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Bengals draft Fitch grad

Harding grad to wait to hear his name called

AP Ohio State offensive lineman Billy Price celebrates during the first half of the Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin, Dec. 2, 2017, in Indianapolis. An Austintown Fitch graduate, Price was selected as the 21st overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

HOWLAND — One of two local men was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday, but the other will have to wait another day to see how he fares.

Billy Price, a 2013 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and a graduate of The Ohio State University and All-American offensive lineman, was the 21st pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals took the center with the 21st overall pick, another addition to their biggest problem area. After watching four quarterbacks go higher in the round, they got someone to protect their own. And as it turned out, he comes from right up the road.

Price grew up in eastern Ohio — his stepfather was from Pittsburgh so he says he “unfortunately” grew up as a Steelers fan — and hoped he could stay in-state in the NFL, although it was a long shot. The chest injury was a severe setback to his chances of getting chosen high in the draft.

“The injury happens and the next thing you’re thinking, ‘Shoot, I’m done,'” Price said in a conference call. “Your stomach just drops. Man, it’s like who knows what’s going to happen?”

After spending time with him at the combine, the Bengals were convinced he was a good fit as they try to dig their offense out of an all-time low. Cincinnati finished last in the league in yards in 2017 — it had never done so poorly — and the running game was among the worst in club history.

James Daniels, a 2015 Warren G. Harding graduate and Iowa standout who left college early and has been predicted to be picked in the early rounds of this week’s draft, gathered with his family and friends at the Avalon Golf and Country Club in Howland as the results came in.

Daniels, 20, who is following in the footsteps of his father and brother who have played in the NFL, waited patiently while surrounded by his supporters before exiting the room after the 31st name was called. Earlier in the night, he said he’s spent his entire life waiting to play for the NFL.

“Today I hope I’m up there, but it doesn’t matter if it’s first round, second round, third round or fourth round,” he said. “I’m still going to get the chance to play in the NFL.”

Daniels’ father, LeShun Daniels Sr. said James has had strong support in the local area from his coaches and family who helped him get to this point.

“I’m really proud of James,” he said. “He’s done a really good job with school and preparing for the next step. His entire family is really happy for him.”

Warren G. Harding High School football coach Steve Arnold, who was present with Daniels Thursday night, said he feels “privledged and blessed” to be a part of this moment in Daniels’ life.

“I feel blessed that I’ve been able to coach him,” Arnold said. “Not only from a football perspective because of the talent he possesses, but also as a young man. They don’t come any better than James as a young man.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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