Meet PD50 area high school football players ranked Nos. 50-41 over past 50 years

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Plain Dealer this summer formed a committee to rank the top 50 area high school football players over the past 50 years – the PD50. The rankings will be unveiled in chunks today through Friday, 10 at a time in reverse numerical order. Sunday's Plain Dealer will include a spread on the series.

Here, we introduce the players ranked Nos. 50-41.

What do you think of the picks? We welcome your take in the comments section at the bottom of this post.

50. Anthony Hancock

School: John Hay.

Graduation: 1978.

Position: RB/WR.

Notable: Hancock was All-East Senate and all-city his senior year, including the co-MVP of the conference. Played at Tennessee and was a first round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs. Said former John F. Kennedy coach and PD50 selection panelist Roye Kidd: "I'd probably put him and (Glenville alum) Ted Ginn Jr. in the same company as far as speed. Once he got the corner on you, he was gone. One of the premier football players in the area at that time."

49. Bryan Thomas

School: Elyria Catholic.

Graduation: 1978.

Position: RB/DB.

Notable: Thomas was at the center of it all for one of the area's dominant teams. Thomas ran for 287 yards and three touchdowns in EC's state championship victory as a junior. He set several state tournament records, including the longest kickoff return of 95 yards. Thomas rushed for 2,044 yards in 12 games his senior year. He was Ohio's Class AA back of the year. Injuries hampered his career at Pitt. Thomas spent time with Philadelphia and Baltimore in the United States Football League.

48. Tyrell Sutton

School: Archbishop Hoban.

Graduation: 2004.

Position: RB.

Notable: Sutton is Ohio's all-time career rushing leader with 9,426 yards. He's also the state's leader in consecutive games of 100-plus rushing yards with 38. Sutton's career high 505 yards rushing against Youngstown Ursuline is the third most in state history. He played for Northwestern and in the NFL and United Football League.

47. Andy Cannavino

School: St. Joseph (now Villa Angela-St. Joseph).

Graduation: 1977.

Position: LB/FB.

Notable: A smashmouth runner at fullback and a smashmouth tackler on defense. One of the most intense players at St. Joseph. Rushed for over 1,000 yards his senior year. He was the starting point guard on the basketball team. Cannavino became one of the all-time leading tacklers at Michigan. He played two years in the USFL.

46. Jay Brophy

School: Buchtel.

Graduation: 1979.

Position: LB.

Notable: One of the all-time great linebackers out of Akron. The hard-hitting Brophy, an All-Ohio selection, helped lead Miami to its first national title in 1984. Brophy earned first team All-American honors at Miami. The Miami Dolphins selected him in the second round of the NFL Draft.

45. Dave Diebolt

School: Mayfield.

Graduation: 1987.

Position: TE/LB.

Notable: Said former high school referee and PD50 selection panelist Jerry Sulecki: "Very hard hitting linebacker, with great hands. One of the better tight ends to come out of this area." Diebolt was an all-state Parade Magazine prep All-America selection. A huge target at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, he went on to play at Michigan.

44. Shaq Washington

School: Maple Heights.

Graduation: 2011.

Position: QB.

Notable: Washington was a two-time Plain Dealer Offensive Player of the Year. He was 24-3 as a starter, 9-1 in the playoffs, and led the Mustangs to the Division II state championship his senior year and a runner-up finish junior year. He accounted for all seven of Maple Heights' scores in the state championship win, rushing or passing. Washington is a wide receiver for the University of Cincinnati.

43. Mike D'Andrea

School: Avon Lake.

Graduation: 2002.

Position: LB.

Notable: Was one of the most highly recruited linebackers in the nation because of his superior speed and athleticism. A first team high school All-American who also excelled in track and field. D'Andrea played at Ohio State but his career was cut short due to injuries.

42. Mike St. Clair

School: East Tech.

Graduation: 1972.

Position: DE.

Notable: Quick enough to play running back, which made his combination of speed and strength a nightmare for the opposition. Also a key member of the 1972 East Tech state-winning basketball team. St. Clair attended Grambling State and played seven seasons in the NFL with the Bengals and the Browns.

41. Alex Stepanovich

School: Berea.

Graduation: 2000.

Position: OL.

Notable: A four-year starter with outstanding strength developed as a nationally ranked wrestler. Was an All-American lineman in high school and earned All-American status at Ohio State. Played in 46 NFL games.

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