Here's a look at some of the area's top football players in the2020 class.
Presidents' DaySale:Support local journalism for just $1 for the first three months
20. Elijah Eberhardt, Princeton, defensive back
A season-ending injury in week three against Colerain this past year saw Eberhardt's junior campaign come to an untimely close. The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder was on pace for a huge season after recording seven tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception in Princeton's opening two games. Those numbers came on the heelof a 25-tackle sophom*ore season.Eberhardt has committed to Bowling Green.
19.Tanner Cromer, Reading, defensive end
Cromer already holds the Reading record for sacks with one more year to go in his career. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder amassed 17 sacks as a sophom*ore and seven this past season. He was named first-team all-district and special mention all-state for a junior year in which he finished with 48 tackles (36 solo), a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. He's listed as the No. 87player in Ohio's '20 class by 247's composite rankings with reported interest from Ohio State, Clemson, Iowa, Michigan State and Eastern Kentucky.
18.Brycen Huddleston, Highlands, linebacker
Huddleston picked up his first offer Feb. 4 from Eastern Michigan and has committed to the Eagles. The Highlands standout had a big junior season where he played key roles on offense, defense and special teams for the Bluebirds. He was named honorable mention all-state this past season.
17.Deshawn Pace, Colerain, defensive back
Pace recorded 67 tackles (36 solos), two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, a defensive touchdown and a half-sack during Colerain's run to the state championship game this fall. Listed as the No. 58player in the state by 247sports.com's composite rankings, Pace is also ranked as the No. 116 safety prospect in the country. Pace committed to the University of Cincinnati in the spring.
16. CarringtonValentine, Moeller, defensive back
Valentine is one of the most diverse players on this list as he made major impacts on offense, defense and special teams for Moeller this past season. Valentine, who is projected as a cornerback at the next level, recently committed to Kentucky. He is ranked as the No. 34player in Ohio and the No. 81cornerback in the country by 247's composite list.
More:Moeller cornerback Carrington Valentine commits to the University of Kentucky
15. Luke Kandra, Elder, offensive guard
A strong junior season has helped skyrocket Elder offensive linemen Luke Kandra up recruiting boards. The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder has committed to Louisville. Kandra is rated as the No. 49 player in Ohio's '20 class by 247's composite and the No. 76 offensive guard prospect in the country.
More:Here's why Elder Panthers class of 2020 OL Luke Kandra committed to Louisville Cardinals
14. David Afari, Lakota West, running back
Lakota West's David Afari has committed to the Miami RedHawks. Afari broke onto the scene as a sophom*ore with a 1,109-yard, seven-touchdown rushing season. His numbers dipped as a junior but showed the ability to be a receiving threat out of the backfield (12 catches) while also picking up kick-return duty (five returns for 195 yards and a touchdown). 247sports.com's composite ranks him as the No. 36 player in Ohio's class and the No. 66 running back in the country.
More:Lakota West running back David Afari commits to Miami RedHawks football
13.MiQuan Grace, Winton Woods, defensive back
Grace has been on the radar of colleges since his freshman season at Winton Woods.Coming offa giant junior season for the Warriors, he helped themadvanceto the Division II state semifinal. Holding double-digit offers,Grace committed to Rutgers this summer. 247's compositelists him as the No. 74 player in Ohio's '20 class and the No. 201cornerback prospect in the country.
12. Joe Royer, Elder, tight end/receiver
Royer was second in the Greater Catholic League-South and second on his team in receiving yards this past season finishing with 31 receptions for 612 yards and five scores. His 19.7 yards per catch led the conference. He currently holds six offers and is ranked as the No. 34overall recruit in Ohio by 247's composite and the No. 37 tight end. Boston College was the first school to offer him on Nov. 10.
More:Elder four-star tight end Joe Royer commits to Ohio State University
11. DeMeer Blanku*msee, Winton Woods, wide receiver
After a breakout junior season, Blanku*msee's recruitment has exploded the last few months. He received his first offer on Dec. 6 from Missouri and has been rising up prospect boards since. He is currently ranked as the No. 27player in Ohio's '20 class by 247's composite and holds seven offers. He received three offers Jan. 24 when Kentucky, Toledo and Western Michigan extended invites.
10. Jakob James, Elder, offensive tackle - Ohio State verbal commit
At 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds, James was a force along the offensive line for Elder this past season. With more than 20 offers, James chose Ohio State Jan. 21 from a list that included LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, Tennessee and West Virginia. 247sports.com's composite lists him as the No. 27 player in Ohio's '20 class and the No. 52offensive tackle in the country.
More:Elder football's offensive line has possible projected NFL players
9. Cameron Porter, La Salle, running back - Northwestern verbal commit
Porter gave his verbal commitment to Northwestern Dec. 8. The 5-foot-11, 207-pounder is ranked as the No. 15overall recruit in Ohio's 2020 class per 247sports.com composite rankings and No. 34 player at his position in the country. Porter's numbers were down this past season after leading the Greater Catholic League-South in rushing as a sophom*ore when he ran for 924 yards and nine touchdowns. Porter is a Northwestern commit where he will be tutored by former Lancer and Wildcat running back Jeremy Larkin.
8. Miyan Williams, Winton Woods, running back
The Division II Offensive Player of the Year in both the state of Ohio and the Southwest District last season, Williams was arguably the most important player on any local team in 2018. Williams' offers count was in the double digits until he committed to Iowa State over the summer. Williams is ranked as high as the No. 24 player in the state by 247's composite rankingsand No. 49 at his position nationally. Other offers include Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota and Purdue, to name a few.
More:Winton Woods teammates Williams, Grace, Blanku*msee make their college football commitments on 4th
7. Daved Jones, Lakota West, linebacker
Jones ranks as one of the best linebackers in Ohio and one of the top inside linebackers in the country. 247's compositelists him as the No. 30 overall recruit in Ohio's '20 class. Nationally, 247 ranks Jones as the39th overall inside linebacker. Jones committed to the University of Cincinnati prior to his senior season. He had 44 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown last season for Lakota West.
WATCH:WATCH Linebacker Daved Jones Jr. leads Lakota West recruits under new coach Tom Bolden
6. Evan Prater, Wyoming, dual-threat quarterback
The 6-foot-5, 190-pound quarterback helped lead Wyoming to an undefeated season and, in doing so, was named both the Southwest District and the Ohio Offensive Player of the Year in Division IV. He accounted for 60 touchdowns (28 passing, 32 rushing) during his junior campaign. Colleges took notice. Prater elected to stay home with the Cincinnati Bearcats this spring with his brother, Garyn, also coming as a transfer from Ohio State.. He also held a DI offer in basketball from Wright State. 247sports.com's composite rankinglists him as the No. 10dual-threat QB in the country and the No. 6 player overall in Ohio's '20 class.
More:Wyoming's Prater brothers, one transferring from Ohio State, will play for Cincinnati football
5. Jaheim Thomas, Princeton, linebacker
The No. 5prospect in Ohio's 2020 class per 247sports.com's composite rankings, Thomas held more than two dozen offers, many from Power 5 programs. Thomas committed to the Cincinnati Bearcats this summer.247 lists him as the No. 22 overall outside linebacker in the nation. He had 38 tackles (24 solo), two sacks and two interceptions (including a pick-six) last season.
More:Princeton's latest DI football commit Jaheim Thomas will stay home as a Cincinnati Bearcat
4. JuTahn McClain, Fairfield, all-purpose back
McClain is coming off a junior campaign in which he accounted for more than 2,300total yards and earned first-team all-Ohio honors. 247sports.com's composite rankings list him as the No. 7 overall recruit in Ohio and the No. 9 all-purpose back in the country. He held several offers including invites from teams like Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State. Early in summer McClain committed to Kentucky.
More:Fairfield running back JuTahn McClain commits to play football for Kentucky Wildcats
3. Darrion Henry, Princeton, defensive end
Henry led the Greater Miami Conference with 8.5 sacks this past season. He's considered a top-50 player nationally by 247sports.com's composite rankings, the No. 2 overall recruit in Ohio, the top defensive player in Ohio's '20 class and the No. 18 strong-side defensive end prospect in the nation. At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, Henry committed to Ohio Stae this summer.
More:Four-star football recruit Darrion Henry of Princeton commits to Ohio State
2. Michael Mayer, Covington Catholic, tight end - Notre Dame verbal commit
Every recruiting site in the country agrees that Mayer is the top offensive prospect in the Bluegrass State's 2020 class. Considered a four-star recruit, the 6-foot-5, 240-pounder is one of the top 100 overall recruits in the country and the No. 2 tight endin the nation. He gave his verbal commitment to Notre Dame on July 1, 2018.
More:CovCath senior, Notre Dame commit makes big impression at national football combine
1. Paris Johnson Jr., Princeton, offensive guard - Ohio State verbal commit
The 6-foot-7.5, 295-pound Johnson is one of the premier prospects in the country. 247sports.com's composite rankings list him as a five-star blue chip prospect as well as theNo. 1 offensive guard in the '20 cycle, the No. 1 player in Ohio's '20 class and the No. 7 overall recruit nationally in 2020. He's already committed to play in next year's All-American Bowl and gave his verbal commitment to Ohio State on June 28, 2018. Johnson transferred to Princeton from St. Xavier so he could leave school after his senior football season and join the Buckeyes in January.
More:Paris Johnson, Ohio's top 2020 recruit, transferring from St. Xavier to Princeton
Watch list:
A few additional players in the class of 2020 to keep an eye on: James Thompson Jr., Roger Bacon, defensive end; Marshall Lang, St. Xavier, tight end (Northwestern commit); Elijah Ford, Colerain, athlete; Juan Jarrett, Princeton, linebacker (Kansas commit);Daniel Ingram, Woodward, running back/quarterback;Kayvon Britten, Western Hills, running back;Hunter Johnson, Milford, quarterback;Brady Evans, Wilmington, quarterback;Quincy Perrin, Scott, receiver/linebacker;Paul Kremer, Newport Central Catolic, quarterback.
