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10 wide receivers to watch in Stark County-area high school football for the 2023 season

josh weir, canton repository
·4 min read

As football increasingly becomes an aerial game, the kids catching passes take on an increasingly bigger role.

Stark County-area high school football has no shortage of players who can go snag the football, and then do something with it once it's in their hands.

The list could've been 20 individuals long, but here are 10 wide receivers to watch in the Great Canton, Massillon area for the 2023 season.

Last year's preseason WR list: 10 receivers to watch in 2022 Stark County high school football:

This season's QBs: Top 10 Canton-area quarterbacks to watch in the 2023 high school football season

Mason Ashby, right, of Hoover picks up yardage as AJ Dolph, 7, leads the way during their first round playoff game against Licking Heights at Hoover on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
Mason Ashby, right, of Hoover picks up yardage as AJ Dolph, 7, leads the way during their first round playoff game against Licking Heights at Hoover on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.

Mason Ashby, North Canton Hoover, senior

One of the fastest players in the area, the 5-foot-8 Ashby is a dangerous weapon in the slot for the Vikings. He caught a team-high 66 passes for 665 yards and five touchdowns last year while helping Hoover to eight wins and the second round of the playoffs. He also returned a pair of kickoffs for scores.

Green wide receiver Zachary Baglia, right, reels in a pass for first down against Tallmadge defensive back Mark Manzo during the first half of a high school football game, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Green, Ohio.
Green wide receiver Zachary Baglia, right, reels in a pass for first down against Tallmadge defensive back Mark Manzo during the first half of a high school football game, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Green, Ohio.

Zach Baglia, Green, senior

Baglia was a breakout star in 2022, leading the area in receptions with 105 and in receiving yards with 1,430 while catching 14 touchdown passes. That included a school-record 277 yards and four TDs on 13 catches in a Week 2 win against North Olmsted. The 6-foot-1 Baglia combines great speed with precise route running.

Nathan Baker, 2, of Lake runs past Carter Bugara, 14, of Alliance for a big gain during their game at Alliance on Friday, August 19, 2022.
Nathan Baker, 2, of Lake runs past Carter Bugara, 14, of Alliance for a big gain during their game at Alliance on Friday, August 19, 2022.

Nate Baker, Lake, senior

Baker can do a lot on the football field, and that includes catch passes. He snagged a team-high 44 receptions for 570 yards and six touchdowns last year to help Lake to a Federal League co-championship and a regional final appearance. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Baker also led the Blue Streaks defensively with four interceptions and gained 1,203 all-purpose yards.

Zach Braucher, North Canton Hoover, junior

A quarterback growing up, Braucher found himself stuck behind returning starter Carson Dyrlund last year. So Hoover put the athletic Braucher at receiver. He looked like a natural, catching 49 passes for team highs of 905 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore. A three-sport athlete, Braucher also starts in Hoover's secondary.

Canton South's Tavon Castle is brought down in the second half by Sandy Valley's Troy Snyder, 11, Lukas Gilland ,17, and Jack Murphy, 30, at Canton South, Friday, September 2, 2022.
Canton South's Tavon Castle is brought down in the second half by Sandy Valley's Troy Snyder, 11, Lukas Gilland ,17, and Jack Murphy, 30, at Canton South, Friday, September 2, 2022.

Tavon Castle, Canton South, senior

Castle stepped into the go-to-receiver role for Poochie Snyder last year after the graduation of Caleb Lott and Akil Martin, and he did not disappoint. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Castle led Stark County in receptions with 75 and in yards with 1,195 while snagging 10 touchdowns for a Canton South team that won a piece of its first league title in 59 years and advanced to the third round of the playoffs.

Alliance's Ramhir Hawkins (3) takes off down the sideline during a high school football game vs. Lake at Kehres Stadium on Friday, August 19, 2022.
Alliance's Ramhir Hawkins (3) takes off down the sideline during a high school football game vs. Lake at Kehres Stadium on Friday, August 19, 2022.

Ramhir Hawkins, Alliance, senior

The 5-foot-6 Hawkins is small, fast and difficult to cover. He caught a school-record 62 passes as the go-to receiver for Oklahoma recruit Brendan Zurbrugg. He totaled 942 yards and eight touchdowns receiving as a junior. He also returned a kickoff for a score.

Antonio Martin, Green, junior

Entering his third year as a starter, Martin returns from a knee injury that ended his sophomore season in Week 9. He still caught 74 passes for 637 yards and seven touchdowns. As a freshman he caught 72 passes for 479 yards and three TDs for a Green team that won a regional championship. He'll rarely leave the field for the Bulldogs.

McKinley's Dante McClellan returns an interception 69 yards for a touchdown during a high school football game against Jackson at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.
McKinley's Dante McClellan returns an interception 69 yards for a touchdown during a high school football game against Jackson at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.

Dante McClellan, Canton McKinley, junior

McClellan has college offers from coast (USC) to coast (Boston College). And the best is yet to come for the 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior, who caught 21 passes for 330 yards, ran for a touchdown and scored two more touchdowns on defense as a sophomore. He led the McKinley defense with four interceptions and helped the Bulldogs to a share of the Federal League championship.

Malvern’s Kaden Grinder (left), Manny Walker, Bryson White, Dylan Phillips, and Ibai Aguirre celebrate defeating East Canton and winning the Inter-Valley Conference North Division championship Friday, Oct. 22, 2021.
Malvern’s Kaden Grinder (left), Manny Walker, Bryson White, Dylan Phillips, and Ibai Aguirre celebrate defeating East Canton and winning the Inter-Valley Conference North Division championship Friday, Oct. 22, 2021.

Dylan Phillips, Malvern, senior

The 6-foot-2 Phillips, combining good size and athleticism, returns after totaling team highs of 59 receptions for 886 yards to go with eight touchdowns last year. He joins junior Rodney Smith (38 receptions, 739 yards, 10 TDs last year) to give QB Jared Witherow quite the duo to target for a Malvern team that went 8-3 in 2022.

Massillon's Braylyn Toles scores a touchdown against Big Walnut after making a catch at Mansfield's Arlin Field in a Division II playoff game Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.
Massillon's Braylyn Toles scores a touchdown against Big Walnut after making a catch at Mansfield's Arlin Field in a Division II playoff game Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.

Braylyn Toles, Massillon, junior

Toles is one of the Tigers' top playmakers after a strong sophomore season. The 5-foot-7, 150-pound Toles caught a team-high 43 passes for 566 yards and five touchdowns, highlighted by a 24-yard TD pass from Jalen Slaughter with 11 seconds left to give Massillon a 31-28 Week 5 win against eventual Division I state champion St. Edward.

Reach Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @jweirREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Top high school football receivers in Canton, Massillon area in 2023