By Joe Scalzo

High school athletes from across the Valley signed letters-of-intent to play college football Wednesday, which was National Signing Day.

BOARDMAN — The “State of Youngstown” was very good to Jim Tressel’s current team — and his former team — as Ohio State landed two area recruits and YSU landed five more as part of the Mahoning Valley’s 28-player class on Wednesday’s National Signing day.

Boardman guard Corey Linsley and Mooney defensive tackle John Simon were part of the Buckeyes’ 25-player class that was ranked first by Scout.com and third by Rivals.com.

“I feel like we got a great recruiting class,” said Simon, who said he met every recruit at least once and keeps in touch with several on a weekly basis. “It’s a great honor to be a part of something like this.”

Tressel’s biggest rival, Michigan, also cleaned up, landing electrifying running back Fitzgerald Toussaint and playmaking defensive back Isaiah Bell, both of Liberty.

“To get four guys of that caliber in one year is amazing,” said Canfield native Mark Porter, who runs the recruiting site ScoutingOhio.com. “You usually only get that many guys in maybe four or five years, so to have them all in one year is really impressive.”

Howland linebacker Tyler Scott, who is headed to Northwestern, gives the Valley five Big Ten players.

Other Division I recruits include Ursuline WR/DB Dale Peterman (Syracuse), Warren Harding DB Aunre Davis (Bowling Green) and Howland OL Craig Stan (Air Force) in what was a slightly top-heavy class.

“There are so many phenomenal players that come out of this area and I’m honored to be a part of it,” said Scott.

Scott and Stan are the latest big-time recruits to come out of Howland since Dick Angle took over, joining the likes of Doug Datish (Ohio State) and Tony Davis (Penn State).

“I’m always going to miss Howland football,” said Scott.

The Penguins got an early start on their class when it secured former Mooney standout Taylor Hill, who left the University of Michigan around Labor Day and enrolled in classes at YSU this semester.

Head coach Jon Heacock added two more from Mahoning County (Fitch DB/WR Sylvestry Gibbs and Poland DB Gannon Hulea) and two from Trumbull County (Niles kicker Nick Liste and Girard RB/DB Kyle Stadelmyer). He also got a commitment from Wilmington’s Carson Sharbaugh.

“I think Gibbs is an absolute steal,” said Porter. “He and Kyle are both athletes who can play four or five positions and are very, very versatile.”

Stadelmyer, a record-breaking running back for the Indians, said he was glad to be done with the recruiting process and is looking forward to playing alongside some former opponents.

“I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun,” he said. “This area has top-notch football. It’s one of the best areas for football around.”

Gibbs, a versatile playmaker who had almost 900 yards of offense this year and was a standout in the secondary, said he’s proud to be a part of the Mahoning Valley tradition.

“Being a part of Youngstown down through history, people talk about you and how you did and this and that,” he said. “They remember you.

“YSU has a great tradition, as does all of northeast Ohio football. You get a lot of publicity and everyone in the community loves you and comes out and watches you. It’s great to have their support.”

Lakeview’s Ben Moody (Cornell) and Wilmington’s Dallas Hartman (Columbia) are each headed for the Ivy League, which also competes at the I-AA level in football.

Robert Morris, a non-scholarship I-AA school, landed Fitch teammates Nick Groat and Quinton Pirl and Mooney’s Adam Wheeler signed with Colgate.

Ursuline teammates Justin Austin and L.J. Stevens signed with Mercyhurst, which also secured Columbiana’s Josh Harold. Irish linebacker Matt Krause signed with Case Western Reserve and teammate Darrell Mason is hoping a brief stint at Fort Scott Junior College will open up an opportunity for him to play Div. I football.

Ursuline’s Dan Baco and Hubbard’s Cody Kilar are headed to Walsh University of the NAIA, Champion’s Bret Kinkead (Urbana) and Newton Falls’ Marcus Fowler (Gannon) will each play Div. II.

Several more area players will sign over the next few weeks as non-Division I programs scour the area for talent that may have been overlooked.

“You see the depth of talent around here,” said Porter. “We have around 30 kids and that’s just going to grow.

“That’s a lot of money going to those players and that’s why everyone recruits the Mahoning Valley.”

scalzo@vindy.com