Springfield linebacker Jahmiere Daniels has been tabbed the 2026 OPSMA Division I Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year. The senior is the centerpiece of a Wildcats defense that has allowed just 10.9 points per game and is currently on an eight game winning streak. Daniels has recorded 46 tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Lakota West running back Kenton Norman, Northwestern commit, and Elder quarterback Kaden Estep, a Cincinnati commit, share the honors as the 2026 Southwest District Co-Offensive Players of the Year. Norman had one of the greatest season’s at running back in Lakota West (9-2) history. The senior ran for 1,642 yards (149.3/game), amassed 1,772 all-purpose yards (161.1/game), had 22 receptions for 125 yards and found the end zone 32 times on the ground and once receiving. He ran for more than 100-yards 10 times including three games of 210-plus yards with a career high of 261 yards rushing against Lakota East. He scored four touchdowns or more in six games.
Estep has accounted for 3,647 yards of total offense (2,783 pass, 864 rush) and accounted for 38 touchdowns (27 pass, 11 rush) for the 9-2 Panthers. The senior is 21-3 in his last 24 starts with 15 of those victories coming against teamd that finished the year with winning records.
Beavercreek Head Coach Trace Smitherman and Little Miami Head Coach Nate Mahon were named the 2026 OPSMA Division I Southwest District Co-Coaches of the Year. Smitherman guided the Battlin’ Beavers to their third playoff appearance in school history and first ever postseason victory. Mahon, who is in his second stint as the Panthers front man, led the program to a 7-4 mark. When he took over the duties after the 2024 campaign, Little Miami had averaged just two wins per year over the previous five seasons.
Here is a look at the 2026 Ohio Prep Sports Media Association Division I All-Southwest District football teams, as selected by a media panel from the district:
2026 OPSMA Division I All-Southwest District Teams
DIVISION I
First Team Offense
Backfield: Kaden Estep, Cincinnati Elder, 6-1, 180, sr., QB; Isaiah “Zeek” Garrett, Cincinnati Winton Woods, 5-9, 175, sr., RB; Britton “Juice” Glover-Brown, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, 5-11, 208, so., RB; Kye Graham, Huber Heights Wayne, 6-2, 215, jr. QB; Jordan Hall, Cincinnati Princeton, 6-0, 205, sr., RB; Kenyon Norman, West Chester Lakota West , 6-1, 191, sr., RB.
Receivers: Cordell Ball, Cincinnati Oak Hills, 6-2, 197, jr.; Noah Biliniski, Springboro, 6-1, 175, sr.; Jamier Brown, Huber Heights Wayne, 6-0, 190, sr.; Carter Jones, Liberty Township Lakota East, 5-9, 166, sr.; Andrew Lyman, Cincinnati Elder, 6-3, 195, sr.; Timothy Thompson, Springfield, 6-2, 188, so.
Linemen: Lual Aleu, Cincinnati Winton Woods, 6-4, 305, sr.; Kavon Blackmon, Springfield, 6-6 278, jr.; JJ Cook, Miamisburg, 6-2, 260, sr.; Ben McIlvain, Kettering Fairmont, 6-4, 270, sr.; Patrick O’Brien, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, 6-6, 305, sr.; Tucker Snelling, Lebanon, 6-1, 295, sr.
Athlete: Key’Sean Torbert, Cincinnati Princeton, 5-11, 185, jr.
Kicker: AJ Fitzstephens, Liberty Township Lakota East, 5-11, 159, jr.
First Team Defense
Linemen: Jaiden Davis, Middletown, 6-3, 270, sr.; Julian Dwyer, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, 6-5, 260, jr.; Terrance Jones Jr., Cincinnati Princeton, 6-2, 230, sr.; Jayvion McKinney-Cooper, Cincinnati Winton Woods, 5-10, 220, sr.; Carter Napier, Springboro, 6-3, 270, sr.; Reilly Newman, West Chester Lakota West, 6-6, 316, sr.
Linebackers: Judah Blair, West Chester Lakota West, 6-2, 194, jr.; Jahmiere Daniels, Springfield, 6-1, 210, sr.; Pete Fortkamp, Cincinnati Elder, 6-3, 215, jr.; Griffin Lyons, Cincinnati St. Xavier, 6-1, 230, jr.; AJ Taylor, Centerville, 6-1, 210, sr.; Max Weimer, Springboro, 5-11, 180, sr.
Secondary: Roman Combs, West Chester Lakota West, 6-4, 197, sr.; Kelvin Keyes Jr., Beavercreek, 5-10, 180, sr.; Marino Middleton, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, 6-0, 182, sr.; Monsanna Torbert, Cincinnati Princeton, 6-1, 180, sr.; Graham Uran, Cincinnati St. Xavier, 6-1, 200, jr.; Soren Vitas, Centerville, 6-1, 205, sr.
Punter: Tucker Wall, Cincinnati St. Xavier, 6-4, 190, jr.
Co-Offensive players of the year: Kaden Estep, Cincinnati Elder & Kenyon Norman, West Chester Lakota West
Defensive player of the year: Jahmiere Daniels, Springfield
Co-Coaches of the year: Nate Mahon, Little Miami & Trace Smitherman, Beavercreek
Second Team Offense
Backfield: Brandon Birdsong, Springboro, 5-10, 178, sr., RB; Logan Doty, Kettering Fairmont, 5-11, 200, sr., RB; Roman Garr, Cincinnati Colerain, 6-4, 190, jr., QB; Nile Knutson, Liberty Township Lakota East, 5-11, 185, jr., QB; Aidan Newdigate, Cincinnati St. Xavier, 6-3, 240, sr., QB/RB; Logan Schmenk, Lebanon, 5-10, 165, sr., RB.
Receivers: Karmelo Jordan, West Chester Lakota West, 6-0, 170, sr.; Braylon Keyes, Springfield, 5-11, 165, sr.; Wyatt Lassen, Lebanon, 6-2, 195, jr.; Lorenzo McMullen Jr., Cincinnati Princeton, 6-2, 185, jr.; Braxton Thurman, Liberty Township Lakota East, 5-5, 156, sr.; Logan Von Holle, Cincinnati St. Xavier, 6-2, 205, sr.
Linemen: Alex Bolar, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, 6-3, 305, sr.; Andrew Cramerding, Cincinnati St. Xavier, 6-5, 310, jr.; Cameron Crigler, Fairfield, 6-2, 305, sr.; Marvelous Elendu, West Chester Lakota West, 6-4, 292, jr.; Jason Middleton, Centerville, 6-6, 265, sr.; Marquis Myers, Springfield, 6-2, 280, sr.
Athlete: Nehemiah Ferguson, Cincinnati West Clermont, 6-0, 190, jr.
Kicker: Colby Barr, Clayton Northmont, 6-2, 230, sr.
Second Team Defense
Linemen: Evan Gray, Lebanon, 5-10, 220, sr.; Kaden Lawson, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, 6-0, 217, jr.; Samson Lingenfelter, Beavercreek, 6-1, 245, sr.; Jaylen Mercer, Cincinnati Princeton, 6-5, 290, sr.; Kehyon Roberts, Cincinnati Winton Woods, 6-1, 215, sr.; Tyrel Thompson, Springfield, 6-3, 215, sr.
Linebackers: Tra’vion Bailey, Liberty Township Lakota East, 6-2, 220, sr.; Chris Hyde, Middletown, 5-10, 210, jr.; Kobe Lewis, Fairfield, 6-3, 215, sr.; Terence Moore, Cincinnati Winton Woods, 6-0, 205, jr.; Avery Parker, Cincinnati Princeton, 6-3, 210, so.; Connor Robinson, Kettering Fairmont, 6-0, 195, sr.
Secondary: DJ Bryant, Middletown, 5-10, 155, sr.; Christian Coston, Cincinnati Winton Woods, 6-2, 190, sr.; Tanner Meadows, Morrow Little Miami, 5-11, 185, sr.; Eric Ruther, Fairfield, 6-0. 180, sr.; Gianni Simpson, Cincinnati Princeton, 5-9, 165, sr.; Jamison Webster, Beavercreek, 5-11, 180, sr.
Punter: Hunter Gagen, Fairfield, 5-11, 180, sr.
Honorable Mention: Ziere Alston, Centerville; Allen Brown Jr., Liberty Township Lakota East; Beckett Bush, Liberty Township Lakota East; Harlem Coleman, Middletown; Aaden Curtis, Huber Heights Wayne; Ka’ronn Daugherty, Cincinnati Princeton; Maddox Dixon, Springboro; Quaylen Hamilton, Hamilton; Colin Hunter, Beavercreek; Karson Jordan, West Chester Lakota West; Charles Newton Jr., Cincinnati Princeton; Amileo Norvell, Springfield; Brayden Redd, Huber Heights Wayne; Capone Shavers, Hamilton; Malachi Smith, Cincinnati Colerain; Kolby Wallace, Kettering Fairmont; Jonathan Balsly, Mason; Sidney Booker, Clayton Northmont; Brayden Barry, Cincinnati Princeton; Andrew Fryer, West Chester Lakota West; Carter Hainey, Morrow Little Miami; Derrick Jeffries, Cincinnati Princeton; Fletcher Kenkle, Cincinnati Oak Hills; Kory Minor, Huber Heights Wayne; Axsel Rogers, Fairfield; Cris’Shaun Smith, Middletown; Deacon Wilson, Hamilton; Tayjuan Wright, Springfield; Braylon Bryant, Middletown; Reid Byers, Fairfield; Jon Civils, Cincinnati Princeton; Milon Cokes, Miamisburg; Blake Courtney, Miamisburg; Max Doogan, Cincinnati Elder; Eli Hodge, West Chester Lakota West; Ty’Shawn Long, Springfield; Damir Richardson, Cincinnati Princeton; Cam Wells, Liberty Township Lakota East; Carson Haggins, Middletown; Tyler Homan, Cincinnati Elder; Aidan Turner, Hamilton; Carter Brueshaber, West Chester Lakota West; Gabriel Clyne, Huber Heights Wayne; Joey Corcoran, Mason; Jaden Freeman, Cincinnati Princeton; Austin Hosler, Cincinnati West Clermont; Andy Hutton, Mason; Kal-El Johnson, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller; Brendan Lauber, Liberty Township Lakota East; Sawyer Lingenfelter, Beavercreek; Tyler Meadows, Morrow Little Miami; Tyler Newman, Cincinnati Oak Hills; Trevon Rodgers, Springfield; Carson Sagraves, West Chester Lakota West; Keegan Stacy, Middletown; Javian Williams, Cincinnati Princeton; Phil Bailey, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller; DeMonnie Dawson, Cincinnati Colerain; Kru Collins, Springboro; David Fields, Cincinnati Princeton; Jayden Davis, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller; James Dyer IV, Huber Heights Wayne; Jasiah Feliciano, Cincinnati West Clermont; Desean Flagg Jr., Cincinnati Colerain; Jordan Foster, Lebanon; Will Gibson, Middletown; Aaron Jacobs, Cincinnati Colerain; Tristen Lofton, Fairfield; Kingston Majeed, Miamisburg; Brydon Martin, Miamisburg; Tayt Moore, Hamilton; Xavier Ratica, West Chester Lakota West; Jaydan Smith, Clayton Northmont; Carter Stewart, Morrow Little Miami; Ka’leem Taylor, Middletown; Chase Walpole, Cincinnati Elder; Reggie Watson, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller; Isaiah Hill, Cincinnati Sycamore; Joshua Thornton, Cincinnati Walnut Hills; Caylen Murray, Cincinnati Walnut Hills; Brayden Carpenter, Miamisburg; Anquan Evans, Cincinnati Oak Hills; Aiden Graham, Cincinnati St. Xavier; Kellen Reeves, Beavercreek; Amerius (Tubby) Stringer, Hamilton; Brayden Brown, Morrow Little Miami; Finn Freshwater, Miamisburg; Max Miller, Springboro; Kolby Morgerson, Middletown; Alex Nagel, Mason; Lincoln Schreiber, Cincinnati Oak Hills; Jackson Smith, West Chester Lakota West; Christoper Wallace, Springfield.
