College coaching changes affecting northeast Ohio recruits

A pair of recent college coaching changes at BCS-conference schools could shake up the landscape of the 2011 football recruiting class.

In northeast Ohio, St. Edward (Lakewood) defensive lineman Deonte Gibson and Lake Catholic (Mentor) two-way lineman Chase Hounshell are athletes who have been directly affected by the departures of Dave Wannstedt at Pittsburgh and Urban Meyer at Florida, respectively.

Gibson, who verbally committed to Pittsburgh in August, still is taking his official visit to the school but also is planning official visits in January to Northwestern and Cincinnati, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

"I'm keeping an open mind," Gibson told the Plain Dealer. "Change might be a good thing."

Hounshell still is planning his official visit to Florida later this month. He also has been in contact recently with Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State, Boston College and Notre Dame but has not scheduled any other visits, according to the Plain Dealer.

He is planning to graduate from Lake Catholic (Mentor) a semester early and his intention has been to enroll at Florida in January. Florida recently hired former Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp to replace Meyer, and Hounshell talked to Muschamp on Sunday, according to the Plain Dealer.

"I'm glad there's no early signing," Hounshell told the newspaper. "If there was, I would have done it. I think this kind of gives you a chance to really evaluate your decision, take a step back and make sure this is what you really want to do. I am still committed to Florida. I have been in contact with some other schools, and right now I'm 100 percent Gator."

GLENVILLE PAIR CHOOSES AKRON
Glenville (Cleveland) has had several players on the radars of college recruiters including Johnny Robinson Jr. and Devonte Morgan, who according to various organizations including the Akron Beacon Journal will be signing with the University of Akron.

Robinson, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior defensive back, had 55 tackles, three interceptions and a touchdown this season. Morgan is a 6-1, 185-pound defensive back who had 53 tackles, two forced fumbles and a touchdown.

DETMER SELECTS TOLEDO
Davidson (Hilliard) kicker J.D. Detmer verbally committed to play for the University of Toledo last week, according to ThisWeekSPORTS.com.

Detmer, who made first-team all-Central District and first-team all-state as the Wildcats were Division I state semifinalists, made 10 of 12 field goals and 50 extra points this season.

SEVERAL TO PLAY IN ALL-STAR GAME
The fifth-annual Offense-Defense All-American Bowl is expected to have several players from Ohio playing in its game at 4 p.m. Dec. 31 at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C.

Elyria defensive end Chase Farris, quarterback Cardale Jones and Shane Wynn from Glenville (Cleveland), Firestone (Akron) offensive tackle Tommy Brown and Strongsville tight end (Ray Hamilton) all are among those who recently have been added from Northeast Ohio.

Central (Pickerington) defensive back Eilar Hardy, Eastmoor Academy (Columbus) defensive back Ron Tanner and Central (Westerville) tight end Nick Vannett are Central Ohio representatives expected to play in the game.
Defensive lineman Kenny Hayes of Whitmer (Toledo) also is on the roster.

MORE RECRUITING NEWS
St. Vincent-St. Mary's (Akron) cornerback Doran Grant, who is among the nation's top remaining recruits at his position, recently took a recruiting visit to Michigan State. His father is Ted Jones, who played wide receiver for the Spartans from 1980-82. … Glenville (Cleveland) standouts Andre Sturdivant and Aundrey Walker both recently took recruiting visits to Michigan State, according to the Lansing State Journal. Sturdivant is a linebacker and Walker is a 6-5, 355-pound lineman.

BRIEFLY
Chardon and Lorain both have openings after recently firing their football coaches, according to the Plain Dealer. Jim DiPofi led Chardon to a 62-48 mark in 10 seasons, but the Hilltoppers went a combined 9-21 over the last three seasons. Lorain's Todd Auvil was let go after going 2-8 in one season at Lorain, which consolidated Admiral King and Southview high schools for the 2010-11 school year. A Lorain native, Auvil coached Southview to a 4-26 record in three seasons before taking over at the consolidated school. … Mark Emans resigned after 21 seasons as Wauseon's football coach on Monday, according to the Toledo Blade. His teams went 118-99 and won Northwest Ohio Athletic League titles in 1993, '94, '99 and 2007. Wauseon, which won the Division III state title in 1993, went 4-6 this season.

Jarrod Ulrey covers Central and Northern Ohio for MaxPreps.com. He covers prep sports for ThisWeekSPORTS.com and can be reached at julrey@thisweeknews.com.