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Practice has officially begun in the Buckeye state for high school football, and everyone has their sights set on winning a conference, beating a rival or making a run in the state tournament.
We now turn to you to decide who this season's preseason player of the year will be in the Times-Reporter coverage area.
Mark your calendar! OHSAA high school football schedules for Tuscarawas Country, week-by-week
Voting opens Aug. 3 and will run until Aug. 10 at Noon.
These are this year's candidates for the 2026 Times-Reporter preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-4 senior quarterback will work to improve on his numbers from a season ago as Malvern looks to capture its fifth IVC North crown in the past seven seasons. Jones ended last season with 1,330 passing yards and tossed 12 touchdowns.
It is a new conference for Weber and company this season, but after a season when Weber tossed for 1,986 yards and 19 touchdowns and set the school record for passing completions in a single season with 76%. He'll look to etch his name in Dover's history books a little more as his junior season is about to kick off.
Success is an understatement for the dynasty Indian Valley has created coming into this season and at the helm of it is Ryker Williams. The Indian Valley offense will have some big shoes to fill with Ohio Mr. Football Grady Kinsey graduating. However, Williams was a member of the IVC's first team a season ago and his stats prove that he can lead this team to another tournament run. Throughout 2025, Williams totaled 1,283 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 615 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
Seven quarterbacks threw for more yards in 2025 than Leggett, according to MaxPreps. He tossed 46 touchdowns — second most in the Buckeye state — as the Rockets advanced to the second round of the playoffs a season ago. The senior recorded 3,084 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Miller produced 27 catches, 395 yards and two touchdowns during his sophomore season.
Under first year head coach, Matt Rees, Clark tailed 586 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore. With the Crimson Tornadoes moving into the Ohio Cardinal Conference this season, Rees will need his returning wide receiver to continue his underclassmen success.
Becker was a member of the IVC's second team in the North Division and grabbed 50 receptions, 660 yards and nine touchdowns.
When you have the No. 1 player under center, your wide receivers are going to have success and lucky for the Rockets Higgenbotham put up monster numbers as freshman, totaling 56 catches, 895 yards and 10 touchdowns. He and Leggett will look to continue the connection they have established as he enters just his second season of high school football after averaging nearly 75 yards per game and 16 yards per catch.
Throughout his career, Fox ran for 946 yards and found the end zone 12 times. Last season, he set a career-high with 573 yards and seven scores on 84 carries.
He rarely comes off the field, playing both sides and earning first team in the Inter Valley Conference's North Division. In his junior campaign he totaled 97 rushing attempts, 674 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
As a junior, Thomas was named first team in the IVC's North Division and was second on his team in points scored with 42. He has breakaway speed and is able to be the work horse as he led his team with 119 carries. Thomas found the end zone seven times and rushed for 803 yards during 2025.
He was part of team that rushed for 2,026 yards last season, and he was responsible for 1,402. He earned first team in the South Division of the IVC. Frey found the end zone 25 times in 2025, averaging over 100 yards per game, nearly 7.5 yards per carry and had a season long run of 80 yards.
[email protected]; X: @JacoBShondeL
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Who is the 2026 Times-Reporter preseason Offensive Football Player of the Year?
Continue reading...
We now turn to you to decide who this season's preseason player of the year will be in the Times-Reporter coverage area.
Mark your calendar! OHSAA high school football schedules for Tuscarawas Country, week-by-week
Voting opens Aug. 3 and will run until Aug. 10 at Noon.
These are this year's candidates for the 2026 Times-Reporter preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
Jaxon Jones (Sr.), Malvern QB
The 6-foot-4 senior quarterback will work to improve on his numbers from a season ago as Malvern looks to capture its fifth IVC North crown in the past seven seasons. Jones ended last season with 1,330 passing yards and tossed 12 touchdowns.
Dieter Weber (Jr.),Dover QB
It is a new conference for Weber and company this season, but after a season when Weber tossed for 1,986 yards and 19 touchdowns and set the school record for passing completions in a single season with 76%. He'll look to etch his name in Dover's history books a little more as his junior season is about to kick off.
Ryker Williams (Sr.), Indian Valley QB
Success is an understatement for the dynasty Indian Valley has created coming into this season and at the helm of it is Ryker Williams. The Indian Valley offense will have some big shoes to fill with Ohio Mr. Football Grady Kinsey graduating. However, Williams was a member of the IVC's first team a season ago and his stats prove that he can lead this team to another tournament run. Throughout 2025, Williams totaled 1,283 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 615 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
Kaden Leggett (Sr.), Conotton Valley QB
Seven quarterbacks threw for more yards in 2025 than Leggett, according to MaxPreps. He tossed 46 touchdowns — second most in the Buckeye state — as the Rockets advanced to the second round of the playoffs a season ago. The senior recorded 3,084 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Trey Miller (Jr.), Garaway WR
Miller produced 27 catches, 395 yards and two touchdowns during his sophomore season.
Dante Clark (Jr.), Dover WR
Under first year head coach, Matt Rees, Clark tailed 586 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore. With the Crimson Tornadoes moving into the Ohio Cardinal Conference this season, Rees will need his returning wide receiver to continue his underclassmen success.
Ryan Becker (Sr.), Strasburg WR
Becker was a member of the IVC's second team in the North Division and grabbed 50 receptions, 660 yards and nine touchdowns.
RJ Higgenbotham (Soph.), Conotton Valley WR
When you have the No. 1 player under center, your wide receivers are going to have success and lucky for the Rockets Higgenbotham put up monster numbers as freshman, totaling 56 catches, 895 yards and 10 touchdowns. He and Leggett will look to continue the connection they have established as he enters just his second season of high school football after averaging nearly 75 yards per game and 16 yards per catch.
Kolston Fox (Sr.), New Philadelphia RB
Throughout his career, Fox ran for 946 yards and found the end zone 12 times. Last season, he set a career-high with 573 yards and seven scores on 84 carries.
Mason Shalosky (Sr.), Newcomerstown RB
He rarely comes off the field, playing both sides and earning first team in the Inter Valley Conference's North Division. In his junior campaign he totaled 97 rushing attempts, 674 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Keizer Thomas (Sr.), Strasburg RB
As a junior, Thomas was named first team in the IVC's North Division and was second on his team in points scored with 42. He has breakaway speed and is able to be the work horse as he led his team with 119 carries. Thomas found the end zone seven times and rushed for 803 yards during 2025.
Matthew Frey (Sr.), Garaway RB
He was part of team that rushed for 2,026 yards last season, and he was responsible for 1,402. He earned first team in the South Division of the IVC. Frey found the end zone 25 times in 2025, averaging over 100 yards per game, nearly 7.5 yards per carry and had a season long run of 80 yards.
Make your vote!
[email protected]; X: @JacoBShondeL
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Who is the 2026 Times-Reporter preseason Offensive Football Player of the Year?
Continue reading...
