As has become customary, Blitz is counting down who he feels are the top 50 individual players in northeast Indiana heading into the 2026 season.
A few insights into Blitz’s protocol:
- This is based on high school impact, not college potential
- No newbies. Players with previous varsity playing time only
Today, we continue with positions No. 35-31.
No. 35: DE/OLB Austin Rohrs, senior, Carroll
Is the term ‘lean and mean’ overused? Because it is perfect when used to describe Rohrs’ frame and playing style.
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, what Rohrs gives up in bulk he makes up for in length and quickness. By utilizing his strengths, he is exceptional at gaining leverage off the edge and allows him to throw off blocks and accelerate into the backfield. Sometimes, he is past the offensive lineman by the time the blocker gets out of his stance.
Rohrs is the ultimate multi-use outside defender. His specialty is getting into the backfield to create havoc, but he can also drop in coverage as an asset with his length to get into passing lanes and make it difficult for prospective pass catchers to find space in the short to intermediate passing game.
Rohrs was second on the Chargers a season ago in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (five), with the graduated Evan Brubaker the leader in both categories. Rohrs also had 43 tackles as he ascends to the spot as the most proven disrupter on Carroll’s defensive unit entering 2026.
COACH’S QUOTE ON AUSTIN ROHRS
“Austin Rohrs will be a two-year starter at the boundary outside linebacker. He is great against the run and the pass. Austin brings great talent to the defense. He had a great junior year and we are very excited about his senior season.“ – Carroll coach Doug Dinan
No. 34: DL/LB John O’Leary-Freeman, junior, Bluffton
One of the breakout area sophomores a year ago, O’Leary-Freeman is back and primed to make a bigger impact in his junior campaign for the Tigers.
Partnering with Cooper Craig last year, O’Leary-Freeman was half of the duo that wreaked havoc on opposing offenses in 2025. O’Leary-Freeman was second on the team in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (six), trailing only Craig in both categories.
Able to line up at various spots on the first two levels of the defense, O’Leary-Freeman is a problem both inside and out. He can seal the edge, he can get to the quarterback and he can play the run. And the fact that he was just a sophomore a year ago makes his ceiling very high.
Bluffton foes will once again have to deal with the dynamic duo of the senior Craig and the junior O’Leary-Freeman this fall.
COACH’S QUOTE ON JOHN O’LEARY-FREEMAN
“John is very explosive, has high energy and a great motor. He wasn’t really a guy we thought of much heading into last season, but he quickly developed into one of the best D-linemen in our conference. He is fun to watch!” – Bluffton coach Brent Kunkel
No. 33: OL Miles Brockhouse, senior, DeKalb
Yeah, Brockhouse’s college future will be on the baseball side of things at the University of Dayton, but the 6-2, 230-pound ace on the pitcher’s mound is also a pretty darn good football player.
Described as the “cornerstone” of the DeKalb football program, Brockhouse leads by example, in the huddle, in the locker room and on the field. He is the anchor to a Barons offensive front that accounted for over 3,200 yards of total offense last season en route to a seven-win campaign.
While a stalwart in the trenches on offense, he does see action on the defensive side as well. DeKalb aims to not have its linemen go both ways, but it is difficult to keep Brockhouse off the field, considering the impact he makes.
Expect the future Dayton Flyer to make a big impact in his final season of football.
COACH’S QUOTE ON MILES BROCKHOUSE
“Miles is the kind of player every coach wants. He is a proven leader who attacks every practice and game with effort and physicality. His commitment to the team has made him the cornerstone of our program.” – DeKalb coach Ryan Robertson
No. 32: LB Ethan Yates, senior, West Noble
No matter which program you play for, if you are a four-year starter, you definitely are a standout player.
Enter Yates, who will be in the starting lineup once again for the Chargers, his final campaign after first cracking the lineup as a freshman.
Manning the middle of the West Noble defense for seemingly a decade, Yates’ lateral movement and ability to shift directions quickly stands out on film. He is your prototypical middle linebacker in that he can fill a gap at the line of scrimmage and drop back and linger in pass coverage, almost daring a quarterback to try and throw over the middle.
Last season, Yates amassed 87 tackles with 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions, showcasing his position as a complete defensive player for the Chargers.
COACH’S QUOTE ON ETHAN YATES
“Ethan has started all four years as a middle linebacker on pretty good teams. He was all-state last year as a junior. He is a leader on the field and off and is a student of the game. He is like having a coach on the field all of the time. He will be our all-time leader in tackles and is a great captain for the team.” – West Noble coach Monte Mawhorter
No. 31: OL Adam Kline, senior, Carroll
What stands out about Kline on film is just how quick he is with his hands. At the center position, it is imperative that you get the ball out quickly and accurately, and then engage the defender in front of you as fast as possible. It is far more difficult than it looks, especially with how smooth Kline is.
And once the 6-4, 270-pound Kline gets ahold of you, it is all over. He is a mauler that has relentless drive and force until the whistle blows. He will push you back, knock you down and pin you down for the entirety of the play. His pass blocking stands out as well, as his footwork and physical presence allows him to protect the middle.
Those attributes will serve Kline well as he moves to tackle from center for 2026.
COACH’S QUOTE ON ADAM KLINE
“Adam Kline is moving from center to offensive tackle for the 2026 season. He has great size, strength and mobility, which allows him to play the offensive line position at a high level.” – Carroll coach Doug Dinan
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