The letters keep coming in the mail and Kent Roosevelt junior quarterback Tra Chapman keeps reading them.
Chapman is one of the most highly touted quarterbacks in Ohio in the class of 2013.
National signing day for football has come and gone for 2012. Now, it’s onto 2013.
Chapman and Hudson junior Ben Gedeon, a running back and linebacker, are two of the premier catches in 2013, according to several recruiting services.
Chapman, who has scholarship offers from Kent State and Northwestern, said the attention is fun — and distracting.
“It is a combination of the two,” Chapman said. “So far, it is a blessing to be in this position. Sometimes it gets a little stressful when you have three coaches coming in and we run into each other and I might have a test to take that period or next period in school. I get constant letters, like six a day. It’s a lot of fun to get the attention and to see that the coaches want you to play for them and their schools.”
Roosevelt coach John Nemec said Chapman, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, is attractive to colleges because of his athleticism and ability to pass and run the ball efficiently.
Chapman said he is also receiving interest from Ohio State, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Michigan, West Virginia, Indiana, Oregon, Akron and Bowling Green.
Hudson coach Ron Wright said Gedeon, who is 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, has scholarship offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Boston College, Michigan State, Purdue, Stanford, Duke and Virginia.
Alabama, Notre Dame and Stanford are also interested in Gedeon.
“Ben is a quality person from a quality family,” Wright said. “He is a very good football player and a very good student.”
The first offer
Chapman, 17, said KSU offered him a scholarship toward the end of the football season. His father, Thad Jemison, is the Golden Flashes’ wide receivers coach who played for Ohio State in the early 1980s.
Chapman acknowledged that some college coaches view him as a quarterback, and others see him playing receiver and/or safety in college.
“I definitely want to play quarterback,” Chapman said. “My coach and I have stressed that to every coach that I have talked to. I want to play quarterback. The only way I would change position is if I got beat out. I don’t know. We will see what happens.”
Chapman said his closeness to his father and mother, Vikki Chapman, will also be taken into consideration.
“Honestly, I want to get it done before my senior football season starts,” Chapman said. “I want to be done with it during the summer.
“I have been thinking about it a lot. Location is definitely a big deal for me. I want my family to see me play.”
Already committed
Copley junior Aregeros Turner and Marlington junior Dymonte Thomas orally committed in 2011 to play running back at Tennessee and Michigan, respectively.
Gladney gets offer
Firestone junior wide receiver Kevin Gladney said he has a scholarship offer from Michigan.
“Every major school has come through — Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, you name it, they have been through the school,” Firestone coach Tim Flossie said.
Gladney, who is 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, said he is also getting interest from West Virginia and Purdue.
“Probably after next football season, I will be ready to make my decision,” Gladney said. “My plan is to start college in January and play in spring football.”
Gladney, Chapman and Gedeon also play basketball for their high school teams.
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the high school blog at www.ohiomm.com/blogs/varsity_letters/. Also follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MBeavenABJ. Follow ABJ sports on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sports.abj.
