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Who are Greater Akron's top 2023 high school football wide receivers? Here are 10 to watch

michael beaven, akron beacon journal
·4 min read
Green wide receiver Zachary Baglia, right, reels in a pass for first down against Tallmadge defensive back Mark Manzo on Sept. 2, 2022, in Green.
Green wide receiver Zachary Baglia, right, reels in a pass for first down against Tallmadge defensive back Mark Manzo on Sept. 2, 2022, in Green.

The wide receiver position in the Greater Akron area heading into the 2023 high school football season is full of talented players who have produced on the varsity level and young players who are ready to flash their skills.

Tallmadge's Collin Dixon, Buchtel's Marcel Boyce Jr., Archbishop Hoban's Jayvian Crable and Medina's Brennen Schramm are among All-Ohio wide receivers who have graduated and moved onto college.

Dixon is at the University of Illinois on scholarship after finishing last season with 88 receptions for 1,493 yards and 18 touchdowns, one TD pass, one kickoff return for a TD, 46 tackles and four interceptions (two returned for a TD).

Boyce is at Wayne State on scholarship after finishing last football season with 49 receptions for 947 yards and 11 touchdowns, and then being a starter and key scorer on Buchtel's Division II boys basketball state title team.

Crable is at Ohio University on scholarship after playing on offense, on defense and serving as a punter last season. He had 44 receptions for 706 yards and five touchdowns, forced three fumbles and had one interception.

Schramm is a preferred walk-on at Ohio State after catching a Medina school-record 101 passes for 1,417 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior.

Those four high school graduates racked up numbers in 2022.

Check out the following receivers who are ready to put up big stats this season:

Green wide receiver Zachary Baglia cuts across the field against Ellet defensive back Timothy Peake after a reception Aug. 19, 2022, in Green.
Green wide receiver Zachary Baglia cuts across the field against Ellet defensive back Timothy Peake after a reception Aug. 19, 2022, in Green.

Zachary Baglia, Green

Baglia returns for his senior year after recording 105 receptions for 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns during a spectacular junior season that included All-Ohio honors in Division II. He set a Green school record last season for receiving yards in a game with 277 in a Week 2 win at home over North Olmsted.

Twinsburg receiver Steven Cammack stiff-arms Nordonia defender Nolan Cribbs after a second-quarter pass on Sept. 16, 2022, in Macedonia.
Twinsburg receiver Steven Cammack stiff-arms Nordonia defender Nolan Cribbs after a second-quarter pass on Sept. 16, 2022, in Macedonia.

Steven Cammack, Twinsburg

Cammack, a senior, is a receiving threat defenses need to pay attention to as a returning All-Ohio selection in Division II. He concluded his junior year with 49 receptions for 849 yards and seven touchdowns. He also gained 225 yards returning kickoffs.

Hoban wide receiver Payton Cook catches a second-half touchdown pass against St. Ignatius on Sept. 16, 2022.
Hoban wide receiver Payton Cook catches a second-half touchdown pass against St. Ignatius on Sept. 16, 2022.

Payton Cook, Archbishop Hoban

Cook enters his sophomore year as a highly recruited player with college scholarship offers from Michigan, Miami (Fla.), Louisville and Pittsburgh. Ohio State is interested. Cook played varsity as a freshman last season and contributed four touchdown receptions as Hoban finished as the Division II state runner-up. Expect to see Cook get more opportunities at receiver this season.

Warren Harding's Tariq Ivory, left is tackled by St. Vincent-St. Mary's SirCharles Gordon on Sept. 24, 2021. Now a senior, Gordon is expected to be a standout wide receiver for the Irish.
Warren Harding's Tariq Ivory, left is tackled by St. Vincent-St. Mary's SirCharles Gordon on Sept. 24, 2021. Now a senior, Gordon is expected to be a standout wide receiver for the Irish.

SirCharles Gordon, St. Vincent-St. Mary

Gordon is a senior generating a lot of interest from college football coaches. He has scholarship offers from Boston College, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Lehigh, Army and Grand Valley State. He had 15 receptions for 242 yards and one touchdown last season.

Austin Knowles, Medina

Knowles is a returning All-Ohio selection in Division I who will join fellow senior Jack Wojciak to give senior quarterback Danny Stoddard two of the best receivers in the area. Knowles finished his junior year with 77 receptions for 1,366 yards and 17 touchdowns. Wojciak totaled 85 receptions for 1,350 yards and 18 total touchdowns (15 receiving, two rushing, one kickoff).

Green wide receiver Antonio Martin, left, stiff-arms Marquis Sims as he runs for yards after a catch on Aug. 19, 2022, in Green.
Green wide receiver Antonio Martin, left, stiff-arms Marquis Sims as he runs for yards after a catch on Aug. 19, 2022, in Green.

Antonio Martin, Green

Martin enters his junior year in the mold of his older brothers, Kaleb Martin and Trey Martin, who were stars at Green. Antonio Martin put together a solid sophomore season that ended with All-Ohio honors in Division II. He totaled 74 receptions for 637 yards and seven touchdowns, 57 carries for 198 yards and four touchdowns, 18 kickoff returns for 326 yards, 13 punt returns for 163 yards, 22 solo tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

Jack Novak, Woodridge

Novak returns for his senior year after earning All-Ohio honors in Division IV as a junior impact player at wide receiver and cornerback. He had 40 receptions for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns, and also ran for a TD, blocked two kicks and grabbed one interception.

Milan Parris, Walsh Jesuit

Parris enters his sophomore year as a highly regarded player with college scholarship offers from Wisconsin, Purdue, Kentucky, Ohio, Ball State and Massachusetts. He is expected to make a large impact on the WJ passing attack.

Nordonia receiver Israel Petite is caught from behind by Twinsburg's Quincy Newsom on Sept. 16, 2022, in Macedonia.
Nordonia receiver Israel Petite is caught from behind by Twinsburg's Quincy Newsom on Sept. 16, 2022, in Macedonia.

Israel Petite, Nordonia

Petite, a senior, enjoyed success last season as a wide receiver and defensive back and received All-Ohio honors in Division II. His junior season featured 28 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns, 60 tackles, two interceptions, two kickoff return TDs and one blocked field goal.

Buchtel's Dakota Taylor manhandles Ellet's Timothy Peake after picking up a first down on Sept. 24, 2022, in Akron.
Buchtel's Dakota Taylor manhandles Ellet's Timothy Peake after picking up a first down on Sept. 24, 2022, in Akron.

Dakota Taylor, Buchtel

Taylor enters his senior season as a Kent State University football recruit after helping Buchtel make a Division IV regional semifinal appearance in football and win a Division II state championship in basketball last school year. Taylor had 21 receptions for 306 yards and two touchdowns a season ago.

Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Top 10 Greater Akron high school football wide receivers for 2023