Eight seniors and one junior are amongst the nine finalists for the 2025 TriState Football Dayton Defensive Player of the Year. Five players are linebackers and four are defensive linemen.
This is the 17th year of this award, Collin Isaac, Royce Rogers and Jamarcus Whyce become the 10th, 11th and 12th players to be nominated for the honor two times.
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 Defensive Player of the Year.
C.J. Bryant, Middletown, Sr, LB – Was named OPSMA Division I Honorable Mention All-Ohio and Third Team All-TSF. Bryant was a tackling machine for a Middletown squad that went 11-3 and won the schools first regional title. He recorded 144 tackles (86 solo), 3.0 sacks, 25.0 tackles for losses, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and three interceptions including a pick-six.
Jahmiere Daniels-Portis, Springfield, Jr, LB – Was named OPSMA Division I Second Team All-Ohio. Daniels-Portis registered 88 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 14.5 tackles for losses, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two interceptions for the 8-5 Wildcats. He heads into his senior year with 165 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 25.5 tackles for losses, Six forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two interceptions. Daniels-Portis’ offers include Arizona State, Boston College, BGSU, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Duke, Illinois, Louisville, Maryland and Miami (OH), Ohio and Pitt.
Collin Isaac, Tippecanoe, Sr, LB – For a second straight season the heart-and-soul of the Red Devils defense was named OPSMA Division III First Team All-Ohio, OPSMA Division III Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year, Second Team All-TSF and TSF Dayton Defensive Player of the Year Finalist. Isaac led a unit that allowed a stingy 9.0 points per game, held 10 of their 11 victims to seven points or less (the other three to 16 points or fewer) and posted four shutouts. Isaac finished his senior campaign with 161 tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups and three takeaways (1 FR, 2 INTs). He finished his career with 386 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and five takeaways (2 FRs, 3 INTs). Isaac has committed to the University of Indianapolis.
Nolan Ogburn, Alter, Sr, DL – Was named OPSMA Division III First Team All-Ohio, GCL Co-ed Co-Defensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-TSF. Ogburn tallied 86 tackles, 25.0 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for the 8-4 Knights. He finished his career with 294 tackles, 62.0 tackles for losses, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Ogburn has committed to Ohio U.
Royce Rogers, Springfield, Sr, DL – Was named OPSMA Division I First Team All-Ohio, GWOC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-TSF and TSF Dayton Defensive Player of the Year Finalist (for a second straight year). Rogers recorded 80 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for losses with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He finished his career with 170 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 32.0 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Rogers has signed with Buffalo.
Riley Seibert, Butler, Sr, LB – Was named OPSMA Division II First Team All-Ohio, MVL Defensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-TSF. Seibert tallied 151 tackles, topped the MVL with 21.5 tackles for losses, tied for the league lead with 8.0 sacks and had two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for the 6-5 Aviators. He finished his career with 300+ tackles, 11.0 sacks, 43.0 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Seibert has signed with Iowa Western.
Derrick Singletary, Middletown, Sr, DL – Was named OPSMA Division I First Team All-Ohio and First Team All-TSF. Singletary played an integral role on a Middies defense that allowed just 9.0 points per game on the way to the schools first ever regional championship. He tallied 56 tackles,19.0 sacks, 30.0 tackles for losses, five forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and one interception. Singletary finished his career with 137 tackles, 30.5 sacks, 52.0 tackles for losses, six forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception. He has signed with Rice.
Evan Weinberg, Springboro, Sr, LB – Was named OPSMA Division I Third Team All-Ohio and Second Team All-TSF. A relentless force, Weinberg recorded 78 tackles, a GWOC best 11.5 sacks, along with 16.5 tackles for losses, one forced fumble and an interception for the 7-4 Panthers. He finished his career with 136 tackles, 13.0 sacks, 25.0 tackles for losses, one forced fumble and three interceptions. Weinberg has signed with Cincinnati.
Jamarcus Whyce, Trotwood-Madison, Sr,, DL – Was named OPSMA Division II First Team All-Ohio (for a second straight year), First Team All-TSF and TSF Dayton Defensive Player of the Year Finalist (for a second straight year). The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Whyce was in on 32 tackles, had 5.0 sacks, 6.0 tackles for losses and two fumble recoveries. He finished his career 144 tackles, 14.0 sacks, 21.5 tackles for losses and two fumble recoveries. Whyce has signed with Purdue.
Past TSF Dayton DPOY Finalists (players of the year in bold):
2024
Cesar Berryman (Valley View), Ronnie Butler (Xenia), Collin Isaac (Tippecanoe), Royce Rachel (Badin), Royce Rogers (Springfield), Jacob Taylor (Centerville), Aidan Weimer (Springboro) and Jamarcus Whyce (Trotwood-Madison).
2023
Javon Hammonds Jr. (Wayne), Jackson Heims (Springfield), Peyton Hoskins (Miamisburg), Nate Ostendorf (Badin), Reggie Powers III (Centerville), Bryce Reed (Valley View), Aaron Scott, Jr .(Springfield) and Devon Strobel (Troy).
2022
Gavin DeGroat (Valley View), Javon Hammonds Jr. (Wayne), Joseph Jean-Louis (Centerville), Cael Liette (Tippecanoe), Jackson Martin (Badin), Braedyn Moore (Badin), Jaivian Norman (Springfield) and Jamell Smith (Xenia).
2021
Ashton Ault (Bellbrook), Delian Bradley (Springfield), Nathan Coy (Springboro), Cayd Everhart (Tippecanoe), CJ Hicks (Alter), Tywann January (Springfield), Logan Neu (Badin) and Colton Trampler (Clinton-Massie).
2020
Delian Bradley (Springfield), Jonathan Bruder (Centerville), Jayden Carter (Badin), Ethan Fryman (Bellbrook), CJ Hicks (Alter), Jerrell Lewis (Piqua), Rod Moore (Northmont) and Hunter Warner (Fairborn).
2019
Sammy Anderson (Trotwood-Madison), Trey Baker (Fairmont), Devin Hall (Xenia), Mason Henry (Alter), Timmy Keseday (Springboro), Xzerious Stinnett (Springfield) and Hunter Warner (Fairborn).
2018
Trey Baker (Fairmont), Shane Cokes (Chaminade Julienne), Moses Douglass (Springfield), Max Evans (Madison Senior), Sam Jackson (Troy), Connor Meyer (Alter), Gabe Newburg (Northmont) and Nick Straw (Lebanon).
2017
Kennedy Coates (Trotwood-Madison), Logan Hannah (Valley View), Alex Reigelsperger (Wayne), Dawson Martin (Belmont), Alden Simms (Alter), Payton Standifer (Springboro), John Wehrkamp (Troy) and Max Wynn (Centerville).
2016
Mikey’ion Hunter (Trotwood-Madison), Jack Knipper (Beavercreek), Chris Meyers (Miamisburg), David Rueth (Alter), Alex Reigelsperger (Wayne), Matt Wilcox (Wayne), Kobe Vinegar (Trotwood-Madison).
2015
Tobias Gilliam (Wayne), Trevor Good (Brookville), Ben Hinton (Bishop Fenwick), Nic Martin (Butler), Chase Struewing (Waynesville), Roland Walder (Trotwood- Madison) and Louie Wasoski (Miamisburg).
2014
Kei Beckham (Trotwood-Madison), Alex Fryman (Bellbrook), Kraig Howe (Alter), Kevin Earles (Springboro), Bryce Jenkinson (Greenville), Tyree Kinnel (Wayne) and Robert Landers (Wayne).
2013
Vayante Copeland (Thurgood Marshall), Shane Hannah (Valley View), Ryan Reese (Trotwood-Madison), Airius Moore (Beavercreek), Dorian Hendrix (Wayne), Isaiah Williams (Northmont) and Robert Young (Miamisburg).
2012
Cameron Burrows (Trotwood-Madison), Greg Hart (Alter), Darrien Howard (Chaminade Julienne), Mitchell Larson (Xenia), Mike McCray (Trotwood-Madison), Airius Moore (Beavercreek) and Trent Smart (Clinton-Massie).
2011
Marcus Foster (Troy), Isaac Hammonds (Waynesville), Darrien Howard (Chaminade Julienne), Darius James (Springfield), Mike McCray (Trotwood- Madison), Jason Moorman (Fairborn), Ifeadi Odenigbo (Centerville) and Travis Nees (Piqua).
2010
Michael Bennett (Centerville), Justin Cox (Fenwick), Nicholas Grigsby (Trotwood-Madison), Trey DePriest (Springfield), Darrien Howard (Chaminade-Julienne), Teddy Link (Alter), Tre Moore (Wayne) and Kaleb Ringer (Northmont).
2009
Cody Byers (Alter), Trey DePriest (Springfield), Jake Dwyer (Springboro), Xavior Johnson (Northmont), Jordon Paschal (Trotwood-Madison) and Terry Talbott (Wayne).
