Jarrod Ulrey|ThisWeek
The February signing period has becomean important time for college football programsto fill holes in their recruiting classes.
Considering many of the nation’s top recruits from the 2022 class signed during the December period, being patient has been an important virtue for some the past few months – particularly quarterbacks and standout special-teams performers.
Three of the area’s top quarterbacks last fall announced their college decisionsFeb. 2, with Hilliard Darby’s Blake Horvath committing toNavy, Reynoldsburg’s Dijon Jennings committing to Akron and Dublin Scioto’s Amare Jenkins signing with Walsh.
National Signing Day list: Central Ohio athletes make commitments official
Horvath threw for 515 yards and five touchdowns but was known more for his running skills, finishing with 1,722 yards and 28 touchdowns out of the Panthers’ option offense.
Navy traditionally runs the triple-option.
“Of course I’m familiar with the system that they run, so that was a small piece of it, but I really felt like Navy will be the best place for me to grow as a person, player and leader,” Horvath said. “(The triple-option is) a system that I know very well. I feel like I can bring a lot to the table as a runner and I can still learn to develop my skills even more.”
Jennings, who threw for 2,254 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Raiders, will try to help Akron rebuild under new coach Joe Moorhead after going a combined 3-24 the past three seasons.
“Akron provides career pathways that I was interested in majoring in with many programs to succeed beyond playing football,” Jennings said. “This was the best fit for me.”
Jenkins set program records for touchdown passes in a career (48) and season (32) and threw for 2,515 yards last fall.
Two of Jenkins’ teammates, long snapper Nico Crawfordand wide receiver Tysen Boze, committed to Illinois and South Dakota, a Football Championship Subdivision program, respectively.
Crawfordis a walk-on but was told he could earn scholarship money as soon as this fall.He’s been long-snapping since the end of his freshman season and was ranked No. 2 in the nation at that positionby Kornblue Kicking.
“(Playing collegiately has) been my dream since I was 11 years old,” Crawford said. “I’m in a low number of players from central Ohio who will get to play in the Big Ten, and I’m happy to be in this moment.”
Another specialist who will get a chance to earn a scholarship at the major-college level is Upper Arlington kicker Zac Yoakam, who will play forNotre Dame.
New Albany’s Brock Kidwell (QB/DB)and Olentangy Berlin’sBennett Lawrence (WR/DB) both signed with Dayton in the FCS.
Others to committo FCS programsincluded Pickerington Central defensive back Roman Pearson (Bucknell), Hartley wide receiver/defensive back Trey Saunders (Colgate) and Hilliard Bradley wide receiver Tayshaun Mayfield (Robert Morris).
The Division III district Defensive Player of the Year, Hartley two-way lineman Daniel Tooson, signed with Division II Slippery Rock.
Two of the area’s top running backs, New Albany’s Jadyn Garnes and UA’s Carson Gresock, signed with the University of Charleston and Tiffin, respectively, in Division II.
New Albany tight end Chris Pepper and Reynoldsburg two-way lineman Souleymane Sall will join Gresock at Tiffin.
Others who signed with Division II programsincluded Pickerington North’s Carl Allen (WR) with Saginaw Valley State;Pickerington Central’s Kyle Imboden (OL) and Khalil Walker (OL), Gahanna Lincoln’s Jaylon Williams (RB) and Darby’sHayden Gladden (OL/DL) with Ashland; Olentangy Orange’sRico Franklin-Davis andGahanna’s Jabez Hill (DL) with Ohio Dominican;Gahanna’s Tyree Johnson (LB) with Arkansas at Pine Bluff; Gahanna’sAlipate Tuitavuki (LB) with West Liberty;Reynoldsburg’sMarkez Gillam (WR) and Olentangy Liberty’s Nick Johnson (DB) with Indianapolis;Upper Arlington’sDoak Buttermore (DB) with Findlay;Orange’s Connor Kemmerling (OL) with Grand Valley State;Harvest Prep’sEdjay Sumo (LB) andBradley’s Caden VanVorhis (DB) with Walsh; and Groveport Madison’s Delaney Wilburn (DB) with Notre Dame College.
Africentric defensive back Kayln Spence, who ran on the state-champion 800-meter relay last spring, committed to compete in football andtrack and field at Central State.
Also moving on
After winning the 3,200 at the 2021 Division I state girls track meet, Gahanna senior Alyssa Shope followed by capturing the state cross country title last fall.
She has committedto Indiana, where she’ll compete inboth sports.
“The environment, the team, the coaches and the campus were just right for me and I’m completely confident in my decision,” Shope said.
Another athlete who has committed to Indiana is Worthington Kilbourne baseball player McKay Whitaker.
Dublin Jerome senior Raegan Ernst, a standout gymnast and runner,willcompete intrackfor Dayton.
Liberty senior diver Anthony Sciulli, a two-time state qualifier, will compete for Navy.
In rowing, Wellington senior Joy Neal committed to Clemson.
julrey@thisweeknews.com
@UlreyThisWeek
