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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
by Steve Blackledge, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH , The Columbus Dispatch
That rash assessment is partly true, according to recruiting analysts, but there is a slew of seniors headed to Big Ten schools and schools in other major conferences. They'll be worth watching when the season opens tonight.
"Unless someone comes out of nowhere and has a phenomenal season, I don't envision anyone from around here getting an offer from Ohio State," said Bill Kurelic, who assesses talent for ESPN.com and Bucknuts.com. "There are just no players on that elite level like we've had most years."
Only once this decade, in 2007, have the Buckeyes not landed a player from the area. In each of the past two seasons, they have had three.
Likewise, no local players cracked the national lists on ESPN.com or Rivals.com. In Scouts Inc.'s ratings, only four area players -- offensive lineman Travis Jackson of DeSales, outside linebacker Willie Tatum of Pickerington Central, defensive end Derrick Bryant of Brookhaven and defensive tackle
It's doubtful that many local fans have heard of the most coveted recruit in central Ohio. Skyler Schofner, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound tackle who played at Washington Court House last season, then transferred to Johnstown briefly before landing at Big Walnut this summer. Six Big Ten schools and a handful of schools from the Atlantic Coast, Southeastern, and Big
John McCallister of McCallister Scouting Report added, "He's big and strong and moves pretty well for his size. I think he's the top offensive lineman in Ohio." Kurelic had him 16th on his list of top Ohio seniors.
Former Ohio State assistant coach Bill Conley, a recruiting analyst for ESPN, likes Schofner, but rates Jackson slightly ahead.
"Travis is a big, tough, strong kid who really stands out in a crowd," Conley said. "He has very good feet, runs exceptionally well, has terrific instincts and he'll put on weight when he gets to college . I love that he comes from a great program and has faced some of the best kids around. He has great potential."
Potential is a recruiting buzzword, of course, and top players will have 10 or more weeks to make their name in recruiting circles.
Marion-Franklin quarterback Verlon Reed is a player who could help himself.
"He's a special talent who has a Big Ten-type of skill set," McCallister said. "My feeling is someone will recruit him as a quarterback, then turn him into either a free safety or a receiver. He needs to be in the right system at the next level, but he's got some tools."
Others to watch include cornerback Ryland Ward of Brookhaven; linebackers Steve Mehrer of Dublin Jerome and Chi-Chi Ariguzo of DeSales; and defensive linemen Grant Pleasant of Dublin Scioto, Zack Hitchens of Canal Winchester and Harrison Scott of New Albany.
"The Scott kid moves so well and gets off the ball with so much explosion, I think he's going to be a gem," McCallister said. "I predict that he's going to grow into a really, really good player."
On Ariguzo, who has committed to Northwestern, McCallister said, "He's just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. He's got a chance to be really special by the time he's done at Northwestern. He'll probably become a strong safety."
Conley's sleeper pick is Marysville fullback Nate Weeks.
"What a good-looking athlete," he said. "Just from the outset, he looks the part. Then you watch him and he's a big, physical guy who's tough to bring down one on one. He's especially effective in (coach Jeff) Gafford's option attack because you absolutely must honor him."
Scouts Inc. lists Weeks as the No. 11-ranked fullback in the country.
sblackledge@dispatch.com
Box Story: WHERE THEY'RE GOING
Seniors from central Ohio who have committed to Division I programs:
Name School Ht. Wt. Pos. College \ Jude Adjei-Barimah Northland 5-11 185 CB Bowling Green \ Chi-Chi Ariguzo DeSales 6-3 215 OLB Northwestern \
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KIRK HERBSTREIT VARSITY SERIES
Where: Ohio Stadium
Saturday: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) vs. Upper Arlington, noon (ESPN); Westerville South vs. Hilliard Davidson, 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Sunday: Olentangy Liberty vs. Dublin Coffman, noon (ESPNU); Orange Lutheran (Calif.) vs. Pickerington Central, 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for students; available at ticketweb.com, through participating schools or at the gate. Tickets are sold separately but are valid for both games each day.
Saturday's games: St. Thomas Aquinas is ranked No. 1 in national polls and is coming off a 15-0 season in which it won Florida's Class 5A championship. It finished as national champion in the USA Today poll. Fifteen of its players are considered Division I recruits, including RBs Giovanni Bernard (1,579 yards, 19 TDs) and James White (960 yards, 21 TDs), and CB Cody Riggs, son of former NFL running back Gerald Riggs. Upper Arlington is coming off a 10-2 season in which it reached a Division I regional semifinal and won the Ohio Capital Conference Central Division. The Golden Bears have Division I prospects in quarterback Kyle Cassady and two-way lineman J.J. Blevins (6 feet 3, 285 pounds).
The Westerville South-Hilliard Davidson game matches teams expected to fare well in their respective OCC divisions. South is coming off a 5-5 season. Davidson went 11-2 and reached a regional final. South's strength lies in a defense returning nine starters. Receiver Jack Tomlinson has committed to Ball State. Davidson is led by option quarterback Jake Trubiano and linebacker Kenny Klatt, who led the team in tackles in 2007 and 2008.
Sunday's games: Although their schools are separated by only a few miles, this marks just the second meeting between Olentangy Liberty and Dublin Coffman. Coffman won last year 10-7. Opened in 2003, Liberty has reached the Division II playoffs five straight seasons, including a regional semifinal run in 2008. Coffman opened 7-0 last season, but dropped its final three games and failed to make the playoffs.
Orange Lutheran is a California power that has won 81 percent of its games since Jim Kunau became coach in 1993. The Lancers won a Division VI title in 2004. Having since grown to Division IV, Lutheran went 10-3 last season. Pickerington Central is coming off a season in which it went 13-1 and reached a Division I state semifinal. The Tigers have reached the playoffs seven of the past nine seasons and won seven OCC division titles.
-- Steve Blackledge
sblackledge@dispatch.com
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