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Breakout Seasons Coming in Northeast Ohio

Breakout Seasons Coming in Northeast Ohio
Photo: Karsen Fisher Karsen Fisher
Bryan Ault
Bryan Ault March 8, 2025 @ 09:09 AM
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In this article:

Lance Dawson
Lance Dawson 6'5" | 250 lbs | DL | 2026
OH
Karsen Fisher
Karsen Fisher 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL/TE | 2027
OH
Trent Merrell
Trent Merrell 6'3" | 225 lbs | DL/EDGE | 2026
OH
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northeast Ohio features plenty of defensive prospects who are looking to make a name for themselves this fall. Here are five under-the-radar contributors looking for breakout senior seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1620634"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cc5dab372bb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Big, well-put-together prospect. Originally a linebacker, also aligns at tight end. Really like him and his character. Have seen him in-person numerous times. Stout run defender with good pursuit and chase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1703200' first='Lance' last='Dawson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"240","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Avon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cc5dab373f7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Very good and underrated EDGE/DE with prototypcial size and length. Great size-speed combination makes him a very good pass rusher who takes good angles to ballcarriers. Physically strong athlete with good upper and lower body thickness. High upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brian Strippy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"180","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Ridgeville","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cc5dab374fc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Under-the-radar recruit. Quickly breaks on the ball, sticks his foot in the ground, plants and drives to the ball. Good timing with his hands to break up passes. Also quickly gets downfield on special teams on kickoff coverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1167838' first='Trent' last='Merrell']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"230","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Elyria Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cc5dab37623"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Good pass rusher with a high motor. Has good get-off and first step quickness, very good run defender who can quickly get around guards and centers and penetrate backfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brayden Homoki","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"220","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Midview","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cc5dab37722"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Homoki, a team captain, has natural instincts and is constantly around the ball: he had 152 total tackles last season. He plays much bigger than his 6-foot size would indicate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->

Northeast Ohio features plenty of defensive prospects who are looking to make a name for themselves this fall. Here are five under-the-radar contributors looking for breakout senior seasons.

Karsen Fisher

Karsen Fisher

OH
DL/TE
HEIGHT 6'3"
WEIGHT 230
POS DL/TE
CLASS 2027
View Player
​
Karsen
Fisher DL/TE
Class
2027
Height
6'3"
Weight
230
HS
Nordonia
|
OH
Breakout Seasons Coming in Northeast Ohio
Big, well-put-together prospect. Originally a linebacker, also aligns at tight end. Really like him and his character. Have...
Written by Bryan Ault
Read more at PrepRedzone.com
Prep Redzone

Karsen Fisher

State: Ohio
School: Nordonia
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

<span class="pn-tooltip pn-player-link">
        <span class="name-pointer">Breakout Seasons Coming in Northeast Ohio</span>
        <span class="info-box not-prose" style="background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(193,25,32, 0.95) 0%,rgba(193,25,32, 1) 100%)">
            <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/breakout-senior-seasons-coming-in-northeast-ohio/" class="link-wrap">
                                    <span class="player-img"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/GXdAELPWYAAFtt1-crop-455x299-1741446538.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Breakout Seasons Coming in Northeast Ohio"></span>
                
                <span class="player-details">
                    <span class="first-name">Breakout</span>
                    <span class="last-name">Seasons Coming in Northeast Ohio</span>
                    <span class="measurables">
                                            </span>
                                    </span>
                <span class="player-rank">
                                                        </span>
                                    <span class="state-abbr"></span>
                            </a>

            
        </span>
    </span>

Lance Dawson Lance Dawson 6'5" | 250 lbs | DL Avon | 2026 State OH

HEIGHT 6'5"
WEIGHT 240
POS OL
CLASS 2026

Lance Dawson Lance Dawson 6'5" | 250 lbs | DL Avon | 2026 State OH

School: Avon
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Brian Strippy

Brian Strippy

HEIGHT 5'11"
WEIGHT 180
POS DB
CLASS 2026

Brian Strippy

School: North Ridgeville
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
<span class="pn-tooltip pn-player-link">
        <span class="name-pointer">Breakout Seasons Coming in Northeast Ohio</span>
        <span class="info-box not-prose" style="background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(193,25,32, 0.95) 0%,rgba(193,25,32, 1) 100%)">
            <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/breakout-senior-seasons-coming-in-northeast-ohio/" class="link-wrap">
                                    <span class="player-img"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/GXdAELPWYAAFtt1-crop-455x299-1741446538.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Breakout Seasons Coming in Northeast Ohio"></span>
                
                <span class="player-details">
                    <span class="first-name">Breakout</span>
                    <span class="last-name">Seasons Coming in Northeast Ohio</span>
                    <span class="measurables">
                                            </span>
                                    </span>
                <span class="player-rank">
                                                        </span>
                                    <span class="state-abbr"></span>
                            </a>

            
        </span>
    </span>

Trent Merrell Trent Merrell Trent Merrell 6'3" | 225 lbs | DL/EDGE Elyria Catholic | 2026 State OH

HEIGHT 6'3"
WEIGHT 230
POS DL
CLASS 2026

Trent Merrell Trent Merrell Trent Merrell 6'3" | 225 lbs | DL/EDGE Elyria Catholic | 2026 State OH

School: Elyria Catholic
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Brayden Homoki

Brayden Homoki

HEIGHT 6'0"
WEIGHT 220
POS LB
CLASS 2026

Brayden Homoki

School: Midview
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
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