Top 10 St. Edward High School Football Players of All Time

There is something special about playing football at St. Edward High School — a powerhouse program located in Lakewood, Ohio, that’s won all five of its state championships in the last 12 years. That championship glory was hard-won for St. Edward, with the school finishing as state runner-up three times in 1975, 1986 and 2003 before finally taking the crown for the first time in 2010. 

Over the history of the school, which opened its doors in 1949, legendary players have been a consistent presence on the field, including high school and college All-Americans, NFL players and a No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. 

Here’s a look at the greatest St. Edward High players of all time. 

Position: Defensive Back/Wide Receiver/Return Specialist

Graduation year: 2004

College: Cincinnati

Bottom line: Haruki Nakamura came from a family of international judo champions but chose a different sport, turning into a football star at St. Edward as a do-it-all wide receiver/defensive back/return specialist who helped lead his school to the state finals as a senior. 

After being an All-Ohio pick as a senior, Nakamura signed with Cincinnati and was an All-Big East pick before playing six seasons in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers. 

Position: Linebacker

Graduation year: 2023

College: Coastal Carolina (committed)

Bottom line: It’s OK to recognize greatness when it’s right in front of you — current St. Edward linebacker Wyatt Gedeon is among the very best to ever do it at his school. 

Gedeon, 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, was one of the leaders as a junior for St. Edward to a 15-1 record and Division I state championship in 2015 while earning All-Ohio honors. Gedeon is also as fast of a linebacker as you’ll come across on the high school level — he’s been clocked running a 4.52-second, 40-yard dash. 

Gedeon committed to Coastal Carolina before his senior season in 2022 and led his team in tackles and sacks through the first five games. 

Position: Defensive Back/Return Specialist

Graduation year: 1998

College: Nebraska

Bottom line: DeJuan Groce was a blur on the football field for St. Edward over three seasons, earning All-Ohio and Parade All-American honors as a safety, cornerback and return specialist, where he averaged almost 27 yards per return and returned seven kicks for touchdowns over three seasons. 

Groce also starred in track for St. Edward, where he ran the 100-meter dash in 10.7 seconds and the 200 in 21.9 seconds. At the University of Nebraska, Groce was a three-year starter at cornerback and became one of the all-time great punt and kick returners in college football history — he was an AP All-American as a return specialist in 2001 and finished his career as the second player in Nebraska history to pass over 1,000 career punt return yards following 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers. 

Groce was a fourth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2003 and played five seasons in the NFL. 

Position: Running Back

Graduation year: 2002

College: Bowling Green

Bottom line: Raishaun Stover was named Cleveland Plain Dealer Player of the Year as a senior in 2001 after he rushed for 2,300 yards and 36 touchdowns along with 19 receptions for 340 yards. Stover finished his prep career with 10 school records, including 3,700 rushing yards and 52 touchdowns. 

Stover signed with head coach Urban Meyer at Bowling Green and played in back-to-back bowl games for the Falcons, with his best season coming in 2003 when he had just over 200 yards of total offense and scored four touchdowns.