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In case you missed it: 12 Greater Akron football players who should have Division I offers

brad bournival, akron beacon journal
·4 min read

As the NCAA early signing period runs Wednesday through Friday, and Division I college football teams look to fill in the remaining slots, there are always a bunch of quality athletes who slip through the cracks.

We’ve looked at seniors who don’t have D-I offers and have come up with a dozen Greater Akron area players who should at least be getting looks.

Akron coach Joe Moorhead and Kent State coach Kenni Burns, if you’re reading this, at the very least kick the tires on these 12.

Ink to paper:What we know about Wednesday's early signing day for Division I college football

Buchtel wide receiver Marcel Boyce Jr. catches a first-half TD pass over Ellet defensive back Marquis Sims, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.
Buchtel wide receiver Marcel Boyce Jr. catches a first-half TD pass over Ellet defensive back Marquis Sims, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.

Greater Akron area football players who should have D-I offers

Marcel Boyce Jr., Buchtel

6-foot-2, 205 pounds, wide receiver

Boyce was a Division IV first-team All-Ohio selection this season and has a handful of Division II offers. His size is solid and so is his production: 49 catches for 947 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022.

Tallmadge linebacker Nick Cuva returns a second-half interception against Green, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Tallmadge linebacker Nick Cuva returns a second-half interception against Green, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.

Nick Cuva, Tallmadge

6-1, 185, strong safety/outside linebacker

Cuva was versatile enough to be a Division II second-team All-Ohio selection after a senior season in which he made 131 tackles and registered seven interceptions, seven pass breakups and recovered a fumble.

Highland safety Creed Hill picks off a pass intended for Barberton wide receiver Hayden Macko, Friday, Sept. 17, 2021.
Highland safety Creed Hill picks off a pass intended for Barberton wide receiver Hayden Macko, Friday, Sept. 17, 2021.

Creed Hill, Highland

5-10, 170, free safety

A Division II first-team All-Ohioan, Hill made 41 tackles and recorded four interceptions, six pass breakups and one fumble recovery this year.

Tallmadge quarterback Ty Hurst is chased out of the pocket by Copley's Wes Antwi on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.
Tallmadge quarterback Ty Hurst is chased out of the pocket by Copley's Wes Antwi on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.

Ty Hurst, Tallmadge

6-2, 175, quarterback

The first-team Division II All-Ohio quarterback has Division II offers, but should have more after breaking school records for career passing yards (9,226) and career TD passes (87). Hurst also set single-season records for passing yards (3,241), TD passes (33) and single-game records for passing yards (430) and TD passes (5).

Ryan Kerscher, Walsh Jesuit

6-3, 185, quarterback

Walsh Jesuit quarterback Ryan Kerscher throws a pass while being pressured by St. Vincent-St. Mary's Bryson Getz, Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.
Walsh Jesuit quarterback Ryan Kerscher throws a pass while being pressured by St. Vincent-St. Mary's Bryson Getz, Friday, Oct. 21, 2022.

A Division II All-Ohio honorable mention quarterback, Kerscher has a few Division II offers and preferred walk-on status at Toledo. He should have a full scholarship offer somewhere after a season in which he threw for 2,110 yards and 17 TDs and ran for 469 yards more, helping his team make the Division II playoffs against a solid schedule.

Davis Nye, Wadsworth

6-2, 200, cornerback

Nye has the size to play either strong safety or corner, but might be best served as a tight end at the next level. The Division I honorable mention All-Ohioan made 27 tackles and returned an interception for a score. On offense, he had 43 catches for 785 yards (18.3 average) and scored a combined six TDs.

Jagger Pallay, Hudson

5-11, 170, quarterback

Hudson quarterback Jagger Pallay gets a pass away under pressure from Stow's Teddy Gregory.
Hudson quarterback Jagger Pallay gets a pass away under pressure from Stow's Teddy Gregory.

Although his size might not equate to what coaches look for in a Division I quarterback, his athleticism is more than enough to find a spot for him. A second-team All-Ohioan, Pallay combined for 2,567 yards total offense and scored 23 TDs.

Medina receiver Brennen Schramm tries to elude Stow's Rocco Cicione after a first-quarter catch, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021.
Medina receiver Brennen Schramm tries to elude Stow's Rocco Cicione after a first-quarter catch, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021.

Brennen Schramm, Medina

6-2, 195, wide receiver

The Division I first-team All-Ohioan set a school record for pass receptions (101), yards receiving (1,417) and touchdowns (17) for an 11-2 team. Schramm finished his career with 211 catches for 3,097 yards and 31 TDs, yet he only has a handful of Division II offers. He has preferred walk-on status at Ohio State.

Lukas Stiles, Highland

5-10, 210, running back/linebacker

Highland running back Lukas Stiles runs between Aurora linebacker Enzo Catania, left, and Armen Perez during the second half, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.
Highland running back Lukas Stiles runs between Aurora linebacker Enzo Catania, left, and Armen Perez during the second half, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.

A second-team All-Ohio running back, Stiles rushed for 1,423 yards and broke the school career records for points (324), TDs (54) and rushing TDs (51). He probably translates as a fullback at the next level.

Andrew Tatulinski, Highland

6-4, 250, defensive tackle

Highland defensive lineman Andrew Tatulinski grabs hold of Aurora quarterback Sam Retton during the second half, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.
Highland defensive lineman Andrew Tatulinski grabs hold of Aurora quarterback Sam Retton during the second half, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.

The Division II first-team All-Ohioan should absolutely have schools lining up. Tatulinski has the size and showed how strong he was with 42 tackles – 10.5 for loss – and seven sacks for arguably the best defense in the area.

Buchtel's Marques Turner celebrates after a second-half sack during a Division III playoff game at Ellet High School, Friday, Oct. 9, 2020,
Buchtel's Marques Turner celebrates after a second-half sack during a Division III playoff game at Ellet High School, Friday, Oct. 9, 2020,

Marques Turner, Buchtel

6-4, 220, defensive end

The Division IV third-team All-Ohioan certainly has all the tangibles to play at the next level. Turner registered 43 tackles, five sacks, forced a fumble and recovered four others for the Griffins.

Logan Villamagna, Nordonia

6-0, 205, inside linebacker

Nordonia linebacker Logan Villamagna pursues Wadsworth running back Kyle Figuray, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.
Nordonia linebacker Logan Villamagna pursues Wadsworth running back Kyle Figuray, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022.

A Division II third-team All-Ohioan, Villamagna was everywhere for the Knights this season as his 113 tackles – 17 for loss – two sacks, one interception, two pass breakups and three fumble recoveries show.

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: College recruiting: A look at Akron football stars missing D1 offers