MANSFIELD — Whether he was lined up at linebacker or along the defensive line, Mansfield Senior’s Mekhi Bradley terrorized the Ohio Cardinal Conference this fall.
Senior High defensive coordinator Sean Adams turned Bradley loose and the results were jaw-dropping.
The Richland Source Defensive Player of the Year, Bradley had a team-high 119 tackles as the Tygers reached the second round of the Division III playoffs. The powerfully-built 6-foot, 235-pound junior hybrid linebacker and defensive lineman had 8.5 sacks among his 11 tackles for loss.
Bradley was at his best in the postseason. He had 12 tackles and two sacks in an opening round win over Lexington and added 12 more stops in a Region 10 quarterfinal loss to Parma Padua.
“Our middle linebacker was a handful,” Senior High coach Chioke Bradley said of his son after the win over Lexington. “He was hard to block.”
Mekhi was in the rotation on the interior of the defensive line is 2019 as the Tygers reached the Division III state championship game. He had 48 tackles and a sack as a freshman. Bradley had 34 tackles and two sacks during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, setting the table for his breakout junior year.
Bradley was selected the Ohio Cardinal Conference Defensive Player of the Year and shared the Northwest District Division III Defensive Player of the Year award with Lima Shawnee’s Myles Aldrich. He is the centerpiece of a fast and physical All-Richland Source Defense.
Defensive Line
Owen Barker, Crestview: A 6-foot-3, 185-pound junior, Barker was virtually unblockable from his defensive end spot. He had 96 tackles, including 18 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. Barker was a Northwest District first team pick in Division VI and was the district Co-Lineman of the Year.
Caleb Baker, Shelby: A 6-foot-1, 230-pound defensive end, Baker led the Whippets with eight sacks among his 39 tackles. He was a Northwest District first team selection in Division IV.
Lyle Carnegie, Hillsdale: A 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior, Carnegie was a three-year starter at defensive end for the Falcons. He had 73 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss and three sacks. Carnegie was a Northeast Inlands District honorable mention selection in Division VI.
Parker Ketterman, Colonel Crawford: The 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior terrorized the Northern 10 Athletic Conference. Ketterman had 21 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He was selected to the Northwest District first team in Division VI.
Linebacker
David Ray, Shelby: The 5-foot-11, 175-pound junior ranked among the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference leaders with 98 tackles and had 5.5 sacks. Ray was a Northwest District first team pick in Division IV.
Aidan Godsey, Crestview: A 6-foot-2, 200-pound sen for, Godsey had 95 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He was a Northwest District first team selection in Division VI.
Grant Barrett, Lucas: The 6-foot, 181-pound senior was the backbone of a rugged Lucas defense. Barrett piled up more than 100 tackles and was a Northwest District first team selection in Division VII.
Chance Mullins, Ontario: A 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior, Mullins ranked among Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference leaders with 102 tackles and 19 tackles for loss. Mullins was a Northwest District first team pick in Division IV.
Defensive Back
Ja’ontay O’Bryant, Mansfield Senior: Just a sophomore, O’Bryant topped Senior High’s ball-hawking secondary with seven interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns. The cornerback broke up eight passes and had 22 tackles, earning a spot on the Northwest District first team in Division III.
Kadin Schmitz, Ashland: A 6-foot-1, 210-pound senior, Schmitz piled up more than 100 tackles despite missing time with an injury early in the season. The Navy recruit was a Northwest District first team pick in Division III.
Aveon Grose, Mansfield Senior: A senior and Charlotte recruit, Grose ranked second on the team with 80 tackles as a run-support safety. Grose was a Northwest District second team pick in Division III and an Ohio Cardinal Conference first-teamer.
Andre Hill, Shelby: A talented two-way senior, Hill led the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference with five interceptions during the regular season to go along with 15 tackles. Offensively, he led the MOAC with 80 catches for 1,311 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was a Northwest District first team pick in Division IV.
Specialists
Brock Hill, Mansfield Senior: A senior punter, Hill averaged 40.7 yards per punt with 15 punts landing inside the opponents’ 20 yard line. Hill was also Senior High’s quarterback and threw for 2,076 yards and 18 touchdowns
Max Vesper, Hillsdale: The 5-foot-10, 160-pound junior punt returner was one of Hillsdale’s most versatile players. In addition to returning punts, Vesper had 89 tackles and five interceptions as a safety while rushing for 469 yards and catching 20 passes for 263 yards on offense. He was Northeast Inlands honorable mention selection in Division VI.
