Pickerington (Ohio) Central stars looking for big senior seasons

DUBLIN, Ohio – Pickerington Central teammates Demeatric Crenshaw and Abraham Alabi are two of just 12 prospects ranked in the state of Ohio’s top 40 for the 2020 class who head into their senior seasons uncommitted. Both prospects are looking to have big seasons in hopes of re-energizing their recruitments.

“I just want to show the coaches what they say I couldn’t do,” said Crenshaw, a four-star quarterback. “I want to show them I’ve been working really hard over the summer and in the off-season. Some people say my mechanics are messed up, so I’ve been working on that a lot and not holding the ball too long, things like that.”

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Crenshaw had received nine scholarship offers by the end of January, but several of those schools picked up quarterback commitments and the interest from other schools stagnated heading into the fall.

Of the Power Five schools that had offered, Crenshaw said he still talks with Boston College and Georgia Tech, while programs like Colorado and Ohio State that have not offered are also keeping tabs. The majority of Crenshaw’s continuing interest, though, comes from Mid-American Conference schools like Akron and Toledo.

“Right now, I still have offers, but I want to see what my options are and am still open,” Crenshaw said. “I want to make my decision probably mid-way through the season.”

Alabi, meanwhile, picked up his first scholarship offer of the process from Kentucky around the same time Crenshaw’s last one came in. He would go on to pick up six FBS offers, with the most recent coming from Rutgers in early April. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive tackle is also looking forward to showcasing for college coaches this season.

“I just want to get better, faster off the ball, more aggressive and get some more offers,” Alabi said.

Alabi plans to make a visit to Kentucky in September and one to Rutgers in October, but knows both schools are pursuing other prospects as well. He hopes to generate additional offers with early season game film.

“Nebraska and UCLA, I have been talking to them a whole lot, but they haven’t offered yet,” Alabi said. “I am going to wait and see how the first couple games are, and then send them some film.

“Michigan State, I used to talk to them a lot, but we’ve stopped talking. They just wanted me to come to a camp, but I never made it out to camp. I’m just going to have to see how I play this year and send (film) out to them.”

Pickerington Central returns a strong collection of players this season from a team that went 11-3 and made it to the Division I state semifinals in 2018.