We’re looking forward to catching up with Michigan State-bound linebacker Chris Norman. Norman, 6′2, 218-lbs is considered the state’s No. 2 overall prospect by the Lansing State Journal. He will join fellow MSU recruit, Micajah Reynolds on Team USA this summer. Norman, a three year start at Detroit Renaissance High School had 109 tackles as a senior, including 34 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Renaissance High School, nationally recognized for academic excellence, is an example that you don’t have to send your kids to private school or the suburbs to get a high-quality education. In addition, Renaissance has strong athletic programs. Most noteworthy; the girls track and field team have won seven Class B State Championships since 2000.

Under Head Coach Antonio Watts, Renaissance High School has produced talented football players who go on to earn scholarships at quality schools such as Notre Dame, Michigan, and Michigan State. Norman will be joined at Michigan State with fellow classmate WR/DB Dana Dixon. The team has made numerous playoff appearances, including winning a division championship in their first varsity season. The football team won their first city championship in 2004, and repeated in 2007.

Previously : Interview with LB Storm Klein’s high school coach.

Matt and I drove north leaving Ohio and headed into Wolverine territory. We were on our way to meet Khaled Mhesien, 6′5, 290-lbs a defensive tackle for Detroit Catholic Central, who will play for Team USA in the Junior World Championship. In 2008, Mheisen was named to the All-Detroit Catholic League and North Detroit teams. Detroit Catholic Central has an impressive football resume with nine state titles, including a three-peat from 2001 to 2003. The Shamrocks compete in the Central Division of the Catholic School League  and in Class A/Division I (largest schools) of the Michigan High School Athletic Association. In 2008, Mheisen was named to the All-Detroit Catholic League and North Detroit teams.

While he is considering scholarship offers and generating interest from several D-1 schools, Mheisen is preparing to showcase his talents for the upcoming JWC. ”Its a great honor to represent your country,” said Mheisen. We got a chance to see his work-out routine when we visited with him this afternoon. His strength is well documented, having put up 22 reps at 225 at the Michigan Preps Combine.  He did not disappoint, as he loaded up the bar with 305-lbs and completed eight reps.

Coach Tom Mach was excited about Mhesien’s opportunity to play for Team USA.  Mach may be an unassuming football coach, but his record speaks for itself with 59 all-state players and 9 state titles.

Mick and I rolled into Toledo with the intention of finding the breeding grounds of Team USA center and soon to be Ohio State Buckeye Jack Mewhort. With an interview scheduled with his high school head coach Doug Pearson of Saint John’s Jesuit High School for Wednesday, we decided to make a preliminary visit Tuesday afternoon. The high school had a completely different feel then Licking Valley High, the school we visited early in the day of fellow team USA member and OSU recruit Storm Klein.

Unlike Storm’s modest high school settled out in country and farm land of central Ohio, Mewhort Saint John’s High stands prominently in northern Toledo. With an incredible 54 acres of athletic facilities surrounding a massive and well kept school, it was immediate that St. John’s High breeds athletic and academic excellence.

Traveling north about 10 miles north we arrived in the quaint town of Sylvaina, the home of the All-American Mewhort. While Jack’s stature at 6’6’’ and 290 lbs is unmistakable and intimidating, his home town is anything but.  Sylvania is located just south of the Michigan border, with a flower garden and welcome sign greeting travelers. A true Main Street follows; directing the cars past a few older buildings before quickly leading them out of the 20,000 person town.

While Mewhort may come from a humble beginning, his play on the field is taking him to new and exciting places. From Saint John’s to Ohio State, and of course Canton for the Junior World Championship. Jack is on his way, soon to be putting Sylvaina on the map.

Till next time,

Matt

We just arrived in the Detroit Area to interview Team USA Offensive Lineman, Khaled Mheisen from Detroit Catholic Central, and his head coach, Tom Mach. New videos and pics from our Ohio adventures will be up soon!

-Matt

At 6-foot-6, 290-lbs Jack Mewhort from St. John’s Jesuit High School in Toledo is known as the “mauler.”  Scout.com ranks him the No. 11 tackle prospect in the country. However, Mewhort has experience playing every position on the offensive line. Mewhort is expected to be one of the few true freshmen to play this fall for Jim Tressel’s Ohio State Buckeyes, which suffered key losses on the offensive line. He has been working primarily at left tackle this spring at Ohio State.

A center his senior year, Mewhort dominated the opposition as an All-City League and All-Ohio offensive lineman for the St. John’s, and was named an Under Armour All-American. He  will certainly be a force to reckon with for Team USA in the Junior World Championship.

Matt and I are headed to Toledo to meet with St. John’s Jesuit High School Head Coach Doug Pearson. The St. John’s Jesuit Titans are a traditional powerhouse football program in the Toledo City League. Pearson’s team has made the state playoffs five times in the last six years.

-Mick

Matt and I headed to Newark, OH to visit with Coach Randy Baughman (pictured above – check out the whole gallery here) at Licking Valley High School. I’m sure I’m not the first person to ever notice the big basket-shaped building in Newark, Ohio; home of the Longaberger Basket Company. But, Matt and I had to stop as it made for a great photo opportunity.

We arrived at Licking Valley High School and toured the football stadium and weight room. Matt jumped the hurdles on the track, and I got a little work out in on the bench press. We met Coach Baughman in his office. He was thrilled that Storm Klein will be representing Team USA in Junior World Championship. He described Klein as a gifted, tough and competitive athlete. Licking Valley will be hard pressed to find someone to replace Klein. As Baughman said, “We just kinda Rode Storm” during the play-offs. Coach Baughman encouraged Storm to play for Team USA, as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a chance to represent the USA.

Teammate Vince German talked about playing with Klein the past four years. German described Klein as a great athlete, but a better friend. He said, “it was an honor to play with Storm.” German will be heading to play for Bowling Green this fall.

Ohio State has produced some of the finest linebackers in college football like Pepper Johnson and Chris Spielman. More recently, AJ Hawk and James Laurinaitis have added to that legacy. Looking to continue the Ohio State linebacker tradition is Licking Valley’s Storm Klein (pictured above being honored at the 2009 OSU Spring Game).

Klein, who finished high school early so he could enroll at Ohio State in time to participate in spring football practice, got his first taste of what Buckeye football is all about during Saturday’s spring game.  Klein played linebacker and was on the kickoff and kickoff return teams and finished with four tackles.

Klein will play for Team USA in the Junior World Championship in Canton. We are headed to Licking Valley High School in Newark, Ohio to meet his coach, Randy Baughman. Since Baughman took over as head coach in 1982, Licking Valley has produced seven perfect regular seasons. With Klein on their roster, the Panthers compiled a 43-7 record and won all 28 MSL-Ohio Division games. During his junior year, Klein played in part of the 2007 state final — a 17-10 loss to Big Walnut — with a lacerated kidney. The Panthers lost in a Division III state semifinal this year. Klein is his first Ohio State recruit.

Check out the video of Coach Kyle talking about Storm Klein and his Buckeye/Team USA teammate Jack Mewhort.