For me it comes down to two people: Ben Gedeon of Hudson, and Joe Perella of CVCA
Ben Gedeon is probably the area's most highly recruited player. But for pure excitement and game-changing ability, look for Mentor QB Mitch Trubisky, Solon WR-S Darian Hicks and Willoughby South RB Kareem Hunt.
Flew under the radar last year because of Alden Hill, but Dymonte Thomas is going to put up some monster numbers for Marlington next year.
2010: All-Ohio Associated Press Division III Second-team ... All-Northeast Inland District First-team ... Repository All-Stark County First-team ... All-NBC First-team ... Shares team lead with six sacks among his 117 tackles to go with 1,488 yards rushing and 18 total TDs. Averages 9.8 yards a carry.
Kyle Kempt QB MASSOLIN 3 Stars. #3 QB in Ohio, #1 in NEO
Deveon Smith RB HOWLAND 3 Stars #1 RB in the State
Shelton Gibson WR CLE. HEIGHTS 4 Stars #1 WR in State
A.J. Branisil TE ND CATHEDRIL LATIN 3 Stars #4 in OH, #1 in NEO
Damonte Thomas S MARLINGTON 4 stars #1 S in OH
Marcus McWilson S CARDINAL MOONEY 4stars #2 S in OH
Jalyn Powell ATH WARREN HARTING 3 stars #3 ATH in OH, #1 in NEO
Kyle Kempt QB MASSOLIN 3 Stars. #3 QB in Ohio, #1 in NEO
Deveon Smith RB HOWLAND 3 Stars #1 RB in the State
Shelton Gibson WR CLE. HEIGHTS 4 Stars #1 WR in State
A.J. Branisil TE ND CATHEDRIL LATIN 3 Stars #4 in OH, #1 in NEO
Damonte Thomas S MARLINGTON 4 stars #1 S in OH
Marcus McWilson S CARDINAL MOONEY 4stars #2 S in OH
Jalyn Powell ATH WARREN HARTING 3 stars #3 ATH in OH, #1 in NEO
Ratings from Rivals
How come the vast majority of outstanding players attend public school?
I'd go with Marcus McWilson of Cardinal Mooney.... I'm not sure anyone plays so many positions and plays them well...
Safety (huge interceptions in playoff wins against Steuby, Chagrin Falls and Shawnee that turned the tide of those games)
Kicker (Many kickoffs into and through the end zone)
Punter ( easily averaged 40+ yards a kick last year, several over 50 )
Punt Returner ( good average, no fumbles )
Kick Returner (Boardman fans will not soon forget his return that won that game... their coach is STILL kicking himself for kicking to him with less than 10 seconds left in the half)
WR,RB (Last and this year you'll probably see him all over the place)
He should be a lock for defensive POY and should certainly be considered for Mr. Football.
It's not too often you see someone that never leaves the field and is dominant the way Marcus is.
There might be higher rated recruits or future prospects, but I'd take him tomorrow over anyone else in the state at the high school level.
tom the difference in football is you need several good players. one or two big stars wont get you anywhere without a compliment of alot of good players.
tom the difference in football is you need several good players. one or two big stars wont get you anywhere without a compliment of alot of good players.
I think we can all agree that you win with a team, not individuals. The schools that win have teams, maybe not the most talented group of individuals, but players who are willing to buy into a system that does not emphasize individual glory, but sacrificing for the good of the team. One can find these in both public and private schools.. I was merely pointing out that the "stars" from Ohio are usually found in the public schools. But complainers always say that the private schools recruit away all of the talent, which is, of course, not true.
I think we can all agree that you win with a team, not individuals. The schools that win have teams, maybe not the most talented group of individuals, but players who are willing to buy into a system that does not emphasize individual glory, but sacrificing for the good of the team. One can find these in both public and private schools.. I was merely pointing out that the "stars" from Ohio are usually found in the public schools. But complainers always say that the private schools recruit away all of the talent, which is, of course, not true.
Don't know about that. Ignatius and Eds have had a lot more star players than Mentor over the years. At least star players that get great college offers. Heck Eds has them every year. Mentor has been blessed recently with talent coming into our system but even now, Strobel, Trubisky and Brandon Fritts are the only high level D1 guys. Most are MAC level.
It's certainly not an every year thing. The D1 guys before that above MAC level were schools like Illinois and Navy. Not exactly the marque. Have to go back to 2003 for Chad Mayse and West Virginia.
Don't know about that. Ignatius and Eds have had a lot more star players than Mentor over the years. At least star players that get great college offers. Heck Eds has them every year. Mentor has been blessed recently with talent coming into our system but even now, Strobel, Trubisky and Brandon Fritts are the only high level D1 guys. Most are MAC level.
It's certainly not an every year thing. The D1 guys before that above MAC level were schools like Illinois and Navy. Not exactly the marque. Have to go back to 2003 for Chad Mayse and West Virginia.
Mentor has had some very good to excellent players over the years. However, the success has come with bringing in an outstanding coach who was able to get the kids to go out for the team, believe in each other, and work together.No one starts high school as a D1 recruit; they are developed through hard work and sacrifice. Teams win championships and outstanding individuals are developed through the team concept. Congrats to Mentor and the coaching staff for bringng that winning attitude to the team.
You need both. You need the great 2-3 D1 athletes in any given year, (the game changers)......and add a solid cast of 10 other guys who could play at the D3 level if they wanted too. Mooney and Coldwater are prime examples.
The Homans from Coldwater won their only "2" State titles" when the Homan brothers where there. They got spanked in their 4-5 games against Ursuline when they weren't there.
Mooney too has been been fortunate to have a great cast behind D1 athletes.....Dam McCarthy, Kyle McCarthy, and many many others.
And if a great D1 athlete on ANY team is lost......like DJK for Mooney and Danny McCarthy in two games (in State Title games).....well then......you'll you can lose.
As another example...Chagrin Falls, Dover and Northwest all had a great group of D3 athletes, an occassional D1 player ........and GREAT QB'S....!!!
Without those Qb's.....they are average teams.
This upcoming year.....will prove that.
Any team can be just very good or a State Title winner, by the health of their QB.
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