TSF 2022 Cincinnati DPOY Finalists

There are nine finalists for the 2022 TriState Football Cincinnati Defensive Player of the Year and all are first-time nominations for the award (for a second consecutive year). Six finalists are seniors, two are juniors and one is a sophomore. This is the 11^th consecutive year that Winton Woods has had a DPOY finalist nomination. Milford and Blanchester Edgewood have their first-ever finalists on this side of the ball.

The members of the All-TSF Teams, the TSF Teams of the Year, Players of the Year and finalists from Indiana, Dayton, Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati as well as the Mella Windows Players of the Week will be recognized at the TriState Football Year In Review Awards Show on Monday, February 20th, 2023 at the Holy Grail-Banks – RSVP 2022 TSF Year In Review Show

Here is a look at the finalists.

Tayshawn Banks, Taft, Jr, DB – OPSWA Division IV First Team All-Ohio, CMAC Red AOY and Second Team All-TSF. Banks snared eight interceptions, returned four picks for touchdowns, had 225 yards on interception returns, recovered a fumble, had more than 500 yards on kickoff and punt returns with a punt return and kickoff return for touchdowns helping Taft (11-3) to its eighth straight playoff appearance. His offers include Boston College, BGSU, Cincinnati, UConn, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Kent State, Kentucky, UMass, Miami (OH), Michigan, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue and West Virginia.

Joe Ginnetti, Moeller, Sr, LB – OPSWA Division I First Team All-Ohio, GCL South LBOY and Second Team All-TSF. Ginnetti racked up 100 total tackles, had three sacks, 15.5 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery helping Moeller (13-2) win its 18^th regional championship. He had 232 total tackles, three-and-a-half sacks, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions in a Crusaders uniform. Ginnetti has signed with Air Force.

Malik Hartford, Lakota West, Sr, DB – OPSWA Ohio Division I Co-DPOY, OPSWA First Team All-Ohio, OPSWA Division I Southwest District DPOY, GMC DPOY and First Team All-TSF. A lock down defensive back for Lakota West (13-1) who was an integral part of a defense that allowed just 10.0 points per game on their way to second consecutive appearance in the Division I, Region 4 regional finals and the school’s first undefeated 10-0 regular season. He finishes his career with 108 total tackles, four interceptions and two pick-sixes. Hartford is committed to Ohio State.

Breeon Ishmail, Princeton, Sr, LB – OPSWA Division I Second Team All-Ohio and First Team All-TSF. Ishmail was a menace in the middle of a Princeton (9-3) defense that held seven foes to 10 points or less including four shutouts. He recorded 64 total tackles, three-and-a-half sacks, 10.5 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles, had five takeaways (three FRs, two INTs) and a pick six. Ishmail has signed with Michigan.

Brandon Martin, Moeller, Sr, DL – OPSWA Division I First Team All-Ohio, GCL South DLOY and First Team All-TSF. Martin had a monster season against a killer schedule. He was in on 64 total tackles (39 solo), had 16.0 sacks, 23.0 tackles for losses, forced four fumbles and recovered a fumble to help Moeller (13-2) to its second straight regional title. Martin had five games with at least two sacks and seven in four playoff games. He finishes his career as the Crusaders all-time leader in sacks. Martin’s offers include Army, Mercyhurst, Tennessee-Martin and Valparaiso.

Jermaine Matthews Jr., Winton Woods, Sr, DB – OPSWA Ohio Division II DPOY, First Team All-Ohio, Southwest District DPOY, ECC DPOY and First Team All-TSF. A one-man wrecking crew for the Winton Woods (12-1) defense. Matthews Jr. was in on 51 total tackles, four forced fumbles, had four fumble recoveries, six interceptions including three pick-sixes and 209 interception return yards. He was also a force on offense and special teams with a touchdown catch on four receptions. Matthews Jr. also averaged 15.7 yards on 12 punt returns and found the end zone on a punt and kickoff return. For his career, Matthews Jr. registered 95 total tackles, forced seven fumbles, recovered six fumbles, had 11 interceptions, 235 interception return yards and three pick-sixes. He has signed with Ohio State.

Michael Mulvihill, Blanchester, So, LB – OPSWA Division V First Team All-Ohio, OPSWA Southwest District DPOY, SBAAC National OPOY & DPOY and Third Team All-TSF. Mulvihill stuffed the stat sheets with 105 total tackles, a sack, eight tackles for losses, two interceptions, 2,569 yards of total offense (1,415, rush, 1,154 pass) and accounted for 32 touchdowns (20 rush, 12 pass) helping guide Blanchester (8-4) to its eighth playoff appearance (fourth straight) and the first postseason road win in school history. Mulvihill head into his junior campaign with 1,516 yards passing, 2,035 yards rushing, 17 passing touchdowns, 27 rushing touchdowns, 166 total tackles, two-and-a-half sacks, two forced fumbles and four takeaways (three INTs, one FR).

Elias Rudolph, Taft, Jr, DL – OPSWA Division IV First Team All-Ohio (for a second straight year), OPSWA Southwest District DPOY, CMAC Red Co-DPOY and First Team All-TSF. Rudolph had more than 100 total tackles and 17.5 sacks as the Taft (11-3) defense led the way to the school’s first-ever regional finals appearance. The Senators had seven shutouts in 2022 and 12 in the 24 wins in Rudolph’s three years as a starter. His offers include Arkansas, Boston College, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Cincinnati, UConn, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Ohio State, Marshall, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Tennessee and Toledo.

Jacob Smith, Milford, Sr, DB – OPSWA Division I Third Team All-Ohio and First Team All-TSF (RS). Smith tied for the ECC lead with six interceptions, as well as tallying 77 total tackles (44 solo), two sacks, eight-and-a-half tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, amassing 870 yards on kickoff and punt returns, while averaging 19.6 yards per punt return, 28.9 yards per kickoff return, with two kickoff returns and one punt return for touchdowns as Milford (9-3) made it to the playoffs for a school record third consecutive year. A three-year starter, Smith ends his career with 187 total tackles, 10 takeaways (eight INTs, two FRs) and 985 all-purpose yards (without ever touching the ball on offense). Has signed to play lacrosse for the University of Albany.

Past TSF Cincinnati DPOY finalists
2021
Alex Afari (Lakota West), Jyaire Brown (Lakota West), Brody Foley (Anderson), Jay’ron Gibson (Winton Woods), Norey Johnson (Deer Park), Grant Lyons (St. Xavier), Kylyn Macklin (Purcell Marian) and Radical Rothermel (Edgewood).
2020
Andrew “Bam” Booker (Winton Woods), Dontay Corleone (Colerain), Matt Devine (St. Xavier), Jaylen Johnson (La Salle), Jackson Kuwatch (Lakota West), Diego Neri (Northwest), Cam Sanders (Winton Woods) and Devonta Smith (La Salle).
2019
Andrew “Bam” Booker (Winton Woods), Robert Brazziel Jr. (Taft), Dontay Corleone (Colerain), Darrion Henry (Princeton), Daved Jones (Lakota West), Camden O’Gara (Wyoming), Deshawn Pace (Colerain) and Luke Thiemann (La Salle).
2018
Hasan Black (Wyoming), Spencer Bono (Elder), Anthony “Tank” Booker (Winton Woods), Jowon Briggs (Walnut Hills), Ryan Mullaney (Moeller), Ivan Pace Jr. (Colerain), JJ Ross (Lakota West) and Jalen Thornton (Indian Hill).
2017 
Daniel Bolden (Colerain), Ja’von Hicks (Colerain), Thomas Kiessling (St. Xavier), Ryan Mullaney (Moeller), Cris Oats (Winton Woods), Luke Richardson (Clinton-Massie), Jarred Uran (La Salle) & Malik Vann (Fairfield).
2016 
Kyle Bolden (Colerain), Jerron Cage (Winton Woods), Jacob Cyrus (New Richmond), Lang Evans (Turpin), Keontae Jones (Colerain), Amir Riep (Colerain), Josiah Scott (Fairfield) & Tre’Sean Smith (La Salle).
2015
Kyle Bolden (Colerain), Jerron Cage (Winton Woods), Lang Evans (Turpin), Amir Riep (Colerain), Prince Sammons (CHCA), Hayden Specht (St. Xavier) & Jarell White (La Salle).
2014 
Demetrius Colbert (Colerain), Justin Hilliard (St. Xavier), David Long (Winton Woods), Prince Sammons (CHCA), CJ Stalker (Lakota West), Elijah Taylor (Moeller) & Jordan Thompson (LaSalle).
2013
Michael Barwick Jr. (Summit Country Day), Tinashe Bere (Sycamore), Jon Bezney (Mariemont), Mike Edwards (Winton Woods), Sam Hubbard (Moeller), Jordan Lackey (Mount Healthy), Charlie Lawler (Loveland) & Tegray Scales (Colerain).
2012 
Michael Barwick Jr. (Summit Country Day), Daniel Cage (Winton Woods), Nick Isaacs (Withrow), Shane Jones (Moeller), Marcus Oliver (Hamilton) & Brady Vanover (Kings).
2011 
Joe Bolden (Colerain), Jhalil Croley (Princeton), Nathan Gerbus (St. Xavier), Demond Jackson (Mount Healthy), Andre Jones (Colerain), Brady Vanover (Kings) & Adolphus Washington (Taft).
2010
Steven Daniels (St. Xavier), Sean Duggan (St. Xavier), Jarrett Grace (Colerain), Ryan Haynes (McNicholas), Joel Heath (Mount Healthy), Antonio Poole (Winton Woods) & Adolphus Washington (Taft).
2009
Jibreel Black (Wyoming), Will Carroll (St. Xavier), Jerry Gates (Middletown), Joel Heath (Mount Healthy), Jordan Hicks (Lakota West) & Marcus Rush (Moeller).
2008
Denicos Allen (Hamilton), Drake Browne (CHCA), Nick Galvin (Moeller), Jordan Hicks (Lakota West), Pat Muldoon (St. Xavier) & Chris Williams (Winton Woods).
2007  
Fred Craig (St. Xavier), Dwight Evans (Sycamore), Nate Lambert (CHCA), Brandon Mills (Colerain) & JK Schaffer (La Salle).

Related Posts

• 
  Preview: #2 La Salle vs. #1 Anderson
• 
  PHOTOS: Indian Hill vs. Taft
• 
  Taft topples Indian Hill, moves on to Regional Final 

You must be logged in to post a comment Login