of their games by two scores or less last season.  After averaging 7.1 yards per carry as the second option in the Panthers’ ground attack, a heavier workload this fall could lead to bigger numbers and more opportunities moving forward.  

'27 EDGE Dom Letlow: Cardinal Mooney

As great as Cardinal Mooney’s Dom Letlow has been over the course of his high school football career, it’s crazy to think how underrated he actually is.  As we discuss his resume, some may argue that “underrated” isn’t the correct term to use.  However, I’m not sure what more you could ask of a 6-foot-4, 225-pound defensive end who is an absolute pain for opposing offenses to deal with.

After posting 75 tackles (31 for a loss), 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, two blocked punts, and a pair of pass breakups as a sophomore in 2024, injuries limited Letlow’s production last season as he finished with 38 tackles (11 for a loss), two sacks, and one forced fumble.  However, he was still named to the All-Mahoning County and all-YSN Teams and the OPSMA named him a 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District selection.  In addition to that, ESPN currently has him listed as Ohio’s 16th best prospect for his class as well as the 53rd best “EDGE” in the entire country for 2027. 

  For most athletes, that would seem like more than enough recognition.  However, if you’ve seen Letlow play, it seems like he’s a lot more of a headache to opposing teams than he’s usually given credit for by the media.  In fact, while ESPN has the most generous rankings of him, I’d love to see 52 defensive ends who are more impressive than Letlow is.  That said, many quality colleges have an extremely high opinion of him as on May 31, 2026, he accepted a football scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh over schools the likes of Kentucky, West Virginia, Louisville, Maryland, Kansas State, Memphis, South Florida, James Madison, Toledo, etc.  If you ask me, Pitt may have got one of the biggest steals in the country.

‘27 ATH Deontay Malone: Massillon

In last year’s “Players To Watch” list, I told the world that Deontay Malone was up next for Massillon.  Mind you, his totals as a sophomore in 2024 included 22 catches for 248 yards and two touchdowns.  However, the following offseason, he collected offers from Pitt, North Carolina, East Carolina, and Gardner Webb before the start of his junior season.  I told everybody that when you combine that early level of attention with the Tigers’ elite coaching and a bigger role moving forward, it was a recipe for a promising future.

My prediction couldn’t have been more precise as the 6-foot, 182-pound Malone absolutely exploded as a junior in 2025.  Offensively, he hauled in 34 catches for 498 yards and seven touchdowns while on defense, he registered 39 tackles (28 solo), six pass deflections, three interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.  Those totals include his three catches for 62 yards and 27-yard touchdown that he had against Harding on October 17, 2025.  That said, one may argue that his biggest play of last season came at the 5:05 mark of the fourth quarter against arch rival Canton McKinley when he returned a punt 50 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.  Ultimately, that play decided the game as Massillon prevailed on the road by the score of 21-14.  As a result of his stellar play, he was named to the All-Stark County Team while collecting 1st Team All-Northeast Inland District and 2nd Team All-Division II honors from the OPSMA.

Today, ESPN has Malone ranked as the 9th best prospect in the state of Ohio and the 9th best cornerback in the entire country.  On June 16, 2026, he verbally committed to Ohio State over the likes of Michigan, West Virginia, Auburn, Purdue, Maryland, Michigan State, North Carolina, etc.  As far as he’s come since last year, it’s insane to imagine how big of a jump that he’ll make in his final season in a Tiger uniform.

‘27 QB Asuante Mickel: Youngstown High School

This fall will mark the first ever school year for Youngstown High School, which will be formed after the consolidation of Chaney and East.  Last December, Seth Antram was chosen to be the head coach for the Defenders, the nickname that was chosen for the lone public school in the city.  With 17 years worth of coaching experience under his belt, he’ll look to lead the charge for a program looking to establish an identity.

One of the major weapons that Antram will look to utilize this fall is senior quarterback Asuante Mickel.  His name should sound pretty familiar as the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder was pretty active with the athletic programs at Chaney.  Last football season, he was 88-of-135 for 1,158 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while he added 511 rushing yards and another three scores on 80 carries.  He’s one of those guys who rarely comes off the field as defensively, he registered 30 tackles (14 solo), one tackles for a loss, and one interception.

When Mickel wasn’t doing it all for Cowboys on the football field, he was putting up strong performances on the basketball court as in 26 games, he averages 12.8 points on 47.0% shooting, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 steals per contest for a Chaney squad that finished one point shy of a regional championship.  Moving forward, Antram will look to utilize Mickel’s skill, athleticism, and toughness on the field for the Defenders.    

'27 EDGE Amare Mitchell: Canton McKinley 

The son of 1994 Canton McKinley alum and 2026 Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame inductee Kinta Mitchell, senior edge rusher Amare Mitchell is currently making the most of his days as a Bulldog.  At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, he has great size, speed, and a great nose for the football that allows him to make big plays.  In addition to the 12 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks that he totaled last season, he also opened up the campaign with a 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Harding that helped McKinley comfortably secure a 43-25 victory in week 1.

Mitchell’s efforts as a junior were rewarded with Honorable Mentions in both the Federal League and Stark County.  Like his father, who went on to play college football at Bowling Green State University from 1995-2000, Amare will also play at the next level as on June 21, 2025, he verbally committed  to Ball State over the likes of South Florida, UConn, Howard, Temple, Akron, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Ohio University, etc.

I sound like a broken record, but McKinley’s loaded coaching staff is highly equipped to really enhance their talent moving forward.  When you add to the football pedigree that Amare comes from, don’t be surprised if we see a far more enhanced version of him this fall. 

'27 LB Ryan Mitchell: Boardman

Since taking over as the head football coach at Boardman, Daniel Dota has compiled a record of 17-26.  While that fact might not send shockwaves around the state, the good news is that 12 of those wins have come over the last two seasons, which includes his first ever victory over Harding last year, as he is beginning to establish a stronger level of toughness within his program.  That’s something that many former Harding players could understand as he once served as the Raiders’ defensive coordinator and coached some of the stingiest defenses that they've ever had.

One of the Spartans who embodies the tough, hard nosed principles that Dota stands for is senior linebacker Ryan Mitchell.  Last season, he registered 41 tackles (six for a loss), four forced fumbles, three pass deflections, two sacks, and one interception.  As a result of those efforts, he was named a 1st Team All-Mahoning County selection.

With the recent graduation of dual-threat quarterback Vince Butto (1,013 rushing yards in 2025), there’s talk of Dota utilizing Mitchell’s skillset in the running game. In any event, opposing teams always have to be on high alert whenever Mitchell is on the football field. 

‘27 DT Javier Moore: Canton McKinley

On a personal note,July 31, 2021 marked the first time that I ever posted a “Players To Watch” list on this site.  Back then, I only listed 25 guys instead of the 40 that I do today.  Notable names from that list included Drew Allar (Medina; Penn State; current Pittsburgh Steeler), Bryce West (Solon; Ohio State; current Wisconsin Badger), Tariq Montgomery (Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary; currently entering redshirt senior season at Marshall), Willtrell Hartson (Massillon; Ohio State; Southern Illinois; currently entering his redshirt junior season at Ashland University), etc.

When I returned to the site prior to the 2024 season, I started breaking down 40 of Harding's opponents in my previews.  With that said, this selection is pretty special to me as Canton McKinley’s Javier Moore joins the aforementioned Brayden Bryant of Cardinal Mooney as the first players that I’ve ever included in three consecutive preseason “Players To Watch.”  In other words, we’ve been following their progress for a while now.

Unfortunately, Moore’s junior season came with a bite from the injury bug that limited him to six games.  Despite that, he totaled 35 tackles (21 solo), 7.0 tackles for a loss, four quarterback hurries, and four sacks.  To date, he holds offers from Kentucky, Capital, and Ohio Wesleyan.  A healthy senior campaign should lengthen that list.

‘27 DE Reese Myers: Massillon Jackson

In addition to the Harding matchups with longtime rivals Massillon and Canton McKinley, Harding added another solid opponent from Stark County when they started playing Massillon Perry in 2023.  This fall, Harding will add a fourth football program to that solid list as Massillon Jackson, who has won a minimum of five games every year since 2011, will now serve as Harding’s week 4 opponent.  

One of the Polar Bears that Harding will have to prepare for is senior defensive end Reese Myers.  At 6-foot, 215 pounds, his game is reminiscent of Harding legend Anthony Hoke as he’s light on his feet with the toughness to match his quickness.  His production last season included 12.0 tackles for a loss and nine sacks while playing against a schedule with all but one team finishing above .500.

Myers’ efforts during his junior season resulted in 1st Team selections in the Federal League, Stark County, and Northeast Inland District while he was also an OPSMA All-Division I Honorable Mention.  While Jackson got stung pretty hard by graduation, their history indicates that they don’t rebuild.  They reload and compete every week.  With Myers back in the mix this fall, the younger Polar Bears will have a solid leader to emulate.

‘27 TB Savior Owens: Massillon

Despite only accounting for 126 rushing yards and one touchdown as a sophomore in 2024, I included Massillon tailback Savior Owens in my article, “The Fabulous 40: Warren G. Harding Opponents To Watch in 2025,” which was dropped on August 7 of last year.  The following is the second paragraph from my writeup on Owens, which thoroughly explained my reasoning for including him…

“Since Nate Moore took over as head coach in Tigertown in 2015, his featured tailbacks have been Jamir Thomas (2015-18), Terrence Keyes Jr. (2019), Willtrell Hartson (2020-22), and Ja'Meir Gamble (2023-24).  To date, those four have combined for seven of the top ten highest single-game rushing yardage totals, five of the top seven highest single-season rushing yardage totals, and three of the five highest career rushing yardage totals in Massillon history and Keyes Jr., the lone guy left out of that equation, ran for 1,592 yards, the fifth highest single-season total in school history, in his lone season as their featured back in 2019.”

As I predicted, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound Owens would go on to have one of the more dominant seasons in Massillon history on the ground as he rushed for 1,572 yards and 21 touchdowns, which now rank 6th & 7th (tie), respectively, in Tiger history.  Those efforts resulted in 1st Team selections in Stark County, the Northeast Inland District, and all of Division II for the 2025 season.  Just as Coach Moore knows how to produce big numbers from the tailback position, he also knows how to make sure that the right sets of eyes get to view said production as on January 25, 2026, Owens verbally committed to Michigan State over the likes of Wisconsin, UConn, Akron, Bowling Green, Toledo, etc.  

The aforementioned addition of incoming transfer Brayton Feister to Massillon's offensive backfield should keep Owens more fresh and make him even more dangerous this fall, which is a scary thought.

'27 DB Isaiah Porch: Austintown Fitch

One of the great things about doing projects like this is that it allows me to offer my own perspective on athletes who may not get the hype that they deserve elsewhere.  Of course, a big part of that is researching the college recruitments of these young athletes because after all, who am I to argue with an NCAA football coach?  When it comes to things like this, their thoughts and opinions are gold compared to a typical sports fan.

As a diehard Harding supporter, I’ve seen them play against some extraordinary talent.  Guys who have gone off to college and beyond.  That said, I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a play made against Harding like the one that rising Austintown Fitch senior Isaiah Porch made on October 24, 2025 when he hauled in a one-handed interception that would make Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson blink.  It was one of his two interceptions on the night, which were also his lone picks of the season for a very talented Falcons squad.

For the season, Porch tallied 56 tackles, eight pass deflections, two tackles for a loss, one blocked kick, and the aforementioned interceptions.  To date, he has reported scholarship offers from Ohio Dominican, Tiffin, and Ohio Wesleyan.  Again, I’m not one that’s going to argue with a college football coach, but if anyone was to ask me about a big playmaker in the secondary, Porch would be one the first names out of my mouth.  Be on the lookout for him this fall.

'27 OL Treyshawn Quincy: Canton McKinley

Throughout this write up, you’ll read about numerous offensive weapons in the arsenal of Canton McKinley.  That said, one aspect of theirs that we have yet to discuss is their big men along the offensive line.  This time last year, it was offensive tackle Logan Hayes getting a lot of well deserved preseason hype.  In the midst of the 6-foot-5, 280-pound living up to that hype and earning a football scholarship from Central State, one of the other big hogs up front that made a huge impact for the Bulldogs was Treyshawn Quincy.

Checking in at 6-foot-2, 282 pounds, Quincy executed north of 50 pancake blocks and didn’t surrender a sack all season for a McKinley squad that finished the season 9-3 before a tough 25-24 loss to a strong Mentor squad in the second round of the Division I: Region 1 playoffs.  Despite the setback, his junior season ignited a hunger that carried into the offseason as he had strong performances while attending camps at Kentucky, Pitt, Walsh, and Capital University.  To date, he has reeled in scholarship offers from Capital, Bluffton, Findlay, and Heidelberg.

Once again, I'm very big on the impact that coaching and culture has on athletes.  With everything that’s going on at McKinley, especially with the influence that their Director of Strength & Conditioning MIke Winkler is known to have on his athletes, expect Quincy to be an even bigger factor moving forward for what should be a powerful McKinley offense this fall.

'27 TB Deon'Dray Richard: Austintown Fitch

As evidenced by the Austintown Fitch players who have already been listed, there’s a lot of good things going on at 4560 Falcon Drive.  Since 2003 alum T.J. Parker took over the head coaching duties in 2020, they’ve compiled a record of 49-17, have made the playoffs every season, and have won at least one postseason game each year.  His average of 8.2 wins per season is even more impressive when you consider the fact that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they only played a total of eight games during the severely shortened 2020 football season.  That said, Parker’s leadership has also led to individual accomplishments that his alma mater hadn’t witnessed before.

When it comes to running the football for Fitch, nobody has done it better than senior Deon’Dray Richard as he enters his senior season with school record totals of 483 carries for 3,626 yards and 42 touchdowns.  Last season, he compiled 1,204 rushing yards and 13 scores on 156 carries.  As a result, he was named to the 2025 All-YSN Team, took home 1st Team selections in Mahoning County and Northeast Inland District, and received 2nd Team All-Division II honors from the OPSMA.

To date, Richard has only received a football scholarship offer from Miami of Ohio.  If that holds up, the Redhawks would be in the driver’s seat to reel in one of the most prolific running backs in all of Ohio.  With the new additions to the Falcons’ offensive backfield (which we’ll get to momentarily), we may get to see a fresher version of the powerful back this fall.

'27 LB Antonio Stevens: Canton McKinley

When Coach Renard “Renzy” Parnell II took over Canton McKinley’s football program in January of 2025, he came with 10 years worth of knowledge and experience as the Defensive Coordinator of Archbishop Hoban High School.  In other words, he knows a little something about limiting opposing offenses as the Knights won five state titles during his tenure (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020).

Upon Parnell’s arrival in Canton, he was met with the presence of 5-foot-11, 230-pound linebacker Antonio Stevens, who had totaled 98 tackles (10 for a loss), and three sacks as a sophomore for the Bulldogs in 2024.  Fast forward to the 2025 football season, those numbers improved to 110 tackles (15 for a loss) and another three sacks.  These numbers led to 1st team honors in the Federal League, Stark County, and the Northeast Inland District as well as a 3rd Team All-Division I selection from the OPSMA.

Since last season, Stevens has enhanced his resume with scholarship offers from Kent State and Findlay.  On July 19, 2026, Coach Mike Winkler, McKinley’s Director of Strength & Conditioning, tweeted that Stephens maxed out as 275 pounds on the bench press and a 480-pound squat.  According to Winkler, those were improvements of 20 and 90 pounds, respectively, since their last test.  Expect the Bulldogs’ refreshed culture to bring out a more ferocious beast in Stevens this fall. 

‘27 ATH Dyionn Tutwiler: Austintown Fitch

I’ve spent a healthy amount of time hyping up Austintown Fitch as they are set up for a potentially strong run in Division I: Region 1.  That said, we haven’t talked about their depth at the running back position. For the last two seasons, the primary backup for the aforementioned Deon’Dray Richard was Junie Higgs, who compiled 1,440 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on 234 career carries as a Falcon.  That production helped earn him a football scholarship at The College of Wooster.

This fall, Richard’s company in Fitch’s offensive backfield will include senior Dyionn Tutwiler, an incoming transfer from Liberty High School.  In two years as a Leopard, he carried the ball 185 times for 1,486 yards and 20 touchdowns.  In addition to his 101 carries for 1,186 yards and 17 touchdowns that he ran for in 2025, he also hauled in 9 catches for 217 yards and three scores.  His junior campaign also included contributions on defense as he registered 30 tackles (27 solo), one tackle for a loss, one sack, one interception, and one fumble recovery.  That body of work resulted in an OPSMA Division V Honorable Mention selection.

Fitch head football coach T.J. Parker already had his program in a nice spot following the 2025 season.  Not only does the addition of Tutwiler pour gasoline on what could potentially prove to be a nice fire for the Falcons this fall, we aren’t finished discussing their new weapons just yet.  Stay tuned!

‘28 OT/NG Micah Walker: Massillon

Throughout this writeup, we’ve talked about a plethora of offensive weapons that Massillon will have in their arsenal this season.  Another one of the new faces in Tiger Town who will enhance the potential of the entire team is junior offensive and defensive lineman Micah Walker, who is no stranger to the big stage.

While he spent his sophomore year at Nordonia High School, Walker is originally from down south.  As a freshman in 2024, he started on varsity for the Thompson Knights, a seven-time state champion out of Alabaster, Alabama.  In fact, one of those titles came courtesy of a 21-7 victory over the Central Red Devils (Phenix City, AL) in the 2024 Alabama High School Athletic Association 7A state championship game.  

To date, the 6-foot-7, 315-pound Walker has collected scholarship offers from UAB, Miami (OH), Kent, Toledo, UConn, Louisiana-Monroe, and Austin Peay.  Combining his work ethic with Massillon’s tradition, coaching, and facilities should not only intensify his game, but his options beyond high school, especially considering head coach Nate Moore’s track record of sending athletes to school, will enhance pretty quickly.  

'28 TB Kyelin West: Canton McKinley

If you’ve made it this far into the writeup or you’re simply a fan of my work, then you’re well aware of the respect that I have for the sports programs at Canton McKInley.  Their football program is one of the originals that initially put Ohio high school football on the map and with the upgrades that they’ve made to their facilities and coaching staff, I’m confident that they’ll eventually reemerge as one the more elite programs in this day and age.

The crazy thing is that those were already my thoughts before I even laid an eye on McKinley junior tailback Kyelin West.  In fact, he put the entire state on notice in last year’s season opener at Harding as he finished with 23 carries for 189 yards and his 84-yard  touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.  That stellar performance was a sign of things to come as he went on to finish the season with 1,503 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.  As a result, not only did he collect 1st team selections in the Federal League and Stark County, but the OPSMA also gave him the same for Northeast Inland District and for All of Division I.

As of right now, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound West has received scholarship offers from Marshall, Akron, Appalachian State, Bowling Green, Miami (OH), and Ohio University.  In the event that he improves on his outstanding sophomore season, I see no reason why his college recruitment won’t be through the roof sooner than later.  If he stays healthy and his trajectory continues upward as he progresses through his career, we could be looking at one of the most electric Bulldogs in school history.

‘27 CB Chayce White: Massillon

While “football season” runs from late August to early December, an athlete’s development never stops.  Oftentimes, the more elite high school athletes can be found playing multiple sports throughout the year, which can further enhance his/her abilities across all sports.

Take Massillon senior cornerback Chayce White for example.  In 12 football games last season for the Tigers, he registered 28 tackles (11 solo), five pass deflections, two interceptions, and 1.5 tackles for a loss.  One of those interceptions came late in the first quarter against archrival Canton McKinley, which was much needed as the Tigers eventually held off the Bulldogs by the final score of 21-14.  Fast forward to June 6, 2026, he finished as the Division II state runner up in the boys long jump (23-04.00).  The next day, he was the second leg for the Tigers’ boys 4x100 team that finished in second place with a time of 42.04.

All of the above are key facts that Massillon head football coach Nate Moore can share with college coaches.  This information has been more than beneficial as to date, White holds scholarship offers from Akron, Kent State, and Albany.  With the Tigers’ (throughout this writeup) aforementioned ability to enhance the development of their athletes, expect White to continue his progression into his senior year.

‘27 WR/DB Tizzel White: Youngstown High School

Despite the 2025-26 school year being the last one for Youngstown Chaney, the entire city got a sneak preview of potential things to come for the football program at newly formed Youngstown High School.  With an experienced head coach in Seth Antram leading the way, the Defenders will be focused on making a splash on the gridiron sooner than later.

Despite the consolidation, the familiarity between aforementioned senior quarterback Asuante Mickel, who comes over from Chaney, and classmate Tizzel White, also from Chaney, should speed up the transition into the new program.  In just six games last season, White hauled in 23 catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns while defensively, he registered 22 tackles, five interceptions, and an additional touchdown.  His production as a defensive back led to 1st Team selections in Mahoning County and Northeast Inland District while he was also an All-Division III Honorable Mention.

With schools like Harding, Boardman, Ursuline, Canfield, and South Range all on the Defenders’ inaugural football schedule, expect Antram to be aggressive with the 5-foot-10, 160-pound White early and often as they lead the city of Youngstown into a brand new era.

‘29 ATH Antwan Williams: Austintown Fitch

As we approach the end of this annual write up, there probably isn’t much of a need to remind everyone that I expect a promising season from Austintown Fitch.  It’s been a major point of emphasis throughout this piece as they have an abundance of experienced talent returning.  That said, the final Falcon that we will discuss here will bring a combination of youth and experience.

As a freshman playing for the varsity football team at Youngstown East last year, Antwan Williams was a swiss army knife.  He did a little bit of everything for the Golden Bears as he had 530 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 68 carries, accounted for 217 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and also scored touchdowns via punt return and kickoff return.  Defensively, he registered 15 tackles, six pass deflections, and two interceptions.  His efforts led to a 1st Team All-Mahoning County selection.

This fall, the 5-foot-8, 165-pound Williams will be competing for a Fitch football program that has been trending in the right direction over the course of the last several years.  With Coach T.J. Parker now leading him and Falcons’ access to their world class facilities, Williams will have the resources to become the absolute best version of himself.

‘28 TE Dashun Williams: Massillon

As you should be able to tell by now, Massillon is going to be one of the main teams to watch throughout this season.  Their strong history of developing their talent and competing at a high level every week has attracted many quality eyes from the NCAA football level and as I mentioned earlier, who am I to argue with their perspective?

The final Tiger on the list is one of the quality newcomers into the program in Dashun Williams.  Last year, he accounted for 333 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions for Euclid High School.  This fall, it’s expected that the big 6-foot-5, 225-pound target will line up at tight end for a Massillon squad that’s already loaded with weapons at the wide receiver position.

Williams’ skillset has not gone unnoticed as he currently holds offers from Louisville, Purdue, North Carolina, Cincinnati, UConn, Kent State, Miami (OH), Ohio University, Austin Peay, and Florida Atlantic University.  With two years remaining to develop at the high school level, it will be interesting to see how high Massillon’s coaching staff can push his ceiling.  For now, Williams will look to be a key component for what should be a very powerful Tiger offense this fall.

'27 LB Rocco Zabel: Cardinal Mooney

If there was ever an appropriate time to open up with the phrase, “Last but not least,” this is it.  No, you won’t find Rocco Zabel’s name on any “national” lists or what have you, but trust and believe that this 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker out of Cardinal Mooney doesn’t take a backseat to anybody.  Just as I told you all in last year’s “40 Opponents To Watch,” his size, speed, toughness, and overall impact on the defensive side of the ball is very reminiscent of Mike Zordich (Penn State), Brandon Beachum (Penn State), Luke Fulton (Michigan State/Kentucky), and other great Cardinal linebackers of this century.

During his sophomore campaign in 2024, Zabel totaled 120 tackles (seven for a loss), one sack, and one fumble recovery and was named to the the All-YSN Team, OPSMA 1st Team All-Northeast Inland District (Division IV), and OPSMA All-Ohio Honorable Mention (Division IV).  Last season, he improved on those totals as he registered 150 tackles (21 for a loss) and 10 sacks.  This time around, in addition to a return to the All-YSN team, he was named a 1st Team All-Division V selection.  

On June 22, 2026, Zabel committed to Youngstown State University.  That’s a huge commitment for the Penguins, who I’d advise to stay in contact as much as possible with their hidden gem.  As I alluded to above, Mooney has a lengthy history of sending their elite linebackers to Power-4 schools.  In fact, not only did the presence of then-newly hired head coach Frank Colaprete lead to a spike in the statistics for Zabel, but the Cardinals won seven more games last year than they did in 2024.  If those trends continue this fall, watch out!