High School Football: Smith, Myers first team All-Ohio

L'Christian "Blue" Smith of Wayne and Miamisburg's Josh Myers were both selected first team All-Ohio high school football on Monday by the Associated Press. A junior receiver, Smith was named first team Division I and Myers, an offensive lineman, D-II.

A 6-foot-5, 215-pound speedster and starter since his freshman season, Smith provided a big deep-ball threat for the Warriors. He matched third-team All-Ohioan Matt Wilcox with most receptions for the Warriors: Smith had 43 catches for 736 yards (17.1 average per catch) and scored nine touchdowns. Wilcox also had 43 catches for 512 yards (11.9) and three scores.

>> RELATED: Division I, II All-Ohio list

Smith remains verbally uncommitted and also is an outstanding basketball prospect. He has football offers from Ohio State, Michigan State, and Alabama, among many others. Wayne (11-1-1) was beaten in the D-I, Region 3 final by Pickerington Central 17-14.

Myers, 6-6, 310, was a big reason why Miamisburg (10-3) won its first playoff game and advanced to a D-II, Region 8 final, losing to Cincinnati La Salle. The Lancers will seek their third straight D-II state title this weekend.

Among the nation’s most sought-after linemen, Myers was the first in the recruiting Class of 2017 to verbally commit to OSU. He’ll graduate early and enroll at the Columbus campus in January. Seniors can’t sign binding national letters of intent until Feb. 1.

Landing on second team D-I were Wayne senior center Ben Jackson and Springboro receiver Nick Kovacs and kicker Charlie Kuhbander.

>> RELATED: Trotwood could use more cowbell

On the D-II second team were receiver Meechi Harris (Xenia), offensive lineman Travis Hall (Troy), quarterback Hayden Kotwica (Troy), running back Josh Browder (Troy), defensive lineman Chris Meyers (Miamisburg) and defensive back Brandon Easterling (Fairborn).

Quarterback Will Phillis (Hilliard Bradley) was the D-I offensive player of the year and linebacker Matt Brown (Solon) the defensive player of the year. Steve Hale (Powell Olentangy Liberty) was the D-I coach of the year.

The D-II players of the year were quarterback Lynn Bowden (Warren Harding) and lineman Brian Zimmerman (Dublin Scioto). Tennyson Varney (Columbus Franklin Heights) was the D-II coach of the year.

The Divisions III and IV teams will be released today and Divisions V and VI on Wednesday. The Division VII teams and Mr. Football will be announced on Thursday. Teams were based on coaches’ nominations, voted on by district media groups and compiled by the Associated Press.

About the Author