Two Ohio State commits finalists for prestigious Player of Year honor
COLUMBUS — Ohio State commitments C.J. Hicks and Devin Brown have been named semifinalists for one of the country’s most prestigious high school football honors.
The Maxwell Football Club, along with presenting sponsor Adidas, released their 2021 semifinalists this week on both sides of the football. The award, established in 2007, has been earned by some of college football’s biggest names in recent years. The release says the honor is handed to “the nation’s best scholastic football player on each side of the ball.”
It’s a list full of names familiar to Ohio State recruiting fans, highlighted by two Buckeyes verbals. They are the two highest-rated commits in the 2022 Ohio State recruiting class.
Ohio State commit Devin Brown is semifinalist for Offensive Player of the Year
Devin Brown, who committed to Ohio State this week, is an Offensive Player of the Year semifinalist.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound quarterback from Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) High School had a huge year. He led the Chargers to a state championship game appearance, throwing for 57 touchdowns and just under 4,900 yards in 14 games, breaking the state record in Utah. Brown also rushed for another right scores and almost 500 yards.
Brown is the No. 2-ranked quarterback in the country according to On3.com.
Here are the other offensive semifinalists:
| First Name | Last Name | Position | High School |
| Drew | Allar | QB | Medina High School (OH) |
| Brady | Allen | QB | Gibson Southern High School (IN) |
| Kaytron | Allen | RB | IMG Academy (FL) |
| Devin | Brown | QB | Corner Canyon High School (UT) |
| Luther | Burden | WR | East Saint Louis High School (IL) |
| Josh | Conerly Jr. | OL | Rainier Beach High School (WA) |
| Omarion | Hampton | RB | Cleveland High School (NC) |
| Sam | Horn | QB | Collins Hill High School (GA) |
| Cade | Klubnik | QB | Westlake High School (TX) |
| Tetairoa | McMillan | WR | Servite High School (CA) |
| Zach | Rice | OL | Liberty Christian Academy (VA) |
| Gavin | Sawchuk | RB | Valor Christian High School (CO) |
| Nicholas | Singleton | RB | Governor Mifflin High School (PA) |
| Gunner | Stockton | QB | Rabun County High School (GA) |
| Conner | Weigman | QB | Bridgeland High School(TX) |
| CJ | Williams | WR | Mater Dei High School (CA) |
Five-star linebacker C.J. Hicks is a defensive semifinalist
One of Ohio State’s longest-tenured 2022 commitments, C.J. Hicks has made the semifinalists list on defense.
The country’s No. 2-ranked linebacker prospect, Hicks says the opportunity is an honor.
“That’s a very prestigious award,” Hicks told Lettermen Row. “It’s a true blessing.”
Hicks, who also played running back for Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio) this season, recorded almost 150 total tackles, intercepting two passes and forcing a fumble for the Knights.
Hicks is a 6-foot-2, almost 220-pound linebacker prospect who is expected to make an impact early in his Ohio State career.
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Here is who Hicks will be competing against for the award:
| First Name | Last Name | Position | High School |
| Omari | Abor | DL | Duncanville High School (TX) |
| Joshua | Burnham | LB | Central High School (MI) |
| Aiden | Gobaira | DL | Chantilly High School (VA) |
| C.J. | Hicks | LB | Archbishop Alter High School(OH) |
| Will | Johnson | DB | Grosse Point South High School (MI) |
| Jacoby | Matthews | DB | Ponchatoula High School (LA) |
| Christen | Miller | DL | Cedar Grove High School (GA) |
| Walter | Nolen | DL | Powell High School (TN) |
| Xavier | Nwankpa | DB | Southeast Polk High School (IA) |
| Harold | Perkins | LB | Cy Park High School (TX) |
| Toriano | Pride Jr. | DB | East Saint Louis High School (IL) |
| Travis | Shaw | DL | Grimsley High School (NC) |
| Jaylen | Sneed | LB | Hilton Head High School (SC) |
| Jalon | Walker | LB | Salisbury School (NC) |
| Mykel | Williams | DL | Hardaway High School (GA) |
| Kamari | Wilson | LB | IMG Academy (FL) |
Have any previous Ohio State commitments won this award?
Three former Buckeyes commitments — and one current Ohio State player — have earned this honor since its inception in 2007.
Devier Posey, a 2008 Buckeyes signee, was actually the first recipient of the award following his senior season at Cincinnati LaSalle High School.
Four years later, defensive lineman Noah Spence, a former five-star athlete from Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.) High School, was also tabbed as the winner.
The Maxwell Football Club didn’t honor offensive and defensive players until 2017. That year IMG Academy defensive tackle Taron Vincent was tabbed as the defensive player of the year. Trevor Lawrence was that year’s winner on offense.
Three finalists on offense and defense will be announced on Jan. 6, 2022. Winners will be announced on Jan. 11, 2022 with a formal awards ceremony in March.
