Muskingum Valley high schools have been dialed into the offseason since spring, competing in morning workouts, 7-on-7 passing scrimmages and camps.
Now, as Gene Chandler might say, it’s time to “get down with the get down.”
The start of official practice was officially ushered in on Aug. 1, and most teams enjoyed a weekend scrimmage to get an early look at what they have to offer.
With the season set to open on Aug. 21, here is a look at the top returnees for the 2025 season. Players are listed alphabetically.
Cyran Arrington, John Glenn, LB, Jr.
A three-sport performer, Arrington is the Muskies’ top returning tackler after providing plenty of contributions on a veteran unit for coordinator Mitch Bendle in 2024.
Among his 60 tackles, three went for losses. He also broke up three passes and recovered two fumbles.
Hayden Bankes, Morgan, WR/DB, Sr.
The 5-7, 160-pound Bankes was a bright spot for a 1-9 Raiders squad, earning first-team All-East District in Division V after intercepting three passes and forcing two fumbles. He had 39 tackles.
On offense, he caught 37 passes for 442 yards with 4 TDs in nine games, which led the team.
Tanner Bankes, Morgan, RB/LB, Jr.
Also a wrestling standout, Tanner Bankes, a sturdily built runner, ran 111 times for 441 yards with 7 TDs as a sophomore, when he shared time with William Dodd in the backfield.
He also caught 14 passes and was second on the team in tackles with 55 — he also had two sacks, forced two fumbles, record an interception and registered a safety.
Kian Barton, John Glenn, OL/DL, Sr.
Barton, who doubles as a wrestling standout, was a second-team All-East District pick after recording 46 tackles — 10 for losses — on Mitch Bendle’s veteran defense in 2024.
He is one of the few starters back off a team that lost three games by six points or less in 2024.
Braxton Brownrigg, West Muskingum, QB/DB, Sr.
The small-but-mighty Brownrigg excelled as a 5-8, 145-pound cornerback as a junior, enough to earn first-team All-East District in Division V. He also caught 21 passes for 220 yards and ran for 80 yards with a 13.3-yard average.
He will move to quarterback in 2025 with All-Ohioan Jake Anton departed as the Tornadoes aim for a fourth straight playoff berth.
Owen Edwards, John Glenn, QB, Sr.
The 5-10, 160-pound Edwards, a state qualifier in wrestling, is among the few veterans remaining on a Muskie offense that figures to lean heavily on his experience in 2025.
He was 125-of-178 passing for 1,038 yards with 15 TDs as a junior, with another 263 yards on 69 carries on the ground. He accounted for 17 total TDs.
Coen Grandstaff, Rosecrans, WR/DB, Sr.
Grandstaff was a second-team All-East District performer at defensive back in Division VI after recording 37 tackles, seven for losses, with eight pass break-ups and two interceptions for a Bishops squad that finished 6-4.
On offense, he pulled in 19 passes for 312 yards with six TDs.
Champ Haley, Coshocton, RB/LB, Jr.
The younger brother of former Skins standout Korbyn Haley, Champ was a second-team All-East District selection in Division V after recording 58 tackles with three sacks and two interceptions as a sophomore. Six of his tackles went for losses.
At running back, he carried 102 times for 501 yards with four TDs and figures to be an even bigger focus of the offense in 2025 with former classmate Logan Wince now at Ridgewood.
Brayson Hill, Crooksville, QB/DB, Jr.
The 6-1, 180-pound Hill, one of the MVL’s more explosive players, enters his third year as a starter for a veteran offense coming off a 4-6 squad in 2024.
He passed for 736 yards and ran 64 times for a 9-yard average, accounting for 1,300 yards and 15 total TDs in earning honorable mention All-East District in Division V.
Creed Hill, Sheridan, OL/DL, Sr.
The third of the Hill brothers, who also were General standouts, Creed emerged as one of the MVL’s top two-way players for Coach Paul Culver III.
Now 6-3, 245 pounds, he is the top returning offensive lineman and one of the anchors for what figures to be a much-improved defense. He was special mention All-Southeast District as a junior.
Logan Hupp, Sheridan, Util/DB, Sr.
Culver called the 5-10, 170-pound Hupp, who battled a broken hand in 2024, a “dynamic playmaker on both sides of the ball.” He averaged 14.5 yards on punt returns, intercepted two passes and averaged 5.4-yards per carry in 2024.
Landon Iden, Maysville, WR/DB, Sr.
Iden totaled 255 yards receiving out of the wing-T as a junior, earning second-team All-East District in Division IV. He also serves as a key player on the Panthers’ state championship basketball team.
With quarterback Kade Rock returning, coupled with a move to the spread offense, Iden’s numbers could increase tenfold in 2025.
Silas Kuhn, West Muskingum, K, Sr.
Kuhn, a former soccer player, was 46-of-48 on extra points to MVL Kicker of the Year and second-team All-East District in Division V as a junior.
Ryan Lamonica, Tri-Valley, WR/DB, Sr.
The 6-4, 190-pound Lamonica is arguably the most explosive athlete in the MVL. He was first-team All-Ohio as a safety, recording an area-best nine interceptions. As a receiver, he was a big-play specialist with 753 yards and 10 TDs on just 27 catches — a 28-yard average.
Jack Lincicome, Philo, QB/DB, Sr.
Lincicome was a dual threat at quarterback but made a bigger impact at safety, where he recorded 60 tackles — 40 solos — with an interception. He was a second-team All-East District pick in Division IV.
Logan McClellan, Tri-Valley, OL/DL, Sr.
A state placer in wrestling at 215 pounds, the 6-0, 230-pound McClellan also was a solid two-way performer on a senior-dominated Scotties team in 2024 that finished 11-1.
He was a second-team All-East District pick in Division III on defense after recording 26 1/2 tackles, with 2 1/2 for losses. He will assume a larger role as an elder statesman in 2025.
Cooper McKenzie, West Muskingum, OL/LB, Jr.
McKenzie was a second-team All-East District performer in Division V after leading a defense that pitched five shutouts with 66 tackles, of which seven went for losses.
Maddox Mohler, Zanesville, WR/DB, Jr.
Mohler was thrust into the quarterback role as a sophomore, but he will transition to receiver as a junior as first-year coach Zach Clapper aims to rejuvenate an offense that scored only twice last season.
Mohler, who also stars in baseball, has been a quick study, as Clapper said recently that Mohler is a natural at finding passing windows.
Haiden Pauley, Morgan, QB, Sr.
Pauley’s 6-4, 190-pound frame helped him hit 95 of 180 passes for 1,089 yards with 7 TDs for a 1-9 Raiders squad that managed just 212 yards per game.
A year of experience figures to help him improve those numbers, especially with top targets Bankes and Arliss Ponchak returning after combining for 60 catches.
Ryder Pennington, John Glenn, WR/DB, Sr.
The 6-3 Pennington, the team’s top returning receiver, used his rangy frame to catch 42 passes for 408 yards with 5 TDs in 2024. He figures to be Owen Edwards’ top target on a rebuilding offense in 2025.
Hayden Perdue, Rosecrans, QB, Sr.
Perdue, a three-sport starter, was 63-of-128 passing for 987 yards and 15 TDs for the Bishops, who were 6-4 in 2024. He provides the balance to an offense that leans on the running and catching of classmate Brody Zemba in a veteran backfield.
Coen Phillips, Coshocton, WR/DB, Sr.
Phillips recorded 66 tackles as a junior while also scoring four touchdowns on offense in 2024. A second-team All-East District pick in Division V, he also returned 17 kickoffs for a 22-yard average with a pair of scores.
Vaughn Pouncy, Zanesville, RB/LB, Sr.
Pouncy was one of the bright spots for a Blue Devils squad that struggled, especially on offense, in an 0-10 season in 2024. Pouncy was a mainstay at linebacker, however, totaling 64 tackles.
He figues to be even better for first-year coach Zach Clapper in 2025.
Harrison Ratliff, New Lexington, LB, Sr.
Another standout in wrestling, Ratliff is perhaps the MVL’s most experienced defender returning with three years of varsity experience.
The 160-pounder enters his fourth on the heels of a team-high 95 tackles, of which six went for losses. He also had two sacks as the Panthers finished 11-2.
Lane Ratliff, New Lexington, QB/WR/DB, Jr.
Ratliff has long been a quarterback, but he played receiver and defensive back as a sophomore who made significant contributions on an 11-win team.
His 23 catches ranked fourth on the team; on defense he made 49 tackles and intercepted two passes.
His role on offense will be critical as the Panthers aim to replace a first-team All-Ohio quarterback in Isaiah Stephens.
Kade Rock, Maysville, QB, Sr.
The 6-4, 190-pound Rock passed for 1,123 yards with 7 TDs and ran for 284 yards and five more scores in 2024. It earned him second-team All-East District in Division IV.
With first-year coach Chase Bowman installing a spread offense in 2025, Rock’s production figures to increase.
Logan Russell, Sheridan, RB/SS, Jr.
The 6-2, 185-pound Russell, who excelled in football and basketball as a sophomore, heads the backfield after sharing time with senior Luke Link as a freshman. He carried 28 times for 215 yards (a 7.7-yard average).
On defense, he returns as a versatile perimeter player in the Generals’ 3-3-5 defense.
Witten Schaad, Morgan, OL/DL, Sr.
A first-team All-East District pick in 2024, Schaad graded out at 90 percent blocking as a junior. Now in his third year as a starter, he is one of the MVL’s most experienced linemen.
Wesley Shegog, Sheridan, TE/DL, Jr.
The rough-and-rowdy Shegog, a 6-0, 235-pounder who also wrestles, excelled as a nose guard in 2024, earning first-team All-Southeast District in Division III. He registered eight tackles-for-loss and six sacks.
Offseason knee surgery has kept him out of preseason practices, but Culver, who called Shegog “a terrific player,” hopes to have him back soon.
Carter Smith, West Muskingum, All-Purp./LB, Jr.
A true three-sport standout, the 6-3, 200-pound Smith caught 28 passes for 455 yards and ran for 135 more — for a 19-yard average. He tallied nine TDs.
He had big impact on defense, too, recording a pair of fumble returns for touchdowns to go with 64 tackles. He also returned a punt return for a touchdown.
His coach, Nathan Brownrigg, said Smith can again expect to be utilized in multiple offensive spots in an effort to maximize his talents.
Tyson Spicer, New Lexington, WR/DB, Jr.
A state placer in wrestling, Spicer was also an standout on the gridiron. He caught 18 passes for 274 yards — a 15.2-yard average — in just six games due to injury as a sophomore.
With Lane Ratliff moving back to quarterback, Spicer is now the team’s top returning receiver. He also had 21 tackles on defense at free safety.
Paul Stenson, New Lexington, DE, Sr.
Stenson was an unsung hero for the 11-2 Panthers in 2024, recording team highs of 11 tackles-for-loss and six sacks.
He and Ratliff head a veteran unit in 2025 that figures to shoulder more burden as the offense breaks in some new faces.
Eli Stephens, New Lexington, OL/DL, Jr.
The 6-5 Stephens was a two-way standout at center and nose guard, earning first-team All-Southeast District performer on offense.
Also a key starter on the school’s Division IV district champion basketball team, he leads a veteran line with four returning starters.
Camden Stoner, Philo, OL/DL, Sr.
The 6-5 Stoner was a second-team All-East District pick in Division IV after grading out at 87 percent blocking as a junior. He is one of the linchpins returning on both sides of the ball for an Electrics squad breaking in new faces in the trenches.
Lane Taylor, Tri-Valley, OL/DL, Jr.
Highly regarded by Scottie coaches since his freshman season, Taylor ranks among the best two-way linemen in the MVL after making honorable mention All-East District as a sophomore.
He and McClellan are among the few veterans on a team that replaces 20 seniors.
Jace Thompson, Crooksville, OL/DL, Sr.
The 6-3, 255-pound Thompson, a two-way starter, was the defensive linchpin with a team-high 70 tackles — more than 10 went for losses. He was also the team’s top offensive lineman for a 4-6 squad that won its first MVL game since 2020.
He was a first-team All-East District pick in Division V on defense.
Tanner Toth, New Lexington, WR/DB, Jr.
Toth was an impact player as a sophomore for coach Kevin Board, whose team won 11 games, including two in the Division IV playoffs.
His 79 tackles — four for losses — trailed only Ratliff as both were first-team All-Southeast District performers. With the team’s top four receivers needing replaced, he and Spicer figure to see increased offensive roles as well.
Tyce Whiteman, Sheridan, QB, Jr.
The 6-4, 205-pound Whiteman learned on the fly as a sophomore, with mixed results in a season the Generals were 6-4 and missed the playoffs. Whiteman was still good enough to hit 81 of 161 passes for 1,0333 with 11 TDs.
With a more experienced team around him, particularly on the perimeter, Culver said he expects him to have a breakout season.
Connor Young, Maysville, OL/DL, Sr.
The 270-pound Young was the Panthers’ top linemen as a junior, good enough to earned second-team All-East District in Division IV.
Brody Zemba, Rosecrans, RB/LB, Sr.
Zemba totaled 1,550 yards and 17 TD — he ran 148 times for 1,047 yards with 10 TDs — to lead a balanced Bishops offense in a 6-4 season. He also had a 95-yard kickoff return for a score and intercepted two passes in earning first-team All-East District in Division VI.
sblackbu@gannett.com; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Muskingum Valley top returning high school football players to check out
Reporting by Sam Blackburn, Zanesville Times Recorder / Zanesville Times Recorder
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