As college prospect camps open around the country, recruiting hits its stride in football.
There is an embarrassment of riches in Greater Akron/Canton football with almost 50 athletes holding Division I scholarship offers.
The USA Today Network breaks down our top 25 area recruits, as of June 13:
1. Elbert Hill, Hoban
Class of 2026
Cornerback, 5-10, 170
Previous ranking: 1
Hill has offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Duke, Michigan, USC, Kentucky, Wisconsin, UCLA, Penn State, Oregon, Miami, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Colorado, Tennessee, Purdue, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Boise State, West Virginia, Missouri, Toledo, Central Michigan, San Jose State, San Diego State, Akron, Temple and UNLV. He is a four-star standout and is the top-ranked cornerback in the country in the 2026 class according to On3.com. He’s ranked 13th nationally regardless of position.
2. Sam Greer, Hoban
Class of 2026
Offensive tackle, 6-8, 290
Previous ranking: 4
Greer is a four-star standout and has offers from Ohio State, Florida, Purdue, Michigan, Penn State, Indiana, Tennessee, Miami, Missouri, West Virginia, Louisville, Boston College, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), Duke and Oregon. He is ranked seventh in the state in the class of 2026 and is the 11th-best tackle in the nation according to On3.com.
3. Nolan Davenport, Massillon
Class of 2025
Offensive tackle, 6-6, 275
Previous ranking: 2
Wisconsin landed Stark County’s biggest recruit last week, with Davenport committing to the Badgers. In his first year playing left tackle, Davenport, a four-star recruit according to On3.com, helped the Division II state champions average 239.8 rushing yards and run for 53 touchdowns. He was named second-team All-Ohio. Wisconsin was one of Davenport’s more than 30 offers, which also included Arkansas, Ole Miss and Northwestern in recent months.
4. Dante McClellan, Canton McKinley
Class of 2025
Linebacker, 6-3, 215
Previous ranking: 3
McClellan is a four-star recruit and a 2023 second team All-Ohioan. He committed to Missouri on April 22 out of a top five that included Michigan State, Kentucky, Tennessee and Louisville and 22 Division I offers overall. The versatile talent made 79 tackles — 61 solo and 13 for loss — as a linebacker while also catching 32 passes for 518 yards and two TDs as a wide receiver.
5. Eli Lee, Hoban
Class of 2025
Linebacker, 6-3, 230
Previous ranking: 6
Lee is a three-star athlete committed to Ohio State. He also has offers from Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Kentucky, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Akron, Toledo and Central Michigan. He is ranked 25th in Ohio in the class of 2025 and is the 63rd-best linebacker in the nation according to On3.com. Lee is coming off his official visit to Ohio State.
6. Ziaire Stevens, East
Class of 2025
Running back, 5-10, 170
Previous ranking: 5
Stevens is a three-star athlete and is committed to Purdue. He also has offers from Akron, Ball State, Boston College, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, UMass, Pittsburgh, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), Central Michigan, Temple, Connecticut, Marshall and St. Francis. He is ranked 21st in Ohio and is the 46th-best running back in the nation according to On3.com.
7. Terrell Wharton Jr., East
Class of 2026
Cornerback, 6-1, 155
Previous ranking: 8
Wharton is a three-star standout who holds offers from Penn State, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Purdue, Central Michigan, Kentucky, Kent State, Akron and Toledo. He is ranked 17th in Ohio in the Class of 2026 and is the 40th-best cornerback nationally according to On3.com.
8. Payton Cook, Hoban
Class of 2026
Wide receiver, 6-1, 185
Previous ranking: 7
Cook is a four-star recruit and holds offers from Michigan, Miami, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Kentucky, Purdue, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Toledo and Boston College. Ohio State, Penn State and West Virginia have shown interested. He is ranked 15th in Ohio in the Class of 2026 and is the 48th-best wide receiver nationally according to On3.com.
9. Jonathan Stangl, Canton Central Catholic
Class of 2025
Offensive lineman, 6-8, 310
Previous rank: 9
Stangl has been on the rise on the recruiting trail because of his size and impressive footwork (he also plays basketball for Central). The second-team All-Ohioan committed to Miami (Ohio) in March, and also received offers ranging from West Virginia to Western Michigan.
10. Milan Parris, Walsh Jesuit
Class of 2026
Wide receiver, 6-4, 185
Previous ranking: 10
Parris is a three-star standout and has offers from Michigan, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Purdue, USF, Ohio, Massachusetts, Central Michigan and Marshall. He is ranked 17th in Ohio in the class of 2026 and is the 67th-best receiver nationally according to On3.com.
11. Dior Garner, Canton McKinley
Class of 2025
Defensive lineman, 6-4, 285
Previous rank: 11
Garner, an impact two-way lineman being recruited on the defensive side of the ball, added Marshall, James Madison and East Carolina recently to his total of 18 FBS and FCS offers. He will visit NC State later this month and has schools such as Michigan State and California interested. He plans to commit on July 1.
12. Brayton Feister, Hoban
Class of 2027
Athlete, 6-3, 215
Previous ranking: 18
Feister has offers from Akron, Kent State, Kentucky, Miami (Ohio) and Wisconsin. He has interest from Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame and Tennessee. He’s was on campus with the the Volunteers on Wednesday.
13. Charlie Christopher, Lake
Class of 2025
Linebacker, 6-1, 220
Previous rank: 14
A tackling machine with more than 100 stops each of the last two seasons, Christopher committed to Ohio University last month. The second team All-Ohioan held offers from MAC schools, the Ivy League and the military academies.
14. Nino Hill, Canton McKinley
Class of 2025
Running back, 6-0, 200
Previous rank: 13
Hill holds 11 Division I offers, most recently from East Carolina. He also has multiple Big Ten programs interested, including Ohio State extending a preferred walk-on offer last week. He rushed for 1,067 yards and 16 TDs as a sophomore and 928 yards and 12 TDs as a junior. McKinley also has GlenOak transfer Jamal Johnson as a candidate to get carries.
15. Lucas Tielsch, Copley
Class of 2026
Offensive lineman/defensive lineman, 6-7, 294
Previous rankings: Not ranked
Tielsch is a three-star recruit and is the fastest riser in the rankings. He has offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Buffalo, Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Ball State, Akron, Kent State, Miami (Ohio) and Toledo. He is ranked 23rd in Ohio in the class of 2026 and is the 34th-best offensive tackle nationally according to 247Sports.com.
16. Tayte Crable, Hoban
Class of 2025
Wide receiver, 6-4, 200
Previous ranking: 16
Crable is a three-star standout with offers from Bowling Green, Toledo, Kent State, Temple, Miami (Ohio), Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Marshall, Navy, Army and Youngstown State. He is ranked 88th in Ohio in the class of 2025 and is the 92nd-best wide receiver nationally according to 247Sports.com.
17. Vito McConnell, Massillon
Class of 2025
Linebacker, 6-4, 215
Previous rank: 16
McConnell had a productive junior season as a first-year starter, picking off three passes, making 36 tackles and helping Massillon to the Division II state championship. Since then, he’s received eight offers and committed to Miami (Ohio) in March.
18. Tyler Hackenbracht, Massillon
Class of 2025
Safety, 6-2, 206
Previous rank: 17
Hackenbracht was an important piece on an absolutely dominating Massillon defense that spearheaded the Tigers’ run to a Division II state championship. He made 54 tackles and picked off three passes as a junior. He’s received six Division I offers, committing to Toledo.
19. Tylan Boykin, Hoban
Class of 2025
Cornerback, 6-1, 175
Previous ranking: 15
Boykin is a three-star standout and has offers from Bowling Green, Toledo, Kent State, Temple, Eastern Kentucky, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Youngstown State and Hampton. He is ranked 80th in Ohio in the class of 2025 and is the 138th-best cornerback nationally according to 247Sports.com. Boykin will return to the secondary this season with the Knights.
20. Tanner Mintz, Hoban
Class of 2025
Safety, 6-1, 210
Previous ranking: 19
Mintz enjoyed a great spring and has incredible versatility. He has offers from Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Kent State, Ohio, Stonybrook, Robert Morris and Grand Valley State.
21. James Brewer, Walsh Jesuit
Class of 2026
Athlete, 6-2, 170
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Brewer is a three-sport standout and has offers from Buffalo, Kent State, Central Michigan, Massachusetts, Miami (Ohio), Ohio and Akron. He is ranked 22nd in the class of 2026 in Ohio and is the 41st-best athlete nationally, according to 247Sports.com.
22. Jake Clapper, Hudson
Class of 2025
Offensive lineman/defensive lineman, 6-3, 230
Previously ranked: 22
Clapper has had a very good spring. The two-way star has solid interest at the Division I level as an edge rusher defensively and interior lineman on offense. He has offers from Miami (Ohio), Cornell, Kent State, Army, Navy and Air Force.
23. Jacques Carter, Massillon
Class of 2025
Wide receiver, 5-11, 165
Previous ranking: 22
The speedy wide receiver emerged as a weapon for the state champion Tigers, totaling 41 receptions for 796 yards and seven TDs as a junior. Carter holds offers from Miami (Ohio), Temple, Bowling Green, Ohio and Eastern Kentucky.
24. K’Vuone McNeal, Canton McKinley
Class of 2025
Edge rusher, 6-3, 225
Previous ranking: 23
McNeal holds offers from Kent State, Buffalo, Marshall and Bowling Green (where his brother Cynceir is a wide receiver). His breakout junior season included 11 sacks and 15 tackles for loss.
25. Keith Quincy, Canton McKinley
Class of 2025
Athlete, 6-2, 185 pounds
Previous ranking: 24
Quincy rarely left the field for McKinley last season, leading the team in receiving (51 receptions, 970 yards, eight TDs) and interceptions (six) while also handling the punting duties. A second-team All-Ohioan, Quincy holds offers from Akron and Temple.
Also considered: Ameer Yasin, Tallmadge, OL, 6-6, 295, sr.; Grant Blascak, Walsh Jesuit, S, 6-3, 225, jr.; Braylon Bush, East, WR/FS, 6-2, 142, jr.; Caden Carter, Walsh Jesuit, LB, 6-2, 210, jr.; Chris Crook, Hoban, CB, 6-0, 160, jr.; Colton Crosley, Walsh Jesuit, OL, 6-3, 275, jr.; Jaiden Daniels, Hoban, CB, 5-11, 145, jr.; Brydon Feister, Hoban, LB, 6-3, 210, fr.; Jameir Gamble, Massillon, RB, 5-10, 185, sr.; Logan Hayes, McKinley, OL, 6-5, 270, jr.; Aiden Henry, Walsh Jesuit, WR/CB, 5-9, 170, jr.; Armani Holloway, East, DE, 6-2, 195, sr.; John Johnson, Hoban, WR, 6-3, 180, so.; Mylen Lenix, Massillon, RB, 5-11, 210, sr.; Jaezen Lewis, Alliance, OL, 6-6, 370, sr.; Ryan Lippe, Lake, DE, 6-4, 240, sr.; Gabriel Mansel, Copley, QB, 6-1, 190, sr.; Kam Montgomery, McKinley, QB, 6-4, 210, sr.; Braylin Parker, Hoban, OL/DL, 6-3, 300, jr.; DeCarlo Prince, St. Vincent-St. Mary, WR/S, 6-4, 185, jr.; Darshawn Spragling, East, OT, 6-5, 375, jr.; Michael Wright Jr., Massillon, DT, 5-11, 285, sr.
Contact Brad at bbournival@gannett.com and Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com