18 SportsInk.com-area football stars expected to sign
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Buchtel senior defensive back Jarrod Wilson is expected to sign Wednesday with the Michigan Wolverines. An All-Ohio selection, Wilson was a mainstay in Buchtel's run to the Division III state championship football game in 2010.

 

NCAA Division I football in Ohio and across the country will have a SportsInk.com flavor in 2012 as 18 area players expect to sign National Letters of Intent Wednesday.

The Big Ten, Southeastern, Atlantic Coast, Big East, Mid-American and Northeast conferences as well as the Ivy League picked up some quality players from Summit, Medina and Portage counties as major college programs replenish their rosters for the coming football season.

Back in the playoffs for the first time since 2008, Walsh Jesuit once again led area teams in terms of Division I recruits with four, while the University of Akron snapped up two players out of the Northeast Ohio Conference, one out of the Suburban League and yet another from the Portage Trail Conference in the SportsInk.com coverage area.

Below, is a list of area individuals who will be playing football at the highest level in college this coming season:

Curtis BLACK, Kent Roosevelt, 6-4, 325, OL, Akron: Black made a big impact for the PTC Metro champion Rough Riders, after playing just one year of high school football. His mobility for his size and his ability in basketball are impressive when projecting his future as a Mid-American Conference offensive lineman. Black played football at the request of his friend, former Kent star Ryan Anderson, and earned HM all-district. 

Benny CUNNINGHAM, Medina, 6-1, 172, DB, Akron: One of Akron’s earliest recruits, Cunningham gave his verbal commitment to former coach Rob Ianello over the summer after a junior year in which he had 79 tackles and one interception for a team that upset Canton McKinley in a regional quarterfinal. As a senior, he had 67 tackles and registered three interceptions and four pass breakups. New Zips' coach Terry Bowden honored the commitment and Cunningham is a member of Bowden's first class.

Joshmere DAWSON, Akron East, 6-0, 240, DE, St. Francis (Pa.): A third-team Division II All-Ohio selection, Dawson was a three-year starter for the Dragons. He recorded 42 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Dawson was a first-team All-City Series selection in 2011 and second-team honoree in 2010.

De'Shawn DOWDY, Akron North, 6-4, 220, ATH, Cincinnati: Originally committed to Maryland, Dowdy changed his mind and now is enrolled at UC. College scouts loved his length and athleticism, despite playing for a team which won one game his junior and senior seasons. A second-team Division III All-Ohioan and a first-team all-district pick, Dowdy collected 16 sacks and forced five fumbles last fall. He is projected as being able to play TE, OLB, WR or DE for the Bearcats.

Kevin ENRIGHT, Walsh Jesuit, 6-4, 234, TE/DL, Duquesne: One of quarterback Nick Wargo’s favorite targets for the 10-2 Warriors, Enright ended the 2011 season with 31 receptions for 473 yards and three touchdowns. A second-team All-Northeast Inland District selection, Enright also was an effective blocker on the edge, helping RB Brock Jones to a 1,590-yard season (25 touchdowns) on the ground.

LaTroy LEWIS, Archbishop Hoban, 6-4, 240, DE, Tennessee: A second-team Division III All-Ohio selection as a junior, Lewis broke a bone in his foot in the second game of 2011 and missed the rest of the season. In 2010, he had 7½ sacks, 10 more tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hurries. New Tennessee defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri visited Lewis at Hoban High School in mid-January to lock down his becoming a Volunteer.

Ross MARTIN, Walsh Jesuit, 5-10,183, PK, Duke: One of the best, if not the top high school kicking prospect in the country, Martin was a weapon last fall for the Warriors during their 10-2 season. His 81 points included 10 field goals and a 51-of-51 effort on extra points. He also averaged 40.6 yards on 26 punts. Martin was a Division II first-team All-Ohio pick.

Greg McMULLEN, Archbishop Hoban, 6-5, 255, DE, Nebraska: A three-time Division III All-Ohio selection and two-time first-team pick, McMullen visited Nebraska four times before deciding on the Cornhuskers. As a senior, he was credited with 26 tackles for loss, including 12½ sacks, among 65 total tackles.

Tony MATTEO, 6-5, 285, Manchester, C, West Virginia: A first-team Division IV All-Ohio selection as a senior, Matteo was a big reason the Panthers reached the playoffs for the third year in a row. With Matteo at center, junior quarterback Nick Peyakov threw for 2,464 yards and 27 touchdowns. He is the eighth player in coach Jim France's 40 years at Manchester to earn a Division I scholarship and the first selected for the Big 33 Game.

Dane O’DRISCOLL, 6-4, 255, Walsh Jesuit, DL, Duquesne: One of the unheralded heroes in Walsh Jesuit’s 10-2 season last fall, O’Driscoll accumulated 53 total tackles (22 solo), including eight tackles for loss (four QB sacks). He was named second-team All-Northeast Inland District.

Quaison OSBORNE, Hudson, 6-4, 318, OT, Akron: A third-team Division I All-Ohio selection, Osborne was the cog for the Explorers, who returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Behind the burly left tackle, junior Ben Gedeon rushed for 1,423 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Matt PERRY, St. Vincent-St. Mary, 6-3, 255, DT, Harvard: The Irish Defensive MVP in 2011, Perry logged 14 quarterback sacks during his junior and senior seasons. A second-team All-Northeast Inland District selection, Perry plans to study economics at Harvard.

Andrew PRATT, Green, 6-5, 190, WR, Akron: A first-team Suburban League and second-team All-Northeast Inland District performer, Pratt is one of the finest all-around athletes to come out of Green. He had 39 receptions for 734 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior in just his second year of high school football. He also had a punt return touchdown. Pratt also excels in track (state finalist 400 meters) and has been a three-year starter in basketball. He played football for coaches Ed Cybak and Tom Stacy. 

Mason SCHRECK, Medina, 6-5, 220, QB, University at Buffalo: A hulk of a quarterback in a run-heavy offense, Schreck gave his verbal commitment early to the Bulls. As a junior, he returned from injury at midseason and helped lead the Bees to a memorable win over Canton McKinley in the state playoffs. As a senior, he was 75-of-152 passing for 753 yards and four touchdowns. There has been talk that Buffalo wants him at tight end, but nothing has been confirmed. His basketball coach, Anthony Stacey, raves about his work ethic.

Jack SNOWBALL, Wadsworth, 6-0, 211, RB, Miami (Ohio): The Associated Press’ Division I co-Offensive Player of the Year, Snowball set Medina County single-season records for rushing yards (2,596), touchdowns (32) and points (194) after missing most of his junior year due to injury. He rushed for 1,200 yards and 14 TDs as a sophomore. Snowball's father, Dave, was the Zips' defensive coordinator when Jason Taylor played for UA.

Alex TODD, Streetsboro, 6-3, 285, DT, Indiana University: Todd starred for coach John Arlesic and earned Division IV first-team All-Northeast Inland District and special mention All-Ohio as a defensive lineman as a senior. In 2010, he gained third-team All-Ohio. Originally a golfer during the fall sports season, Todd did not begin playing high school football until his sophomore year.

Nick WARGO, Walsh Jesuit, 6-3, 210, QB, Youngstown State: Wargo completed 63.1 percent of his passes for the 10-2 Warriors and received HM all-district notice. His numbers read 113-of-179 passing for 1,678 yards and 15 touchdowns. Walsh advanced to the Region 5, Division II championship game.  

Jarrod WILSON, Buchtel, 6-3, 190, DB, Michigan: A first-team Division III All-Ohio selection, Wilson is already enrolled at Michigan. A four-star prospect, Wilson had a breakout junior campaign with 10 interceptions, returning five for touchdowns before leading the Griffins to another City Series title as a senior. His high school coach, Ricky Powers, also wore the Maize and Blue.

Also:

Pharaoh BROWN, Brush, 6-7, 225, TE, Oregon

Tad FRANCE, Elyria, 6-5, 270, OT, Kent State

Jack HANLEY, Mentor, 6-3, 260, DT, Army

Nate HOFF, Solon, 6-1, 287, DT, Navy

Kevin HOUCHINS, Brush, 5-11, 185, WR/DB, Louisville

Kurt LASEAK, Mentor, 6-5, 220, DE, Ohio

Austin STOCK, Solon, 6-3, 250, C, Columbia

Tom STROBEL, Mentor, 6-6, 285, DE, Michigan

Carlutorbantu ZARAMO, Brush, 6-4, 295, OL/DL, Ball State

Cory STUART, Solon, 6-1, 174, WR, Dayton