DaytonDailyNews.com

The Miami Valley has always had quality high school football players — guys who go to big-time college programs and make the NFL.

The reputation now is that the Dayton area has quantity, too.

"I think it's getting better," Scout.com's Bob Lichtenfels said. "In the camps you see a lot more kids from that area; a lot of the coaches are figuring, 'Let's get our kids some exposure.' That's where it all starts at.

"A lot of coaches are educating themselves about how everything works nowadays. You see a lot of the old guard of coaches retiring and being replaced, and you see a new wave of coaches coming through."

A look through the Dayton Daily News archives shows just four area players signed by BCS conference schools in 2003. By 2005, there were 11. This year, it's double digits again.

"This area has always been good for talent," Centerville coach Ron Ullery said. "I think there's more kids visible now. Coaches from all over keep coming back to Southwest Ohio."

That opinion jives with what Scout.com's Greg Powers said.

"I do think the Miami Valley has been getting a lot more credit over the last few years for producing quality athletes," said Powers, who lived in Camden until his freshman year of high school. "In the past, in Ohio, it was the Cleveland area and the Northeast part. I think some of the love is starting to shoot back to Southwest Ohio."

Recruiting is cyclical. While the 2001 and '02 classes of BCS-quality players weren't huge, they were chock full of choice talent.

The '01 class featured Chaminade-Julienne's Brandon McKinney (Michigan State), Centerville's Mike Nugent (Ohio State) and Xenia's Trent Cole (Cincinnati in pre-Big East days). The '02 group included Centerville's A.J. Hawk, Piqua's Quinn Pitcock and Alter's Nick Mangold — all Ohio State recruits. All six of those guys now cash NFL paychecks.

The current Buckeyes — BCS Championship Game participants the past two seasons — give another indication of Miami Valley talent.

Quarterback Todd Boeckman (St. Henry), guard Ben Person (Xenia), tight end Jake Ballard (Springboro), running back Brandon Saine (Piqua), defensive tackle Todd Denlinger (Troy), linebacker Marcus Freeman (Wayne), linebacker Austin Spitler (Bellbrook) and safety Kurt Coleman (Northmont) all played key roles for OSU and came from different high schools.

"This area was like a hidden gem," said Wayne coach Jay Minton, who coached in Florida before moving north. "There's some great football in the Miami Valley that gets played."

Contact this reporter at 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.