Wednesday, Feb 6, 2008

National Signing Day Has Arrived

Area football players officially commit to colleges

By Ed Letsinger

National signing day has arrived for area football players and at last count close to 100 will be moving on to the next level next fall.

Leading the way among Cincinnati blue-chip recruits is Kyle Rudolph of Elder and DeVier Posey of La Salle.

Rudolph, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound tight end headed to the University of Notre Dame, is rated as a top-20 player overall in the country and the No. 1-ranked tight end by most recruiting services.  Rudolph, a USA Today All-American, caught 30 passes for 544 yards and 10 touchdowns this past season.  Posey, a 6-2, 190-pound wide receiver and Ohio State University recruit, is a top-25 national player and top-5 wide receiver who was a Parade Magazine All-American this past season.  Posey caught 48 passes for 778 yards and eight touchdowns for the Lancers.

Other consensus blue chip recruits expected to sign include St. Xavier running back Darius Ashley (Louisville) and linebacker Fred Craig (Stanford), Lakota West wide receiver Bakari Bussey (Ohio University), Hamilton running back Kenny Veal (Toledo), Turpin offensive tackle Aaron Von Kuiken (Virginia), offensive lineman Rick Schmeig of Oak Hills (Purdue), offensive lineman Larry Black of Wyoming (Indiana) and offensive lineman Evan Davis of Colerain (Cincinnati).    

Ohio Division I state champion St. Xavier and Region 4 finalist Colerain are both well-represented and expect to have a total of 25 players sign today.  The Bombers are sending 13 players on to the next level while the Cardinals will send 12. 

Six players are expected to sign with the University of Cincinnati including cornerback Ike Iloegbu of Harmony, tight end Nick Truesdell (Anderson), offensive lineman Evan Davis (Colerain), defensive lineman Brandon Mills (Colerain), wide receiver/kicker Danny Milligan (St. Xavier) and linebacker J.K. Schaffer (La Salle).  The Bearcats finished ranked in the top 25 for the first time in school history this past season and the staff led by head coach Brian Kelly is making a concerted effort to keep some of the top local talent in town.

Miami (OH) signees include Andy Cruse (Turpin) and Andrew Phelen (Lakota West).

Of the Division I conference signings the Mid American Conference did well in the area, snagging a total of 10 players.  The Big East follows with eight.

Northern Kentucky signees include Luke Stein (Gardner-Webb), Clay Cecil (Murray State), Jake Crothers (Union) and Alex Hempfling (Union) of Highlands, Eric Oldiges (Holy Cross) and Cody Reardon (Western Illinois) of Holy Cross, Dustin Davis of Boone County (Mt. Union) and Ryan Etan and Brian Sauerbeck of Campbell County (Morehead State).