Teammates Beachum, Hill inch closer to college choices

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Mooney senior Brandon Beachum has heard plenty of outside advice about where he should go to college.

And some of it comes from his teammate, Michael Zordich, who has already committed to Penn State.

“Yeah, obviously, I hear it daily from Michael,” said Beachum, who has narrowed his college choice to three schools: Nebraska, Wisconsin and Penn State. “The funny thing is, it started off with me probably being the first to commit. Now I’ll be one of the last.”

Zordich committed to Penn State last month and teammate Dan McCarthy chose Notre Dame on Monday.

Beachum (6-0, 220), who plans to graduate in December and enroll early in the college of his choice, has already visited Wisconsin and Penn State and has done plenty of homework on Nebraska, although he hasn’t visited the campus.

“I haven’t decided yet,” said Beachum, who hasn’t set a timetable on when he will commit. “Obviously, everyone in Ohio wants me to go to O-State but that offer hasn’t come through.

“At this point in time, I’m going to go where I feel right.”

Beachum played running back and linebacker for the Cardinals last fall and is the fifth-ranked RB in the nation according to Rivals.com. He spent his first two years at Poland (he was even wearing a Poland eighth grade basketball shirt on Monday) before transferring following his sophomore season.

His teammate, senior defensive lineman Taylor Hill, is also mulling offers and both players seem likely to commit before the season begins.

Hill (6-2, 205) has narrowed his choices to two schools: Oklahoma (which is coached by Mooney High graduate Bob Stoops) and LSU (which boasts Mooney alumnus Bo Pelini as its defensive coordinator).

“I pretty much know where I’m going,” said Hill, who is favoring Oklahoma and plans to visit the campus next week.

Beachum said the two may decide to announce their decisions on the same day.

“We’re both pretty close,” he said.

The Cardinals had three Division I recruits in February: lineman Mike Madsen (Miami, Ohio) and Ishmaaily Kitchen (Kent) and defensive back Dom Scarnecchia (Villanova).