Who are the top Gaylord area football players to watch in 2026?
· Yahoo Sports
GAYLORD ― Is it football season yet?
Since the 2026 spring sports season concluded, those of us ingrained in Michigan high school sports have been looking forward to the fall and, very soon, we'll be back on turf and grass fields across Northern Lower Michigan.
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Gaylord, Gaylord St. Mary and Johannesburg-Lewiston's football teams head into the fall with varying expectations. It may be too early for players to put on pads, but it's not too early for us to highlight the individuals we're keeping an eye on as the season grows closer and closer.
Wyatt Metzger, Senior, Offensive/defensive line, Gaylord
Gaylord's roster was loaded with seniors last season, leaving second-year coach Matt Silsbury with plenty of new starters on offense. However, his leader on the offensive line returns in senior Wyatt Metzger.
A second-team All-Big North selection, Metzger was described as "the unquestioned leader of the offensive line" by Silsbury, helping GHS's offense produce 3,581 yards and 42 touchdowns, going 9-0 in the 2026 regular season.
Nathan O'Connell, Junior, Quarterback/Defensive back, Gaylord St. Mary
The same core of players for the Gaylord St. Mary Snowbirds is one year older, bringing one of the most experienced rosters into Michigan 8-player football next season. Perhaps no one player will play a bigger role in the team's success than Nathan O'Connell.
O'Connell threw for 842 yards, ran for 587 yards and accounted for 12 total touchdowns during the 2025 regular season. His mix of size and athleticism makes him a top defensive back as well.
Joey Smokevitch, Senior, Fullback/Defensive back, JoBurg
If JL wants to get back to their pre-COVID winning ways, senior Joey Smokevitch will likely be leading the way. He ran for over 1,000 yards and was JoBurg's leading tackler as a junior in 2025; now, they hope to turn some of those big performances into consistent wins in 2026.
Bryce Sitz, Senior, Defensive line, Gaylord
Sitz is one of Gaylord's top returning defensive players, an All-Big North honorable mention as a junior last season and a high-level defensive lineman. He will be leaned on as a senior leader on a team without a lot of returning leadership from the undefeated 2025 team.
Logan Greenier, Junior, Runningback, Gaylord St. Mary
Greenier was one of the Ski Valley Conference's top rushers before the playoffs, finishing with 930 yards and nine touchdowns after the nine-game regular season. Then, he put up 398 yards and 7 touchdowns in am 84-48 playoff win over Mio, making him one of the top offensive players to watch in 2026 and beyond.
Peyton Basinski, Senior, Quarterback/runningback/defensive back, JoBurg
Basinski could turn into the No. 2 option running the ball in JL's run-heavy offensive scheme, regardless of if he lines up at QB or as one of the backs in the T-shaped backfield. He also had the second most total tackles for JoBurg in 2025 (76) and led the team in solo tackles (37).
Leland Korona, Senior, Defensive line, Gaylord
Gaylord has had plenty of football/wrestling stars, and Korona hopes to be next in line. He showed flashes of his ability to rush the passer in 2025 and could be destined for a breakout year in 2026.
Cal Royce, Junior, Athlete, Gaylord St. Mary
It's hard to define a role for a player as versatile as Royce; he could be the team's top rusher, top pass catcher, top tackler, top return man, etc. in 2026 depending on where he lines up and if he can stay healthy. His sophomore football season was cut short due to a knee injury, while an arm injury limited him during the final month of the 2026 baseball season.
Even through injury, Royce had 10 catches for 373 yards and four touchdowns last year. With a full nine-game season, those numbers could be much, much gaudier at the end of 2026.
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Who are the top Gaylord area football players to watch in 2026?