Submitted Photo. Seven Fitch football players signed their letters of intent Wednesday to continue the football and academic careers at the collegiate level.

AUSTINTOWN — It’s no secret the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on high school recruiting in the past couple years.

For members of the class of 2022, NCAA rules enacted by the pandemic have prevented college coaches from being able to make in-person visits to schools and players during the offseason the last two springs.

“Coaches haven’t been able to come in and build relationships with guys,” said Austintown Fitch football head coach TJ Parker. “We had last summer to camp, but you only get June to camp and how many camps can you get them to?”

The additional obstacles of the new rules regarding the transfer portal and the extra year of eligibility given to college athletes has also caused issues for high school recruiting.

But despite all that, seven Fitch football players signed letters-of-intent Wednesday to continue their football and academic careers at the collegiate level.

A.J. Byrd signed a full scholarship to Edinboro, while Donovan Oliver signed for Mount Union, Tyler Evans signed for West Virginia, Devin Sherwood signed for Virginia, Colin Moore signed for Robert Morris, Tyree Mitchell signed for Baldwin Wallace and Devin Pounds signed for Washington & Jefferson — all as preferred walk-ons.

“We talk about it all the time — it’s not what you are when you’re 15, it’s what you are when you’re 18 that matters to us,” Parker said. “For guys who really love football and see it as an avenue to push their lives forward and be able to achieve things that will help in their adult life — it’s special.

“Football may last 3-4 years on varsity, but now they have the whole rest of their lives to live, and I want to see them be successful in that aspect of life as they were on the football field. Football means a lot to me and has taken me places that I’m very proud of and I hope it does the same for them.”

Parker also alluded to the possibility of two more Falcon players joining the class in the coming weeks — Aaron Hively and Sam Moxley — who have yet to make their decisions. Moxley has offers from Thiel and Westminster College.

“To have nine kids in this class find homes through football and continue their careers, it’s special for our program and special for their families,” Parker said.

The 2022 class has helped set the tone for Fitch’s up-and-coming classes, as well.

“What I’m most proud of the 2022 class, they really showed the younger guys what it means to be a football player at Austintown Fitch both in the classroom and out in the community, and then how to prepare and work hard — these guys were the backbone of our team,” Parker said. “I think they laid a really good foundation of what it means to be a Falcon football player.”

The Falcons have several talented underclassmen who are already receiving scholarship offers before they prepare to play their junior and senior seasons next year.

In the class of 2023, Cam Smith has received offers from Iowa State, Kentucky, YSU, Marshall, Bowling Green, Toledo, Army, Akron and Central Michigan, while Jamell James has an offer from Bowling Green and has taken visits to Ohio University and Kent State.

In the class of 2024, Brian Robinson has offers from Pitt, Michigan, Kentucky, Miami (OH) and Akron, while Davion Pritchard has taken visits to Pitt and Akron.

“A lot of them have seen what it’s like to be a Fitch football player and how they can move it forward in their own way,” Parker said. “It’s exciting — they’re exciting groups, but each group is different. As a staff, we have to adapt to each group and understand that every team is going to be different and have a different identity.”

nmadhavan@tribtoday.com