Coach Haynes talks about the class
Recent article on O-lineman Connor Shinsky
There will be no party at Water Street Tavern due to weather. However, a Signing Day radio show will air at 6 pm on both WHLO 640 and Golden Flashes Radio on iHeart
15-of-20 players come from Ohio...7 from Northeast Ohio (2-Glenville, Hoover, Massillon Perry, Aurora, Kent Roosevelt, Bedford)...3 from Columbus
Out of State: 2 Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada
11 Defense (3 DL, 3 LB, 3 DB), 8 Offense (4 OL, 2 WR, QB, RB), 1 Specialist (K)
Kent State coaches will have to worry about their health another day as this morning's donut boxes have been replaced by pizza boxes
Zack Singer Article
20th and final member of the class is in...Zack Singer...Third D-lineman
ZACK SINGER, DT, 6-3, 290
Las Vegas, Nev.
Bishop
Gorman High School
Notables: Earned all-state honors in all four
seasons…Helped Bishop Gorman to four state titles and four Top 25 national
rankings…Team captain…Played both ways and rarely left the field…Competed in
both baseball and wrestling at Bishop Gorman, finishing fourth at state
wrestling tournament.
Stats: Made 37 tackles as a senior.
Kalil Morris adds size to the D-Line
KALIL MORRIS, DT, 6-3, 280
Columbus, Ohio
Bishop
Hartley High School
Notables: All-Ohio First Team
(defense) in junior and senior seasons…Three-time all-district and All-Central
Catholic League First Team selection…Team captain...All-Metro First
Team…North-South All-Star Game selection…Helped Hartley to state championship
game appearance as a senior and state semifinal appearance as a
junior…Back-to-back undefeated regular seasons…Also played basketball at Bishop
Hartley.
Stats: Made 161 career tackles with 15 sacks, five
forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered.
Zaquon Tyson is second Miami, Fla. native of the class. 18 players in
ZAQUON TYSON, WR, 5-9, 155
Miami, Fla.
Norland
High School
Notables: Helped Norland win a
state title in 2011 …Team captain...Earned MVP of both Georgia vs. Florida and
Private vs. Public All-Star Games…Joins linebacker Darius Redmond among Miami
natives on Kent State roster.
Stats: Made 30 catches for 550 yards and four
touchdowns as a senior.
Jerrell Foster becomes fifth defensive back, bringing total to 17
JERRELL FOSTER, CB, 6-0, 180
Cincinnati, Ohio
Winton
Woods High School
Notables: Earned all-district
honors…Team captain…All-City selection...Helped Winton Woods advance to the
third round of the state playoffs…Will join Cincinnati natives Trayion Durham
and Kevin DeWalt
Stats: Intercepted three passes as a senior,
totaling eight pass breakups.
More help in the secondary and possibly the return game with speedster Eldin Anu. Our count is up to 16.
ELDIN ANU, CB, 5-10, 165
Columbus, Ohio
Westerville
Central High School
Notables: All-Ohio Second Team
selection…Earned all-region and all-district first team honors…Team
captain…Named to Ohio Capital Conference Second Team…Helped Westerville Central
to Cardinal Division title in OCC…Also competed in track & field, earning
all-state honors…Born in Cameroon
Stats: Made 53 catches for 718 yards and seven
touchdowns…totaled 1,075 all-purpose yards…Recorded four interceptions, 58
tackles and 13 pass breakups.
Erik Simpson puts two Glenville seniors in 2014 class
ERIK SIMPSON, S, 6-0, 175
Cleveland, Ohio
Glenville
High School
Notables: All-Senate League
First Team selection…Team captain… Two-year starter at cornerback…Helped
Glenville to state title game in senior year and three Senate League titles…One
of two Glenville players (Quan Robinson) joining Glenville grad Chris
Overton…Also lettered in track & field…Ranked second in his class
academically…OHSAA Academic All-Ohio.
Stats: Made 54 tackles with six pass breakups and
one interception in senior season…Receivers covered did not catch a pass during
his junior season.
Quan Robinson was a 3-year starter at QB for Glenville. He's expected to play cornerback for the Flashes
QUAN ROBINSON JR., CB, 6-1, 170
Cleveland, Ohio
Glenville
High School
Notables: Senate League All-Star…Team captain…Three-year
starter at quarterback…Led Glenville to state title game in senior year and
three Senate League titles…One of two Glenville players (Erik Simpson) joining
Glenville grad Chris Overton.
Stats: Threw for 1,945 yards and 25 touchdowns as a
senior…Ran for 500 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Nathan Puthoff becomes fourth offensive linemen in class
NATHAN PUTHOFF, OL, 6-5, 287
Columbus, Ohio
St.
Charles High School
Notables: All-Ohio First Team
selection…Offensive Team MVP…Was also a first team selection on all-conference,
all-district and All-Metro teams…Helped St. Charles to a playoff
appearance…Father and uncle both played football at Ohio…Will be seventh member
of family to compete as a student-athlete in the Mid-American Conference…Also
competed in baseball and track & field.
Stats: Totaled 73 pancake blocks as a senior and 24
as a junior.
Stefano Millin becomes the second Stark County native of the class
STEFANO MILLIN, OL, 6-5, 245
Massillon, Ohio
Perry
High School
Notables: All-Federal League
honors as a senior …Team captain...Also a standout wrestler at Perry…Was a
two-time state tournament qualifier…Two-time place winner at both Iron Man and
Beast of the East tournaments.
Stats: Recorded 18 career sacks and 25 tackles for
loss
Collin Prouty
COLLIN PROUTY, OL, 6-5, 280
Dresden, Ohio
Tri-Valley High School
Notables: Two-time All-Ohio Second Team
selection…Two-time Muskingum Valley League Offensive Lineman of the
Year…Two-time all-district and all-region selection…Team captain…Three-year
letterwinner…Helped Tri-Valley to playoff wins in three different seasons…High
school teammates with Nathan Strock…Named Eastern Region Track & Field
Athlete of the Year and finished fifth in the state in discus as a
junior…Father played football at Muskingum.
James Alexander becomes third linebacker in the group
JAMES ALEXANDER, LB, 5-11, 219
Miami, Fla.
Miami
Jackson High School
Notables: Two-time All-Dade County First Team
selection…Team captain…Helped Jackson to a Regional title as a junior…One of
two Miami natives in recruiting class (Zaquon Tyson)…Was also a captain on
Jackson’s track & field team where he earned all-county honors and
qualified for the state meet.
Stats: Recorded 351 career tackles and 15
sacks…Scored two defensive touchdowns…Recovered seven fumbles and forced
three…Broke school record for tackles in a season with 145.
The total count has quickly risen to 15
Miles Hibbler Video
Shane Hynes Video
Letters continue to roll in. Weather issues around the region haven't kept players from finding their way to fax machines.
MATTHEW SOMMERS, LB, 6-2, 220
Kent , Ohio
Roosevelt High School
Notables: Two-time Portage Trail Conference Defensive
Player of the Year…Earned All-Ohio Second Team honors as a senior and special
mention as a junior…Team captain…Three-time all-conference first team
selection…Helped Roosevelt to three conference championships…Joins Marcus
Wright and Evan Shimensky as third Roosevelt player on roster…Also played
lacrosse at Roosevelt, earning all-district honors in two seasons.
Stats: Totaled 421 career tackles, 30 tackles for
loss, 10 sacks, six forced fumbles and an interception…Holds Roosevelt records
for tackles in a season and tackles in a career.
MARQUES MOORE, LB, 6-2, 200
Springfield , Ohio
Springfield High School
Notables: Named to All-Greater Western Ohio Conference
First Team…Received invites for National Underclassmen (NUC) All-American Game,
NUC Ultimate 100 and Texas vs. the World Game…Also competed in basketball and
track & field at Springfield…Two uncles and a cousin all played in the NFL.
Stats: Blocked three punts…Made two
interceptions…Recorded 34 tackles and recovered a fumble
SHANE HYNES, K, 5-10, 150
Clarkston, Mich.
Clarkston
High School
Notables: Two-time all-state selection…Helped Clarkston
to state championship as a senior…All-Metro Detroit First Team selection…Two
all-county honors… Clarkston went 42-3-1 in last four years…Will join former
Clarkston teammate Matt Dellinger…Also played baseball.
Stats: Kicked a school record 53-yard field goal as
a junior…Made eight field goals as a senior…Totaled 63 kickoffs for touchbacks as
a senior…Had the longest punt in school history (81 yards) as a senior.
RBs Coach Ted Bahhur believes Hibbler can make an immediate impact
MILES HIBBLER, RB, 5-10, 185
Troy, Ohio
Troy High School
Notables: Two-time All-Greater Western Ohio Conference
First Team selection…Earned all-state honorable mention…Two-time All-Southwest
Ohio District First Team selection… Team captain…Helped Troy to state playoffs
as a sophomore…Earned three varsity letters in football and four in track &
field…Was a two-time state qualifier in the 4x100.
Stats: Ran for 1,644 yards and 21 touchdowns on 235
carries as a senior…Ranks seventh among Troy’s all-time rushing leaders.
The football office echoes with the sound of coaches on the phone congratulating incoming class members.
Randale Richmond and Marc Johnson have made the football office their office this morning as they continue to approve NLIs...4 more are in...bringing current total to nine.
Butler, Pa, produced standout defensive lineman Lee Stalker. Now it's Connor Shinsky's turn
CONNOR SHINSKY, OL, 6-6, 260
Butler , Pa.
Knoch High School
Notables: All-Greater Allegheny Conference First Team
selection on offense in junior and senior seasons…Also an all-conference second
team selection on defense …Team captain…Helped Knoch to a pair of playoff
appearances, including a WPIAL runner-up finish in 2011…Knoch finished 12-1,
winning a Section 3 championship…Named to Butler Eagle Sweet 16 and Pittsburgh
Post Gazette North Finest 22…Also played basketball at Knoch.
Stats: Totaled 45 tackles and six sacks as a junior
JON CUNNINGHAM, DT, 6-0, 265
Bedford, Ohio
Bedford High School
Notables: Earned all-conference honors in junior and
senior seasons… Team captain…Also wrestles at Bedford…Was a state qualifier as
a junior…Freestyle/Greco Roman state champion… Father played football at
Toledo…Mother attended Kent State
Stats: Made 77 tackles, including 55 solo stops…Scored
two touchdowns.
Grandjean Video
Bollas Video
GEORGE BOLLAS, QB, 6-3, 205
Aurora, Ohio
Aurora High School
Notables: Chagrin Valley Conference Offensive MVP as a senior
and all-state selection…Team captain…Led Aurora to state semifinal appearance
and 12-2 record as a junior… Greenmen also won state playoff game in 2013,
finishing 10-2…Earned all-conference and all-district first team honors as a
senior…Former high school teammate of Anthony Melchiori and Jake McVay…Two-time
all-academic team selection for Chagrin Valley Conference…Wrestled for two
seasons at Aurora, qualifying for the state tournament as a sophomore…Father
and grandfather both wrestled at Ohio State.
Stats: Rushed for 1,323 yards and 17 touchdowns as a
senior, throwing for 1,355 yards and 13 touchdowns…Ran for 1,072 yards and 16
touchdowns in junior season and threw for 1,483 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Marcus Elliott Video
Quarterback George Bollas becomes the third player from Aurora HS in as many seasons to join the Golden Flashes
LUKE GRANDJEAN, WR, 6-3, 185
North Canton, Ohio
Hoover High School
Notables: Two-time all-state second team selection…Team
captain…Named to All-Stark County (Repository) First Team in junior and senior
seasons…Northeast Inland All-District First Team…Beacon Journal All-Star
Team…All-Federal League First Team…Helped Hoover to a playoff appearance in
2012…Played two seasons of basketball and lacrosse at Hoover…Scored 35 goals
career goals in lacrosse…Uncle Charlie Grandjean played at Kent State and is
member of Varsity “K” Hall of Fame…Will be seventh member of extended family to
attend Kent State.
Stats: Made six interceptions as a junior…Caught 34
passes for 623 yards and six touchdowns in 2012…Threw for 1,402 yards and eight
touchdowns in 2013, while rushing for 970 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Toledo Whitmer's Marcus Elliott was the first letter to arrive.
MARCUS ELLIOTT, DB, 6-1, 200
Toledo, Ohio
Whitmer
High School
Notables: All-Ohio First Team selection as a senior and
second team choice as a junior…Team captain…Two-tine selection on all-district,
all-conference and All-Blade teams…Team MVP…Helped Whitmer in four playoff
appearances, three regional championships, two state semifinal s and one state
final appearance…Will join Whitmer grads Nate and Nick Holley…Was a four-year
letterwinner in track & field…Also lettered in basketball.
Stats: Made 259 career tackles and 10
interceptions…Holds school record for interceptions in a season with
eight…Scored three touchdowns, including 86-yard kick return…Totaled 13 career
tackles for loss and eight forced fumbles.
Because of many high schools being canceled, some expected NLIs may not arrive this morning.
The University closed due to weather conditions, but that hasn't slowed down the football staff.
Coach Haynes arrived at 5:45 today to see several other coaching staff members already there. The entire staff met 6:30 and are now waiting for the first letter to arrive.
The 2p.m. press conference has been canceled due to weather conditions.
National Letters of Intent can start arriving on the football
office fax machine at 7 a.m. Once letters are verified by a compliance
services staff member, we'll report it to you. Look for high school video highlights of each player.
Fans can meet the coaches, cheerleaders and Flash at Water Street Tavern, beginning at 5:45. Football color analyst Rob Polinsky will go on the air live from Water Street at 6 p.m. on WHLO 640 and Golden Flashes Radio on iHeartRadio.
The special Signing Day Show will be followed immediately by men's basketball pregame with Ty Linder live from Mount Pleasant.
Check in Wednesday morning (Feb. 5) for updates and video from the M.A.C. Center as the Golden Flashes sign a new recruiting class...
