YSU Head Football Coach Eric Wolford announced a class of 24 student-athletes who signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Youngstown State football program.
5-8 • 165 | Wide Receiver
St. Clairsville, Ohio | St. Clairsville H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: A First-Team All-Ohio Division I selection as a running back as a senior...named the Division V Eastern District Offensive Player of the Year...first-team all-district honoree...first-team All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference selection...selected to play in the OHSFCA North-South Classic that will be held in April in Dayton...rushed for 213 yards and four touchdowns against Ferry...St. Clairsville was 9-2 for the season...in 2012, the Red Devils posted a 14-1 mark with a loss to Clinton-Massie in the Division IV title game...rushed for 69 yards on 16 carries and had a touchdown in the game...finished with 93 all-purpose yards...best game as a junior was a six-touchdown, 185-yard performance in playoff win over Piketon...coach was Brett McLean...competed in track and field...was a two-event Division II All-Ohio honoree...was third in the 100-meter dash and fourth in the 200m.
6-2 • 270 | Offensive Lineman
Jefferson Hills, Pa. | Thomas Jefferson H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: First-team Class AAA WPIAL selection...named to Pennsylvania team in the 57th Big 33 Football Classic...first-team Big 9 Conference pick as a senior...played both offensive and defensive line for Thomas Jefferson, which outscored its opponents by an average of 39-8...Jaguars were 11-1 in 2013 while advancing to the WPIAL semifinals...was a second-team Big 9 All-Conference selection as a junior...coach was Bill Cherpak.
6-4 • 185 | Safety
Bradenton, Fla. | IMG Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-star prospect by 247sports.com...played defensive back and wide receiver...as a senior, had 109 total tackles, including 72 solo stops...had five pass breakups and two intereceptions...IMG went 9-2 in its first season of football...started the year winning their first eight games...attended Palm Harbor University before transferring to IMG...coach at IMG was Chris Weinke...had 21 catches for 437 yards and three touchdowns as a junior at PHU...coach at PHU was Matt LePain.
6-5 • 270 | Offensive Lineman
New Castle, Pa. | Neshannock
HIGH SCHOOL: Named first-team Class A all-state by the Pennsylvania News as a defensive lineman...was a first-team Big Seven Conference selection as a tight end and a second-team pick as a defensive lineman...caught 16 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns...advanced to the playoffs in consecutive years...won two postseason games in 2013 and Big Seven Conference title...in 2012, the Lancers also won two playoff games...prior to their playoff run, the program had never won a postseason contest...was a four-year letterwinner...coach was Fred Mozzocio...also played basketball and competed in track and field.
6-4 • 230 | Tight End
Vandergrift, Pa. | Kiski Area
HIGH SCHOOL: A second-team Class AAAA first-team all-state selection by the Pennsylvania Football News...first-team All-Quad East and All-Foothills Conference selection as a tight end...caught 18 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns...had a team-high 77 tackles, including 53 solo stops...coach was Dave Heavner...Kiski made two playoff appearances...also a standout wrestler..placed third in the heavyweight class at the 2013 Class AAA Pennsylvania State Wrestling Championships...was a WPIAL champion as well...set the school record for career pins (more than 100).
6-1 • 165 | Cornerback
Pembroke Pines, Fla. | Flanagan H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: A second-team Class 8A-6A All-Broward County selection as a defensive back...credited with 33 tackles and seven pass breakups...had six interceptions, two fumble recoveries, forced fumble and blocked a kick...returned two interceptions for touchdowns...played in the Tru Sports Public vs. Private All-Star Game...coach was Devin Bush.
6-3 • 206 | Linebacker
Immokalee, Fla. | Immokalee H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Has a two-star rating on rivals.com...played outside linebacker...was a second-team all-area selection...credited with 59 total tackles, 6.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks...Immokalee was 9-3...selected to play in the 59th Annual Florida Athletic Coaches Association North vs. South All-Star Football Classic...coach was Richard Dombroski.
5-11 • 200 | Running Back
York, S.C. | York Comprehensive H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior, was a Class AAAA Division III all-state pick by the South Carolina High School Sports Report… rushed for 1,466 yards and 17 touchdowns on 237 carries…averaged 6.2 yards per rush…best game was a 27-attempt, 270-yard, two-touchdown performance in win over Nation Ford…had 187 yards and scored twice against Rock Hill…played for the North squad at the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl North-South All-Star Game in Myrtle Beach…in the contest rushed for 97 yards on just eight carries and scored twice to help lead the North to a 38-21 victory…York lost to Northwestern in the second round of the Class AAAA Division II playoffs…as a junior, rushed for 1,094 yards and scored 15 touchdowns…had 263 yards receiving…coach at York was Bobby Carroll…attended Clover High School as a sophomore…rushed for 1,008 yards on 224 carries and scored 11 touchdowns that season at Clover.
6-5 • 319 | Offensive Lineman
Trotwood, Ohio | Trotwood Madison/Scottsdale CC
JUNIOR COLLEGE: Spent two years at Scottsdale CC...Fighting Artichokes were 10-1 in 2013 and defeated Dodge City in the Valley of the Sun Bowl (50-42)...finished the year ranked No. 4...closed the year on a 10-game winning streak...part of a high-powered offense that scored 40-plus points in nine games and 27-or-more in all 11...coach was Doug Madoski. HIGH SCHOOL: Played right tackle...second-team Division II All-Ohio pick as a senior...also was a first-team Greater Western Ohio Conference North Division pick...as a junior, was a second-team All-GWOC selection...Trotwood-Madison reached the Division II State Championship Game and posted a 12-3 record...was a four-year letterwinner...coach was Maurice Douglas.
5-10 • 170 | Safety
Tampa, Fla. | Robinson H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played defensive back and served as team's punter...had 50 tackles and two interceptions as a senior...honorable-mention Class 6A all-state and All-Tampa Bay Regional Elite team as a punter...credited with 65 tackles, including 51 solos as a junior...had three interceptions..coach was Shawn Taylor.
6-2 • 225 | Linebacker
Oviedo, Fla. | Hagerty H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played linebacker and fullback...was an honorable-mention candidate for the Central Florida Super60...had 117 tackles, including 24 TFLs as a senior...also forced four fumbles and had three fumble recoveries...as a junior was a second-team All-Seminole Athletic Conference pick...tied school record for tackles in a game with 12...also set mark for career tackles...coach was Phil Ziglar.
6-3 • 240 | Defensive Line
Cincinnati, Ohio | Winton Woods H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played defensive end...as a junior, was an honorable-mention Division II Southwest All-District selection...in 11 games, had 56 total tackles to lead the team...finished with 5.5 sacks...was a two-time honoree as team Lineman of the Year...received a Sportsmanship Award...coach was Andre Parker...also played basketball.
6-7 • 300 | Offensive Line
North Olmsted, Ohio | North Olmsted H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: A first-team All-SWC selection as an offensive tackle...second-team Division II Northeastern Lakes All-District pick...Eagles were 7-3 in 2012 under coach Mike Ptacek...coach as a senior was Tim Berdiger...brother, Matt, is an offensive lineman at Pitt.
6-2 • 198 | Running Back
Amherst, Va. | Amherst County H.S./Fork Union
Fork Union: Attended the prep school in fall of 2013.
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-star prospect by 247sports.com in high school…as a senior was a second-team Region III honoree…also was a first-team Seminole District pick…played for the Central squad at the Central/Southwest All-Star Football Game…big-time playmaker during high school career…had touchdown runs of 95 and 69 against Northside…had eight carries for 178 yards (23.2 a carry) in that game…finished with 149 yards on just three carries against Jefferson Forest…had scoring runs of 87 and 55 in the contest and caught a 46-yard scoring strike…finished with 136 yards on 18 carries in win over Rockbridge County…Lancers were 9-3 his senior year…coach was Cecil Phillips…standout track and field athlete…won the state championship and set a school record in the 300m with a time of 35.20 seconds…placed second in the indoor state championships in the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.54 seconds…the 4x200 relay placed second with a time of 1:33.46…placed fourth in the long jump…at the outdoor state championships was sixth in the 400m with a time of 48.80 seconds…also competed in the long jump.
6-0 • 195 | Punter
Youngstown, Ohio | Austintown Fitch
HIGH SCHOOL: Falcons had a 12-1 season losing only to Lakewood St. Edward in the Division I state quarterfinals...as a junior, averaged 38.3 yards per punt and had eight inside the opposition's 20...averaged 44.7 yards on 70 kickoffs...the Falcons were 9-2 in 2012...coach was Phil Annarella...also a standout for the soccer program...was a OSCA first-team all-district pick as a junior and senior...earned seven letters in high school career, four in soccer and two in football.
6-3 • 295 | Offensive Line
Indiana, Pa. | Indiana Area H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Honorable-Mention WesternPAFootball.net Big School (Class AAAA-AAA) selection...played center and guard on the offensive line...was a two-way starter as a senior at guard and defensive tackle...first-team WPIAL Class AAA Greater Allegheny Conference selection on both sides of the ball...Indiana Gazette Lineman of the Year...coach was Mark Zilinskas...was also a wrestler.
6-2 • 235 | Linebacker
Kissimmee, Fla. | St. Cloud H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Had 34 total tackles, including 32 solos as a senior...credited with two forced fumbles...was a three-time team defensive player of the game...earned three letters...coach was Bryan Smart.
6-0 • 170 | Cornerback
Southfield, Mich. | Southfield H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Was an All-Oakland Activities Association White Division selection...played running back and defensive back...Bluejays were 7-3 in 2013 and 7-4 in 2012...coach was Tim Conley.
5-9 • 170 | Cornerback
Cleveland, Ohio | St. Edward H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Selected to play in the OHFSCA North-South Classic for the North Division I-III squad in April...Had 31 receptions for 448 yards and five touchdowns...played wide receiver and cornerback...Eagles finished 11-2, losing in the Division II state semifinals to Mentor (41-38)...in 2012, posted a 11-1 mark...also lost to Mentor that season falling 63-56...St. Ed's was ranked No. 1 entering 2012 playoffs...finished career with more than 100 receptions and over 1,000 yards...also had six interceptions...was a three-year letterwinner...coach was Rick Finotti.
6-4 • 220 | Tight End
Asheville, N.C. | AC Reynolds H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Was a three-time All-Mountain Athletic Conference selection...earned All-West North Carolina honors three times (twice on first team and once on second team)...played tight end and linebacker...caught 27 passes for 447 yards and four touchdowns...had 81 tackles on the year...Rockets were 9-5 in 2013 and advanced to 3A quarterfinals...posted a 9-3 record in 2012 and shared the Mountain Athletic 4A title...earned three letters...coach was Shane Laws...also competed in track and field and wrestling and played baseball.
Raekwon Washington | Highlights
6-2 • 205 | Running Back
Shelby. N.C. | Shelby H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Rushed for 1,107 yards and scored 15 touchdowns as a senior...averaged 7.5 yards per carry...in 2013, Golden Lions won the NCHSAA 2-A Championship and finished with an 12-4 overall record...scored a touchdown in the state championship game, 29-7 win over Southwest Onslow...as a junior, rushed for 1,128 yards and had 10 touchdowns...Golden Lions reached the third round of the lower 2A state playoffs while posting an 8-6 overall record...coach was Lance Ware...also played basketball.
6-5 • 190 | Quarterback
Navarre, Ohio | Fairless H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: First-team Division V All-Ohio selection as a quarterback...tabbed the Northeast Inland District Division V Offensive Player of the Year and the Canton Repository Stark County Player of the Year...as a senior, threw for a school-record 3,558 yards and had 33 touchdown passes...completed 257-of-414 attempts (62.1 percent)...the previous mark was 3,281 yards by Justin Zwick...produced three 400-yard games, three 300-yard performances, two five-touchdown passing games and two four-TD games...led the Falcons to their first playoff berth since 1999 and first-ever postseason victory (51-42 over Black River)...program also had memorable wins over Manchester (first since 1985) and Tuslaw (first since 1996)...Fairless averaged 37.1 points per game...set the Stark County record for all-time passing yards (8,344), and completions (617) while ranking second in touchdown passes (67)...had 1,079 attempts...played in 40 games...as a junior, completed 162-of-289 passes for 2,342 yards and 18 touchdowns...as a sophomore had 2,030 yards passing while receiving Honorable-Mention all-county honors...coach was Don Wilson...also played basketball.
6-3 • 300 | Offensive Line
Mulberry, Fla. | Mulberry H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played guard and tackle during high school career...as a senior, was a second-team all-county pick...as a junior, was an honorable-mention all-conference pick...as a sophomore, was tabbed second-team all-county...also named team's offensive line MVP...three-year letterwinner...coach was Raleigh Jackson...competed in track and field, weight lifting and played basketball...attended Lakeland High School as a freshman...nominee for 2014 Silver Garland Award.
6-2 • 180 | Safety
Lakeland, Fla. | Kathleen H.S.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played quarterback and safety...Honorable-Mention Tampa Regional Elite team selection at quarterback...third-team all-county...named the Great American Rivalry Series Most Valuable Player after throwing for 241 yards and three touchdowns in leading Kathleen to first win over Lakeland since 1992...Red Devils won the Class 7A, District 5 championship posting a 9-4 record...coach was Irving Strickland...also played basketball.
