Brian Buckeyes Stats
Writer
On a crisp Friday night in Troy, under the lights of Memorial Stadium, the nation’s football world will get its first real glimpse of Jamier “Showtime” Averette-Brown. The 6-foot-0, 175-pound junior wide receiver from Wayne High School isn’t just the No. 11 overall prospect in the 2027 class, the No. 2 wideout in America, or the undisputed king of Ohio talent according to 247Sports. He’s a state-record sprinter, a courtroom warrior who just cracked open the door to high school NIL riches, and an Ohio State commit with a scarlet-and-gray Block O tattooed boldly on his forearm – a permanent pledge to the Buckeyes that screams “Columbus or bust.”
But as No. 6 seed Wayne (8-4) clashes with No. 2 seed Troy (9-2) in the OHSAA Division I Region 2 semifinal at 7:00 p.m. ET, the whispers from South Bend are impossible to ignore. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman – a Wayne High alum himself – didn’t just donate $330,000 to overhaul his old school’s weight room earlier this year. He’s been pulling every Dayton-area string to lure Showtime across state lines, and with Averette-Brown’s recent visits to the Irish (including their October 18th thriller against USC), Buckeye Nation is holding its breath. One explosive night against Troy’s stout secondary could either cement his OSU destiny, or ignite the flip rumors that have been simmering all fall.
Averette-Brown’s story? It’s the stuff of recruiting legends – a blend of blistering speed, unyielding grit, and off-field vision that’s already reshaping high school sports. At 16, he’s not waiting for college stardom. He’s building it now, one sprint, one catch, one lawsuit at a time. And this Friday? You can catch every second of Showtime’s spotlight – the game streams live on Spectrum News 1 (check your local listings), the Spectrum News app, OHSAA.tv, and SpectrumNews1.com. It’s not just a semifinal; it’s must-watch TV for anyone who loves the game.
Blazing Trails: From Track Records to Touchdown Treasures
If Averette-Brown’s football tape doesn’t convince you he’s built different, his track resume will. As a sophomore in June 2025, he anchored Wayne’s 4x200m relay to a new OHSAA Division I state record of 1:24.21 at the state championships in Columbus – teaming with Keng Martin, Key’Shawn Garrett, and Semarion Sroufe to eclipse the previous mark and etch his name in Ohio history. Solo? He scorched the oval with a 10.36 in the 100m – a massive leap from his freshman best of 10.56, placing second at state and earning nods as one of the fastest high school athletes in the country – just 0.11 shy of the D-I record of 10.25 held by Troy Lane of Pickerington Central. Add a 20.87 in the 200m (chasing Chris Nelloms’ hallowed 20.47 from Dayton Dunbar), and those aren’t just numbers; they’re a blueprint for the dual-threat dynamo who terrorizes defenses twice a year – once in spikes, once in cleats.
On the gridiron, under coach Roosevelt Mukes Jr., Averette-Brown is the X-factor for a Wayne offense that’s averaged 35 points per game en route to the playoffs. Through 12 contests (capped by last Friday’s 34-10 second-round demolition of Findlay), he’s erupted for 64 receptions, racking up 896 yards at a blistering 14.0 yards per catch – good for 74.7 yards per game. His dominance earned him GWOC Offensive Player of the Year honors while shattering Wayne’s career return touchdown record with his sixth (five kick returns, one punt).
He’s a big-play magnet: Seven grabs for 118 yards and a score in a 48-23 rout of Springboro on September 12; four for 88 yards and two TDs in a 45-6 thrashing of Northmont on September 26; a 59-yard dagger against Centerville on October 24 in a 47-27 victory. And that track speed? It translates everywhere – including a 72-yard scamper against Springboro that turned a simple handoff into a house call, leaving defenders in the dust and proving why his 10.36 100m isn’t just a track stat; it’s a football superpower.
Don’t sleep on his rushing chops, either: 9 carries for 83 yards and 2 scores, a versatile wrinkle that keeps defenses guessing. And in the playoffs? Against Findlay, he erupted for 5 catches and 64 yards – including a 30-yard laser from QB Kye Graham. “Jamier’s a certified burner who works both inside and outside the numbers,” gushes Hudson Standish, a 247Sports National Analyst – a nod to the Ohio State great Ted Ginn Jr., whose electric speed and return prowess Averette-Brown echoes with every explosive play. “His speed and YAC ability make him a mismatch nightmare.” Troy’s corners – fresh off a 23-22 nail-biter over Hilliard Bradley – better bring their track shoes.
The NIL Revolution: One Kid’s Fight for the Future
Averette-Brown’s explosiveness isn’t confined to the field. In October 2025, he and his mother, Jasmine Brown, filed a landmark lawsuit against the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), blasting the state’s blanket ban on high school Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals as an “unlawful suppression of athletes’ economic liberties.” The suit claimed he’d already turned down over $100,000 in potential endorsements – from local apparel brands to national track gear sponsors – just to stay eligible. Days later, on October 20, Franklin County Judge Jaiza Page granted a temporary restraining order (TRO), halting enforcement statewide and greenlighting Ohio’s top talents to chase NIL cash without fear.
The shockwaves were immediate and seismic. OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute called an emergency vote on NIL bylaws, set for November 17-21 among member schools – a 180 from the 538-254 rejection of a similar measure in 2022. Suddenly, Ohio joins California, Texas, and a handful of NIL-friendly states, and Averette-Brown – repped by top agencies with 15,000+ followers on X (@ShowTimee_23) – is poised to lead the charge. His attorney, Michael Harding, pegs his immediate earning potential at six figures: Think Nike track spikes, local car dealership spots, and Buckeye hype videos. As track season looms in spring 2026 – with another crack at those state records – Showtime’s brand is about to supernova.
Wayne’s Warriors: Buckeye Blood vs. Irish Intrigue
Wayne High isn’t some flyover factory – it’s a proven pipeline to glory, and Averette-Brown’s the latest gem. Buckeye fans boast alumni like Braxton Miller, the beloved Ohio State dual-threat QB known for his video game-like highlight reels; Josh Padilla, the up-and-coming sophomore center/guard earning meaningful snaps under Ryan Day; and Will Allen, the lockdown safety who hoisted the 2002 BCS National Championship trophy before a nine-year NFL stint with the Buccaneers and Steelers. “Ohio State has always been my dream school,” Averette-Brown said after his November 2024 commitment, fresh off a sophomore campaign that turned heads nationwide. That tattoo? It’s non-negotiable Buckeye ink, a forearm flourish that screams scarlet loyalty.
Yet Notre Dame lurks like a golden dome shadow. Marcus Freeman, Wayne Class of 2003 and a hard-hitting linebacker who parlayed his gridiron grit into a brief NFL career before rising to Irish head man, knows the Huber Heights pulse better than anyone. His “Warriors Can’t Weight” campaign – that $330k weight room glow-up from a proud alumnus; but was it also a recruiting masterstroke, drawing Averette-Brown for an April 2025 visit where grins turned to game plans. Freeman’s backed by fellow Wayne products: Cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens, a shutdown DB alum who coached at Cincinnati before joining Notre Dame; and current Irish starting right tackle Aamil Wagner for the AP top-10 Fighting Irish, repping Wayne pride.
Averette-Brown’s reciprocated with three South Bend trips in six months, including that USC showdown. “I have a good relationship with Coach Freeman and the coaches,” he admitted, name-dropping receivers coach Mike Brown (another Dayton link). Irish insiders are salivating: Pair Showtime with their stacked 2027 class, slide him under Mickens’ wing, and block for him with Wagner? It’s a Wayne reunion that could flip the script. “Freeman’s not playing – Jamier’s the prize,” one source whispered. With early signing day still 13 months out, this Buckeye-Irish tug-of-war is playoff fuel: A Troy explosion could quiet the doubters… or amplify the drama.
Showtime’s Spotlight: Why America Should Tune In
Jamier Averette-Brown isn’t just a player – he’s a movement. In an era where high school stars chase shadows of college riches, he’s demanding his due now, blending 10.36-second sprints with 59-yard scores and TRO triumphs. Wayne’s quest for a deep November run – potentially a regional final clash with Middletown or Springfield – is his canvas, but the bigger picture? NIL millions, track glory, and a recruiting saga that pits OSU’s family pull against ND’s hometown hustle.
Friday in Troy isn’t a semifinal; it’s Showtime’s national audition. Will he torch the Trojans for 150 yards and two scores, etching another highlight for the reel? Or will Freeman’s whispers echo louder post-whistle? Fire up Spectrum News 1, the app, OHSAA.tv, or SpectrumNews1.com – it’s all streaming live for the Dayton and NW Ohio crew, and anyone else with eyes on the future of football.
Either way, the football world’s waking up. Follow @ShowTimee_23 on X for the clips, the vibes, and the vision. Buckeye faithful: He’s ours. Irish hopefuls: Dream on. But America? Get ready – because when Showtime hits the gas, no one’s catching him.
O-H…and may the best Warrior win.
Brian Walton covers the Buckeyes through his online pseudonym Brian Buckeyes Stats for Buckeye Backers.
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