2024 high school football: 10 receivers to watch

Coming off a banner season for area receivers as far as statewide honors in 2023, this year's top crop of passing targets also promises to be productive sources for their respective teams.

With 40 days remaining until the kickoff to the 2024 Ohio High School football season, here is a look at 10 promising receivers who are expected to play key roles in the success of their teams.

Seth Elchert, Liberty-Benton

As the lone first team All-Ohio player among this year's group of returning receivers, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound junior brings a load of promise with half of his prep career still remaining. Last season, in 11 games, Elchert, whose twin brother Zach is one of the area's top returning running backs for the Eagles, caught 74 passes for 1,052 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Midway through his career, he has 123 receptions for 1,923 yards, and 24 scores. Elchert has Division I college offers from five MAC schools — Toledo, Bowling Green, Akron, Miami (Ohio), and Central Michigan.

“Seth is fast,” L-B coach Scott Garlock said. “He runs a 4.5 40, he's tall, and very fluid. He runs good routes and can go up and get it. He's a competitor. We've never had a Division I [football] athlete at Liberty-Benton, besides maybe Aaron Craft, who didn't end up playing football in college. He's the real deal.”

Preston Fryzel, Central Catholic

With 13 catches for 232 yards and two touchdowns for the Division III state-champion Irish in 2023, Fryzel was overshadowed in part because Central Catholic relied heavily on its vaunted ground game with first team All-Ohio back Marquan Braswell and junior backfield mate Tyler Morgan, and because their go-to guy in the pass game was first team All-Ohio receiver Jaylen Watson.

A testament to Fryzel's talent, however, are the 11 Division I college offers he has just halfway through his prep career, including from Toledo, Cincinnati, Kent State, Kentucky, Louisville, Marshall, Massachusetts, Miami (Ohio), Minnesota, Pittsburgh, and South Florida. He is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.

“What makes Preston special is his versatility, his length, and his athleticism,” said Irish coach Greg Dempsey. “He's 6-4, can run well, and he's long and athletic with great hands. We had Jaylen Watson as our go-to receiver last year, and when people were able to take him away, Preston was able to make them pay for it. Obviously, he's going to become a bigger focal point of our passing game this year. With what he's done to himself physically over the off-season, that's going to make him even more valuable.”

Troy Hazuda, Clay

As the primary target of Eagles quarterback Mason Heintschel in 2023, Hazuda had 59 catches for 804 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games. He earned first team All-NLL Cardinal Division and Division II all-district honors, as well as honorable mention All-Ohio. Hazuda has an offer from Mercyhurst (Pa.) University, which becomes a D-I program this season, and interest from multiple MAC schools.

“Troy has been a starter since his sophomore year, and he is really our go-to guy,” Clay coach John Galyas said. “He has deceptive speed and really good hands. Some of the catches he makes are remarkable.”

Andre Lewis, Eastwood

With 52 catches for 874 yards and nine touchdowns last season, Lewis was the main target for the Eagles and earned first team All-Northern Buckeye Conference honors and second team all-district recognition in Division V.

“Andre solidified his position as our go-to guy early in the year,” Eastwood coach Sam Cotterman said. “He is a tremendous competitor. I think it comes with being a twin [with brother Kevin], and always competing with one another. But, on top of his competitiveness, he is just a great kid. He's a great role model to our young guys and always helping them out.”

Hudson Byers, Clay

In nine games for the Eagles, Byers, a 6-3, 225-pound tight end, had 48 catches, for 537 yards, and four touchdowns. Byers was named first team All-NLL and D-II all-district. He has received college interest from MAC schools and Division II schools.

“Hudson didn’t play football until his freshman year, and he has developed into a really good player,” Galyas said. “He really takes a lot of pressure off of Troy [Hazuda], and he can be a matchup problem for the opposing defense. He has great hands, good size, and is a great route runner.”

Jacob Ragland, Findlay

With the graduation of first team D-I All-Ohio receiver Javonte Hill, Ragland is expected to be the top target this year for the Trojans' Georgia-bound first team All-Ohio quarterback Ryan Montgomery. Ragland had 36 catches for 626 yards and six touchdowns in 2023 for Findlay. He was named to the All-NLL Buckeye Division second team. He has received D-II college recruiting interest from Wayne State.

“Jacob Ragland last year emerged as one of our home-run hitters,” Findlay coach Stefan Adams said. “Every time he touched the ball it was a wait-and-hold-your-breath moment. He is explosive, competitive, and hard to get down.”

Trey Rubinstein, Napoleon

The 6-3, 190-pound Rubinstein brings two-way excellence to the football field. In addition to his 45 catches for 587 yards and seven touchdowns as a receiver, he also earned first team D-IV All-Ohio honors at defensive back, with five interceptions in 2023. Rubinstein has committed to play at Kent State, which recruited him as a linebacker. He was named first team All-NLL Cardinal Division on offense and defense in 2023.

“Trey has the size, speed, and athletic ability to turn any play into a touchdown,” Napoleon coach Tyler Swary said. “One of the hardest workers on the team.”

Reddik Pillarelli, Ottawa Hills

As a junior, Pillarelli helped the 11-2 Green Bears to their most wins in program history. Before a late-season injury sidelined him, the 5-11, 180-pounder had 34 catches for 525 yards, rushed 45 times for 494 yards, and scored 21 total touchdowns while also doubling as lock-down defensive back. One TD was on a kickoff return, and two were on interception returns.

He earned first team All-TAAC honors on offense and defense, named to the D-VI all-district first team on offense, and also received honorable mention All-Ohio recognition. Pillarelli has an offer from D-II Thomas More University, and has received recruiting interest from Grand Valley State, Hillsdale, and Butler.

“Reddik's work ethic is unmatched, which allows him to cover the other teams' best receiver on defense,” Green Bears coach Brandon Carter said. “It also enables us to throw it to him and hand it to him on offense.

Jacob Ragland, Findlay

With the graduation of first team D-I All-Ohio receiver Javonte Hill, Ragland is expected to be the top target this year for the Trojans' Georgia-bound first team All-Ohio quarterback Ryan Montgomery. Ragland had 36 catches for 626 yards and six touchdowns in 2023 for Findlay. He was named to the All-NLL Buckeye Division second team. He has received D-II college recruiting interest from Wayne State.

“Jacob Ragland last year emerged as one of our home-run hitters,” Findlay coach Stefan Adams said. “Every time he touched the ball it was a wait-and-hold-your-breath moment. He is explosive, competitive, and hard to get down.”

Carson Graetz, Maumee

The 5-11, 165-pounder helped the Panthers' passing attack with a versatility that led him to 44 catches for 764 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. His main college recruitment has come from Division III Heidelberg in Ohio. He was named second team All-NBC.

“Carson is a good football player that has played in a lot of games since he was a freshman,” Maumee coach Evan Karchner said. “He is a gamer. He has a knack for making plays and finding ways to get into the end zone in big games.”

Jay Blazevich, Lake

The 6-1, 185-pound Blazevich had 50 catches for 633 yards and scored seven touchdowns last season.

“Jay has had interest from colleges about playing football, but he is not looking to play football in college,” Lake coach Lane Bishop said. “He is looking to play baseball, where he also has had interest from colleges.”