Ohio Mr. Football finalists announced

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Prep Sports Media Association announced the finalists for the Ohio Mr. Football award on Wednesday. The winner will be announced a week from today at 5 p.m. in Canton prior to the start of the state championships. The prestigious honor has been awarded since 1987. The OPSMA district chairpersons and officers selected the finalists. The voting process is nearly identical to that used to determine the Heisman Trophy winner in college football. The 220 registered OPSMA members each get one vote, with voting ending at noon Monday. 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 All-Ohio teams will begin being released on Monday. Levi Davis, Olentangy Orange QB A dynamic 6-foot, 187-pound dual-threat weapon, Davis has been the chief catalyst for second-ranked Orange's winningest season (13-0). Davis has completed 134-of-198 passes (.677 ) for 2,016 yards with 15 TDs and seven interceptions while also rushing for 935 yards and 15 touchdowns on 126 carries (7.4 average). A four-year starter and Ohio University commit, Davis has passed for 7,006 yards and 51 TDs while rushing for 2,631 yards and 37 TDs in his career. Davis made second-team All-Ohio in 2024. Davis also was the starting point guard for the state championship basketball team in March and was a regional track champion in the long jump (23 feet, 1 1/4 inches) and runner-up in the high jump (6-6), earning All-Ohio in the latter. Brayden DeVito, Shelby QB The 5-11, 175-pound Air Force commit led the Whippets to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and the No. 1 ranking in the final Associated Press poll in 2025. DeVito entered the regional finals 21 with 2,783 yards and 35 touchdowns to just three interceptions while completing 165-of-221 attempts (.747). He had 106 carries for 1,009 yards and 24 TDs. DeVito had 54 total TDs in just 31 quarters of action. For his career entering Week 14, DeVito was 700-for-1,060 passing (.660) for 12,440 yards (unofficially No. 4 in OHSAA history) with 120 TDs (13th) and rushed 516 times for 4,294 yards and 71 TDs with a career total of 196 TDs. On track to become a three-time first-team All-Ohio selection, DeVito was also on the All-Ohio first team in basketball and was a state placer in track as the first three-sport all-state player in school history. Brayton Feister, Archbishop Hoban LB The 6-3, 230-pound Northeast Inland District D-II Defensive POY had 102 tackles, (32 for loss, 9 sacks), two interceptions, four forced fumbles, nine sacks and two defensive touchdowns. He also ran for 895 yards and 13 touchdowns on 92 carries (9.7 per carry) in nine games. The four-star athlete counts Oregon, Penn State and Michigan among his 27 offers. Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia, and Florida indicated they will offer after the season is over. He's a three-time MaxPreps All-American. Ryder Hooks, Liberty Township Lakota East RB/DB The 5-8, 185-pound Greater Miami Conference Offensive Player of the Year and three-time first-team All-GMC selection rushed for 2,032 yards and 19 touchdowns in addition to catching 25 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns. He had 290 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Lakota West and 286 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Centerville. Hooks added 31 tackles (2 for loss), two forced Fumbles, a fumble recovery, six pass deflections and three interceptions (2 for touchdowns) on defense. Cincere Johnson, Glenville LB The 6-3, 225-pound senior is the Northeast Lakes District Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. A four-star prospect according to most recruiting services, Johnnson is committed to Ohio State. He led Glenville with 112 tackles (21 for loss, 8½ sacks) against a tough schedule that included defending D-II state champion Avon, Massillon, Olentangy Liberty, St. Edward and Archbishop Hoban. Johnson started as a sophomore middle linebacker on the 2023 state championship team and led the Tarblooders to last season's state semifinals. Grady Kinsey, Gnadenhutten Indian Valley RB/LB The 5-8, 205-pound Air Force commit is a two-time Mr. Football nominee and the state's career leader in total touchdowns (136) and rushing touchdowns (131). The senior rushed for 2,585 yards and 40 touchdowns this season en route to leading the Braves back to the D-IV state semifinals. Indian Valley won the D-IV state title last season as Kinsey finished with 3,278 yards (9th in OHSAA history) and 50 touchdowns. He has 8,489 career rushing yards (3rd in OHSAA history) on 804 carries (10.6 average). Defensively he has 345 career tackles (19 for loss) and three forced fumbles. Kinsey is a four-time All-East District selection, including a three-time first team and two-time player of the year choice. Matt Ponatoski, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller QB The 6-1, 200-pound is the reigning Mr. Football winner, two-time GCL Offensive Player of the Year and a three-time first-team All-GCL selection. Ponatoski completed 199-of-301 pass attempts for 2,402 yards and 28 touchdowns (1 int.) this season. He is committed to the University of Kentucky to play football and baseball. Ponatoski won nearly every player of the year honor in Ohio last season, including from MaxPreps and Gatorade. His career numbers read 9,946 passing yards and 115 touchdowns. Rocco Williams, Pickerington Central QB. Owner of virtually all of the tradition-rich program's game, season and career passing marks, the 6-2, 205-pound senior guided seventh-ranked Pickerington Central to an 11-2 record and a regional runner-up trophy. Williams passed for 2,426 yards with 28 touchdowns and just three interceptions while rushing for 610 yards and nine TDs. A Middle Tennessee State commit, Williams passed for 5,900 yards and 65 TDs while rushing for 650 yards and 17 TDs as a three-year starter — he made a few starts as a freshman — during which the Tigers went 28-9. He was second-team All-Ohio in 2024.