From Gabe Cofer to Ethan Schwalbauch, The Dispatch selected the top linebackers for the 2024 Ohio high school football season in the Columbus area.
While the offense often grabs the headlines, all high school football programs know they can’t win without a solid defense, and a defense can’t be solid without strong linebackers.
A good linebacker unit will contribute to stopping both the run and the pass and put pressure on the quarterback.
Below are The Dispatch’s top 10 linebackers in central Ohio, in alphabetical order. As part of our season previews, we previously selected our top quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers/tight ends, offensive linemen and defensive linemen.
Gabe Cofer, New Albany
Vitals: 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, sr.
College offer: Ashland
An outside linebacker, Cofer is a key performer in the Eagles’ defense. Last season, he had 78 tackles, including 12 for loss, and a team-high five sacks. He also had two forced fumbles. He was first-team all-district and all-OCC-Ohio and third-team all-state in Division I.
How to watch Ohio high school football in 2024
Luke Conaway, Licking Valley
Vitals: 5-11, 170, sr.
College offers: None
The outside linebacker should again be a key force for the Panthers. He registered 90 tackles, including five for loss, four sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble during the 2023 regular season. Conaway was first-team all-district and all-Licking County League-Buckeye and third-team all-state in Division IV.
Denim Cook, Hartley
Vitals: 6-5, 255, sr.
College commitment: Pittsburgh
Coach Brad Burchfield expects the standout edge rusher to be an Ohio Mr. Football candidate. Cook recorded 116 tackles, including 22 for loss, 15 sacks and 12 quarterback hurries last year. He was first-team all-CCL, along with first-team all-state and all-district in Division IV.
Blake Elliott, East Knox
Vitals: 6-0, 205, sr.
College offers: None
Elliott is looking to build on a standout junior season in which he was named district Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-state in Division VI and first-team all-Knox Morrow Athletic Conference. The middle linebacker led the league with 134 tackles, including 10 for loss.
Wyatt Keyt, West Jefferson
Vitals: 5-7, 150, sr.
College offers: None
An outside linebacker, Keyt made a team-leading 90 tackles last season and helped the Roughriders reach the Division VI, Region 23 final. He also had one sack and one interception. He was first-team all-district, second-team all-Ohio Heritage Conference-North and third-team all-state.
Kyle Kirby, Granville
Vitals: 6-1, 215, jr.
College offer: Toledo
The inside linebacker had more than 100 tackles last fall, along with 15 touchdowns at running back, as the Blue Aces reached a Division III, Region 11 semifinal. Kirby was first-team all-district and all-LCL-Buckeye and third-team all-state.
Jake Lopinto, Licking Heights
Vitals: 6-0, 215, sr.
College commitment: Robert Morris
Lopinto is a two-way standout for the Hornets, collecting 114 tackles and two interceptions and accounting for more than 1,000 all-purpose yards a season ago. He was first-team all-district and all-LCL-Buckeye and second-team all-state in Division II.
Rocco Paschal, Watkins Memorial
Vitals: 5-9, 215, jr.
College offers: None
Paschal is coming off a stellar season for the Warriors, making a program-record 129 tackles with 28 for loss. The middle linebacker added five sacks, one fumble recovery and one blocked punt for a touchdown. He was first-team all-district and all-LCL-Buckeye and third-team all-state in Division II.
Dezmond Porter, Harvest Prep
Vitals: 6-0, 220, jr.
College offer: Kent State
Excelling at linebacker and quarterback, Porter was coach Milan Smith’s top-rated player following last season, when Harvest Prep reached a Division V state semifinal. Defensively, Porter finished with 65 tackles, including 18 for loss, four fumble recoveries and three sacks. He was first-team all-state and all-district.
Ethan Schwalbauch, Teays Valley
Vitals: 5-10, 209, sr.
College offers: None
Following last season, coach Brian Cross said Schwalbauch was as good as any linebacker he had coached in his 35 years in the sport. The inside linebacker had 128 tackles, including seven for loss, and one sack in the regular season. He was first-team all-district and all-MSL-Buckeye and second-team all-state in Division II. The Vikings have moved to the OCC and will play in the Buckeye Division.
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@DispatchFrank
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Publish date : 2024-08-13 23:01:00
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