The Fabulous 40: Warren G. Harding Opponents (Individuals) To Watch In 2025

With Warren G. Harding set to scrimmage Steubenville on Friday morning (08/08/2025), 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.  

'26 LB Kevin Boudrey: Youngstown Ursuline

Many underestimate just how hard it is to see action on the football field, especially for a prestigious program like the one that Coach Dan Reardon runs at Youngstown Ursuline.  That said, standout linebacker Kevin Boudrey is entering his senior season with 30 games worth of experience already under his belt.  That's the equivalent of three full regular seasons!

If you add up his freshman (2022) and sophomore (2023) seasons, Boudrey accumulated 34 tackles (20 solo) in 15 appearances.  Last season as a junior, he exploded with 127 tackles (70 solo), 17.0 tackles for a loss, 3.0 sacks, one interception, and one pass deflection during the Fighting Irish's 13-2 campaign that was halted by a tough 7-6 loss to perennial powerhouse Toledo Central Catholic.  Despite the setback, his massive increase in production resulted in 1st Team All-Steel Valley Conference and All-Mahoning County as well as 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District (Division III) selections.

With the jump that Boudrey made last year, it's pretty scary to imagine him making a similar leap this fall.  Personally, I imagine that his final year of high school has the potential to result in a college football program bringing in the 5-foot-11, 205-pound linebacker on a scholarship.  In any case, he'll be one of many players that Harding will have to prepare for when the two rivals square off on September 19 at Youngstown State's Stambaugh Stadium. 

'26 WR Deejay Britt Jr.: Canton McKinley

With this being (alphabetically) the first entry from Canton McKinley, I’ll preface this by saying that fans from all over can expect a huge increase in production across the board within the program as they made some monster hires over the offseason.  The headliner of that group is new head coach Renard “Renzy” Parnell II, who spent the last ten years as the defensive coordinator at Archbishop Hoban.  In addition to bringing along several of his family members to coach on his staff, he also brought along Mike Winkler, the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA) Great Lakes Regional Director (Region 7), to head their strength and conditioning program.  These factors will be referenced throughout this article as we discuss the Bulldogs’ athletes.

As far as McKinley’s athletes are concerned, one that is guaranteed to have the attention of Harding’s athletes out of the gate is Deejay Britt Jr.  The 6-foot-1, 165-pound wide receiver made his presence felt against the Raiders in last year’s season opener as he hauled in three catches for 62 yards and a 33-yard touchdown.  He eventually finished the season with 29 catches for 349 yards and five touchdowns.

With the changes being made at McKinley, which includes an incoming transfer at quarterback that we’ll get into momentarily, Britt will continue to have plenty of opportunities to shine under the bright lights as the Bulldogs seek to continue their push towards Ohio’s elite.

'27 DB Amire Brown: Youngstown Ursuline

News flash…  Youngstown Ursuline’s defense is going to be very good in 2025.  Surprised?  Probably not, but even a program as strong as there’s comes with a bit of deception.  In this case, it comes in the form of athlete Amire Brown.  At this point, you may be asking yourself, “How could Ursuline possibly surprise anyone with talent?”  They’re definitely no stranger to great football, especially under the watch of current head coach and three-time state champion Dan Reardon.  Anybody that plays for him and any staff that he hand picks will be tough, disciplined, and well coached.  That may have never been more true than it is regarding the play of Amire Brown.

Checking in at 5-foot-8, 138 pounds, Brown isn’t another case of an undersized “Rudy” type of athlete that’s simply fighting to see the field.  Rather, to date, he’s compiled 108 tackles (70 solo), nine tackles for a loss, three pass deflections, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery in 24 career games played.  The majority of that came last season as he played in all 15 of Ursuline’s games and accounted for 94 tackles (60 solo), those nine tackles for a loss, three pass deflections, and two interceptions.  At the conclusion of last season, he was recognized with a spot on the All-Steel Valley Conference 2nd Team.  With the major step that he took from his freshman season, there’s no telling what his future holds for the Fighting Irish.

When you think of great high school football teams, aspects like size and potential Division I prospects often factor into the equation.  As of this moment, Brown doesn’t contribute either of those factors into Ursuline’s equation.  That said, games are won on the field and you’d be hard pressed to find a more fierce competitor under the lights.  Any team that mistakenly sleeps on him will pay the price.

'26 DE/EDGE Jordan Brown: Erie McDowell

Erie (PA) McDowell High School is a new addition to Harding’s football schedule.  While they hail from Northwestern Pennsylvania, one look at their 2025 slate would suggest that they’re actually from the Buckeye State as it also includes matchups against Medina Highland, Mentor, Chardon, Austintown Fitch, and Steubenville.  When you throw in Harding, those programs combined to go 64-14 last year!  That lineup alone would make for a pretty solid slate for any team, which illustrates the fearlessness of their program.

The first of a pair of Trojans that we’ll discuss here literally epitomizes the toughness of their program as Jordan Brown is a 6-foot-2, 235-pound defensive end/edge who really forces the issue along the defensive front.  As a junior, he registered 37 tackles, (20 solo), 8.0 tackles for a loss, 8.0 sacks and one fumble recovery in 10 games played.  However, he’s one of those players whose impact is much bigger than his own personal numbers as his pressure often leads to huge opportunities for his teammates.  In fact, one of the signature plays of his sophomore season (2023) was a quarterback hurry that resulted in a 47-yard pick 6 by former Trojan Griffin Potts.  

As a result of his successful 2024 campaign, Brown was named a PIAA District 10 Region 7 All-Star.  On June 20, 2025, he received his first Division I offer from Mercyhurst to go along with his offers from Clarion and Edinboro.  A social media post of his from July 17, 2025 shows him back squatting 405 pounds for three reps and front squatting 330 pounds for another three reps.  His work ethic and play on the field against elite competition could potentially result in the opening of many more doors for him.

'27 ATH Brayden Bryant: Cardinal Mooney

The first two-time “Opponent To Watch”” on this list is junior-to-be Brayden Bryant.  However, it marks his first appearance as an athlete for Cardinal Mooney as the speedster transferred from Austintown Fitch over to the perennial powerhouse on Erie Street in Youngstown.  

Bryant will get a fresh start under newly hired Mooney head coach Frank Colaprete, who returns to lead his alma mater after spending the last 12 years coaching at the College of Wooster.  With the Cardinals seeking their first winning season since they finished the 2017 season with a record of 7-5, Bryant’s athleticism is certain to be put to good use in an offense that averaged 15.0 points per game in 2024.  For two years, his wheels have been on display on the track as he has competed in the 100 meter dash at the last two OHSAA Division I State Track & Field Meets.  His peak to date came in 2024 when he placed eighth in the event with a time of 11.21.

While Bryant still has two full years of high school remaining, he’s already begun setting the table to be able to compete at the next level as he currently holds scholarship offers from Kentucky, Syracuse, Akron, Toledo, Miami (OH) University, and Youngstown State.  With the new green light that he’s following as a Cardinal, he may just soar to even more opportunities in the future. 

'26 ATH Vincent Butto: Boardman

At the beginning of the 21st century, Boardman’s football program was producing top notch talent and taking on all comers.  During the first decade or so, those Spartan teams posted victories over programs the likes of Harding, Cleveland St. Ignatius, Steubenville, Cardinal Mooney, Youngstown Ursuline, Austintown Fitch, Youngstown Chaney, Archbishop Hoban, etc.  You name them, the Spartans were sending them home with a loss.  While those times seem so long ago, current head coach D.J. Dota finally has his feet underneath him, has made adjustments to their system, and is ready to make a move as the Spartans seek their first back-to-back winning seasons since their 2017 and 2018 campaigns.  After graduating the first group of athletes that he had for all four of their years, there’s talks of him making a major move with a member of his second original group of freshmen.

If you’re a friend or family member of Boardman’s Vincent Butto, you’ve probably spent quite a bit of time at sporting events as the senior-to-be excels in football, basketball, and baseball for the Spartans.  Last year, he showcased his athleticism on the gridiron on both sides of the ball as he totaled 187 rushing yards out of their then-newly implemented Wing-T offense while hauling in two interceptions on the defensive side of the ball.  That versatility helped him earn him a spot on the 2024 All-YSN team.

  With the graduation of Boardman quarterback Zach Haus (1,101 passing yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024), word around the campfire is that Dota plans to have Butto handle the snaps under center this season.  His skillset and playmaking ability could add another dimension to their Wing-T from the quarterback position.  If that happens, look for continued improvements from a Spartans team that, regardless of what their record is or what the final score may indicate, will always play the Raiders tough.  

'26 LB Drake Campbell: Youngstown Ursuline

Six entries into the list and this is already the third representative of Youngstown Ursuline’s defense that we’ll discuss.  Either I am being very biased OR head coach Dan Reardon really knows how to develop his players.  Being that he’s a three-time state champion who has a record of 128-50 (71.9%) in 15 seasons for the Fighting Irish, I think that we can both get the benefit of the doubt and as a quick heads up, plenty more entries are on the way.

As for Drake Campbell, he’s a 5-foot-11, 187-pound linebacker who spends plenty of time in opposing backfields.  After totaling just 11 tackles (5 solo) in seven combined games during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he exploded last season for 76 tackles (41 solo), 20.0 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, three fumble recoveries, and one pass deflection in 15 games played.  His body of work earned him a spot on the 2024 All-YSN Team and landed him a 2nd Team All-Steel Valley Conference selection.

With his breakthrough junior season now under his belt, Campbell took his talents on the road and had some impressive showing at camps throughout the offseason.  Some of his recorded numbers include a 40-yard dash of 4.65 (Hillsdale), 10-foot broad jump (Ashland), and a shuttle of 4.06 (Hillsdale).  To date, his efforts have earned him scholarship offers from Mount Union and Ohio Wesleyan.  His history of stepping up to the plate whenever opportunities arise suggests that the best has yet to come, which is a scary thought.

'26 CB Dennis Clark: Cardinal Mooney

As I said above in my write up on Brayden Bryant, positive changes are likely on the horizon for the football program at Cardinal Mooney High School as new head coach Frank Colaprete brings the knowledge of 12 years of college football coaching experience down to his alma mater.  That coaching pedigree should prove vital for a locker room that’s not exactly short on athletes or experience.

In fact, for two years now, Mooney’s Dennis Clark has been a staple in their defensive backfield.  The 6-foot-1, 180-pound cornerback is as sure of a tackler that you’ll find at the position as he’s averaged 42.0 stops in each of the last two seasons while last year, he also added 11 pass deflections, three tackles for a loss, and one forced fumble.  He’s very physical, doesn’t give up much breathing room to opposing wide receivers, and has the awareness that allows him to track and swarm to the ball very quickly.

Clark’s efforts in 2024 resulted in All-Mahoning County and OPSMA 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District (Division IV) selections.  With Colaprete now at Mooney to pass his wisdom on down to the Cardinals moving forward, nobody should be surprised to see Clark continue to blossom.  

'26 TB Xion Culver: Canton McKinley

Throughout this writeup, you’re going to read plenty of my thoughts about the idea of a potential renaissance of sorts with Canton McKinley’s football program.  As I will continue to stress, it starts with their new leadership in head coach Renard “Renzy” Parnell as he looks to breathe life into one of the winningest high school football programs ever.  It seems to have already started as several young athletes have made the move to become the Bulldogs of the future.  

Meanwhile, for the last two seasons, McKinley’s powerful ground attack was spearheaded by tailback Nino Hill.  The former Bulldog and current University of Buffalo Bull rushed for 1,970 yards and 20 touchdowns during that time.  Unfortunately for Harding, 316 of those yards and four touchdowns came in his two matchups against the Raiders the last two seasons.  Moving forward, look for senior incoming transfer Xion Culver to lead the charge out of the offensive backfield.  Last season for Canton South, the 5-foot-8, 190-pound tailback rushed for 1,153 yards and eight touchdowns for the Wildcats.  Now, he brings his skillset over to the prestigious program at McKinley, which currently ranks tenth in the nation for all-time high school football wins with 882.

Week one will tell us a lot about where both McKinley and Harding stand as both made solid improvements to their coaching staff and facilities.  In any event, look for Culver to have a huge say in the Bulldogs’ offensive attack.

'27 LB Shad Davis: Canton McKinley

Earlier, we noted that the changes to the coaching staff at Canton McKinley will have a positive impact on their entire roster.  That said, this is where it really gets interesting because we know that new head coach Renard “Renzy” Parnell’s background is on the defensive side of the ball.  In fact, all five of Archbishop Hoban’s state titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020) happened during his 10-year stint as their defensive coordinator.

With that championship experience under his belt, expect Parnell to get a big jump from junior-to-be Shad Davis.  The 5-foot-11, 175-pound linebacker has already begun making his mark in Bulldog Country as he registered 50 tackles (eight for a loss), three sacks, and one interception as a sophomore in 2024.  Under Parnell’s tutelage, the sky is the limit for Davis as he looks to help fill the hole left by the recent graduation of Dante McClellan, who is now a linebacker for the University of Missouri.

On January 23, 2025, Davis reported on social media (X) that he received an offer from Kent State.  Again, with the momentum that is brewing over at McKinley, I fully expect their athletes to develop at a nice pace and result in a plethora of opportunities to open up for them.  By the end of the 2025-26 school year, don’t be surprised if Davis emerges as a highly sought out prospect for the class of 2027.  Yes, his ceiling is that high.

'26 WR Karter Dawson: Akron Buchtel

No matter how old one may get, it always feels good to be recognized.  Many of us act like we don’t care what people think about us, but in reality, a strong amount of folks relish the idea of being talked about in a good way.

Having said that, when I was doing my research for this project, I didn’t read much hype about Karter Dawson.  If he got any postseason honors, they didn’t come across my computer screen.  However, while I can’t directly speak for Harding’s program, I guarantee that they’d vouch for him being a serious playmaker.  In seven games last season, he totaled 171 receiving yards and four touchdowns on just seven catches (24.4 YPC).  About half of that production came in week 2 at Mollenkopf Stadium when he hauled in four catches for 71 yards (17.8 YPC) and two touchdowns.  While the Raiders held on for a 20-18 victory, Dawson’s efforts gave his Griffons a shot at the upset.  

To date, the 6-foot, 195-pound wide receiver has reported offers from Marietta, Ohio Wesleyan, and Wittenberg.  If he can stay healthy, I could see that list continue to grow during his senior year.  In any case, a college will eventually get a solid, hard working athlete in Dawson.

 '26 OT/DT Preston Dazey: Massillon Perry

With former Massillon Washington defensive coordinator Spencer Leno taking over the reins as the head of Massillon Perry’s football program, it’s uncertain whether or not they’ll continue running their infamous Wing-T offense that they’re known for.  In any event, with offensive tackle Preston Dazey in the mix, the Panthers will have plenty of protection up front regardless of what they decide to do.

At 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, Dazey is a “mean,” powerful monster that moves everything in front of him.  His combination of strength and technique often overwhelms opposing linemen and leaves them on their backs.  Defensively, he does a great job of clogging the middle and causing havoc up front.  He’s incredibly agile and “light on his feet” as well, which is evidenced by his averages of 7.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game for a Perry basketball squad that finished the 2024-25 season as the Division I state runner-up.  

On the football side, Dazey was a 2024 All-Federal League selection.  Those efforts led to an abundance of offers and on June 25, 2025, he verbally committed to the University of Toledo.  The other schools that were in the mix include Akron, Albany,  Army, Bowling Green, Bucknell, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Colgate, Kent State, Mercyhurst, Miami (OH), Lafayette, Ohio University, Toledo, Youngstown State, Presbyterian, Albany, Mercyhurst, and Yale.

‘26 WR Brady Evans: Austintown Fitch

There’s always a lot of positive energy surrounding the athletic programs at Austintown Fitch.  They have great athletes, excellent coaches, beautiful facilities, a great support staff that keeps their operations running smoothly, etc.  When you throw in the fact that they’ll soon have the use of a huge indoor sports facility on their campus, they literally have everything that you would want your child to have access to as he/she develops as a student athlete.

However, as mentioned above, Fitch isn’t immune to occasionally being stung by the “transfer bug” as Brayden Bryant, a speedster who has qualified for the 100 meter dash at the OHSAA Division I Track & Field Meet in both of his years of high school thus far, will spend his junior year competing for Cardinal Mooney.  That said, that could mean even more opportunities for senior-to-be Brady Evans.  The 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior-to-be led the Falcons last year with 53 catches for 634 yards and four touchdowns.  This season, he’s also projected to be their “go to” guy as a returner on special teams.

While no high school wants to see their athletes head elsewhere, Fitch head coach T.J. Parker and his staff have always coached their guys up to have a “next man up” mentality as their athletes always stay ready when their name is called.  It won’t be the first time that he’s called on Evans to produce, but the Falcon faithful should be intrigued by the idea of seeing even more of him.

'26 LB Victor Dimargio: Boardman

As previously mentioned above, Boardman’s football program is in the process of taking some major steps towards getting back to a more elite level as their six victories last season was a five-win improvement from their 2023 campaign.  On top of that, if you were at their home game against Harding, you’d know that game was highly competitive up until the last minute.  While the Raiders were able to hold on for a 19-14 victory, they left Spartan Stadium knowing that they were just in a battle.

One of the biggest improvements from 2023 to 2024 was the evolution of Boardman linebacker Victor Dimargio.  During the aforementioned matchup against Harding on October 4, 2024, he played with an intensity level that his team was missing in prior seasons.  His energy was contagious as his teammates followed his lead and nearly pulled off the upset at home.  Apparently, he played like that for the entire season as he finished as the Spartans’ leader with 93 tackles (53 solo) and four tackles for a loss.

While Dimargio doesn’t exactly have the biggest presence on social media, I do know that as of today, he holds an offer from the prestigious football program at Mount Union.  His style of play should continue to open up opportunities for him as Boardman looks to build off of their first playoff appearance since 2018.  Head coach D.J. Dota, whose background can be traced back to his days as an excellent defensive coordinator for Harding before he became the Raiders’ head coach from 2007 through 2010, has something special with Dimargio.  It should only get better from here with him and the Spartans entire locker room as a whole.

'26 K Jaxon Faulkner: Austintown Fitch

Elite kickers at the high school football level aren’t exactly the most common to see.  It takes a criminally underrated level of skill and discipline for them to spend the majority of games on the sidelines, stay composed, and deliver the goods when their name is called.  For the last few years, Austintown Fitch had the luxury of having one of the best kickers in the entire state in Anthony Ruggles.  His powerful leg not only landed him a OPSMA 1st Team All-Ohio (Division II) selection, but he’s now on scholarship as the kicker for the University of Toledo.

Now, every time I make a list like this, I have to remind my readers that this isn’t exactly a “Most Accomplished Players” list.  It’s a “Players to Watch” list.  With that said, even with the departure of Ruggles, opposing teams still better let Fitch past midfield this season because if they do, they run the risk of senior-to-be Jaxon Faulkner putting the ball through the goal posts.  It’s not often where we see a “baton handoff” like this at the kicker position, but like Ruggles, Faulkner is as good of a kicker that you’ll find in the entire state.  He patiently watched his older teammate have success and now, it’s his turn to take over the reins for his senior year.

I’m not the only one aware of Faulkner’s capabilities as he already holds offers from Marietta and Midway University.  A quick scan of Faulkner’s X account will show numerous videos of him nailing deep, accurate kicks and punts.  He’s showcased those abilities at several camps and if that translates into production on the football field as expected, Fitch will continue to be in good hands in terms of their ultimate team success. 

'26 QB Trent Hayden: Canton McKinley

Heading into last season, Canton McKinley’s returning core was boosted by the presence of several incoming transfers.  One of which was quarterback Kam Montgomery, who proved to be as good as advertised as he led the Bulldogs to a record of 9-4 and a trip to the third round of the OHSAA Division I playoffs.

With Montgomery now on scholarship at Eastern Kentucky University, a new signal caller has made his way to McKinley in Trent Hayden.  Last year, the 6-foot, 185-pound incoming transfer from Archbishop Hoban took over after the Knights’ first few games, connected on 70-of-110 of his passes for 1,004 yards, threw for nine touchdowns, and just one interception.  In the process, he led them to wins in nine of his ten starts en route to winning the Division II: Region 5 crown before falling in the state semifinal to Avon, who eventually won the state championship the following week.

Unlike Montgomery last year, Hayden is coming into a situation where he’s already quite familiar with the coaching staff at McKinley as several of them were roaming the sidelines for Hoban last year.  As it’s been mentioned throughout this write up, that includes new head coach Renard “Renzy” Parnell.   With the weapons that he’ll be armed with at the skill positions, look for Hayden to have a seamless transition as he takes over the Bulldogs’ offense.

'26 OT Logan Hayes: Canton McKinley

Speaking of the “Bulldogs’ offense,” everything starts with the big men up front.  They’re the ones that set the standard and dictate how well everything will flow throughout the game.  You can have all of the skill in the world, but if you can’t protect your quarterback and provide sufficient blocking for your backs, it will usually be all for not.

Fortunately for McKinley, they’re not expected to have that problem with offensive tackle Logan Hayes up front.  As a junior last season, he accounted for over 60+ pancake blocks and only surrendered one sack for the year.  As a result, he was named a 2nd Team All-Federal League selection.  To date, he holds official offers from Kentucky and Kent State.

Hayes’ was already on the right track to have a successful senior year, but McKinley’s aforementioned addition of nationally renowned strength and conditioning coach Mike Winkler almost certainly makes his future even brighter.  With him already serving as a major force up front last year, being trained by one of the absolute best in the business will only enhance his play on the field.  After what we’ve already seen from him, that’s not a very pleasant thought for McKinley’s opposition.

'26 TB Junie Higgs: Austintown Fitch

I can’t continue to emphasize the importance of coaching without shouting out Austintown Fitch head coach T.J. Parker.  Since taking over the program in December of 2019, he has compiled a record of 40-15.  He always does an amazing job of putting his athletes in the position to succeed. 

For example, in the 2024 regular season finale against Harding, tailback Junie Higgs was limited to six rushing yards on two carries as the Raiders pulled away late 35-21.  Two weeks later in the second round of the OHSAA Division II: Region 5 playoffs against the same Harding squad, Higgs carried the ball 14 times for 122 yards and scored three touchdowns as Fitch advanced with a 42-21 victory.  Despite the tough outing in week 10, Parker knew that he had something special in Higgs, who finished the season with 592 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while also adding 41 tackles on defense.

As of today, Higgs holds offers from Mount Union, Allegheny College, Baldwin Wallace, Capital, and the College of Wooster.  He’s part of an outstanding running back duo alongside junior-to-be Deon’Dray Richard (who we’ll get to momentarily) and they’ll look to continue to put food on the table that Parker has set for his Falcons.

'27 ATH Ray Javey: Youngstown Ursuline

The names on this list aren’t just representing themselves.  In fact, this is just as much a tribute to their coaches as it is to them.  By now, everybody should know my thoughts about Ursuline head coach Dan Reardon and his staff.  Their guidance consistently turns young backups into breakthrough stars who step up when the lights get bright.  Mind you, this is the same head coach that inherited a class that went 2-8 in 2019 as sophomores playing varsity.  In 2021, that same group of young men were competing in the Division IV state championship game.  The “Reardon Effect” has been and still is a real thing!

For example, take junior-to-be Ray Javey.  As a freshman in 2023, he registered 9 tackles (6 solo) in three appearances.  As a sophomore last year, he proved to be a dynamic player on both sides of the ball as he hauled in 16 catches for 413 yards (25.8 YPC) and six touchdowns while registering 34 tackles (28 solo), eight pass deflections, three interceptions, and one tackle for a loss in 15 games.  Despite falling one game short of a berth in the Division III state title game, Javey is another example of a young athlete who emerges under the watch of Coach Reardon. 

The workload of the 5-foot-11, 185-pound athlete last year netted him a 2024 2nd Team All-Steel Valley Conference selection.  If he makes a similar jump his junior year, the future fortunes for both him and Ursuline have the potential to be quite grand.

'26 ATH Daurean Johnson: Akron Buchtel

When comparing professional athletes, many fans have been influenced by “ring culture.”  Many talk as if athletes need to win a championship to validate their careers.  While doing so is certainly a great enhancement to a resume, simply making it to the highest level is a huge, yet often undervalued, accomplishment in itself.

To an extent, that’s the way that many often view Akron Buchtel’s football program.  Technically, it’s actually quite unfair as the Griffins did win state crowns in 1987 and 1988, but that was a long time ago and these days, their athletes don’t quite get the respect that they deserve.  Today, I’m out to help put a stop to that trend as I personally know guys who will tell you that Buchtel always has one of the toughest groups of athletes that you’ll ever come across.

For this example, we’ll take a look at Daurean Johnson.  The 6-foot, 160-pound athlete is a tough competitor who gets the job done on both sides of the field.  Last season, he hauled in 12 catches for 155 yards and four touchdowns while on the defensive side, he registered 47 tackles, seven interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one sack.  That versatility resulted in him receiving 2024 OPSMA 1st Team All-Northeast Inland District and OPSMA All-Ohio selections in Division IV.  If he improves on that breakthrough season from a year ago, both he and Buchtel could be on the rise to even greater things.

'26 LB Amir Jones: Erie McDowell

I previously mentioned the toughness that is associated with the football program at Erie (PA) McDowell High School.  Despite losing a ton to graduation, their schedule is loaded with several quality opponents from the Buckeye State, so they aren’t coming into this season expecting anything to be handed to them.  However, with players like Amir Jones in their arsenal, they have no reason to fear anybody.

Checking in at 5-foot-10, 225 pounds, Jones is a stout linebacker who, when healthy, really makes his presence felt.  In seven games last year, he totaled 25 tackles (20 solo), four tackles for a loss, and one sack.  Those efforts resulted in a 2024 PIAA District 10 Region 7 All-Star Selection.

With his size and skillset, Jones could soon find himself on the brink of selecting a quality college to compete for at the next level.  For now, he’ll focus on his Trojans trying to navigate a schedule that many schools from around here wouldn’t even sign up to play.   

'26 DB Luke Kollar: Youngstown Ursuline

I can’t get on here and sing praises of Youngstown Ursuline’s defense without talking about Luke Kollar.  In fact, an argument can be made that he’s one of the more elite overall athletes on the entire team, which says an awful lot.

At 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Kollar has been a key contributor for the Fighting Irish since his freshman year.  To date, he’s appeared in 34 games, has compiled 116 tackles (64 solo), 11 interceptions, six pass deflections, one tackles for a loss, one fumble recovery, and two touchdowns.  Unfortunately for Harding, one of those scores came on a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown at Mollenkopf Stadium last year.  Overall, his 2024 stat line of 43 tackles (25 solo), five interceptions, one pass deflection, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown earned him 2nd Team All-Steel Valley Conference honors.

While there’s very little information available online regarding potential colleges for Kollar, I imagine that his body of work for the Fighting Irish may eventually open up opportunities at the next level.  In any case, Harding is literally the last high school on earth that would underestimate his ability to impact a football game.

'26 LB Dylan Krohn: Austintown Fitch

As we’re a bit past the halfway point of this list, one of the things that come to mind is that Austintown Fitch is loaded.  When you welcome back nine starters on offense and eight on defense from a team that just finished 9-4 last season, you’re going to get some well deserved hype.  That doesn't even include my previous take on kicker Jaxon Faulkner, who I believe is going to have a special senior year for the Falcons.

Meanwhile, one of Fitch’s biggest pieces from their 2024 defense is back in linebacker Dylan Krohn.  Last season, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound hard hitter made 87 tackles (nine for a loss), three sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, and one pass deflection.  Those numbers not only earned him a spot on the All-YSN team, but he has since reeled in offers from Baldwin Wallace and Wittenberg.

Through his first five seasons, Fitch head coach T.J. Parker has won 73% of his games.  In fact, his 40 wins are the most for a Falcons coach to start a career since Dave Hartman won 43 games from 1982 to 1986.  With playmakers like Krohn back to lead the charge on defense this fall, Parker’s winning percentage has some serious potential to improve even more.    

'26 CB Lennox Lemon: Massillon

Having won the 2023 Division II state championship by the score of 7-2 over state powerhouse Archbishop Hoban, the football program at Massillon knows as much about the importance of a stout defense as anybody.  There may be times during the season when your offense may lack, so your defense has to put it in overdrive and bring home big wins.  With long-time defensive coordinator Spencer Leno taking the head coaching job at nearby Massillon Perry, the Tigers will look to keep that same mentality under new DC Jeff Kent, who brings 17 years worth of coaching experience with him and was last at Lee County High School in Georgia.

That expertise should be very beneficial to the continued development of senior-to-be Lennox Lemon.  Last season, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound “3-star” cornerback registered 30 tackles (20 solo), six pass deflections, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery.  On May 24, 2025, he gave his verbal commitment to the football program at Kent State.  The others that offered him a scholarship include Temple, Akron, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Dartmouth, Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH) University, Ohio University, Toledo,  and Fordham.

While Lemon’s future is already set, it certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s already surrounded by a great coaching staff and plethora of talented athletes who will continue to push him to be the absolute best.  With the Tigers hungry for another state title, look for him and his teammates to push the envelope as they chase another ring.

‘27 DE Dom Letlow: Cardinal Mooney

The storied success of the football program at Cardinal Mooney High School goes back several decades.  On a personal level, whenever Harding plays them on the road, I always make sure that I grab a game program as it’s filled with detailed, up to date facts about their rich history.  This includes their all-time records against every school, statistical highs, the college football players and coaches that they’ve produced, etc.  They do an outstanding job of showcasing the accomplishments of everyone who has contributed to their program's legacy.

While it’s still very early in his high school football career, it’s a pretty safe bet that junior-to-be Dom Letlow will eventually have his name added to the Cardinals’ game day program.  As a sophomore last season, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound defensive end registered 75 tackles (31 for a loss), 11 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, two blocked punts, and two pass deflections.  Those feats resulted in him earning 2024 All-Steel Valley Conference, All-Mahoning County, OPSMA 1st Team All-Northeast Inland District, (Division IV), and OPSMA 2nd Team All-Ohio (Division IV) selections.

College coaches aren’t wasting any time getting in on the “Letlow Sweepstakes” as his offers already include Kentucky, West Virginia, Louisville, South Florida, Akron, Toledo, and Liberty.  If this is just the beginning for Letlow, there’s no telling how big his future will be.   

'27 WR/CB Deontay Malone: Massillon

While the ultimate goal of every high school student is to graduate, the landmark ceremony in one’s life often leaves a football program looking for answers in regards to replacing the production from the season before.  Take the Massillon passing attack for example.  Last season, they totaled 2,431 passing yards for the season.  1,584 of those yards were accounted for by now-departed Tigers Braylyn Toles (751), Jacques Carter (560), and Ja’Meir Gamble (273).  

Mind you, they’re also going to have to replace quarterback Jalen Slaughter, who not only threw for 2,363 yards last season, but is also 2nd in Massillon history with 6,475 passing yards in his career.  For what it’s worth, Toles ranks 4th in Tigers history with 1,936 receiving yards.

At many programs, that would be a high hurdle to clear the following season, but for Massillon head coach Nate Moore this season, it will serve as an opportunity to feature junior-to-be athlete Deontay Malone in the air attack.  Last season, he hauled in 22 catches for 248 yards and two touchdowns.  Over the offseason, as a result of him successfully showcasing his skillset in front of college coaches, he’s hauled in offers from Eastern Carolina, North Carolina, Gardner Webb, and Pitt.  With that amount of attention that he’s already seeing, there’s no telling how big his name will get once he shows the entire world what he can do under those Friday Night lights.

'26 S Damere McClellan, Canton McKinley

Some places have last names that many sports fans identify with.  Here in Warren, surnames like Provitt, Daniels, Herron, the Browner brothers from Warren Western Reserve, etc. are among the few that often bring back decades worth of memories for area sports fans as the legacies of those family’s athletic accomplishments withstand the test of time.  The same can be said for a powerhouse program like Canton McKinley, who is in the midst of watching the branches of a certain family tree continue to sprout. 

The younger brother of former Bulldog and current Missouri Tiger Dante McClellan, Damere McClellan wasn't on last year’s McKinley football team to live in the shadow of his big brother.  Rather, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound safety was on the field making a name for himself as he finished third on the squad with 81 tackles.  As a result, he finished the season as a 2nd Team All-Federal League selection.

While some may grow tired of me stressing the effects of great coaching, Damere is one of many at McKinley that will reap the benefits of a strong presence in the lock room.  It’s one thing to take a group of inexperienced athletes and mold them into stars, but it’s another to give a solid group of athletes the green light of an experienced staff that could potentially rival the absolute best in Ohio.  Damere will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of that new equation in Bulldog Country, which could potentially have an impact beyond the high school level.

'27 LB Javier Moore: Canton McKinley

If I continue my series of annual preseason “Opponents To Watch” lists into the future (as of right now, there’s no reason why I wouldn’t), then my readers will continue to hear plenty about Canton McKinley’s Javier Moore.  This is the junior-to-be’s second consecutive appearance on the list as by the conclusion of his freshman year, he already had an offer from Kentucky.  After all, who am I to argue against the thoughts of a college football program, let alone one from the SEC?

When we did discuss Moore’s potential around this time last year, he was a 6-foot, 200-pound sophomore.  Since then, he’s added 15 pounds of muscle to his frame and as I alluded to above about other Bulldogs, the presence of Mike Winkler, the new strength and conditioning coach at McKinley, will only enhance his development moving forward.  Not only that, but their stacked set of linebackers should open things up even more for their entire defense.

In addition to Winkler, the strong presence of McKinley’s defensive-minded coaching staff should really give Moore an extra gear moving forward.  He’s already a hard hitter and sure tackler at this stage of his career, but everything that college scouts already love about him should really shine bright in 2025. 

'26 OL Booker Newberry V: Austintown Fitch

You’d be hard pressed to look back and find a season when Austintown Fitch didn’t have success with running the football.  Their coaching staff has always done an excellent job of preparing their young men to pound the rock in the trenches.  Of course, that requires a very skilled set of backs to run the football, which we’ll continue to elaborate on momentarily.  That said, we all know that it all starts with the big hogs up front that do all of the dirty work in the trenches.

That’s where senior Booker Newberry comes in.  Checking in at 6-foot-3, 275 pounds, he’s one of four returning starters along the Falcons’ offensive line and when he gets his hands on you, it often results in bad news for opposing players. When it comes to blocking, this young man is responsible for more pancakes than a chef at IHOP!  Don’t believe me, pull up the film and you’ll see Newberry planting defender after defender with relative ease.

Unfortunately, many offensive linemen rarely get the credit they deserve as their names don’t show up on a stat sheet.  Fortunately, Newberry’s case is the polar opposite as he was not only named to the 2024 All-YSN Team, but he was also an OPSMA 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District selection.  After carrying that momentum into the offseason, he has since been awarded scholarship offers to schools the likes of Albany, Allegheny College, Clarion, Ohio Wesleyan, and Wittenberg.  If his senior season is half as hot as his summer was, Fitch will continue to be in good hands along their offensive front.

'27 TB/LB Savior Owens: Massillon

Word out of Massillon is that this season, junior-to-be Savior Owens is expected to start at tailback.  Last season, he ran for 132 yards and one touchdown on 32 carries.  You may read that and ask yourself, "How do those numbers make him a player to watch?"  For starters, 62 of those yards and his lone score, a career-long 55-yard run, came on October 18, 2024 against Harding on just two carries.  That said, his case is actually much deeper than that.

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.

In 2023, Savior's older brother, Da'One Owens, ran for 1,302 yards & 15 touchdowns on 140 carries while completing 105-of-182 passes for 1,566 yards & another 18 scores as Massillon's starting quarterback during their 16-0 Division II state championship-winning run.  Now, his 5-foot-10, 205-pound baby brother has been given the highly coveted "green light" from Coach Moore to tote the rock for the Tigers.  Word of that news has spread quickly as he's already received Division I scholarship offers from Bowling Green, Kent State, Miami (OH), and Toledo.  In other words, I'm not the only one who is aware of the football pedigree that Moore is known to produce from the tailback position and if Savior already has this much hype now, it will only get better from here as his career progresses. 

'27 TB Deon'Dray Richard: Austintown Fitch

With all of the talent that has roamed the halls of Austintown Fitch High School, it should come as no surprise that they're expected to have one of the more elite groups in the Mahoning Valley this year.  However, with the rare talent that they armed with in junior tailback Deon’Dray Richard, the entire state will be on high alert for the next two years.

As a sophomore in 2024, Richard didn’t waste any time making his mark on the Falcons’ record books as his 194 carries went for a school record 1,695 yards and 20 touchdowns, which is also tied with Antwan Harris (2013) and Jamell James (2022) for tops in Fitch history for a single season. That yardage total is just 64 yards shy of Fitch’s all-time top 10 for an entire career.  In fact, 324 of those yards came in two games against Harding last season, which includes his 222-yard effort in the second round of the playoffs, which is the fourth highest single-game rushing yardage total in the history of the rivalry.  Overall, his efforts throughout the season resulted in selections on the 2024 All-YSN Team, WKBN Big 22, OPSMA 1st Team All-Northeast Inland District team (Division II), and OPSMA 3rd Team All-Division II (Division II).

To date, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound tailback holds an offer from Miami (OH) University.  It’s definitely a good look for the Redhawks to get in early on the Richard sweepstakes because as he continues to absolutely annihilate Fitch’s record book, it’s pretty much a given that he’s going to be one of the more sought out prospects for the class of 2027.

'26 DE Damarr Rogers: Austintown Fitch

In their 13 football games last year, Austintown Fitch outscored their opponents by 10.3 points per contest.  As impressive as that is, eight of their games resulted in double-digit victories, but their black eye that they suffered at the hands of Youngstown Ursuline makes the averages look much worse than they actually are as if you take that away, their overall point differential per game is +13.2.

Any attempt to attack Austintown Fitch’s defense will begin with the daunting task of containing senior-to-be Damarr Rogers.  The 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive end forces the issue up front as in 2024, he finished with 74 tackles (10 for a loss), 3.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and one touchdown.  He knows how to find the football and even when he’s not officially recording stops, the chaos that he creates opens the door for his fellow Falcons to finish the job.

Rogers contributions to Fitch’s stout defense  earned him a spot on the loaded 2024 All-Mahoning County team.  With head coach T.J. Parker’s ability to get more out of his developing talent, Rogers will have a chance to strengthen his case as one of the more elite defensive linemen in the entire state.

'26 DL/LB Karter Rudzik: Youngstown Ursuline

Throughout the abundance of Youngstown Ursuline entries in this write up, I’ve emphasized the importance of experience and Dan Reardon’s coaching.  Who better epitomizes those aspects than linebacker Karter Rutzik?

Coming into last season, Rutzik registered 92 tackles (50 solo), three tackles for a loss, and two sacks in 20 career games played.  In his 15 game appearances of 2024, he totaled 99 tackles (49 solo), 26 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, and five fumble recoveries.  In addition to his 1st Team All-Steel Valley Conference Selection, he was voted as the Mahoning County Defensive Player of the Year.

As I’ve said countless times, Reardon simply knows how to make his players better.  That trend continued with Rutzik and if it does moving forward, the state will have no choice but to take notice.  For now, he’ll look to help lead Ursuline back on another deep postseason run.

'26 RB/LB Connor Shepherd: Massillon Perry

As I mentioned above, there’s a new era set to begin for Massillon Perry’s football program as they’ll now be led by new head coach Spencer Leno.  With his coaching background and expertise, the former long-time defensive coordinator at Massillon Washington should really like the potential that he sees in Perry senior Connor Shephard.

One of 13 returning lettermen, Shepherd led the Panthers last season with 662 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.  Defensively, he totaled 54 tackles, with seven of those resulting in a loss.  At season’s end, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound battering ram was a 2024 2nd Team All-Federal League and OPSMA 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District (Division II) selection.

Earlier, we discussed the impact that former Archbishop Hoban defensive coordinator Renard “Renzy” Parnell could potentially have in his new role as the head coach for Canton McKinley in terms of developing his young stars on the defensive side of the ball.  Now, Leno who, like Parnell, is a state championship-winning assistant coach himself, also has the opportunity to mold his new athletes into champions.  It will be interesting to see how he and his staff will work to bring even more out of Shephard, which should really excite the Panther faithful. 

'26 TE/DE A.J. Snyder: Youngstown Ursuline

A career statline of 175 tackles (99 solo), 36.0 tackles for a loss, 14.0 sacks, two pass deflections, and one fumble recovery in 35 high school football games would make for an impressive resume.  For Youngstown Ursuline's A.J. Snyder, that's only what he's already done prior to his senior football season.  

A headliner on a stacked defense that returns eight starters on that side of the ball,  Snyder is a 6-foot-2, 222-pound defensive end that forces the issue for the Fighting Irish.  Last season alone, he made 28 stops behind the line of scrimmage for a unit that pitched five shutouts over the course of their run to the Division III state semifinal.  His efforts resulted in 1st Team All-Steel Valley and All-Mahoning County selections, an OPSMA 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District (Division III), and a spot on the 2024 All-YSN Football Team.

To date, Snyder has compiled an offer list that includes the likes of Air Force, Army, Brown, Lehigh, Mercyhurst, Navy, Penn, and Youngstown State.  In addition to that, 247 Sports reported that he "impressed at West Virginia camp" while his summer also included solid camp showings at Ohio State, Florida, South Florida, etc.  Snyder's future appears set for life well beyond his days in green and gold.  For now, look for him to continue his dominance on the field for one of the premier high school football programs in the entire state.

'27 LB Antonio Stevens: Canton McKinley

Throughout this writeup, I’ve constantly expressed the value of coaching.  In addition to the athletes that we’ve discussed here, we can definitely expect many more to emerge from the teachings of the adults that are running the show.  Once again, with his background on the defensive side of the ball, new Canton McKinley head coach Renard “Renzy” Parnell should be extremely excited about the opportunity to coach a player the caliber of junior-to-be Antonio Stevens.

Checking in at 5-foot-11, 230 pounds, Stevens finished one stop shy of McKinley’s leading tackler last season, current University of Missouri Tiger Dante McClellan, as he finished with 98 tackles (10 for a loss) and three sacks. Through their first twelve weeks of the season, the Bulldogs were in every game as they never lost a contest by double digits until they ran into a buzzsaw in Mentor in week 13.

However, the hard lesson that ended their 2024 campaign and a fresh, experienced voices that will now flood the ears of McKinley’s football players should provide a major stepping stone for them, especially in a young player like Stevens whose best days are still ahead of him.   

'26 WR Devonte Taylor: Youngstown Ursuline

While Youngstown Ursuline is no stranger to top tier talent, this year's squad is armed with one of the greatest playmakers that they've ever had in senior Devonte Taylor.  That's a very strong statement, but as of today, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound wide receiver has hauled in 87 catches (5th in Ursuline history) for 1,454 yards (5th in Ursuline history), and 22 touchdowns, which is tied with Louis Irizarry for the most career scoring catches in Fighting Irish history.  As a matter of fact, his 14 touchdown catches in 2024 is also the highest single-season total ever at Ursuline.  

Taylor's work on the field hasn't gone unnoticed by anybody.  As far as the media is concerned, he's a two-time 1st Team All-Steel Valley Conference & All-Mahoning County selection and after being named to the OPSMA 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District Team (Division III) in 2023, he was a first team selection in 2024.  In addition to that, his junior season also concluded recognition on the 2024 All-YSN Team as well as the WKBN Big 22.

As far as Taylor's future NCAA football career is concerned, he's currently considering offers from the likes of Indiana, Kentucky, Marshall, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Central Michigan, East Carolina, Kent State, Temple, Toledo, Western Michigan, Liberty, and Youngstown State.  With graduations hitting Ursuline's offense pretty hard, it would be interesting to see if he takes on an even larger workload this fall.  If anybody is equipped to do so, it's Taylor.

'26 LB Ja'Dyn Williams: Massillon

If you know anything about Massillon, you know that their linebacking core is going to play lights out!  For the second straight season, they’ll be led by senior Ja’Dyn Williams.  Nationally ranked among the top 100 at his position by both Rivals and 247 Sports, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound missile flies to the ball every snap.

To date, Williams has appeared in 21 career games, registered 102 tackles (50 solo), 14.0 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections.  However, the bulk of that came in his 10 games played last season as his 81 tackles (38 solo), 12.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one pass deflection earned him OPSMA 2nd Team All-Northeast Inland District Honors.  With the recent graduation of former Tiger linebacker and current Miami (OH) University Redhawk Vito McConnell, look for Williams to have an extra gear for this year’s defensive unit.

On June 10, 2025, Williams ended an intense recruiting war for his future services when he verbally committed to Indiana.  The other colleges that offered include Kentucky, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Wake Forest, Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (OH), Ohio University, Toledo, James Madison, Liberty, and Western Kentucky.  

'26 S Tra’Yon Williams: Massillon

Personally, I’ve been a big fan of Massillon’s Tra’Yon Williams since their 16-0 Division II state championship run in 2023.  Mind you, he only made 10 tackles (nine solo) and one pass deflection in seven game appearances that season.  However, I saw a play of his from their fourth round playoff game against Green where he (“legally”) absolutely annihilated a receiver as he knocked the ball loose.  Fast forward to week 9 of last year at Mollenkopf Stadium and, from his safety position, swarmed into Harding’s offensive backfield for an insane tackle for a loss.

Overall, Williams finished last season with 46 tackles (30 solo), five tackles for a loss, two pass deflections, one sack, one interception, and one forced fumble.  As a result, he finished the season with a 2024 OPSMA Northeast Inland District Honorable Mention (Division II) selection.

To date, Williams has received a scholarship offer from Kent State.  With his physicality and his head coach Nate Moore’s history of sending his Tigers off to the next level, I fully expect this list to grow immensely this season.  In the event that it doesn't, Kent State will be awarded with, arguably, the biggest steal in Ohio’s class of 2026.

'26 LB Rocco Zabel, Cardinal Mooney

The list of linebackers that Cardinal Mooney has produced this century is absolutely insane.  Mike Zordich (Penn State), Brandon Beachum (Penn State), Taylor Hill (Michigan), Courtney Love (Kentucky), Luke Fulton (Michigan State/Kentucky), Alec DelSignore (Ohio State), etc. are all former Cardinals who took their skillsets from the linebacker position and went off to the next level.

Pretty soon, we may see a new name added to that illustrious group in senior-to-be Rocco Zabel.  At 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, he’s an absolute warrior with a keen nose for the football as last year, he totaled 120 tackles (seven for a loss), one sack, and one fumble recovery.  That output resulted in 2024 selections on the All-YSN Team, OPSMA 1st Team All-Northeast Inland District (Division IV), and OPSMA All-Ohio Honorable Mention (Division IV).

Throughout the entirety of this write up, I constantly stressed the importance of coaching, coaching, and more coaching!  Moving forward, Zabel will get plenty of it from new Mooney head coach Frank Colaprete.  With his 12 years of coaching at the collegiate level, just imagine the quality of coaches that he brought in to coach under him.  Because of that, Zabel is one of many Cardinals to keep an eye on as they look to return to the days of dominating Ohio.