High school football: Central Ohio linemen stand out in class of 2022 early signings

The largest ceremony for any central Ohio football program during the early signing period was Dec. 15 at Pickerington Central, where four players were surrounded by family, friends and classmates.

A fifth college recruit from the 2022 class for the Tigers, senior offensive lineman Kobe Asamoah, also signed that day but had a good reason for not being able to attend the ceremony.

“It’s just a coincidence, but (we went) to Ghana that day,” Asamoah said.

Asamoah, whose given first name is Kwabena, was born in the United States but moved to Ghana when he was 6 and lived there until he was 10 before moving back to the U.S.

He left on the morning of the opening day of the early signing period for a three-week trip to visit extended family in Ghana, but not before signing with Rutgers.

Asamoah, who played right tackle as a sophomore and junior and then started at left tackle this fall as the Tigers were the Division I, Region 3 runners-up, committed to the Scarlet Knights last February.

Rutgers signed seven offensive linemen during the early period, with Asamoah the only one from Ohio. According to 247sports, Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano and his staff reeled in the second-best early recruiting class in program history and the 27th overall in the country.

Asamoah is listed at 6-foot-4, 325 pounds, but much of the weight he has gained over the last two years was in the form of muscle.

“I didn’t play any sports until my freshman year, and going into my junior season when we were coming out of quarantine, I had gained 50 pounds, but it didn’t look like I’d gained 50 pounds,” he said. “I gained more weight, but I moved better, felt better and thought maybe I could do something.”

Four other offensive linemen were among the 19 area players who signed during the early period Dec. 15-17 – Marysville's Gavin Rohrs (Miami University), Olentangy Berlin's Jonathan Harder (Cincinnati), Eastmoor Academy's Jalen Slappy (Marshall) and Olentangy Liberty's Carter Smith (Indiana).

“All of our commits are a tight group of friends,” said Smith, who is one of five players from Ohio to sign early with Indiana. “We’ve gotten to know each other for a while, and we’re all excited for the next four years.”

London linebacker Isaiah Jones also is a part of the Indiana’s signing class, which was ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 20th in the nation by 247sports.

Four defensive linemen also signed, including Pickerington Central's C.J. Doggette and Tyler Gillison (both with Cincinnati) and Central's Dakari Frazier and Olentangy Liberty's Dylan Graber (both with Ball State).

The next signing period for football will start Feb. 2.

Below is a look at class of 2022 players from central Ohio who have signed with FBS and FCS programs:

•Kobe Asamoah, Pickerington Central – A two-year starting offensive lineman who helped the Tigers earn a Division I state runner-up finish as a junior and go 12-2 this fall, Asamoah signed with Rutgers. Asamoah, who was first-team all-OCC-Buckeye Division and second-team all-district as a senior, was ranked as the No. 33 offensive lineman in the nation by 247sports.

•Stephan Byrd, Canal Winchester – Although he played in only three games in 2021 before suffering a season-ending injury, Byrd rushed for more than 4,000 career yards and 53 career touchdowns. Ranked the 43rd best running back prospect by 247sports, Byrd, a 6-0, 200-pounder, was first-team all-state as a junior.

•Eli Coppess, Pickerington North – Coppess is a 6-1, 215-pound linebacker signee for Miami University who was the OCC-Ohio Player of the Year and first-team all-state and all-district as North went 9-4. Coppess finished with 77 tackles, including 10 for loss, rushed for 305 yards and seven touchdowns on 43 carries and had 23 receptions for 503 yards and three scores.

•C.J. Doggette, Pickerington Central – After finishing with 73 tackles and five sacks as a junior, the 6-2, 275-pound Doggette totaled 95 tackles, five tackles for loss and five sacks this fall. He is a defensive lineman who signed with Cincinnati after earning first-team all-league, all-district and all-state honors.

•Dakari Frazier, Pickerington Central – A second-team all-district linebacker, Frazier is a 6-4, 245-pounder who projects as a defensive lineman for Ball State. Frazier, who contributed as a sophomore when Central won the state title and had 12 tackles for loss as a junior when the Tigers were state runners-up, finished with 95 tackles and three sacks this fall.

•Tyler Gillison, Pickerington Central – Gillison is a 6-4, 245-pound defensive lineman recruit by Cincinnati who contributed on both sides of the ball for the Tigers. In addition to finishing with 88 tackles, eight tackles for loss and six sacks, he produced 11 touchdowns and more than 500 yards of offense.

•Dylan Graber, Olentangy Liberty – After helping the Patriots go a combined 18-4 in 2019 and 2020, the 6-3, 275-pound Graber was first-team all-OCC-Central and second-team all-district at nose guard and defensive tackle this fall. He joins Frazier among three defensive linemen who signed with Ball State.

•Jonathan Harder, Olentangy Berlin – A first-team all-OCC-Cardinal, all-district and all-state honoree in Division II, Harder is one of three offensive linemen to sign with Cincinnati. He is a 6-5, 280-pounder who also saw action on the defensive line and helped the Bears finish 8-3.

•Jaylen Jennings, Harvest Prep – Although he missed four games with injury, this Bowling Green signee finished with 1,202 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns while leading the Warriors to a 10-3 record and a Division V state semifinal. A first-team all-district and third-team all-state honoree in 2020, the 5-10, 185-pound Jennings rushed for 1,623 yards and 22 scores as a junior.

•Isaiah Jones, London – This first-team all-state honoree in Division III signed with Indiana after helping the Red Raiders go 10-3 and reach a Region 11 semifinal. Jones is a 6-2, 215-pound linebacker who had 98 tackles and one interception. He also scored eight touchdowns while seeing time at running back, tight end and flex receiver.

•Gabe Powers, Marysville – The Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year signed with Ohio State as a linebacker after helping the Monarchs go 12-1 and earn a Division I, Region 2 runner-up finish. Powers, who is 6-4, 235, was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the district and state after recording 89 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and four forced fumbles.

•Mitchell Robinson, Hilliard Bradley – A first-team all-district and honorable mention all-state honoree who was named OCC-Central Defensive Player of the Year, Robinson signed with Robert Morris from the Football Championship Subdivision. The 6-1, 220-pound linebacker had 124 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles.

•Gavin Rohrs, Marysville – This 6-4, 305-pounder was a four-year starter for the Monarchs who signed with Miami University. He was first-team all-district the last two seasons and made second-team all-state as a junior and first-team all-state this fall while helping Marysville go 12-1. The Monarchs averaged 33 points and more than 200 yards rushing.

•Jordan Rudolph, Olentangy Orange – Rudolph is a 5-11, 160-pounder who signed with Youngstown State from the FCS as a defensive back after earning second-team all-OCC-Central and special mention all-district honors. He had 22 receptions for 384 yards and three touchdowns at wide receiver and 24 tackles and eight pass breakups on defense for the Pioneers.

•Kaden Saunders, Westerville South – Saunders is a 5-10, 170-pound wide receiver who signed with Penn State after earning first-team all-state and all-district honors. While helping the Wildcats finish 8-3 this fall, Saunders had 37 receptions for 362 yards and five touchdowns as he earned co-Offensive Player of the Year honors in the OCC-Capital.

•Jalen Slappy, Eastmoor Academy – After helping the Warriors go 7-4 and win the City League-South, Slappy signed with Marshall as an offensive lineman. Slappy, who is 6-6, 280, was first-team all-district and second-team all-state and finished with more than a dozen pancake blocks. Defensively, he had six tackles for loss and four sacks during the regular season.

•Carter Smith, Liberty – Listed at 6-5, 280, Smith signed with Indiana after earning first-team all-OCC-Central, all-district and all-state honors. Smith, who was second-team all-state as a junior when the Patriots were the Division I, Region 2 runners-up, was ranked as the No. 18 prospect in Ohio in the 2022 class by 247sports.

•Sonny Styles, Pickerington Central – Originally a part of the 2023 class, the 6-4, 215-pound Styles reclassified and plans to graduate after his junior year so he can begin his career as a defensive back at Ohio State. Styles finished this season with 75 tackles and three interceptions, including one that he returned for a touchdown. He was first-team all-league and all-district and second-team all-state.

•Jonathan Thompson, DeSales – Thompson missed the first nine games of the 2021 season with an ankle injury but already had his commitment locked up well before that to Cincinnati after he was the Division III district Defensive Player of the Year as a junior at linebacker. Thompson, who is 6-2, 215, returned in time to finish with three tackles for loss and one sack in the Stallions’ playoff opener.

julrey@thisweeknews.com

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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: College football recruiting: Columbus area's top players sign