Firestone senior Jerome Lane is staying close to home for college.
Lane committed to the University of Akron to continue his academic and football careers on scholarship.
“I feel good about this,” Lane said. “I feel it would not be right if I took my talents anywhere else. I felt it right to stay in Akron and play for the university.”
Lane, who is 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, said the Zips recruited him as a “linebacker and athlete.” He said Toledo, Washington and Pittsburgh also offered him scholarships.
“This is a real good thing,” Firestone coach Tim Flossie said. “The Mid-American [Conference] did really well this year. Jerome is a good ballplayer. He is a good athlete who also plays basketball. He is big, strong and fast. I think Akron is getting a lot better with the coaching staff they have in place, and I think they will continue to do so.”
Lane started two years in football at Firestone, and played tailback, linebacker and defensive back. He is in his third year starting for the Falcons basketball team, and has played forward, guard and center.
“Coach [Todd] Stroud, coach [Chuck] Amato and coach [Terry] Bowden all had a hand in Jerome committing to Akron, especially coach Stroud,” Flossie said.
Lane said he plans to major in business management. He is the second Firestone football player in the senior class to commit to a Division I college, joining wide receiver Kevin Gladney (Nebraska).
Flossie said seniors Ja’Tice Shaw and Sam Allread are being recruited by colleges along with juniors Donteal Stone, Edmund Williams, Brennan Williams and Miles Kirk.
Navy snags Toneo Gulley
Garfield football coach Box Sax said former Garfield running back Toneo Gulley will be playing football at the United States Naval Academy.
Gulley’s older brother, Tyson Gulley, graduated from Garfield High School in 2010 and will be a senior on the Syracuse football team in 2013.
Toneo moved with family to Kenosha, Wis., and attended Tremper High School, graduating in 2012.
Gulley, who is 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, is currently enrolled at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I. According to the school’s website, NAPS sets out to prepare midshipmen for success at the Naval Academy and as part of the physical development program, NAPS offers a varsity athletic program that competes against other prep schools, junior colleges and college junior varsity teams.
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the high school blog at http://www.ohio.com/preps. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MBeavenABJ and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
