10 reasons why 2024 Greater Akron high school football season could be magical

The 2023 high school football season gave Greater Akron some huge storylines, but here’s the spoiler alert: 2024 could be even better.

The talent is off the chart this season in the area with so many good teams ready to take the next step.

With that said, here are 10 things the USA Today Network is watching as we head into Week 1:

1. Hoban could be right back in the OHSAA football state finals again

Are you sick of seeing the Knights in the state final? You might want to skip 2024 then because there’s a strong case for Hoban to reach its ninth state championship game in 10 years. The five-time champions have four All-Ohioans back and 13 players with Division I college offers. Tylan Boykin is back in the secondary with Brunswick transfer Ethan Roksandich taking over under center.

2. Walsh Jesuit football is ready to make a big move

The Warriors only had two losses last season. Both came to Hoban, and coach Nick Alexander has this senior class coming in with a 32-10 record over three seasons. Expect Milan Parris, Keller Moten, Aiden Henry and Lucas Weaver to push the returning Division II, Region 5 runners-up back into contention.

3. St. Vincent-St. Mary and new football coach Doran Grant are a perfect fit

Doran Grant graduated from STVM in 2011. The Fighting Irish won titles in 2012 and 2013 and were state semifinalists in 2014, so the captain of an Ohio State national championship team knows something about building teams. STVM averaged seven wins per season when Grant was there and reached the playoffs three of the four years back when only eight teams made it. Grant's winning pedigree followed him to college. Now that he’s back with his alma mater, don’t be surprised to see the Irish rise again.

4. Wadsworth’s junior class could make it ridiculously good

The Grizzlies return 10 starters . Five of those are juniors from the program’s Suburban League National Conference championship team of 2023 . Gavin Madigan, Jacob Earnest, Calix Lemp, Colton Leavitt and Gabe Ludtke all come back as starters. Add incoming starting quarterback Ryan Stoops and Wadsworth could be special for a while.

5. Elbert Hill is the best high school football defensive back in Northeast Ohio since Marshon Lattimore

Elbert Island is a thing, trust us . Alabama was the latest to offer Hoban’s Elbert Hill, who continues to collect scholarships offers from the nation's biggest football programs. Seriously, it’s become easier to name schools that haven’t offered Hill than it is to name the ones that have. ESPN and On3.com have him ranked as the top junior cornerback in the nation, Rivals has him second and 247Sports.com ranks him fourth. He’s in the top 50 regardless of position in all four except 274Sports.com, where he’s 51st. Lattimore, who is a Glenville graduate, was never ranked first by any scouting outlet before going on to star at Ohio State and becoming a four-time Pro Bowl pick for the Saints.

6. The talent in Greater Akron high schools isn't lost on Division I college football teams

Speaking of recruiting, the area is incredibly rich in talent. There are more than 325 Division I college offers that have gone out to a total of 32 Greater Akron high school football players.

7. There’s another Feister at Hoban and he could be just as good as big brother

Brayton Feister introduced himself to the world as a Hoban freshman, running for 870 yards. He averaged 6.4 yards on his 135 attempts and scored 10 total touchdowns. His brother Bryden also will play for the Knights. He comes in as a freshman linebacker who already has an offer from Kentucky.

8. Need a high school running back? Summit County has them

From Hoban’s Brayton Feister to Purdue commit Ziaire Stevens of East, Greater Akron has backs. Add Nordonia’s Rocco DeLeronzo, Walsh's Lucas Weaver, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s D.J. Johnson, Highland’s Casey Myser and CVCA’s Joey Kopec and, my goodness, is the area loaded. There will be more to join this list for sure.

9. Greater Akron high school football is definitely a no-fly zone

The secondary in the area is second to none , and it’s more than just Hoban’s Hill and Boykin. East’s Terrell Wharton Jr. and Braylon Bush, Hoban’s Jaiden Daniels, STVM’s DeCarlo Prince, and Walsh’s Aiden Henry, Grant Blascak and James Brewer are among the reasons it will not be easy to complete passes this season.

10. Is this the year of the East High School Dragons?

East has been fantastic under coach Marques Hayes, and that should continue this season for the City Series. The Dragons, who shared the league title with Buchtel last season, have won two of the last three and five of the last 10 City Series titles.

Ziaire Stevens and Terrell Wharton Jr., who has big-time Power Five interest, will lead the way. But don’t sleep on Braylon Bush, Armani Holloway, Darshawn Spragling, Darshaun Sales or Barberton transfer Donte Swain Jr.

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 10 reasons why 2024 Greater Akron high school football season could be magical