Who are the best high school football players in the Columbus area? Coaches weigh in
There’s no shortage of high school football talent in the Columbus area. Attend any game and you’ll likely see several highlight-reel plays.
But which players consistently stand out from their peers? Who impresses the shrewdest observers?
With teams preparing for the preseason — two-a-day practices begin Monday — The Dispatch reached out to about two dozen central Ohio coaches to find out their picks for the best Columbus-area players.
If you’re looking for players to check out this season, this list, in alphabetical order, is a good place to start.
Francis Brewu, Thomas Worthington
Listed at 6 feet 2 and 270 pounds, this senior defensive tackle has committed to Pittsburgh.
Brewu will be on the mind of Olentangy coach Wade Bartholomew in the week leading up to his team's contest with Thomas on Sept. 29. Thomas won the OCC-Cardinal matchup 44-23 last season.
"He is an explosive, strong, athletic defensive player that can play inside and outside and dominate both," Bartholomew said. "This young man can control an entire game due to his ability to stop the run and pass rush. You constantly need to know where he is and how you are going to double team him on every play."
Thomas coach Mike Picetti said it often takes three blockers to stop Brewu, who was third-team all-state and first-team all-district in Division I last year.
"A lot of (his success) is attributed to his first step," Picetti said. "When he comes off the ball, he’s so fast. He gives people fits."
The constant attention from opponents sometimes frustrates Brewu, Picetti said, but he's "the ultimate team player and he understands that’s his job."
Ethan Grunkemeyer, Olentangy
One would have expected to find this Penn State commit on last year's Division I first-team all-state offense, but the 6-3, 190-pound quarterback was honorable mention all-state and second-team all-district as a junior.
Gahanna Lincoln coach Bruce Ward, whose son trains with Grunkemeyer, said the Olentangy standout wasn't always a sure-fire Big Ten recruit. In the past, Ward said, Grunkemeyer was told "he's too small and not fast enough."
Last fall, Grunkemeyer was 227-for-361 passing for 2,567 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 205 yards and four scores on 68 carries.
Ward, whose son, Brennen, is the junior starting quarterback for Gahanna, said he first met a 6- or 7-year-old Grunkemeyer through a 2nd & 7 football camp.
"I’ve been fortunate enough to watch him through his maturation process from a little boy to what he is today," Ward said. "He’s worked his butt off to get where he is, and it’s been a process for him. ... He’s just had a tremendous journey to get where he is today. This time last year, I don’t even think he was on Penn State’s radar."
Diore Hubbard, Gahanna Lincoln
A finalist for Mr. Football last season as a junior, Hubbard was first-team all-state and the Central District Offensive Player of the Year in Division I. He rushed for 2,365 yards and 25 touchdowns on 323 carries and caught 23 passes for 296 yards and four scores, helping Gahanna make its first state semifinal appearance since 1982.
"Diore is one of the most competitive people I have coached," Ward said. "He wants to 'win' everything. I think the other thing that makes Diore special is his supreme confidence in his ability, and the work ethic that matches."
Hubbard announced his commitment to West Virginia on July 1.
"He has balance, vision, speed, power and big-play ability," Gahanna offensive coordinator Kyle Stout said.
Nasir Phillips, Westerville South
This 5-10, 190-pound senior running back was first-team all-state and the Central District Offensive Player of the Year in Division II last year. Phillips rushed for 1,732 yards and 18 touchdowns on 261 carries.
He was one of the main reasons the Wildcats went 11-2 — their most victories since they finished 11-1 in 1995 — and 7-0 in the OCC-Capital for the program's 12th league title.
Phillips is "explosive, dynamic and has really pushed his top-end speed," South coach Matthew Christ said. "He has great vision, patience and rarely is tackled by the first defender."
Dominic Purcell, Watterson
This linebacker and Navy commit helped the Eagles go 12-2 last fall and reach a Division III regional final. He was first-team all-state and all-district as a junior with 102 tackles, three sacks, 18 tackles for loss and four interceptions.
Brad Burchfield, the coach of CCL rival Hartley, has high praise for the 6-0, 200-pound Purcell.
"Purcell is as good of a football player as we see," Burchfield said. "If you look up 'football guy' in the dictionary it seems to be him. He's always around the ball and is always an integral part of the play."
Other players picked by coaches: East running back Taizaun Burns, DeSales defensive lineman Cameron Gwinn, Big Walnut running back Nate Severs and Big Walnut linebacker Garrett Stover.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Coaches pick top central Ohio high school football players
