As we prepare for the start of the 2024 Ohio high school football season , we're breaking down the top players by position. Throughout the preseason , we're ranking the top 10 Greater Canton quarterbacks, running backs , receivers/tight ends , offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, specialists and two-way players.
Today, we look at the top 10 QBs, starting with Malvern senior Jared Witherow and Jackson junior Lucas Ecrement.
1, Jared Witherow
Malvern, Class of 2025
What to know: Witherow enters his third year as Malvern's starting quarterback, and he's coming off a monster season as a junior that netted him All-Ohio first team in Division VII. The 6-foot-4 Witherow completed 62.2% of his passes for 2,315 yards and 30 touchdowns. He added another seven TDs rushing.
2, Lucas Ecrement
Jackson, Class of 2026
What to know: Entering his third year as a varsity quarterback, Ecrement is one of the most electrifying players at the position in the Greater Canton area. He threw for 2,086 yards and 18 TDs and ran for another 468 yards and two TDs last year before injuring his knee in Week 10. If Jackson can protect the 6-0, 175-pound Ecrement, he is capable of monster numbers.
3, Jalen Slaughter
Massillon, Class of 2025
What to know: The lefty always has been able to sling it, but it isn't easy being the quarterback in Tiger Town. After splitting time as the varsity QB as a freshman and manning the spot solely his sophomore year, Slaughter saw the dynamic DaOne Owens transfer in from Copley and lead Massillon to a Division II state championship last year . Now a senior, the 6-0, 170-pound Slaughter again has competition from promising sophomore Manny Patterson and Sherrad Bennard III, a transfer from Buffalo, NY. Slaughter has passed for 4,112 yards and 49 TDs in his career, figures that both rank fourth in Massillon history.
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4, Kam Montgomery
Canton McKinley, Class of 2025
What to know: A transfer from Texas, Montgomery is the likely starter at QB for the Bulldogs. The 6-4, 210-pound Montgomery has a strong arm, a high IQ and college offers from Bowling Green and Brown. He threw for 1,603 yards and 20 TDs last year for College Park High School. He'll have plenty of opportunity to succeed with the offensive weapons around him at McKinley.
5, Adrion Burt
GlenOak, Class of 2025
What to know: After starting at quarterback as a sophomore, the multi-talented Burt didn't get back to the full-time starting QB role until midway through last season. GlenOak then took off, winning five straight, including a first-round playoff game against Lorain that featured Burt overcoming the flu to lead the Golden Eagles to a comeback win . Head coach Scott Garcia believes the 6-1, 180-pound Burt is ready for a huge year.
6, Tyson Hunka
Green, Class of 2026
What to know: Hunka was thrown into the fire last year when senior starter Samino Manson was injured, and he was more than ready. Hunka completed 62.6% of his passes for 571 yards, 11 TDs and three interceptions in basically six games, with Green going 5-1 in that span to keep alive a season in which the Bulldogs advanced to a regional final. He added 257 yards at 5.5 a carry and two TDs on the ground. The Bulldogs kept it pretty simple with 5-10, 170-pound Hunka last year. Look for them open it up for him this season.
More on the Bulldogs: Green Bulldogs 2024 high school football schedule, preview
7, Austin Mattox
Perry, Class of 2025
What to know: The wing-T Panthers continue to try to expand the aerial portion of their offense, and the 6-2, 179-pound Mattox certainly helps in that regard. A capable passer, Mattox threw for 856 yards and six touchdowns last year. He also rushed for 378 yards (5.3 a carry) and four TDs. Entering his third year as Perry's starting QB, he'll carry an even heavier load as he'll also start at safety on defense.
8, Bryson McCord
Marlington, Class of 2025
What to know: The heady McCord was putting together a strong junior season when he went down with an injury in Week 7. Before that, he completed 58.1% of his passes for 1,411 yards and 16 TDs. McCord (6-0, 190) could be in line for a big senior season — his second season in head coach Joe Cardinal's offense.
9, Jacob Whitmore
Carrollton, Class of 2025
What to know: Whitmore gives new head coach Storm Hill and a revamped Carrollton offense a proven leader. The 6-0, 195-pound Whitmore passed for 756 yards and eight touchdowns last year as a first-year varsity starter. He added 516 yards and nine TDs rushing as he earned All-EBC first team.
10, Tyler Pappas
Northwest, Class of 2026
What to know: Pappas threw for 1,182 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore, completing 58.1% of his passes. That bodes well going forward for the 6-2, 180-pound Pappas and head coach John DeMarco, who has a pretty good track record of tutoring quarterbacks.
OHSAA high school football schedules: 2024 Greater Canton, Massillon team-by-team schedules
Reach Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com
On X: @jweirREP
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio high school football 2024 | Top 10 Canton-area quarterbacks to watch
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