Latest news with #FavourAkih
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vote for central Ohio high school football's top offensive player entering 2025 season
Voting for the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center high school Athlete of the Week continues through the summer, and now it's time for our first poll related to the 2025-26 school year. This week, we're asking readers to select the preseason football offensive player of the year. Read about the candidates and then cast your vote in the ballot at the bottom of this story. Voting is open until 4 p.m. Aug. 15. Please do not email your votes; they will not count. If you can't see the ballot when you scroll to the bottom of this story, try refreshing the link or clearing the cache in your browser. You do not have to be a subscriber to vote. The Dispatch staff reserves the right to remove athletes from the ballot where voting irregularities have occurred. Have any questions? Email sports editor Brian White at bwhite1@ Sign up for our high school sports newsletter Here are the candidates for central Ohio's preseason football offensive player of the year: Favour Akih, Delaware Hayes: Senior RB rushed for 1,653 yards and scored 21 TDs last season. Caleb Anthony, Africentric: Senior RB/WR had 2,086 all-purpose yards with 24 TDs. Drew Bellisari, Watterson: Senior QB passed for 2,106 yards and 30 TDs, rushed for 732 yards and 14 TDs. Collin Boff, Harvest Prep: Junior QB passed for more than 2,300 yards and 24 TDs. Jonathan Brown, DeSales: Senior RB rushed for 1,295 yards and 16 TDs. Nolan Buirley, Big Walnut: Junior RB rushed for 2,153 yards and 29 TDs, caught 21 passes for 358 yards and three TDs. Levi Davis, Olentangy Orange: Senior QB passed for 2,023 yards and 20 TDs, rushed for 853 yards and 12 TDs. Robert Lathon, Hartley: Senior RB rushed for 2,032 yards and 27 TDs. Jarin Mock, Pickerington North: Senior QB passed for 2,575 yards and 23 TDs, rushed for 186 yards and two TDs. Henry Ohlinger, Grandview Heights: Senior RB rushed for 1,788 yards and 28 TDs. Carson Welsh, Grove City: Senior QB passed for 2,354 yards and 22 TDs. Rocco Williams, Pickerington Central: Senior QB passed for 1,953 yards and 23 TDs, rushed for 305 yards and five TDs. High school sports editor Andy Resnik can be reached at aresnik@ and at @DispatchPreps on X. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio high school football top preseason player 2025: Vote now
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State football receives pledge from 2026 four-star edge rusher
Ohio State football receives pledge from 2026 four-star edge rusher Coming out of a big recruiting event last weekend, the Ohio State football team has a little momentum. The Buckeyes first received a pledge from 4-star in-state running back Favour Akih, and just on the heels of that news, OSU now has a commitment from 4-star defensive end Khary Wilder. Out of Gardena, California, Wilder is ranked as the No. 242 player and 32nd-ranked edge rusher in the 2026 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He chose Ohio State over Notre Dame, Alabama, UCLA, and Washington. He is the first defensive lineman in the class to commit to the Buckeyes. With the news, OSU's 2026 class has now grown to 15 total commitments and has jumped up to the No. 2 class in the country according to 247Sports. The Buckeyes still have plenty of room in the class it is putting together, and Larry Johnson would love to add more to the defensive line. We'll continue to cover all things Ohio State recruiting and bring you any noteworthy news as we continue to tread towards the Early Signing Period that begins in December. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ohio State Football Receives Major News on Sunday
Ohio State Football Receives Major News on Sunday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off a 2024 season filled with highs and lows. After suffering two heartbreaking regular-season losses to Oregon and Michigan, doubt began to surround the program—most of it directed at head coach Ryan Day, who received the brunt of the criticism. Advertisement However, the Buckeyes entered the College Football Playoff as the No. 8 seed and defied expectations. Despite facing a gauntlet of tough matchups, they rolled through their opponents—defeating Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame—to win the national championship for the first time since the 2014 season. When Day was named head coach in 2018 following Urban Meyer's departure, he didn't miss a beat. He kept Ohio State's recruiting momentum strong and maintained the program's reputation as one of college football's premier destinations. That success has continued into 2025, with more good news arriving on Sunday. Ohio State landed a commitment from Class of 2026 four-star running back Favour Akih, who chose the Buckeyes over Miami and USC. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound back hails from Delaware, Ohio, and adds to another impressive recruiting haul for Day and his staff. "Thank you Lord, go Bucks." Akih wrote. Fans reacted to the Buckeyes newest 2026 addition: Advertisement "Let's gooooo. Dynasty incoming," a fan said. Someone else added, "Ohio made!" Another fan posted, "BOOOOOOOMMM." "Dynasty well underway," one more fan commented. Ohio State Buckeyes football head coach Ryan Day© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images According to On3, Favour Akih holds a 91.41 industry ranking and is ranked as the No. 15 running back nationally in the Class of 2026, as well as the No. 9 overall prospect in the state of Ohio. Several other programs showed strong interest in Akih, including Penn State, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, West Virginia, and Michigan State, among others. When asked about his decision, Akih said, 'Staying home was the best selling factor for me,' in reference to his commitment to Ohio State. Advertisement Related: Ryan Day Announces Decision on Long-Term Future With Ohio State This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
08-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Recruiting video highlights of new running back commit Favour Akih
WATCH: Recruiting video highlights of new running back commit Favour Akih In case you missed the news, the Ohio State football program got a rather significant commitment to its 2026 recruiting class on Sunday with in-state 4-star running back Favour Akih. And while he may not be one of the 5-star talents all programs are salivating over, you can bank on OSU's coaching staff going after him because of what they have scouted. In fact, there aren't too many programs out there that do as well scouting high school players as the Buckeyes. Not only does Ohio State recruit at a high level, but it has historically been able to find players who are better than what the recruiting services say. Akih is the first running back pledge in the class, one that now has 14 members in it and is firmly ranked in the top five in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. In case you haven't seen highlights of the Rutherford B. Hayes High School product, we thought we'd share some game film from his junior season thanks to the fine folks at Hudl. Sure looks like there is some more than adequate speed, vision, and athletic ability there to work with. Is this Ohio State's next running back of the future? We shall see. Read More: Ohio State football 2026 recruiting commitment tracker Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BOOM! Ohio State football gains commitment from 4-star running back
The Ohio State football program is deep in the throes of summer recruiting season with camps and contact taking place. It just finished off a big recruiting weekend, and the Buckeyes appear to have made a good impression with in-state, 4-star running back Favour Akih because he gave his pledge to the Scarlet and Gray on Sunday. Out of Rutherford B. Hayes High School in Delaware, Ohio, Favour is a 4-star prospect ranked as the No. 166 overall prospect in the country and 14th running back recruit in the 2026 recruiting cycle according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Advertisement Favour grew up an Ohio State fan and longed to play for the Buckeyes but went through with his official visits, eventually narrowing his list down to OSU, Miami (FL), and USC. He established a close relationship with the Buckeyes' coaches, most notably running backs coach Carlos Locklyn. It always felt like he would don the Scarlet and Gray, but he made it official finally on Sunday just a couple of days after his official visit to campus on Friday. Read More: Ohio State football 2026 recruiting class tracker Favour becomes the first running back commitment and 14th overall commitment in the 2026 class, one that is a consensus top-five group at the moment, right where Ohio State is used to being. The Buckeyes would love to land one of the big running back targets still out there and are in play for Savion Hiter and Derrek Cooper. Advertisement As more recruiting news is made available, we'll have it for you here at Buckeyes Wire. This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State football gains pledge from 4-star in-state running back
