Here are the Top Massillon Wide Receivers of All Time
Massillon is very fortunate to have had several outstanding wide receivers in their long history. All of them were athletically talented, possessed great speed, had good hands, ran routes well and made the difficult catches, regardless of whether they were of the short variety or well down the field.
What is believed to be the best are listed here and most, while having put up some great statistics and achieved All-Ohio honors, have gone on to play at the collegiate level, and some even professionally. The players are grouped in two categories: pre-spread offense and spread offense, since those of the latter benefited from schemes that simply involved more passes, providing receivers better chances to exhibit their skills.
PRE-SPREAD OFFENSE
Wendell Lohr (1933-34) – Lohr was a starter on Paul Brown’s 1934 team that finished as the state runner-up with a 9-1 record. During the season he tallied 11 touchdown receptions, including five against Barberton to set a single game Massillon record. The TDs went for 16, 44, 10, 29 and 20 yards. He also scored on a 50-yard punt return in the 54-0 win. Following the season, Lohr was named 1st Team All-Ohio.
Horace Gillom (1938-40) – Gillom was a starter on three state championship teams under Brown, two of which were named national champion. He had 19 touchdown receptions during his career, along with several rushing TDs. Against Canton McKinley in the 1940 game, he tallied two passing touchdowns in a 34-6 victory. He also had three against Steubenville in a 66-0 win. Gillom was twice named 1st Team All-Ohio and holds one record book top ten. Following Massillon, he suited up for the University of Nevada and then for the Cleveland Browns.
Jim Wood (1958-59) – Wood played two years for Head Coach Chuck Mather, including on the 1959 state and national championship team. During his senior season, he set a single game record by averaging 31.1 yards per reception. He also rushed for 488 yards. His high mark came in Week 2 when he scored three receiving touchdowns, of 15, 64 and 26 yards, against Canton Lincoln in a 65-0 win.
Curt Strawder (1978) – Strawder benefitted from the accurate passing of Brent Offenbecher within Coach Mike Currence’s “run-and-shoot” offense. In 1977 he caught 26 passes for 518 yards and four touchdowns. The following year he snagged 42 passes for 553 yards and 4 TDs. Two of the scores came in the fourth quarter of the game against McKinley, which erased a 10-0 deficit, enroute to a 14-10 victory and a 9-01 season finish. Strawder that year was named 2nd Team All Ohio. He holds one records book top ten.
Marty Guzetta (1978-79) – Guzetta was a 2-year starter for the Tigers, in 1978 and 1979. It was during his second year, on a team that finished 10-1, that he set a single-season record with 50 pass receptions (that record was later broken), along with 706 yards. His top game was against Niles McKinley, when he caught seven passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Following the season Guzetta was named 2nd Team All-Ohio. He also holds three records book top tens.
Bruce Spicer (1983-84) – In Spicer’s second year of varsity ball he recorded 56 receptions for 583 yards, including seven catches against Warren Harding plus a TD in an 18-6 victory, nine against Akron Central-Hower in a 20-18 win, eight against Stow plus a TD in a 38-31 win and seven vs. Perry in a 10-0 win. His high mark came against Canton McKinley when he caught eleven passes for 104 yards. The Honorable Mention All-Ohioan has three records book top tens.
Rameir Martin (1988-89) – Martin started during his senior year and finished with 59 receptions for 883 yards and seven touchdowns, for a team that posted a 10-3 record and advanced to the state semifinals, under head coach Lee Owens. Against McKinley, he caught nine passes for 110 yards and one TD in a 24-7 victory. Martin was named 1st Team All-Ohio and later played for Bowling Green University. He holds four records book top tens.
SPREAD OFFENSE
Devin Jordan (2001-02) – Jordan was the “go-to” guy during his junior and senior seasons, under head coach Rick Shepas. In 2001 he recorded 98 receptions for 1,492 yards and 18 touchdowns, while averaging 7.0 receptions per game. All three marks are Massillon Number 1 records. Jordan was the recipient of many throws from quarterback Justin Zwick, while operating within Coach Rick Shepas’ spread offense. Jordan had eleven receptions against Mansfield, ten against Canton McKinley and nine against Akron Garfield on a 12-2 team that advanced to the state semifinals game. The following year the team finished 11-3 and again advanced to the state semifinals game. Jordan recorded 45 receptions for 893 yards and 12 TDs, this time from quarterback Matt Martin. His most memorable catch came against Perry in the regional finals when he caught a back shoulder pass that set up a game winning field goal as time expired. Jordan was named 1st Team All-Ohio in both years and then left for Ohio State University. But not before recording his name in the records book fifteen times.
Zack Vanryzin (2004-05) – Vanryzin was a steady performer throughout the 2005 season, while playing for Tom Stacy, catching balls from quarterback Bobby Huth. His high game came in the season opener when he caught six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown against Dover in a 31-0 win. But his big catch came against Lakewood St. Edward during the state semifinals. In the first quarter Vanryzin broke loose from the Eagle secondary and hauled in a 67-yard touchdown pass to give the Tigers an initial lead in the game. He finished with three receptions for 87 yards in the 21-17 victory. Massillon lost in the state semifinals, but did post a 13-2 record. Vanryzin owns two records book top tens.
Justin Olack (2009-10) – Olack was a starter for two years, with Jason Hall at the helm. In 2009 the team finished with a 10-4 record and concluded the season in the state semifinals. During the year Olack caught 49 passes from quarterback Robert Partridge for 763 yards, including five receptions against Akron Garfield, five against Cleveland St. Ignatius and seven vs. McKinley in a 10-7 playoff victory. The following year he caught 37 passes from quarterback Kyle Kempt for 661 yards and nine TDs. His high mark was eight receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown in a thrilling 28-27 victory over Canton GlenOak. Following the season, he was named 3rd Team All-Ohio, while owning four records book top tens. Olack later played football for the University of Toledo.
Garion Conley (2010-12) – Conley’s forte was on the defensive side of the ball as a cornerback. But he adequately filled the needed role of wide receiver as a senior in 2012. On a team that finished 11-2 and advanced to the regional finals, he caught 50 passes from Kempt for 1,096 yards and 16 touchdowns. Six times he eclipsed the 100-yard mark, including games against GlenOak (117), Perry (103), Akron Firestone (176), Austintown Fitch (108), McKinley (106) and Mentor (222). Following the season, he was named 1st Team All-Ohio at wide receiver. He also holds seven records book top tens. Later, Conley played cornerback for Ohio State University, Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans. He is currently with the D.C. Defenders of the UFL.
Austin Jasinski (2014-16) – Jasinski was a 2-year starter, receiving passes from quarterback Seth Blankenship in both years. In 2015, under head coach Nate Moore, he caught 27 passes for 458 yards, including five for 80 yards and two TDs against Warren Harding. The following year, he caught 50 passes for 1,269 yards and 17 touchdowns on a team that finished 8-3. It was against Toledo Bowsher that he set a record for average yards per catch (46.7), hauling in 3 passes for 140 yards and 3 TDs. He also in that game ran a punt back 80 yards for a score. Plus, he had big games against Youngstown Ursuline (6-146-2), Akron Firestone (7-163-1) and Dublin Scioto (4-168-2). Jasinski was named 1st Team All-Ohio following the season. He holds 17 records book top tens.
Austin Kutscher (2016-17) – Kutscher started for two years and was a “go-to“ receiver for quarterback Aidan Longwell during his senior year, with 93 receptions for 1,349 yards and 15 touchdowns. Against Canisius, NY, he caught 17 passes for 208 yards, while setting a single game record for receptions. He also caught 13 passes against New Albany in the playoffs for 149 yards and a TD in a 24-6 victory and eight passes against Cincinnati Winton Woods for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Kutscher owns 13 records book top tens and later played for Ohio State University.
Tre’Von Morgan (2017-18) – The 6’-6” Morgan as an inviting target for quarterback Aidan Longwell during the two years he was a starter. In 2017 the team finished 10-4 and advanced to the state semifinals game. Morgan contributed with 36 catches for 489 yards and two TDs, including four receptions for 77 yards and the winning touchdown against McKinley in the 16-15 victory. The following year the Tigers finished 14-1, while concluding the season in the state finals game. Against national power East St. Louis, MO, Morgan caught eight passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns in a 46-40 win. He was awarded 3rd Team All-Ohio and also holds 3 records book top tens. He later played for Michigan State University and the University of Kentucky.
Jayden Ballard (2017-20) – Ballard immediately became an impact player as a deep ball threat in 2018 as a sophomore starter, owing to his size and speed. He finished the year with 36 receptions from Longwell for 851 yards and 12 touchdowns, while helping his team to a 14-1 record and state runner-up finish. He also set a record with a 95-yard TD catch against Gateway, PA. In the Austintown Fitch game, Ballard caught eight passes for 157 yards and three TDs in a 42-14 win. Against East St. Louis, MO, he caught eight passes for 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 46-40 win. The following year his team again reached the state finals with a 14-1 record. His high marks were nine receptions for 114 yards and two TDs against McKinley in a 24-14 win and ten catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns, of 57 and 82 yards, vs. Perry in a 35-7 victory in the playoffs. During his senior year Ballard caught 36 passes from quarterback Zach Catrone for 573 yards and 7 touchdowns, including seven receptions for 150 yards and three TDs against Perry in a 43-13 victory. He concluded his time as a Tiger with records for career receiving yards (2,737) and career receiving touchdowns (39). He also owns 15 records book top tens. Later, he played for Ohio State University and the University of Wisconsin. He is currently trying out for professional teams.
Andrew Wilson-Lamp (2018-20) – Wilson-Lamp was a 2-time starter on teams that finished as state runners-up, with records of 14-1 and 10-2, respectively. In 2017 he caught 55 passes for 1,049 yards and 11 touchdowns. Against Akron St. Vincent, he caught 11 passes for 232 yards, setting a single-game record for single-game yards. He also had eight receptions for 142 yards and three TDs vs. Perry in a 35-7 playoff victory. Following the season, he was named Special Mention All-Ohio. As a senior Lamp was primarily a cornerback, but played receiver enough to catch 11 passes for 319 yards. This time he was named Honorable Mention All-Ohio. He owns 8 records book top tens. Later, he played for West Virginia University, Eastern Carolina University and the University of Toledo as a corner.
Ardell Banks (2020-22) – Banks became a starter in 2021 and a featured receiver the following year. In 2021 he caught 44 passes from quarterback Jalen Slaughter for 733 yards and eight touchdowns on a team that finished 11-3 and advanced to the regional finals. The following year he pulled in 38 passes for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns. His top games that year were six catches for 132 yards and two TDs vs. Warren Harding, 5 catches for 164 yards and 2 TDs, of 70 and 32 yards, vs. Lakewood St. Edward in a 31-28 win and 6 catches for 150 yards and 2 TDs vs. Perry. The 1st Team All-Ohio Banks left with five records book top tens and later played for the University of Kentucky and Kent State University.
Jacques Carter (2023-24) – Carter was a 2-year starter. In 2023 he caught 41 passes from quarterbacks Da’One Owens and Jalen Slaughter for 796 yards and seven touchdowns on a team that finished 16-0 and captured the Division II state title. A deep ball threat, he caught three passes for 144 yards and two TDs vs. GlenOak, eight passes for 142 yards and 1 TD vs. Middletown, DE, and five passes for 130 yards and 2 scores against Warren Harding. He was also named Honorable Mention All-Ohio. During his senior year his team finished 11-3, while advancing to the regional finals game. His high marks came against Canisius, NY, with four receptions for 91 yards and against Canal Winchester in the playoffs with three receptions for 97 yards and a score. Carter posted two records books top tens and currently plays for Southern Illinois University.
Braylyn Toles (2022-24) – The elusive Toles was the leading receiver for each of three Massillon teams that had a combined record of 39-4. As a sophomore he caught 43 passes from quarterback Jalen Slaughter for 566 yards and five touchdowns, including ten receptions for 125 yards against Akron Hoban in the state semifinal game. As a junior playing on the 16-0 state championship team he caught 47 passes from quarterbacks Owens and Slaughter for 622 yards and eight TDs. His high mark was against Grove City Central Crossing the playoffs when he snagged eight passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. His senior season started out with a bang when he caught nine passes from Slaughter for 114 yards and a TD against NFL Academy-London. He also scored the first touchdown against Canton McKinley in a 16-7 victory. Toles left his name seven times in the records book top tens.
