Greater Cincinnati’s top prep football prospects to watch this fall

On Mar 30, 2022

With college football early signing day set for December for the class of 2023, The Cincinnati Enquirer again looks ahead at Greater Cincinnati recruits who could sign to play for Division I colleges by 2023 and others on the radar of major programs.

The compilation of juniors and sophomores is based on rankings from recruiting sites 247Sports.com and Rivals, as well as reported offers. The Enquirer will regularly update these rankings which can fluctuate as the season nears based on offers, performances at camps as well as overall improvement from one season to the next.

A rise or a drop in the rankings doesn’t necessarily indicate future success, particularly with a season ahead that has yet to be played.

For a third consecutive year, the top-rated local player is from the Greater Miami Conference. In 2021, Jyaire Brown of Lakota West (now at Ohio State) held the honor. The top-ranked local in 2020 was Paris Johnson Jr. of Princeton, also at Ohio State. Thus far, current Lakota West junior Malik Hartford tops the list.

1. Malik Hartford, athlete, Lakota West

Hartford is a 6-foot-3 inch, 180-pound junior who had 58 tackles for the Firebirds, a sack and two interceptions, including a pick-six. Hartford is considered a four-star recruit, No. 4 in Ohio and No. 19 nationally at his position. Hartford recently released his top seven schools of interest: Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Kentucky and West Virginia.

2. Elias Rudolph, defensive line, Taft

The No. 4 prospect is just a sophomore who is seeing an upswing in his recruiting. The 6-foot-4 inch, 220-pound edge rusher has offers from Tennessee, Pitt, Boston College, Clemson, Ohio State, Bowling Green, Akron, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Arkansas and Toledo. He had 107 tackles, 12 sacks and two fumble recoveries for Taft last fall and added five catches for 95 yards as a receiver.

3. Austin Siereveld, offensive line, Lakota East

Siereveld is a highly-touted 6-foot-5 inch, 315-pound offensive lineman. The massive Thunderhawk recently released his top six schools: Iowa, Michigan, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Alabama and Ohio State. Siereveld is a four-star recruit considered the No. 7 prospect in Ohio.

4. Braedyn Moore, athlete, Badin

The 6-foot-2 inch, 180-pound wide receiver led the Rams to the state title game and caught 61 passes for 655 yards with four touchdowns. As a defensive back, he had 54 tackles and seven interceptions along with a punt return for a touchdown. Cincinnati, West Virginia, Kent State, Central Michigan, Minnesota. Connecticut, Miami University, Akron, Pitt, Boston College, Duke, Eastern Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Eastern Michigan, Rutgers and Toledo have offered. Moore also recently visited Tennessee.

5. T.J. Engleman, athlete, Princeton

Another sophomore appears at No. 5 after taking the Greater Miami Conference by storm filling in for injured Princeton starter Mekhi Lynn at quarterback. The 5-foot-8 inch, 170-pound Engleman threw for 1,207 yards and 16 touchdowns, starting eight of 13 games behind center. He also ran for 960 yards and 13 scores. He has offers from Akron, Buffalo, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Miami University and Toledo and has seen interest from Cincinnati, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Ohio State.

6. Jordan Jackson, athlete, Fairfield

At 5-foot-11 inches and 175 pounds, Jackson ran for 973 yards and six touchdowns at running back. He has offers from Maryland, West Virginia, Connecticut, Minnesota, Akron, Toledo, Bowling Green, Kent State, Central Michigan, Miami University, Massachusetts, Ohio University, Buffalo and Western Michigan.

7. Jermaine Mathews Jr., cornerback, Winton Woods

The 6-foot, 175-pound Mathews had 44 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five interceptions for the Division II champion Warriors. He also returned two punts for touchdowns. Offers for Mathews include Cincinnati, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Iowa State, Miami University, West Virginia, Akron, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Connecticut, Marshall, Toledo, Washington, Ohio University, Liberty, Maryland, Howard, Rutgers and Vanderbilt. He recently visited Tennessee.

8. Cameron Calhoun, cornerback, Winton Woods

At 6-foot-2 inches and 175 pounds, Calhoun led the Eastern Cincinnati Conference with nine interceptions and had 61 tackles. Calhoun committed to West Virginia March 30.

9. Josiah Jackson, cornerback, Fairfield

The 6-foot-1 inch, 175-pound Jackson had 48 tackles, a fumble recovery and two interceptions for the Indians as a junior and has started for two seasons. Jackson recently committed to the West Virginia Mountaineers.

10. Joshua Fussell, cornerback, Lakota West

The 6-foot, 180-pound corner had 41 tackles and led the GMC in interceptions with six. He has offers from Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Miami University, Kent State, Indiana, Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Pitt, Akron, Nevada, Minnesota, Bowling Green, Northwestern, Duke and Toledo.

11. Breeon Ishmail, wide receiver, Hamilton

Hamilton has a top prospect for the third straight year following in the footsteps of Malik Verdon who went to Iowa State and Kaleb Johnson who recently signed with Iowa. Ishmail is a 6-foot-5 inch, 200-pound target who had 16 catches for 290 yards and two touchdowns in eight games for the Big Blue along with 38 tackles and a sack as a linebacker. The three-star has been offered by Iowa State, Tennessee, Purdue, Louisville, Kentucky and West Virginia.

12. Tennel Bryant, receiver, Moeller

The 5-foot-7 inch, 140-pound speedster had 71 catches for the Crusaders for 896 yards and 15 touchdowns, plus 126 rushing yards and a score. Bryant has offers from Toledo, Austin Peay, Central Michigan Army, Navy, Air Force and Massachusetts with interest from Ohio University, Miami University and Cincinnati.

13. Isaiah Birl, athlete, Walnut Hills

Birl is a 6-foot-1 inch, 190-pound prospect who was a running back and defensive back for the Eagles. He gained 390 yards for three touchdowns on the ground and had 11 receptions for 112 yards and another touchdown. He had 55 tackles, two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions. His offers include Air Force, Army, Navy, Akron, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Miami University, Toledo and Western Michigan.

14. Ben Minich, athlete, Lakota West

The 6-foot-1 inch, 175-pound Minich had 49 tackles and a pick-six for the Firebirds on defense and caught 16 passes for four touchdowns as a receiver. He was also the Lakota West punter placing eight kicks inside the 20-yard line. His initial offers are from Harvard, Yale, Toledo, Iowa State, Kent State, Army, Vanderbilt, Charlotte, Princeton and Miami University.

15. Mysta Moore, offensive tackle, Taft

Moore is a 6-foot-4-inch blocker for the Senators with offers from Massachusetts, James Madison, Central State, Akron, Buffalo and Toledo. He has also visited Ohio State and Cincinnati. Moore plays both sides of the ball for the Senators.

16. Caleb Clark-Glover, cornerback, Princeton

The 5-foot-11 inch, 170-pound cornerback had 38 tackles, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions for the Vikings. He also averaged 23.7 yards on kickoff returns and 14.5 on punt returns. Clark-Glover has been offered by Navy, Army, Air Force, Bowling Green, Miami University, Tennessee State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Yale, Marshall, Tennessee State, Akron and Toledo. He has recently visited Michigan.

17. C.J. Hester, running back, Wyoming

A 5-foot-11 inch, 180-pound junior back, Hester was the Ohio Division IV Offensive Player of the Year after running for 2,484 yards and 35 touchdowns. He also had 18 catches for four touchdowns, plus 32 tackles and an interception at safety. Hester recently committed to Western Michigan.

18. Joey Wassler, tight end, St. Xavier

Wassler is a 6-foot-5 inch, 225-pound tight end who bided his time behind Purdue signee Max Klate last season. He had nine catches for 94 yards and a touchdown as a junior. Wassler’s offers are Appalachian State, Army, Navy, Illinois State, Kent State, Western Michigan and Yale.

19. Jaleel Engleman, receiver/kick returner, Princeton

The 5-foot-10 inch, 185-pound Engleman had 48 catches for 647 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged 33.1 yards per kickoff return and rettook two to the house. He has offers from Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Miami University and Akron. He is scheduled to visit Tennessee.

20. Gabe Verdon, edge rusher, Hamilton

At 6-2 and 220 pounds, he played quarterback and linebacker for the Big Blue. Purdue made an offer to Verdon, brother of Iowa State’s Malik Verdon. The Cyclones have also expressed interest and he has visited the Cincinnati Bearcats.