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
