Ohio's Top High School Cornerbacks Highlighted in Big 50 Countdown

Notre Dame recruit Ace Alston leads the state's best defensive backs, with Euclid's Kei'Shjuan Telfair and Glenville's Jaylen Edwards also in the mix.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:05am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a high school football cornerback in motion, with sharp planes of color representing the player's movements and the competitive energy of the sport.Ohio's top high school cornerbacks showcase their skills through a Cubist lens, reflecting the state's depth of defensive talent.Cleveland Today

Cleveland.com is counting down the top high school football players in Ohio, starting with a look at the state's best cornerbacks. The list is led by Notre Dame recruit Ace Alston of Cincinnati Anderson, along with standouts like Kei'Shjuan Telfair of Euclid and Jaylen Edwards of Glenville.

Why it matters

High school football recruiting is a major focus in Ohio, with the state producing many top college prospects each year. This ranking of the state's top cornerbacks provides insight into some of the top defensive talents that college programs are targeting.

The details

The cornerback rankings are based on factors like college offers, postseason honors, and statistics from the 2025 season. In addition to Alston, other top players include Ziere Alston of Centerville, Damontae Butler of Reynoldsburg, Roman Combs of Lakota West, Jaiden Daniels of Archbishop Hoban, Jaylen Edwards of Glenville, Jairel Fenton of Avon, Deontay Malone of Massillon, Khyier Robinson of Glenville, and Kei'Shjuan Telfair of Euclid.

  • The rankings were compiled in April 2026 for the upcoming 2026-27 school year.
  • Cleveland.com will release its overall Ohio Big 50 rankings later this summer.

The players

Ace Alston

A Notre Dame recruit, Alston is widely regarded as the state's top cornerback in the Class of 2027 based on recruiting rankings. He had 53 tackles, two interceptions and 16 pass breakups as a junior for Cincinnati Anderson.

Kei'Shjuan Telfair

Telfair could push Alston for the title of best cornerback in Ohio's 2027 recruiting class. The Euclid standout had four interceptions as a junior and also had 650 yards and nine touchdowns on 30 receptions at receiver.

Jaylen Edwards

Edwards had three interceptions with eight pass breakups and 37 tackles as a sophomore for Glenville. He scored two touchdowns and has already received an offer from Ohio State.

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What’s next

Cleveland.com will release its overall Ohio Big 50 rankings of the state's top high school football players later this summer.

The takeaway

Ohio is home to an impressive crop of top-tier cornerback talent, with players like Ace Alston, Kei'Shjuan Telfair, and Jaylen Edwards emerging as some of the best defensive backs in the 2027 recruiting class. These rankings highlight the state's continued strength in producing elite high school football prospects.