By Kyle Holsinger
The 2025-26 school year is coming to a close, and congratulations to every graduate.
This list is compiled of returning student-athletes who have previously received postseason accolades in their prep pigskin career. The more awards received then the higher up the list a player was placed.
This should not be a direct reflection of who is truly better. It’s purely data driven, and hard to assess against different levels of competition that I may not have personally watched.
There are more fine football players in this area to see than this along with their respective fine teams and coaches.
This is the first in a series known as The Top Returning Prep Players in Ohio. I will be naming the top returning players throughout the state by position on a weekly basis for most of the summer—aside from a Way Too Early Local Preview and a State Preview.
The top returning local prep pigskin players in 2026 are…
25. Nolan Lee, Calvert Sr. RB/LB
Lee was one of the most outstanding offensive performers in the River Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference last year—good enough for an honorable mention All-SBC River selection.
Nolan’s 876 yards and 14 touchdowns on 161 rushes averaged out to 5.4 yards per carry in 2025.
The Senecas’ Lee also made 33 tackles along with an interception on the other side of the ball.
24. Nate Griggson, Lakota Sr. RB/LB/K/KR
Griggson leads all returning players for Lakota in tackles and sacks with 84 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and a forced fumble a year ago. He’s been a two-time honorable mention selection in the SBC River—his sophomore and junior seasons.
Nate was also the Raiders’ leading rusher last season with 678 yards and nine TDs on 97 carries—averaging 7 yards per rush—to go with a receiving TD on offense.
On special teams last year, Nate was 6-of-10 on point-after-touchdown attempts. He also returned five kickoffs for 164 yards—averaging 32.8 yards per return—and a TD.
23. Haydin Brown, Gibsonburg Sr. OL/DL/P
Brown led the Golden Bears last year with 3.5 sacks. He also wrapped up 28.5 tackles with a forced fumble and recovery.
As a sophomore, Brown made the SBC River offensive honorable mention list as a center. As a junior, the Golden Bear earned honorable mention on both sides of the ball—playing offensively as a guard.
Brown also punted for a 31.6 yard average—16 times for 510 yards in 2025.
22. Caleb Putnam, Carey Jr. OG/NG
Putnam was all-district honorable mention and second team All-Northern 10 Athletic Conference as a freshman. Listed as 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds in last year’s program, expect him to be more dominant as an upperclassman.
21. Masen Seitz, Tiffin Columbian Sr. RB/LB
The Tornadoes’ Seitz ran for a team-leading 434 yards and four TDs on 100 carries to go with 10 receptions for 93 yards despite missing four games due to injury as a junior.
As a sophomore, he ran for 1,054 yards and 10 TDs on 182 touches—averaging 5.8 yards a carry. Masen was awarded second team All-SBC Lake Division for the effort.
20. Seontae Moore, Tiffin Columbian Sr. WR/DB
The Tornadoes’ Moore had 21 tackles, a forced fumble, and a blocked field goal last year. His play earned him second team All-SBC Lake and all-district honorable mention.
19. Louis Watkins, Carey Sr. TE/DE
The Blue Devils’ Watkins has made second team All-N10 the previous two seasons.
Last year, he wrapped up 88 tackles, 27 tackles-for-loss, nine sacks, and a forced fumble and recovery.
18. Levi Bowling, Carey Jr. OG/NG
Bowling’s 41 tackles, 8.5 TFL, and two sacks were enough to be an all-district second team and N10 first team selection in 2025.
17. Logan Summit, Carey Sr. SB/S/KR/PR
The sparkplug from Carey had six receptions for 80 yards and two TDs on offense; 47 tackles with two TFL on defense; and 15 punt returns for 128 yards and 22 kick returns for 314 yards on special teams a year ago.
Summit was selected to second team all-district last season, and second team all-N10 as a sophomore and junior.
16. Mace Puckett, Carey Sr. SB/LB
Puckett was second team all-district as a linebacker, and first team All-N10 as a linebacker AND running back.
The Blue Devils’ leading returning rusher had 254 rushes for 1,513 rushing yards with 11 TDs a season ago.
Defensively, he also had a team-leading 136 tackles, 20.5 TFL, six sacks, two INTs, and a forced fumble as a junior.
15. Logan Gooding, Tiffin Columbian Sr. QB
Gooding completed 130-of-236 passes for 1,846 yards and 22 TDs and four interceptions in 2025 as the starter for the Tornadoes. The senior signal caller earned second team all-district and All-SBC Lake for his efforts.
14. Ethan Baugher, Calvert Jr. OT/DL
Baugher led the Senecas in sacks in 2025 with five along with 30 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Ethan earned honorable mention All-Ohio, second team all-district as a defensive lineman, and second team All-SBC River on offense and defense.
13. Blake Miller, Tiffin Columbian Sr. WR/DB
Miller snagged 10 catches for 127 yards and three TDs, along with 58 tackles, an interception, fumble recovery, and a defensive TD on the other side of the ball last year.
The Tornado received honorable mention on the All-Ohio team. He was first team all-district and All-SBC Lake.
12. Max Nordhaus, Lakota Sr. OL/DL
Max made 62 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble as a junior.
Nordhaus is the one of only four local senior to have received postseason awards as a freshman, sophomore, and junior in football.
After making second team All-SBC River as a freshman, he made second team again—except on both sides of the ball as a sophomore. He was second team all-district while being first team All-SBC River on both sides of the ball last season.
11. Jacoby Ellis, Hopewell-Loudon Sr. QB
Jacoby went 144-for-216 passing for 1,817 yards with 25 TDs and eight INTs as a junior. That performance was good enough for third team All-Ohio, second team all-district, and first team All-SBC River. As a sophomore, Ellis was all-district honorable mention as well as first team All-SBC River.
10. Levi Tiell, Mohawk Jr. WR/DB/PR
Tiell made 36 receptions for 964 yards and nine TDs on offense. Defensively, he had 50 tackles, two TFL, one pick, and a forced fumble. The Warrior also had five punt returns for 80 yards as a sophomore.
The Warrior wideout earned second team All-Ohio, and the first teams for all-district and All-N10 a season ago.
9. Hunter Wasserman, Gibsonburg Sr. OG/DL
The Golden Bear senior made 59 tackles, a team-leading 11 sacks, three forced fumbles and recoveries and a defensive TD in 2025.
Wasserman was second team All-Ohio as an offensive lineman. He was first team all-district and All-SBC River as a guard and second team as a defensive lineman last year.
8. Joe Ewald, Hopewell-Loudon Sr. OL/DL
Joe Ewald had 45 tackles and a forced fumble last season. He is the leading returning player for the Chieftains in sacks with seven.
The senior lineman was first team All-Ohio, all-district, and All-SBC River on offense while earning second team All-SBC River honors on defense a year ago.
7. Brody Brickman, Hopewell-Loudon Sr. WR/DB/KR/PR
Brody Brickman is an all-around athlete who excelled on offense, defense, and special teams for Hopewell-Loudon last season.
Accounting for 125 rushing attempts for 845 yards and 15 TDs; and 53 receptions for 701 yards and 13 TDs on offense.
Brickman is also the leading returning player in interceptions with four a season ago. Add to that 65 tackles and a forced fumble and recovery.
As a return man, Brody had 10 KRs for 170 yards to go with 8 PRs for 178 yards and two TDs.
As a defensive back, he earned first team All-Ohio, all-district, and All-SBC River. As a wideout, he received second team All-SBC River accolades.
6. Kaden Bish, Mohawk Sr. RB/LB
Bish was Mohawk’s leading rusher and scorer in 2025 with 142 attempts for 1,443 yards and 22 TDs. Defensively, he accounted for 46 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two a team leading 21.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
A first team All-Ohio, all-district, and all-league as a running back, Bish was also first team All-N10 as a linebacker as a junior.
5. Jackson Gayheart, Seneca East Sr. RB/LB/P
Gayheart was first team All-Ohio, all-district, and All-N10 as a linebacker, and second team All-N10 as a running back a year ago. As a sophomore on defense, he earned second team all-district and first team All-N10 and second team All-N10 as a freshman.
The Tiger team leader in rushing last season with 144 carries for 907 yards and eight TDs also had 22 catches for 286 yards and a couple TDs on the offensive side of the ball.
Defensively, Jackson was the team leader in tackles with 110 to go with 29 TFL and seven sacks.
On special teams, Gayheart had 23 punts for 780 yards—a 33.9 yard average.
4. Tripp Phoenix, Carey Sr. QB/CB
Phoenix earned second team all-state and first team all-district and All-N10 as a defensive back last season. As a sophomore, he earned honorable mention All-Ohio to go with first team all-district and All-N10.
He made 32 tackles, four INTs, one fumble recovery, and 0.5 TFL in 2025.
As the starting quarterback for the Blue Devils a year ago, Tripp was 39-of-82 for 660 yards, seven TDs, and two picks. He rushed 75 times for 464 yards with six TDs.
3. Reece Walby, Gibsonburg Sr. QB/DB
The Golden Bear was second team all-state and first team all-district and honorable mention as a defensive back while earning honorable mention All-SBC River as a quarterback a season ago. As a sophomore, Walby made first-team All-Ohio, all-district, and All-SBC River as a DB, and second team All-SBC River as a running back. He was second team All-SBC River defense as a freshman.
A year ago, he accounted for 105 tackles, six INTs, 0.5 sack, one forced fumble and two defensive TDs
Offensively, he went 32-for-73 passing for 597 yards, eight TDs, and five INTs. He had 60 rushes for 422 yards and seven TDs as a junior.
2. Andon Clouse, Mohawk Sr. QB/LB/P
Mohawk’s Clouse was first team All-Ohio, all-district, All-N10 and was the N10’s offensive player of the year last season. He earned second team All-N10 as a punter last year too. As a sophomore, he was honorable mention All-N10.
Andon completed 105-of-168 passes for 1,936 yard, 18 TDS, and four INTs to go with 856 rushing yards and 11 TDs on 151 attempts. He also had a receiving TD.
20 punts for 733 yards for a 36.7 yard average
43 tackles, team leading three INTs, 2.5 TFL, a sack, and a forced fumble.
Gibsonburg’s Grant Smith was an outstanding offensive AND defensive player a year ago in the SBC River—earning second team All-Ohio and first team all-district and All-SBC River as a running back. Smith was also first team All-SBC River as a linebacker as well last year. As a sophomore, he earned first team All-Ohio, all-district, and All-SBC River and as a freshman, he was honorable mention All-SBC River.
Grant carried the ball 236 times for 1,814 yards and 23 TDs last season.
On defense, he made 121 tackles and 0.5 sack.
Honorable Mention: Elijah Cline, Seneca East Sr. RB/LB; A.J. Gosche, Lakota Sr. DB; Landyn Hicks, Seneca East Sr. OT/DE; and Cole Seifert, Calvert Jr. OG.
I look forward to a healthy and happy summer...we'll see you next Friday with The Top Returning Special Teams Players in Ohio to Watch in 2026.
