Recruiting is said to be the lifeblood of college football. This series will countdown the top 100 high schools in Ohio that have provided the Buckeyes with football players. The rankings are based on how many times a player from each high school has been listed on Ohio State's roster between 1970 and 2018.
No. 7, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
Qualification
15 players from Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary have been listed on 53 Ohio State rosters.
DT Jason Simmons (1989-93) was a captain of the 1993 team and an All-Big Ten player in 1991. Finished his career as the program leader in sacks (27.5), tackles for loss (56.5) and TFL yards (308). He has since dropped to second all-time in sacks and TFL yards and third all-time in TFL. As a senior at ASVSM, Simmons was second team All-State and won the state title in 1988.
Unfortunately, not every gridiron great goes on to do good things in life. Below you can read about Simmons' crimes. Hopefully the victim has been able to get help and recover.
From teachersbehavingbadly.com on 7-17-2007:
Jason Simmons, a former Ohio State football star who now works as a middle school teacher in the Dayton area, has been charged with multiple sexual contacts with a 14 year old girl. Simmons, who is married and has children, is alleged to have had sex with the girl on three occasions. He was hired to provide assistance to "special needs" students, but his victim was not one of his students.
From 10tv.com WBNS 5-16-2008:
A former defensive end for Ohio State accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl pleaded guilty Monday to sexual battery.
Jason Simmons, who played for Ohio State in the early 1990s, entered the plea during a hearing before Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Mary Wiseman.
In exchange for his plea, three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor were dropped. Simmons, 37, faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced June 19.
Prosecutors say Simmons, a teacher at Northmont Middle School, developed a relationship with the girl following a school trip to Washington, D.C.
Defense attorney Thomas Kollin said Simmons entered the plea to bring closure to the case and not subject the girl's family and his family to a trial.
DB Doran Grant (2011-14) was a captain of the 2014 national championship team and named to the 2014 All-Big Ten team. He Played in 39 games and started 15 (14 straight in 2013). Grant recorded 83 tackles, 3 TFL, 4 interceptions, broke-up 11 passes and recovered a fumble during his Buckeye career. The Steelers selected Grant in the 4th round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
For the Irish, Grant was an All-Ohioan as a junior and senior. He was also named to the Under Armour-All American and USA Today All-USA team. Grant finished his high school career with 203 tackles and 6 INTs. On the offensive side of the ball, he caught 88 passes for 1,115 yards and 25 touchdowns. Grant also won the 2010 state title in the 110-meter hurdles and 60-meter hurdles (indoor).
WR Parris Campbell (2014-18) was a two-time captain and All-Big Ten receiver for the Buckeyes. The speedy receiver hauled in 153 passes for 1,768 yards and 15 touchdowns during his Ohio State career. The lion's share of that production came during his redshirt senior season. Campbell was on of three wide-outs to break the 1,000 yard mark in receiving yards last year. He finished his senior year with 90 catches for 1,063 yards and 12 TDs. The Colts liked what they saw from Campbell and selected him in the second round of this year's NFL Draft.
Campbell was an All-Ohioan who rushed for 1,584 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior. He helped the Irish win back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 going 28–2 over those two seasons. Campbell's speed helped the track team to a state title in 2013 as he anchored the championship 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay teams, and was second in the 100. In the winter of 2014, he broke the Ohio State record by running 6.85 in the indoor 60-meter dash.
| No. | POS | PLAYER | YEARS | OHIO STATE CAREER | HS CAREER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | OG | LARRY GRAF | 1970-73 | Missed two seasons due to mononucleosis and a third season because of a broken ankle. Played in every game except at Michigan during his senior year. Graf also earned a letter with the golf team. | Was a standout in football, golf and wrestling. |
| 26 | DB | WARREN SHARPP | 1971 | Did not see the field in 1971. | Nothing listed. |
| 15 | QB | JAMES PACENTA | 1973-76 | Played in 17 games for 157 minutes during his time in Columbus. As a senior, he led the team in passing as he completed 28 of 54 passes for 404 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a TD. | All-Ohioan and led ASVSM to a championship in 1972, was a captain of the basketball team. |
| 56, 92 | OC | JOEL LASER | 1975-78 | Finished his career with 3 games played for a total of 6 minutes. | Nothing listed. |
| 80 | TE | JAMES HOUSTON | 1978-79 | Saw action in 11 games as a freshman, but only played in 1 game in his last season with the team in 1979. | All-Ohioan who had 244 receiving yards as a senior, his dad was Buckeye and two-time All-American Jim Houston. |
| 96 | LB | MICHAEL D'ANDREA | 1978-81 | Recorded 63 tackles, 3 TFL and a sack as he started every game of his senior year and played in 36 straight games between 1979 and 1981. | All-Ohioan at DE and came from a family of 11. |
| 77 | OT | JIM CARSON | 1980-83 | Started 7 games in 1982, but only 1 as a senior in 1983. Finished his career with 33 games played and 351 minutes. | All-Ohioan. |
| 80 | TE | ED TAGGART | 1983-86 | All-Big Ten 1986, caught 12 passes for 109 yards and started all 13 games as a senior. Played in 46 of a possible 49 games as a Buckeye. | Won the state title in 1981 and 1982. |
| 91 | DT | JASON SIMMONS | 1989-93 | See above. | See above. |
| 10 | S | DAVE HOUSTON | 1990 | Did not see the field in 1990. | Nothing listed. |
| 95 | DT | SIAN COTTON | 2004-05 | Redshirted in 2003, but was not listed on the official roster. Was on the scout team in 2004, but did not play in a game. Had 2 tackles and played in five games during his final season with the team. | All-Ohioan and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, also started on the basketball team with LeBron James. |
| 87 | DL | LAWRENCE WILSON | 2006-09 | 2009 Academic All-Big Ten, broke his leg and missed the 2007 season, played in 7 games in 2008 before missing the rest of the season with a torn ACL, had 20 tackles and played in all 13 games his senior year. | All-Ohioan and was ranked as Ohio's top defensive end as a senior. Caught seven passes for 3 TDs and averaged 15 points per game as a senior in basketball. |
| 12 | DB | DORAN GRANT | 2011-14 | See above. | See above. |
| 21 | WR | PARRIS CAMPBELL | 2014-18 | See above. | See above. |
| 33 | LB | DANTE BOOKER | 2014-18 | Academic All-Big Ten in 2015, played in all 14 games of the national championship season, had a knee injury in 2016 and missed the season, in 2017, he started the first 6 games before missing the rest of the season because of an injury. | Mr. Football in 2013 and earned a five star ranking, first defensive player to win Mr. Football since Andy Katzenmoyer in 1995, ASVM won the state title in 2013 and 2012, his dad played for Auburn. |
Back To School
St. Vincent-St. Mary is located in Summit County and is currently independent. The team competes in Division III, Region 9. The Irish went 7–3 last year. and qualified for the playoffs.
Prior to last year, the team made the playoffs for 9 consecutive years (2009-17) and won the state title in 2012 and 2013.
The football program has won six titles (2013, 2012, 1988, 1982, 1981, 1972).
Notable
St. Vincent-St. Mary has won 32 state championships. The boys' basketball team leads the way with nine (2018, 2017, 2011, 2009, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1984, 1929), the football team has the six mentioned above, girls' cross country had five straight (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009), girls' basketball has three (1995, 1980, 1979), boys' track (2013, 2011), baseball (1989, 1986) and girls' softball (1984, 1979) have two, girls' track (2012), wrestling (2001) and boys' golf (1927) each have one.
The golf title in 1927 was won by St. Mary and the boys' basketball title in 1929 was won by St. Vincent before the merger of the two schools.
Famous Alumni
Famous names you may know: NFL players Frank Stams, NBA players Jerome Lane and JaKarr Sampson, Cleveland State basketball coach Dru Joyce, former Akron Zips basketball coach Tony Laterza, ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst, and the guy who helped bring the Cavs their first title, LeBron James.
LeBron James returned to introduce the new football uniforms.
Explanation of the Rankings
School "A" had 14 players appear 16 times on Ohio State's roster. School "B" had 11 players appear 20 times on Ohio State's roster. School "B" will have the higher ranking. Why? Even though school "B" has less players, those players played for more years.
If two or more schools have the same number of appearances, the tie will be broken by the school with the highest average of roster appearances per player. If there is a tie in the average, the tie breaker will be the school with the most prominent Ohio State player.
2,828 days since Ohio State has not defeated That Team.
98 days until The Game.
Are you a former player, graduate, live near or have something to add about today's featured high school? Please share your story with us in the comments. What makes the 11W community unique is the amount of great information everybody is willing to share.
If you like Ohio high school football, or want to read about the best teams of the '50s and '60s, you should check out Tim Raab's book: Powerhouses of Ohio High School Football.
