Ohio Mr. Football award finalists announced

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Prep Sports Media Association has announced the finalists for the 2024 Ohio Mr. Football Award. The winner will be announced next Thursday (Dec. 5) at 4 p.m. in Canton prior to the start of the OHSAA football state championships. The prestigious honor has been awarded since 1987. The OPSMA district chairpersons and officers have selected eight finalists. The voting process is nearly identical to that used to determine the Heisman Trophy winner in college football. The 221 registered OPSMA members each get one vote, with voting ending at noon on Monday, Dec. 2. Ohio's Mr. Football was selected by the Associated Press from 1987-2016. Since 2017 it has been presented by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association. The OPSMA All-Ohio teams will begin being released on Monday, Dec. 9. Below are the finalists (listed in alphabetical order): Scotty Fox, Mentor, QB, 6-2, 215, sr.Fox steered Mentor to an undefeated regular season, Greater Cleveland Conference championship and the No. 1 seed in Division I, Region 1. He is a West Virginia commit at quarterback and the Northeast Lakes District Offensive Player of the Year. Fox completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,170 yards with 28 TDs to six interceptions during the regular season. He is a four-year starter after stepping into his starting role because of an injury during his freshman season. Nolan Good, Avon, QB, 6-2, 200, sr.Avon appeared poised to make a run at last year's Division II state championship until Good suffered a season-ending injury in the regional semifinals. A Kent State commit at quarterback and already an All-Ohioan after that junior season, Good guided Avon to another undefeated regular season as a senior and a ninth straight Southwestern Conference championship. The Eagles entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in Division II, Region 6 after Good completed 67 percent of his passes this year for 2,375 yards and 23 TDs to six INT. He added 353 yards rushing and five TDs on 37 carries. Grady Kinsey, Gnadenhutten Indian Valley, RB, 5-9, 197, jr.Kinsey has developed into one of the most dynamic backs in the East District, running for 2,347 yards and 33 touchdowns on 178 attempts in 10 regular season games. He averaged 13.2 yards per carry and only played in 27 of 40 quarters for the undefeated Braves. Kinsey, who was Second Team All-Ohio as a sophomore, also contributes on defense with 56 tackles. For his career, he has surpassed 5,000 rushing yards and has nearly 80 touchdowns and made more than 250 tackles. Andrew Leonard, Olentangy Liberty, QB, 5-10, 180, sr.Central District Division I OPOY, Leonard completed 140 of 205 passes for 1,982 yards and 28 TDs with 4 INT, and also rushed for 505 yards on 104 carries with 4 TDs in the regular season for a top-seeded 8-2 team that has since reached the state semifinals. The three-year starter and program career record-holder in passing did this against one of the state's toughest schedules. Stats updated through week 14: 192 completions in 272 attempts for 2,776 yards passing with 38 TDs, 5 INT and 550 yards rushing with 4 TDs. Getting some interest from smaller Division I programs like Valparaiso, Morehead State for football. Also was an all-district shortstop for the regional qualifying baseball team and an all-district forward for the regional runner-up ice hockey team as a junior. Bodpegn Miller, Ontario, QB, 6-4, 190, sr.Adopted from Ethiopia as a young child, Miller is committed to The Ohio State University to play wide receiver despite not having a single catch in his high school career. He is the Division IV Northwest District Co-Offensive Player of the Year, first team All-Northwest District and first team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference. He was a second team All-Ohioan last year. For the 2024 season, his 14-week stats are: 149-for-253 passing, 2,216 yards, 20 TDs passing | 211 carries, 1,988 yards rushing, 21 TDs | 18 punts, 644 yards, 35.8 yards per punt average |41 tackles, 3 TFL, One Sack, 3 INTs | 17 touchbacks on kickoffs. In a Week 13 win over previously undefeated Shelby, he ran for 209 yards on 24 carries with two TDs and completed 13-of-28 passes for 294 yards and three TDs to take his team to its first-ever regional championship game appearance. He has 6,398 passing yards and 54 TDs in his career along with 3,610 rushing yards and 47 TDS for 10,008 total yards of offense and 101 TDs. He owns four school records in track and is an All-Ohioan in the 200-meter dash and 4x200 meter relay. Keller Moten, Walsh Jesuit, QB, 5-11, 185, sr.Inland District Division II Offensive Player of the Year. Stats through 13 games. Passing: 113 of 179 for 1,645 yards, 17 touchdowns, 4 interceptions. Rushing: 127 carries for 1,209 yards and 22 touchdowns, 1 fumble. He holds FCS offers from St. Francis and Mercyhurst and still expects more opportunities to come his way. Ohio State has reached out in the last few weeks and told Moten it has strong interest in bringing him to Columbus as a preferred walk-on. Pitt, Army, Kent State, Marshall, Princeton, Dayton are all interested in him. Mr. Football perfectly encapsulates Keller Moten's extraordinary performance, leadership, and influence on the field. Keller is not only the heart of his team's offense—he is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback whose remarkable stats and unparalleled contributions helped lead his team to their first undefeated season since 1998. Moten also led the Warriors to their first victory over state power Archbishop Hoban since 2014. Matt Ponatoski, Cincinnati Moeller, QB, 6-1, 195, jr.Southwest District Division I Offensive Player of the Year and the GCL Offensive Player of the Year. Has completed 252-of-357 passing attempts this season for 3,644 yards, 50 TDs and just two interceptions. Has set Moeller career records for passing yards (7,081) and TD passes (80) as a junior. Tied the Moeller single-game record with six TD passes against St. Xavier this season. Owns offers from Cincinnati, Purdue, Louisville, Vanderbilt, Miami (Ohio) and Kent State. Tavien St. Clair, Bellefontaine, QB, 6-4, 228, sr.Two-time Southwest District Division III Offensive Player of the Year and three-time Central Buckeye Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Consensus No. 1 senior prospect in Ohio and a Top 10 senior prospect nationally. Committed to Ohio State. Finished senior season 166-of-244 passing for 2,536 yards and 29 TDs. Also rushed for 254 yards and nine TDs. Four-year starter has thrown for 9,794 career passing yards and 104 TDs. Has rushed for 17 TDs. Four-time first team All-CBC selection. -----------------------------------Ohio Mr. Football winners (including college choice) 1987: Buster Howe, RB-DB-K-P, Zanesville, Ohio State1988: Robert Smith, RB, Euclid, Ohio State1989: Robert Smith, RB, Euclid, Ohio State1990: Bobby Hoying, QB, St. Henry, Ohio State1991: Derek Kidwell, QB-DE, Fostoria, Bowling Green1992: Marc Edwards, RB-LB, Norwood, Notre Dame1993: Curtis Enis, RB-LB, Mississinawa Valley, Penn State1994: Charles Woodson, DB-RB, Fremont Ross, Michigan1995: Andy Katzenmoyer, LB, Westerville South, Ohio State1996: Derek Combs, RB-DB-KR, Grove City, Ohio State1997: Tony Fisher, RB, Euclid, Notre Dame1998: Ryan Brewer, RB, Troy, South Carolina1999: Bam Childress, DB-WR-KR, Bedford St. Peter Chanel, Ohio State2000: Jeff Backes, RB-DB, Upper Arlington, Northwestern2001: Maurice Clarett, RB, Warren G. Harding, Ohio State2002: Ben Mauk, QB, Kenton, Wake Forest/Cincinnati2003: Ray Williams, RB, Cleveland Benedictine, West Virginia2004: Tyrell Sutton, RB, Archbishop Hoban, Northwestern2005: Delone Carter, RB, Copley, Syracuse2006: Brandon Saine, RB, Piqua, Ohio State2007: Bart Tanski, QB, Mentor, Bowling Green2008: Erick Howard, RB, North Canton Hoover, Akron2009: Erick Howard, RB, North Canton Hoover, Akron2010: Akise Teague, RB-DB-KR, Youngstown Ursuline, Cincinnati2011: Maty Mauk, QB, Kenton, Missouri/Eastern Kentucky2012: Mitch Trubisky, QB, Mentor, North Carolina2013: Dante Booker Jr., LB, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio State2014: Joe Burrow, QB, Athens, Ohio State, Louisiana State2015: Keishaun Sims, RB-DB, Massillon Perry, Ashland University2016: Michael Warren, RB, Toledo Central Catholic, University of Cincinnati2017: Joey Baughman, QB, Wadsworth, Elon University2018: Cade Stover, SS-RB, Lexington, Ohio State University2019: Evan Prater, QB, Cincinnati Wyoming, University of Cincinnati2020: Corey Kiner, RB, Cincinnati Roger Bacon, Louisiana State2021: Drew Allar, QB, Medina, Penn State2022: Lamar Sperling, RB, Akron Archbishop Hoban, Buffalo2023: Jordan Marshall, RB, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller