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2024 TSF Cincinnati DPOY Finalists

Hamilton DL Trey Verdon (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

There are 10 finalists for the 2024 TriState Football Cincinnati Defensive Player of the Year. Eight finalists are seniors and two are juniors. This is the 13th consecutive year that Winton Woods has had a DPOY finalist nomination.

This is the 18th year for this award, Justin Hill and P.J. Nelson become just the 15th and 16th players to be named a TSF Cincinnati DPOY finalist two years in a row. That elite group includes three former players that made it to the NFL – Jordan Hicks (Lakota West) in 2008-’09, Joel Heath (Mount Healthy) in 2009 -’10 and Adolphus Washington (Taft) in 2010-’11. Washington was the only one of the three to be named the TSF Cincinnati DPOY (in ’11).

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 17th, 2025 at the Holy Grail-Banks – RSVP 2024 TSF Year In Review Show

Here is a look at the 2024 TSF Cincinnati DPOY Finalists.

Grant Beerman, Lakota West, Sr, LB – Was named OPSMA First Team All-Ohio, GMC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-TSF. The heart-and-soul of a Firebirds defense that helped the team finish 11-2 last fall. Beerman was in on 103 tackles, with one-and-a-half sacks, 15.0 tackles for losses, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two pass breakups and one interception. He ends his career with 202 tackles, five-and-a-half sacks, 30.5 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three pass breakups and one interception. Beerman will play for Illinois next season.

Lakota West LB Grant Beerman (photo by: Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

Kobe Clapper, St. Xavier, Jr, DB – Was named OPSMA Division I First Team All-Ohio, GCL South Co-Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-TSF. A hybrid DB/LB who causes all sorts of troubles for opposing offenses because of his ability to slot in and do damage in so many different positions. Clapper tallied 105 tackles, four-and-a-half sacks, 11.5 tackles for losses, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups for the 10-4 Bombers. One of the most coveted defensive players in the Class of 2026 Clapper’s offers include Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Duke, Boston College, Pitt  and Louisville.

St. Xavier DB Kobe Clapper (photo by: Shelby Frieszell/TriStateFootball.com)

Raishawn Cotton, Mount Healthy, Sr, LB – Was named OPSMA Division II Second Team All-Ohio, SWOC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-TSF. A tackling machine, Cotton recorded SWOC bests of 168 tackles (114 solo) and 25.0 tackles for losses, for a second straight season. He also had 11.0 sacks, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as the Owls went 10-3. Cotton finished his career with 384 tackles, 16.0 sacks, 62.0 tackles for losses, nine forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

Ryan Coyle, Cincinnati Country Day, Sr, LB – Was named OPSMA Division VI First Team All-Ohio, OPSMA Division VI Southwest District Co-Defensive Player of the Year, MVC Gray Defensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-TSF. The cornerstone of the Cincinnati Country Day (11-2) defense, Coyle recorded 160 tackles, six tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, three pass breakups, three interceptions and 115 interception return yards. On offense, he ran for 667 yards, had 10 receptions for 182 yards, nine touchdowns (eight rush, one rec) and amassed 1,047 All-purpose yards. Coyle finished his career as the Nighthawks all-time leader with 453 tackles,  along with four sacks, 16.0 tackles for losses, eight forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, four pass breakups, 11 interceptions and 216 interception return yards. Offensively, he ran for 2,074 yards with 26 rushing scores, 25 receptions, 445 yards receiving, two touchdown catches and 2,902 all-purpose yards.

Justin Hill, Winton Woods, Sr, LB – Was named OPSMA Division I First Team All-Ohio, OPSMA Division I Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year, ECC Defensive Player of the Year (for a second straight year), First Team All-TSF  (for a second straight year) and TSF Defensive Player of the Year Finalist (for a second straight year). The highest compliment you can have as a defensive player is when opposing offenses have to gameplan to run and throw away from you and that’s what foes did on a weekly basis when facing Hill. He still managed to get in on 33 tackles, with eight sacks, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. Hill finished his career with 111 tackles, 26.5 sacks, 33.0 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 15 pass breakups, two interceptions and a pick-six. As a junior, Hill was also named OPSWA Division II First Team All-Ohio and OPSWA Division II Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year. He is off to play his college football at the University of Alabama.

Winton Woods LB Justin Hill (photo by: Shelby Frieszell / TriStateFootball.com)

P.J. Nelson, Princeton, Sr, LB – Was named OPSMA First Team All-Ohio (for a second straight year), First Team All-TSF (for a second straight year) and TSF Defensive Player of the Year Finalist (for a second straight year). The reigning TSF Cincinnati Defensive Player of the Year led the GMC with 149 tackles, had four-and-a-half sacks, 26.0 tackles for losses, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, four pass breakups and one interception helping Princeton to a 10-3 campaign. Nelson ended a storied career with 300 tackles, 22.5 sacks, 61.0 tackles for losses, 12  forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, eight pass breakups, two interceptions with one scoop-and-score and one pick-six. He will continue his football journey at Indiana University.

Princeton LB P.J. Nelson (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Brady O’Connor, LaSalle, Sr, LB – Was named OPSMA Division II First Team All-Ohio, GCL South Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Third Team All-TSF. The anchor of a Lancers defense that helped the team go 11-3 and make it back to the regional finals for the first time since 2020. O’Connor topped the GCL South with 114 tackles, had three sacks, 16.5 tackles for losses, three takeaways (one FR, two INTs) and a 53-yard scoop-and-score in a playoff win over Harrison. On offense, he led the team with eight touchdowns (five rec, three rush) on just 32 touches which included 24 receptions for 254 yards. Committed to Navy, O’Connor finished his career with 278 tackles, five-and-a-half sacks, 30.5 tackles for losses, four fumble recoveries, three interceptions, 43 receptions, 469 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns scored (nine rec, three rush, one FR).

La Salle LB Brady O’Connor (photo by: Sandy Mahoney/X: @InMotionBySandy)

Drayden Pavey, Taft, Sr, DL – Was named OPSMA Division IV Co-Defensive Player of the Year, OPSMA First Team All-Ohio (second straight year), OPSMA Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-TSF. A dominating presence who played a major role in Taft (12-3) winning the school’s first ever regional title (first ever for the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference – CMAC). Pavey tallied 79 tackles, had 11.5 sacks, 22,0 tackles for losses and a fumble recovery during the regular season for a unit that allowed just 8.6 points per game with six shutouts. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Pavey, will continue his career at the University of Wisconsin.

Taft DL Drayden Pavey (photo by: Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Trey Verdon, Hamilton, Sr, DL – Was named OPSMA First Team All-Ohio and and First Team All-TSF. One of the most impactful players in Southwest Ohio. Verdon missed the first three contest as Hamilton went 1-2 and then the Big Blue reeled off eight straight wins upon his return before finishing at 9-3. Verdon recorded 60 tackles, 11.0 sacks, 25.0 tackles for losses, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three pass breakups in nine games. A four-year starter, Verdon ended his career with 207 tackles, 26.5 sacks, 49.0 tackles for losses, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 10 pass breakups. He will join his brother Gabe and suit up for Iowa State next fall.

Logan White, Harrison, Jr, DL – Was named OPSMA Division II First Team All-Ohio, SWOC Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-TSF. White set a SWOC record with 15.5 sacks and had 83 tackles helping Harrison to a 10-3 mark. He heads into his senior campaign with 21.0 sacks in a Wildcats uniform.

Harrison OL/DL Logan White (photo by Sandy Mahoney / X: @InMotionBySandy)

Past TSF Cincinnati DPOY finalists (players of the year in bold)
2023
Jacob Asbeck (Lakota West), Tayshawn Banks (Taft), Quaid Hauer (Wyoming), Justin Hill (Winton Woods), P.J. Nelson (Princeton), Terhyon Nichols (Withrow), Kyler Paul (Moeller), Jayonn Saunders (Purcell Marian) and Shep Snell (Cincinnati Country Day).
2022
Tayshawn Banks (Taft), Joe Ginnetti (Moeller), Malik Hartford (Lakota West), Breeon Ishmail (Princeton), Brandon Martin (Moeller), Jermaine Matthews, Jr. (Winton Woods), Michael Mulvihill (Blanchester), Elias Rudolph (Taft) and Jacob Smith (Milford).
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) and 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) and 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) and 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) and 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) and Tegray Scales (Colerain).
2012
Michael Barwick Jr. (Summit Country Day), Daniel Cage (Winton Woods), Nick Isaacs (Withrow), Shane Jones (Moeller), Marcus Oliver (Hamilton) and Brady Vanover (Kings).
2011
Joe Bolden (Colerain), Jhalil Croley (Princeton), Nathan Gerbus (St. Xavier), Demond Jackson (Mount Healthy), Andre Jones (Colerain), Brady Vanover (Kings) and 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) and Adolphus Washington (Taft).
2009
Jibreel Black (Wyoming), Will Carroll (St. Xavier), Jerry Gates (Middletown), Joel Heath (Mount Healthy), Jordan Hicks (Lakota West) and Marcus Rush (Moeller).
2008
Denicos Allen (Hamilton), Drake Browne (CHCA), Nick Galvin (Moeller), Jordan Hicks (Lakota West), Pat Muldoon (St. Xavier) and Chris Williams (Winton Woods).
2007
Fred Craig (St. Xavier), Dwight Evans (Sycamore), Nate Lambert (CHCA), Brandon Mills (Colerain) and JK Schaffer (La Salle).

 

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