Here are the Top Massillon Linebackers of All Time
There are two prevailing axioms in the game of football. The first is that a consistently winning team is one that both runs the ball and stops the run. The second is that defense wins championships. Sounds good on paper. But, to achieve this ultimate degree of success, a team still needs skilled players that can control the action and make the necessary tackles. And that begins with the linebackers.
A good linebacker is cut from a different cloth. For starters, he has a Type A personality. As such, he doesn’t connect the pain of contact with the joy of success. He is aggressive and tough. He is strong and has good speed. He possesses outstanding linebacker skills and football instincts. He can shed blocks, pursue ball carriers and tackle fundamentally. And he has a above average leadership aptitude. If he brings all that to the table, success will surely follow.
Massillon is fortunate to have had many exceptional linebackers in its long history. The best may have been Chris Spielman (All-American, Ohio State, NFL), who owns three of the top five spots in the records book for tackle points per game. A couple of other great ones were Steve Luke (Ohio State, NFL) and Dorian Pringle (All-American, Bowling Green).
This story presents what is perceived to be Massillon’s best linebackers of all time, disbursed by decade. The selections are based primarily on post-season awards (All-Ohio status and Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame) and secondarily on statistics (note that detailed player statistics were recorded only during 1981-88, 1990-91 and 2003-present), football life after Massillon and team defensive performance. The story does not, however, attempt to rank the players from top to bottom. That is left up to the reader.
1930s
Don Snavely (1935-36) – Snavely was a 2-year starter for the Tigers under head coach Paul Brown. In 1935 the team finished with a 10-0 record, while outscoring the opposition by an average of 48-1, and was rewarded with state and national championships. After the season Snavely was named 1st Team All-Ohio. The following year the Tigers again posted a 10-0 mark, with a scoring advantage of 44-1, with Snavely named 1st Team All-Ohio. Then he was off to Columbia for more football. Snavely is a member of the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame.
1940s
None
1950s
Chuck Vliet (1949-50) – Vliet is credited with setting a record for the most tackles in a single game. It was against Warren Harding that head coach Chuck Mather advised Vliet just prior to the game that he was to make every tackle, while advising the rest of the players to keep him free of any potential blockers. The strategy worked and behind Vliet’s 42 tackles Massillon won the game 23-6. The Tigers finished the year with a 10-0 record, with an average scoring advantage of 41-4. They also captured state and national championships.
Gary Bednar (1957-59) – Bednar was a key player in the 1959 team that finished 10-0 and was awarded with state and national championships. The Tigers that year outscored their opponents by an average of 43-5. Following the season Bednar was named 1st Team All-Ohio.
1960s
Paul Marks (1963-65) – Marks had a stellar year in 1965 leading his team to a 10-0 mark and a state championship, the second consecutive crown for head coach Earl Bruce. Marks was named 1st Team All-Ohio after the season and later played for Memphis University. He is a member of the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame.
Ron Ertle (1966-67) – A 7-6 loss to eventual state champion Upper Arlington was the only blemish on a 1967 team that finished as state runner-up. Ertle was a force on defense and was named 1st Team All-Ohio. After Massillon he played for the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame.
Pat Midgley (1968-69) – Midgley was the primary focus on defense for head coach Bob Commings, who finished 7-2-1 in his inaugural season at Massillon. Midgley was named 2nd Team All-Ohio and later played for Ohio University.
1970s
Steve Luke (1969-70) – In 1970 Luke led his team to a perfect 10-0 record, along with a state championship and runner-up finish in the national poll. The Tigers were tremendous on defense and outscored their opponents by a 41-3 margin, including a 28-0 defeat of Canton McKinley, the state’s No. 3 team. For his effort, Luke was named 3rd Team All-Ohio. He later played defensive back for Ohio State University and then enjoyed a long career with the Green Bay Packers. Luke is a member of both the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame and the Massillon Wall of Champions.
Tim Gutshall (1972-74) – Gutshall was a 2-year starter at inside linebacker. As a junior, under head coach Bob Commings, the team finished 8-1-1. A season-ending loss to McKinley prevented the Tigers from achieving a second consecutive playoff qualification (one team qualified per region). The following year Massillon finished 6-4, with new coach Chuck Shuff at the helm. Gutshall later played for the University of Iowa.
1980s
Chris Spielman (1981-83) – Spielman may be the best linebacker to have ever played for Massillon. A 3-year starter, he holds career records for unassisted tackles (246), total tackles (352) and tackle points (299). Spielman was so adept at the position that he was earmarked even as a sophomore to call the defensive alignment prior to each play. During that first year he recorded 7.8 tackle points per game, which is ranked 5th all-time. The team finished 7-3. Although the Tigers lost to eventual state champion McKinley 9-6, they managed to hold the Bulldogs to a mere 55 yards rushing in 31 attempts. The following year Massillon posted a 12-1 record, while besting the opposition on average 28-4, and advanced in the playoffs to the Division I state title game. Spielman set four single-season records for unassisted tackles (113), total tackles (156), tackle points (134.5) and tackle points per game (10.4). He was also named 1st Team All-Ohio. In 1983 the Tigers were a game away from qualifying for the state playoffs, finishing with a 9-1 record and outscoring the opponents on average 28-6. Spielman recorded 9.5 tackle points per game (2nd all-time) and was again named 1st Team All-Ohio, along with All-American. He holds twelve records book top tens. Later, he played for Ohio State University, Detroit Lions (NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year), Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns. He is a member of both the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame and the Wall of Champions.
Pete Johnson (1983-84) – Johnson was a starter at inside linebacker for the 1984 season, leading the team in tackles with 82 solos and 21 assists on a team that finished 6-4. He also produced 9.3 tackle points per game, which is ranked 3rd all-time. Johnson owns three records book top tens.
Pat Spicer (1983-84) – Spicer also had a good year as a starter in 1984 with 77 solo tackles to go along with 30 assists. His 9.2 tackle points per game ranks 4th all-time. Spicer holds three records book top tens.
1990s
Eric Wright (1990-91) – Wright was a 2-year starter at middle linebacker. In his junior year he led the team with 102 total tackles. During his senior year, Wright again led the team in total tackles, this time with 103. The team finished 10-3, while outscoring the opposition by an average of 36-14 and was regional champion in the playoffs. Following the season, Wright was named 1st Team All-Ohio. He is also a member of the Massillon Tiger Football of Fame.
Jason Woullard (1990-91) – Wollard also a 2-year starter at outside linebacker. In his junior year he recorded 86 total tackles, second best on the team. In his senior year he was named 2nd Team All-Ohio. Woullard owns two records book top tens. Later, he played for Bowling Green.
2000s
Shawn Crable (2000-02) – Crable was a 2-year starter at outside linebacker, using his size (6’-5”) and speed to brandish a dominating pass rush. In his junior year the team finished 12-2 and advanced to the state semifinals. Crable was awarded Special Mention All-Ohio. In his senior year, Massillon recorded an 11-3 season and again advanced to the state semifinal game, where the Tigers lost in overtime to Warren Harding. For his exceptional play, Crable was named 2nd Team All-Ohio. Later, he played for the University of Michigan, the New England Patriots and the New York Jets, plus the Hamilton Lions and Hamilton Tiger Cats of the CFL. He is a member of the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame.
Paris McCall (2003-05) – McCall started at middle linebacker in 2005 and recorded 6.4 tackle points per game. He also set a record with 4.5 for quarterback sacks in the game against Dover, to go along with 14 records book top tens. The team finished 13-2 and was playoff state runner-up. Following the season, McCall was named 2nd Team All-Ohio.
Andrew Dailey (2004-06) – Dailey started two years at outside linebacker. In his junior year he set a single-season record for forced fumbles (4) and was named 1st Team All-Ohio. The Tigers finished 13-2 and outscored their opponents on average 33-14. They were also state runner-up. In his senior year Daily repeated as 1st Team All-Ohio. He owns the career record for forced fumbles (5) and also holds four records book top tens. He later played for Penn State University. Dailey is a member of the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame.
Spencer Leno (2007-09) – Leno was a 3-year starter at linebacker. His best year was in 2009 when he recorded 6.1 tackle points per game on a 10-4 team that advanced to the state semifinal game. He was also named Honorable Mention All-Ohio. Leno holds career records for assisted tackles (173), plus four records book top tens. He later coached at Massillon, first as an inside linebackers assistant and then as offensive coordinator. Leno is currently the head coach at Massillon Perry.
2010s
JD Crabtree (2012) – Crabtree was a starter on the 2012 team that finished 11-2 and advanced to the regional finals game. During the season he averaged 5.1 tackle points per game and was a force in the playoff contest against Canton McKinley, participating in 13 tackles. He also holds nine records book top tens.
Danny Robinson (2012-14) – Robinson saw significant playing time as a sophomore and then became a starter for the following two years. In 2013, the Tigers finished 9-3 and advanced to the regional semifinals. Robinson that year averaged 5.3 tackle points per game, with 14 tackles in the game against Medina Highland. The following year the team finished 7-4, with Robinson averaging 6.1 tackle points per game, including 15 tackles vs. Akron St. Vincent. In both years he was named Special Team All-Ohio. He also owns four records book top tens.
Ben Krichbaum (2017-19) – Krichbaum played in all but two games during a 3-year varsity career, with the Tigers winning 38 of 44 games. In 2018 he set a single season record for assisted tackles with 78, while averaging 5.4 tackle points per game. His high was 11 tackles against Akron Hoban. The following year he averaged 5.1 tackle points per game, with 13 tackles vs. Avon. He is also credited with a key quarterback sack in the regional finals game against Akron Hoben to preserve the victory. He has eight records book top tens.
Luke Murphy (2017-19) – Murphy was a 2-year starter on teams that each finished with 14-1 records. In 2019 he led the team with 5.7 tackle points per game, including 53 total tackles in the five post-season playoff games. Following the year Murphy was named 1st Team All-Ohio. He holds two records book top tens. Later, he played for Kent State University.
Caiden Woullard (2018-20) – Woullard comprises a father-son duo of All-Ohio players. He started as a junior on the 2019 Massillon state runner-up team that finished 14-1 and held opponents to just 12 points per game. During the year he recorded 18.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 quarterback sacks. For his play he was named 2nd Team All-Ohio. The following year the team recorded a 10-2 season, with Woullard contributing 10.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. This time he was named 1st Team All-Ohio. He also owns five records book top tens. Later, Woullard played for Miami of Ohio and Oklahoma. He is currently involved in TFL tryouts.
2020s
Jaiden Wise (2020) – Wise started at outside linebacker on the 2020 team that finished 10-2 that advanced in the playoffs to the state championship game. Wise recorded an average of 4.5 tackle points per game on a defense that surrendered just 14 points per outing against a very formidable schedule. Fourteen of his tackles came against Cleveland Benedictine. Following the season Wise was named 1st Team All-Ohio.
Cody Fair (2021-23) – Fair was a starting inside linebacker on the 2023 state championship team that held opponents to just seven points per game. For the season he averaged 5.4 tackle points per outing, with ten tackles each against Valdosta, GA, and Akron Hoban (state finals). He was named 3rd Team All-Ohio. The previous year, Fair averaged 4.5 tackle points per game and achieved Honorable Mention All-Ohio recognition on a team that finished 12-2 and advanced to the state semifinal game. He holds six records book top tens and currently plays for the U.S. Naval Academy.
Dorian Pringle (2022-23) – Pringle was a 2-year starter at inside linebacker and was an impact player on both sides of the ball, while having his best games against the top competition. In his junior year, on a team that finished 12-2, he recorded 5.4 tackle points per game, with 16 total tackles against Lakewood St. Edward and 14 vs. Akron Hoban. He was also named 1st Team All-Ohio. In his senior year he had 4.7 tackle points per game for the state champion Tigers, which held opponents to just seven points per game. His top performances were 14 tackles against Akron Hoban and 10 vs. St. Edward. His most memorable play came at the end of the game against Hoban when he broke up a fourth down pass at the goal line to preserve a 7-2 Massillon victory and a state championship. Following the season, he was again named 1st Team All-Ohio, along with achieving All-American honors. Pringle holds single season records for tackles for loss (24.5) and tackles for loss yards (126). He also owns fifteen records book top tens. Pringle currently plays for Bowling Green.
Mylen Lenix (2022-24) – After playing exclusively offense in 2023, Lenix became the starting outside linebacker the following year. And he had a successful season, recording 5.3 tackle points per game, three records book top tens and 2nd Team All-Ohio honors. The team that year finished 11-3, while surrendering just 12 points per game, and advanced in the playoffs to the regional finals.
Ja’Dyn Williams (2023-25) – Williams was a 2-year starter for the Tigers after serving as a primary backup during his sophomore year. In 2024 he recorded 6.1 tackle points per game on a team that finished 11-3 and advanced to the regional finals game. As a senior, he led the team with 6.4 tackle points per game and accumulated 5.5 quarterback sacks. He also recovered five fumbles. And he had 17 total tackles against Division IV state champion Cleveland Glenville. For his performance he was named 1st Team All-Ohio. He currently plays for defending national champion Indiana University.
