Friday, December 28, 2007
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN — Mooney junior defensive lineman John Simon wasn’t planning to commit to a college so soon, but when he visited Ohio State during a bowl game practice a few weeks ago, he knew he’d found a home.
“There’s a lot of great schools out there,” said Simon, who verbally committed to Ohio State on Wednesday night. “Ohio State really stuck out. I saw how they got out in the community and helped out and how hard they trained.
“I decided to wait two weeks and my feelings didn’t change, so I said, ‘Why wait any longer?’”
Simon, a two-year starter for the Cardinals, was a first team All-Ohioan this season, helping the Cardinals reach their fourth straight Division IV state title game. Simon is also the team’s strongest player, breaking all of the school’s weightlifting records.
“John’s obviously a great player on the field, a guy that plays with a whole bunch of desire and intensity,” said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko. “He’s really and truly a hard-working player, a guy who works constantly in the offseason to put himself in the best physical shape he can be.
“And he works equally hard in the classroom. He’s a great player on and off the field.”
Simon (6-3, 266) also considered Notre Dame, Penn State and Illinois. He’s planning to major in sports therapy.
“I’m really into strength training and physical activity, so I think it’s something I’m very interested in,” Simon said of the major.
Mooney defensive coordinator Ron Stoops said Simon’s strength and work ethic help separate him from other players.
“He’s just a phenomenal athlete,” said Stoops. “He’s built like a rock. If you saw him without his shirt on doing ab exercises, he’s built like a running back or a linebacker. He’s a freak to be in as good of shape as he is.
“He’s got what college coaches refer to as a great motor. He’s always running hard, playing hard and chasing guys down from behind. Those are things you can’t always coach and it’s a great asset to have on the defensive line.”
Simon is the fifth Mooney player to verbally commit to a major Division I college this year, joining seniors Dan McCarthy (Notre Dame), Brandon Beachum (Penn State), Michael Zordich (Penn State) and Taylor Hill (Oklahoma).
“We’re excited he’s going down to Ohio State,” said Fecko. “He’s going to be close enough that we can watch him closely. Obviously, Coach Tressel does a good job with all the student athletes there, getting the most of out of them on the field and paying close attention to make sure everything is going right off the field.”
scalzo@vindy.com