Notebook \ NFL Draft

Join the crowd: The four area selections will add to an already impressive Mahoning Valley contingent in the NFL. The three players who were picked last year, linebacker Prescott Burgess (Warren Harding, Michigan, Baltimore Ravens) and offensive linemen Steve Vallos (Boardman, Wake Forest, Seattle Seahawks) and Doug Datish (Howland, Ohio State, Atlanta Falcons) made a minimal impact for their teams last season. Datish, who was picked in the sixth round, broke his wrist in training camp and was on injured reserve all last season. Burgess, a sixth round pick, played in eight games for the Ravens before moving to the IR with a quadriceps injury. Vallos, a seventh round pick, spent the season on the practice squad. Other area players in the NFL include Jets WR Brad Smith (Chaney), Steelers DB Anthony Smith (Hubbard), Colts CB Marlin Jackson (Sharon) and Jaguars TE Isaac Smolko (Springfield). Longtime Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins, a Fitch High and YSU graduate, retired in the offseason.

Boardman history: John Greco is the third Boardman High grad to be drafted, following Vallos and quarterback Bernie Kosar (Miami), who was chosen by the Cleveland Browns in the 1985 supplemental draft and later played for the Cowboys and Dolphins.

Fitch history: McGlynn is the third Fitch player to be drafted and would be the third to play in the NFL. Wilkins signed as a free agent out of college and played for Philadelphia, San Francisco and St. Louis. DL Mike Calhoun (Notre Dame) was drafted by Dallas but played for Tampa Bay and San Francisco. Matt Keller was on the Seahawks’ roster, but did not play a regular season game. Irv Holdash (North Carolina) was an All-American in college and was drafted by the Browns in 1951, but never played a game. Longtime Fitch teacher John “Ace” Federovitch played for the Bears in 1941 and 1946. Federovitch went to high school in Pennsylvania.

Harding history: Thirteen players from Warren Harding, including Burgess, have played in the NFL. Paul Warfield (Ohio State) is the most famous, getting drafted by the Browns in 1964. He had a Hall of Fame career at wide receiver with the Browns and Dolphins and was a rookie on Cleveland’s last championship team in 1964. Bill Kollar (Montana State) was drafted by the Bengals in 1974 and now coaches the defensive line for the Rams. Charley Riffle (Notre Dame) played for New York in All American Football Conference. Dave Arnold (Michigan) was drafted in the fifth round by the Steelers in 1989, Jim Brutz (Notre Dame) played for Chicago in the AAFC. Joe Carroll (Pitt) was an 11th round pick by the Raiders. John Chickerneo (Pitt) was a second round pick by the Giants in 1939. Korey Stringer (Ohio State) was a first round pick by the Vikings in 1995. He died of heat stroke after a training camp practice in 2001. Leshun Daniels (Ohio State), a high school, college and professional teammate of Stringer’s, played briefly for the Vikings in 1997. Mike Graham (Cincinnati) played for Los Angeles in AAFC. Travis Davis (Michigan State) was drafted by Phoenix but played for New Orleans. Running back Maurice Clarett (Ohio State) was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2004 but cut during training camp. Also, five Warren Western Reserve players made it to the pros. Ross Browner (Notre Dame) was a first-round pick of the Bengals in 1978. Jim Browner (Notre Dame) was a 12th-round pick by the Bengals in 1979. Joey Browner (USC) was a first-round pick of the Vikings in 1983. He graduated from a high school in Atlanta, but played his first three years at Reserve. Keith Browner (USC) was a second-round pick of the Buccaneers in 1984. Aaron Brown (Ohio State) was a 10th-round pick by Tampa Bay in 1978. Also, Stringer and Daniels played at Reserve until the schools merged.

Joe Scalzo, Terry Fagan