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Football
Recruit List
The following is a list of the 2005 football
recruits who have signed national letters of intent to attend
Ashland University and play football next fall.
The link above will access a concise list of
these same student-athletes.
D.C. Adamic, FR, RB, 5-10, 250, Bloomfield
Hills, MI/Lasher
Projected to provide some power in the
backfield…coaching staff believes he can fill a need at
fullback…was first team all-league.
Lee Owens on Adamic: “He’s
a big, strong fullback. In our system we need guys who can block
and play in the backfield. He can do that.”
Luke Busson, SO, LB, 6-1, 230, Wadsworth,
OH
Comes to AU from Division I Kent State…has
exceptional speed and should be a great fit with present AU
linebackers Devin Conwell and Allen Lattimore…is also a
standout wrestler and plans to wrestle for the Eagles…earned
three letters at Wadsworth High School where he led the team in
tackles for three seasons…is the career leader in tackles at
Wadsworth…three-time first team All-Suburban League and
three-time all-county and all-district selection…named
All-Ohio as a junior and senior…Wadsworth went to the state
playoffs twice during his tenure…also lettered four times
apiece in wrestling and track and field and was a two-time state
placer on the mat…plans to major in business with a minor in
political science…parents are Dennis and Mary Busson.
Lee Owens on Busson: “Luke’s
an impact player. He’s fast and explosive and played a lot at
Kent last year. We recruited him hard out of high school. His
goals are to be a great football player and an All-America
wrestler.”
Dustin Basch, FR, DE, 6-3, 240, Walton
Hills, OH/Walsh Jesuit
Had 30 tackles and 35 assisted tackles
as a senior…recorded five tackles for loss and seven sacks
and caused three fumbles…named first team all-district and
first team all tri-county…tabbed as All-Ohio special mention…head
coach at Walsh Jesuit was Gerry Rardin…played on a team that
was a regional finalist…also competed in track and field…sports
management is his intended major…is the son of Don and Denise
Basch.
Lee Owens on Basch: “I
coached both of his brothers at Akron, one was a fullback and the
other a tight end. We’ve told both the brothers, Dustin is
rated higher by the recruiting services. His parents wanted our
staff to coach him and that makes us feel good.”
Nick Bellanco, FR, WR, 6-2, 165, Wooster,
OH
Was a co-captain and the team’s
co-most valuable player as a senior…led the Generals to the
Ohio Cardinal Conference championship and a berth in the state
playoffs…played quarterback as a senior and completed 48 of
90 passes for 860 yards and five touchdowns…earned three
letters in football and has secured two letters each in basketball
and track and field…also plays lacrosse where he has one
letter…played for head coach Mike McCreary…plans to
major in business…is the son of Richard and Ellen Bellanco.
Lee Owens on Bellanco: “He
had the best time and vertical jump of all the guys we worked out.
People don’t realize how fast he is. It came down to us and
Johns Hopkins. He’s a great student and a great leader.”
Tommy Brenner, FR, DB, 6-2, 205, Orrville,
OH
Was a key performer for Red Riders, who
advanced to state playoffs the last two seasons…was a wide
receiver and free safety, on offense was first team All-Ohio as a
junior and senior…was first team all-conference and
all-district the last two years…owns the school record for
receiving yards in a game (240) and finished his career with 2,385
receiving yards…as a senior snared 74 passes for 1,092 yards
and 11 touchdowns…on defense, had 70 solo tackles, 40 assists
and three interceptions…was the Ohio Cardinal Conference
defensive player of the year…as a punter, averaged 41.3 ypp.,
with a long punt of 62 yards…played for head coach Bill
McMillan…parents are Tom Brenner and Shelly Bigelow…intended
major is business.
Lee Owens on Brenner: “He’s
just an athlete. He’s big enough to play outside linebacker.
I don’t know that we signed a better pure athlete. He has a
great combination of size and speed.”
Frank Cardon, FR, TE, 6-3, 230, Canfield,
OH/Austintown Fitch
A first team All-Federal League selection as a
senior…first team all Inland and honorable mention all-state…played
on the 2004 conference championship team…had 12 catches for
119 yards and on defense, registered 68 tackles (31 solo)…had
8.5 sacks and caused two fumbles…as a junior had 54 tackles
(21 solo) and 6.5 sacks…chose AU over Youngstown State and
Ohio University…high school coach was Neil Kapp…plans to
major in education…is the son of Denise and Frank Cardon.
Lee Owens on Cardon: “He was
everyone’s Division I tight end. He made an official visit at
Ohio and decided to take our offer. He’s the big, skilled
player you have a hard time finding at this position. He has that
tough attitude you find out of the valley. He has all the
intangibles and the physical ability.”
Marcus Council, FR, LB Akron, OH/Garfield
As a senior named first team all-city and
all-district and was the city’s defensive player of the year…led
Garfield to an 8-3 mark and a berth in the state playoffs…had
46 tackles and two forced fumbles and two pass breakups…rushed
for 505 yards and eight touchdowns…played for head coach Bob
Sax…received interest in the recruiting process from Eastern
Michigan…is the son of Bobbie Council.
Lee Owens on Council: “A lot
of people thought he was the best football player in Akron. He
could play free safety or he could play linebacker. He wants to
play linebacker.”
Haywood Freeman, FR, DB, 5-9, 165, Canton,
OH/Timken
Coming off a year that saw him earn
first team all-conference, first team all-county, first team
all-district and honorable mention All-Ohio honors…during his
career has been honored as Timken’s defensive player of the
year and offensive player of the year…four-time letterwinner
in football…also plays baseball and track and field and has
lettered in both sports…football coach was Steve Turner…parents
are Deborah and Hayward Freeman.
Lee Owens on Freeman: “He’s
a true corner. He has great hips, great flexibility and great
feet. He’s very fast. We think he can handle a corner for us.”
Darnell Harris, FR, DE, 6-6, 215,
Pickerington, OH/Central
Two-time letterman who was a first team
all-conference pick in 2004…was first team all-district and
second team All-Ohio…Central won a league title in 2004…has
also excelled in basketball and track and field, owns three
letters on the court and one in track…high school football
coach was Jay Sharrett…plans to major in business…parents
are Isaiah and Alisa Harris.
Lee Owens on Harris: “He
reminds me of when we recruited Jason Taylor at Akron. Darnell’s
a tall, lean player who’s played in the secondary. We think
he’ll grow into a defensive lineman. Jason had played the
secondary when he came to us. If Darnell fills out, with his
wingspan, look out. He has wide shoulders and the build to fill
out.”
Derek Harris, FR, DB, 5-10, 180, Columbus,
OH/St. Francis DeSales
Part of a strong incoming group of
cornerbacks…earned three letters on the gridiron and four
letters in track and field…played for head coach Bob Jacoby
in football…received interest from Miami (OH), Morehead
State, Towson and Dayton…plans to major in athletic training…parents
are Michael and Cindy Harris.
Lee Owens on Harris: “He’s
fast and skilled. Of all the corners that are coming in, he’s
the most physical.”
Jared Karrasch, FR, P/PK, 6-1, 180,
Reynoldsburg, OH
Could help the Eagles as both a punter
and kicker…averaged 46.6 yards per punt in 2004…was
6-for-7 on field goal attempts with a long kick of 52 yards…first
team all-state in 2004…is a two-time all-district pick and a
first team all-conference selection…will appear in the
Central Ohio all-star game…has been honored as the
Reynoldsburg special teams player of the year for two years…lettered
three times…head coach was William Underwood…received
interest from Ohio University, Youngstown State, West Virginia and
Toledo during recruiting process…will major in education…parents
are Thomas and Laurie Karrasch.
Lee Owens on Karrasch: “We
had a tryout among five guys and he was the one left standing. We
think we had a group of the best punters and kickers left in the
state. We challenged them and Jared won hands down. It’s nice
to have a guy who can do both – punt and kick – and he
wants to do both.”
Tom LaRosa, FR, LB, 5-11, 195, Avon, OH
Closed out his prep career by earning first team
All-Ohio laurels…led team to conference crown and state
playoffs in 2004…was first team all-conference and all-county
and was the most valuable defensive lineman in the Lorain County
Conference…three-time letterman on the gridiron…is also
exceptional in wrestling, is a two-time state qualifier who
finished sixth at the state meet in 2004…plans to wrestle at
Ashland…received interest from Kent State…interested in
majoring in business…is the son of James and Mary LaRosa.
Lee Owens on LaRosa: “He’s
a combination football player and wrestler. He’s a throwback
linebacker. You watch him on tape and you see he’s a
blue-collar player. I’ve had a lot of wrestlers who have been
good inside linebackers, I think they learn how to feel and escape
pressure. He fits that prototype.”
Nathan Logan, FR, WR, 6-1, 192, North
Canton, OH/Hoover
Had 37 receptions for 502 yards and four
touchdowns as a senior…first team All-Federal League and the
team’s most valuable player…selected to participate in
the East/West All-Star Game…recorded a pair of interceptions
this past season…earned two letters in football and has
lettered three times in track and field…during his career
Hoover won two Federal League titles in football…high school
football coach was Don Hertler…father is Jud Logan, Ashland
University assistant track and field coach…plans to major in
sports management…is the son of Jud and Jill Logan.
Lee Owens on Logan: “He’s
improved a great deal. If he keeps improving like he has the last
few years he’ll be a real good player for us.”
Joshua Lowery, FR, DE, 6-3, 235, Canal
Fulton, OH/Northwest
Over the past two seasons has recorded
23 sacks and 32 tackles for loss…tabbed the Division III
defensive player of the year…was first team all-state,
all-county and all-conference…played on a team that claimed a
regional championship…played for head coach Vic Whiting…in
addition to football, has also played baseball where he’s
lettered twice…has three letters on the gridiron…will
major in accounting…is the son of Dan and Sondra Lowery.
Lee Owens on Lowery: “Everybody
who watched him play raved about him. Northwest had a tremendous
run and he was a big part of that. He plays bigger than he’s
listed. We think he’ll get bigger in our lifting program. No
one will bring more character than he will.”
Blaine Maag, FR, RB/LB, 6-1, 190, Columbus
Grove, OH
Has been the conference’s back of
the year the last two years and has been first team all-conference
for three years…has been first team all-district for three
years and as a junior was the district back of the year…named
first team All-Ohio as a junior and senior and special mention
All-Ohio as a sophomore…in 2003 was the Ohio Division VI
player of the year…in his career rushed for 6,134 yards and
91 touchdowns…this past year gained 1,509 yards on 262
carries with 24 touchdowns…scored 98 touchdowns in his career…2004
team was 10-2 and ranked third in the state…rushed for 2,706
yards as a junior…also competes in track and basketball, in
2003 was the state champ in the discus and the basketball team’s
leading scorer…head football coach at Columbus Grove was
Jerry Cooper…parents are Rick and Lisa Maag.
Lee Owens on Lowery: “He’s
a track, football combination guy. He has good speed and
explosiveness. He’s a legend in the western part of the
state. A lot of people can’t figure out why he’s not at
Bowling Green or Miami. I think he liked the opportunity to do
both football and track.”
Justin Magruder, FR, OL, 6-5, 265,
Westerville, OH/Westerville South
A three-year letterwinner, Magruder was named
South’s Pancake Man of the Year in 2004…as a senior was
honorable mention all-state and first team all-district and
all-conference…played offensive tackle and saw additional
action on the defensive line…South went 20-3 with Magruder in
the starting lineup…plans to major in criminal justice.
Lee Owens on Magruder: “All
the Division I’s dropped off of him late. The fact that we
were in there all along, I think convinced him to come our way. He
has good size, the numbers on him are legitimate.”
James Mathews, FR, LB, 6-2, 190, Cleveland,
OH/Collinwood
Posted over 100 tackles each of the last
two seasons…named to the all-conference team as a junior and
senior…Collinwood was the city runnerup in 2004…earned
four letters while playing for head coach Cecil Shorts Jr…was
recruited by Youngstown State and the University of Akron…has
earned two letters in track and field…looking to major in
business…is the son of Shirley and Alpaso Brown.
Lee Owens on Mathews: “He
reminded us of Devin Conwell. He’s really raw. Like Devin his
range, acceleration and ability to avoid blocks is impressive. On
his visit he really took to Devin. You can never have enough good
athletes who can run and make plays in space.”
Ryan O’Dell, FR, RB/LB, 5-10, 190,
Mansfield, OH/Crestview
Talented athlete who could fit into AU’s
plans on either side of the ball…rushed for 1,765 yards and
19 touchdowns while averaging 8.0 ypc., in 2004…set Crestview
single-game rushing record with 360 yards on 16 carries…on
defense had 95 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, one
interception and two forced fumbles…named All-Ohio second
team, Ashland Times-Gazette player of the year and the Mansfield
News-Journal offensive player of the year in 2004…as a senior
was first team all-conference and all-district…in 2003 was
second team all-conference and all-district as a
linebacker...started for the last two seasons on offense and
defense…his brother, Adrian O’Dell is a member of the AU
track and field team and holds school records – indoors and
outdoors - in the high jump…parents are Alvin and Dianne O’Dell.
Lee Owens on O’Dell: “He’s
very fast, very explosive and a hardnosed football player. I
believe his best football is still in front of him. I don’t
think he realizes how good he can be. We’ll start him off at
tailback. I don’t know where he’ll end up, but he’s
going to be on the field.”
Adam Penn, FR, DB, 5-10, 160, Canonsburg,
PA/Canon-McMillan
Coming off a season where he had two
interceptions, two fumble recoveries and 12 pass breakups…those
numbers helped him earn first team all-district and all-conference
plaudits…named to the roster for the North-South all-star
game…team went 8-3 and qualified for the state playoffs…earned
two letters in football where he played for Guy Montecalvo…chose
Ashland over several Division II schools in Pennsylvania,
including IUP, California and Slippery Rock…has also lettered
in track and field and soccer…will major in communications…is
the son of Denise and Donald Matthews.
Lee Owens on Penn: “He’s
a combination football and track guy. He’s a big track guy,
he’s exceptional in the long jump. He’s everything you
like in a cornerback. We found some corners with athleticism, plus
size. That describes Adam.”
Derek Riedel, FR, QB, 6-5, 220, Bay
Village, OH
Completed 65 percent of his passes this
past season, throwing for 1,800 yards and 13 touchdown passes…rushed
for 450 yards and three scores…was first team All Lakes
District and special mention All-Ohio…was the team’s
most valuable player in 2004…lettered twice in football…football
coach was Gary Sherwood…is an exceptional basketball player,
has been special mention all-state and first team all-conference
and all-district on the hardwood…also got looks during the
recruiting process from Mercyhurst, Lehigh, Edinboro and Davidson…anticipated
major is business…is the son of Damian and Lorie Riedel.
Lee Owens on Riedel: “He’s
6-5, 220 and makes plays. He throws the ball well on the run.
Derek runs the spread offense right now and makes great reads. He
has all the intangibles, we don’t know how good he can be.”
Kevin Stacy, FR, QB, 5-11, 155, Canal
Fulton, OH/Northwest
Son of AU offensive coordinator Tom
Stacy owns some prolific numbers….as a senior completed 139
of 230 passes for 2,486 yards with 20 touchdowns and seven
interceptions…this past year was first team All-Ohio and
first team all-conference, all-district and All-Stark County…named
the Massillon Independent player of the year…named to the
roster for the Stark County East-West all-stasr game…as a
junior, completed 87 of 160 passes for 1,769 yards with 16
touchdown passes and six interceptions…led Northwest to
regional championship and state Final Four in 2004…holds
Northwest single-season records for completions (139) and yards
and career mark for yards (4,284)…also owns career marks for
touchdown passes (37) and completion percentage (60 percent)…in
basketball played on a team that was the state runnerup…football
coach was Vic Whiting…plans to major in English education…parents
are Tom and Shannon Stacy.
Lee Owens on Stacy: “You talk
about intangibles, all he does is win. He’s an all-state
performer. If he gets overlooked, it’s because of his size,
he has everything else you want. He’s a Doug Flutie type.
There’s no written rule that you have to be 6-6 to play
quarterback. He’s overcome all of that in high school.”
Chris Stiel, FR, OL, 6-6, 275,
Reynoldsburg, OH
Three-year letterwinner who collected
all-conference and all-district honors…also played basketball…plans
to major in exercise science…is the son of Patricia Eaton.
Lee Owens on Stiel: “He’s
played tight end, that says something about his athletic ability.
He needs to get stronger, but he can redshirt, get a little
stronger and learn the game.”
ReShaun Tarver, FR, RB/DB, 5-11, 190,
Beaver Falls, PA
Third team all-state in 2004…secured
four letters on the gridiron and has lettered twice in basketball…plans
to major in electronic media production…parents are Carmen
and Mark Tarver.
Lee Owens on Tarver: “He’ll
probably play tailback. He’s probably the most pure tailback
we signed. He makes people miss. He’s a fast Antwan Hart with
more size.”
Matt Velain, FR, DB, 6-0, 188, Carrollton,
OH
Named first team all-state as a senior…posted
158 career tackles with nine interceptions…has also rushed
for 1,000 yards during his career…two-time first team
all-conference and all-district pick…named the 2004 district
player of the year…named the team’s most valuable player
in 2004…head coach at Carrollton was Barry Goettemoeller…awarded
three letters in football and has also lettered in basketball and
track…intended major is education…is the son of Scott
Velain.
Lee Owens on Velain: “He’s
been the most valuable player in that league for football,
basketball and track and that’s a pretty good league. He’s
a guy who you look at, maybe doesn’t stand out, and then you
watch the tape and realize, that’s him. When he puts the
uniform on he has a different personality.”
Antoinne Washington, FR, DL, 6-1, 245,
Shaker Heights, OH
Named first team all-league in 2004…was
honorable mention all-county and all-district…head coach at
Shaker Heights was Dave Sedmak.
Lee Owens on Washington: “He’s
a strong, athletic defensive lineman. We think he can be
productive in our system, it’s not easy to find defensive
lineman like Antoinne.”
Jerrod Workman, FR, OL, 6-4, 300,
Westerville, OH/Big Walnut
Multi-talented offensive lineman named
second team All-Ohio in 2004…was a selection to Super Prep 25
in Central Ohio and was selected to play in the Central Ohio
All-Star Game…tabbed first team all-conference and first team
all-district as a senior…Big Walnut won the conference title
two of the three seasons he lettered…anticipated major is
political science with a minor in business…is the son of
Jerry and Sherine Workman.
Lee Owens on Workman: “He’s
very sound. He’s the kind of lineman we’re looking for.
He’s a good student and a hardnosed blue-collar guy.” |
