Behind The Box Score

The pipeline to Ohio State continued last season as Ohio’s best inner city school sent to players to the Buckeyes in offensive lineman Marcus Hall and defensive end Jonathan Newsome. Hall and Newsome were two of the top players for Glenville, a school that has sent around 50 players to college in the past six seasons. Returning this year for Glenville is another solid team that looks to improve on the 11-1 season from a year ago.

 This Tarblooder team is led by safety Latwan Anderson, ranked #35 on Rivals 250, Anderson is a physical defender similar to Jamario O’Neal and Donte Whitner, both Glenville grads who went on to play at  Ohio State. At 5’11″ 185, Anderson is a physical beast, bench pressing 255 lbs and running a 4.4. 40 yard dash, his presence in the secondary should help Coach Ted Ginn’s team in their pursuit for a state championship. The only knock on Latwan in my mind is that Ohio State is not one of his college choices, as Georgia, Michigan State and West Virginia round out the top three.

 Along with Anderson, the Tarblooders feature a pool of solid players including another solid defensive back in corner Christian Bryant. Bryant part of the 1-2 combo with Latwan Anderson which has many recruiting gurus comparing them to the 2003 Glenville team which featured Ted Ginn Jr and the already mentioned O’Neal. Bryant isn’t as physical as Anderson, but at 5’10″ 173 lbs, Christian sure knows how to run, recording 40 times in the 4.46 range. Rated #231 on Rivals 250, Bryant is a key component in a Glenville passing defense that was one of the best in Ohio last season. What I like about this young man is that he has kept the Glenville roots alive, as Ohio State is in his top three among college choices.

With Anderson and Bryant controlling the skies, the Tarblooders look to “sweat blood” as their motivational motto goes, and once again beat rival St. Ignatius in the opening game of the season on August 28th. Streaking out to 11 consecutive wins last season, Ginn’s team was hit with an avenging loss to the Warriors of St. Ignatius, 8-7 in the regional semifinals a year ago. This team looks to win a state title and take down Chuck Kyle’s team as the schedule shapes up favorable for Glenville as downstate trips to Reynoldsburg and Huber Heights Wayne, alma mater of Marcus Freeman and Kurt Coleman, round up the schedule. Look for the Tarblooders once again to challenge for an Ohio state championship and bring high school football pride back to Northeast Ohio.