News on Falcon Verbals

Well, with a little break in the action, it is probably a good opportunity to check in on some of the news from our verbal recruits, as reported in the media.  So far as I know, there are 7 known verbals this year, which can be found in the sidebar to the left.  Coach Clawson said in his year end presser that we are looking for guys for specific needs, which might account for these numbers being lower than in the past.  I'm confident we can recruit, and while we didn't have a good year, teams almost seem to recruit better in the MAC off a bad year than off a good year.

Coach Clawson says we want to recruit a QB every year, and this year's QB verbal is Matt Johnson of Bishop McDevitt HS in PA.  They are having a huge season, as is Matt.  They just won the District 3-AAA crown, and he had a big game.  Note...

“Last year, four interceptions wasn’t the way I wanted to go out,” said Johnson, who completed 18 of 20 passes. “I made a promise to myself, if I was ever fortunate enough to get this opportunity again I was determined to capitalize on it.”

Johnson, a pure leader, simply would not allow himself or fellow seniors Jameel Poteat, Sean Barowski, Tony Harris and Justen Garlic — all starters a year ago — to come up short on this big stage again.

“Just to see the reaction on the guys faces meant so much to me,” Johnson said. “It was the worst feeling in the world on this field a year ago. Now it feels so great to be here.”

But Johnson was the part of the equation Cocalico could not provide an answer for — particularly on third down.

Thanks to their strong run defense, the Eagles forced Bishop McDevitt into third-and-long seven times in the opening three quarters.

Each and every time Johnson delivered.

The senior was 7-for-7 on third down, throwing for 145 yards and three of his four touchdowns.

At this level, it doesn’t get any better than that.

“We had him in some third downs and long, and he came through,” Cocalico coach Dave Gingrich said. “I was thinking ‘he can’t do this every time can he?’ He did a great job avoiding pressure and buying time.

“Matt Johnson was the big difference in the game.”

If you read the story, you'll see that he ran over to celebrate with his Mom, who has been fighting cancer this year.

Mancrush alert.

Julian Campenni is a d-lineman from the Wyoming Valley in PA, which is near Wilkes-Barre. Campenni was named the small school defensive player of the year by the local paper.  In an all-star game, he was credited (along with another player) for shutting the opposition attack down.  He had 7 tackles and a blocked kick in a key title game and finished with 88 tackles, 10 for loss, 5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles for the season. 

Zach Colvin of Illinois is a D-end who we have high hopes for.  He was once committed to Illinois but they withdrew their offer.  He was his area's most valuable player.

"Football is in my family and I think it's fun. My grandpa (John) and my uncle (Jeff) both played in college and then professionally for the Detroit Lions," Colvin said recently in an interview with the MDH. "My dad has also coached for 10 years at Lockport, Joliet West and Lincoln-Way, so football means a lot to my family."

Here's what his coach said.

"He's an outstanding kid ... a coachable kid. He's also mature and when he spoke, people listened," Kooi said. "He was a leader of the football team and in our high school and he is going to be sorely missed next year."

Alex Huettel of Pickerington is all-metro and second-team Division I all-state.  His team was 6-4 and missed making the playoffs by one game.

Update:  Cooper and Colvin visited BG and sound like they came back solidified after being nervous about the 2-10 record.  Cooper says he feels better about the program.