Rutgers lands Wash’s Fuse
On top of being an excellent football player, Davoun Fuse is an avid fisherman. He said he tries to go every weekend, typically with his stepdad and cousin.
But on one particular day earlier this month, Fuse didn’t catch any fish. Instead, a Big Ten school had him hooked and was able to successfully lure him in.
Fuse is a junior at Washington High School who recently committed to Rutgers. The commitment came less than a month after Rutgers offered Fuse, who also had offers from Toledo, Akron, Long Island and Notre Dame College (Ohio).
“I like [Rutgers] a lot and I think it’s home. I like the coaches. The culture with coach [Greg] Schiano, you can tell it’s all a family,” said Fuse, adding that he and his parents loved the school when they visited there for the first time last month.
Fuse will join that family next fall, but when he does, it likely won’t be as a quarterback or defensive back, the positions he plays at Washington. Fuse said Rutgers recruited him to play outside linebacker. He would no doubt be one of the tallest in the Big Ten, as Fuse is 6 feet 4, 195 pounds.
“They said they can build me up to that body structure,” said Fuse. “I feel like playing that position will be good for me.”
Washington coach Mike Bosnic said that Fuse’s size and athletic ability are what make him so marketable and an excellent prospect. Fuse earned three silver medals at last week’s WPIAL Class 2A track championships. He was the runner-up in the long jump and triple jump, and also ran a leg on Washington’s 400 relay team that finished second. He’ll compete in those events at this weekend’s PIAA championships.
“Obviously, he has the athletic ability to be a great outside linebacker,” Bosnic said. “He’s going to have to continue to work and get stronger, but I think ability-wise he can be a great outside linebacker.”
For now, Fuse is a standout quarterback and defensive back. As a junior, Fuse threw for 713 yards and 11 touchdowns, and rushed for 294 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also played cornerback and some safety. Fuse helped Washington go undefeated in the regular season and win the Class 2A Century Conference title. He was an allconference pick at quarterback after receiving that honor as a defensive back his sophomore season.
Davoun isn’t the only Fuse who has attracted FBS schools. His brother, Semaj, is a 6-foot-3, 250pound freshman lineman who already has an offer from Akron. Semaj, nicknamed “Tank,” was one of only five WPIAL freshmen named to all-conference teams last fall.
City League star update
Brashear junior defensive end Ta’Mere Robinson, one of the most highly recruited players in the state, will take at least two official visits in June. Robinson plans on visiting Miami (June 2-5) and Penn State (June 17-19). Robinson, whose list of offers also includes Pitt, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas, is ranked by Rivals as the No. 2 junior in the state and No. 144 player in the country.
Arch plans visits
One of the most high-profile football recruits in the country announced which schools he will be visiting. Quarterback Arch Manning ofIsidore Newman School in New Orleans said he will take official visits to Georgia, Alabama and Texas next month. Manning is the No. 1 player in the junior class, according to both Rivals and 247Sports. He’s the nephew of NFL greats Peyton and Eli Manning.
Portal news
Former New Castle star Marcus Hooker is transferring to Youngstown State after spending the past four seasons at Ohio State. Hooker, a safety, appeared in 34 games in his Ohio State career, making four starts during the 2020 season. He has one season of eligibility remaining. … Meanwhile, another player from the WPIAL is leaving Youngstown State. California graduate Jelani Stafford has transferred to Connecticut. A defensive lineman, Stafford played in each of Youngstown State’s games last season, making one start. Stafford, who also had offers from Ohio and Idaho, has three seasons of eligibility left.
Track commitment
Butler’s Sage Vavro (Youngstown State).