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Updated: 11:28 p.m. Monday, June 11, 2012 | Posted: 11:27 p.m. Monday, June 11, 2012

Wittenberg brings in 85 football recruits

One of the strengths of the class is at the running back position.

By David Jablonski

Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD — The 85 newest Wittenberg football players will have a chance to play this fall. Coach Joe Fincham doesn’t judge a recruiting class until the players are juniors, but a few of the new Tigers could make an immediate impact.

“We’re going to have some spots where we need some young guys to step forward,” Fincham said. “We could have a couple of freshmen contribute if they come in shape and they can learn and handle all the changes that come with being a college freshman.”

Some of the biggest names in recent Wittenberg football history — Casey Donaldson, Aaron Huffman, Brad McKinley and Josh McKee, to name a few — have had major roles from the first game of their careers.

The Tigers finished 8-2 last season, seeing their two-year reign atop to the North Coast Athletic Conference end with a 28-17 loss at Wabash in the second-to-last game of the season. Graduation hit the team hard at the offensive skill positions, and the strengths of the new recruiting class is at running back.

“When your leading returning rusher was your backup quarterback (Reed Florence) from the year before, you’ve got some rushing (issues),” Fincham said. “It’s unbelievably wide open. Hopefully, our returners understand how wide open it is.”

One of the top running back recruits is Jimmy Dehnke of Massillon Jackson. His brother, Max, will be a junior offensive lineman for the Tigers.

Other potential standouts at the position are Terry Bentley, of Kathleen, Fla., and Daron Artis, of Indian Hill.

The Tigers might also need help at wide receiver with the graduation of McKee and Michael Cooper. Southeastern’s Preston Snodgrass is one of the top recruits at that position.

The top local recruit is probably Greenon’s Josh Bannick, who had originally decided on Mount Union before picking Wittenberg.

“We’re tickled to death about Josh Bannick,” Fincham said. “We’re going to start him on the D-line. That’s where he wants to be, and I think that’s where he is.”

Other local recruits include: Southeastern linebacker Josh Black; Shawnee linebacker Nick Costa; and Greenon kicker Braden Storck.

2012 Wittenberg Football recruits

Name Pos. High School State

Will Alcius OL Golden Gate Fla.

Aaron Alcorn LB/RB Cape Coral Fla.

Devan Anderson WR/DB Maple Heights Ohio

Erick Andre TE Lakeland Fla.

Daron Artis RB Indian Hill Ohio

Jeff Baasch LB Gahanna Ohio

Josh Bannick DL Greenon Ohio

Terry Bentley RB Kathleen Fla.

Kim Bickford WR Paulding Ohio

Josh Black LB Southeastern Ohio

Kyle Brake RB/DB Huron Ohio

Matt Brinkman TE Reading Ohio

Derek Cain WR/DB Bexley Ohio

Will Cornacchione WR Turpin Ohio

Gage Corner WR Leo Ind.

Nick Costa LB Shawnee Ohio

Zach Culvahouse WR Estero Fla.

Desmond Daniel DB Lima Sr. Ohio

Dominic Davis DB Chelsea Mich.

Mason Deal QB Indianapolis Ind.

Jimmy Dehnke RB Mass. Jackson Ohio

Devin Porter DE Largo Fla.

Devonta Anderson RB Wooster Ohio

Jerome Ferguson WR M. Franklin Ohio

Steven Ferneding DE Colerain Ohio

Justin Fisher CB Ft. Way. Carroll Ind.

Connor Friesner K/P Ft. Way.Dwenger Ind.

Sean Gary RB Decatur Cent., Ind.

Sean Griesdorn OL Lima Cen. Cath. Ohio

Austin Harrison SS Fairborn Ohio

Jalen Harrison WR Walnut Hills Ohio

Jake Hedrick RB Alexander Ohio

Deyshon Hill DB Olentangy Or. Ohio

Zach Hoffman DE Beavercreek Ohio

Taryn Hutchinson TE Lima Sr. Ohio

Chris Jablonski OL Syl. Northview Ohio

Zach Katona DE Delaware Ohio

Tyler Jeffers LB Jackson Ohio

Zack Jenkins QB Frostproof Fla.

Joe Joynt DE Bishop Moore Fla.

Luke Johnson QB F’field Christ. Ohio

Jordan Crater LB Cypress Creek Fla.

Lakeif Daniels WR/DB St. Petersburg Fla.

Evan Grissom K/P Piqua Ohio

Logan Lorenzen WR Toledo Ohio

Lucas Myers OL Xenia Ohio

Isaac Mallory DE Col. Academy Ohio

Louis Marcinek OL Strongsville Ohio

Keith Marvell OL/DL Naples Fla.

Cody May QB Troy Ohio

Aaron Melsop DE Col.DeSales Ohio

Austin Miller RB East Clinton Ohio

Curtis Miller DL Del. Jefferson Ohio

Armon Murray WR Pike Ind.

Ryan Myers RB Palm Harbor Fla.

Cole Newingham LB Collinsville Ill.

William Norelia DL Naples Ohio

Alec Nutting OL Lakeland Fla.

Mark O’Brien LB Wheelersburg Ohio

Hayden Ourant TE Licking Valley Ohio

Brandyn Perry DT Lima Bath Ohio

Josh Quillen LB Highlands Ky.

Austin Reschly OL Leo Ind.

Quinn Reuter OL Hamilton Ind.

Danny Ross WR/DB Nor. St. Paul Ohio

Jordan Settles SS Fostoria Ohio

Dakota Sexton LB St. John Neu. Fla.

Andrew Shafkalis LB/DE Lake Orion Mich.

Shomari Smith WR/DB Pickering. N Ohio

Saxton Skyler LB N. Fort Myers Fla.

Caleb Slaton WR Day. Christian Ohio

Ty Smith K Springboro Ohio

Preston Snodgrass WR Southeastern Ohio

Braden Storck K-TE Greenon Ohio

Corey Stump WR Lima Cen. Cath. Ohio

Gaven Tatum WR/RB Groveport Ohio

Colton Theus LB Buckeye Ohio

Winston Thomas DB Olentangy Ohio

Ben Thomas OL St. Johns&Paul Ohio

Jake True RB Highlands Ky.

Brady Vaught RB Lib. Benton Ohio

Dalen Wess DB Roger Bacon Ohio

Ryan Whitney DB Moeller Ohio

Elliot Williams DL Granville Ohio

Emmitt Zalneraitis DB Quabbin Mass.

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