2013 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Committed to succeed
Top area players announce college choices
8/28/2013
From left, are Southview's Ryan Stout, Patrick Henry's Colt Pettit, Whitmer's Marcus Elliot, Perrysburg's Nate Patterson, Central Catholic's DeShone Kizer, Southview's Nate hall, Central Catholic's Zach Harmon, and Genoa's Michael Deiter.
Eight area high school football players have committed to Division I colleges before this season even begins.
Among the area's top players are:
Ryan Stout
■ School: Southview
■ Size/position(s): 6-6, 255; Offensive tackle-defensive end
■ College commitment: Cincinnati
■ Projected college position: Offensive tackle
■ Top 3 reasons for college selected: Coaches made me feel like part of a family, I loved the campus, and it has a great engineering program.
■ Football appeal: Football has a way of showing who wants it more, who is the toughest, and who is willing to give it their all.
■ Person(s) key to my athletic success: My dad.
■ How they helped me: He kept me motivated and got me working out.
■ Goals for senior season: To win the NLL, go undefeated, go to the playoffs, and make first-team all-state.
■ Long-term football goals: To have a great career at Cincinnati and go to the NFL.
Colt Pettit
■ School: Patrick Henry
■ Size/position(s): 6-4, 260; Offensive and defensive lines
■ College commitment: Virginia Tech
■ Projected college position: Offensive line
■ Top 3 reasons for college selected: Coaching staff, school, academics.
■ Football appeal: I’ve always loved to play it. It’s just a great and exciting game.
■ Person(s) key to my athletic success: My dad.
■ How they helped me: He helped by always pushing me to make me better.
■ Goals for senior season: Just to be the best player that I can be.
■ Long-term football goals: To play at Virginia Tech and in the NFL.
Marcus Elliott
■ School: Whitmer
■ Size/position(s): 6-0, 197; safety
■ College commitment: Kent State
■ Projected college position: Free/strong safety
■ Top 3 reasons for college selected: Academics, football program, coaching staff, and campus.
■ Football appeal: I love the game of football because it challenges me mentally and physically.
■ Person(s) key to my athletic success: My parents
■ How they helped me: They have encouraged me to be the best athlete and most successful student I could be.
■ Goals for senior season: To help my team win a state championship, and to break my school (single-season) interception record.
■ Long-term football goals: To become the best DB that I can, and continue my football career at the next level.
Nate Patterson
■ School: Perrysburg
■ Size/position(s): 6-4, 225; tight end-linebacker
■ College commitment: Miami (Ohio)
■ Projected college position: Tight end.
■ Top 3 reasons for college selected: Coaching staff, great academics, beautiful campus
■ Football appeal: Football is a great way to bond with your friends, and I’ve always had a passion for the game.
■ Person(s) key to my athletic success: My dad.
■ How they helped me: He supported me with every sport I played, and helped me to be the best I could be.
■ Goals for senior season: To win the NLL and be state champions.
■ Long-term football goals: To start my freshman year at Miami, and hopefully to play in the NFL.
Michael Deiter
■ School: Genoa.
■ Size/position(s): 6-5, 300; offensive and defensive lineman.
■ College commitment: Wisconsin.
■ Projected college position: Offensive line.
■ Top 3 reasons for college selected: Tradition, academics, comfort.
■ Football appeal: I love football because it teaches life lessons, it’s fun, it’s physical, and there’s no better feeling than being on the field with your family.
■ Person(s) key to my athletic success: My parents and my coach.
■ How they helped me: With their support and promotion.
■ Goals for senior season: Win the league and state titles.
■ Long-term football goals: NCAA championship, play in the NFL.
Zach Harmon
■ School: Central Catholic.
■ Size/position(s): 6-4, 285; Offensive line.
■ College commitment: Duke.
■ Projected college position: Center.
■ Top 3 reasons for college selected: Duke education, coaching staff, big-time football in the ACC.
■ Football appeal: I love football for the brotherhood and leadership you build, and because the competition gives you a big adrenaline rush.
■ Person(s) key to my athletic success: My father.
■ How they helped me: He always pushed me forward, stayed positive, and was always there for practices and games.
■ Goals for senior season: To help my team win the TRAC title and another state title, and help every person on my team succeed on and off the field.
■ Long-term football goals: To become captain at Central Catholic, and at Duke.
Nate Hall
■ School: Southview
■ Size/position(s): 6-2 ½, 205; defensive back-linebacker-receiver.
■ College commitment: Northwestern.
■ Projected college position: Outside linebacker.
■ Top 3 reasons for college selected: Academics, coaching staff, great football.
■ Football appeal: I like football because of the lessons the game teaches young men, and because it builds character.
■ Person(s) key to my athletic success: My father.
■ How they helped me: He taught me the mentality and the key fundamentals to be a great football player.
■ Goals for senior season: To win the NLL championship and to win the 15th game.
■ Long-term football goals: Make it to the NFL.
DeShone Kizer
■ School: Central Catholic.
■ Size/position(s): 6-5, 218; quarterback.
■ College commitment: Notre Dame.
■ Projected college position: Quarterback.
■ Top 3 reasons for college selected: Education, coaching staff, winning tradition.
■ Football appeal: I like football because it allows me to use both my athletic and leadership skills to the best of my ability.
■ Person(s) key to my athletic success: My dad.
■ How they helped me: He helped by staying on me and making sure I was never content with my success.
■ Goals for senior season: Win every day.
■ Long-term football goals: Win every day.