LSU commit named Ohio's Mr. Football

CINCINNATI -- The Ohio Prep Sports Writers Association in coordination with the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced Thursday that Roger Bacon senior running back Corey Kiner is the winner of the 34th annual Mr. Football award. "I am very honored to win this award not only for myself, but for my school," said Kiner. "My father told me that I would do great things in high school football, but I would never have thought that it would amount to this." The LSU commit helped lead Division V Roger Bacon to its first-ever regional championship in 2020. Kiner delivered knockout blows early and often to his opponents. Of his 35 rushing touchdowns, 28 came before halftime, including 18 first-quarter scores. "Corey is a one of a kind," said Roger Bacon head coach Mike Blaut. "He's a once-in-a-lifetime talent. His skill set is second to none. He is competitive, fast, quick, strong, smart, has great instincts, all the tools a running back needs." "Roger Bacon is my family," said Kiner. "I knew that it would mean a lot more for me to stay here and win with my family. I knew in my heart that if we just kept pushing on, we would eventually turn things around and change the culture." That decision paid off. Over the last two seasons, Roger Bacon won 20 games, the most in a two-year period in program history. It is also the first time the school has had back-to-back 10-win seasons. "Corey's impact on the program has been incredible," said Blaut. "We could not have asked for a better relationship from the first day he walked on campus. With Roger Bacon being a small school, we constantly hear that athletes should not go here because they won't get college recruited or won't get what they deserve. Corey has destroyed all those notions and achieved everything any player would want." Kiner was named first team All-Ohio twice, second team All-Ohio once and first team All-Southwest District four times. In 43 games, Kiner ran for more than 200 yards 18 times, including four contests of 300-plus yards. He finishes his career with 7,130 yards rushing, 10th most in Ohio history. His 116 rushing touchdowns, 125 total touchdowns and 772 points scored are all good for the third-highest totals in the OHSAA record books. Other finalists for the award included Mason Sullivan, Kirtland; Ian Kipp, Mentor; Owen Treece, Van Wert; Reid Carrico, Ironton; Lorenzo Styles, Pickerington Central; Peter Pedrozo, Westerville South; Beau Brungard, New Middletown Springfield; and Davis Singleton, Byesville Meadowbrook. ----- 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, LSU 2015: Keishaun Sims, RB-DB, Massillon Perry, Ashland University 2016: Michael Warren, RB, Toledo Central Catholic, University of Cincinnati 2017: Joey Baughman, QB, Wadsworth, Virginia (Wrestling) 2018: Cade Stover, SS-RB, Lexington, Ohio State University 2019: Evan Prater, QB, Wyoming, University of Cincinnati 2020: Corey Kiner, RB, Roger Bacon, Louisiana State University