A Cincinnati-area football recruit from the 2012 class says he’s ecstatic about the University of Akron hiring Terry Bowden as its next head football coach today.

Cincinnati Princeton senior outside linebacker/defensive end Daryan Martin told the Cincinnati Enquirer today that Bowden’s hiring reaffirms his verbal commitment to the Zips. He plans to take an official visit to Akron the weekend of Jan. 21.

Walsh Jesuit senior kicker Ross Martin was named to the Sports Illustrated All-America second-team list on Monday.

Martin, who is verbally committed to Duke, was a first-team all-Beacon Journal selection this past season.

Cleveland Glenville senior wide receiver/defensive back Denzell Burton has reportedly made a verbal commitment to play at Kent State, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Burton, who is 6 feet 1 and 205 pounds, also reportedly had offers from Mount Union, Findlay, Baldwin-Wallace and Prairie View.

GlenOak senior running back Brionte Dunn reportedly remained verbally committed to Ohio State after considering a visit to Michigan, according to CBSSports.com.

Dunn had an in-home visit by new Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer last week, according to multiple reports.

The University of Akron men’s basketball program has offered a scholarship to Cincinnati Walnut Hills junior center Isaiah Johnson, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Johnson, who is 6 feet 9 and 275 pounds, was offered Dec. 15. He averages 15.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists for the Eagles, who are a Division I program just north of downtown Cincinnati. Walnut Hills (2-2) plays in the Fort Ancient Valley Conference.

Hudson coach Matt Davis announced that senior diver Rachel Speakman has been accepted and signed to attend and compete at Brown University.

Speakman placed eighth last season at the Division I state 1-meter diving meet.

We had this note a couple of days in the Akron Beacon Journal and here it is for the blog:

Canton McKinley senior defensive end Se'Von Pittman is headed to Ohio State University to play football and continue his academic career.

Multiple area football standouts are on the roster for the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl Dec. 29 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The West roster includes Buchtel free safety Jarrod Wilson (Michigan commit), Canton McKinley defensive end Se’Von Pittman (Ohio State), Canton McKinley cornerback Jermaine Edmondson (Michigan State) and GlenOak running back Brionte Dunn (Ohio State).

St. Vincent-St. Mary senior defensive tackle Matt Perry has reportedly made a commitment to play football at Harvard, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Perry, who is 6 feet 3 and 255 pounds, also had offers from Air Force and Dartmouth, according to the website.

North High School senior De'Shawn Dowdy has committed to continue his academic and football careers at the University of Cincinnati on scholarship, according to several media outlets.

Dowdy was a standout player for the Vikings as a tight end and defensive end. Dowdy, 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, previously made an oral commitment to Maryland, but changed his mind.

Hudson junior linebacker Ben Gedeon has reportedly added an offer from Stanford, according to ScoutingOhio.com. The offer was also noted by ESPN.com.

Gedeon, one of the top players in Ohio’s 2013 class, also has offers from Michigan, Tennessee, Boston College, Michigan State and Purdue.

Tallmadge senior offensive lineman Jon Cipa has reportedly been offered by Robert Morris, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Cipa has also had offers from Akron, Notre Dame College of Ohio, Lake Erie, Ashland and Tiffin.

Orrville senior linebacker Mason Monheim had a good visit to Toledo last week, according to Orrville coach Doug Davault. Monheim, who was multiple scholarship offers and was first-team all-Beacon Journal this season, doesn't have any other visits scheduled at this point, Davault said.

Copley senior wide receiver/defensive back C.J. Chatman has reportedly added an offer from Walsh University, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Chatman, who is 5 feet 10 and 170 pounds, also has an offer from Notre Dame College (Ohio).