Stat Monsters: Breaking Down The Top Returning Passing Leaders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Football season in Ohio kicks off this week, and we take a look today at the top players in total yards passing from last season in Ohio as we head into the 2026 season. These four players are must-know names as they enter the fall season, and big things are expected of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1793849"],"_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-6a830e76ea406"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We saw [player_tooltip player_id='1793849' first='Owen' last='Scalf'] in-person two weeks ago during Anderson's four-way scrimmage. Scalf is very good, with a strong arm, good accuracy on the deep ball. He is very accurate over the middle of the field, displays dual-threat ability to be a home-run threat with his legs, and put up huge yardage numbers in 2025: a whopping 5,630 yards from scrimmage, including 4,960 and 54 touchdowns through the air, registering No. 2 overall. Expect him to increase that production and be the Buckeye State's top passer in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2206511"],"_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-6a830e76ea46a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2206511' first='AJ' last='Pearson'] is an outstanding two-way prospect. He is also a linebacker on defense, where he flashes being a great open-field tackler and takes great angles to the ball. However, his real impact comes on offense, where he flashes a cannon for an arm. Pearson can hit recievers in stride on deep fades, throwing with great accuracy and velocity. Really like his ability to throw on the move. He finished inside the top 10 in passing yards last season, with 3,080 yards and 29 touchdowns. He is also the top returning passer in the Class of 2028, and a huge name we'll be monitoring this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1971015"],"_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-6a830e76ea4a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1971015' first='Steven' last='Fakult'] has a big opportunity heading into his senior year at Nordonia. The 6-foot-2.5, 200-pound passer is a very mobile quarterback with a quick release, good trigger and throws a great deep ball. Fakult throws a nice touch pass over the MOF. He earned seocnd-team All State honors, is a high acadmeic prospect, and finished last season with 3,072 yards passing and 27 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2336874"],"_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-6a830e76ea4da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2336874' first='Luke' last='Long'] can rifle the ball over the middle of the field. He displays good timing, rhythm and touch on the deep ball, and throws with great velocity and accuracy to his receivers who are able to get open over the middle. Long, like Scalf, is a proven dual-threat, adding 540 yards on the ground. He finished last season with 3,117 yards passing and 35 touchdowns, with just five interceptions for North Baltimore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->