Three local football standouts make commitments
Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter Wash High’s Isaiah Schoonmaker returns an interception 22 yards for a touchdown against Deer Lakes.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter South Fayette’s Ray Eldridge reaches out to tackle New Castle’s Freddy Solo during a game at South Fayette on Friday, October 7, 2016.
Isaiah Schoonmaker didn’t want to be stuck.
Concentrating on succeeding both as an athlete – he competes for the football, basketball and track and field teams at Wash High – and in the classroom, Schoonmaker is devoted to living up to the student-athlete label.
“I’ve seen a lot of raw talent, in football and other sports, growing up in Washington,” he said. “Some of those kids couldn’t go anywhere because of grades or other issues.”
Schoonmaker gave an oral commitment to Miami University (Ohio) earlier this week to play football.
“I’ve seen kids get in trouble after high school, which is something I can’t stand,” he said. “I wanted to take matters into my own hands. I’m trying to use myself as an example.”
One trait Schoonmaker has been able to exemplify is his ability to play multiple positions, a dual threat on the Prexies’ offense as a running back and wide receiver. His 6-2, 200-pound frame allowed him to shine on defense last season, racking up 65 tackles, four interceptions, 12 tackles for losses and 17 passes defended as a junior.
The mailbox at the Schoonmaker residence has been kept pretty full by college coaches. He received scholarship offers from Toledo, Akron, Bowling Green, Navy and Ohio before settling on Miami (Ohio).
“I made my decision because it just felt right,” he said after his third visit to the campus this past weekend. “The players welcomed me with open arms.”
It was an opportunity Schoonmaker never thought would happen after having knee surgery in seventh grade and breaking his collarbone in the third game of his eighth-grade season.
“I played six games in two years,” he recalled. “For me to go from having knee surgery and the following year being in basically the same situation was tough. The last three years, I have been injury-free. I just feel like those injuries only made me better.”
With Miami’s plans to use Schoonmaker as a hybrid safety/linebacker, the defensive motto of “MOB: My Other Brother,” and caring about the man next to you, made the decision that much easier.
He already lives that way without the saying, anyway.
“I have a few goals this year,” he said. “I would like to have 2,000 all-purpose yards. I would like to play in the Big 33 game. Most of all, I want get as many colleges as possible to come to our games and for my teammates to have opportunities for the future, too.”
Seeing college coaches around the South Fayette campus has been routine in recent years.
A child with dreams of playing college football, Ray Eldridge was a hopeful youth that inspired to one day have coaches there for him.
That dream came true for the South Fayette lineman who committed to Richmond yesterday.
“I always had that dream,” he remembered. “Coming out of middle school I was a really good player but had to translate it to the high-school level. It was just about getting my chance. It just feels great. It’s a great school for education. It’s great football.”
Eldridge, who also played on the Lions’ basketball team, combined his interest in the educational opportunities presented by Richmond with the chance to work into a starting role after planning to redshirt his freshman year.
The other school Eldridge considered was 2016 Football Championship Series national champion James Madison.
“I visited some other schools, including James Madison, but Richmond was always the first one that popped up in my mind. It’s just nice knowing where I’m going instead of constantly thinking about pros and cons.”
Zubovic to Pitt
After narrowing his list down to five schools less than two weeks ago, Belle Vernon right tackle Blake Zubovic chose to stay close to home by committing to Pitt.
Zubovic picked Pitt over 15 other Division I offers, including Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Penn State and Maryland, which were in his final five.
A 6-5, 305-pound offensive tackle and defensive lineman for the Leopards, Zubovic will follow in the footsteps of former Belle Vernon standout Dorian Johnson, who started 45 games for the Panthers over the past four years before being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the eighth pick in the fourth round this year.
Zubovic is the 33rd ranked offensive tackle in the nation by rivals.com.