Bloom-Carroll's Luke Ferrell named Division IV state defensive player of the year
After announcing the Division VI and VII All-Ohio football teams Monday, the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association announced the Division IV and V All-Ohio teams Tuesday.
Linden-McKinley coach Eric Valentine was named Ohio football coach of the year in Division IV, joining KIPP Columbus coach James Lee in Division VI as Columbus-area coaches to be named coach of the year. Valentine led Linden to an 8-3 record and made the playoffs on merit for the first time in school history.
Bloom-Carroll defensive lineman Luke Ferrell was named defensive player of the year.
Bloom-Carroll quarterback KJ Benedict earned first-team honors, as did Highland running back Dane Nauman. On defense, Ferrell is joined by Heath defensive lineman Gavin Postelwaite and East defensive back Tyrese Taylor on the first team.
High school football: James Lee of KIPP Columbus named Division VI state coach of the year
Linden quarterback Christopher Towns, Marion-Franklin receiver Chrishawn Adams, Heath offensive lineman Reece Shriner and Highland offensive lineman Turner Harmon were named to the second team.
Heath linebacker Connor Corbett and Bloom-Carroll defensive back Beau Wisecarver each earned second-team honors on defense.
Heath running back Ar'Moni McCrae is the lone Columbus-area representative on the third-team offense.
Highland defensive lineman Chandler Stevens, Licking Valley defensive back Alijah Stevens and Bexley punter Jonathan Spiess were named to the defensive third team.
Fairfield Union quarterback Hayden Collins, East running back Ishmael Spann-Bowers, Bloom-Carroll receiver Branyon Dodds, Heath receiver Reece Huber, Linden receiver LB Towns, Licking Valley offensive lineman Nathaniel Romano, Bloom-Carroll offensive lineman Kevin Tyler and Highland kicker Caleb Hunter earned honorable mentions on offense.
On defense, Bloom-Carroll linebacker Clay Dozer, Heath linebacker Riley Gould, Highland linebacker Eli Grandstaff, Bexley linebacker Noah Lyons, Bloom-Carroll linebacker Chase Plantz, Bloom-Carroll defensive back Brandon Totten and Fairfield Union defensive back Kade Dennison received honorable mentions.
In Division V, North Union running back Owen Davis, Liberty Union receiver Jacob Denny, Harvest Prep offensive lineman Joe Johnson and Ready kicker Evan O'Connell were all named to the first team on offense.
Columbus Academy defensive lineman Gyvnn Mendenhall earned first-team honors on defense.
North Union linebacker Gavin Miller, Pleasant linebacker CJ Smith and Amanda-Clearcreek punter Jonathan Weaver were named to the defensive second team.
Ready running back Brian Fitzsimmons, Harvest Prep running back Jaylen Jennings, Amanda-Clearcreek receiver Tayvon Miller, Columbus Academy tight end Parker Logan and Ready offensive lineman Marvin Sutton earned third-team honors on offense.
On defense, Harvest Prep linebacker Chandler Burrell was named to the third team.
Amanda-Clearcreek quarterback Nathan Hunter, Columbus Academy running back Carter James, Johnstown running back Caleb Schneider, North Union running back Ethan Young and North Union offensive lineman Drue Duncan received honorable mentions on offense.
Defensively, North Union defensive lineman Dalton Wilson, Liberty Union linebacker Braden Shreyer, Harvest Prep linebacker Edjay Sumo, Utica linebacker Brock Wygle, Amanda-Clearcreek linebacker Cade Young, North Union defensive back Troy Bossaler, Ready defensive back J'Sun Gardner and Columbus Academy defensive back EJ Jenkins earned honorable mentions.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: High school football: Columbus players and coaches on All-Ohio teams
