Previewing Cincinnati high school football's top receivers, tight ends
· Yahoo Sports
Cincinnati high school football kickoffs aren't here yet, but at The Enquirer, we are kicking off our preseason football coverage with a look at the best returning players in various position groups.
Here are some receivers and tight ends to watch.
Visit esporist.com for more information.
Be sure to vote for your favorite using the ballot at the end of the story. You can vote once an hour until 4 p.m. Friday.
Charles Alexander Jr., Withrow
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior has committed to Iowa State after previously committing to Louisville. He was offered by more than 25 other schools, including several Power-5 programs.
Playing on a team that didn’t throw a lot, he recorded 21 receptions his junior season for 369 yards and six touchdowns. He was named first team all-league in the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference-Red Division, helping Withrow finish 9-3.
Cordell Ball, Oak Hills
The 6-foot-3 junior was one of Cincinnati’s leading receivers last year, catching 56 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 177 yards and three touchdowns against Sycamore and 185 and two TDs in a 59-47 loss to Lakota East. Ball, also one of the area’s best basketball stars, has more than 10 Division I offers, including Cincinnati and other Power-Four programs Iowa State, Louisville, Maryland and Wisconsin.
Colten Barger, Lloyd Memorial
The multi-sport star helped the football Juggernauts to a landmark season, going 13-1 and advancing to the KHSAA Class 3A state semifinals. He had a big freshman season as well, catching 30 passes for 415 yards and five touchdowns.
Noah Bilinski, Springboro
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior was first-team all-league in the Greater Western Ohio Conference, helping the Panthers to a 7-4 record. He was one of the state’s leading receivers with 84 catches for 1,082 yards and nine touchdowns. He has Division II offers including Grand Valley State.
Tyler Fryman, Beechwood
The four-star football recruit and multi-sport star has committed to Kentucky for football and baseball. He flipped his commitment from Louisville in June. On the gridiron, Fryman caught 62 passes for 1,320 yards and 23 touchdowns, helping the Tigers to an 11-2 record and the Class 2A state quarterfinals. He was also the Ninth Region Player of the Year in baseball, helping them to the state quarterfinals, and an indoor track state champion.
Thomas Huckleby, Cincinnati Country Day
The junior plays several positions for the Nighthawks, helping them to a 9-2 record and earning second-team all-state honors. He scored 23 total touchdowns last year, catching 48 passes for 881 yards and nine TDs while also being the team’s second-leading rusher with 526 yards and 13 TDs on 71 carries.
Lorenzo McMullen, Princeton
The junior three-sport star transferred from Taft after last season. McMullen is rated as a four-star prospect on 247Sports and holds 21 offers, including Cincinnati, Florida, Notre Dame, Oregon and Penn State. In football, he was first-team all-state in Division IV after catching 39 passes for 601 yards and 14 touchdowns to help the Senators to an 11-1 record.
Christian Roether, Harrison
The 6-foot-4 junior tight end was the team’s leading receiver last season, catching 30 passes for 500 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also played defensive line and was on the state semifinalist baseball team.
Chase Walpole, Elder
The senior is the top returning receiver for quarterback Kaden Estep and the Panthers, who went 12-1 last season. He had 43 catches for 615 yards and three touchdowns. He had 15 catches for 181 yards in three playoff games.
Tysin Weaver, Anderson
The 6-foot, 175-pound senior was one of the top receivers in the state leading the Raptors’ high-powered offense with 91 catches for 1,375 yards and 20 touchdowns, leading Anderson to the Division II state final. He scored touchdowns in 12 of 15 games, including four against Kings and three against Turpin. He had seven catches for 190 yards against Kings. In five playoff games, he had 38 catches for 497 yards including 11 for 125 in the state final loss to Avon. With Cooper Kathman and Tegan Jallick also returning at receiver after putting up big numbers in 2025, and Owen Scalf returning at QB, the Raptors should have another explosive offense. Weaver has several recent Division II offers.
On the radar
Peyton Abner, New Richmond; Wyatt Adams, South Dearborn; Cade Anthrop, Campbell County; Jomar Berg, Goshen; Joey Dahmer, Milford; C.J. Elliott, Turpin; Andre Englemon Jr., Ludlow; Desean Flagg, Colerain; Eddie Holloway, Taft; Demarco Jackson, Newport; Tegan Jallick, Anderson; Carter Jones, Lakota East; Elijah Jones, Harrison; Cooper Kathman, Anderson; Wyatt Lassen, Lebanon; Tayden Lorenzen, Highlands; Andrew Lyman, Kings; Brylan Miltenberger, Wyoming; Evan Otto, Roger Bacon; Nathan Pabst, Beechwood; Callan Poland, Turpin; Cooper Reynolds, Blanchester; Tyce Rutledge, Waynesville; Liam Vargo, Roger Bacon; Logan Von Holle, St. Xavier; Drew Wauligman, Elder.
Vote: Who is the top receiver/tight end in Greater Cincinnati high school football?
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Previewing Cincinnati high school football's top receivers, tight ends