Don’t count Kennard out on the football front yet

Franklin junior point guard Luke Kennard has dominated the headlines lately.

Offers from Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State and Louisville (within four days of each other) tend to draw attention.

So does a 6-foot-5 left-handed quarterback.

Although it’s been reported that Kennard has no desire to play college football, let’s not rule it out. His high school career is at its halfway point.

According to bucknuts.com, Kennard, the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwest Division Quarterback of the Year as a sophomore, is leaning towards Ohio State for hoops for one reason — football.

While most others believe he’s headed to Kentucky based on basketball potency and family alliances, Kennard could be the next Charlie Ward — but only at Ohio State.

Silly? Kennard threw 26 TDs last year en route to leading Franklin to the D-II regional semifinals. He’s legit. And so is Ohio State’s pitch.

“There is one thing that Kentucky doesn’t have: Urban Meyer,” a source told bucknuts.com. “Luke still wants a shot at football and Coach Meyer is large in Luke’s life right now. He picks today, he is all Buckeye.”

Here’s our thought (and the consensus of every football and basketball recruiting guru we could contact): Kennard’s Plan A … Kentucky. Plan B … Ohio State

Rocket Man: One of Ohio's best 2015 defensive line prospects comes from an unlikely place — Anna. Junior Chandler Cotterman (6-5, 290 pounds) was second team All-Midwest Athletic Conference last year on defense and second team Division V AP Southwest District on offense.

According to scoutingohio.com, Cotterman leads a strong contingent of 2015 area defensive lineman that also includes Alter’s Kraig Howe (6-3, 253), Fairfield’s Richard Rhodes (6-4, 322), Jefferson’s LaMont Ragland (6-2, 226) and Wayne’s Robert Landers (6-0, 255).

Social not work: Ohio State assistant coach Tim Hinton admitted last week at a high school all-star event in Toledo that the Buckeyes stopped recruiting a top national prospect because of his postings on Twitter.

Said Hinton, per the Toledo Blade: “The things on his Twitter were awful. He is disrespectful to women, and his language is awful. We decided not to recruit this kid and he is a big timer. So be smart men.”

Hinton didn’t drop the name, but we have confirmation the prospect is not an Ohio kid.

Who knows?: The area's best prospect without an offer? A nominee is Northmont senior Isaiah Williams (6-4, 190). A former wide receiver turned defensive back and skilled basketball vet, Williams had a breakthrough season last year when he had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries in his first three starts.

Count Northmont head coach Lance Schneider among the confused.

“(It) completely baffles me,” Schneider said. “If he can’t play in the MAC, then that league will have someone playing in the national championship game within the next four years, because that means they have some of the best players on the planet with offers already.”

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