Census data estimated Columbus’ population at 938,396 as of July 1, 2025, and that of the metro area as a whole at 2,242,028.
Among them are countless ties to Ohio State, the region’s largest employer and one of the largest universities in the country.
High school sports, and high school football in particular, are no exception with a number of area players related to Buckeyes football
players and coaches.Here is a list of players across central Ohio who are related to members of the Ohio State program, past and present:
Carter Bellisari, Watterson
The senior wide receiver and defensive back – the son of former Buckeyes quarterback Steve Bellisari (1998-2001) and nephew of former OSU linebacker Greg Bellisari (1994-96) – has starred on both sides of the ball throughout the Eagles’
two-year run as Division III state champions. A Miami University commit, Carter was a second-team all-state receiver last fall. He has caught 19 passes for 341 yards and five touchdowns this season and has 11 tackles at cornerback.
Paxton Bjork, Upper Arlington
The sophomore receiver, the son of Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork, had 26 receptions for 325 yards and four touchdowns through five games before an injury ended his season, according to coach Justin Buttermore.
The UA program also includes RJ Carpenter, a junior linebacker whose father, Bobby Carpenter, played the same position for the Buckeyes and in the NFL.
RJ Day, DeSales
Arguably the best-known of the local Buckeye progenies at the moment, the senior quarterback and son of OSU football coach Ryan Day will play collegiately at Northwestern. A four-year starter for the Stallions, Day holds program career records for passing yards (7,150) and passing touchdowns (67) and the same records for one season – 2,710 and 25, respectively – both of which he set last year.
Day was named second-team all-state in Division II in 2025.
Jett and Michael Galloway, Dublin Scioto
The sons of former Ohio State wide receiver Joey Galloway, Jett and Michael should be a big part of the Irish’s future. Michael, a junior wide receiver, had 32 catches for 516 yards and four TDs through six games. Jett, a freshman, has seen time at quarterback and had completed 29 of 58 passes for 424 yards and four TDs.
Joey finished his Ohio State career (1990-94) with 108 receptions for 1,494 yards and 19 TDs. He went on to play in the NFL for 16 years, retiring after the 2010 season. Galloway joined ESPN as an analyst in 2012 and also serves as a wide receivers coach for Scioto.
Winnie Garnett IV, Pickerington Central
The sophomore and son of former Ohio State and NFL defensive end Winfield Garnett began this fall as the Tigers’ starting quarterback after transferring from Westerville North, but is out for the season because of an injury. Garnett had thrown for two touchdowns and two interceptions during the first half of the season.
Winfield Garnett was a tackle for OSU in the 1990s, including on the 1996 Rose Bowl championship team, and played in both the NFL and NFL Europe.
Ty Gebhardt, Olentangy
A junior and the younger brother of Buckeyes freshman safety Kaden Gebhardt, Ty’s 58 total tackles are second on the Braves to junior linebacker Noah Schuler’s 65. Gebhardt also has an interception, two pass deflections and a blocked punt.
Kaden was a three-star safety and first-team all-state honoree last year who flipped his commitment from Clemson to OSU on national signing day in December.
Major Jackson, Westerville North
The son of former Ohio State quarterback Stanley Jackson Sr., Major has been a big part of North’s success this season, contributing at running back and linebacker. Through six games, he had rushed for 554 yards and three TDs and had 35 tackles.
Jackson Sr., who is in his third season as coach at North, played at Ohio State from 1994-97 and went on to play with three teams in the Canadian Football League. Sons Ronald (QB) and Stanley Jr. (RB) are former players at North. Stanley Jr. is a junior running back at Ohio State and Ronald is a quarterback at Central Georgia Technical College in Macon, Georgia.
Tony Johnson Jr., Olentangy Berlin
The junior wide receiver is the son of Buckeyes senior analyst and offensive personnel coordinator Tony Johnson and grandson of OSU defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Tony Jr. has 29 catches for 365 yards and three touchdowns this fall. Tony Sr. played wide receiver at Penn State from 2000-03.
Drake Lashutka, Upper Arlington
The grandson of Greg Lashutka, a former Columbus mayor and former tight end at Ohio State (1963-65) under coach Woody Hayes, Drake is a junior offensive lineman for the Golden Bears. Greg was a team captain for the Buckeyes in 1965. He was mayor of Columbus for two terms (1992-2000).
Nate Miller III, Westerville Central
The cousin of former Ohio State football players Braxton Miller and Dee Miller, sophomore Nate Miller III is in his second season as the quarterback at Central. This season, he has completed 76 of 138 passes for 1,043 yards and eight touchdowns with six interceptions.
Braxton was the starting quarterback at Ohio State from 2011-13 before moving to receiver after sustaining a shoulder injury. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in 2016 and retired in 2019. Dee was a wide receiver at Ohio State from 1994-98 and went on to play for three NFL teams.
Nolan Miller, Upper Arlington
The son of former Ohio State linebacker Ryan Miller (1993-96) and OSU women’s basketball guard Lauren Shenk Miller (1998-2002), Nolan has been a starting free safety for the Bears the last two seasons. Ryan was voted co-Defensive Player of the Year for the 1996 Ohio State team.
Carson O’Morrow, Olentangy Liberty
The son of former Ohio State kicker Pat O’Morrow, Carson was a standout kicker for the Patriots before a career-ending spinal and neck issue forced him to leave the sport this fall. In four games this season, he connected on two field goals and five extra points and averaged 35.5 yards on 16 punts. He holds the program record for longest field goal (52 yards).
Pat kicked at Ohio State from 1986-89. He was the team’s leading scorer and an All-Big Ten selection in 1988.
Dom Patricia, Watterson
The sophomore receiver and defensive back is the son of OSU defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and continues to work his way into the varsity rotation for the Eagles. Dom is one of three children, two sons and a daughter, for Matt, who is in his second season with the Buckeyes.
Reign St. Clair, Upper Arlington
The brother of Ohio State sophomore quarterback Tavien St. Clair, Reign has split time at quarterback for UA with fellow junior Charlie Hunt. Reign has completed 97 of 150 passes for 1,088 yards and seven touchdowns with seven interceptions.
Kane Stover, Highland
The senior running back and linebacker is an Army commit and brother of OSU sophomore quarterback Kolton Stover. He also is a cousin of OSU junior linebacker Garrett Stover and former Buckeyes tight end Cade Stover. Cade now plays for the Houston Texans. Garrett is a Big Walnut graduate.
Kane enjoyed one of his biggest performances Oct. 2, scoring five touchdowns and tossing the game-winning 2-point conversion in the second overtime as Highland edged Caledonia River Valley 34-33.
Ben Uhlenhake, Watterson
The Ohio University linebacker commit stands out on defense but contributes on offense as a short-yardage back for the two-time reigning state champions. A first-team all-state honoree in 2025, Uhlenhake has a team-high 70 tackles this fall, is tied for the team lead in sacks (6), has five tackles for loss with an interception and has rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Ben’s father, Jeff, is an assistant coach for the Eagles and was a four-year starting offensive lineman for OSU from 1985-88 before a 10-year NFL career with Miami, New Orleans and Washington.
CJ and Christian Wells, DeSales
The sons of former Buckeyes running back Chris “Beanie” Wells are working their way into prominence in the RJ Day-led offense.
CJ, a sophomore, was Day’s No. 2 receiver through the first half of the season but had a three-touchdown night – one each rushing, receiving and on special teams – in a 30-0 win over Bloom-Carroll on Oct. 2.
Christian, a junior running back and defensive back, has seen limited varsity time.
High school sports reporters Frank DiRenna and Dave Purpura can be reached at sports@dispatch.com and at @DispatchPreps on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: These central Ohio high school football players have Buckeye roots
