Top 50 high school football players in Ohio in the Class of 2022

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When it comes to the top high school football players in the Buckeye State, the Ohio State Buckeyes are cleaning-up when it comes to the best players in the Class of 2022. So far, Ryan Day and his staff have received verbal commitments from four of the top seven players in the 247Sports.com composite rankings.

The top two players, No. 1 C.J. Hicks (Archbishop Alter) and No. 2 Gabe Powers (Marysville), have said they’re going to stay in-state. Both players are superb linebackers.

Hicks is a 5-star college football prospect. Hicks, an outside linebacker, is considered the No. 18 overall prospect in America.

Powers was the All-Ohio Division I Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. He recorded 61 solo tackles, four sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception in eight games last year.

The Buckeyes have also picked-up verbals from Lakota West seniors-to-be, cornerback Jyaire Brown (No. 5) and offensive tackle Tegra Tshabola (No. 7). Last year, Lakota West finished No. 85 in the High School Football America 100 national rankings powered by NFL Play Football, the NFL’s initiative to provide fun and engaging experience for players of all ages and skill levels.

Lakota West cornerback Alex Afari is ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the state. Afari has given his verbal commitment to Kentucky.

In the verbal commitment game, Penn State has crossed the Ohio/Pennsylvania border to nab two players — No. 4 Kadenn Saunders (Westerville South) and the state’s top quarterback, Drew Allar (Medina).

Saunders recorded 47 catches last year for 958 yards with 13 touchdowns.

Allar led Medina to an incredible run through the Division I playoffs last year. The Battling Bees advanced to the regional finals after a huge upset win over top-seed St. Edward in the opening round of the playoffs.

Allar finished his junior season with 2,963 yards passing with 26 touchdowns. He to earn second-team All-Ohio honors.

Allar will compete at the Elite 11 quarterback competition later this month in Los Angeles.

247Sports.com Composite Rankings Ohio Class of 2022

No. 1 C.J. Hicks, LB – Archbishop Alter – Ohio State

No. 2 Gabe Powers, LB – Marysville – Ohio State

No. 3 Aamil Wagner, OT – Wayne (Huber Heights) – Uncommitted

No. 4 Kaden Saunders, WR – Westerville South – Penn State

No. 5 Jyaire Brown, CB – Lakota West – Ohio State

No. 6 Drew Allar, QB – Medina – Penn State

No. 7 Tegra Tshabola, OT – Lakota West – Ohio State

No. 8 Blake Miller, OT – Strongsville – Clemson

No. 9 Gi’Bran Payne, RB – La Salle – Uncommitted

No. 10 Trey Bixby, DL – St. Edward – Minnesota

No. 11 Elijah Brown, TE – Wayne (Huber Heights) – Alabama

No. 12 Derrick Shepard, DL – Archbishop Alter – Cincinnati

No. 13 Ryan Baer, OT – North (Eastlake) – Uncommitted

No. 14 Alex Afari, ATH – Lakota West – Kentucky

No. 15 Kentrell Marks, RB – Valley Forge – Uncommitted

No. 16 Stephan Byrd, RB – Canal Winchester – Cincinnati

No. 17 Brody Foley, TE – Anderson – Tennessee

No. 18 Kaleb Johnson, RB – Hamilton – Cal

No. 19 Ryan Miller, TE – Kenston – Uncommitted

No. 20 Carter Smith, OT – Olentangy – Uncommitted

No. 21 CJ Doggette, Jr., DL – Pickerington Central – Cincinnati

No. 22 Delian Bradley, S – Springfield – Uncommitted

No. 23 Mekhi Lynn, QB – Princeton – Uncommitted

No. 24 Chase Harrison, QB – Centerville – Marshall

No. 25 Maurice Hamilton, IOL – Cleveland Heights – West Virginia

No. 26 Kwabena Asamoah, IOL – Pickerington Central – Rutgers

No. 27 Cameron Collins, IOL – St. Xavier – Uncommitted

No. 28 Ethan Green, OT – Fremont Ross – Cincinnati

No. 29 Josh Kattus, TE – Archbishop Moeller – Kentucky

No. 30 Tyler Gillison, DL – Pickerington Central – Cincinnati

No. 31 Brian Parker II, OT – St. Xavier – Duke

No. 32 Te’Sean Smoot, QB – Springfield – Uncommitted

No. 33 Rodney Harris II, WR – Princeton – Uncommitted

No. 34 Delaney Wilburn, S – Groveport Madison – Uncommitted

No. 35 Isaiah Jones, LB – London – Indiana

No. 36 Aveon Grose, S – Mansfield – Uncommitted

No. 37 Jonathan Thompson, LB – St. Francis de Sales – Cincinnati

No. 38 Ira Sampson, RB – South (Willoughby) – Uncommitted

No. 39 Christopher Jackson, LB – Toledo Central Catholic – Uncommitted

No. 40 Mason Mennell, IOL – Stow-Munroe Falls – Uncommitted

No. 41 Claishon Ivory, ATH – Euclid – Uncommitted

No. 42 Xavier Preston, ATH – Stow-Munroe Falls – Uncommitted

No. 43 Max Klare, TE – St. Xavier – Duke

No. 44 Ken Willis, CB – Colerain – Cincinnati

No. 45 Tyron Darby, RB – West Carrollton – Uncommitted

No. 46 Kendrix Goodman, IOL – Fairfield – Uncommitted

No. 47 Nathanael Sulka, LB – Chardon – Uncommitted

No. 48 Adam Trick, LB – Wayne (Huber Heights) – Uncommitted

No. 49 Stephen Gales, OT – Alliance Uncommitted

No. 50 Avery Henry, OT – St. Clairsville – Iowa State

247Sports.com Composite Rankings Ohio Class of 2023

No. 1 Sonny Styles, S – Pickerington Central – Uncommitted

No. 2 Brenan Vernon, DL – Mentor – Uncommitted

No. 3 Luke Montgomery, OT – Findlay – Uncommitted

No. 4 Joshua Padilla, IOL – Wayne (Huber Heights) – Uncommitted

No. 5 Anthony Brown, WR – Springfield – Uncommitted

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.