As we prepare for the start of the 2026 Ohio high school football season, we’re breaking down the top players by position. Throughout the preseason, we’re ranking Greater Canton’s top 10 quarterbacks, running backs, receivers/tight ends, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, specialists and two-way players.
Today, we look at the top 10 defensive linemen, starting with Massillon defensive lineman Brydon Feister.
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1, Brydon Feister
Massillon, Class of 2028
Excellence runs in the Feister family. Brydon Feister also makes the jump to Massillon and will be another incredible playmaker for the Tigers. He will shift to the defensive line after playing linebacker for Hoban last season. Brydon Feister had 102 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 20 sacks and one interception last year. He has 15 Division I college offers, including from Michigan, Florida State, Kentucky, Indiana and Arizona State.
2, Reese Myers
Jackson, Class of 2027
Myers is one of the most versatile edge rushers in the area. He will often shift between being a down lineman with his hand in the dirt to a linebacker stance. Myers was an All-Ohio first-team selection last year and was on the All-Northeast Inland District first team. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Myers has an offer from Gannon University.
3, Aaron Mitchell
Lake, Class of 2027
Mitchell is another of the elite edge rushers in the Federal League. Mitchell recorded 63 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss with five sacks last year. He was named to the All-Northeast Inland District first team and was a Repository All-Stark County honorable mention last year.
4, Joe Karder
Massillon, Class of 2027
Karder is the lone returning starter along the defensive line for the Tigers. He should be a key factor in the Massillon pass rush. The 6-4, 240-pound Karder has a college offer from Youngstown State University. Karder had 18 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a recovered fumble in 2025.
5, Aden Norris
Louisville, Class of 2027
Norris is one of the premier offensive linemen in the area but he also makes a major impact on the defensive side of the ball. Norris is a near immovable object no matter where he lines up at 6-8 and 315 pounds. The University of Connecticut recruit also has deceptive speed and athleticism. He returned an interception for a touchdown last year.
6, Owen Williams
Hoover, Class of 2027
Williams is a tough matchup for any tackle as an defensive end. He had seven sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season. Expect the 6-3, 210-pound Williams to make life difficult for opposing offenses in the Federal League.
7, Franklin Gallagher
East Canton, Class of 2027
Small school. Meteor-sized impact. Gallagher broke out and was named All-Ohio first team, All-Northeast Inland District first team and All-Inter-Valley Conference first team in 2025. Gallagher racked up 77 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and four sacks on the way to helping the Hornets to a playoff victory last season.
8, Dominick Walker
Perry, Class of 2027
Walker is a force to be reckoned with in the middle or at the edge for the Perry defense. The 6-3, 271-pound Walker has Division II college offers from Ohio Dominican and Indiana Wesleyan. He earned All-Federal League first-team honors and was a Repository All-Stark County honorable mention last season.
9, Blaze Johnson
Manchester, Class of 2027
Johnson excels at causing havoc on the interior of the defensive line for Manchester. The run stuffer had 30 tackles and three sacks last year. The 6-2, 255-pound Johnson was named to the All-Northeast Inland District first team and was named to the PAC-7 first team for the second consecutive season last year.
10, Jayden Lott
Alliance, Class of 2027
Lott has a talent for clogging up the middle and occupying linemen for Alliance. He had 29 tackles and five tackles for loss last season. His impact can be hard to quantify on a stat sheet, but Lott will be a force in the Eastern Buckeye Conference.
Reach Cliff at cliff.hickman@cantonrep.com
On X: @chickmanREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio high school football’s Top 10 Stark County defensive linemen to watch
Reporting by Cliff Hickman, Canton Repository / The Repository
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By Cliff Hickman, Canton Repository | USA TODAY Network
