Fisher winners looking for college fits

Tadas Tatarunas admitted his junior season at Mentor hurt him in the FBS recruiting game.

Now the Mentor senior quarterback is trying to play catch-up along with his father.

A year after Tatarunas and the Cardinals struggled through a 6-4 season and missed the Division I playoffs, he guided Mentor to a 13-2 record and the D-I state championship game.

Tatarunas also shared the Tony Fisher Award with Brush’s Godwin Joe. In 15 games, he threw for 3,423 yards, 32 touchdowns and completed 63 percent of his passes. He also rushed for nine TDs.

Despite his gaudy numbers as a senior, it hasn’t been easy for Tatarunas to find a college home. He has an offer from Ohio State as a preferred walk-on, plus ones from FCS Robert Morris and Albany, and Division II Walsh University.

In the past few weeks, he said interest from FBS schools has increased. One school showing interest is the University of Idaho. Asked if he would be willing to attend a school as far away as Moscow, Idaho — located 2,213 miles from Mentor — Tatarunas said, “I have to do what’s best for me. My dream is to play D-I.”

He’s also holding out hope schools closer to home such as Kent State — which just hired former Syracuse assistant Sean Lewis as its coach — and Akron come calling.

Tatarunas’ father Vidas also has helped with his son’s recruitment, as he’s sent out 20 to 30 emails of his son’s highlights to FBS coaches.

“He’s been a huge help, and I can’t thank him enough,” said Tatarunas, a D-I first-team All-Ohio pick.

“It’s important to get this information out to coaches, and I’m seeing some feedback.”

The most repetitive comment he gets from coaches is “I can’t believe you don’t have a D-I offer yet.” Tatarunas has heard that a lot lately. With a 6-foot-5 frame, a strong arm and the ability to move in the pocket, he seems to have all the traits of a D-I prospect.

Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno has been through enough of the recruiting game to know it’s never easy with quarterbacks earning FBS scholarships.

“It’s hard at this point, especially at the quarterback

spot,” Trivisonno said recently. “Most colleges only take one, and most have their guy targeted when they’re sophomores (in high school).”

Tatarunas, who started as a sophomore, obviously wishes the recruiting game was a bit easier, but he’s confident he will find a home.

“Right now, I need to be patient,” Tatarunas said.

The Dec. 20 early signing day is helpful for Tatarunas in one respect. It provides a clear picture of the FBS teams that need a QB. Even with that, there has been anxiety for Tatarunas, who said being a member of Mentor’s basketball team keeps his mind off recruiting.

“It is frustrating,” he said. “I feel I’ve done everything I could have done having a

strong senior season, helping my team to the state championship game, being a leader and a good teammate. Right now, it’s about waiting.”

Joe zeroing in on choice

Godwin Joe electrified the area football scene last fall as a quarterback.

However, the Brush senior’s days as a full-time QB appear to be over. Joe is still searching for a college home, and said he’s getting closer to finding it.

It was a banner season for Joe and the Arcs, which made the Division II playoffs, won a first-round game and finished 9-3. Joe was a first-team D-II All-Ohio pick and finished with 2,764 yards and 30 touchdowns passing, and 882 yards and

13 scores rushing.

His 3,646 yards of total offense and 43 total touchdowns ranked first among area players.

That production apparently isn’t enough for Joe to play QB at the next level, and that’s OK with him.

“I love playing quarterback,” said Joe, who’s 5-foot-8 frame is likely the reason he won’t play QB full-time in college. “The ball is always in your hands, so it will be an adjustment not making an impact on every play. But at the same time, I’m able to adjust easily to every position. Being a QB helps me see things on the field, coverages, where the ball might go.”

Joe has received a lot of interest from Division II and III colleges, and said he’s close to making a verbal commitment to D-II

Ohio Dominican near Columbus. Joe said he will take his official visit there Jan. 6. If he enjoys it, he expects to commit.

“I have a really good relationship with the coaches there,” Joe said. “I feel like it’s a place like Brush where I can go and start something special there.”

Ohio Dominican has had success for most of this decade. Following a 2010 season in which the team was 2-8, ODU is 58-20.

The transition from QB to a variety of positions will begin immediately for Joe. He said most of the coaches expressing interest visualize him as a cornerback, slot receiver and punt/kick returner. Some have also hinted they might like Joe as a change-of-pace wildcat QB. All of that is fine with Joe, who played cornerback

for Brush as a senior for the first time in his football career.

“I love being able to do that,” said Joe about playing multiple positions. “Whatever helps the team. I see (playing multiple positions) as being more of a value to a team, instead of being a one-dimensional player. I love using my athleticism, but I will miss playing (QB).”

Other future visits for Joe include D-II Wayne State on Jan. 13. He will also likely visit D-III schools Mount Union and John Carroll. Two weeks ago, Joe took a visit at D-II Grand Valley State.

Joe said he plans to compete on the Arcs’ track and field team this spring as a member of the relays teams and as a sprinter and long jumper.

Tatarunas

Joe