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Tallmadge Blue Devils 2023 high school football preview

brad bournival, akron beacon journal
·3 min read
Two of Tallmadge's greatest players may have graduated, but don't expect Mike Hay and the Blue Devils to take a step back in 2023.
Two of Tallmadge's greatest players may have graduated, but don't expect Mike Hay and the Blue Devils to take a step back in 2023.

TALLMADGE BLUE DEVILS

HEAD COACH: Mike Hay, 5th year, 21-21

LAST YEAR: 9-3, 5-2

POSTSEASON: Division III, Region 9

RETURNING LETTERMEN

  • Constantine Detorakis, WR-DB, 5-9, 160, Sr.

  • Mark Manzo, WR-DB, 6-2, 195, Sr.

  • Braydon Sturm, WR-DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.

  • Keagan Gilbride, TE-RB-LB, 6-1, 190, Sr.

  • Ryan Peters, TE-LB, 6-0, 185, Sr.

  • Zack Vanko, WR-DB, 6-2, 180, Sr.

  • Brady Headrick, WR-DB, 5-8, 165, Jr.

  • Ricky Maclean, RB-LB, 5-11, 195, Jr.

  • TJ Mosko, RB-LB, 5-10, 195, Sr.

  • Cameron Carvaines, K-P, 5-10, 180, Sr.

  • Tracey Franklin, WR-RB-LB, 5-11, 170, So.

  • Caleb Reifsnyder, WR-DB, 5-8, 140, Jr.

  • Cooper Jones, RB-LB, 5-10, 220, Sr.

  • Vito Paonessa, OL-DL, 6-5, 280, Sr.

  • Roman Rinaldi, OL-DL, 6-3, 245, Jr.

  • Ameer Yasin, OL-DL, 6-6, 280, Jr.

  • Noah Robinson, TE-RB-DL, 6-2, 195, Jr.

  • Talan Natcher, TE-DL, 6-4, 230, Jr.

  • Max Goodchild, OL-DL, 5-10, 185, Sr.

Ty Hurst, pictured, has graduated, but coach Mike Hay trusts that Ryan Loveless will make the transition under center seamless.
Ty Hurst, pictured, has graduated, but coach Mike Hay trusts that Ryan Loveless will make the transition under center seamless.

IMPACT PLAYERS: There’s some serious beef up front with Akron commit Yasin in the trenches. The good news for Tallmadge is the junior already comes with experience. The better news is that he’ll be doing it for another two seasons. … Paonessa is no slouch on the line either. He has an offer from Dayton and went to camps at Akron, Miami (Ohio) and Ohio State. The Blue Devils gained 390.9 yards per game last season behind those two. … Gilbride is a big key to this season’s success. The tight end/running back/linebacker is expected to help Tallmadge make the transition from a pass early, pass often offense back to more of a balanced attack.

Tallmadge football: Ameer Yasin commits to Akron football

WHAT’S NEW: The answer to your burning question is Ryan Loveless. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound junior quarterback takes over for Ty Hurst, who broke just about every passing record the Blue Devils had in his 3½ seasons as a starter. … Expect Mosko, Robinson, Maclean and Jones to battle for reps in the rushing attack. … Manzo, Sturm, Robinson, Vanko, Reifsnyder, Natcher and Gilbride will be key in the passing game for Loveless.

OUTLOOK: Hay expects winning while Tallmadge makes its way back to a more traditional look. Hurst did quite a bit for the Blue Devils last season, as did Illinois freshman Collin Dixon, who owns just about every receiving record at the school. That said, there are 19 returning letterwinners in the stable ready to take that next step. “Although we’re replacing one of the most successful senior classes in recent school history, many talented and hardworking players are preparing for their turn to build on that recent success.” … Hay knows how to put a program back on the map. The Blue Devils were 5-14 in his first two seasons but are 16-7 in the last two.

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio high school football: Tallmadge Blue Devils 2023 preview