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ATHENS, Ohio— The Ohio football program added 20 student-athletes to the 2026 signing class during the early signing period today (Dec. 3).
 
Defensive tackle Austin Adkins (Strongsville, Ohio), cornerback Jay Brewer III (Akron, Ohio), linebacker Alex Brown (Mason, Ohio), cornerback Kindall Brown (Cleveland, Ohio), offensive lineman Colton Crosley (Mayfield, Ohio), quarterback Levi Davis (Lewis Center, Ohio), offensive lineman Danny Fortson Jr. (Cincinnati, Ohio), wide receiver Zach Hackleman (Cleveland, Ohio), wide receiver Marcus Hughbanks (Cincinnati, Ohio), defensive tackle Nate Hunt-Heller (Tallmadge, Ohio), safety Brandon Jenkins (Chicago, Ill.) running back James Kelly (Trussville, Ala.), offensive lineman Job Mavrick (Westfield, Ind.), safety Ryan Miller (Columbus, Ohio), offensive lineman Mike Montgomery (West Branch, Iowa), offensive lineman Will Odenthal (Nelsonville, Ohio), wide receiver Kaden Page (Wapakoneta, Ohio), defensive tackle Drayden Pavey (Cincinnati, Ohio), defensive end Troy Stiggers (Lithonia, Ga.) and dafety Malachi Taylor (Columbus, Ohio) are set to join the Bobcats in 2026. 
 
The 2026 signing class features: 

• Five offensive linemen 
• One running back 
• One quarterback 
• Three wide receivers
• Three defensive tackles 
• One defensive end 
• Three safeties
• Two cornerbacks 
• One linebacker 
• Student-athletes from six different states 
• 13 student-athletes from Ohio 

 
Austin Adkins 
DT | 6-3 | 270 | Strongsville, Ohio | Strongsville HS
 
Prior to Ohio: A three-sport athlete, Austin played football, wrestled and ran track for Strongsville High School... Captained the 2025 football team... Played football all four years, earning three varsity letters... Wrestled for two seasons and ran track for three, earning letters for each season... Tallied 44 tackles—including 18 tackles for loss—19 sacks and one fumble recovery touchdown in his senior campaign... Tied Strongsville's single-game sack record (6)... Broke Strongsville's single-season sack record (19) in 2025... Named Second Team All-District and Honorable Mention All-State in 2024... Earned 2025 First Team All-District nod... Two-time All-Conference awardee (2024, 2025)... 
 
Personal: Son of Jennifer and Dave... Has three sisters: Victoria, Alexis and Allison... Enjoys golfing, fishing, lifting and hiking... Favorite athletes are Myles Garrett and Zach Allen... Is an all-around Cleveland sports fan, rooting for the Browns, Cavaliers and Guardians... Plans to study mechanical engineering.
 
Jay Brewer III 
CB | 6-2 | 190 | Akron, Ohio | Walsh Jesuit HS 
 
Prior to Ohio: A three-time letter winner, Jay played football at Walsh Jesuit High School for four years... Captained the 2025 squad, leading them to a 2025 regional championship... In his senior season, he tallied 64 tackles—including three tackles for loss—two interceptions and five pass breakups... Also a member of the 2022 basketball team.
 
Personal: Son of Ferran and James... Has one sister, Kayla... His family member, Tawanna Young, is a former Ohio track and field student-athlete... Likes working out and traveling in his spare time... Favorite team is the Cleveland Browns... Favorite athlete is Sauce Gardner... Plans to pursue a degree in nursing, with the goal of becoming a pediatric nurse. 
 
Alex Brown 
LB | 6-2 | 220 | Mason, Ohio | Mason HS 
 
Prior to Ohio: Played football for Mason High School for four years... Was a three-year varsity starter, earning three letters... Logged over 300 tackles—including 28 tackles for loss—11 sacks and seven pass breakups across 45 games... Captained the 2025 and 2025 squads... Named 2024 Second Team All-Conference... Named Mason High School's best linebacker in 2024 and 2025... Earned Mason High School's Tom Steinhauer Award twice (2024-25), which is given to the athlete with the most tackles on the team... Mason's 2025 Coment Award recipient (MVP) and named the team's best defensive player... Also played lacrosse for three years, earning two varsity letters.
 
Personal: Son of Nicole and Sean... Has one brother, Nick... Father played football at Case Western.... Alex's uncle, Anthony Cantrell, played football for Dayton... Favorite athlete is Michael Jordan... Alex has multiple hobbies, and enjoys writing, drawing and exercising—among other things—in his spare time... Intends to major in mechanical engineering. 
 
Kindall Brown 
CB | 5-11 | 185 | Cleveland, Ohio | Maple Heights HS 
 
Prior to Ohio: Played for the Maple Heights football team, earning three varsity letters... Captained the 2023 and 2024 squads... Accolades include Freshman MVP, Mr. Maple Heights and 2025 MVP... Made First-Team All-District every year of participation... A two-sport athlete, Kindall also earned two varsity letters in track. 
 
Personal: Son of Wendy and Erique... Has one brother, Erique, and two sisters, Kaidyn and Elicia... His uncle, Charles Brown, was a cornerback for UNC from 2007-11, making 34 career starts... Kindall's favorite athlete is Denzel Ward and his favorite team is the Cleveland Browns... Plans to study sports medicine, with the goal of becoming a physical therapist or trainer... Likes listening to music in his spare time. 
 
Colton Crosley 
OL | 6-3 | 290 | Mayfield, Ohio | Walsh Jesuit HS
 
Prior to Ohio: A four-year member of Walsh Jesuit's varsity football team... Captained the 2025 squad, leading the team to the state semifinals... Played in 53 games, starting 47 times... appeared on both the offensive and defensive line... Earned All-Conference and First Team All-District in 2024 and 2025... Named to 2024 All-State team...
 
Personal:  Son of Becky and Scott... Has one brother, Declan, and two sisters, Carson and Ripley... Has four family members who were Ohio student-athletes: grandfather Lloyd Danner,  aunts Ruth Danner and Sarah Danner Hebdo, and uncle Joey Hebdo... Colton's sister, Ripley, played ice hockey at Miami (Ohio)... Also had family members play basketball at Arkansas State and football at Kentucky... Enjoys fishing and golfing in his spare time... Favorite athlete is Jason Kelce... Roots for the Cleveland Browns and the Indianapolis Colts... Plans to major in sport management.
 
Levi Davis 
QB | 6-0 | 190 | Lewis Center, Ohio | Olentangy Orange HS 
 
Prior to Ohio: A three-sport athlete, Levi has earned four varsity letters in football (2022-25), as well as three varsity letters in both basketball and track (2023-25)... Captained both the 2024 and 2025 squads, leading both to become Division I OCC Central League Champions... The 2025 team is playing in the state finals on Friday, Dec. 5... With one game in his high school career remaining, Levi has appeared in 47 games, starting 45 times, and logged 7,292 passing yards, 3,108 rushing yards and 94 touchdowns... Current Mr. Ohio Football finalist, which will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 4... Named 2025 Player of the Year by both OHSAA Central District and Ohio Capital Conference... Earned 2024 All-State recognition... Named OHSAA Central District First Team (2024, Special Mention (2023) and Honorable Mention (2022)... Earned Ohio Capital Conference First Team (2023-24) and Honorable Mention (2022) recognition... Three-time football and basketball scholar-athlete...Named to track's Ohio All-Academic in 2024 and 2025... A part of the 2025 basketball state championship team... Also earned OHSAA All-State, OHSAA Central District and Ohio Capital Conference recognition multiple times from 2023-25.
 
Personal: Son of Melissa and LaBronz... Has one brother, LaBronze II, and one sister, London... His brother played football for Bowling Green from 2019-21 and his sister played volleyball for Kansas from 2021-24... Levi's favorite athlete is C.J. Stroud and his favorite team is the Houston Texans... Likes cooking and playing pickleball in his spare time.
 
Danny Fortson Jr. 
OL | 6-5 | 265 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Princeton HS 
 
Zach Hackleman 
WR | 6-2 | 185 | Cleveland, Ohio | St. Edward HS
 
Prior to Ohio: Played both football and basketball for St. Edward High School, earning a varsity letter in each sport... Captained the 2025 football team... Named District I Division I Co-Offensive MVP... In three years, Zach started in 40 games, scoring 39 times across 141 receptions on 2,319 receiving yards... Holds the St. Edward all-time receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdown records... Broke the regular-season records for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns... Responsible for the longest kick return in program history (99 yards) and longest punt return in program history (92 yards)... Tied the school record for most receiving touchdowns in a game (3)... Helped his team win the state championship his sophomore year and made appearances in the state semi-finals his junior and senior years.
 
Personal: Son of Stacie and Ron... Has one brother, Tyler... Roots for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Browns... Favorite athlete is Justin Jefferson... Likes to play Xbox and hang out with friends in his spare time... Zach intends to pursue a business major.
 
Marcus Hughbanks 
WR | 6-3 | 205 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Batavia HS 
 
Prior to Ohio: Four-year varsity letterwinner in football as well as indoor and outdoor track... Multi-year football team captain in both sports... Three-time football All-State honoree...Capped off his high school career with a strong senior season, logging 14 touchdowns and 73 receptions on 1,184 receiving yards... Recorded a single-season personal-best 1,304 receiving yards as a junior, scoring 20 times on 67 receptions... Tallied 910 receiving yards, 58 receptions and 11 touchdowns his sophomore season... Scored five times on 20 receptions and 250 receiving yards in his freshman campaign...A part of a four-time league champion and one-time region champion track team... All-American hurdler.
 
Personal: Son of Katie... Has two sisters, Pasiley and Abby... Favorite athlete is Jesse Owens... Favorite team is the Cincinnati Bengals... Enjoys working out in his spare time... Intends to major in finance and would like to own his own business.
 
Nate Hunt-Heller 
DT | 6-3 | 240 | Tallmadge, Ohio | Tallmadge HS

Prior to Ohio: A member of the Tallmadge High School football team for four years, earning three varsity letters... Captained the 2025 squad... Named 2025 Second Team All-Suburban League... Logged 58 tackles, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his career...

Personal: Son of Lisa and Paul... Has two sisters, Torri and Lexi... Favorite athletes are Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa and Rob Gronkowski... An all-around Cleveland sports fan, Nate is a fan of the Browns, Cavaliers and Guardians... Enjoys fishing, liftingm playing Xbox and watching football... Indends to major in finance.
 
Brandon Jenkins 
S | 5-11 | 200 | Chicago, Ill. | John Hersey HS 
 
Prior to Ohio: Earned three varsity letters across four years playing for the John Hersey High School football team... On the offensive side of the ball, Brandon recorded 3,044 rushing yards and 562 receiving yards... On defense, he logged 68 total tackles—including 36 tackles for loss—and nine interceptions... Three-time team captain... Led the 2025 team to the state championship quarterfinals for the first time since 1987... Two-time All-State honoree...  Earned All-Conference, All-Area and Team MVP once each... Owns John Hersey's career rushing and the second all-time single-game rushing record, both of which he logged his senior year... Also ran track for three years, earning three varsity letters.
 
Personal: Son of Shanica and Benny... Has three brothers, Jalen, Sean and Nune, and two sisters, Jasmine and Kennedy... In his spare time, he enjoys cooking and playing video games... Favorite athlete is Cam Newton and he roots for the Indianapolis Colts... 
 
James Kelly 
RB | 6-0 | 205 | Trussville, Ala. | Hewitt-Trussville HS
 
Prior to Ohio: Played for Hewitt-Trussville High School... Recorded 460 total yards a senior and 534 yards as a junior... Named to Academic All-American team... Also a member of the track team.
 
Personal: Son of Crystal and James... Has two sisters, Lexie and Townley... His older sister, Lexie, currently plays softball at Wallace State CC... James roots for the Carolina Panthers and his favorite athlete is Christian McCaffrey... In his spare time, James, enjoys working out, as well as spending time with his family and friends... Intends to major in engineering. 
 
Ryan Miller 
S | 6-3 | 195 | Columbus, Ohio | Pickerington North HS 
 
Prior to Ohio: Played for the Pickerington North High School football team... Started his sophomore, junior and senior years... Tallied a career 160 tackles, five interceptions, five sacks and two touchdowns... A member of the 2025 Ohio Capital Conference championship team, Ryan earned 2025 First Team All-OCC honors... Also earned All-Central District Special Mention following his senior campaign... 
 
Personal: Son of Kelly and Brett... Both of Ryan's parents were Mid-American Conference athlete... his mom played basketball for Eastern Michigan and his dad played football for Bowling Green... Has one brother, AJ, who is a current member of Ohio's football program... Favorite athlete is Lebron James... Plans to study criminal justice and sociology.
 
Mike Montgomery 
OL | 6-5 | 250 | West Branch, Iowa | West Branch HS 
 
Prior to Ohio: A three-sport athlete, Mike was a member of the football, basketball and track and field teams at West Branch High School... Four-time football letterman... three-time basketball letterman... two-time track and field letterman... Captained the 2025 football team... Amassed 83.5 total tackles—including 51 solo stops and 14 tackles for loss—as well as 4.5 sacks across his high school career... Earned 2025 Second Team All-State recognition... Named 2022 Freshman of the Year.
 
Personal: Son of Lori and David... Has two sisters, Kaylee and Kya... Enjoys playing video games, golfing, lifting and hanging out with friends in his spare time... Wants to pursue welding career upon graduation... Favorite athlete is Khalil Mack... Favorite team is the Chicago Bears.
 
Job Mavrick 
OL | 6-2 | 290 | Westfield, Ind. | Westfield HS 
 
Prior to Ohio: A three-sport athlete, Job was a member of the football, wrestling and track teams... In total, he earned 12 varsity letters... Helped lead the 2024 team to the 6A IHSAA championship game... Captained the 2025 squad... In the four years Job was a member of the Westfield High School offensive line, no sacks were allowed... 
 
Personal: Son of Danielle and Sam... His father played football for West Virginia Tech (1994-97) and played for the Arena Football League (1999-2004)... Has one brother, Joseph, and two sisters, Adalyn and Delaney... Favorite athlete is Jason Kelce... Roots for the Indianapolis Colts... Enjoys fishing and lifting in his spare time... Plans to study sport management.
 
Will Odenthal 
OL | 6-5 | 300 | Nelsonville, Ohio | Nelsonville-York HS 

Prior to Ohio: A four-year letterman for the Neksonville-York football team... Started in 46 of 48 games, posting a 38-10 record and making four playoff appearances... Captained the 2024 and 2025 squads, leading the team to two Tri-Valley Conference championships... 2025 team closed the season as regional runners up... Also snagged a TVC championship his freshman campaign (2022)... Earned 2024 and 2025 All-TVC First Team honors... Named 2025 All-District... Earned 2024 All-District Honorable Mention nod... A three-sport athlete, also earned four varsity letters in track and field and three for wrestling... Regional shot put qualifier... Two-time TVC heavyweight champion... Captained the 2024 and 2025 wrestling teams.

Personal: Son of James and Maggie... Has one sister, Abbie... Favorite athlete is Jason Kelce and he roots forthe Cincinnati Bengals... Enjoys playing video games, watching movies and hanging out with friends in his spare time... Intends to study psychology and sociology... Plans to work at a hospital as a clinical psychologist. 
 
Kaden Page 
WR | 6-3 | 195 | Wapakoneta, Ohio | Wapakoneta HS 

Prior to Ohio: Played for Wapakoneta High School's football team for four years, earning three varsity letters... Across his career, logged 3,079 receiving yards, 220 receptions and 31 touchdowns.. Owns Wapakoneta's record for career receptions and career receiving yards... Also set Wapakoneta's record for receptions in a single game... Earned both First Team Western Buckeye League Defensive Skill and Offensive Skill honors in 2024 and 2025... 2025 First Team All-District....Helped lead his team to four league titles, extending Wapakoneta's streak to seven consecutive Western Buckeye League Championships... Also earned one varsity letter for basketball.

Personal: Son of Lori and Jeremy... Has two brothers, Kalabe and Bryce... Favorite athlete is Lebron James... Roots for the Pittsburgh Steelers... Enjoys lifting, fishing and playing video games.
 
Drayden Pavey 
DT | 6-3 | 280 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Taft HS

Prior to Ohio: Played for Taft High School's football team for four years, earning three varsity letters... Logged 87 tackles, including 24 for a loss, and 11.5 sacks as a senior... During his junior campaign, recorded 57 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks... Finished his sophomore season with 24 total tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks... Named the Division Four Player of the Year... Two-time All-State honoree... Two-Time All-Conference.

Personal: Son of Kristin...  Favorite athlete is Myles Garrett... Enjoys gaming and being outside... Intends to major in business with the goal of owning his own business.
 
Troy Stiggers 
DE | 6-3 | 240 | Lithonia, Ga. | Stephenson HS
 
Prior to Ohio: Captained the 2025 Stephenson High School football team... Earned two football varsity letters... Appeared in 12 games this season, logging 81 total tackles—including 30 tackles for loss— 10 sacks and five pass breakups... Also logged 320 punt return yards in four games... Earned 2025 First Team All-Region nod... Previously played for Parkview High School (2023-24), appearing in 19 games across two seasons... Named 2024 Second Team All-Region and Honorable Mention All-State... Notably, the 2025 Stephenson squad was the regional champion, becoming the first Stephenson team in school history to have back-to-back-to-back region championships.
 
Personal:  Son of Carlos... Has one sister, Destiny... Cousin Qwan'tez Stiggers is currently a cornerback for the New York Jets and previously played for the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts... Likes bowling in his spare time... Favorite athletes are Mike Green and Aaron Donald... Roots for the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Timberwolves... Plans to pursue a career in physical therapy.

Malachi Taylor 
S | 6-0 | 190 | Columbus, Ohio | Pickerington North HS

Prior to Ohio: Four-year varsity letterwinner for Pickerington North High School's football team... 2025 captain, leading the team to an Ohio Capital Conference championship... Holds Pickerington North's career interceptions and single-game interceptions records... Across four years, he logged 111 tackles, 10 interceptions, 16 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries... Notably, Malachi snagged five pick sixes, three of which were in a single game, marking a national record for pick sixes in a high school game... Named 2024 Pickerington Defensive Player of the Year... 2024 First Team All-District and All-Ohio... Member of the track and field team, earning varsity letters as a freshman, junior and senior... Also played basketball his freshman year.

Personal: Son of Thomas and Jessica... Has two brothers, Michel and Macayne, and one sister, Taizsha... His brother, Michael, is a current member of Ohio's football team... In his spare time, Malachi likes to fish, hike, lift weights and record... Favorite athlete is Lebron James... Roots for the Baltimore Ravens... Intends to major in criminology.
 
#OUohyeah