Signing day
Running back highlights many area standouts who signed Wednesday.
Trotwood-Madison’s Ra’veion Hargrove, one of the most prolific running backs in area high school history, signed with Bowling Green State on Wednesday. He chose the Falcons over Ohio and Eastern Kentucky.
Ironically, Bowling Green is the program Hargrove initially committed to, then decommitted from midway through his senior season.
“I just wanted to make sure it was the right decision for me and my family,” he said Wednesday amid Rams coaches, friends and fellow signing seniors. “When I decommitted I looked around to see what other programs had to offer because I thought I committed prematurely. I just wanted to go back into the process and just absorb it because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. At the end of the day I’m happy with the decision.”
Dunbar’s ceremony was postponed to 3:15 p.m. today at the school due to the weather. Five Wolverine seniors will sign, although running back Tavion Thomas announced Wednesday he’ll sign with Cincinnati. Multiple recruiting services reported he skipped a planned visit to Ohio State last weekend and likely would sign with UC. His final four were Cincinnati, Tennessee, OSU and Oklahoma, from which he decommitted after this past season.
Dunbar receiver Joseph Scates verbally commit-
ted to Iowa State last week.
Springfield’s ceremony was postponed until 2:30 p.m. today, also due to weather. The Wildcats’ prized recruit is Leonard Taylor, who signed with UC on Wednesday. His final four also included Louisville, Kentucky and Texas A&M. A quarterback and defensive end, he decommitted from Michigan.
A new early signing period for football made its debut from December 20-22. Many area seniors opted to take advantage, including Wayne receiver L’Christian “Blue” Smith (OSU), defensive end Alex Reigelsperger (Minnesota) and linebacker Antwuan Johnson (Bowling Green).
Among others to sign during the early December window were Marion Local defensive lineman John Dirksen (Notre Dame), Belmont defensive back Jadon Rucker-Furlow (Miami), Xenia receiver Meechi Harris (UC), Franklin running back Ryan Franklin (UC) and Sidney running back Isaiah Bowser (Northwestern) and defensive lineman Devan Rogers (Toledo).
But just as many more such as Hargrove, Thomas and Taylor opted to keep their recruitment going.
Also signing at Trotwood were linebacker James Parker (Coffeyville, Kansas, CC), receiver Dallas “Swag” Daniels (Arizona Western CC), receiver William “Big Picture” McDaniel (Ashland), quarterback Markell “Bruno” Stephens-Peppers (Malone) and defensive back Ke’wuan Garrett (Urbana).
Hargrove capped an incredible career by being a go-to reason for Trotwood (15-0) winning its second state championship, defeating Dresden Tri-Valley 27-19 in the Division III title game last December at Canton. The Rams also went 15-0 and won a D-II title in 2011.
Hargrove’s stature at 5-foot-7 and 165 pounds likely prevented Big Ten programs from recruiting him, including Michigan State, which seemed most interested. But that didn’t prevent him from finishing runner-up in Ohio’s Mr. Football voting as a senior.
According to Ohio High School Athletic Association records, Hargrove’s 7,364 career rushing yards ranks No. 7 all-time. He’s tied for ninth all-time with 100 career touchdowns.
As a senior, he rushed for 2,264 yards and scored 34 touchdowns. His breakout season was as a sophomore when he rushed for an alltime area best 3,039 yards and scored 41 touchdowns in 13 games.
“I sat up days and nights just thinking about when it’s actually over,” he said. “I have a senior banner hanging up in my room and I look at it every day. Just to look what I went through and what I became, it’s a blessing.” Contact this reporter at 937225-2381 or email Marc. Pendleton@coxinc.com. Twitter: @MarcPendleton