The GMC features some of Cincinnati's best players in 2024; Who comes out on top?

In 2023, the Greater Miami Conference was a two-horse race. Princeton and Lakota West were the best two teams in the conference by just about any measure: record, points for, points against, etc.

Both teams return quarterbacks and other offensive producers, plus multiple future Power Four players on defense. When the two meet at Princeton High School on Friday, Sept. 6, this year, it will be a must-see matchup.

They're not the only two teams in the GMC though. Middletown could be much improved after gaining multiple future Division I players via transfer. Hamilton will look to build on its breakout season from 2023. Sycamore will be interesting to watch as the team attempts to build an offense from scratch.

Here's a preview for each team in the GMC, listed alphabetically.

Colerain

2023: 0-10, missed postseason

Head coach: Carl Huber

Returning players: QB Shawn Billups, WR Jaykel Huff, WR/DB R.J. O'Bryant, WR Terrell Burton, OL Keegan Garr, LB Hayden Danielson, LB/TE Cooper Krieg

Outlook: A young Colerain hopes to improve both offensively and defensively in 2024. Running back Greg Williams transferred to Princeton after running for 4.6 yards per carry in 2023, giving this year's group of Cardinal running backs more opportunities. With the departure of quarterback Lauris Barnes to Northwest, quarterback Shawn Billups returns to start under center after throwing for 534 yards and five touchdowns to four interceptions on 96 passing attempts last season. Three of Colerain's top four receivers from 2023 will return, Jaykel Huff, R.J. O'Bryant and Terrell Burton.

On defense, Colerain lost Williams, who led the team in tackles and forced fumbles, and a few top defensive backs. A good portion of the rest of the unit returns, led by Hayden Danielson and Cooper Krieg.

Fairfield

2023: 3-8, made Division I, Region 4 first round

Head coach: Jason Krause

Returning players: RB/WR/DB Tyler George, RB A'Shion Ruff, WR Noah King, DL Kane Fisher, LB Raymir Coney, DB Gabe Ross

Outlook: Fairfield will need to find a new quarterback for 2024. Despite the team's record, it finished third in the GMC for points scored in 2023. That was thanks in large part to quarterback and leading rusher Talon Fisher, who totaled over 2,600 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2023. Fairfield's top running back Juseters Fataki also won't return. Watch out for rising senior A'Shion Ruff, who rushed for 6.2 yards per carry on 11 tries in the last two games of 2023. Fairfield returns two of its top three receivers from last year including Tyler George and Noah King.

In recent years, the team has relied on its offense, but Fairfield was best in the GMC for points allowed as recently as 2019. Fairfield will hope to get closer to its 2019 defense in 2024. Three of Fairfield's top four tacklers from 2023 won't return, but the team has a few younger players who seem poised to lead this year's unit, such as rising junior Raymir Coney, who had 10.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore.

Hamilton

2023: 8-4, made Division I, Region 4 quarterfinals

Head coach: Arvie Crouch

Returning players: QB Antonio Mathis, RB/LB Gracen Goldsmith, WR R.J. Shephard-Ruffin, WR/DB Marlon Reed, WR Cairon Navey, DL Trey Verdon, DL Mason Holbrook, DL/OL Eckley Bridges, LB C.J. Bryant, DB Carter Isaacs

Outlook: Hamilton had a major breakout in 2023 after winning just three GMC games in the previous two seasons combined. Top rusher Cournell Bennett-McCoy, a 2024 graduate, ran for over 1,000 yards in 2023. Watch for rising senior and last year's leading receiver R.J. Shephard-Ruffin, who had a strong showing when asked to carry the ball last season (6.0 yards per carry on 15 attempts). Quarterback Antonio Mathis returns after throwing for over 1,500 yards last season with a near 60% completion percentage. Including Shephard-Ruffin, Cairon Navey and Marlon Reed, Hamilton's top three receivers return.

Hamilton's defense was third-best in the conference in 2023 by points allowed. The Big Blue doesn't feature as much star power as either of those defenses, but it does return nine of its top 10 tacklers from 2023.

Lakota East

2023: 1-9, missed postseason

Head coach: Jon Kitna

Returning players: QB Jamison Kitna, RB Ryder Hooks, WR Zion Neal, WR Jayden Seay (transfer from Kings), ATH Braxton Thurman (transfer from Monroe), OL Chris Seabrooks (transfer from Newport Central Catholic), LB Cohen Reip, LB Parker Elam, DB Connor Kruse

Outlook: Lakota East returns nearly 20 players who played a significant role in 2023. Quarterback Jamison Kitna, with DI football offers from UAB and Indiana among others, hopes to lead his team to more wins in 2024 after a strong statistical showing (1,487 yards, 60.7% completion percentage, nine touchdowns and five interceptions) in 2023. Ryder Hooks, who ran for nearly 1,000 yards (5.9 yards per carry) in 2023 will be a junior in 2024. Three of Kitna's top four targets ‒ Ryder Hooks, Zion Neal and Patrick MacFarlane ‒ will be back in 2024. The offense should be improved this year.

The defense will also be more experienced than it was last season despite losses of Marvin Richter (7.5 tackles for loss in 2023) and Wyatt Plesant (2.0 sacks). Monroe transfer Braxton Thurman should factor into the secondary.

Lakota West

2023: 11-3, made Division I, Region 4 final

Head coach: Tom Bolden

Returning players: QB Sam Wiles, RB Braydon Johnson, RB/DB Tyson Davis, RB/DB Kenyon Norman, WR Trey Barnette, WR/DB Kobyn Ogletree ( transfer from Loveland), WR/DB Kolyn Ogletree ( transfer from Loveland), TE Luka Gilbert, OL Vincent Giordano ( transfer from Fenwick), LB Grant Beerman, LB Cam Thomas, DB Finn Mason

Outlook: Lakota West has been dominating the GMC since 2020. Last season the team finished second to Princeton due to a Week 2 loss to the Vikings, but the Firebirds finished the season with more points scored and fewer points allowed. In a rematch in the Region 4 semifinal, they beat Princeton 19-7.

The Firebirds return their starting quarterback Sam Wiles, who totaled more than 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Leading rusher Braydon Johnson will be a junior. Top receivers Brennan Remy and Jiovonni Willson won't be back, but 6-foot-7 tight end Luka Gilbert, a Miami (Florida) commit should help replace some of their production. Below Johnson, Lakota West had five other players rush for at least 100 yards. Four of them graduated. It's still likely the Firebirds will go running back-by-committee in 2024 though, because Tyson Davis and Kenyon Norman both rushed for more than eight yards per carry on limited touches in 2023. The offense could be even better than it was in 2023, especially if Gilbert dominates.

On defense, Lakota West graduated three of its top four tacklers from last season, including Jason Asbeck and Elijah Davis who combined for 10 sacks and 32.5 tackles for loss. Their linebacker corps is still in great shape, featuring Purdue commit Grant Beerman and rising junior Cam Thomas, who has offers from Cincinnati, Michigan and Wisconsin. They lose two top defensive backs in Drew Minich and Taebron Bennie but should still have a strong group led by Finn Mason, who had five interceptions in 2023.

Mason

2023: 7-6, made Division I, Region 4 semifinal

Head coach: Brian Castner

Returning players: QB Caden Ashhurst, RB Temilade Adesanya, WR Branden Dunn, OL/LB Cameron Hunter ( transfer from Fenwick), LB Ryan Davis, S Preston Estoesta, K Max Gogul

Outlook: Mason hopes to increase its offensive output in 2024. With last year's starting quarterback Quinn Brown graduating, rising senior Caden Ashhurst has experience under center after completing 60% of his passes last season in limited action. Offensive line transfer Cameron Hunter from Fenwick could help them out with their rushing attack. With three of the team's top four rushers from last year graduating, ball-carrying duties will fall to Temilade Adesanya, who rushed for 4.3 yards per carry in 2023. Mason's top three receivers from last year have also graduated. The offense will have a new look in 2024.

On defense, the Comets lost six of eight top tacklers from last year. Kai Woolfolk, who led the team with 101 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles will be the biggest loss. Cameron Hunter, an impact player on defense for Fenwick last season, will help mediate that loss.

Middletown

2023: 3-8, made Division I, Region 4 first round

Head coach: Kali Jones

Returning players: QB Jeremiah Landers, RB/WR Talan Malicote, WR Chandler Shields, WR Jordan Vann ( transfer from Fenwick), OL/DL Cordae Davis ( transfer from Fenwick) LB/TE Derrick Singletary ( transfer from Fenwick), S Virgil Coleman

Outlook: With Kali Jones at the helm fresh off a successful season at Withrow in 2023, Middletown will look to rising senior quarterback Jeremiah Landers, who threw for 1,139 yards and 19 touchdowns to eight interceptions in 2023. A few Fenwick transfers will help, including receiver Jordan Vann, who already has multiple Power Four offers.

Last year's leading rusher Eric Schroeder graduated, but rising senior Talan Malicote averaged the same yards per carry on fewer touches. With Vann and Chandler Shields (589 yards on 37 catches in 2023), Landers should have a good receiving corps to target.

On defense, Middletown loses its top four leading tacklers, three of them linebackers. Derrick Singletary, another Fenwick transfer, should help greatly with that. He's a 6-3, 220-pound linebacker with offers from Kentucky, Toledo and Marshall.

Oak Hills

2023: 5-6, made Division I, Region 4 first round

Head coach: Justin Roden

Returning players: QB Wil Kraus, RB/WR Max Supe, LB Max Rhodes, LB Cooper Harrison, DB Anthony Young

Outlook: Oak Hills could have a breakout junior season from quarterback Wil Kraus, who completed 53.1% of his passes for 876 yards and nine touchdowns over five games last season. His top target will be Max Supe, who led the team in receptions and yards in 2023 while also being third in rushing. Supe got his first DI offer from Butler in June. Aside from Kraus and Supe, the offense will have a new look in 2024 as the top two rushers and three of Oak Hills' top four receivers won't return.

The Oak Hills defense, fifth-best in the conference last year, will be a young group in 2024. The unit returns Max Rhodes, who led the team in tackles and tackles for loss as a sophomore in 2023. A rising star among Ohio's class of 2026 linebackers, he's gotten offers from Mid-American Conference schools like Toledo and Central Michigan.

Princeton

2023: 12-1, made Division I, Region 4 semifinal

Head coach: Andre Parker

Returning players: QB Deangelo Birch, RB David Hambrick, WR Antonio Hunter, TE Landen Miree, LB P.J. Nelson, LB Andre Parker, LB Greg Williams ( transfer from Colerain)

Outlook: With Princeton's success from last season, it's hard to believe that their starting quarterback and top rusher were just sophomores. Signal caller Deangelo Birch and running back David Hambrick return after strong showings in 2023. Colerain transfer Greg Williams, who led the Cardinals in rushing last season, could also be a factor. Princeton's second-string running back and top two receivers return as well. Landen Miree , a 6-4, 215-pound rising junior tight end, already has offers from Cincinnati, Florida, Oregon, UCF and Wisconsin, among others.

After allowing just 88 points in conference games in 2023, the defense might be even better this year. An Indiana commit and last year's Division I Ohio defensive player of the year, linebacker P.J. Nelson will be back after leading the team with 89 tackles, 12 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles in 2023. Rising junior Andre Parker will also roam the second level of Princeton's defense in 2023. He has offers from Kentucky, Michigan State and West Virginia. Williams was one of the best linebackers in the area last season, too.

Sycamore

2023: 5-6, made Division I, Region 4 first round

Head coach: Scott Dattilo

Returning players: QB Levi Simpson, DB Tre Meadows, LB Nick Branam

Outlook: Sycamore's offense was fourth-best in the conference last season, while the Aviators' defense finished sixth for points allowed. Their season record could have looked a lot different if it weren't for one-score losses to Oak Hills and Hamilton in 2023.

The offense will have a new look and opportunities for young players to step up, including last year's backup quarterback Levi Simpson, who participated in the June University of Cincinnati Bearcats skills camp. Every player who gained more than 100 yards on offense last season has graduated, including starting quarterback Seth Truter and top rusher Eugene Harney. Nick Branam, primarily a linebacker, will likely have some chances on offense, after accumulating reception and rushing statistics last year.

On defense, Sycamore loses its top three tacklers and five of six players who recorded more than 1.5 sacks in 2023. The Aviators will lean on Branam and defensive back Tre Meadows to captain a young defense in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The GMC features some of Cincinnati's best players in 2024; Who comes out on top?