Here are the Top Massillon Linemen of All Time
Quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers have a wealth of performance statistics available that can be used to determine post-season honors. But the same does not hold true for linemen. In that area, it is normally left up to the coaches to campaign for their players. And it doesn’t hurt when a player’s team also has a successful season. For Massillon, that is during most years, and the Tigers throughout their long history have had around 275 linemen achieve the highest award, that is All-Ohio.
The most prudent way then for this writer in selecting the best linemen is to use the All-Ohio teams. But it is a daunting task to choose from among so many players who achieved either 1st Team, 2nd Team, Honorable Mention or Special Mention recognition. Therefore, it is limited to those that have achieved 1st Team. If the reader wants to see all of Massillon’s All-Ohio players, just click on this Link.
The players below are grouped into three distinct categories. The first is the “Early Years.” Prior to 1951 the Ohio High School Athletic Association did not differentiate between offense and defense when selecting the All-Ohio teams. Most likely it was because most players at that time started on both of sides of the ball and were perhaps equally effective at each position. The second group covers a time period from 1951 to present and is dedicated to the “Offensive Players,” while the third goes to the “Defensive Players,” again from 1951.
Note that prior to the implementation of the spread offense in the late 1990s the position of “end” was not too different from that of an interior lineman; i.e., having a primary responsibility to block for the running back. So these players are included with the linemen.
Michael Wright Jr. – Set single-season records for quarterback sacks (10.5) and quarterback sack lost yards (76). Set career records for tackles-for-loss (49), tackles-for-loss lost yards (258), quarterback sacks (23) and quarterback sack lost yards (101). Owns 19 records book top tens.
Antonio James– Owns seven records book top tens.
Caiden Woullard – Owns six records book top tens.
Jared Vance – Owns one records book top ten.
Note: The Massillon statisticians did not begin recording defensive statistics until 1982. Therefore, the records book regarding defense is valid only from that year and going forward.
