Even though the 2027 graduation year is a long way away, the following high school football players have already had improbable success, most playing football against legal adults as 14- or 15-year-olds.
Some have garnered major college offers from Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee and others. Most are champing at the bit get out on the field and show even further that they belong at the next level.
High school football in Ohio kicks off soon, with the regular season starting around Aug. 22. Here are the top 25 football recruits in Greater Cincinnati for the class of 2026.
25. Sean Hurry, DL, Newport
Hurry finished first among freshmen and fifth overall in Kentucky last season with 8.5 sacks. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he’s well on his way to Division I size going into his sophomore year.
24. Ryan Massie-Cable, OL/DL, Taylor
Listed at 6-4, 232 pounds, Massie-Cable will get Division I looks based on his size alone. He uses brute strength and surprising athleticism to create pressure from the interior of the defensive line, and with some technical refinement, it’s fun to think of the things he could do at Taylor.
23. Ulysses Porter, RB/DB, Holy Cross
Porter exploded onto the scene for Holy Cross during his freshman season in 2023. He recorded nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 137 receiving yards and forced and recovered two fumbles on defense. He totaled 18 touchdowns in 2023.
22. Andrew Lyman, WR, Kings
Lyman is listed as 6-2 and has already received an offer from the University of Massachusetts. His brother, who will be a senior at Kings this season, committed to Eastern Michigan University over offers from Army, Navy and seven of eight Ivy League schools.
21. Lucas Cannady, QB, St. Bernard
Cannady threw five interceptions in his first two games starting for St. Bernard last season, but he quickly settled in and threw for 13 touchdowns to just five interceptions for the rest of the season.
20. Crue Gilmour, DB, Lawrenceburg
Gilmour recorded 39 tackles, forced a fumble and had two interceptions during his freshman season at Lawrenceburg. With some development over the next three seasons, he could be Division I caliber in track as well. His personal best for a sanctioned high jump is 5 feet, 11 inches.
19. Reilly Newman, LB/TE, Lakota West
At 6-5, 200 pounds, Newman is already approaching Division I size. It’s no surprise that he dominated on Lakota West’s freshmen team last season but look for a breakout campaign for Newman. He and the three other Lakota West sophomores-to-be could make for an enviable offensive attack for the next three seasons.
18. Noah Brown, OL, East Central
As a freshman in 2023, Brown started all 15 games for the Indiana class 4A state champion East Central Trojans. Currently listed at 6-foot, 245 pounds. He’ll probably need to grow a couple of inches in the next few years to be a bona-fide Division I prospect, but the potential is obvious. On tape, he uses impressive lower-body strength to move larger defensive linemen.
17. Camden Telinda, athlete, Goshen
Telinda was a two-way star for Goshen as a freshman in 2023, recording 776 rushing yards, 233 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He also forced three fumbles on defense and had two pass break-ups. Listed at 6 feet, Telinda should eventually have enough size to go wherever his skills take him.
16. Kenyon Norman, RB, Lakota West
Kenyon Norman spent most of 2023 on Lakota West’s freshman and JV teams, but when he got called up to varsity, he rushed for 93 yards on eight tries. He also helped Lakota West win its first-ever state track championship in the 4×100-meter relay in 2023.
15. Tink Sellers, DB/WR, Deer Park
Sellers had an impressive freshman campaign, totaling 11 receptions for 290 yards and one touchdown catch. He also had three interceptions. Deer Park coaches expect Sellers to put himself on the map with a breakout campaign in 2023.
14. Tysin Weaver, WR, Simon Kenton
Weaver is already 6 feet and 174 pounds, and he recorded 607 receiving yards on 27 receptions (22.3 yards per reception) in 2023. No play is dead when the ball is in Weaver’s hands. He consistently finds ways to accelerate around defenders and make big plays out of shorter completions.
13. Isiah Johnson, OT/DE, New Miami
As a freshman, Johnson totaled 56 tackles, three-and-a-half sacks, a forced fumble and 14 tackles for loss. He should be a candidate for numerous accolades over the next three seasons.
12. Xavier Ratica, TE, Lakota West
Ratica is already 6-6, 227 pounds. He’s received one Division I offer so far, from Toledo. He didn’t catch a pass on varsity last season but he unsurprisingly dominated at the lower level. He was so much bigger than everyone else that little can be gleaned from watching the tape. Still, he has fluid movements and strong athleticism, especially for someone so young and large.
11. Hezikiah Kelly, athlete, Northwest
Kelly was the only freshman to be named first-team All-Southwest Ohio Conference in 2023. He recorded 34 tackles, a sack, an interception and three pass breakups last year. He also had eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
10. Timmy Emongo, athlete, Scott
Emongo already has five Division I offers, from Louisville, Kentucky, Miami University, Kent State and Eastern Kentucky. He rushed 20 times for 382 yards as a freshman and added 83 receiving yards.
9. Brady Young, QB, New Richmond
At 6-4, 185 pounds, Young is already closing in on Division I size. In his first four games as the…
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