Ohio’s top high school football players for 2023: Meet the tight ends
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, safeties, and defensive linemen. Now we finish up with the tight ends.
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 tight ends 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 Glenville tight end Damarion Witten from 2022 OHSAA Division IV state championship game by Jeff Harwell)
Michael Balogh, St. Edward, senior
A 6-foot-4, 235-pounder, Balogh has committed to Colgate after helping the Eagles go 15-1 and win the Division I state championship.
Nolan Davenport, Massillon, junior
One of the most versatile talents up front in the 2025 class, Davenport is 6-6, 230, and is considered a three-star defensive lineman but also has experience as a tight end and has been lining up on the offensive line as well. He has 11 Division I scholarship offers.
Tayvion Galloway, Pickerington Central, senior
Galloway is a four-star prospect who is now a Central after previously playing for Chillicothe Unioto. A 6-5, 230-pounder, Galloway was third-team all-state in Division III last season and has a list of 33 scholarship offers that includes Purdue, Central Florida, Kentucky and Michigan.
Luka Gilbert, Lakota West, junior
A four-star recruit listed at 6-8, 233, Gilbert is another of the top prospects in the 2025 class. He has 11 offers, with Michigan and Ohio State among his options. Last season, he had five catches for 89 yards and one touchdown.
Gavin Grover, Olentangy, senior
Grover, who is 6-6, 220, is a three-star recruit who has committed to play for Cincinnati. Last season, Grover was third-team all-state after finishing with 43 receptions for 377 yards and two touchdowns.
Isaiah Haithcock, Washington Court House, senior
A 6-5, 215-pounder, Haithcock has offers from Bowling Green, Campbell, Eastern Michigan and Wofford. He finished with 43 receptions for 564 yards and eight touchdowns last season as the Blue Lions went 9-3.
Jewett Hayes, Archbishop Moeller, senior
A Virginia commit on the defensive line who had 42.5 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss last season, Hayes also plays tight end and helped the Crusaders go 13-2 and reach a Division I state semifinal a year ago.
Grant Houser, Wapakoneta, junior
The 6-5, 230-pounder, Houser has offers from Bowling Green and Central Michigan and is a player who could end up on the radar of bigger schools with a strong junior season.
Eli Jacon-Duffy, Archbishop Moeller, senior
Jacon-Duffy is listed at 6-4, 220 and has a list of 22 offers, with Air Force and several programs from both the Ivy League and Mid-American Conference showing interest.
Reese Little, Findlay, junior
Akron and Eastern Michigan have offered this 6-3, 200-pounder who will try to help the Trojans improve on a 5-6 finish last season.
Aiden Lowery, Dublin Jerome, senior
Lowery is a 6-3, 200-pounder who has been receiving college looks as a long snapper. During last year’s regular season, Lowery had 35 catches for 310 yards and three touchdowns.
A.J. Miller, Pickerington North, senior
A three-star recruit, Miller is a 6-4, 220-pounder who is committed to Alabama-Birmingham. He finished with 13 catches for 286 yards last season.
Cross Nimmo, Mentor Lake Catholic, junior
Ninmo, a 6-5, 215-pounder, has offers from Bowling Green, Minnesota and Toledo. He had five catches for 126 yards and three touchdowns and added one sack in the Cougars’ 29-26 opening loss to Youngstown Mooney on Aug. 18.
Caden Piening, Anderson, junior
This 6-4, 230-pounder has a list of 12 offers that includes Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. Last season, Piening had nine catches for 52 yards, but five of those catches went for touchdowns.
Jack Sammarco, Anderson, senior
Sammarco is a three-star prospect who is committed to West Virginia. A year ago, Sammarco had 14 receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns and added 25 tackles while playing defense.
Turner Schmidt, Hilliard Davidson, senior
A second-team all-district honoree in Division I last season, Schmidt is a 6-4, 225-pounder who has five scholarship offers. Also a linebacker and defensive lineman, Schmidt had 107 tackles, seven tackles and eight tackles for loss last season.
Levi Smiley, Purcell Marian, senior
Smiley, who is 6-4, 220, has offers from Akron and Kent State. After finishing with 37 catches for 435 yards and 10 touchdowns and also returning one interception for a score last season, Smiley opened this season with six catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-22 win over Cincinnati Deer Park on Aug. 18.
Lyviel Waters, Winton Woods, senior
Waters is a 6-3, 225-pounder with offers from Central Michigan, Montana State and Morgan State. A year ago, Waters had 19 receptions for 301 yards and two touchdowns as the Warriors went 12-1.
Damarion Witten, Glenville, senior
Considered a four-star recruit, Witten is a 6-4, 215-pounder who has committed to Ohio State. Witten was first-team all-state in Division IV last season as the Tarblooders won the state championship.
Devyn Zahursky, Berea-Midpark, senior
Zahursky is a 6-5, 240-pounder who was third-team all-state last season in Division I as the Titans went 5-6. He’s considered a three-star recruit and is committed to Cincinnati as a defensive lineman.
