CLEVELAND, Ohio — Presenting the 2018 cleveland.com all-star football team.
Here is the defense, led by Player of the Year Noah Potter of Mentor.
This all-area team is a collection of the area's top players this season from Cuyahoga and its six bordering counties. Including honorable mention, the area's top players are recognized at each position.
The first team includes four defensive linemen, three linebackers, two cornerbacks, two safeties and a punter. Defensive linemen and linebackers are not specified between the interior and edge to reflect versatility at the positions.
Jack Bailey, Kirtland
Bailey (Kirtland athletics)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 290
Year: Senior
About Bailey: With one big arm stretched into the sky, Bailey's field-goal block in the Division VI state championship game helped preserve Kirtland's 16-7 win vs. Maria Stein Marion Local. A Kent State recruit, Bailey said afterward that the Golden Flashes like him on the offensive line. But he makes a strong case at the next level on the defensive side at tackle.
Anthony Johnson, Cleveland Heights
Johnson (Cleveland Heights athletics)
Height: 6-4
Weight: 250
Year: Senior
About Johnson: Mid-majors already offered scholarships to Johnson before he moved this summer to Cleveland Heights from Jeannette, Pa. In Ohio, his game elevated as a defensive end who also could play on the inside. Cleveland Heights nearly made the Division I playoffs and finished 7-3 with a defense led up front by Johnson and junior Justin Wodtly. Johnson provided 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. He now has offers from Georgia Tech and Syracuse.
Nate Leskovec, Solon
Leskovec (Solon athletics)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 255
Year: Senior
About Leskovec: No one lived in the backfield more than Leskovec the past two seasons. This year, he had 38 tackles for loss among the 92 he made during the regular season. Solon used him all over its defensive line, but he committed in October to Harvard as a projected defensive end at the next level. Leskovec picked the Crimson over Boston College and a handful of Power Five schools.
Noah Potter, Mentor
Potter (Mentor athletics)
Height: 6-5
Weight: 260
Year: Senior
About Potter: An Ohio State commit, Potter changed the complexion of a game each time he stepped on the field. If he did not take down the quarterback, he forced a quick pass or blew up the play. His 30 quarterback hurries are evidence. Potter also had nine tackles for loss and five sacks, plus a big blocked punt in the regional championship game.
Honorable mention linemen: Brian Adams, Holy Name, Sr.; Deeb Alawan, St. Edward, Sr.; Mike Carte, Barberton, Sr.; Nate Clingan, Cloverleaf, Sr.; Griffin Davies, Elyria Catholic, Sr.; Kionnie Dukes, Barberton, Sr.; Trae Henderson, Olmsted Falls, Sr.; Colt Jennings, Padua, Sr.; Isaiah Kammer, Valley Forge, Jr.; Zach McMahan, St. Ignatius, Sr.; Joe Michalowicz, Archbishop Hoban, Sr.; DeeArius Reese, Akron East, Sr.; Francis Sherman, Bay, Sr.; Michael Shoaf, Rocky River, Sr.; Frank Soukup, Riverside, Sr.; Justin Wodtly, Cleveland Heights, Jr.
Tommy Eichenberg, St. Ignatius
Eichenberg (St. Ignatius athletics)
Height: 6-3
Weight: 225
Year: Senior
About Eichenberg: A move from the edge to middle linebacker lit a spark for Eichenberg and the St. Ignatius defense en route to an eight-game winning streak to close the regular season. The Wildcats earned the second seed in the Region 1 playoffs with Eichenberg racking up 21 tackles for loss, seven sacks, six quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles and 115 total tackles. He picked up offers from Ohio State and Michigan in the fall, committing in early December to the Buckeyes.
Donald Willis, Garfield Heights
Willis (Garfield Heights athletics)
Height: 6-2
Weight: 185
Year: Senior
About Willis: Garfield Heights finished the regular season 10-0 for the first time in 41 years, led by one of the area's stingiest defenses and Willis. Minnesota recruited him after a junior season that earned him all-district defensive player of the year honors in Division II. He followed that up this season with 29 tackles for loss, eight sacks and 112 tackles in 12 games. The Bulldogs' season ended vs. state champion Archbishop Hoban in the regional semifinals. Willis also forced three fumbles, recovered three of them and scored three times on defense this year. He had six defensive touchdowns in his career.
Sean Jackson Jr., Euclid
Jackson (Euclid athletics)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 220
Year: Senior
About Jackson: He repeated as an All-Ohio linebacker and was the heart and soul of a defense that helped Euclid win a share of the Greater Cleveland Conference and reach the Division I regional semifinals vs. state champion St. Edward. Jackson's regular-season performance included 17 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He also forced two fumbles and recovered three.
Honorable mention: Darren Anders, North Olmsted, Sr.; Jeff Barnett, Solon, Sr.; D.J. Bowman, Chardon, Jr.; Matthias Chmielewski, Valley Forge, Sr.; Kenai Cooper, Shaker Heights, Sr.; Gavin Krska, Barberton, Sr.; Jaylen Jacobs, Euclid, Sr.; Marlon Jordan, Garfield Heights, Sr.; Bangally Kamara, Akron East, Jr.; Crishawn Long, Padua, Sr.; Mason McMillen, Wadsworth, Sr.; Nasir Rashid, Shaker Heights, Sr.; Nate Rieple, Lake Catholic, Sr.; Cam Rogers, Perry, Sr.; Mark Steinmetz, Avon, Sr.; Zach Urda, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, Sr.; Adrian Woliver, Stow, Sr.
Nyles Beverly, Nordonia
Beverly (Nordonia athletics)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Year: Senior
About Beverly: The definition of shutdown cornerback is Beverly, who is headed to Purdue. He had only one interception, but that is because teams rarely threw his way. Nordonia made the Division II playoffs, finished 9-2 and threatened Wadsworth for the Suburban League National Division crown. They improved by seven wins since 2017, and Beverly was a big reason for it. He also rushed for 658 yards and six touchdowns.
De'Von Fox, Maple Heights
Fox (Maple Heights athletics)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 178
Year: Senior
About Fox: Temple picked up on Fox's ability as a receiver and cornerback, and successfully flipped him from Kent State after the season. His play on both sides of the football spurred Maple Heights to its first 10-0 regular season and Lake Erie League championship since 2010. During that run, Fox had three interceptions with 12 pass breakups — when quarterbacks dared throw his way — plus four tackles for loss and 51 total tackles. Offensively, he caught 42 balls for 1,231 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also rushed for a TD and threw for three.
Honorable mention: DeAngelo Bell, Warrensville Heights, So.; Jett Elad, St. Ignatius, Sr.; John Harris, Padua, Jr.; Michael Howard, Olmsted Falls, Sr.; Jake Reid, Perry, Sr.; Zach Savage, Strongsville, Sr.; Bryce Sheppert, Stow, Sr.; Mason Sullivan, Kirtland, So.
Caden Kolesar, St. Edward
Kolesar (St. Edward athletics)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 190
Year: Senior
About Kolesar: A rare third-year starter at St. Edward, Kolesar saw the Eagles to two regional championship games and, this year, that elusive state title. The Eagles tried him on offense to begin this year in the slot and at cornerback before returning him to that familiar safety spot. Kolesar is headed to Michigan, where he will be a walk on next fall. He had 150 total tackles, including 61 solo in 14 games, plus 4.5 sacks, an interception and 11 pass breakups.
DeaMonte Trayanum, Archbishop Hoban
Trayanum (Hoban athletics)
Height: 6-0
Weight: 215
Year: Junior
About Trayanum: Set to become a three-year starter next season on both sides of the ball, Trayanum played even more spots on defense this year than Hoban's 2017 run, which also earned him a spot on the cleveland.com defensive all-star team. Initially, he moved back from linebacker to safety but still played up in the box enough to make an impact both against the run and pass. In the state championship game, Hoban even used him at cornerback (he had a team-high three breakups in the state final). Offensively, Trayanum proved to be a sledgehammer at running back with 1,313 yards and 26 touchdowns on just 106 carries. His scholarship offers include Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Stanford.
Honorable mention: Jacob Allen, Perry, Sr.; Javion Binns, Garfield Heights, Sr.; Luke Fedders, Avon Lake, Sr.; Lawson Nash, St. Edward, Jr.; Job Rand, Euclid, Sr.; Matt Salopek, Archbishop Hoban, Sr.; Danny Scelza, St. Ignatius, Sr.; Max Showalter, Bay, Sr.
Robby Levak, Nordonia
Levak (Nordonia athletics)
Height: 5-11
Weight: 185
Year: Senior
About Levak: What made Levak such a dangerous punter was what teams had to respect in his arm and legs and a dual threat quarterback with 2,397 yards passing and a team-high 870 yards rushing. Will he punt or fake it? Opponents had to ask that question each time Levak lined up in punt formation on fourth down. As a result, he averaged 41.2 yards on 35 punts. He had 11 inside the 20-yard line and a season long of 62 yards.
Honorable mention punter: Billy Boehlke, Benedictine, Sr.; Dakota Cochran, Shaker Heights, Jr.; Matt Grayem, Revere, Sr.; Patrick Green, Rocky River, Sr.; Asa Kempton, Elyria Catholic, Sr. Collin McNamara, Aurora, Sr.; Patrick Otter, St. Ignatius, Sr.; Justin Slattery, St. Edward, So.; Andrew Turchyn, St. Edward, Jr.
Need a refresher of the area's all-district honors and All-Ohio picks? Here is an index of them all.
- Northeast Lakes All-District
- Northeast Inland All-District
- Division I All-Ohio
- Division II All-Ohio
- Division III All-Ohio
- Division IV All-Ohio
- Division V All-Ohio
- Division VI All-Ohio
- Division VII All-Ohio
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email ([email protected]). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.
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