- Kenny Lacy officially visits Kansas State
- Corey Smith officially visits Mississippi State
- Jonathan Hilliman unofficially visits Rutgers
- Shelton Gibson officially visits West Virginia
- Tennessee offers Johnnie Dixon
- Todd Kelly rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries and recorded four tackles in a 47-14 state championship win over Memphis (Tenn.) ECS
- Cornelius Elder rushed for 225 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries in a 31-14 state championship win over Memphis University School.
Rivals$--Munger schedules Ohio State visit
- Donovan is still sorting through numerous schools but is taking his Mom on his official visit so she can meet Coach Meyer. He may also visit Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Indiana
Rivals$--Tigers visit former Rivals100 LB commit
- Coach Thigpen could not guarantee Trey that he will still be at Auburn but he recommended that Trey slow down and see how everything plays out before deciding.
BN$--OSU Offer Excites UCLA Commitment
- More of the same...Kenny is considering a visit and is excited.
Rivals$--Visits on deck for Gibson
- Shelton is heading to WVU this weekend and will likely visit NCSU and Louisville before his official to tOSU in January.
Rivals - Gibson Knows Army Bowl a Showcase
- Excited about showing off his skills at the event. Looks at it as a business trip. Also addresses becoming a man, becoming more loyal over the past two years.
Rivals$--Spurriers check on Bates
- Dillon has been visited by Coaches Muschamp and Spurrier this week. He is wide open right now, happy that the Tennessee transition is happening now, and plans to visit South Carolina, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Florida, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Ohio State this spring.
Rivals$--Conley schedules two official visits
- Gareon will visit tOSU and then Michigan. His in-home with Coach Meyer went very well and he is comfortable with both coaching staffs.
All-Ohioan McDaniel heading to Ohio State
MARION — Pleasant High School senior football player Devlin McDaniel had quite a 2012 season, one which elevated him to a lofty prep honor and to a special place in college football.
McDaniel was named Wednesday as a first teamer on the Associated Press Division V All-Ohio defensive squad, joining seven others from the area members of one of the Division V or VI teams.
The All-Ohio awards were based on the recommendations of a state media panel.
McDaniel’s All-Ohio honor padded his resume a little more, a resume he will take to The Ohio State University.
Pleasant coach Aaron Cook confirmed Thursday that McDaniel has been invited by OSU coaches to be a preferred walk-on as a wide receiver.
“Devlin is an extremely gifted and talented football player,” Cook said. “He did everything for our football team. He was on our special teams and played offense and defense.”
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound McDaniel was honored as an All-Ohioan as a defensive back.
As a defensive back, McDaniel recorded 53 tackles, six interceptions, 16 pass breakups, one forced fumble and 12 batted balls.
“He is definitely a lockdown defender,” Cook said.
McDaniel, who carries a 4.0 grade-point average, was also a threat on offense.
He holds every school receiving record for a single season and a career.
This fall McDaniel had 38 pass receptions for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 20.1 yards per catch.
A three-year starter and four-year letterwinner, he also ran the ball 22 times for 241 yards and a pair of touchdowns. McDaniel racked up 1,218 all-purpose yards.
McDaniel served as the Spartans’ kicker on kickoffs and long snapper for punts and PATs.
“He was the most dynamic player we had on our team,” Cook said.
Five other local players were selected for the Division V special-mention squad. They were senior lineman Isaac Van Gundy and senior linebacker John Kasler of Elgin; Cardington senior lineman Jerred Fraizer; and junior linebacker Chase Kelly and junior defensive back Jordan Kelley of Pleasant.
They were all recently picked as first teamers on the Associated Press All-Central District team.
Two Ridgedale players who were first-team district picks made the All-Ohio Division VI special-mention team. They were senior linemen Derrick Rinehart and Daniel Payne.
Ensworth's Corn Elder finds his place in the backfield
When Corn Elder arrived at Ensworth as a freshman in 2009, coach Ricky Bowers wasn’t sure what position he would play.
Bowers eventually put Elder at tailback, proving to be a good decision considering that he ranks 12th among the state’s career rushing leaders entering tonight’s Division II-AA championship against Memphis University School in Cookeville.
“We had (Corn) at quarterback a little bit early on, and we weren’t certain whether he would be a running back or a receiver or whatever because his size was a concern,” Bowers said. “Our quarterback, Andrew (Bowers), got hurt as a freshman and didn’t get to play, so we played Corn at quarterback (on the freshman team.)”
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Elder has rambled for 6,144 rushing yards during his three years with the varsity. Former Ensworth back Orleans Darkwa (6,338), now at Tulane, and former DCA running back Lorenza Edwards (6,553 yards) are the only backs from Nashville with more career yards. Elder is 195 yards from passing Darkwa.
Darkwa and former Ensworth quarterback Tavarres Jefferson set the rushing standards high for Elder. Jefferson won the Division II-AA Mr. Football award in 2008 before signing with Middle Tennessee State.
cont...
Ensworth's Corn Elder finishes with 3 state titles
COOKEVILLE — After missing most of last year’s championship game with an ankle injury, Ensworth’s Corn Elder brought the pain to MUS Thursday night.
Elder, in his final game, rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 31-14 victory and the Division II-AA title — the third in as many years for Ensworth, which wrapped up its first undefeated campaign in school history and has now won its last 21 straight games.
“I just wanted to come out and help my team win,” Elder said after finishing his career with 6,351 rushing yards — the ninth-best total in state history. “This is special. Not a lot of teams get to do that (win three straight crowns). You just want to cherish the moment.”
Ensworth (13-0), which defeated MUS 35-28 in the Aug. 17 season opener for both teams, rallied from a 6-0 deficit with an Elder 4-yard scoring run and an ensuing extra point by Jake Estes on its second possession of the game.
Estes added a 25-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, and Elder broke a 51-yarder down the right sideline for a 17-6 lead before MUS (10-3) got an 11-yard TD pass from Jordan Rodgers to Will Whitley with one second remaining.
“Our seniors stepped up and led us, and we finished,” junior lineman Michael Sawyers said. “The last time (against them), we didn’t, but we came out and finished this time.”
cont...
All-Detroit prep football team, led by Detroit King's Da'Vaun Williams
Four years ago, Detroit King coach Dale Harvel was approached by a freshman who planned on coming out for football.
"One of the first things he asked me was, 'Coach, can I look at some film?' " Harvel said of Da'Vaun Williams.
"I just kind of looked at him, and I said, 'Watch some film? What kind of film do you want to watch?' I'm looking at this kid, and he doesn't know what offense we're running, he doesn't know what we're doing, but he wanted to look at film because he wanted to get right at it and he wanted to compete."
Williams competed and succeeded, leading the Crusaders to the Public School League title as a senior after losing their first three games and a year after one of its greatest players -- running back Dennis Norfleet (Michigan) -- graduated.
"I just wanted to get to know King's offense," Williams said. "I had been around it for a while, but I just wanted to hear it from him and understand what King's offense was about and the defense. I wanted to get strategies from Coach (James) Reynolds and reads and different things."
cont...
Florida Football Star has Famous Dallas Cowboy Name to Live Up to
There is no secret Ohio State is in need of quality linebackers, and head coach Urban Meyer is looking here, there and everywhere for them.
With Meyer’s strong Florida roots, there will be a lot of Ohio State offers express delivered to the Sunshine State in the coming years.
When one of those kids has a father who played linebacker in the NFL for 15 years for the heralded Dallas Cowboys, that stock instantly rises. Florida linebacker prospect Dillon Bates is the son of Dallas Cowboy legend Bill Bates who played under legendary coaches Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, and Barry Switzer (whose legend was mainly from his Oklahoma days).
An outside linebacker in the class of 2014, Bates has no shortage of offers: 20 plus to date. His dad played at Tennessee and he has been around football all his life. It looks like he is a chip off the old block as Dillon compares himself, his drive, and work ethic mostly to his dad, a great model to follow. The 4-star prospect out of Ponte Vedra took time to talk to Ozone about his recruitment.
cont...
Franklin Co.’s Timmons schedules visits to Illinois and Ohio State
Franklin County High School wide receiver/running back/return specialist Ryan Timmons has his third and fourth official visits scheduled: to Illinois this weekend and to Ohio State on Jan. 11.
He’s already been to Arkansas and Purdue.
Timmons said coaches from Ohio State and Illinois have both been by his school this week. He said as of Thursday night, he’d not heard from new Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, although it would be no surprise if he’s made a top in-state priority for the Wildcats’ new staff. Stoops began contacting at least four of UK’s current commitments on Thursday night.
Timmons’ trip to Ohio State will be his fourth time at the school. He also was at the Buckeyes’ spring game, a summer camp (where he was a top performer), their home game against Nebraska and their home game last weekend against Michigan. He is still waiting on a scholarship offer from Ohio State, whose 2013 scholarship count is limited by probation.
Recruiting is starting to heat up for junior college inside linebacker Auston Johnson (Torrance, Calif./El Camino Community College). And while things might have fallen through on an official visit to Ohio State, they’re heating up elsewhere.
With offers from Texas A&M, Portland State and UTEP coming in, a new suitor is beginning a push for the 6-foot-1, 230-pound inside linebacker, as BYU is showing heavy interest.
In turn, Johnson is showing interest right back.
Urban Meyer wasted little time in targeting one of the biggest free agents in the 2013 class.
Meyer visited ESPN 150 cornerback Gareon Conley (Massillon, Ohio/Washington) at his school and then finished up with an in-home visit. It was a visit Tigers coach Jason Hall said went off without a hitch.
“It went great. I think it was a chance for Gareon to be around Coach Meyer,” Hall said. “It was a good chance for Gareon to ask a lot of questions. Coach Meyer is a great coach, great person. It was good for him to be around our building. He did a home visit last night as well.”
I don't know if I'm in the majority or not but I am hoping Munger is allowed to commit to the Bucks. I'm biased since I'm from Shaker, but I still think he can be great in Scarlet & Gray!
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
Did I miss something about Devlin McDaniel committing to us? I see it in the title, have no idea who he is, and don't see an article about it? Am I drunk?
When told OSU set school record for 50+ games this year, UFM said "That's good. We're gonna break that next year."
He's a walk-on.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
It's a forum title. And he's a preferred walkon, so your lack of information shouldn't be all that surprising. I doubt most people on here knew who he was until he committed. I certainly didn't.
No grey boxes, if he blows up his senior year expect him to get some full ride schollies that might change his mind. Too early for a preffered walk-on committment IMO.
He already had his senior year. He's in this years class.
Oh, where did I read this wrong. Why was I thinking 2013 was next years class ;) ?
Thanks for reminding me that I didn't add the article, but now it's added for your pleasure
much appreciated, thank you.
Is it possible that this kid could get academic scholarship assistance? He clearly has the grades. I'm not sure what the rules are as far as that goes with athletes.
When told OSU set school record for 50+ games this year, UFM said "That's good. We're gonna break that next year."
i like mcdaniel...4.0 student, preferred walk on, seems like a great asset to our team. cant wait to see him on the field
ESPN site shows Timmons with an offer? Im sure they got that wrong?
I hear Meyer is canto tonight to watch Michael Ferns. Maybe there a flip on the way.
Doubt it.
We have bigger LB targets for 2014.
Ferns has also stated countless times that he doesn't want to go to a 'bit' city like Columbus.
It's true.
you can bet they will be at the D2 game tonight too. cam burrows, mike mccray vs jayme thompson, deshone kizer aka trotwood vs toledo central catholic
O'Deez330
stark county football
Hear through the grape vine that myer talked to egw today at mckinley or yesterday. Could makesense since he was in stark with conley n prob watching the st title games. Can anyone confirm could be here say also all ohioan as a walk on love that n I'm not very impressed with ferns watching their game
O'Deez330
stark county football
Maybe Treadwell not a lock to Scum. He visiting Old Miss this weekend.
You're not wrong here. I haven't heard "Treadwell" and "lock" in the same sentence in quite some time. I don't think Michigan did anything wrong, I think this fruit may just have stayed on the vine a little too long and Treadwell was an absolute stud in Illinois this year. I think he jumped Foster in a lot of people's minds as the nation's top receiver; why the hell would you go to Michigan?
That said, he very well still may be Maize and Blue before it's all over.
I heard Clinton Massie put 46 points Michael Fern team.
This is correct.
yea the rb had 240 yds on 22 carries. ferns didnt look impressive.
O'Deez330
stark county football
Can some one tell me, what does it mean to say he is a preferred walk-on? Does it mean he is not on a football scholarship, but still can practice with the team?
He has a spot on the team without trying out but he doesn't have a scholarship.
Buckeye till I'm dead
As far as I know, he pays his own way for school and participates like any other member of the team. Has an opportunity to earn a scholarship if all goes well
Final
what do we know about this kid?? I haven't heard or seen anything about him, but anytime we can get extra talent it's a good thing right?
Yes there are two Buckeyes in Ann arbor on this site!