Signed and delivered

The seismic shift of high school football powerhouses has supposedly landed squarely in the south, but the Mahoning Valley is still a great place for college recruiters to visit.

Thirty-seven athletes from Trumbull and Mahoning Counties signed letters-of-intent Wednesday to continue their careers at colleges and universities. Warren G. Harding led the way with nine athletes signing letters. Hubbard was next with five.

The University of Michigan had a big day by landing D.J. Williamson and Davion Rogers of Harding, Ray Vinopal of Cardinal Mooney and Antonio Kinard of Liberty.

The big winner in terms of numbers was Notre Dame College, which is located near Cleveland. The fledgling program landed five athletes - Matt Preston of Howland, Chase Myers of Hubbard, Sam Claybourne of McDonald, John Davis of Newton Falls and Justin Giar of Harding.

The United States Military Academy received signatures from two athletes - Ryan McCollum of John F. Kennedy and Billy Fisher from Canfield.

In addition to Williamson, Rogers and Giar, others signing from Harding's 6-3-1 team were Michael Dorsey (West Virginia), Lewellyn Coker (Syracuse), Andrew Zitnik (Holy Cross), Zach Meade (Westminster), Santiago Mason (Texas College) and Chris Limperos (Hiram College).

Rogers based his decision on having been a fan of the Big Ten. Ironically, his favorite team had been Ohio State, but the Buckeyes didn't show an interest.

"They didn't come after me," said Rogers, who will play a hybrid (defensive end-linebacker) position for the Wolverines. "First come, first serve on the good players."

Rogers and Williamson follow in a line of Harding players that have attended Michigan, including Mario Manningham, Carl Diggs and Prescott Burgess.

"I look up to Mario," said Williamson, who is a receiver. "He was my idol, and he still is. I've been waiting for this day since I started playing football. To get everything out the way, I'm real happy."

Dorsey, who could play linebacker or defensive back, will join Harding graduate Sidney Glover at West Virginia. Glover's presence made Dorsey's decision easier to make.

"It's like home down there," said Dorsey. "Plus, I have someone to help me get through the process who's been through the process."

Coker joins a Syracuse program that has struggled in recent seasons, but he's confident that the trend will change for the better.

"This is a good opportunity for me," said Coker, who plays linebacker. "They have a good sports management field there, and football-wise it's a down program but it's up and coming. The 2010 recruits are going to help bring it back up."

Harding coach D.J. Dota was a busy man Wednesday trying to get all the relatives in place for photo opportunities. It was a problem he wishes he could have every year.

"I'm proud of these guys. They've earned it," Dota said. "Their hard work has paid off in this way. Their families should be proud, and I think they are. It's a great day here. We're going to miss those guys."

Hubbard will send safety Kurtis Drummond to Michigan State and receiver Andre Givens to the University of Pittsburgh. Drummond likes the family atmosphere he felt during his visit to East Lansing.

"Everything up there is tightly knit," Drummond said. "It's not about individuals. It's the team first, and that's the place I was looking for."

Givens looked at academics as much as football when making his choice. He wants to study criminal justice.

"I want to be a detective, and they have a lot of hands-on programs with that," Givens said. "What amazed me the most was that some of the Pitt players are in the secret service now."

McCollum, who will play linebacker for the Cadets, knew he belonged at West Point from the moment he first saw the Military Academy.

"I'm real confident that I made the right decision," McCollum said. "West Point is a really great place. Academically, it's one of the best schools in the country. I took a visit to Princeton, and I realized that West Point is the place for me. I stepped on that campus, and I knew it was right. It's like a museum. You see the monuments of (George) Washington. It's a sight, that's for sure."

Preston and Mike Mangiarelli were key players the last three seasons at Howland, which won 33 games and made three playoff appearances. Preston, who played quarterback and linebacker, will get an opportunity to play on offense. Mangiarelli, who signed with the University of Maine, can play running back or cornerback.

"The coaches said they're looking for a quarterback that can run their offense," Preston said of his move to Notre Dame College. "I feel like it will be a great opportunity to help build a program along with the coaches."

Mangiarelli had a plan in place when he researched potential moves to the next level.

"I have three categories that I have to have academics, good football and people," Mangiarelli said. "All the schools had them, but when I went to Maine I felt like I would love to be around these people. I felt so comfortable."

Howland coach Dick Angle knows it won't be easy to replace Preston and Mangiarelli.

"They brought a lot of wins and great leadership," Angle said. "These two realized that they needed the team behind them. They practiced that way and played that way."

Kinard will join former Leopards Fitzgerald Toussaint and Isiah Bell in Ann Arbor.

"It kind of helps me because I have people I know up there, and people I'm actually friends with," Kinard said. "They know some of the other teammates, so when I'm hanging out with them I can get along with the other teammates."

Newton Falls coach Greg Lazzari was pleased to announce the signings of Stephen Page to Youngstown State University and Davis.

"This is the second year in a row we've had two kids sign somewhere," Lazzari said. "It's been a long, long time since it's happened two years in a row, and there's a chance for three more to sign. When that happens, it generates excitement for the kids and our program."

Page was impressed by first-year Penguins coach Eric Wolford.

"The fact that he came here to personally talk to me, to take time out of his busy schedule, that was big for me," Page said. "He wants the program to change, and he knows about the quality of talent in the Mahoning Valley."

Davis is looking forward to the challenge of helping put Notre Dame College on the football map.

"I think it's going to be easier on me," Davis said of going to a first-year program. "It will give me a chance to play earlier in my career."

Following is a list of Mahoning Valley players that signed letters Wednesday:

BOARDMAN Chase Hammond (Wisconsin), J.T. Moore (Ohio State) and Ryan Phillis (Indiana).

CANFIELD Fisher (Army) and Kyle Vaclav (Walsh).

CARDINAL MOONEY Dom D'Alesio (YSU), Braylon Heard (Nebraska), Vinopal (Michigan) and Alex Zordich (Buffalo).

GIRARD Tallen Birmingham (Robert Morris).

HOWLAND Preston (Notre Dame College) and Mangiarelli (Maine).

HUBBARD Kurtis Drummond (Michigan State), Andre Givens (Pitt), Matt Shelton (Walsh), Myers (Notre Dame College) and Tommy Jackson (Lake Erie).

JFK McCollum (Army).

LIBERTY Kinard (Michigan) and Charlie Dann (Georgetown).

McDONALD Sam Claybourne (Notre Dame College).

NEWTON FALLS Page (Youngstown State) and Davis (Notre Dame College).

POLAND Luke Wollet (Kent State) and E.J. Kosec (Duquesne).

URSULINE Dawalyn Harper (Toledo), Allen Jones (YSU) and Jamal Turner (Ohio State).

HARDING Dorsey (West Virginia), Williamson (Michigan), Coker (Syracuse), Rogers (Michigan), Zitnik (Holy Cross), Meade (Westminster), Mason (Texas College), Limperos (Hiram) and Giar (Notre Dame College).

mmclain@tribtoday.com.