Plenty of talent to be off to college

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

By JOE SCALZO

Vindicator sports staff

Wearing a bright red Wisconsin sweatshirt and black-and-red shoes, Boardman Chase Hammond looked at his fellow Big Ten-bound teammates on Wednesday and said, “I still don’t think it’s set in to me all the talent that’s coming out of our class.”

He was talking about the Spartans.

He might as well have been talking about the Mahoning Valley.

A staggering 27 players from Mahoning and Trumbull counties signed letters-of-intent with Division I or I-AA schools on Wednesday.

That number that didn’t include Ursuline senior linebacker Dawalyn Harper, who verbally committed to Toledo in the fall but may opt to sign with Youngstown State University, and Mooney senior lineman Mark Pelini, who will go to Nebraska as a preferred walk-on.

The seeds for the tremendous recruiting haul were sown three years ago, when Warren Harding coach D.J. Dota decided to build his program on the backs of a talented sophomore class that would eventually produce four recruits for BCS conferences and nine college football players overall. (So far.)

Meanwhile, players such as Ursuline defensive lineman Jamel Turner (an Ohio State recruit who had 23 sacks as a sophomore), Irish running back Allen Jones (who became a starter midway through his sophomore year and eventually broke the school’s career rushing record) and Mooney defensive back Donald D’Alesio (who managed to crack the starting lineup for a squad that produced five BCS players) were all displaying their talent for 2007 state finalists.

On Wednesday, D’Alesio joined six teammates around a table inside the Cardinal Mooney library to sign college letters.

After going 15-0 during the regular season to win the Division III state title and earn a No. 5 national ranking by the Web site MaxPreps, the signing ceremony put an exclamation point on one of the most successful seasons of any team in Valley history.

“It’s a good feeling to be able to sign with all these guys,” said quarterback Alex Zordich, who is headed to Buffalo. “It’s kind of like the icing on the cake.

“It’s been a great, fun year.”

Running back Braylon Heard (Nebraska) and safety Ray Vinopal (Michigan) are also headed out of state, while offensive linemen Zach Larson and Eric Franklin will join D’Alesio at YSU.

“I’m jealous of the YSU guys that they get to play with each other,” said Zordich, whose older brother Michael plays linebacker at Penn State and whose father played for Penn State and for the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.

Hours later, at Boardman High, Hammond felt good knowing that while his teammates are headed to different schools, their teams will likely see each other annually.

Senior defensive lineman J.T. Moore will play at Ohio State (where his sister, Darryce, is headed as a basketball player) and linebacker Ryan Phillis signed with Indiana.

“That’s the best thing for me,” Hammond said. “Not only are we going to great programs and great schools, but we’ll all get to see each other through the season in conference games.”

Those three are part of an area class that includes eight Big Ten players. Four are headed to Michigan: Liberty senior linebacker Antonio Kinard, Vinopal and two from Warren Harding, linebacker Davion Rogers and WR/DB D.J. Williamson.

“I like to be competitive and that’s what the Big Ten is all about,” said Phillis, when asked why he chose Indiana. “You can’t get much better.”

Hubbard senior Kurtis Drummond (Michigan State) is the other Big Ten recruit, while teammate Andre Givens (Pitt) and Harding linebacker Lewellyn Coker (Syracuse) are headed to the Big East

Last fall, the Valley had a record 17 teams qualify for the playoffs and two win state crowns. That success serves as a reminder that the Valley’s top players don’t just look good on paper or in summer camps.

They produced on the field, too.

“These guys have just been great,” said Moore, whose team lost to Cleveland St. Ignatius in the first round of the playoffs. “This season meant a lot to us and it’s phenomenal how it ended up.

“I’m just glad I could share this experience with them.”

scalzo@vindy.com