3 Southwest Ohio 2021's who deserve scholarship offers

It’s been a crazy year for college football recruiting. The extended dead period with no face to face visits. No campus visits for high school student athletes, etc. No high school graduating class has felt that squeeze more than the 2021 class. The seniors who are in their final year have felt the pressure to make college choices without some of the key interactions that have been suspended for D1 players. Those pressures have also had a trickle down affect on the D2 recruiting scene as players may have decided not to wait on a D1 offer and take the D2 offer that has already come. Any way you look at it, it’s been a tough year for college recruits to navigate this recruiting season. Today we look at some players around the Southwest corner of the state who deserve offers. DeShaun Harewood 5’11 175 (Northmont)- Harewood has everything you look for in a D1 cornerback: footwork, fluid hips, ball skills, speed, swagger and humility. His confidence in his abilities and his humility come from a very real place as Harewood gets an opportunity that most cornerbacks don’t, he gets to line up across from and hone his skills against 2 power 5 caliber wide receivers every day in practice. Thunderbolt wr who is getting looked at by the likes of Wisconsin, Penn State, Washington St., Oregon St. among others as well as who’s currently committed to play up in Ann Arbor for the Michigan Wolverines next fall. I asked DeShaun how he feels going up against guys like Allen and Moore have prepared him to play D1 football at the college level and here was his response: "I would say going up against guys like Rod and Markus have prepared me for D1 ball by humbling me. There aren’t very many guys like them out there and they have the opportunities that they have for a reason so being able to be on them has made me a much better player and has made me learn better technique and every day is going up against a Power 5 D1 receivers". The cornerback position requires extreme confidence and the humility to constantly better themselves. DeShaun has faced as good of competition you’re going to see playing in the GWOC conference and every day in practice. He’s a kid that’s not going to come in and be shocked by the speed D1 college game, and is gonna know he belongs. This kid can play at a Power 5. The film says it, the mindset of the player says it, it's time for the schools to take notice and offer. Jerrod Couch 6’0 240 (Huber Heights Wayne)- Because of his size Couch has a constant battle when it comes to college talent evaluators. That battle stems from one word, "tweener". As a talent evaluator on paper I could make the argument that at 230 pounds he’s not heavy enough to play the interior defensive line and at 6’0 I could make the argument he’s not tall enough to play defensive end at the college level. The problem??? The game is not played on paper. College coaches, do you want a kid who’s going to play to the whistle on every rep and every play? That’s Jerrod. College coaches, do you want a kid who has advanced hand technique and ability to shed blockers? That’s Jerrod. This is a kid who can not only play, but can help build and sustain a culture. Believe me, he can play at the D2 level and is worthy of offers, there’s not a doubt in my mind. Jerrod has the intangibles coahes are looking for both on the field and in the classroom. Asked to describe himself here’s what Jerrod said: "A football player with a high motor passionate and hard-working kid. Really focus on my schoolwork which that is a big part of being a football player." Just as I spoke about DeShaun, Jerrod is no stranger to lining up against D1 power 5 talent, as he gets to line up across from every day in practice. Wagner is being recruited by the biggest of names from the Big Ten to the SEC. While I think Couch could easily play Defensive End at the college level, I'm very intrigued at the possibility of adding 20-30 pounds and moving him inside as a rush tackle. He has the quickness, athleticism, and strength to be a big disruptor from this position. Jerrod is getting D2 interest, but it's time on schools to start biting. 6’5 300 (Springfield)- I project Green to the offensive tackle position along the line at the college level. While Green has some D1 offers he really deserves more attention especially with all of the D1 schools we have in the state of Ohio and in bordering states. What sticks out about Green when you watch his film is his athleticism for such a big lineman. Green gets regular work against D1 talent in practice as he gets to line up against D1 prospects Tywan January and . One thing that is evident if you follow Rod on Twitter, is that he’s a worker. Self motivation will not be a problem with this young man, and this goes for the classroom as well. Here’s what Rod had to say about what sets him apart from other D1 offensive linemen: "What sets me apart is that I am a hard worker that goes and get it I believe in the process as my Head Coach Maurice Douglass says too do. Also I am a great student and I love to watch film it helps me study my opponent very well so I can see the way I need to play against them work any new moves or what type of angles they like too come!" Rod has garnered some D1 interests, but schools have been slow to offer. Green is a coachable worker and talent that coaches should be taking notice of. With a year of training table and strength training Rod has the potential to turn into a very nice D1 college offensive linemen. It's time for some of these local MAC and Mid Majors to take the jump and offer this kid!