Mason Monheim gets offer from Illinois

Well, now that it's out in the open, I guess I'll chime in on it. As of yesterday afternoon, Orrville junior RB/LB Mason Monheim received his first football scholarship offer...and it's a big one.

After being named the Ohio Cardinal Conference Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday, Mason received an offer from the University of Illinois this past Thursday. Many of you know that the Illini are coached by Ron Zook, and that Coach Zook was an assistant at Orrville during the Mo Tipton era in the 1970's.

I'm sure that connection played a part in Illinois being first in the door, but it's because of Mason and his ability that the offer was made.

The way recruiting seems to work now, I'm guessing this won't be the only offer he'll receive. Mason has already attended a game at another Big10 program via invitation, and will attend a game at a Big12 school later this month. Both visits are of the unofficial variety per NCAA rules, but will only help to get his name out there in the recruiting circles.

Recruiting certainly has changed from even 10 years ago.  Recruiting services like ScoutingOhio, and the overall impact of the YouTube phenomenon has forever changed how athletes get their information to colleges.  One thing is the same though...athletes will make it or not make it on their own skills and abilities.  No amount of video editing can change that.

Nice to get that first one out of the way, especially for a junior like Mason.

Orrville has a nice little track record of getting players to the next level, and seem to have 1 or 2 kids a year land at D-1 programs.  That's not common at most D-4 schools.  Speaks volumes about the job Coach Davault is doing to get kids looked at by college programs.

Congrats again Mason and to the Orrville program. 

Note: I certainly don't want to come across like I'm singling Mason out or putting his accomplishments above anyone else's at OHS.  I welcome information pertaining to our student-athletes and the recruiting trail.