Local athletes set to play in the NFL

Volume 2 Issue 34

It is no secret that Ohio is a cradle of football talent and Northwest Ohio is no exception. There will be lots of local talent to see on Sundays that you may remember from when they were still suiting up for one of the local high schools. Here are the local athletes to watch this season.

Micah Hyde is by far the best local talent in the NFL. The Fostoria native is coming off neck injury-shortened season. Hyde is entering his 7th year with the Bills who look to contend for a Super Bowl. If all goes well Hyde will be named to his second Pro Bowl.

Luke Fortner became the first local athlete to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season after he was drafted in the 3rd round. He also became the first Sylvania Northview grad to suit up in the NFL. Fortner started every game for Jacksonville last season and was by far their most productive rookie.

Cody Thompson of Huron has finally made the Seahawks 53-man roster. Thompson was on track last season for a huge breakthrough before having a season-ending injury in the preseason. Thompson has appeared for the Seahawks on special teams but not on offense after being on the practice squad the past few seasons.

James Hudson III is entering year three with the Cleveland Browns. The Toledo Central Catholic alumnus has started on occassion at offensive tackle for Cleveland and appears on special teams with high frequency.

Tycen Anderson enters his official rookie season after ending up on the injured reserve all last year. The Toledo St. John’s grad has had a stellar preseason with the Bengals at defensive back and will look to get decent playing time on a stacked Cinncinnati defense.

On the practice squad this season will be Michael Deiter of Genoa with the Houston Texans, Storm Norton of Whitmer with the New Orleans Saints and Bryant Koback of Springfield with the Seattle Seahawks.

Free agents as of this posting are Phil Hoskins and Chris Wormley of Whitmer.

Leading Updates

• Storm Norton (Toledo/Whitmer) was released by the New Orleans Saints.

• Michael Deiter (Curtice/Genoa) was assigned to the Houston Texans practice squad.

Notable Game Updates

• On August 27th Natasha Howard (Toledo/Waite) had 11 points and 8 rebounds in a Dallas win over Phoenix.

• On August 30th Chris Bassitt (Curtice/Genoa) got the win for the Blue Jays over the Nationals.

• On September 2nd Terion Stewart (Sandusky) had 7 carries for 55 yards in a BGSU loss to Liberty.

• On September 2nd Trent Simms (Syl. Northview) had 8 tackles in a BGSU loss to Liberty.

• On September 2nd Brady Lichtenberg (Toledo/St. John’s) threw for 98 yards and had touchdowns in a Cincinnati win over Eastern Kentucky.

• On September 2nd Tyler Perkins (Norwalk/St. Paul) had 8 punts for a total of 429 yards in an Iowa State win over Northern Iowa.

• On September 2nd Adam Beale (Holland/Springfield) had 3 receptions for 42 yards in a Toledo loss to Illinois.

Interesting Reads

• All signs point to Jared Anderson returning to Toledo for blockbuster fight

• A breakdown of Zia Cooke's rookie season so far

• 2025 4-star QB Ryan Montgomery breaks passing record set by Ben Roethlisberger

• Terion Stewart returns to BGSU backfield

• Santoro joins Bellevue Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility

• Jack Mewhort primed for University of Toledo radio partnership with Mark Beier

• With no due respect to critics, Toledo should be proud of Jared Anderson

• How the new-look NLL could shake out in volleyball this fall

• Final Five: Findlay QB Ryan Montgomery breaks down his finalists

Football Computer Rankings

Top 10 Cross Country Times

Just For Fun

Every NWO State Football Champion

1972- Marion Pleasant Class A
1974- Norwalk Class AA
1975- Carey Class A
1980- Tiffin Calvert Div.5
1981- Tiffin Calvert Div.5
1983- McComb Div.5
1984- Toledo St. Francis Div.1
1985- Galion Div.2
1988- Archbold Div.5
1989- Minster Div.5
1990- St. Marys Memorial Div.2
1990- St. Henry Div.5
1991- Fostoria Div.2
1992- St. Marys Memorial Div.2
1992- St. Henry Div.5
1993- St. Marys Memorial Div.2
1993- Wauseon Div.3
1994- St. Henry Div.6
1995- Clyde Div.3
1995- St. Henry Div.6
1996- Lima Senior Div. 1
1996- Fostoria Div.2
1996- Marion Pleasant Div.5
1997- Defiance Div.2
1997- Liberty Center Div.5
1997- Delphos St. John's Div. 6
1998- Delphos St. John's Div. 6
1999- Perkins Div.4
1999- Delphos St. John's Div. 6
2000- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.6
2001- Toledo St. Francis Div.2
2001- Kenton Div. 4
2001- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.6
2002- Kenton Div.4
2002- Marion Pleasant Div.5
2003- Columbus Grove Div.6
2004- Hardin Northern Div.6
2004- St. Henry Div.5
2005- Toledo Central Catholic Div.2
2005- Coldwater Div.4
2005- Patrick Henry Div.5
2005- Delphos St. John's Div. 6
2006- St. Henry Div.5
2006- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.6
2007- Coldwater Div.4
2007- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.6
2008- Sylvania Southview Div.2
2008- Delphos St. John's Div. 6
2009- Norwalk St. Paul Div.6
2010- Delphos St. John's Div. 6
2011- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.6
2012- Toledo Central Catholic Div.2
2012- Coldwater Div.5
2012- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.6
2013- Coldwater Div.5
2013- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.7
2014- Toledo Central Catholic Div.3
2014- Coldwater Div.5
2014- Minster Div.6
2014- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.7
2015- Coldwater Div.5
2015- Fort Recovery Div.7
2016- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.6
2017- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.6
2017- Minster Div.7
2018- McComb Div.7
2019- Clyde Div.4
​2019- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.7
​2020- Van Wert Div.4
​2020- Coldwater Div.6
2020- New Bremen Div.7
2021- Carey Div.6
2021- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.7
2022- Toledo Central Catholic Div.2
2022- Maria Stein Marion Local Div.6
2022- New Bremen Div.7