High School Football: Who are the top returning players in Miami Valley?

High school football is 11 days away, and many teams and players are preparing to stand out.

Based off of 2023 performances, the following is a look at the top returning players on area teams.

4-stars: Northmont senior Cedric Works (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) made a big splash as a junior rushing off the edge and getting in backfields for 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Works is a four-star recruit who is committed to Kentucky. He ranks as the No. 6 prospect in Ohio and the No. 86 nationally by 24/7 Sports.

Trotwood-Madison junior Jamarcus Whyce (6-1, 265) is a four-star defensive line prospect. He is rated No. 7 in Ohio and close to cracking the top 200 nationally by 24/7. His top offers are from Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

3-stars: Kentucky also has a commitment from Trotwood offensive tackle Jermiel Atkins (6-8, 290), the No. 19 player in Ohio.

Wayne’s roster welcomes back four 3-stars: No. 33 Jussiah Williams-West, a safety (2 interceptions, 2 kickoff return TDs) with offers from Kentucky, Wisconsin and many others; No. 67 Tyrell Lewis, a quarterback (2,129 yards, 21 touchdowns) who is committed to Arkansas State; No. 69 Kamaurri Smith, a tight end (17 receptions) who is committed to Cincinnati; No. 91 Teaunn Hunter, a wide receiver (20 receptions) who is committed to Kent State. Lewis and Hunter are step-brothers, and Smith is their cousin.

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Others are No. 44 Koul Koul, an offensive tackle for Centerville who is committed to Purdue; No. 47 Jayden Clark, an offensive lineman for Northmont with offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, West Virgina and Purdue; No. 106 Marshon Gregory-Bey, and edge rusher from Miamisburg who is committed to Akron; No. 117 Jamil Miller, a wide receiver from Springfield with offers from Miami, Akron and Toledo; No. 130 Zy’Aire Fletcher from Springfield, is listed as an athlete and is committed to Kent State. Springfield edge rusher Jackson Heims is No. 141 in the state and a 2-star recruit who could rise to a 3-star.

Quarterbacks: Brent Upshaw (Springfield, senior, 1,457 yards, 13 TDs); Jacob Davis (Springboro, junior, 965 yards); Brock Baker (Fairmont, senior, 694 rushing yards); Gavin Connor (Alter, senior, 1,547 yards, 13 TDs, 517 rush yards, 6 TDs); Gavin McManus (Xenia, senior, 1,681 yards, 7 TDs); Devin McCormick (Stebbins, sophomore, 1,271 yards, 6 TDs); Aiden Kirkpatrick (Troy, junior, 872 yards, 6 TDs); Alex Amburgy (Waynesville, senior, 2,817 yards, 25 TDs); Alex Horney (Greeneview, senior, 1,043 pass yards, 1,276 rush yards, 26 total TDs); Brody Morton (Preble Shawnee, junior, 2,099 yards, 20 TDs); Owen Canan (Bradford, senior, 1,632 yards, 14 TDs); K.J. Gustin (Miami East, sophomore, 1,488 yards, 14 TDs); Dorryen Davis (Northridge, junior, 1,441 yards, 9 TDs); Cooper Mears (Bethel, junior, 1,344 yards, 7 TDs).

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Running backs: Calilien Grant (Northmont, junior, 935 rush yards, 14 receptions, offer from Miami); Deontre Long (Springfield, junior, 899 rush yards, 8 TDs, offer from Toledo); Isaiah Thompson (Wayne, junior, 693 yards, 7 TDs); Parker Johnson (Centerville, junior, 667 yards); Keith Henry (Miamisburg, senior, 484 yards); Nydrell Wright (Chaminade Julienne, senior, 1,315 yards, 15 TDs); Aiden Lowery (Chaminade Julienne, 925 yards, seven TDs); Ethan Stacey (Chaminade Julienne, senior, 857 yards, 13 TDs); Malachi Ringer (Chaminade Julienne, junior, 776 yards); Noah Jones (Alter, junior, 1,231 yards, 18 TDs); Rod Owens (Alter, junior, 599 yards, 9 TDs); Mike Rose (Alter, junior, 304 yards, 11 TDs); Jay Kidd (Fairborn, senior, 868 yards, 6 TDs); Jericho Burns (Piqua, senior, 794 yards, 6 TDs); Julius Spradling (Sidney, senior, 405 rush yards, 16 receptions); Kaiden Bates (Butler, senior, 756 yards, 10 TDs); Isaiah Foster (Sidney, senior, 589 yards, 5 TDs); Blake Lawson (Carlisle, 1,109 yards, 10 TDs); Garrett Lundy (Waynesville, senior, 1,257 rush yards, 25 TDs, 48 receptions, 6 TDs); Tanner Stewart (Bellbrook, senior, 1,019 yards, 11 TDs); Vincent Epifano (Bellbrook, sophomore, 671 yards, 8 TDs); Walt Adams (Brookville, senior, 931 yards, 11 TDs); Cordis Berard (Eaton, 746 yards, 7 TDs); Teon Hill (Northridge, senior, 975 yards, 7 TDs); Colt Coffey (Cedarville, senior, 1,108 yards, 16 TDs); Chase Walker (Greeneview, senior, 620 yards, 7 TDs); Aaron Mills (Miami East, senior, 1,318 yards, 8 TDs).

Receivers: Jamar Montgomery (Springfield, senior, transfer from Centerville, 57 receptions); Jamier Averette-Brown (Wayne, sophomore, 31 receptions, 3 kickoff return TDs, offers include Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Nebraska, Tennessee); Brady Lupton (Northmont, senior, 31 receptions, 5 TDs); D.J. Williams (Northmont, senior, 29 receptions); Gage Miesse (Wayne, senior, 29 receptions); Armani Rogers (Trotwood-Madison, junior, offers from Miami, Toledo, Central Michigan); Tristen Bozeman (Dunbar, junior, 18 receptions, 6 TDs); Jack McGeady (Carroll, senior,. 43 receptions); Shawn Fishwick (Xenia, junior, 21 receptions, offers from Miami, Akron, Bowling Green, Kent State, Toledo), Deshawn Cunningham (Stebbins, senior, 23 receptions); Tayven Crump (Butler, senior, 24 receptions); Jackson Davis (Tippecanoe, senior, 28 receptions); Ethan New (Sidney, senior, 19 receptions); Luke Richards (Carlisle, junior, 763 yards, 7 TDs); Trenton Davis (Waynesville, junior, 43 receptions, 6 TDs); Conner Bach (Eaton, senior, 33 receptions); Jude Omiatek (Bellbrook, senior, TE, 13 catches); Isaac Blankenship (Preble Shawnee, senior, 56 receptions, 8 TDs); Reece Smith (Preble Shawnee, senior, 44 receptions); Ja’Dynn Martin (Northridge, senior, 66 receptions, 1,124 yards, 8 TDs).

Offensive line: Royce Rogers (Springfield, junior); Paxton Tengesdahl (Wayne, junior); Kane Corle (Beavercreek, senior); Jerome Howe (Springfield, senior); Luke Carter (Sidney, senior); Isiah Saudemire (Stebbins, senior); Isaiah Brady (Carlisle, junior); Xavier Stacy (Brookville, senior).

Defensive line: Mason Keely (Centerville, senior, 64 tackles, 10 TFL); Noah Wazgar (Beavercreek, senior, 32 tackles); Logan Wilkins (Fairmont, senior, 57 tackles, 14.5 TFL); Elijah Berman (Chaminade Julienne, junior, 37 tackles, Ohio, Miami offers); Jeremiah Nash (Trotwood-Madison, sophomore, offer from Toledo); Ryland Dawson (Trotwood-Madison, junior); Cam’ron Couch (Troy, junior, 58 tackles, 17 TFL); Louis Freeman (Xenia, junior, 48 tackles); Riley Seibert (Butler, junior, 42 tackles); Jordan Meyers (Brookville, senior, 36 tackles); Preston Orr (Eaton, senior, 52 tackles, 10 TFL); Gavin Henry (Greeneview, senior, 51 tackles).

Linebackers: Kyron Dolby (Springfield, senior, 154 tackles, 2 interceptions); Aidan Weimer (Springboro, senior, 87 tackles); Terrence Harrell (Northmont, senior, 121 tackles); Matt Jones (Centerville, senior, 36 tackles); Gavin Proffitt (Fairmont, senior, 76 tackles); Jackson Puckett (Centerville, senior, 88 tackles); Jake Taylor (Centerville, senior, 79 tackles, 13 TFL); Keegan Fowler (Chaminade Julienne, senior, 102 tackles); Thomas Sciaretti (Alter, senior, 73 tackles); Ronnie Butler (Xenia, senior, 106 tackles); Braylen Crump (Butler, senior, 87 tackles); Ceasar Berryman (Valley View, junior, 93 tackles, 18 TFL); Preston Petit (Bellbrook, senior, 100 tackles); Cooper Payton (Greeneview, senior, 73 tackles, 717 yards rush, 10 TDs); Gunner Collett (Northridge, senior, 90 tackles, 13 TFL).

Defensive backs: Toby Deglow (Fairmont, senior, 50 tackles); Colin Shannon (Miamisburg, senior, 51 tackles); Sincere Keyes (Springfield, junior, offer from Central Michigan); Taj Powell (Springfield, junior, transfer from Centerville); Ziere Alston (Centerville, sophomore, transfer from Dunbar); Darius Dennis (Trotwood-Madison, sophomore, offers from Missouri, Indiania, Tulsa); Tresten Nichols (Trotwood-Madison, junior); Allen Mabson (Butler, senior, 62 tackles, 8 interceptions); Gavin McConnell (Bellbrook, senior, 55 tackles, 5 interceptions); Noah Finkbine (Tri-Village, senior, 141 tackles, 12.5 TFL).

Kickers: Max Gehring (Fairmont, senior, 7-9 FGs); Leland Gantz (Centerville, senior, 11-13 FGs); Cameron Stoltz (Troy, senior, 4-6 FGs); Jon Hewitt (Eaton, 10-14 FGs).

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