The upcoming 2024 Ohio high school football season will bring with it one of the deepest local crops of talented and productive returning quarterbacks this area has seen to date.
Here is a look at 10 of those highly regarded signal-callers who look to lead their respective offenses to success this season.
Ryan Montgomery, Findlay
The most thoroughly recruited quarterback ever from northwest Ohio in terms of national interest, the Trojans' 6-foot-3, 215-pounder looks to cap a sterling four-year prep career before heading off to play at national power Georgia. He picked the Bulldogs from among 27 Division I offers, including from Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame. Last season, Montgomery was 258 of 376 passing for 3,377 yards and 38 touchdowns and rushed for 257 yards and 10 scores to lead Findlay to an 8-3 record and a share of the Northern Lakes League's Buckeye Division title. He was named first team Division I All-Ohio, All NLL Buckeye, all-district, and The Blade's 2023 player of the year. Through three varsity seasons, he has passed for 7,584 yards and 89 TDs.
“Ryan is looking to take complete control of our offense,” Findlay coach Stefan Adams said. “He's an extension of the coaching staff on the field and is looking to elevate all of his teammates' play. His attention to detail and preparation allows him to make quick decisions that can pick apart a defense with his arm. He also isn't afraid to use his legs as well, which was evident last season. Ryan is all about the game. He leaves no stone unturned. He is just as hungry to improve his game from where he was last year. He is a perfectionist who wants to be the best, and hates losing more than he loves winning. He's a true competitor.”
Mason Heintschel, Clay
A third-year starter for the Eagles, the 6-2, 200-pound Heintschel committed to the University of Pittsburgh of the Atlantic Coast Conference from among eight Division I college offers, including Toledo and Bowling Green. In 11 games last season, Heintschel was 199 of 323 passing for 2,385 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed 121 times for 692 yards and 13 scores. He was named first team All-NLL Cardinal Division, and second team Division II all-district.
“Mason has really grown into becoming a great leader,” Clay coach John Galyas said. “Ever since we saw him as a fifth-grader we knew he was going to be pretty good, but he has worked so hard on his game the last couple of years. I am really happy for him going to Pitt. He has really good arm strength, a great understanding of our offense, and he has the ability to extend plays and then find open guys.”
Grant Kinnee, Anthony Wayne
After injuries thwarted his 2022 season, when he earned a spot as the starting QB as a sophomore, Kinnee stayed healthy and came into his own last season. He led the Generals to a 10-3 overall record and a share of the NLL Buckeye Division title. The 6-4, 195-pounder was a true two-way threat, completing 109 of his 197 passes for 1,556 yards and 22 touchdowns, and rushing 122 times for 1,245 yards and 19 scores. He was named second team All-NLL Buckeye Division at QB behind Montgomery, but was selected as first team All-Ohio in Division II. He has committed to Colgate University.
“Grant has many talents as a player," Anthony Wayne coach Andy Brungard said. “He can create big plays by running the ball or by throwing it downfield. He can take any play and create an explosive one. The best attributes he has, and that all good quarterbacks have, is his desire to win and his good decision making.”
Josh Takats, Perrysburg
In his first year as the Yellow Jackets' starter, Takats proved up to the task as a passer and team leader. The 6-2, 193-pounder was 139 of 257 passing for 2,004 yards and 24 touchdowns in 12 games for 8-4 Perrysburg. He also rushed 82 times for 266 yards and four scores. He has scholarship offers from Division II programs Ohio Dominican University in Ohio and Thomas More University in Kentucky.
“Josh is a true leader and an example of hard work paying off,” Perrysburg coach Dirk Conner said. “He had a good year as a junior, and I look for a breakout year as a senior.”
Brady Ford, Whitme r
Ford enters his third season as the Panthers' starter with plenty of valuable experience approaching his senior season. In 11 games in 2023, the 6-1, 205-pounder was 118 of 201 passing for 1,636 yards and 16 touchdowns, helping Whitmer to a 7-4 record and a share of the NLL's Buckeye Division title. In his career, he has passed for 3,275 yards and 30 TDs. He has committed to Eastern Illinois.
“Brady has an explosive arm, is accurate, and has shown the capability of throwing different touch passes,” Whitmer coach Ken Winters said. “Brady is naturally crafty in the pocket, he can extend plays, and has consistently made good decisions in his time as a starter. Finally, his work ethic and leadership are second to none.”
Michael Lalonde, Oak Harbor
Lalonde is a two-way star for the Oak Harbor football program. Last season, the 5-9, 160-pounder guided the offense of a 12-1 Rockets team that won an outright title in its first season in the Northern Buckeye Conference and was ranked No. 4 in the final Ohio Division V state poll. He was an impressively accurate 163 of 221 (74 percent) passing for 2,215 yards and 25 touchdowns with only four interceptions and was also named first team All-NBC and all-district as well as second team All-Ohio at defensive back with four interceptions.
“He already holds many of the school passing records," Oak Harbor coach Mike May said. "He is a tremendous competitor and brings a ton of confidence to the other players on the team. He has a strong arm and is very accurate throwing the ball.”
Kadyn Donnell, Eastwood
In his first season at the helm of the Eagles' offense, Donnell proved to be an effective double-threat QB for 9-3 Eastwood. He was 142 of 241 passing for 1,972 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 954 yards and 12 scores. His passing yardage and number of completions were school records. The 6-1, 180-pound junior received honorable-mention All-Ohio recognition in Division V.
“Kadyn stepped in to a new system and ran with it, breaking school records and earning all-state honors,” Eastwood coach Sam Cotterman said. “Not only did he do a great job passing, but he also rushed for close to 1,000 yards. We are excited for what he is capable of with a year under his belt in this system."
Karson Kayden, Fremont Ross
In his first year at quarterback, and succeeding first team All-Ohioan Kaden Holmes, Kayden turned in a solid performance. He has 128 of 232 passing for 1,544 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 198 yards and four scores for the Little Giants.
“Karson is a great leader and will be a four-year letterwinner,” Ross coach Chad Long said. “His competitiveness and will to win is what we need with the young team we have. He will be able to make plays with his feet running the ball as well as throwing the ball.”
Chase Miller, Ottawa Hills
Miller enters his fourth season as the Green Bears' starting quarterback after guiding the offense on an 11-2 team that won the Toledo Area Athletic Conference title and reached the third round of the Division VI playoffs in 2023. He was 131 of 195 passing for 1,949 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2023 and has passed for 3,938 yards and 48 TDs in his career.
“Chase is a true gunslinger who showed what he can do when we opened up the offense for him,” Ottawa Hills coach Brandon Carter said. “He plays with a chip on his shoulder, and he's a fearless competitor.”
Owen Espinoza, Napoleon
After the Wildcats got off to a rough 0-4 start, the 6-0, 170-pound Espinoza helped Napoleon rebound to a 6-6 finish that included a Division IV playoff win. He was 130 of 233 passing for 1,633 yards and 21 touchdowns and earned second team All-NLL Cardinal Division honors.
“Owen has a big arm, but his best attributes are his leadership, on and off the field, and his football IQ,” Napoleon coach Tyler Swary said.
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