Zips get another verbal

[zff]

Thanks to the PD

Marshall bound for the Zips

Thursday, September 09, 2004

Bob Fortuna

Plain Dealer Reporter

For the second time in a week, a Maple Heights player has committed verbally to a Division I college.

Terricko Marshall, a 6-3, 240-pound defensive end-of fensive tackle who was ranked the 54th-best senior in Ohio High Magazine, announced he will attend Akron.

"I like the coaches at Akron, the school is close to home and the new facility is very nice," said Marshall, who visited Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Toledo and Indiana. "Indiana offered me a scholarship, but I'm family oriented and going to Akron will give my family a chance to attend a lot of games."

One of The Plain Dealer's pre-season top 30 players, Marshall accounted for six sacks, 12 quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and 14 other tackles for losses last season in helping the Mustangs win their first outright Lake Erie League Erie Division championship.

Marshall bench-presses 350 pounds, squats 550 pounds, runs the 40 in 4.7 seconds and hopes to become a dentist.

On Tuesday, Marshall's teammate, Richard Quinn, committed verbally to North Carolina.

"I'm very happy for Terricko and very proud of him," Maple Heights coach Jeff Rotsky said. "He's come along way, both as a player and a person."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

bfortuna@plaind.com, 216-999-4479

[KentZip]

While we, as fans, will understandably be wrapped up in the success of this year's team, this type of recruiting is what will finally elevate the UA program to where it should be. With new facilities now and hopefully a new stadium soon, we are looking at an entirely new outlook on athletics. In 20 years, I hope that we will look back on this as the beginning of the Golden Age of Zips football.

[Guest Guest_Zipper]

What I notice, more than anything else, is the other teams JD is recruiting against. Most of these kids are considering Akron along with exclusively BCS schools. It appears JD and staff don't shy away from going after anybody. What a shift.