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Varsity Letters

Kent Roosevelt's Tra'Von Chapman talks about commitment to Pitt

By Michael Beaven Published: June 28, 2012
Kent Roosevelt senior-to-be quarterback Tra’Von Chapman made it official Thursday that he plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh and play football.
 
Chapman, 18, gave Pitt an oral commitment to play on scholarship starting in 2013.
 
Chapman is 6-foot-1, 205 pounds and a 4-star recruit, according to Scout.com.
 
“I am pumped right now,” Chapman said. “It is a big weight off my shoulders. The support from my family and coaches has been tremendous. Now I am able to focus on my team at Kent Roosevelt.”
 
Chapman narrowed down 11 scholarship offers to three schools and ultimately decided on Pitt over Wisconsin and Cincinnati.
 
“I am real excited for Tra,” Kent Roosevelt coach John Nemec said. “I think it is great fit. The coaches did a great job recruiting him. It is within 90 to 100 miles from Kent, so it is not that far from here. We will be able to go watch him play.
 
“I think Pitt is a program on the up turn. The facilities are absolutely beautiful.”
 
Looking ahead to next year at Pitt, Chapman likes his chances of playing early.
 
“I think I have a good chance of playing as a freshman,” Chapman said. “Obviously there is competition everywhere. I think if I come in with the right attitude and work hard I will have a legit chance to play.”
 
Pitt coach Paul Chryst and his staff were a big part of Chapman’s decision.
 
“I felt more comfortable at Pitt,” Chapman said. “It feels like a home environment with the coaches. I love the city of Pittsburgh. I think it gives me the best chance to grow as a person and athlete.”
 
Chapman is a dual-threat quarterback who is capable of making plays as a passer or rusher. He completed 121-of-189 passes last year for 2,212 yards and 26 touchdowns, and rushed for 735 yards and eight touchdowns.
 
The Rough Riders won the Portage Trail Conference Metro Division title and a Division II state playoff game over Warren Howland.
 
Chapman was named the Associated Press Division II Northeast Ohio Inland District Offensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Ohio honors.
 
“They really like Tra as a quarterback,” Nemec said. “Coach Chryst feels like he can play for them and he is one of their top recruits in the class of 2013.”
 
Other offers
 
Nemec said Roosevelt senior-to-be wide receiver Trei Thomas and junior-to-be-linebacker Matt Sommers are also drawing interest from colleges.
 
Thomas has scholarship offers from the University of Akron and Kent State and Sommers has an offer from KSU.

 

 

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