Opportunities knock for newcomers at the skills positions in the Miami Valley League. The conference does not return a player that has more than 1,000 yards rushing in their careers. In fact, the MVL’s top two two leading rushers heading into this season are quarterbacks – Larkin Thomas and Devin McCormick.
It’s much the same on the other side of the ball. Young, fresh faces are going to get the chance to make their marks this fall. Of the six defensive leaderboard categories listed below Jaden Blackshear and Ryan Kolb are the top two returning performers in four of those. Only 11 other league returnees find themselves amongst the leaders.
Here is a look at the MVL’s active leaders heading into 2026:
PASSING YARDS
5,108…Larkin Thomas, Sr, Tippecanoe
5,037…Devin McCormick, Sr, Stebbins
1,320…Chris Davis, Jr, Piqua
1,274…Andrew Lundy, So, Sidney
1,043…Daylen Switzer, Sr, Fairborn
PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
65……..Larkin Thomas, Sr, Tippecanoe
44……..Devin McCormick, Sr, Stebbins
16……..Chris Davis, Jr, Piqua
RUSHING YARDS
976……Larkin Thomas, Sr, Tippecanoe
691……Devin McCormick, Sr, Stebbins
634……Jace Love, Sr, Butler
RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
15……..Jace Love, Sr, Butler
13……..Larkin Thomas, Sr, Tippecanoe
RECEPTIONS
60………Brayden Walters, Sr, Stebbins
39………Marcell Jefferson, Sr, Stebbins
33………Maleek Franklin, Sr, Sidney
33………Grant Titley, Sr, Tippecanoe
RECEIVING YARDS
878…….Brayden Walters, Sr, Stebbins
873…….Marcell Jefferson, Sr, Stebbins
460…….Trey Newton, Sr, Stebbins
449…….Grant Titley, Sr, Tippecanoe
420…….Rico Smith, Sr, Fairborn
RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS
10………Brayden Walters, Sr, Stebbins
9………..Marcell Jefferson, Sr, Stebbins
5………..Rico Smith, Sr, Fairborn
5………..Cade Havill, Sr, Tippecanoe
5………..Grant Titley, Sr, Tippecanoe
TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS SCORED
15………Jace Love, Sr, Butler
13………Larkin Thomas, Sr, Tippecanoe
10………Brayden Walters, Sr, Stebbins
10………Marcell Jefferson, Sr, Stebbins
ALL-PURPOSE YARDS
1,583…Rico Smith, Sr, Fairborn
1,296…Marcell Jefferson, Sr, Stebbins
TOTAL TACKLES
121…….Jaden Blackshear, Sr, Butler
115…….Ayden Mckenzie, Sr, Stebbins
115…….Ryan Kolb, Sr, Tippecanoe
115…….Michael Fox, Sr, Greenville
102…….Tyler Thompson, Jr, Xenia
SACKS
10.0……Jaden Blackshear, Sr, Butler
8.0……..Ryan Kolb, Sr, Tippecanoe
8.0……..Caleb Buckner, Jr, West Carrollton
7.0……..Ayden Mckenzie, Sr, Stebbins
TACKLES FOR LOSSES
22.0……Ayden Mckenzie, Sr, Stebbins
18.0……Jaden Blackshear, Sr, Butler
18.0……Ryan Kolb, Sr, Tippecanoe
12.0……Caleb Buckner, Jr, West Carrollton
12.0……Billy Trent, Sr, Stebbins
FORCED FUMBLES
3………..Jaden Blackshear, Sr, Butler
3………..Ryan Kolb, Sr, Tippecanoe
FUMBLE RECOVERIES
5………..Toby Hoover, Jr, Tippecanoe
5………..Kowen Ludwig, Sr, Sidney
3………..Myles Haney, Sr, Piqua
3………..Hunter Grissom, Jr, Piqua
INTERCEPTIONS
4………..Cash Jordan, Sr, Butler
4………..Colton Akins, Sr, Troy
3………..Jay Hancock, Sr, Piqua
3………..Braylon Rodeheffer, Sr, Sidney
KICKING POINTS
89………Owen Bailys, Sr, Tippecanoe (65/71 XPs, 18/12 FGs)
66………Wesley Rohler, Sr, Fairborn (63/82 XPs, 1/8 FGs)
55………Matt Barth, Sr, Troy (40/41 XPs, 5/8 FGs)
46………Blake Sutton-Shumway, Jr, Xenia (43/51 XPs, 1/3 FGs)
