There are seven finalists up for the 2025 TriState Football Dayton Offensive Player of the Year. Five are juniors and two are seniors.
This is the second finalist nomination for Deaunte White. He becomes just the 12th player in the 17 years of the TSF Dayton Offensive Player of the Year award to be nominated at least twice. Raveion Hargrove (Trotwood-Madison, 2015-’17) and Jacob Harrison (Chaminade Julienne/Centerville, 2010-’12) were three-time finalists.
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 16th, 2026 at the Holy Grail-Banks – RSVP 2025 TSF Year In Review Show
Here is a look at our finalists for the 2025 TriState Football Dayton Offensive Player of the Year.
Jamier Brown, Wayne, Jr, WR – Was named OPSMA Division I First Team All-Ohio (2nd Team in 2024), GWOC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-TSF (3rd Team in 2024). Appropriately nicknamed “Showtime”, the electrifying Brown is well worth the price of admission. He led the GWOC with 1,715 all-purpose yards and tied for the league lead with 16 total touchdowns scored (10 rec, 3 KRs, 2 rush, 1 PR), 10 touchdown catches and points scored with 102. He also had 73 receptions for 1,009 yards, averaged 48.9 yards on 10 kickoff returns, 33.5 yards on four punt returns as Wayne finished 9-5 and regional runner-up for a second straight season. Brown, an Ohio State commit, heads into his senior campaign with 187 receptions, 2,556 receiving yards, 4,151 all-purpose yards, 38 touchdowns and 244 points scored.
Drew Cripps, Alter, Jr, RB – Was named OPSMA Division III First Team All-Ohio (RB)(for a second straight season, as a DB in 2024), GCL Co-ed Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Second Team All-TSF (RB)(3rd Team as a DB in 2024). Cripps led the GCL Co-ed with 2,051 all-purpose yards, had 999 yards rushing, snared 19 receptions for 309 yards, averaged 22.6 yards per punt return, averaged 30.1 yards on kickoff returns, found the end zone 18 times (14 rush, 2 rec, 1 PR, 1 IR), recorded 73 tackles, had 5.0 tackles for losses and three three interceptions including a pick-six for the 8-4 Knights. He heads into his senior season with 2,005 yards rushing, 26 receptions for 369 yards, 3,733 all-purpose yards, 29 touchdowns (25 rush, 2 rec, 1 PR, 1 IR), 208 tackles, 14.0 tackles for losses, two fumble recoveries and four interceptions. Cripps has offers from Western Michigan, Ohio and Air Force.
Reginald Gardner. Belmont, Jr, WR – Was named OPSMA Division II Second Team All-Southwest District (ATH). Gardner won the DPS receiving triple crown and led the league in seven different categories – points scored – 88 points; touchdowns scored – 14; touchdown receptions – 10; receptions – 43; receiving yards – 1,016; yards per catch – 23.6 (min. 10 rec); all-purpose yards – 1,593. He also tied for the league lead with four interceptions, on defense. Gardner had at least 100 all-purpose yards nine times in 10 contests and six games of 100-plus yards receiving.
Kolby Morgerson, Carlisle, Jr, QB – Was named OPSMA Third Team All-Ohio. Morgerson has flourished in head coach Josh Koogle’s offense. He helped the Indians to an 11-3 mark and the second and third playoff wins in school history. Morgerson threw for 2,352 yards, ran for 416 yards and accounted for 35 touchdowns (24 pass, 11 rush). He heads into his senior campaign with 4,362 yards passing, 579 yards rushing, 39 touchdown passes and 15 rushing scores.
Larkin Thomas, Tippecanoe, Jr, QB – Was named OPSMA Division III First Team All-Ohio
DIII 1st Team All-Ohio. Thomas is a flat-out winner who helped the Red Devils to a 13-1 record, the school’s second ever regional title and back-to-back undefeated regular seasons last fall. He threw for 2,429 yards, ran for 632 yards and accounted for 35 touchdowns (27 pass, 8 rush). Heads into his senior year with a 24-2 mark as Tippecanoe’s starter under center which includes a perfect 20-0 record in the regular season. He has thrown for 5,108 yards, ran for 976 yards, with 65 touchdown tosses and 13 rushing touchdowns.
Anthony Valenti, Valley View, Sr, RB/WR – Was named OPSMA Second Team All-Ohio (WR)(3rd Team at RB in 2024) and SWBL Buckeye Offensive Player of the Year. Valenti was a Swiss Army Knife for the 11-2 Spartans who finished as the regional runner-up. He amassed 1,499 all-purpose yards, had 840 yards rushing, 500 yards receiving on 34 receptions and found the end zone 14 times (8 rush, 5 rec, 1 PR). On defense, Valenti was in on 56 tackles, had 6.0 tackles for losses, six pass breakups and three interceptions. In his four years as a starter, Valley View compiled a 46-9 record. Valenti finished his career with 242 yards passing, four passing touchdowns, 1,627 yards rushing, 60 receptions, 902 receiving yards, 16 touchdown catches, 3,135 all-purpose yards, one punt return for a touchdown, 209 tackles, 11.0 tackles for losses, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 21 passes defended and seven interceptions.
Deaunte White, Xenia, Sr, RB – Was named OPSMA Division II First Team All-Ohio (for a second straight season), OPSMA Division II Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year, MVL Offensive Player of the Year (for a second straight season), Second Team All-TSF (3rd Team in 2024) and TSF Dayton Offensive Player of the Year Finalist (for a second straight season). A blue collar, lunch pail workhorse, White embodies everything that Xenia is. He ran for 1,815 yards (165.0/game) and 25 touchdowns (24 rush, one rec) as The Buccaneers went 8-3. White finished his career with 3,807 yards rushing, 56 rushing touchdowns, nine receptions, 175 yards receiving, two touchdowns catches and 3,982 all-purpose yards.
Past TSF Dayton DPOY finalists (players of the year in bold)
2024
Alex Amburgy (Waynesville), Brock Baker (Fairmont), Shane Cole (Centerville), Jackson Davis (Tippecanoe), Tyrell Lewis (Wayne), Garrett Lundy (Waynesville), Emory Severance (Ross) and Deaunte White (Xenia).
2023
Preston Barr (Miamisburg), Connor Berrey (Waynesville), Caden Henson (Valley View), Cael Liette (Tippecanoe), Garrett Lundy (Waynesville), Jayvin Norman (Springfield), Alex Ritzie (Badin) and Jahari Ward (Troy).
2022
Anthony Brown (Springfield), Nic Bruder (Centerville), Jacob Clark (Valley View), RJ Mukes III (Wayne), Liam Poronsky (Tippecanoe), Evan Ruzzo (Springboro), Trei’Shaun Sanders (Xenia), Bryce Schondelmyer (Springfield) and Brock Short (Greenville).
2021
Seth Borondy (Bellbrook), Chase Harrison (Centerville), Elijah Jackson (Monroe), Jed Martin (Eaton), Jasiah Medley (Piqua), Te’Sean Smoot (Springfield), Carson Vanhoose (Clinton-Massie) and Jack Walsh (Badin).
2020
Markus Allen (Northmont), Titan Case (Springboro), Ca’Ron Coleman (Piqua), Branden McDonald (Alter), Kenyon Owens (Chaminade Julienne), Cade Rice (Northmont), Te’Sean Smoot (Springfield) and Carson Vanhoose (Clinton-Massie).
2019
Quincy Johnson Jr. (Chaminade Julienne), Keaton Kesling (Northmont), Brendan Lamb (Clinton-Massie), AJ Lovin (Milton-Union), Brayden Siler (Troy), Larry Stephens (Springfield), Jeff Tolliver (Springfield) and Braden Woods (Franklin).
2018
Connor Bazelak (Alter), Jaydon Culp-Bishop (Troy), Jesse Deglow (Fairmont), Jack Fessler (Fenwick), Miles Johnson (Northmont), Sincere Wells (Xenia) and Mason Whiteman (Madison Senior).
2017
John Bivens III (Alter), Isaiah Bowser (Sidney), Alec Grandin (Centerville), Raveion Hargrove (Trotwood-Madison), Devin Kenerly (Northmont), L’Christian “Blue” Smith (Wayne), Markell Stephens-Peppers (Trotwood-Madison) and Tavion Thomas (Dunbar).
2016
Dakota Allen (Lebanon), Danny Davis (Springfield), Raveion Hargrove (Trotwood- Madison), Hayden Kotwica (Troy), Nick Kovacs (Springboro), Ryan Montgomery (Franklin), Josh Myers (Miamisburg) and Fred Pitts (Wayne).
2015
Elijah Cunningham (Springboro), Danny Davis (Springfield), Jayden Davis (Kenton Ridge), Messiah DeWeaver (Wayne), Raveion Hargrove (Trotwood-Madison), Jacob Harrison (Centerville) and Daryl McCleskey (Wayne).
2014
Jacob Harrison (Chaminade Julienne), Dusty Hayes (Alter), DL Knock (Springboro),
D’Mitrik Trice (Wayne), Will Vance (Centerville), Chayse Wolf (Clinton-Massie) and Trent Yeomans (Piqua).
2013
Jacob Harrison (Chaminade Julienne), Luke Kennard (Franklin), Jacob Hall(Tippecanoe), D’Mitrik Trice (Wayne), Damian Popp (Centerville), Bayle Wolf (Clinton-Massie) and Trent Yeomans (Piqua)
2012
Frank Catrine (Bishop Fenwick), Isreal Green (Trotwood-Madison), Chris Hymer (Franklin), Luke Morgan (Lebanon), Bayle Wolf (Clinton-Massie) and Malik Zaire
(Alter).
2011
Aaron Abbott (Lebanon), Taylor Decker (Butler), Cole French (Eaton), Israel Green (Trotwood-Madison), Javon Harrison (Wayne), Mike Simpson (Trotwood-Madison), Kendrick Williams (Fairborn) and Malik Zaire (Alter).
2010
Antwan Gilbert (Trotwood-Madison), Joe Londergan (Carroll), Braxton Miller (Wayne), Joey Robertson (Fenwick), Tim Szabo (Chaminade-Julienne), Joe Thunney (Alter) and George Walker (Springfield).
2009
Michael Bennett (Centerville), Antoin Campbell (Springboro), Chase Cochran (Lebanon), Antwan Gilbert (Trotwood-Madison), Sam Keegan (Fenwick) and Braxton Miller (Wayne).
