Cancer claims former Elks star
Kennard was one of school’s all-time greats in 2 sports.
first touchdown catch in the game, leaping high in the air to beat a defender for an
18-yard reception from Matthew Baldwin in the second quarter.
“It was crazy,” Ohio State wide receiver K.J. Hill said.
“Garrett makes plays like that all the time. I feel like it was nothing new we hav- en’t seen this whole spring.
He definitely can be a great player, one of those players who’s going to end up on the wall in the receivers room.” Jeff “J.D.” Kennard, a Cen
A lumni g ath e ri ng: terville High School hall of Numerous former Buckeyes, famer in football and baseball many now in the NFL, gath- who pitched professionally ered on the field during the for 13 seasons, died Thursgame to be honored. Among day of cancer complications. the players were: Braxton He was 37.
Miller; Ezekiel Elliott; Sam His death was announced Hubbard; Pat Elflein; Michael on Facebook by his wife, Thomas; Eli Apple; Dwayne Kate. how he got Eliason out onto were kids. They grew up as time goes on, everyone will Haskins; and Eddie George, Kennard was a g ifted the field. As he held the ball neighbors. start getting more comfortwho served as honorary capreceiver in an era of runand she stepped back to kick, “I finally got out of able with each other — the tain. heavy Centerville football he stopped her and pulled friend zone,” he said. receivers and the timing. “The former players here, teams and was named among out a ring. First look: Fans got their Everything will just continue they built this,” Day said. the Elks’ all-time best in a
“She had no idea,” Chrisfirst look at new Ohio State to get better.” “That’s the reason why we’re Dayton Daily series man said. “She just walked quarterback Justin Fields, Local contributions: all here. The brotherhood’s of area high school football out there thinking she was the transfer from Georgia Piqua graduate Ben Schmiesreally strong. Mike Thomas teams in 2017. going to kick a ball, and hon- who is expected to start in ing, a walk-on linebacker, came into my office yesterHe still owns Elks’ career estly, I think she was more the fall. He completed 4 of had 21/2 tackles. day, and we had a recruit in records for receiving yards relieved she didn’t have to 13 passes for 131 yards with Mason graduate Zaid Hamthere. He spent 15-20 minutes (1,978) and touchdowns (24) kick a ball.” 98 of the yards coming on dan, a walk-on defensive in there just talking about from 1997-99. His single-game
Chrisman, a Cincinnati La a touchdown pass to Bintackle, also had 21/2 tackles, the NFL.” yardage mark of 182 in 1998 Salle graduate, said he has jimen Victor. including 11/2 sacks. was surpassed last season by known Eliason, who is now Asked to sum up his spring, Starring role: Freshman Corey Burnette (284). a student at Brigham Young Fields said, “Of course, there wide receiver Garrett WilAmong Kennard’s former University but may enroll at are ups and downs, but overson, a five-star prospect in teammates were A.J. Hawk, Ohio State soon, since they all the spring was great. As the class of 2019, had the Mike Nugent and current Elks coach Brent Ullery.
But it was baseball that would define his future.
A 6-foot-2, 220-pound pitcher, Kennard was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 40th round of the June 2000 draft after he graduated from high school. He attended Rend Lake College (Ill.) and signed with the Yankees in 2001.
Switched to a reliever, he played nine seasons for MLB affiliates. He was 3-1 in 2009 for the Cincinnati Reds’ Class AAA affiliate Louisville Bats.
According to his biography, Kennard was an AllStar at the single A, AA and AAA levels. Added to the Yankees’ 40-man roster in 2008, he was then traded to the California Angels for catcher Jose Molina.
Most recently, Kennard was owner and operator of Pauer Sports in Centerville, a personal training facility that specialized in youth pitching.
Kennard is survived by his wife and two children. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Tobias Funeral Home, Far Hills Chapel, in Washington Twp. A service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Tobias. really nice throws down the field. We turned the ball over a couple times, which is good for the defense, so we’ll keep looking at it, but I thought both had positive days.”
3. Day not inclined to name starting QB yet.
the the backup quarterback at Georgia last season. “That’s coach’s decision, so whatever he has in store, I’m here for the team. That’s what it is.”
4. There were several standouts on defense.
As is often the case in “I’m gonna keep looking at spring games because of a it,” Day said. “I know everydearth of scholarship offen- body wants to know but I sive linemen, the defensive don’t think right now we’re line had a big day. going to make a decision on Fields was “s a cked” that. We’ll continue through (though not actually tackpreseason.” led, per the rules) four times
Baldwin wasn’t brought while Baldwin and thirdto the postgame interview stringer Chris Chugunov room, but Fields said all the were sacked twice apiece. right things when it comes Tyreke Smith, a sopho- to the race to be “QB1.” more-to-be who created lots
“I know being named of buzz over the past month, the starter is not my deci- was credited with 11/2 sacks sion,” said Fields, who was for the Scarlet side while Zaid Hamdan, a redshirt freshman from Mason, also had 11/2 sacks. Davon Hamilton, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Noah Potter, Haskell Garrett and Antwan Jackson all had one sack apiece.
Safeties Amir Riep and Jahsen Wint were standouts in the secondary with Riep’s early interception setting up the first touchdown of the day and Wint pulling down two enemy passes.
Jean-Baptiste, a four-star recruit in the 2018 class who redshirted in the fall, had a game-high five tackles.
5. What’s next?
Ohio State is done with what amounts to real foot- ball activity until late July when preseason camp starts.
The assistant coaches are scheduled to meet with the media to assess the spring later this week, and then there are not likely to be many interview opportuni- ties until Day and a trio of players head to Chicago for the annual Big Ten Media Days on July 18-19.
In the meantime, Mickey Marotti, director of strength and conditioning, essentially runs the team through work- outs, but much of the onus on development falls on the players to lead their groups.
The regular season begins Aug. 31 with a visit from Flor - ida Atlantic.