2025 All-Gridiron Team: Defense

The 2025 high school football season will conclude this weekend for our day-to-day coverage area and safe to say it's been a successful one.

From the hot and sunny media days of late July to the blistering cold of December, Tri-State Sports Page has been along for the ride with each of our 10 area schools.

To put a final exclamation point on the season, here is our own all-area team aptly named Bella's All-Gridiron Team.

All selections are of our day-to-day coverage area teams and based on regular season performance. This includes Chesapeake, Coal Grove, Fairland, Green, Ironton, Rock Hill, Russell, South Point, Symmes Valley and Wheelersburg.

And as an added extra, Bella — our company mascot and our animal kingdom pick 'em contributor — gets to make one selection of her own and the players' graphic is marked with a paw print.

Zack Brown | Russell | Defensive Line | Senior

Brown was a key fixture along the defensive line for the Red Devils. On the season, Brown was third on the team in total tackles with 62 (43 solo, 6 for loss) and led the team with 4.5 sacks. The senior earned Class 3A District 6 Lineman of the Year honors.

Ison Emnett | Wheelersburg | Defensive Line | Senior

The senior lineman was a key part to Wheelersburg's dominant defensive play all season. The two-way player's strength and mobility helped him lead the team in tackles for loss and was second in sacks. Emnett's play earned him OPSMA Division 5 Southeast Ohio All-District defensive player of the year honors and should be an easy pick for All-Ohio.

Kenyon Evans | Wheelersburg | Defensive Back | Senior

On the season, Evans didn't have the major tackling stats that many defensive backs would garner. Despite that, Evans did prove to be a hard-hitting and physical player on the outside. His main contribution to the Pirates defense was his ability in coverage. In the regular season, Evans had double digit pass break ups and an interception.

Hunter Henderson | Wheelersburg | Defensive Back | Senior

Henderson could be classified as an all-purpose selection because of his ability to move around from an outside backer to a defensive back in situations. With a 6-foot-4, 170 pound frame, Henderson was a great mixture of speed to set the edge on the run and the speed to cause havoc for opposing quarterbacks with his pass rush.

Wyatt Hudson | Russell | Linebacker | Junior

One of the main catalysts for the Red Devils success on defense was Hudson. On the season, the junior LB finished with 79 solo tackles (48 assists) and 3 sacks. One of his biggest nights came against East Carter, where Hudson racked up 19 total tackles to help Russell clinch their first back-to-back district titles in 20 years.

Grayson Kiser | Russell | Defensive Back | Senior

Kiser led the Red Devils backfield in total tackles and was sixth overall this fall. The senior also came on strong at the end of the season when the team needed him the most for their playoff run. On the season, Kiser had four interceptions with a pair of those going for scores during the postseason.

Luke Kouns | Wheelersburg | Linebacker | Junior

One could argue Kouns was the cornerstone of the Pirates' run defense. The junior patrolled the interior front seven and finished the regular season with a team-high 65 total tackles and 7 tackles for loss. Kouns also was a big contributor to the Pirates' turnover margin with 3 forced fumbles.

Brycen Mullens | Ironton | Defensive Back | Junior

Mullens could've been an offensive selection. However, his abilities on the defensive side of the ball couldn't be ignored. He finished the season with 36 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and a pick. As a receiver, Mullens had 24 receptions for 367 yards and 5 touchdown catches. 

Davin Murray | Fairland | Defensive Line | Senior

Murray was a very relentless and physical defensive lineman all season for the Dragons. His 75 total tackles (8 for loss) and 6 sacks are proof of his ability to find his way to the football. Murray was also versatile, doubling as a hard-nosed running back and got a lot of tough yards.

Caden Turner | Coal Grove | Defensive Line | Senior

The 6-foot-5, 230 pound senior was a versatile player for the Hornet defense. Used mostly as a defensive end, sometimes Turner was moved around to help solidify the defensive game plan. Turner finished the season with 57 tackles (25 solo, 32 assists), 7 tackles for loss, 7 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Has also received a lot of interest from some FBS colleges.

Mason Wheeler | Ironton | Defensive Line | Senior

Throughout the season, Wheeler made things difficult for opponent offenses to move the ball between the tackles. On the year, Wheeler had 40 total tackles and, an unheard of, 16 tackles for loss. His efforts were rewarded late in the season with his own defensive touchdown against Fairland.

Zayne Williams | Ironton | Linebacker | Senior

Williams is another that could've made this list on the offensive side as well, but it was clear his defensive play was second to none. The senior has many of the qualities that any coach would dream of when describing the perfect linebacker: strong enough to take on blocks and deliver hard hits, fast enough to cover passing lanes and pass rush, and a work ethic that beats anyone else. Willams was named OPSMA Division 5 Southeast Ohio All-District defensive player of the year.

Aaron Workman | Rock Hill | Linebacker | Junior

Like his last name says, Workman was in fact a worker when it came to defense. The junior was a key part of the Redmen defense as he led the team in tackles. On the season, Workman had 62 solo tackles and 38 assists. 13 for loss. and 6 sacks.

HONORABLE MENTION