Meet the top football recruits and commits playing for Butler County schools this season
There are nearly a dozen Butler County football players who have committed to play college football or have received offers to play at the next level.
The top recruit in the area is North Catholic’s Brady O’Hara, a three-star tight end expected to convert to offensive tackle when he gets to Penn State next year. But there are many others looking to compete at the Division I, II or III level.
The fall college signing period is a few weeks away, and the high school football regular season is nearing its end. With that context, here are the county’s top recruits listed in alphabetical order.
Of note: Freeport, Knoch and Seneca Valley football did not provide recruiting information for their players; the Butler Eagle used social media posts where possible to find players who have committed are have been offered by college football teams.
Listed at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds, Anderson landed his first offer right at the start of the season from NCAA Division III Allegheny College. He’s been an important piece of a team that’s improved to 4-4 after last year’s two-win season. He’s also an amateur boxer for Butler Cubs.
Childress landed an offer in August from D-III Hampden-Sydney. He’s been one of the top receivers in Butler County this season, with 17 receptions for 311 yards and four touchdowns. He owns the program record for longest field goal.
Franklin has an offer from Miami (Ohio) already and has drawn some other D-I interest, coach Eric Kasperowicz said. He’s one of the biggest lineman in the county at 6-5, 300 pounds and has helped open running lanes for Mars backs. He also plays center for the basketball team.
The 6-6, 225-pound junior has already received a few Power Four conference offers: Wisconsin, Syracuse and Maryland. He also has FCS offers from Miami (Ohio) and Toledo, and on Sept. 30 added East Carolina to his list.
Kasperowicz, a former quarterback, has received offers from Allegheny, Grove City, Waynesburg and Hampden-Sydney, according to his Twitter/X profile. Converted to running back after a shoulder injury more than a year ago, he’s dominated in recent weeks on the ground and has 965 yards and11 touchdowns this season. On defense he has 33 tackles and an interception.
O’Hara is the top commit in the area and a three-star prospect according to 247Sports, having verbally pledged to Penn State last season over numerous Power Four offers, including Pitt. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder has 11 catches for 145 yards so far, according to TribLive.com, but is expected to transition to offensive line once in college but has been a disruptive force on defense.
Price verbally committed to Toledo to play in the defensive backfield in June over multiple D-I offers from schools such as Miami (Ohio), Robert Morris, Air Force, Eastern Michigan, Cornell, Army, Lehigh, Akron, Bryant and Buffalo. On3 ranks him a three-star, and Rivals a two-star prospect. Price has four catches for 128 yards and two scores this season.
Safar was hyped up by his teammates and head coach during training camp as a future breakout candidate. He landed his first Division I offer in June from Youngstown State. Safar is also a talented baseball player who averaged .400 at the plate last season.
Teff picked up his first collegiate offer in August during training camp from Allegheny College. He also has interest from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, coach Eric Christy said. Teff, who also plays volleyball in the spring, has thrown for 1,114 yards and eight touchdowns on 108-of-218 passing so far this season.
The senior received an offer in August from Allegheny College. White (5-11, 175 pounds) has 30 receptions for 603 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Yates landed an offer in July from D-III Denison University. The 6-2, 175-pound senior currently has 13 catches for 81 yards and a TD.
Planets junior receiver Gabe Hein said in August he’s heard from Akron and Miami (Ohio).
Mars has a pair of players drawing college interest but without offers just yet, according to coach Eric Kasperowicz. Senior corner/receiver Blake Yates has attention from D-III schools and Jameson Astarb (sr., OL/DL) has drawn some Division II and III interest, his coach said.
