The standout quarterback picked the Golden Flashes over four other MAC schools.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — The offers came, one-by-one, from the other Mid-American Conference schools, each of them wanting Sal Battles on their team.

There was just one problem. They saw him as a running back or as an “athlete.”

Battles, meanwhile, still saw himself as a quarterback.

“I like being in the spotlight,” the East senior said, chuckling. “I like having the ball in my hands. I know when I have the ball in my hands, I can make things happen.

“I feel like I can do anything.”

So, when Battles sat down to make the difficult decision about where to go to college, he realized it wasn’t all that difficult. Kent State had been there from the beginning, offering him a scholarship last December. And, most important, Kent’s coaches saw him as quarterback.

On Wednesday, the Golden Flashes landed their man. Battles chose Kent over Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green, Toledo and Eastern Michigan.

“Kent always believed in me,” said Battles, who expressed gratitude to the other MAC schools for their interest. “I went up there a couple times to visit and they believed in my abilities. That was the biggest reason I committed.”

Battles’ talent was never the question. A four-year starter, he threw for 1,008 yards and 11 TDs and ran for 1,016 yards and nine TDs this season, leading the Panthers to an 8-2 record while being voted the Division II district offensive player of the year.

The strong-armed passer threw for more than 3,000 yards and rushed for more than 3,000 yards in his career.

But at 5-foot-11, many colleges felt Battles was better-suited to another position. Kent runs a spread offense similar to East’s, which places a bigger premium on being able to run and throw on the run.

“He felt like Kent was the best fit,” said his coach, Brian Shaner. “And their starting quarterback [Julian Edelman] is a senior, so he could spend one year learning the system as a freshman backup, then step right in.”

Battles is Shaner’s third player to commit to a Division I school in the last year. Rayen wide receiver Tomaz Hilton is now at Cincinnati, while defensive lineman Marquinn Davis is at Akron. East senior linebacker Gary Thornton has an offer from West Point, which is also interested in lineman Maurice Harris. Seniors Jeff Purdie and Luis Chiarrez are also strong candidates to play college football.

“Seeing [Hilton and Davis] move on definitely drove me to work harder,” said Battles, who plays to major in either criminal technology or criminal justice. “I just want to follow in their footsteps.”

scalzo@vindy.com