Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Recruits like Malvern’s Deery left waiting
Many sought-after talents, such as Friars’ big wrestler, put college courtship on indefinite hold amid pandemic
Malvern Prep senior-to-be Cole Deery is one of the most sought after college recruits in the state of Pennsylvania.
The resident of Glen Mills could reach into a hat and pull out the name of a college that’s offered a scholarship to play football, wrestle, or both. More than 30 colleges have done so, including Penn and the rest of the Ivy League teams, and Villanova, among other local schools.
The list goes on with Cincinnati, Indiana, Oklahoma, Army and Air Force, and several others offering on various levels.
It would seem that Deery, the reigning National Prep wrestling champion at 285 pounds and first-team All-Inter-Ac offensive and defensive tackle with the Friars, has it easy making the next big decision of his life.
In many ways he does, having done the work academically and athletically to become of the state’s top undecided prospects.
Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has left Deery and the recruiting class of 2021 hanging as it’s eliminated the summer camps college scouts use for evaluation, limited the in-person interviews so important for prospects and colleges to virtual meetings, and suspended college visits.
Deery and area high school players still don’t know if they will have a season this fall, which obviously is another area college recruiters scrutinize.
In spite of the widespread interest and the offers, Deery has questions about where he fits best. If there is no senior football season, there’s a chance he spends another year in high school. More on that in a few.
“I’m not really stressing about it,” Deery said. “I’m happy no matter what. But I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do to get to the best opportunity in my life where I can succeed.”
• • • Deery is one of the fortunate high school seniors, for he has a place to go.
Sports Illustrated indicated the issues brought on by the pandemic over the last few months - critical times for completing recruiting classes - could cause significant issues for all involved.
The loss of the traditional recruiting process could result in “a record number of decommitments in the fall and winter, as panicked prospects and their families, uncertain about the fall, rush to commit only later to renege,” according to a source cited by SI (recruiting-ncaa-coronavirus). Marginal prospects are unlikely to benefit from the commotion.
College recruits owe it to themselves to perform the same type of due diligence in choosing a school as they do in preparing for sports. That may be next to impossible this year.
Deery, like other prospects, has participated in Zoom and virtual meetings with colleges during this uncertain offseason. It’s as good as it gets for soon-to-be seniors who were under no such limitations last year.
The playing field has changed. At this point, Deery and his high school counterparts would consider it a victory getting back on the field.
• • • Ideally, a 6-3, ½, 275-pound guy with Deery’s skills could be wrestling and playing football at a power five conference school.
Deery can make a pretty good case for it. He’s 116-24 (.829) in three seasons on the mats, the first two at defending Central League champion Garnet Valley. Deery made the states as a sophomore with the Jaguars. He’s 91-9 the last two seasons, including 50-1 last year at Malvern.
The Friars were looking to take the next step in the Inter-Ac with Deery and wide receiver Lonnie White, the three-star Penn State commit, and others. After a 1-5 start last year, they won three of five games,
The coronavirus pandemic has put the recruiting for athletes such as Malvern Prep’s two-sport standout Cole Deery, right, in action at the PAISWT tournament, in a bit of a holding pattern. the losses by a combined 12 points in back-to-back games to Episcopal Academy and Haverford School.
Deery connected with White and other teammates in Ocean City over the weekend, and they shared their thoughts about the uncertainty ahead.
“Lonnie, Mike Joyce and Ryan Davis, we got together,” Deery said. “They’re going to be a great, great part of our team this year, Mike at free safety, Ryan as a great middle linebacker and Lonnie, obviously the athlete that he is. It’s different now. You have questions. But I’m just getting myself prepared. Right now, I’m just saying my prayers and just hoping God gives us this season with everything that’s going on.”
Right now, one of the most enticing offers Deery has received is from the University of Cincinnati, the alma mater of Eagles center Jason Kelce. They want him to play football and wrestle.
“Great school,” Deery said. “I guess I’m really trying to figure out what it’s going to be in college. I’ve been given the opportunities to go wrestle and play football at places like Indiana and Oklahoma and some other schools. But a lot of them want me for wrestling first, and then football, I’d have a roster spot and be able to go play.
“So, I’m kind of just figuring it all out on what to do.”
Power five conference talk aside, Deery hasn’t closed the door on the others. He’s flattered by the attention shown by the other schools, including Villanova, which offered most recently.
“Villanova is a great school,” Deery said. “Actually a kid from where I used to live, Brandon Hitner, he went to Villanova and he’s playing for the Jets right now.”
Hitner, who hails from Garnet Valley, is a 6-6, 305-pound offensive tackle with the New York Jets.
In a worst-case scenario and no football season due to the pandemic, Deery would entertain staying for a post-grad year, possibly at Malvern. That process is very fluid.
But that’s a long way off. Right now, Deery is lifting weights with former Jaguars teammate Gavin Hollingsworth.
It’s not a coincidence Deery has increased his bench press to 345 pounds working with Hollingsworth, a wrestler at Alvernia University who squats 435 pounds.
“Gavin has taken me to the next level,” Deery said. “He’s going to have a great career. I keep up with Garnet Valley. I have a great friend, Luke Raymond, playing football at Garnet Valley. They’re like my second family. Those guys are my brothers for life it feels like. I love coach (Mike) Ricci, Coach (Rocco) Fantazzi and all the coaches there. I just had to do what was best for me.”
• • • Deery turned 17 years old on March 16.
On March 17 at 12:01 a.m., restaurants, bars and other businesses were ordered to close their dine-in facilities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. With schools closed, it was the beginning of the real pandemic pain.
The restrictions for some businesses are scheduled to ease a bit on June 5, according to Gov. Tom Wolf. Amid soaring unemployment and horrific economic times, Wolf said he will shift the entire state into the yellow phase.
Hopefully, there’s time to save traditional high school instruction, sports and the dreams of the students who participate.
Deery had to go to Ocean City to feel the new normalcy – no masks, fresh air and peace. He hopes it’s a harbinger of good stuff ahead ... like a football season.
“I really do hope it’s going to happen,” Deery said. “I’m kind of acting like the season is coming. I’m just staying on the same workout plan as last year and grinding every day. I’m just getting ready to go.”