Decline in the Number of Ohio HS Kids Playing Football

[swilsonsp4]

The National Federation of State High School Associations put together a comparison of high school football participation numbers between 2008 and 2024. The numbers show why more and more Midwestern colleges are recruiting in the Sunbelt. Ohio schools have lost significant football-playing students. Here are some pertinent results:

AL: 21,590 to 27,953 (+29.5%)
AZ: 13,2112 to 19,177 (+45.2%)
FL: 29,911 to 37,872 (+26.6%)
GA: 22,905 to 32,445 (+41.7%)
IL: 44,273 to 35,883 (-19.0%)
IN: 21,103 to 20,878 (-1.1%)
LA: 16,107 to 20,696 (+28.5)
MI: 41,744 to 33,427 (-19.9%)
MS: 16,820 to 28,236 (+67.9%)
NC: 21,493 to 28,761 (+33.8%)
OH: 43,736 to 39,439 (-9.8%)
SC: 15,769 to 18,835 (+19.4%)
TN: 15,732 to 22,473 (+42.8)
TX: 141,298 to 174,126 (+23.2%)
VA: 19,355 to 22,970 (+18.7%)

Texas alone has 44,499 more players than IL, IN, MI & OH combined.

[Lobot]

Some thoughts on this since I'm in Texas:

I'm guessing here somewhat but a lot of companies HQs, plants and jobs and are coming south and mostly to Texas where the employers have a lots of leeway on employee rights and compensation . Over the span of this survey I would run out of room on a single sheet of paper for the list of company headquarters, large offices and manufacturing plants that have relocated around me in DFW specifically. I think it's safe to say some of this is south bound gross population migration due to jobs and weather.

Also the state of Texas obviously has a ton of schools just based on the size of the state. The numbers for Texas might be skewed because a lot of these smaller rural schools in Texas can't field a full 22 man team so they play a lot of 7v7 football down here in all seasons and players play both ways. This opens up opportunities for players that might not be playing ball in some states.

Texas is different when it comes to football. It's expected that you play if you have enough athletic talent and size. I can't tell you the amount of luxury cars and trucks I've seen down here with advertising wraps that advertise QB training schools. They're all over the place and they sell out their sessions. I've said this before, if you want to win the Big XII, you need a QB from Texas. If you want to win a natty, chances are you better have a QB from Texas or Florida or California as your starter.

Which leads me to ask was California on this list anywhere because they are losing population and jobs like a sieve.


In regards to recruiting. I think coaches recruit where they have connections. We recruit SC, GA and FL heavily which makes a lot of sense since Satterfield is from that area. The best recruiting grounds are FL, GA, CA and TX and OH in my opinion. We don't recruit much is TX or CA which I think is a distance thing more than anything else.

I am encouraged by the recent recruiting for the 2028 class. A lot more Midwest kids on the radar and we're moving back into the programs in PA, IL, IN and MI that were once recruited by Fickell and Freeman. I also think OH is coming along. We're offering more instate kids than before. Satterfield has been here long enough to get his foot in the door around town at this point.

[swilsonsp4]

Some thoughts on this since I'm in Texas:

I'm guessing here somewhat but a lot of companies HQs, plants and jobs and are coming south and mostly to Texas where the employers have a lots of leeway on employee rights and compensation . Over the span of this survey I would run out of room on a single sheet of paper for the list of company headquarters, large offices and manufacturing plants that have relocated around me in DFW specifically. I think it's safe to say some of this is south bound gross population migration due to jobs and weather.

Also the state of Texas obviously has a ton of schools just based on the size of the state. The numbers for Texas might be skewed because a lot of these smaller rural schools in Texas can't field a full 22 man team so they play a lot of 7v7 football down here in all seasons and players play both ways. This opens up opportunities for players that might not be playing ball in some states.

Texas is different when it comes to football. It's expected that you play if you have enough athletic talent and size. I can't tell you the amount of luxury cars and trucks I've seen down here with advertising wraps that advertise QB training schools. They're all over the place and they sell out their sessions. I've said this before, if you want to win the Big XII, you need a QB from Texas. If you want to win a natty, chances are you better have a QB from Texas or Florida or California as your starter.

Which leads me to ask was California on this list anywhere because they are losing population and jobs like a sieve.


In regards to recruiting. I think coaches recruit where they have connections. We recruit SC, GA and FL heavily which makes a lot of sense since Satterfield is from that area. The best recruiting grounds are FL, GA, CA and TX and OH in my opinion. We don't recruit much is TX or CA which I think is a distance thing more than anything else.

I am encouraged by the recent recruiting for the 2028 class. A lot more Midwest kids on the radar and we're moving back into the programs in PA, IL, IN and MI that were once recruited by Fickell and Freeman. I also think OH is coming along. We're offering more instate kids than before. Satterfield has been here long enough to get his foot in the door around town at this point.

CA participation from 2008 to 2024 increased by 14.8% (79,605 to 91,411).

[leo from jersey]

what about Jersey. It is rich in talent (ask tOSU). The Catholics schools are doing well, but the ultra rich publics are having a hard time fielding a team.

[swilsonsp4]

what about Jersey. It is rich in talent (ask tOSU). The Catholics schools are doing well, but the ultra-rich publics are having a hard time fielding a team.

NJ is up a bit: 21,428 to 22,642 (+5.7%). Most of the surrounding East Coast states have increased participation, with NY being the biggest state heading in the opposite direction: 33,721 to 25,874 (-23.3%). ME and VT are also down, but on very small volumes. VT has only 545 total football-playing students.

[longtimefan]

NJ is up a bit: 21,428 to 22,642 (+5.7%). Most of the surrounding East Coast states have increased participation, with NY being the biggest state heading in the opposite direction: 33,721 to 25,874 (-23.3%). ME and VT are also down, but on very small volumes. VT has only 545 total football-playing students.

I lived in VT for a few years. Nobody cares about HS football, hockey is more popular. Absolutely beautiful there, but very long winters.