Central Ohio has long been one of the state’s top recruiting grounds for college football players, with a perennially strong group of programs run by Pickerington Central.
The Tigers won Division I state titles in 2017 and 2019, so it’s not surprising that a host of players from those teams are among those whose names will be regularly called out by TV announcers in the coming months.
While Mid-American Conference schools have targeted the area for recruits for decades, a select few make it onto the rosters of the Power Five programs in the Football Bowl Subdivision each year.
In the spirit of the preseason This week Super 12 teams selected for most high school sports, here are 12 players (and a few others) from central Ohio to watch during college football season:
1. Xavier Henderson, Michigan State
After being one of the leaders in the Pickerington Central state title race in 2017, Henderson is about to begin his fifth season as a key player for the Spartans. A three-year starter who will line up at safety, Henderson had 96 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks and two interrupted passes as Michigan State went 11-2. He is included on the watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski (Best Defensive Player), Jim Thorpe (Best Defensive Running Back) and Chuck Bednarik (Defensive Player of the Year) awards.
2. Lorenzo Styles Jr., Notre Dame
Styles Jr. was a key contributor on Pickerington Central’s two state champion teams and quickly settled in last fall, finishing with 24 receptions for 344 yards at wide receiver like a true freshman. Styles Jr., the older brother of Ohio State’s Sonny Styles, who hopes to make an impact for his team as a freshman, had eight receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown as the Fighting Irish lost to Oklahoma State 37-35 at the Fiesta. Bowl to finish 11-2.
3. Zach Harrison, Ohio State
A 2019 Olentangy Orange graduate and 15-game starter, Harrison could be poised for his best season as a college player after earning third-team All-Big Ten honors last season. Harrison lines up at defensive end and had 34 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks as the Buckeyes won the Rose Bowl and went 11-2 last season.
4. Jacob Slade, Michigan State
Another key member of the Spartans’ defense is Slade, a 2018 Olentangy graduate and redshirt senior who will line up at tackle. Slade started 12 games last season and totaled 40 tackles, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, helping him earn watchlist nominations for the Outland Trophy (outstanding interior lineman) and the Lombardi Award (best interior lineman). ).
5. Kieren Douglas, Purdue
Douglas’ career has taken a number of turns since graduating from Pickerington Central in 2017. After spending a year competing for Army, Douglas sat out in 2018 and then transferred to Purdue as a substitute. He made one start in 2020 and then started 12 games last fall at inside linebacker, posting 67 tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception as the Boilermakers went 9-4.
6. Ty Van Fossen, Cincinnati
Van Fossen started 10 games at outside linebacker to help the Bearcats reach the college football playoff for the first time and go 13-1 last season. Van Fossen, a 2018 DeSales graduate and redshirt senior, finished with 70 tackles, seven tackles for loss, a sack and four quarterback runs a year ago.
7. DeWayne Carter, Duke
Now a junior, Carter graduated from Pickerington Central in 2019 and returns as a starter at defensive tackle with the goal of helping the Blue Devils bounce back from a 3-9 finish. Named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list, which honors the best community server in college football, Carter had 36 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.
8. Camby Goff, Air Force
After helping Reynoldsburg to their first playoff win and league title as a senior, the 2019 graduate has found his place for the Air Force as a solid security starter. Last fall, Goff finished with 42 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss of two sacks during a season for the Falcons in which they beat Louisville 31-28 in the First Responder Bowl to finish 10-3.
9. Isaiah Mullens, Wisconsin
Mullens graduated from Harvest Prep in 2018 and has become one of the Badgers’ most important defensive players, lining up as a winger. Last season, Mullens started six games and totaled 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks as Wisconsin went 9-4.
10. Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
Like a true freshman last season, the 2021 Pickerington North graduate played in all 13 games. Sawyer had 13 tackles, three sacks and two quarterback rushes as a backup defensive end and believes his playing time will increase as part of the team’s rotation at that position this fall.
11. Thomas Rush, Minn.
Rush graduated from Marysville in 2018 and is about to begin his fifth season as a defensive end. Rush started five games last season and finished with 31 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks for Minnesota, which beat West Virginia 18-6 in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl to finish 9-4.
12. Jaelen Gill, Boston University
After graduating from Westerville South in 2018 and spending his first two college seasons at Ohio State, Gill is a redshirt senior in his third year as a wide receiver for the Golden Eagles. Gill had 24 catches for 269 yards and a touchdown and also returned punts as Boston College went 6-6.
“Special” Mention (teams)
One player Michigan hopes won’t be called into action too often after he went 12-2 and made it to the CFP last season is his punt. But when the Wolverines do, they should have one of the best in the nation in Brad Robbins. He graduated from Westerville South in 2017 and averaged 46.3 yards on 46 punts last season and was placed on Ray Guy’s watch list.
Honorable Mention
- Jay Amburgey (Reynoldsburg) Ohio University
- Blauser Canyon (Hilliard Bradley) Ohio
- Jeslord Boateng (Dublin Coffman) Akron
- Cam Craig (Dublin Jerome) Purdue
- Austin So (Pickerington North) Western Michigan
- Air Force Kaleb Holcomb (Coffman)
- Reid Holskey (Licking Heights) University of Miami
- Bryce Houston (Olentangy Orange) Ohio
- Joe Huber (Dublin Jerome) Cincinnati
- Karter Johnson (Pickerington North) Pittsburgh
- Lucas Lachey (Grandview Heights) Iowa
- Nick Rosi (Freedom of Olentangy) Toledo
- Kaden Saunders (South Westerville) Penn State
- Chris Scott (Pickerington North) Cincinnati
- Chris Stoll (Sales) Penn State
- Bryon Threats (Coffman) Cincinnati
- Jeremiah Wood (Pickerington Central) Ohio
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