THUNDERBACK CLUB NEWS
Barnett “bucks” trend, commits early to OSU
Junior defensive back can now focus on senior season
By Aaron Roach, Thunderbolt Insider
CLAYTON- Rather than allow the sometimes long, drawn-out recruiting process to cut into his senior season, Northmont junior cornerback C.J. Barnett (pictured, at right) has verbally committed to play football for The Ohio State University. Barnett chose the Buckeyes on Sunday while attending the Ohio State-Indiana basketball game, according to Northmont Head Coach Lance Schneider. According to ESPN’s 150 Watch List, Barnett was also weighing offers from Florida, Miami (Fl.), Stanford and Cincinnati. On choosing OSU, Barnett said, "It felt right when I went there. I just had a good feeling about it. I felt like Ohio State is the right place for me”, according to ESPN, citing bucknuts.com. With Barnett’s commitment, Northmont continues its recent trend, sending players to big-time college programs. It’s not the first time in the recent past that the Buckeyes have successfully hooked a defensive back in Clayton. OSU sophomore safety Kurt Coleman, recently named All Big Ten honorable mention, played his high school football for the Thunderbolts.
Schneider attributes the success of his program to the dedication and hard work of his players. “Our program gets kids ready for playing at the next level. With the schemes we play and the type of stuff we do in the offseason, it develops a kid into being a great athlete. If you show out on film and do some good things on the field then people are going to come with offers. The kids understand the game and enjoy it and see hard work will pay off for them.”
Signed, sealed, delivered. Sanders signs with Florida State.
Offensive tackle, others make commitments.
By Aaron Roach, Thunderbolt Insider
HUBER HEIGHTS- Well, the question has been answered. Yes, the question. Where will Zebrie go? The wait is over. Northmont’s “all-everything” offensive tackle Zebrie Sanders has signed with Florida State University to continue his football career. After a lengthy recruiting process, Sanders decided the Seminoles were for him. Sanders, along with several others from the talent-rich Greater Western Ohio Conference, signed his letter of intent at the Wayne Booster Center. The event itself, along with the talent present, was first-class. Also, Northmont seniors Vince Carter, Kevin Moore, Matt Prichard, and Daren Youngberg have signed to play at Joliet (Ill.) Junior College. Joliet is a junior college powerhouse with recent National Championships to its credit in 2001 and 2002.
Sanders found the ‘Noles to his liking based on a number of factors, including the talent they prepare for the next level. “All the people they put into the pros. People like Walter Jones and Deion Sanders and people like that. Offensive Line coach Rick Trickett has had success in producing first-round draft picks. He says he’s going to work my butt off and I can’t wait to get down there.”
Oh yeah, and in the process Sanders gets a chance to play for a living legend, Bobby Bowden. All Bowden has done is become the most successful coach in NCAA Division-I history, winning 373 games, including 20 bowl games and two National Championships (in 1993 and 1999.) Assistant coach Jimbo Fisher is no slouch either, having helped LSU win a national title in 2004. Sanders added, “Coach Fisher is a national championship coach and not a lot of people can say they played for Bobby Bowden.”
Northmont Head Coach Lance Schneider feels FSU was a perfect fit for Sanders, adding “Florida State, and especially Coach Trickett, is a good fit for Zebrie. Hopefully he can turn him into an All-American.” The recent change in offensive style, of previous pass-happy Northmont, served Sanders well, according to both Sanders and Schneider. Sanders thinks he answered all the questions that some of the scouting services had about his run-blocking abilities this past season. Schneider says that all the schools knew his prized tackle could pass protect, but now see that he is the total package. “He’s a big kid with long arms. After seeing tape from this past season, now they see he can pull and run a little bit.”
Sanders is the latest in a recent impressive run of major college signees to come from Northmont, including Clay Belton (Miami), Kurt Coleman (Ohio State), Tyler Horner (Missouri State), Ro Grigsby (Kansas State), Branden Armstrong (Miami), and Nii Adjei Oninku (Kentucky). Schneider’s success has enabled Northmont to be a school that now is expected to produce successful college athletes. “When I came here, we had to keep kids playing football through high school. We’ve done that now. With our program, and the schemes we run, we develop kids to become great athletes. It’s great for the program, great for the community , and hopefully it will continue.” With the recent success, Schneider feels that the chance of continuing football at a higher level appeals to his kids. “We’ve put 60-some kids in college football in the last five or six years, and there are 35 playing right now. I tell them, if you want to play at the next level, we’ll find a place for you.”
The wait is over! Zebrie is a Seminole.
Blue-chip lineman decides on Florida State, wins Munoz Foundation award along the way.
By Aaron Roach, Thunderbolt Insider
CLAYTON- Zebrie Sanders made an official visit to Tallahassee this past weekend and then made it official. He will become a Florida State Seminole, after weighing a host of offers from the nation's elite programs. He will play for a living legend, and may get to do it sooner than later. A big factor in his decision may have been that FSU is losing three seniors from their offensive line. Florida State offered him the rare trifecta that is hard to resist in choosing a school: Likeable players and coaches, a prestigious program with tradition, and the opportunity to make an impact immediately.
Don't forget that part about that playing for a legend part- Sanders will suit up for the winningest coach in NCAA Division-1 history, Bobby Bowden. All Bowden has done is win 373 games, including 20 bowls, and National Championships in 1993 and 1999. Bowden is already enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, IN. The announcement article from the Tallahassee Democrat can be accessed by clicking: http://www.nolesports.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080121/FSU04/801200341/1008/FSU
Zebrie also won the coveted Anthony Munoz Foundation Offensive Lineman of the Year award earlier in the week. For more information on the Munoz Foundation and the award, check out www.munozfoundation.org/events/linemanaward.asp
Barnett gets offer from OSU
Sanders tapped for Ohio/Penn showcase
by Aaron Roach, Thunderbolt Insider
CLAYTON- Junior cornerback C.J. Barnett has been given a scholarship offer to play football for Ohio State. Barnett has been a vital part of Northmont's success in his two varsity seasons. Both squads have qualified for the state playoffs. The talented "Gang-Green" defense was anchored by its secondary led by Barnett, senior Daren Youngberg, and super-sophs Xavior Johnson and Quintin Cooper.
With the offer from OSU, Barnett continues a streak of three consecutive T-bolts wearing the Number 2 to get D-1 offers, joining Ro Grigsby (Kansas State) and Kurt Coleman (OSU).
Senior offensive tackle Zebrie Sanders has been chosen to participate in the PNC Big 33 Football Classic. The contest pits Ohio's elite high-school players against their peers from Pennsylvania. The game has long been considered the nation's elite high school all-star showcase. For for info on the Big 33, check out www.big33.org.
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