All-Gridiron Glory Preseason Team
< < Back toATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — 22 players Southeast Ohio high school football players have been selected to the Preseason All-Gridiron Glory team.
The 22-man roster was assembled by the Gridiron Glory staff, aiming to highlight some of the players to watch in the upcoming high school football season.
Preseason All-GG Offense
Max Lyall | Tri-Valley, Senior QB
The Scotties senior is a four-year starter who threw for 2,000 yards with 30 touchdowns last season. He has been selected to the All-Ohio Division III First Team on two separate occasions. Lyall is expected to put up big numbers this season with a loaded Tri-Valley roster.
Jayden Wallace | Tri-Valley, Senior RB
Wallace is another key piece to the Scotties offense. Wallace is Lyall’s right hand man. The Tri-Valley senior had more than 2,000 total yards last season and added nearly 30 touchdowns. He was also included on the First-Team All-Ohio for Division III. Wallace’s breakaway speed is no joke and he’s looking to use that speed to take his team all the way to Canton.
Alex Perro | Athens, Senior RB
Pero is the centerpiece of Athens’ offense. Last season, he rushed for 1,263 yards and averaged 114.8 yards per game. It’s hard to stop Pero when he gets rumbling and look for him to put up dominant numbers once again in his senior season.
Shaun Terry | Ironton, Senior WR
Shaun Terry has been a name to watch out for his entire career, and this season is no different. The senior receiver ended last year with an average of 40 yards per game and 19 total touchdowns. He made the All-GG team in 2023 as a fast, dynamic player that the Tigers have relied on for three years. Terry will be a key piece to watch this season as he leads the Fighting Tigers into their first season of independent play.
Kody Swords | Waverly, Senior WR
Although he missed a couple of games due to injury last season, Swords makes this season’s All-GG Preseason Team. The Waverly wide receiver imposes his will against defenses and looks to remain as arguably the best deep threat in the SOC. Swords length and quickness off the line will be a key piece in the Tigers offense as they look for a new offensive spark plug this season after graduating running back Jase Hurd.
Michael Stevenson | Bloom-Carroll, Senior TE
In a Bloom-Carroll offense that will have to take to the air without Jaden Ball and Dylan Armentrout, Michael Stevenson projects to have an impressive season at tight end. Last year, Stevenson established himself as an elite jump ball threat and red zone presence with his size.
At 6 feet 5 inches and 230 pounds, central Ohio should be worried about what Stevenson can do in his senior season in Carroll. With wide receiver Rusty Hutchinson and quarterback Ethan Thanthanavong, the Bulldogs will possess a deadly passing attack with Stevenson in the middle of the field.
Gavin Spiker | Tri-Valley, Senior OL
Gavin Spiker is a centerpiece to the Scottie’s offensive line. The 6 foot 4 inch 275-pound senior is a four-year contributor and earned spots on the MVL and the East District first teams while also being included on the All-Ohio Honorable Mention list. A big season awaits Gavin Spiker.
Rohwan Gillmore | Eastern, Senior OL
Gilmore was the anchor for the Eastern Eagles during their historic playoff run last year. Last season was also not only special for the Eagles, but it was also special to Gilmore as he secured an honorable mention for the Division VII All-Ohio team. He will be a player that the TVC-Hocking needs to look out for.
Mitchell George | Meadowbrook, Senior OL
This preseason, senior Mitchell George was ranked the number three overall player on Ohio Valley Preps top 75 preseason list. George was included in the top three for good reason, the 6 foot 6 inch 285-pound linemen will be a problem to pass rushers in the MVL this season.
Adam Guthrie | Miami Trace, Junior OL
You will not find a more dominant offensive lineman in the 740. Guthrie will be blocking senior Trey Robinette’s blindside this season. “I know he’s got my blindside every snap,” Robinette said.
With Guthrie just in his junior year, we’ll be seeing a lot more of him on the gridiron the next two years, as Miami Trace looks to win their first ever FAC title.
Jacob Allen | Jackson, Senior OL
The Jackson Ironmen will always be known for one thing: dominating the trenches and running the ball down your throat. They did it as well as anyone last year, with Cade Wolford running his way to the Gridiron Glory 24 Player of the Year award, and that’s due in part to the guys blocking up front for him.
The very best of them all was Allen, who’s a force to be reckoned with on the interior. Jackson returns nine out of eleven starters on offense, including the entire offensive line. Because of Allen, you’ll see junior Bodhi Wolford with plenty of time in the pocket and senior Nolan Johnson with no problems finding a gap.
Preseason All-GG Defense
Aiden Layne | Ironton, Senior DL
Aidan Layne is a three-year starter for the Fighting Tigers. He came out of the 2023 season with 2.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 28 quarterback hurries. Layne is an aggressive player Ironton needs on the line to maintain a high-level defensive reputation.
Hunter Hoyt | Vinton County, Senior DL
Hunter Hoyt is an anchor for the Vikings’ defensive line. With 11.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season, Hoyt now leads the defensive trenches for the new Vinton County squad. This defense shouldn’t lose a step with Hoyt paving the way.
Elijah Brown | Wheelersburg, Junior DE
Elijah Brown returns for his junior season after being the only sophomore to make the All-GG Team last year. The young defender stuffed the stat sheet with 68 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble last season.
Brown’s speed and athleticism on the defensive front separates him from other edge rushers. After graduating six All-Ohio players, Wheelersburg will be looking for Brown to be the anchor for their dominant defense this season.
Tristan Wood | Valley, Senior DE
If you’re going up against the Valley defense, you better watch out for number 70. Tristan Wood makes this season’s All-GG Preseason Team after an impressive season last year. Wood tallied 73 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, three sacks, four forced fumbles and a blocked punt during his junior campaign. The DE was also 1st Team All-SOC and an All-State Honorable Mention. After last year’s performance, people should expect Wood to be lights out this year for Valley.
Quinten Cremeans | Fairland, Senior LB
Quinten Cremeans is a name spoken highly of by head coach Mike Jackson. Last season, he averaged 11 tackles per game. He has developed as a team leader for the Dragons and is a dominant presence they will miss next season.
But this season, he and the rest of his team have their sights on in-conference games they’re looking for redemption on from last season.
Cooper Enochs | Miami Trace, Senior LB
Talk about a guy that can do it all. Enochs is a dynamic piece on offense that can score touchdowns but excels most as a linebacker. Enochs can drop back into coverage and give anyone in the middle level of the field a hard time.
He was one of Miami Trace’s best players as a sophomore in 2023, and like Guthrie, will be looking to help lead the Panthers to their first ever FAC title in 2024.
Brice Johnson | Zane Trace, Sophomore LB
Last season was the first for linebacker Brice Johnson, but he made his mark on the Zane Trace defense. In his freshman season, Johnson picked up 102 total tackles, averaging 8.5 per game, along with six sacks and four fumble recoveries. Johnson’s name was also included as an SVC conference honorable mention last season.
Josh Johnson | Ironton, Senior DB
Josh Johnson has been a force to be reckoned with since he began at Ironton his sophomore year. He ended last season with 68 total tackles and four interceptions. He is a powerful dynamic force that has helped with the Fighting Tigers’ success in past years and will look to do the same in 2024.
Carson Free | Paint Valley, Senior DB
Senior DB Carson Free makes it onto this year’s All-GG Preseason list after a standout season last year for the Paint Valley Bearcats. Free helped the Bearcats on both sides of the ball.
On defense, Free finished the season with four interceptions, two forced fumbles and 57 tackles. He was also a standout as a receiver, tallying over 800 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Free is someone to watch out for on the Bearcat defense and offense.
Gavin Murphy | Eastern, Senior DB
Gavin Murphy has one last go around with the Eagles, who finished with the best record in the TVC-Hocking last year.
Murphy ended last season with a monster start line; 91 tackles, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, seven batted passes and a blocked field goal.
Caden Cutright | Unitoto, Senior DB
Senior DB Caden Cutright rounds out the All-GG Preseason defense after a strong season for the Shermans. Cutright finished first in the conference with seven interceptions. He also added 27 total tackles. With one last season at Unioto, Cutright still has time to improve and help the Sherman defense have a big season.