Ohio’s top high school football players for 2023: Meet the defensive linemen
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, running backs, offensive linemen, wide receivers, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties. Now we finish up the defense by taking a look at the top defensive linemen
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 defensive linemen 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 Archbishop Hoban defensive lineman Jordan Pritchard-Sewell by Jeff Harwell)
Devin Bell, Archbishop Hoban, senior
A second-team all-state honoree in Division II last season as the Knights earned a Division II state runner-up finish, Bell is a three-star recruit who has committed to play for Miami. Bell, listed at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, is projected as an edge collegiately but also can play at linebacker.
Chase Bond, Massillon, senior
Bond is a 6-4, 255-pounder and three-star recruit who is committed to play for North Carolina State. He can line up at either end or tackle for the Tigers, who went 12-2 and were Division II state semifinalists last season as he had 3.5 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
Francis Brewu, Thomas Worthington, senior
Brewu helped the Cardinals go 6-5 last fall for their first winning season since 1998. A three-star lineman listed at 6-2, 270, Brewuhad 67 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 12 sacks during last year’s regular season. He is committed to Pittsburgh.
Brandon Caesar, Cleveland Heights, junior
This three-star recruit and strongside defensive end has racked up 23 scholarship offers, with Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State among his list. He’s 6-4, 250, and helped the Tigers finish 10-2 a year ago.
Xavier Dahn, Austintown Fitch, senior
While helping the Falcons finish 10-2, the 6-3, 265-pound Dahn recorded 44 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and one forced fumble. A three-star lineman, Dahn has a list of nine scholarship offers that includes several Mid-American Conference programs.
Elijah Davis, Lakota West, senior
This 6-1, 285-pound lineman is committed to Akron after helping the Firebirds go 13-1 and reach a Division I regional final. Davis finished with 63 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks last fall.
Dominic Kirks, Villa Angela-St. Joseph, senior
This 6-5, 250-pounder is considered a three-star recruit and helped the Vikings go 8-3 a year ago. Kirks, who has 15 scholarship offers, committed to Washington in late June to become the Huskies’ first recruit from Ohio in more than 20 years.
Cameron Gwinn, St. Francis De Sales, senior
The 6-2, 255-pound Gwinn is a three-star lineman who has committed to Boston College. While helping the Stallions go 7-5 last season, he had 81 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, seven sacks and 11 quarterback hurries while earning first-team all-state honors in Division II.
Ted Hammond, St. Xavier, senior
Hammond is a three-star recruit who is committed to Michigan. Listed at 6-5, 258, Hammond finished with 41 tackles, four sacks and seven tackles for loss a year ago while earning first-team all-GCL honors.
Javon Hammonds, Wayne, senior
This second-team all-state honoree in Division I is a three-star edge rusher who has a list of 12 offers that includes Indiana, Pittsburgh and Purdue. Hammonds is a 6-5, 230-pounder who finished with 83 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
Andrew Hanchuk, Berea-Midpark, senior
Hanchuk missed most of last season with a knee injury, but that didn’t hinder his recruiting process considering he's committed to Virginia Tech. He’s listed at 6-5, 240 and is considered a three-star lineman.
Justin Hill, Winton Woods, junior
A 6-4, 215-pound edge rusher, Hill is a four-star recruit and one of the top prospects in the 2025 class. He has a list of more than a dozen offers that includes Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and USC. Last season, Hill had 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception and five pass deflections as the Warriors went 12-1.
Kareem Jennings, Glenville, senior
Jennings is a 6-4, 230-pound edge rusher and three-star prospect who transferred to Glenville after playing at Benedictine. He has a list of seven offers that includes West Virginia and several Mid-American Conference programs.
Demetrius John, Dublin Coffman, senior
John is a 6-4, 250-pound lineman considered a three-star recruit and committed to Illinois. John recorded 44 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one defensive touchdown last year for Westerville North.
Elijah King, Gahanna Lincoln, senior
The top returnee from one of central Ohio’s top defenses is this 6-6, 230-pound edge, a three-star recruit who has committed to Rutgers.
King was a first-team all-OCC-Ohio Division honoree last season when he finished with 50.5 tackles, including 18.5 for loss, with 10 sacks as the Lions went 13-2 and reached a Division I state semifinal.
Angelo McCullom, Pickerington North, senior
A three-star lineman, McCullom is an Illinois commit who stands 6-3, 265. He missed two games last season for the Panthers as they went 7-5 but finished with 34.5 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss while earning first-team all-OCC-Ohio Division honors.
Jordan Pritchard-Sewell, Archbishop Hoban, senior
Pritchard-Sewell, who is 6-2, 265, can line up at end or linebacker for the Knights after earning second-team all-state honors last season. He has more than a dozen offers and is committed to playfor Holy Cross.
Troy Regovich, St. Edward, senior
Regovich is a three-star recruit and Northwestern commit who helped the Eagles win the Division I state title last season. He’s a 6-5, 255-pound strongside defensive end.
Brian Robinson, Westerville North senior
A four-star edge rusher, Robinson has a list of 40 offers that includes Kentucky, Michigan and Penn State. Robinson, who is 6-5, 255, was a third-team all-state honoree in Division III for Youngstown Austintown-Fitch last season but recently left the team and has unknown status for the coming season.
Cedric Works, Clayton Northmont, junior
A 6-4, 220-pound edge rusher, Works is considered a three-star recruit and has a list of nine offers that includes Cincinnati, Kentucky, Purdue and West Virginia.
Works had 2.5 tackles for loss, 26 tackles and one interception a year ago.
