Six Northwest Ohio Offensive Prospects to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2026 season will give several Northwest Ohio offensive prospects an opportunity to strengthen their college evaluations. This group includes an FBS commit, proven All-Ohio performers, and younger players beginning to attract Division I attention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are six offensive players whose production, development, and recruiting progress will be worth following this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1676132' first='Jamon' last='Holmes'], RB, Whitmer, 2027</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6 feet and 210 pounds, Holmes enters his senior season committed to Western Michigan after receiving several Division I offers, including Syracuse. He rushed for 777 yards and scored 18 total touchdowns last season despite sharing carries in Whitmer's talented backfield. Holmes is a downhill runner who consistently finishes behind his pads and forces defenders to commit to tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His foot quickness allows him to adjust inside the rushing lane without sacrificing power or momentum. Holmes also shows the patience to press a block before accelerating through the opening. Continued development as a receiver and pass protector would strengthen his projection as a complete three-down college back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>X:</strong> <a href="https://x.com/JamonHolmes22">@JamonHolmes22</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='313561' first='Brady' last='Maxwell'], QB, Perrysburg, 2027</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maxwell is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound dual-threat quarterback who accounted for 2,562 total yards and 28 touchdowns last season. He passed for 1,560 yards, rushed for 1,002, and shared the NLL Buckeye Division Offensive Player of the Year award. His recruitment includes offers from Gardner-Webb, VMI, Indianapolis, and Harding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maxwell's reported 4.69 speed makes him dangerous on designed runs and when escaping pressure. He is a physical runner but also possesses the acceleration to challenge defenders on the perimeter. Improving his pocket consistency and limiting forced throws could produce another significant jump in his recruitment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>X:</strong> <a href="https://x.com/bradymaxwellqb">@bradymaxwellqb</a> | <strong>Hudl:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19482199/Brady-Maxwell/about">[player_tooltip player_id='313561' first='Brady' last='Maxwell']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hayden Groll, RB, Napoleon, 2027</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Groll is a 5-foot-11, 193-pound running back who rushed for more than 1,600 yards and scored 19 touchdowns after beginning last season in a reserve role. He was named the NLL Cardinal Division Offensive Player of the Year and earned second-team Division IV All-Ohio honors. Groll has a football offer from Wittenberg, while Central Michigan and Kent State have shown interest in wrestling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His wrestling background appears in his pad level, contact balance, and understanding of leverage. Groll displays patience behind his blockers and can use a controlled jump cut when penetration disrupts the original rushing lane. Showing more as a receiver and pass protector would help establish his value as a three-down college back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1313608' first='Connor' last='Barbara'], QB/S, Liberty-Benton, 2027</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barbara is a 6-foot, 175-pound two-way prospect who earned first-team All-Blanchard Valley Conference honors on offense and defense. He was also named a second-team Division V All-Ohio quarterback. Against Elmwood, Barbara passed for three touchdowns, rushed for two, and returned an interception for another score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barbara operates efficiently within Liberty-Benton's offense while remaining dangerous as a designed runner. His experience at safety helps him anticipate coverage rotations and understand how defenders react to a quarterback's eyes. With Liberty-Benton replacing all five starting offensive linemen, Barbara's response to pressure and stronger NLL competition will be an important part of his senior evaluation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ramon Mays Jr., RB, St. John's Jesuit, 2027</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mays is a 5-foot-11, 205-pound back who produced one of Northwest Ohio's biggest individual performances last season. He rushed for a school-record 306 yards and five touchdowns against the University of Detroit Jesuit. Mays has developed from a 165-pound receiver and defensive back into a compact, powerful running back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He retains some of the short-area movement skills he developed while playing on the perimeter. Mays can avoid direct contact before getting square and finishing runs with power. Consistent production as a runner, receiver, and pass protector could make him one of the region's biggest senior recruiting risers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1922447' first='Porter' last='Brungard'], QB, Anthony Wayne, 2028</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brungard is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior quarterback who already holds offers from Toledo and Miami University. He flashed his potential last season by throwing for a career-high 317 yards against Findlay while completing better than 88 percent of his attempts. Brungard delivers a clean football on short and intermediate concepts, but also has the confidence to attack defenses vertically.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is comfortable changing his launch point and delivering passes outside the pocket. With four starting offensive linemen returning, Brungard should have opportunities to improve his coverage recognition, pocket management, and command of the offense. His combination of early varsity production, physical development, and Division I interest gives him considerable long-term upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hudl:</strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17903907">[player_tooltip player_id='1922447' first='Porter' last='Brungard']</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->