Mentor football: Trio of sophomores get offers from Miami (Ohio)
Aug. 15—Gathering in an auditorium at Miami University, a group of young football players listened as RedHawks football coach Chuck Martin addressed them after a day-long camp.
Eyes darted around the room when Martin said some of those in attendance that day might receive a scholarship offer. Who would it be, the boys wondered?
Well, three of them will be wearing Mentor scarlet and gray this coming fall. And all three of them are sophomores.
When the Cardinals hit the field for the regular-season opener on Aug. 18 at Massillon Jackson, they will do so with three sophomores in their starting lineup. And all three — linemen JoJo LoDuca and Landry Brede, as well as receiver Justen Hodge — are mere 10th-graders.
"It was surreal," LoDuca said. "I wasn't expecting that. It's definitely a boost of confidence to get that offer, but I know I have a lot more work to do. I hope it's not my last offer. I just have to keep working."
It's safe to say the Miami offer won't be the last for LoDuca, who will start at left tackle tipping the scales at 6-foot-3, 265-pounds. He gained some starting experience last year as a freshman, getting his first start midseason at Brunswick.
While LoDuca is no stranger to varsity playing time, the two other sophomore starters with an Division I offer will be making their varsity debuts this weekend.
Brede will bookend opposite of LoDuca at right tackle, checking in at a mammoth 6-5, 270, while Hodge (6-1, 185) will start at receiver against Jackson.
LoDuca and Brede anchor a line that is largely new. Not only are LoCuca and Brede new, but so is right guard Berk Demirci, a junior. Center Jared Hines and left guard Jack O'Neill are the only holdovers, two of the three total offensive starters back for Coach Matt Gray's crew.
Hodge is part of a talented, yet brand new, receiving corps along with juniors Marcus Sierputowski, Austin VanHuss and Grant Cerny.
Hodge had a strong preseason, including a touchdown catch against Chardon in the second scrimmage.
"It'll be a little bit different than playing freshman football last year, but football is football," Hodge said of his jump to varsity ball this fall. "I just have to keep working. It'll be fun."
As pleased as he is about they scholarship offers before they play a varsity down, Hodge and Brede said their focus isn't on college, but on the task at hand.
"It's nice," Brede said. "It just means we have to work more and get better."
Hodge agreed.
"It's a blessing, but that's not my focus right now," he said. "I'm focusing on working, grinding and the season. Nothing changes just because I have a college offer."
Mentor at Massillon Jackson
When: Friday, Aug. 18
Where: Robert Fife Stadium, 7355 Mudbrook St. NW, Massillon
Records: Mentor 0-0, Jackson 0-0
