Marysville High School linebacker Gabe Powers (36) bats down a pass during a 2021 game. Powers has been named the All-Ohio Division I defensive player of the year. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
One of the best football players in the history of Marysville High School has garnered another huge award in the state of Ohio.
MHS senior linebacker Gabe Powers has been named the All-Ohio defensive player of the year for Division I. It is the second consecutive season in which he’s won the award.
The D-I All-Ohio teams were announced today by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.
Powers first made state-wide news prior to the start of his junior season at MHS.
That’s when he verbally committed to play for The Ohio State University Buckeyes.
Powers will make his selection of OSU official on Friday, Dec. 17.
He will sign his national letter of intent at 8 p.m. on that day at the Ridge Golf Club.
Powers, who was also the Central District D-I defensive player of the year, was one of the key components to the Monarchs’ 12-1 record during the 2021 campaign.
MHS defended its Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division championship and finished as the Region 2 regional runner-up to eventual state runner-up Springfield.
Powers, at 6-4 and 235 pounds, was one of the finalists for Ohio’s Mr. Football for the season.
The award was announced today as going to Medina quarterback Drew Allar.
Allar has committed to Penn State.
Springfield quarterback Te-Sean Smoot was the runner-up and Upper Arlington running back Carson Gresock was third.
Powers tallied 90 tackles over the course of the campaign. He accumulated six sacks and batted down a like number of passes.
“This is a blessing,” said Powers. “I am very humbled to receive this award.”
Powers told the Journal-Tribune it was also exciting to earn the state honor.
“I’ve worked so hard my entire career,” he said. “Playing football at Marysville High School has been the best experience of my life.
“I would not have wanted to play or be coached anywhere else.”
Powers has been under a media microscope since he announced he would be playing for the Buckeyes.
The attention, however, hasn’t gone to his head.
He said he knows many people would like to be in his position, but added he relies on his faith and family to keep him grounded.
“I just take it in stride,” said Powers. “My faith and family help me keep everything in perspective.
“I thank God every day.”
“I’m very happy for Gabe that he’s the two-time player of the year,” said Monarch head coach Brent Johnson. “He’s won a lot of awards this year and they’ve all been earned.”
Powers is one of two Marysville players who have earned first-team All-Ohio accolades.
Senior offensive lineman Gavin Rohrs was also named to the first-team.
The 6-3, 285-pounder was the Monarchs’ top offensive lineman. He helped pave the way for MHS to rush for more than 3,600 yards this past season.
Rohrs will continue his collegiate gridiron career at Miami of Ohio University.
He will sign with the Redhawks on Wednesday, Dec. 15. The ceremony will take place in the MHS Commons at approximately 3:15 p.m.
“Gavin is receiving the credit he deserves,” said Johnson.
The coach added Rohrs has worked extremely hard during his high school career, culminating with the first-team honor.
Junior linebacker Colton Powers and senior defensive lineman Erryl Will were named to the All-Ohio third team.
They were vital parts of a Monarch defense that yielded just 112 points in 13 games.
The younger Powers tallied 92 total tackles. Of that number, 61 were solo efforts.
He finished the season with nine tackles for losses and was one of Marysville’s quartet of ball carriers – along with his brother, on the offensive side of the football.
Will had a nose for the pigskin as he recovered four fumbles.
He had 20 tackles for losses among his 48 total tackles.
“Colton led the team in tackles,” said Johnson.
“There were a lot of questions about Erryl and he answered every one of them,” said the coach. “He was a leader all season.
“Colton and Erryl are very deserving of All-Ohio honors.”
Monarch senior offensive lineman Gavin Rohrs prepares to deliver a bone-crunching block. Rohrs has been named to the Division I All-Ohio first team. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
Erryl Will (40) and Colton Powers (32) of Marysville sandwich an opposing ball carrier between them. Will and Powers have earned Division I All-Ohio honors for the 2021 season. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)