As we prepare for the start of the 2024 Ohio high school football season, we analyze the best players by position. During the preseason, we rank the top 10 quarterbacks, running backs, receivers/tight ends, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, specialists and two-way players from Greater Canton.
Today we look at the top 10 two-way players, starting with a dynamic senior pair: Canton McKinley’s Keith Quincy and Green’s Antonio Martin.
1. Keith Quincy
Canton McKinley, WR-DB, Class of 2025
What you should know: Quincy is a fantastic all-around player, standing 6’3″ and 190 pounds, and McKinley doesn’t want to take him off the field often. Last year, he was named to the All-Ohio second team in Division I and led the Bulldogs with 51 passes caught for 970 yards and eight touchdowns. His six interceptions as a safety were McKinley’s best player, second in the region. Quincy also handled McKinley’s punting duties, averaging 35.2 yards per attempt.
2, Antonio Martin
Green, WR-DB, Class of 2025
What you should know: Not many, if any, local kids have played more snaps in college football than Martin. Certainly few have done it better than him. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Martin totaled 30 tackles and six interceptions as a cornerback last year, earning him Division II second-team All-Ohio honors. A highly versatile offensive player, he caught 63 passes for 660 yards and seven touchdowns and ran for another five TDs. He also threw a TD pass and scored a kickoff touchdown. Green hopes Martin, who is recovering from a knee injury during the basketball season, is ready for Week 1.
3. Dante McClellan
Canton McKinley, WR-LB, Class of 2025
What you should know: The Missouri freshman is one of the region’s best players and athletes. At 6’3″ and 215 pounds, McClellan totaled 79 tackles last year – 61 solo and 13 for loss – and was selected to the Division I All-Ohio second team as a linebacker. He also intercepted five passes. As a wide receiver, McClellan caught 32 passes for 518 yards and two touchdowns.
4, Michael Wright Jr.
Massillon, RB-DL, Class of 2025
What you should know: It might be a stretch to call Wright a two-way player since he’s more of a part-time player on offense, but it’s never a bad idea to put the Youngstown State recruit on one of these lists. At 6-foot-3, 280 pounds, Wright is a wrecking ball on defense, where he was named to the All-Ohio First Team in Division II last year. He totaled 15.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks to help Massillon to the state championship. His role on offense expanded last season, when he ran for eight touchdowns and served as a formidable lead blocker in Massillon’s power running packages.
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5, Zac Braucher
North Canton Hoover, QB-WR-DB, Class of 2025
What you should know: A possible move to quarterback could limit Braucher’s options in both directions. But you can’t blame Hoover for wanting to keep the status quo. The 6-foot-4, 175-pound Braucher caught 57 passes for 808 yards and seven touchdowns and was named third-team All-Ohio as a wide receiver in Division II last year. As a quarterback, he helped him to three rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown. On defense, he caught a team-leading four interceptions and made 24 tackles.
6. Rodney Smith
Malvern, WR-DB, Class of 2025
What you should know: The Hornets, coming off a 10-2 season, have a strong weapon back in the explosive Smith. Last year, he averaged 20.7 yards on 47 catches for 971 yards and 14 touchdowns, the most on the team. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Smith totaled 34 tackles and tied for the team leader with three interceptions. And to top it all off, he handled punting duties for Malvern, averaging 35.1 yards per attempt and returning one kickoff for a TD.
7, Luke Gilland
Sandy Valley, WR-DB, Class of 2025
What you should know: The athletic Gilland is a big-play maker. He was a second-team All-Ohio selection as a defensive back in Division V last year, with his end-zone interception late in the fourth quarter securing the season-opening win at Fairless. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Gilland averaged 21.3 yards on 35 passes caught and finished with 744 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also scored touchdowns on a run and a punt return.
8. Collin Sullivan
Fairless, OL-DL, Class of 2025
What you should know: Also a standout wrestler, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Sullivan is a physical presence and rarely leaves the field for the Falcons. Last year, he led the defense with 17 tackles and recorded four sacks. He was second on the team with 98 total tackles (78 solo). He is also Fairless’ best returner on the offensive line at guard.
9, Austin Mattox
Perry, QB-DB, Class of 2025
What you should know: The Panthers plan to make Mattox one of the rare quarterbacks to start in both variants. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Mattox is entering his third year as Perry’s starting quarterback at Wing-T. Last year he threw for 856 yards and six touchdowns and ran for 378 yards and four TDs. This year he will also start at safety. Last year he played some defense and intercepted two passes – one of which he returned 76 yards for a TD that made the difference in a 20-14 win over Green.
10, JR Jackson
Alliance, WR-DB, Class of 2026
What you should know: The 6-foot-1, 150-pound Jackson comes into his junior year with plenty of experience, having started playing football last year and having played basketball since his freshman year. Jackson’s six interceptions were the Aviators’ best and second-most in the region. He had 37 tackles. There weren’t too many footballs in a group of wide receivers that included K’Vaughn Davis and Ramhir Hawkins, but Jackson still managed to catch 19 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns. He also handled PAT kicking duties for the Aviators at times last season.
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