Ohio’s top high school football players for 2023: Meet the linebackers
High school football season is upon us once again.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Ohio high school football.
We began by looking at the state's top quarterbacks. Now we go to the other side of the ball to look at the top linebackers.
There are plenty of standout football players in Ohio, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Tag us on X or Instagram at @SBLiveOH to discuss the other linebackers worthy of fans’ attention in 2023. You can also submit player nominations to ryan@scorebooklive.com.
(Note: These lists were compiled prior to the first week of the season)
(Photo of Canfield linebacker Danny Inglis by Mike Cook)
Maddox Arnold, Elder, junior
As one of Ohio’s top linebackers in the 2025 class, Arnold is considered a three-star prospect recruit and has offers from Ball State, Charlotte, Eastern Michigan and Miami. The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder finished with 40 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery as Elder finished 10-3.
Davon Badley, Painesville Harvey, senior
A hybrid strong safety and linebacker listed at 6-1, 195, Badley finished with 95 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, seven sacks and four interceptions last season as he earned first-team all-state honors in Division III.
Grant Beerman, Lakota West, junior
Beerman is a 6-4, 215-pounder who is considered a three-star recruit in the 2025 class. After finishing with 3.5 tackles for loss last season as the Firebirds went 13-1, Beerman has built a list of nine scholarship offers that includes Duke, Pittsburgh and Purdue.
Evan Brady, Uniontown Lake, senior
A 5-11, 215-pound middle linebacker, Brady earned first-team all-state honors in Division II last season. Brady finished with 100 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, six sacks and one interception a year ago as the Blue Streaks finished 12-2.
Denim Cook, Bishop Hartley, junior
The 6-4, 223-pound Cook was a second-team all-state honoree in Division IV a year ago despite being a sophomore. Considered a three-star prospect, Cook has offers from a list of 12 schools that includes Indiana, Purdue and Wisconsin.
Connor Corbett, Heath, junior
Corbett, who was listed last year at just 5-7, 170, was a second-team all-state honoree each of the past two seasons. Last fall during the regular season, Corbett had 99 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks and one interception while also rushing for 802 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Solomon Farrell, Princeton, senior
The 6-4, 200-pound Farrell is considered a three-star prospect and has a list of 13 scholarship offers that includes Indiana and Navy. Last season, he had six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and three pass deflections as the Vikings finished 9-3.
Danny Inglis, Canfield, senior
Inglis is a three-star recruit and Iowa State commit. A 6-1, 195-pounder, Inglis finished with 72.5 tackles and eight sacks last season while earning second-team all-state honors in Division III as the Cardinals went 14-1 and captured the state championship.
Jasen Kelly, Toledo Whitmer, senior
While earning first-team all-state honors in Division I last season, Kelly finished with 91 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions. Kelly, a 6-1, 205-pound inside linebacker, is considered a three-star recruit and has a list of 12 scholarship offers that includes Kentucky and West Virginia.
Eli Lee, Archbishop Hoban, junior
One of the Knights’ top 2025 prospects is Lee, a three-star recruit who has offers from a list of schools that includes Iowa State, Pittsburgh and West Virginia. Lee is listed at 6-3, 215 and can line up at middle linebacker or edge.
Kash Mallory, Mt Healthy, senior
Mallory is a 6-1, 215-pound three-star prospect with a list of 10 offers that includes Boston College, Duke and Kentucky. Last season while playing for Cincinnati Walnut Hills, Mallory finished with 51 tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Dante McClellan, Canton McKinley, junior
Among the top players in a deep junior class at linebacker in Ohio is this 6-3, 200-pounder, who is a three-star recruit and has offers from a list of schools that includes Kentucky, West Virginia and USC. McClellan, who also can line up at safety, finished with 34 tackles, four interceptions and one sack last season.
Paul Nelson, Princeton, junior
Nelson was among the anchors on defense for the Vikings as they went 9-3, finishing with 57 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and two pass deflections. A three-star recruit, the 6-2, 205-pounder has a list of nine scholarship offers that includes Michigan and West Virginia.
Dorian Pringle, Massillon, senior
The 6-0, 220-pound Pringle was a first-team all-state honoree last season as the Tigers went 12-2. Pringle, who has four scholarship offers, finished with 69.5 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles and blocked two kicks. He also scored six touchdowns on offense.
Dominic Purcell, Bishop Watterson, senior
Purcell is a 5-11, 190-pound Navy commit who helped the Eagles go 12-2 last season. A first-team all-state honoree in Division III, Purcell finished with 129 tackles, five sacks, 23 tackles for loss and four interceptions a year ago.
Quan Rhodes-McKee, Gahanna Lincoln, senior
While competing for Westerville South last season, Rhodes-McKee recorded 108.5 tackles, six tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles and also returned both a fumble and an interception for touchdowns. Rhodes-McKee, who is 6-1, 210, was first-team all-state in Division II.
Garrett Stover, Big Walnut, senior
Stover is a four-star recruit and a member of Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class who figures to spend much of his time this season at middle linebacker. A 6-2, 215-pounder, Stover finished with 91 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks and one fumble recovery while earning first-team all-state honors in Division II.
Jayden Studio, Perry, senior
Studio was a third-team all-state honoree in Division V last season as the Pirates finished 9-3. A three-star prospect, Studio stands 6-0, 200, and has committed to play for Kent State. Also a talented running back, he rushed for 842 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago.
Cam Thomas, Lakota West, sophomore
One of the state’s top 2026 prospects is this 6-1, 200-pounder who should see more action this fall and projects at either outside linebacker or defensive end. He already has eight scholarship offers, with Georgia Tech and Michigan among those on that list.
Rickey Williams, Archbishop Hoban, senior
Williams, who is 6-2, 215, is a three-star prospect who has committed to West Virginia. Last season, Williams was third-team all-state in Division II as the Knights were state runners-up.
