Indian Valley’s Grady Kinsey named 2025 Ohio Mr. Football
Dec 04, 2025
Gnadenhutten Indian Valley senior Grady Kinsey was named 2025 Ohio Mr. Football by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association on Dec. 4.
Kinsey totaled 107 points in the statewide voting by OPSMA members to finish ahead of Shelby senior quarterback Brayden DeVito, who was the runner-up with 96 points. K
insey and DeVito will be teammates at Air Force next year.
Kinsey is the 39th winner of the prestigious award.
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Kinsey is 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, 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 Indian Valley to the 2024 Division IV state championship and to the final four in 2025. Off the field, he ranks third academically out of 123 students in his senior class. He has a 4.25 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Cincinnati Moeller senior quarterback Matt Ponatoski finished third, and Lewis Center Olentangy Orange senior quarterback Levi Davis was fourth. Additional finalists included Akron Hoban junior Brayton Feister, Liberty Township Lakota East senior Ryder Hooks, Glenville senior Cincere Johnson, and Pickerington Central senior Rocco Williams.
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 All-Ohio teams will be announced beginning Dec. 8.
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
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