News Release – Ohio Prep Sports Media Association

For Immediate Release – Dec. 4, 2025

Indian Valley Senior Grady Kinsey Named Ohio Mr. Football

Kinsey wins close race with future Air Force teammate, Shelby senior Brayden DeVito

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gnadenhutten Indian Valley senior Grady Kinsey has been named 2025 Ohio Mr. Football by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association. He is the 39th winner of the prestigious award.

RELATED: 2025 Ohio Mr. Football Finalists Announced

Kinsey is only the third Mr. Football award winner from Eastern or Southeastern Ohio, joining Zanesville’s Ronald “Buster” Howe in 1987 and Athens’ Joe Burrow in 2014.

Kinsey totaled 107 points in the statewide voting by OPSMA members to finish just ahead of Shelby senior quarterback Brayden DeVito, who was the runner-up with 96 points. Kinsey and DeVito will be teammates at Air Force next year.

Kinsey, a 5-foot-8, 205 pound running back and linebacker, ranks first in Ohio High School Athletic Association history with 133 career touchdowns, ranks second in total points (840), is third in career rushing yards (8,607) and third in single-season touchdowns (50). His 3,278 rushing yards in 2024 rank ninth.

Kinsey led his Indian Valley team to the 2024 Division IV state championship and to the Final Four in 2025. Off the field, he ranks third academically of 123 students in his senior class. He has a 4.25 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Johnson, Kinsey, Williams and Ponatoski

Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller senior quarterback Matt Ponatoski finished third and Lewis Center Olentangy Orange senior quarterback Levi Davis was fourth. Additional finalists included Akron Archbishop Hoban junior Brayton Feister, Liberty Township Lakota East senior Ryder Hooks, Cleveland Glenville senior Cincere Johnson, and Pickerington Central senior Rocco Williams.

Davis, DeVito, Feister and Hooks

The Ohio Mr. Football Award was given by the Associated Press from 1987-2016. It has been given by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association since 2017.

The OPSMA was created in 1972 to support, promote and recognize coverage of high school sports across Ohio and is endorsed by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. More about the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association is posted at: https://www.ohsaa.org/news/OPSWA.

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Ohio Mr. Football Winners (including college choice):

  • 1987: Buster Howe, RB-DB-K-P, Zanesville, Ohio State
  • 1988: Robert Smith, RB, Euclid, Ohio State
  • 1989: Robert Smith, RB, Euclid, Ohio State
  • 1990: Bobby Hoying, QB, St. Henry, Ohio State
  • 1991: Derek Kidwell, QB-DE, Fostoria, Bowling Green
  • 1992: Marc Edwards, RB-LB, Norwood, Notre Dame
  • 1993: Curtis Enis, RB-LB, Mississinawa Valley, Penn State
  • 1994: Charles Woodson, DB-RB, Fremont Ross, Michigan
  • 1995: Andy Katzenmoyer, LB, Westerville South, Ohio State
  • 1996: Derek Combs, RB-DB-KR, Grove City, Ohio State
  • 1997: Tony Fisher, RB, Euclid, Notre Dame
  • 1998: Ryan Brewer, RB, Troy, South Carolina
  • 1999: Bam Childress, DB-WR-KR, Bedford St. Peter Chanel, Ohio State
  • 2000: Jeff Backes, RB-DB, Upper Arlington, Northwestern
  • 2001: Maurice Clarett, RB, Warren G. Harding, Ohio State
  • 2002: Ben Mauk, QB, Kenton, Wake Forest/Cincinnati
  • 2003: Ray Williams, RB, Cleveland Benedictine, West Virginia
  • 2004: Tyrell Sutton, RB, Archbishop Hoban, Northwestern
  • 2005: Delone Carter, RB, Copley, Syracuse
  • 2006: Brandon Saine, RB, Piqua, Ohio State
  • 2007: Bart Tanski, QB, Mentor, Bowling Green
  • 2008: Erick Howard, RB, North Canton Hoover, Akron
  • 2009: Erick Howard, RB, North Canton Hoover, Akron
  • 2010: Akise Teague, RB-DB-KR, Youngstown Ursuline, Cincinnati
  • 2011: Maty Mauk, QB, Kenton, Missouri/Eastern Kentucky
  • 2012: Mitch Trubisky, QB, Mentor, North Carolina
  • 2013: Dante Booker Jr., LB, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Ohio State
  • 2014: Joe Burrow, QB, Athens, Ohio State, Louisiana State
  • 2015: Keishaun Sims, RB-DB, Massillon Perry, Ashland University
  • 2016: Michael Warren, RB, Toledo Central Catholic, University of Cincinnati
  • 2017: Joey Baughman, QB, Wadsworth, Elon University
  • 2018: Cade Stover, SS-RB, Lexington, Ohio State University
  • 2019: Evan Prater, QB, Cincinnati Wyoming, University of Cincinnati
  • 2020: Corey Kiner, RB, Cincinnati Roger Bacon, Louisiana State
  • 2021: Drew Allar, QB, Medina, Penn State
  • 2022: Lamar Sperling, RB, Akron Archbishop Hoban, Buffalo
  • 2023: Jordan Marshall, RB, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, Michigan
  • 2024: Matt Ponatoski, QB, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, Kentucky
  • 2025: Grady Kinsey, RB/LB, Gnadenhutten Indian Valley, Air Force