Here are 12 Columbus-area high school football linebackers to watch this fall
Leading up to the high school football season, The Dispatch is taking a look at central Ohio’s top players by position.
Here are 12 linebackers to watch, in alphabetical order:
Cayden Carroll, Grove City Christian
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound junior was crucial to his team on both sides of the ball last season. He not only paced the Eagles with 54 tackles, earning first-team all-district and honorable mention all-state honors at linebacker in Division VI, but he also rushed for a team-leading 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns. Carroll also played defensive back as a freshman.
Connor Corbett, Heath
The 5-7, 175-pound junior is coming off a sophomore season in which he was named second-team all-state and first-team all-district in Division V. Corbett made 106 tackles, including three sacks, after amassing 141 as a freshman. He also is a running back as well as a starting outfielder for Heath’s Division III regional champion baseball team.
Marchello Cox, Harvest Prep
A 5-10, 205-pound senior, Cox primarily is a linebacker but also is a running back and all-around athletic threat for a Warriors team that lost in the Division V, Region 19 final last fall and will play this year as an independent. Cox earned honorable mention all-state and first-team all-district.
George Gerber, Upper Arlington
The 6-0, 190-pound senior came into his own last season, making a team-high 69 tackles to lead the Golden Bears to a Division I, Region 3 semifinal. All but eight of Gerber’s tackles were solo, and 10 were for loss. Gerber earned honorable mention all-state and second-team all-district.
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Harlee Hanna, Canal Winchester
A dual football and lacrosse standout, the 6-0, 210-pound senior earned third-team all-state and first-team all-district in Division II for a stout defense that led the Indians to the second round of the Region 7 playoffs. Hanna made a team-leading 129 tackles from middle linebacker during the regular season.
Mekhi Johnson, Africentric
At 5-10, 190 pounds, Johnson lines up at both outside linebacker and defensive back as well as receiver and has used that versatility to earn attention from Pittsburgh and Toledo among other schools. Johnson earned third-team all-state and first-team all-district in Division V last fall and also helped the Nubians boys basketball team to a Division III state semifinal.
Shiren Mabry, KIPP Columbus
The 6-3, 185-pound junior, who also can play safety, became a defensive stalwart as the 2022 season progressed. Mabry, who made a season-high 10.5 tackles against Hartley, has six Division I offers, according to his Twitter page, and also has earned invitations to several premier camps, including at Ohio State and Michigan.
Dominic Purcell, Watterson
The 6-0, 200-pound Purcell made 102 tackles — 18 for loss — with three sacks and four interceptions at middle linebacker to help the Eagles (12-2) reach the Division III, Region 11 final. Purcell was named first-team all-state and all-district. He committed to Navy in June.
Quan Rhodes-McKee, Gahanna Lincoln
Rhodes-McKee will try to finish his high school career in impactful style for the defending Region 3 champion Lions after having 108.5 tackles, including six for loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown last season. Rhodes-McKee, who holds seven offers, was first-team all-state and all-district in Division II.
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Max Shulaw, DeSales
The 6-1, 220-pound senior made 91 tackles, including 18 for loss, a season ago to earn third-team all-state and first-team all-district in Division II. An occasional starter his freshman year and full-time starter the past two, Shulaw enters this season with 247 career tackles. A Virginia wrestling commit, Shulaw went 51-0 last winter and won the 215-pound state championship in Division II.
Garrett Stover, Big Walnut
The Ohio State commit has been a centerpiece of the Golden Eagles’ resurgence the past two seasons. A 6-2, 215-pound senior, Stover had 92 tackles, including 12 for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery last fall and was named first-team all-state and all-district in Division II. He is a cousin of current Buckeyes tight end Cade Stover.
Caden Wilson, Hilliard Davidson
The 6-0, 222-pound senior shared the team lead in tackles last fall with 96, earning honorable mention all-state and second-team all-district in Division I. Wilson also has helped Davidson’s lacrosse team to consecutive 19-win seasons and regional runner-up finishes and this summer committed to play at Lindenwood.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 12 central Ohio high school linebackers to watch this fall
