The first week of high school football is set to arrive in a few short days.
Week 1 kicks off in the Miami Valley on Thursday, Aug. 20. As the season approaches, we take a look at some of the best players in the region.
Ahead of the 2026 season, here are 26 of the top players in the Miami Valley (in alphabetical order):
(All statistics from the 2025 season)
Bariyus Allen, Dayton Belmont, 6-5, 290, sr., DL
Allen committed to play at Iowa on June 7. Two days after receiving an offer. He had 19.5 tackles for loss and six sacks to go with 73 total tackles. Allen was a third team all-state selection in Division II. He made first team all-Southwest District.
Dom Black, New Madison Tri-Village, 6-4, 280, sr., OL
Black committed to play at Kentucky on June 12. He led an offensive line that pushed Tri-Village to dominate the WOAC with an offense averaging 52.4 ppg. Black was named first team all-state, all-district and all-WOAC.
Noah Bilinski, Springboro, 6-1, 175, sr., WR
Bilinski led the GWOC with 1,082 receiving yards on 84 receptions and nine TDs. A shifty receiver, Bilinski made third team all-state. The Grand Valley State commit was first team all-district and league.
Caleb Blankenship, Preble Shawnee, 6-2, 180, sr., WR
The leading receiver for Preble Shawnee caught 47 balls for 932 yards and 13 TDs. Also playing as a defensive back, he had two interceptions and swatted away six other passes. Blankenship made second team all-state as a wide receiver. He was first team all-district as a receiver and all-WOAC for both positions.
Jamier Brown, Wayne, 6-1, 175, WR — *
Brown, an Ohio State recruit, appears to be returning to Wayne after transferring to Big Walnut in January. The senior has 137 receptions for 2,556 yards and 27 TDs for his career. Brown got first team all-state, district and league honors as the GWOC’s player of the year.
* — Brown’s eligibility has not been determined for the 2026 season as of Thursday, Aug. 13.
Drew Clark, St. Paris Graham, 6-2, 295, sr., OL
Graham’s rushing offense was one of the best in the CBC averaging 7.9 yards per carry and scoring 36 points per game. Clark made third team all-state, and was first team all-district and all-CBC.
Roman Combs, Lakota West, 6-4, 200, sr. DB
Combs missed half of the 2025 season after transferring to the Firebirds. He had two interceptions and six pass breakups in his limited action. Combs announced his commitment to Purdue on June 7.
Drew Cripps, Alter, 6-0, 175, sr., RB
Cripps committed to Miami (Ohio) on April 30. He ran for 999 yards and caught another 19 passes for 309 yards with 16 total TDs. He also made 73 total tackles and three interceptions on defense. Cripps made first team all-district and all-GCL Co-Ed. He was one of the league’s players of the year.
Jahmiere Daniels-Portis, Springfield, 6-1, 190, sr., LB
He committed to Colorado on June 24. Daniels-Portis made 88 tackles with 14.5 for loss and three sacks. He also recovered a fumble and had two interceptions for the Wildcats. He was a second team all-state performer, as well as first team all-district and all GWOC.
Darius Dennis, Trotwood-Madison, 6-1, 195, sr., DB
The hero of the Rams basketball team’s state title run, he was also part of a defense which shut out three opponents and held five to no more than a touchdown. Dennis was a first team all-state and all-district player. He has 16 total college offers, including Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan State.
Derek Dues, Coldwater, 5-9, 180, sr., LB
Dues led Coldwater in tackles for loss (11) and sacks (8) while amassing 91 total tackles and an interception. He was also a battering ram as a ball carrier as the season progressed with 16 total touchdowns scored to lead the Cavaliers. Dues was a first team all-state, all-district and all-MAC selection.
Alex Galante, Hamilton Ross, 6-1, 195, sr., LB
Seemingly always a present in each game, he will be the leading returning tackler in the SWBL after amassing 116 total last season with 13.5 tackles for loss. He had a 22 tackle performance late in the season. Galante got first team all-district and all-SWBL honors, and was honorable mention all-state.
Ryan Kolb, Tipp City Tippecanoe, 6-2, 257, sr., DL
The driving force of the defensive front, Kolb produced 14.5 tackles for loss and had seven sacks for the state semifinalists. The Findlay commit was a first team all-district and all-MVL performer, and honorable mention all-state.
Max Miller, Springboro, 6-3, 190, sr., QB
Miller announced his commitment to Central Michigan on May 17. He threw the most passes amongst GWOC quarterbacks, completing 205 of 341 attempts for 2,347 yards and 18 TDs. Miller was first team all-district and all-GWOC. He made honorable mention for all-state.
Jacob Muhlenkamp, Marion Local, 6-2, 190, sr., DL
The stout Marion Local defense had eight games holding opponents to a touchdown or less with Muhlenkamp in front. He made first team all-state, all-district and all-MAC.
Marquis Myers, Springfield, 6-2, 253, sr., OL
The center for the GWOC champions. The Wildcats led the league in scoring in GWOC play and had one of the top passing offenses. Myers made second team all-state, and got first team all-district and GWOC. He has offers from Charleston, Lake Erie, Thomas More, VMI and Wheeling.
Carter Napier, Springboro, 6-3, 255, sr., DL
Napier secured his spot with Pittsburgh on May 31. He made 53 total tackles with four sacks and five tackles for loss with one of the GWOC’s top defenses. Napier was second team all-district and first team all-GWOC.
Reilly Newman, Lakota West, 6-7, 277, sr., DL
Newman’s 48 total tackles were couple with seven going for a loss, 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and two pass deflections. Newman committed to Iowa on March 30 as an interior lineman. A second team all-state player, Newman was also first team all-district and all-GMC.
Kenyon Norman, Lakota West, 6-1, 191, sr., RB
A receiving threat as much as a runner, Norman had 915 yards on the ground with 13 TDs, and another 311 yards on 29 receptions in the air. Norman announced his commitment to Northwestern on June 12. He was first team all-GMC, second team all-district and honorable mention all-state.
Griffin Richards, New Madison Tri-Village, 6-0, 175, sr., WR
Richards caught 63 passes for 1,340 yards and 23 TDs. He also returned four punts for touchdowns as he led the WOAC in scoring. He was one of the offensive players of the year in the WOAC and got first team all-state, all-district and all-WOAC honors.
Brennan Shaffer, Springfield Kenton Ridge, 6-4, 220, sr., DL
Shaffer made seven sacks and three tackles for loss among his 45 tackles with two fumble recoveries. Shaffer made third team all-state and was a first team all-district and all-CBC player.
Larkin Thomas, Tippecanoe, 5-11, 180, sr., QB
Thomas was one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the area in 2025. He passed for 2,429 yards on 173 of 259 passing, throwing 27 TDs to just six interceptions. On the ground he rushed for six yards per carry and eight additional TDs. Thomas got first team all-state, district and MVL honors.
Christopher Wallace, Springfield, 6-0, 175, sr., QB
Wallace passed for 2,348 yards and 24 TDs for the GWOC champions. A third team all-state player, he was first team all-district and all-GWOC. He holds an offer from Central State.
Jamison Webster, Beavercreek, 6-0, 180, sr.
One of the top cornerbacks in the GWOC. Webster had 12 pass breakups and had two interceptions to go with 71 total tackles. Webster was second team all-district and all-GWOC. He has offers from Kent State, Toledo and Western Michigan.
Jameer Whyce, Trotwood-Madison, 6-5, 270, jr., DL
Whyce committed to Ohio State during the 2025 season. He anchored the defensive front that stymied the run game of many opponents. Whyce was a second team all-district selection, as well as honorable mention all-state.
Michael Woeste, Oakwood, 6-0, 180, sr., WR
The leading receiver in the SWBL had 63 receptions for 972 yards and 13 TDs. As a linebacker he also had 50 total tackles and 15 for loss. A second team all-state pick, he was also first team all-district and all-SWBL.
To help put the “20” in 2026, here are 20 additional players to be on the lookout as the season progresses (in alphabetical order):
* Devin Berner, Tecumseh, 5-10, 165, jr., DB
* Danny Hoke, St. Paris Graham, 6-0, 210, sr., RB
* Alex Collins, Carlisle, 6-1, 185, jr., RB
* Aaron Dandrea, Dayton Belmont, 6-2, 200, sr., QB
* Logan Doty, Fairmont, 5-10, 200, sr., RB
* Kye Graham, Wayne, 6-2, 195, jr., QB
* KJ Gustin, Miami East, 6-1, 195, sr., QB
* Kelvin Keyes, Beavercreek, 5-11, 170, sr., DB
* Jack Kosins, Bellbrook, 5-10, 170, sr., LB
* Grady Lantz, Urbana, 6-2, 185, sr., QB
* MJ Macy, Arcanum 5-9, 185, sr., RB
* Nate Marshal, Versailles, 6-4, 240, sr., OL
* Gabe Miyahara, Badin, 5-100, 155, sr., K
* Kolby Morgerson, Middletown, 6-3, 190, sr., QB
* Ulysses Porter, Dayton Dunbar, 5-9, 170, sr., RB
* Axsel Rogers, Fairfield, 6-2, 185, sr., LB
* Kade Schwartz, Versailles, 6-2, 180, sr., WR
* Julian Stearns, Anna, 6-6, 190, sr., DL
* Tyce Rutledge, Waynesville, 6-1, 185, jr., WR
* Logan Ziegenbusch, Anna, 5-11, 160, jr., QB