Class of 2024 college football recruiting: Watch out for William Satterwhite, Tommy Ricard
The next big things in high school football recruiting from Greater Akron won’t throw a pass next season. They won’t catch a pass either.
They’re Archbishop Hoban guard William Satterwhite and Hudson offensive tackle Tommy Ricard.
Schools like Alabama, Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame know it as the recruitment of both are off the charts.
“It's blown up over the last couple months,” Satterwhite said. “During the season it was wasn't as fast paced. There wasn't as many coaches talking to me, but as soon as the season ended they started reaching out more. The main thing is to keep it in check. I just kind of slow down and take it one day at a time.”
One day at a time can be tough for the 6-foot-5, 290-pound junior with Alabama, Penn State, Michigan, West Virginia, Auburn, Wisconsin, App State, Michigan State, Wake Forest, Cincinnati, Pitt, Toledo, Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Miami (Ohio), Kent State, Minnesota, Duke, Maryland, Missouri, Colorado, Tennessee and Maryland among his 23 offers.
Ricard has offers from Bowling Green, Boston College, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ball State, Kent State, Akron, Maryland, Miami (Ohio), Toledo and Michigan State.
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Honored and privileged to announce I’ve received an offer from @AlabamaFTBL. Thank you to Coach Eric Wolfard and Saban for the opportunity. #RollTide #SEC #Alabamafootball pic.twitter.com/gx7FFFNzxc
— William Satterwhite (@WilliamSatt50) January 25, 2023
Had a great time at Penn State on Saturday! Thank you @chrismahon_ for the invite! @PennStateFball pic.twitter.com/E3mdgMwYUg
— Tommy Ricard (@tommy_ricard) October 31, 2022
The 6-3, 275-pound standout also has interest from Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Pitt, Northwestern, Syracuse, Wisconsin and Colorado.
“It’s just remembering what got me here and that it's not about just football and everything,” Ricard said. “It's easy to get overwhelmed, but it's not too hard to not get overwhelmed because you just keep doing what you've been doing. I'm still going to school and hanging out with my friends and all that.”
How William Satterwhite, Tommy Ricard keep it in check
That said, sometimes it’s hard not to get caught up in it all. Ricard has admitted to being blown away by the fact Nittany Lions coach James Franklin was coming to Hudson last week before snow cancelled school.
Satterwhite is amazed coaches like Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban know who he is.
“I do kind of fanboy a little bit,” Ricard said. “I mean, my high school coach mentioned he talked to Colorado's offensive coordinator. I was thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh,’ just the thought of Deion Sanders knowing who I am. It's crazy and it is pretty cool to think about that. I just keep remembering how blessed I am. The other important thing is keeping my faith and keeping God at the center of it because that's how I've gotten to this point.”
Both stay grounded by remembering it’s about the next four decades and not just four years. Satterwhite has a 4.15 GPA and wants to be a civil or chemical engineer.
Ricard has a 4.38 GPA. Although he’s unsure on his major, he’s also leaning toward engineering.
Satterwhite has also started a daily list of pros and cons from each school.
“For me, academics is always first because at the end of the day I can always get hurt,” Satterwhite said. “I’m not saying it's going to happen, but I can always get hurt and lose all the scholarships for football or lose the opportunity to play football. I always have an education to fall back on. I will always work for that.”
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hudson's Tommy Ricard, Hoban's William Satterwhite recruited heavily
