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6/20/06
By BK...Arnold favors the four that have offered, Illinois, Indiana, Syracuse, and Akron. He is also looking at Purdue, Northwestern, Michigan State, Ohio State and BC.
Posted on Sat, Jun. 24, 2006
Laboring for looks
Copley senior working hard to receive football scholarship
By Gary Estwick
Beacon Journal sportswriter
COLUMBUS - Not long after dawn Friday, David Arnold, who will be a senior at Copley High School in the fall, awakens to a familiar voice.
``Good morning!'' his mother Shannon says in a bright tone. It's 6:20 a.m.
Still tired, David walks downstairs in his black slippers. His mother has prepared four pancakes and a glass of orange juice. He skips his other breakfast favorite: The milk in cereal makes his stomach queasy when he has to work out.
David eats alone while watching music videos in the family room. Eventually, his eyes fully open.
A half-hour later, David, his stepfather Frank Pangas and family friend Joe Patterson start the drive to Ohio State's advanced senior football camp, a six-hour test of endurance and mental toughness.
The Buckeyes have an estimated 16 scholarships to offer on national signing day -- Feb. 1, 2007. It is estimated that two scholarships are slotted for safeties, David's position of interest.
Nate Oliver of St. Edward High School in Lakewood -- a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com -- has orally committed, leaving perhaps one scholarship for David.
There are more than 30 defensive backs at the camp. Overall, more than 300 high-school seniors are inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
After checking in, David's height and weight are measured: 6 feet, 188 pounds.
Next, he stands in line for the vertical jump. He takes his place under the measuring apparatus, looks up at its summit, waves his arms three times and takes off. He lands short of the roof but his jump of 36 inches catches the attention of OSU's assistant strength and conditioning coach, Butch Reynolds.
A coach from Bowling Green working the station introduces himself.
At 10:25 a.m., Ohio State coach Jim Tressel addresses the campers. He tells them to soak up as much as they can.
For a special few players, like Arnold, the camp provides an opportunity to display individual talents. It won't be easy.
``(We) get a chance to see which guys like to work when they really get a little bit tired and they've been focused all day,'' Tressel said.
Intensity picks up
The time is 11 a.m. Campers break off by position. David works out with the defensive backs and Ohio State cornerbacks coach Tim Beckman.
David stays close to Donnie Evege, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back from Huber Heights who this month orally committed to the Buckeyes. Also in the group is Canton South High School's Devon Torrence, a four-star Rivals.com recruit.
Evege is athletic, utilizing a mixture of power and rage. Torrence is technical; his footwork is smooth.
David is raw, full of potential. When he runs, his legs dance. His mouth is wide open, and he appears to grin as he focuses on his mechanics.
He will need every bit of this concentration.
Backpedal. Sprint. Backpedal. Sprint. Catch a spiral. Run through the line.
For 45 minutes.
David wipes his face with the bottom of his T-shirt, the only part that isn't drenched.
During lunch, participants watch part of the Buckeyes' Fiesta Bowl game against Notre Dame on Ohio Stadium's scoreboard screen from the press box. After lunch, a film session highlights proper pass coverage and tackling techniques.
At 1:45 p.m., the defensive backs move to an outdoor practice field, where they participate in 1-on-1 drills. This was David's weakest performance earlier this week at the University of Michigan's camp. As a safety, he doesn't have much experience in man coverage.
On his first three attempts, he utilizes good footwork and stops receivers from catching passes. Then he gives up two, one a comeback route, the second a deep slant. He makes an interception, then is beaten on the next snap, but the receiver drops the pass.
He gets beat deep, then he's all over a receiver on a comeback route. ``That a boy,'' coach Beckman yells.
Then another big play. He bites too early, looking back at the quarterback instead of following the receiver's hips.
``Did it again,'' David says in a low voice as he walks to the sideline. In 18 pass-coverage situations, he allows nine completions. He also intercepts six, the most for defensive backs.
The time is 3 p.m.
Back in the field house, David bounces between five stations. In Reynolds' two-player figure-8 drill, the object is to catch the leader. David succeeds by using his hands to balance himself on the ground.
Another drill requires that campers high-step over blocking pads. Later, more sprints.
David's eyes are heavy, his hands rest on his hips. He's near the end of his third camp this week and nearly exhausted. He decides not to attend Penn State's camp Sunday.
David leaves Columbus without an offer but is pleased with his performance. Plus, one of the Ohio State coaches has given him something to think about during the drive home.
``He told me, `You'll be hearing from us,' '' David said.
Shortly after the camp ended, Canton South's Torrence received a scholarship offer.
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Gary Estwick can be reached at 330-996-3826 or [email protected]