High School Football: Ohio State offers Centerville standout

“It was very exciting and emotional,” the junior told 247Sports about receiving an offer from Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and safeties coach Perry Eliano on Sunday. “I’ve been a Buckeye fan my whole life. It’s my dream.”

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Powers had 78 tackles, including seven for loss, last season for the Elks. He also carried 10 times for 45 yards and caught nine passes for 127 yards as Centerville went 10-3 and finished in second place in the GWOC, but Powers told 247 he is being recruited as the “Bandit” safety in Ohio State’s defense.

In that role, he would primary play to the short side of the field and likely end up being closer to the line of scrimmage more often than the other safety, known as the “Adjustor” in Jim Knowles’ scheme.

Powers is a 247Sports three-star recruit and ranked 54th in the state at this point in the recruiting, but his offer list indicates major college programs have discovered him more quickly than recruiting analysts.

Those include Boston College, Cincinnati, Duke, Iowa State, Louisville and West Virginia.

When Powers makes his college decision remains to be seen, but another area prospect has set his decision date.

Stebbins offensive lineman Jake Wheelock announced Sunday night he is down to a final three of Cincinnati, Duke and Virginia Tech, and that list will soon be whittled to one.

“Thank you to everyone who has believed in me throughout this process,” he wrote in a Twitter message. “With that being said I have narrowed down my choice to my top 3 schools and will be announcing my commitment Saturday April 1st!!”

The 6-4, 275-pound junior has more than a dozen offers and is a three-star prospect.

No. 30 in 247Sports Composite rankings for Ohio, he is the No. 3 prospect in the Miami Valley behind Springfield cornerback Aaron Scott Jr. and Trotwood-Madison quarterback Tim Carpenter.

Bellefontaine quarterback Tavien St. Clair is among players to watch in the current sophomore class.

That was reiterated over the weekend when he shared he picked up an offer from Illinois.

Coach Bret Bielema’s Fighting Illini are the first Big Ten school to offer the 6-3, 175-pounder, but he already had offers from Louisville, Tennessee and Florida among others.

He is also on Ohio State’s radar, having been in Columbus last week as the Buckeyes resumed spring practice.

St. Clair completed 208 of 294 passes for 2,453 yards and 25 touchdowns with four interceptions last season.

His best game was a 412-yard, seven-touchdown performance in a 53-32 win at Shawnee in week six.

St. Clair is not in the 247Sports Composite rankings yet, but he is a Rivals three-star prospect and the No. 23 quarterback in the country for the class of 2025.