Finalists announced for Ohio Mr. Football

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association announced the finalists for the 2022 Ohio Mr. Football Award on Tuesday. The winner will be announced next week in Canton prior to the start of the state championships. The OPSWA district chairpersons and officers selected seven student-athletes — one from each district — as finalists for the 2022 Ohio Mr. Football Award. The voting process is nearly identical to that used to determine the Heisman Trophy winner in college football. Voting is currently underway for the 218 registered OPSWA members and will end Monday at noon. Ohio's Mr. Football was selected by The Associated Press from 1987-2016. Since 2017, it has been presented by the OPSWA. The All-Ohio teams will begin being released on Dec. 5. The nominees are listed in alphabetical order: Darreon Fair, Cleveland Heights QB The Northeast Lakes District Division I Offensive Player of the Year accounted for 40 TDs and led the Tigers to a 9-1 record. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder rushed for 1,318 yards and 29 TDs on 116 attempts and threw for 644 yards and 11 TDs on 41-of-75 passing. CJ Hester, Wyoming RB The three-time Southwest District D-IV Offensive Player of the Year carried 228 times for 2,081 yards (9.1 yards per carry) and 33 TDs in the regular season as the Cowboys finished undefeated and No. 2 in the final AP Poll. The 5-11, 190-pound senior currently has 2,967 yards and 46 TDs on 331 carries for the state semifinalist. Among the school records he set this year were rushing yards in a game (351), rushing TDs in a game (7) and points in a game (42). The Western Michigan recruit has rushed for 6,951 yards and has 110 total TDs in his career. Diore Hubbard, Gahanna Lincoln RB Through 14 games, the 5-11, 185-pound junior and Central District D-I Offensive Player of the Year has rushed for 2,306 yards on 309 carries (7.5 average). He also has 287 yards receiving on 22 receptions and has 29 total TDs for a top-seeded D-I state semifinalist. Jordan Marshall, Archbishop Moeller RB The 5-11, 200-pound junior carried the ball 161 times for 1,290 yards (7.9 yds per carry) and 20 TDs and caught 16 passes for 278 yards and four TDs in the regular season. He currently has 1,796 yards and 27 TDs on 217 carries for a top-seeded D-I state semifinalist. Marshall was named GCL South Player of the Year and Southwest District D-I Offensive Player of the Year. He is a four-star recruit and one of the country's top 10 junior running back prospects, according to 247sports.com. Lamar Sperling, Archbishop Hoban RB The 5-10, 190-pound Northeast Inland District D-II Offensive Player of the Year has logged 339 carries, 3,348 rushing yards and 51 rushing touchdowns in 14 games. The Buffalo recruit ran for 2,934 yards and 41 TDs in 16 games last year. Sperling was the Northeast Inland District nominee over Medina quarterback Danny Stoddard and West Branch quarterback Dru DeShields. Connor Walendzak, Perrysburg RB The 5-11, 195-pound Toledo recruit and Northwest District D-I Offensive Player of the Year ran 166 times for 1,320 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 102 tackles (14½ for loss), 3½ sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles in the regular season. Walendzak was named Northern Lakes League Player of the Year. He was a first-team All-Ohio running back in 2020 and second-team choice in 2021. Mason Wolfe, West Holmes QB The East District D-IV Offensive Player of the Year completed 137-of-195 passes (70.3%) for 2,511 yards, 34 TDs and only two INTs. The 6-3, 190-pound senior added another three rushing TDs for the Knights, who finished the regular season 10-0 and ranked No. 3 in D-IV state poll. Wolfe directed an offense that averaged 51 points.