With the 2012 high school football season around the corner, here are the top offensive players at each position in Ohio

QB's
Austin Appleby, 6'5" 225lbs, senior, Canton Hoover, Commitment: Purdue
Appleby gets my attention immediately because he plays under center quite a bit. He convincingly runs the offense and scans the field well, you will notice he changes plays at the line, this is confidence and makes college coaches smile. Appleby has a live arm and his drops are strong, he plants and gets rid of the ball quick. Another skill he possesses is his ball fakes, this is neglected by QB's today but buys time and frustrates defenses. A very strong arm, he uses checkdowns and his field vision make him the best of the bunch in Ohio this year. His flaw is his kerry collins hitch in his release, but his positives outweigh his negatives tremendously.





Tyler Oconnor, 6'3" 208, senior, Lima Central Catholic, commitment: Michigan State

O'Connor has a ton of experience considering he has been the starting QB since his freshman season. His mechanics are nice, elbow is always high and ball by his ear. His arm strength is above average and the fact that he won't escape the pocket unless necessary is maturity. You see, OConnor is an exceptional athlete who can run as well, he's a combine monster with speed and over a 9'0" broad jump. Watch him make plays out of the pocket and throw on the run or stop on a dime and throw a strike.


RB's

Warren Ball, 6'2" 215, senior, Desales, commitment: osu

This kid is somehow still under the radar. Let's see... speed, agility, vision, balance, do you notice a pattern here? He is the most complete back in Ohio. He can run out of an I or a single set maybe throw an offset in there. His feet never stop and he can hit you up inside or out. This kid catches the ball as well. He takes a backseat to nobody in Ohio.



William Mahone, 6'0" 210, senior, Austintown Fitch, uncommited: offers ND, Pitt, Michigan among others

I may get crap from some people saying Brionte Dunn is better, but Mahone's first step and the way he slides through holes is impressive as hell. His vision is fantastic and he can catch out of the backfield also. His speed is questionable but he still seems to run away from the opposition. One thing that will have to be seen is the way he runs out of a pro style offense, Fitch runs a spread and he excels in that offense.



Brionte Dunn, 6'1" 225, senior, Canton Glenoak, commitment: osu but is making visits elsewhere. May be a soft verbal to osu

I don't question Dunn's ability at all. He is big and strong and racked up over 2000 yds last season in a competitive conference. His speed isn't great though and his offensive line is very good , opening huge holes. Dunn seems heavy footed at times and takes forever to get to the holes. That doesn't mean he won't be a productive back but Ball and Mahone just nudge him here.



Darion Heath, 6'0" 240, senior, Trotwood Madison, commitment: uncommitted

you have to have a fullback and Heath is the one. Trying to find an old fashion blocking back who can also pick up three or four yards is hard to do nowadays. Watch arms and legs fly around when he hits people.

WR's



Dwayne Stanford, 6'4" 190, senior, Cincinnati Taft, uncommitted but has offers from Michigan to Bama and everyone in between.

You wouldn't believe it by his film but Stanford hasn't been clocked faster than a 4.6 40. Who cares, His move off the line is great, he catches every ball with his hands and runs great routes. One cornerback can't stick him especially in the red zone. His game speed is fast enough to convince these eyes and plent y of top colleges there is no better in this area.



Corey Smith, 6'1" 180, senior, Akron Buchtel, commitment: Tennessee, rumor has it he has academic problems and may be going juco.

Smith makes the field look so big with the way he creates so much seperation between him and the DB's. Watch him split the DB's in that second play. He is about as athletic at the reciever position I have seen in Ohio in years. His speed before and after he catches the ball is impressive and one step on the defender is plenty to take one to the house.




Cameron Wilson, 6'2" 210, senior, Dublin Jerome, commitment: Iowa

Very underrated player because he plays football at a lacrosse,golf school. Cameron Wilson doesn't do anything that makes me say "WOW" he just gets it done. He runs productive routes and will go across the middle for the ball also. Wilson scores TD's and burns DB's up consistently. Here is the deal, he committed to Iowa because they like blue collar players who want to make a team better. Wilson is a possession reciever who fits right in.

These are my top skill players in the state, in order and I will have more later.