Akron-Area High School Football Players Announce College Commitments

Five local athletes sign National Letters of Intent on Signing Day

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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On National Signing Day, five high school football players from the Akron, Ohio area announced their commitments to play at the NCAA Division I level. The group includes standouts from Walsh Jesuit, Wadsworth, Stow-Munroe Falls, Firestone, and Cuyahoga Falls high schools, who will be joining programs such as UConn, Penn, Wright State, Akron, and Kent State.

Why it matters

Signing Day is an important milestone for high school athletes, as it marks the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. These commitments highlight the talent and potential of Akron-area football players, and demonstrate the region's ability to produce Division I-caliber talent.

The details

The five players signing on Signing Day include a 6'3", 205-pound safety from Walsh Jesuit who will play for UConn, a 6'1", 220-pound linebacker from Wadsworth who will join Penn, a 6'4", 215-pound defensive end from Stow-Munroe Falls headed to Wright State, a 6'1", 220-pound linebacker/defensive end from Firestone who will play for Akron, and a 5'11", 210-pound running back from Cuyahoga Falls who will suit up for Kent State.

  • National Signing Day was on February 4, 2026.

The players

Walsh Jesuit safety

The 6'3", 205-pound senior was originally planning to sign with Toledo, but a coaching change led him to choose UConn over offers from Miami (Ohio), UMass, Bowling Green, Kent State, Buffalo, and Youngstown State.

Wadsworth linebacker

The 6'1", 220-pound senior was set to sign with Penn in December, but waited to see how the coaching change played out before ultimately choosing the Quakers over Bucknell and Maine.

Stow-Munroe Falls defensive end

The 6'4", 215-pound senior picked Wright State over offers from West Point, Akron, Dayton, William & Mary, Kent State, Cornell, Valparaiso, and Lehigh.

Firestone linebacker/defensive end

The 6'1", 220-pound senior chose Akron over Gannon University and can play either outside linebacker or defensive end.

Cuyahoga Falls running back

The 5'11", 210-pound senior committed to Kent State over John Carroll, and also had interest from Penn, Valparaiso, and Miami (Ohio).

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What they’re saying

“Signing Day is such an exciting time for these student-athletes and their families. It's the culmination of years of hard work and dedication, and we're thrilled to see these Akron-area players taking the next step in their football careers.”

— Brad Bournival, Sports Reporter (beaconjournal.com)

What’s next

The players will now begin preparing for their college careers, participating in spring practices and summer workouts with their new teams.

The takeaway

The strong showing of Akron-area talent on National Signing Day underscores the region's ability to develop high-caliber football players. These commitments demonstrate the continued growth and competitiveness of high school football in Northeast Ohio.