Ravenna senior running back D.J. Jones said Thursday that he will attend the University of Akron to play football.
Jones and Ravens coach Jim Lunardi each confirmed that Zips coach Terry Bowden and running back coach Trent Boykin recruited the 5-foot-9 and 190-pound standout to UA.
“I am going as a preferred walk-on for a year and then I get a guaranteed scholarship after that,” Jones said. “I took my official visit to Akron, and I like it a lot. I like the facilities, the coaching staff and the academics. It seemed like the best fit for me and it is close to home.”
Jones, a three-year starter for Ravenna, earned Associated Press Division III first-team All-Ohio honors and was named the Northeast Inland District Offensive Player of the Year. He said he plans to major in sports management at UA.
“They have talked about taking it slow and building a good program,” Jones said. “I feel like that is a good approach.”
Lunardi said that Kent State and Buffalo were other Division I schools that showed an interest, and that Walsh University and a lot of other Division II schools expressed an interest.
“I am just happy that he will have an opportunity,” Lunardi said. “The kid is a football player. He is one of the best of the players I have coached in the 16 years I have been here.
Jones led Ravenna to its first state playoff win in school history in 2011. As a senior, he rushed for 2,433 yards and 33 touchdowns on 287 carries in 12 games. The Ravens posted a 9-3 record and advanced to the Division III regional semifinals.
Jones had eight 200-yard rushing games in 2011 and eclipsed 100 yards in 11 of 12 games.
“He never had negative yards; he never went backwards,” Lunardi said. “He never had a negative carry as a senior. He never saw the inside of the training room and he never missed a practice. That says something about D.J.”
Hoban signings
Five Archbishop Hoban seniors signed national letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers in college.
The five are: Alexis Becker, women’s soccer, Edinboro; Taylor Bolender, gymnastics, Central Michigan; Madison Kaser, women’s soccer, Akron; Maria Libertin, women’s soccer, Xavier; and Colleen Rosen, women’s soccer, Ursuline.
Walsh signings
Walsh Jesuit High School announced that 11 seniors have signed national letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers in college.
The 11 by sport are: men’s cross country, Tony Howkins, Akron, and Matt Krakora, Dayton; men’s golf, Tyler McHugh, Wright State; women’s soccer, Katie George, Akron, Caitlin Jakubek, Akron, Kaylee Semelsberger, Alabama, Alyson Smigel, Dayton, and Christen Westphal, Florida; wrestling, Nate Skonieczny, Iowa, and Cory Stainbrook, West Virginia; and baseball: Graeme Frye, Slippery Rock.
More college signings
• Our Lady of the Elms senior Kaitlin Morse has signed a national letter of intent to attend Northern Kentucky University and to play Division I softball.
• Orrville senior Stewart Turner Jr. has signed to play football at Ball State University. Turner, 5-foot-9 and 168 pounds, is a wide receiver and defensive back.
• Copley senior defensive back CJ Chatman has signed to play football at Walsh University. He is 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds.
• Norwayne senior quarterback-linebacker Adam Wallace has signed to play football at Ashland University. Wallace, 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, guided the Bobcats to the Division IV state title over Kenton on Dec. 3 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon.
• Green senior Krista Roehlig signed with Ohio University to continue her cross country and track and field careers.
• North Canton Hoover senior tight end Jonathan Nutt signed to play football at Ohio Dominican University. Nutt was a three-year letterman and two-year starter for Hoover. He earned Hoover’s top student athlete in football with a 4.28 grade point average.
• St. Vincent-St. Mary senior first baseman Tyler Cetnarowski has signed to play baseball at Shawnee State.
Meyer’s thoughts
Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer had high praise for two of his most highly touted recruits: GlenOak’s Bri’onte Dunn and Canton McKinley’s Se’Von Pittman.
“Bri’onte Dunn had 300-yard back-to-back games, that’s real,” Meyer said. “What sold me on him, other than the fact he comes from a great family [and is a] great-looking guy, is he didn’t tap out in the big games. How do they perform in a rivalry or state championship, state playoff game? That’s usually an indicator of a high-end competitor.”
Meyer said Pittman is a “power rusher” that can make a difference defensively.
North wins
The North girls basketball team won its first game of the season on Jan. 23, defeating host East 45-43. It is North’s first win since the 2009-2010 season.
Vikings coach Marcus Lawson said senior Aleyah Carmona and sophomore Sabria Meadows each scored 12 points. Junior Keishawnna Burts added 10 points for North and Airelle Sibley scored 27 points for East.
Dapper Dan news
The Dapper Dan Club of Akron will be holding its annual banquet Feb. 19 at Tangier restaurant, 532 W. Market St., Akron.
The social hour will begin at 4 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5 p.m., with the awards program beginning at 6 p.m. Dapper Dan President Amy Corrigall Jones is pleased to announce honorees:
Katie George (Walsh Jesuit girls soccer), Mackenzie Wallace (Copley softball), Katie Miller (Firestone swimming), Morgan Willis (Woodridge/University of Akron women’s cross country), Nathan Tomasello (Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy wrestling), Greg McMullen (Archbishop Hoban football), Colin Romisher (Revere boys soccer), Ben Gedeon (Hudson football), Ian Holt (Stow boys golf), Ross Martin (Walsh Jesuit football) and coaches Dan Lancianese, Bob Pacsi and Richard G. Rinella.
This year’s speaker will be University of Akron men’s basketball coach Keith Dambrot. Tickets can be purchased in advance by contacting Paul H. Gahres at 330-714-6097 or Bill Alford at 330-697-0579.
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the high school blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/varsity_letters/. Also follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MBeavenABJ. Follow ABJ sports on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
