From Ohio State to Georgia Tech to Notre Dame — the commits lighting up the 2026 Southwest Ohio preseason all-star list

The 2026 high school football season is about to kick off, and some of the best players in Ohio will be competing in the OHSAA’s Southwest district. Who will make this season’s all-district and all-state teams? We won’t know for sure until later this season. For now, we’ve gathered a group of players who could be competing for those postseason awards.Here is the 2026 Southwest District Preseason All-Star Team.OffenseQuarterbackKaden Estep, Elder, Sr.: A returning Division I first-team All-Ohio quarterback who led Elder to a GCL South title while passing for 2,430 yards and rushing for 924 yards last season.Honorable mention: Owen Scalf, Anderson, Sr.; Kye Graham, Wayne, Jr.Running backJordan Davis, Anderson, Sr.: ADivision II first-team All-Ohio selection last season, he helped lead the Raptors to the state championship game.Isaiah Garrett, Winton Woods, Sr.: He has offers from Michigan and Kentucky, and rushed for 1,832 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.Honorable mention: Drew Cripps, Archbishop Alter, Sr.; Logan Doty, Fairmont, Sr.Wide receiverJamier Averette-Brown, Wayne, Sr.: An Ohio State commit who was first-team All-Ohio last season with 1,007 yards and 10 touchdowns. Lorenzo McMullen Jr., Princeton, Jr.: A Four-star prospect now at Princeton, he was first-team All-Ohio in Division IV for Taft last season.Honorable mention: Andrew Lyman, Kings, Sr., Tysin Weaver, Anderson, Sr.; Reggie Watson, Archbishop Moeller, Sr.Tight endNoah Bilinski, Springboro, Sr.: He was an All-Ohio third-team selection in Division I last season.Honorable mention: Cordell Ball, Oak Hills, Jr.; Brodey Reisinger, Indian Lake, Sr.Offensive lineDominic Black, Tri-Village, Sr.: The four-star prospect and Kentucky commit was first-team All-Ohio last year in Division VI.Kal-El Johnson, Archbishop Moeller, Sr.: The 6-foot-8, 320-pounder is a Georgia Tech commit.Nate Marshal, Versailles, Sr.: The 6-4, 240-pounder earned first-team All-Ohio in Division V last season.Reilly Newman, Lakota West, Sr.: An Iowa commit at tackle, the 6-6, 285-pounder was second-team All-Ohio in Division I last season on the defensive line.Patrick O’Brien, Archbishop Moeller, Sr.: A Purdue commit first-team All-Ohio offensive linemen in Division I last season.Honorable mention: Drew Clark, Graham, Sr.; Cal Connors, Tippecanoe, Sr.; Hollis Hofman, Talawanda, Sr.; Marquis Myers, Springfield, Sr.KickerGabe Miyahara, Badin, Sr.: An All-Southwest District first-team selection in Division III last season, and also third-team all-state.Honorable mention: Jack Mallabar, Archbishop Moeller, Sr.DefenseDefensive lineBariyus Allen, Belmont, Sr.: A first-team All-Southwest District selection in Division II last season.Sir Michael Miller, College Prep, Sr.: A first-team All-Ohio selection in Division VII last season.Reilly Newman, Lakota West, Sr.: An Iowa commit at 6-7 and 277 pounds, he was second-team All-Ohio in Division I last season.Jameer Whyce, Trotwood-Madison, Jr.: An Ohio State commit, he earned All-Ohio honorable mention in Division II last season.Honorable mention: Ryan Kolb, Tippecanoe, Sr.; Ty Martin, Clinton-Massie, Sr.LinebackerAntwoine Higgins, Anderson, Sr.: The Kentucky commit and first-team All-Ohio selection in Division II recorded 67 tackles and three sacks during a state-finalist run last season.Jahmiere Daniels-Portis, Springfield, Sr.: A Colorado commit and second-team All-Ohio selection in Division I last season with 88 tackles and five sacks.Josiah Pouncy, North College Hill, Sr.: A Louisville commit who recorded 186 total tackles and 42 tackles for loss last season while at Taft.Judah Blair, Lakota West, Jr.: A four-star prospect who recorded 15.5 tackles for loss and three sacks last season.Honorable mention: Alex Galante, Ross, Sr.; Tyler Johnson-Huff, Wyoming, Sr.Defensive backAce Alston, Anderson, Sr.: A Notre Dame commit and first-team All-Ohio cornerback who recorded 16 pass breakups last season.Monsanna Torbert Jr., Princeton, Sr.: A Michigan commit who was a first-team All-Ohio quarterback in Division IV last season, but is expected to move to corner in college.Hezikiah Kelley, Northwest, Sr.: A Temple commit and first-team All-District safety last season in Division II.Darius Dennis, Trotwood-Madison, Sr.: A first-team All-Southwest District selection in Division II last season.Honorable mention: Jaylen Lilly, Northwest, Sr.; Ben Markarian, Harrison, Sr.PunterTeddy Peterson, Wyoming, Jr.: A first-team All-Southwest District selection in Division IV last season.Honorable mention: Brandon Heater, Benjamin Logan, Sr.; Matthew Tipps, Carroll, Sr.