CLEVELAND, Ohio — The race for Ohio’s Mr. Football award, the most prestigious individual high school football honor, is in full swing with the midpoint of the regular season quickly approaching.

With four weeks in the books, the first watch list of the season highlights a mix of explosive playmakers, dynamic quarterbacks and defensive anchors who’ve already made their mark across the state.

From small-school stars putting up video game numbers to Division I commits living up to the hype, this year’s field is wide open. Here’s a look at the early contenders who are turning heads and building momentum in the chase for Ohio’s 39th Mr. Football.

Drew Bellisari, Bishop Watterson, QB, Sr.

Bellisari led Watterson to a perfect 16–0 season and a Division III state championship in 2024, earning

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