KENT: With this year being the first that Kent State coach Darrell Hazell had a full year to scout, watch film and hit the road recruiting, he and his staff say they couldn’t be happier with the recruiting class of 2012. They aren’t afraid to show it, either.
Hazell and each of his assistants came up one at a time to the lectern Wednesday during Kent State’s signing day news conference, talked about each player’s traits on and off the field and showed a few highlight plays on video.
“There’s a lot of work to be done here, but we’re really excited about this class,” Hazell said. “I ensure that [my staff] will work every hour they have to for us to have success here.”
Kent State’s torrid ending to last season certainly aided the recruiting trail.
“We’re able to walk into a school and say, ‘We’re getting hot. Now is the time to get on board,’ ” Hazell said. [Winning four of the last five games last year] was critical.”
This 25-man class includes 14 from Ohio, two from the “pipeline state of Pennsylvania,” as Hazell called it, and nine from a spread of seven states.
It also includes seven players who will play in the Ohio North-South All-Star Classic and two who will play in the Big 33 Football Classic. There are 20 former team captains at their respective high schools.
“That says a lot about their character and work ethic,” Hazell said. “At the end of the day, when you’re fighting and struggling, and it’s hard to win football games, those are the things that rise.”
If any one recruit epitomizes such a sentiment, it’s Matt Dellinger, a linebacker from Clarkston High School in Michigan.
Dellinger is exactly the type of player whom linebacker coach Marcus Freeman said he searches for — someone who’s athletic, smart and versatile enough to play all three spots and to play on and off the line of scrimmage.
Dellinger fits that mold, and he has also been thrown into a leadership role at home. His father is in Afghanistan for the U.S. government, and Dellinger, who has three younger brothers, a younger sister and a twin sister, has been the man of the house for some time.
The Golden Flashes had a few focal points they wanted to hit with this class, namely the offensive line, secondary, special teams and the quarterback position.
KSU brought in two quarterbacks, Colin Reardon and David Fisher.
Offensive coordinator Brian Rock said when he recruits a quarterback, he’s also recruiting a coach. Reardon, a three-sport athlete at Poland Seminary High School with a big arm and good mobility, is one of those guys.
“Reardon was a guy we earmarked really early in the recruiting process,” Rock said. “He’s a level-headed guy who can really lead our program, and we’re really excited about him.”
Reardon had originally committed to Miami (Ohio), but then called Kent State to say that it wasn’t his final decision and that he welcomed Rock to keep in touch.
In Fisher, KSU adds a junior college transfer from Palomar Community College from Oceanside, Calif., with good athletic ability.
Hazell also set out to find offensive linemen, and they found a big one in Jake Witucki, a 6-foot-5, 283-pound tackle from Highlands High School in Natrona Heights, Pa.
Offensive line coach Chris Bache said he believes Witucki will end up around 315 pounds. Hazell noted that of any incoming player, Witucki is the most “college-ready recruit.”
The Flashes bring in a good deal of size at some interesting spots, particularly at cornerback. Many of the wide receivers in the Mid-American Conference won’t be able to measure up to a few of the defensive backs KSU nabbed.
Jason O’Bryan, a 6-3, 205-pound safety from Madison High School, is one of the most athletic recruits in the class. KSU also brought in Adam Maxie, a 6-2, 175-pound cornerback from Covenant Christian Academy in Westlake, Texas.
“[Getting these defensive backs] was huge,” Hazell said. “We had to get some corners so we’re able to play man-to-man and be able to blitz a bit. I think it’s an outstanding group.”
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