Southwest Ohio Additions To Our First 2026 rankings

Earlier this week we put out the first edition of our 2026 rankings. There is much work to be done in the future and many players will be added be it to the watch list or to the rankings, but as they say, you have to start somewhere. This 2026 class is very talented and the I think that talent is really going to start to take the stage this summer at college camps, and this fall on varsity high school football fields. Here are five southwest Ohio players who made our first edition of the 2026 rankings.   WR [player_tooltip player_id='284103' first='Chris' last='Henry Jr'] (Withrow) 6'4 180- Henry's talent has been undeniable for a while now. I first saw him at the Under Armour Next showcase last year before he'd step on a high school football field. It was evident then. Last summer Ohio State wide receiver coach and now offensive coordinator, Brian Hartline, saw it and offered him on the spot. The Withrow Sophomore-to-be has the length and athleticism to be special. I was able to get a chance to see him at the Fairfield 7v7 this week and he didn't disappoint there either. Chris has the footwork and acceleration to get free releases. He sees a lot of soft coverage in respect of his ability to stretch the field so you see his ability to break off routes to gain easy yards. He's fluid in his route running and where he sets up his breaks with good tempo and is explosive out of his breaks. With the ball in the air he's a hands catcher who catches the ball away from the body. For a relatively young receiver he has an extensive route tree. When he gets the ball he runs with good vision and has the lateral movement to make guys miss. Henry played his freshman year at West Clermont but is now enrolled at Withrow where he'll take the field for the Tigers this fall. The future is bright for Henry! <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisHenryJr">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17523128/638faae5f31ce506dcd30f4d">Hudl</a>   LB [player_tooltip player_id='573453' first='Cam' last='Thomas'] (Lakota West) 6'2 200- Cam is a young man who came north from Kentucky to play his high school football at Lakota West High School and their powerhouse football program. Thomas played a lot of junior varsity ball, but the reality is he would of gotten a lot of playing time if not started at many schools around the state. Thomas lines up at outside linebacker for the Firebirds. His explosiveness and athleticism shine in space. When out on the edge he has the explosiveness to get in the backfield in a hurry and wreak havoc. He has the lateral quickness and hips to mirror if the play goes outside while keeping strong gap integrity. He's comfortable in coverage as he reads the qb and takes strong angles to the ball. He can set the edge when needed and as he continues to add weight and strength, he should be able to win with power as well as his athleticism. Cam is a very driven young man who is always working, I think this camp season and fall are going to be a big one! <a href="https://twitter.com/CamThomas2026_3">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17713779/637c08fb32e740069c65c81c">Hudl</a>   DB [player_tooltip player_id='619839' first='Jaycee' last='Houston'] (Gamble Montessori) 6'3 175- Houston had an impressive varsity season as a freshman for the Gators. He totaled 8 interceptions on the year from the safety position. At 6'3 he has tremendous length for the position. He's very comfortable in centerfield and can cover a lot of ground and does a great job of high pointing the ball. He also has an explosive break that he can use to undercut routes. While he's very comfortable and capable of playing the safety position. His length and athleticism would highly play to the premium position of cornerback. I definitely think he should be working on man to man cover technique at the cornerback position, because that's the position that will maximize his value at the next level. I think Jaycee has a big opportunity to burst onto the recruiting this quickly approaching camp season. <a href="https://twitter.com/backrardJay3">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18072361/63558c000dcaf80bf09f35af">Hudl</a>   DL [player_tooltip player_id='402336' first='Jamarcus' last='Whyce'] (Trotwood Madison) 6'3 250- Whyce is a fun watch on film. He plays defensive tackle for the Rams. He's stout and the point of attack and plays with heavy hands. When he rolls his hips and punches offensive lineman, they typically go backwards. He also has the quickness to get into gaps and get penetration. Whyce keeps his head up as he works through blocks to see where the play is going and he shows good speed and athleticism in pursuit of the ball. He does most of his damage with his natural abilities. If Jamarcus can add more pass rush technique to his game, he's going to be a load to handle for opposing offenses. <a href="https://twitter.com/jamarcuswhyce_">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17852518/638e06660dc9ef0d241923c8">Hudl</a>   ATH [player_tooltip player_id='402342' first='Jordan' last='Vann'] (Bishop Fenwick) 6'1 180- Vann is the definition of the "athlete" position. He can line up at any number of positions and be a playmaker. When you watch his film you will see him lineup at running back, receiver, and cornerback. He has the talent to make high level plays at each position. At this point I think he has the highest ceiling and most value at the cornerback position. He has loose hips and a strong back pedal that he uses to gain good depth quickly. He has the speed to cover vertical routes and has a great break on the ball on underneath routes. He already has a great frame and has the strength to play press man. At receiver he runs good routes and has the speed to create separation. When he gets in the ball in his hands as a runner, he runs with good pad level and vision. He's able to make really strong cuts that make defenders miss and then will turn on the speed to take it to the house. As I said, I think he has a chance to be a special cornerback and in today's pass heavy game cornerback is an extremely valuable position I could easily see him start to pull P5 offers this summer and fall. <a href="https://twitter.com/Jordan_Vann_">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17683853/639b94bbda50d904d0e56a20">Hudl</a>

Earlier this week we put out the first edition of our 2026 rankings. There is much work to be done in the future and many players will be added be it to the watch list or to the rankings, but as they say, you have to start somewhere. This 2026 class is very talented and the I think that talent is really going to start to take the stage this summer at college camps, and this fall on varsity high school football fields. Here are five southwest Ohio players who made our first edition of the 2026 rankings.