TYVIS POWELL: RENAISSANCE MAN
The Bedford Bearcats were victorious only twice during the entire 2010 season.
They didn't win a home game until their season finale against Lorain, so at least their lousy season ended on a high note. It can be tough to draw attention from your dream school when you're the best player on a bad high school football team - but if you're good enough, diligent enough and resilient enough your dream school eventually finds you.
In 2010 Bedford's best player was a charismatic defensive back named Tyvis Powell.
Despite the unkind results for his team on the field, Tyvis closed his junior year with a dozen scholarship offers. Tiffin University, 100 miles to the west of Bedford, was one of them. Akron, half an hour south, was another. Youngstown State, Bowling Green, Ball State, Toledo, Ohio and Cincinnati all offered to pick up Tyvis' college tab as well.
He had the vast majority of Ohio's major football programs pursuing him, along with Buffalo, West Virginia and Western Michigan. All 12 of his options were close to home, and that was fine - except that the one option he had wanted since he was a child had not yet come through. He was waiting patiently for lucky number 13.
Then one night the following spring Ohio State cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson paid Tyvis a visit. He was accompanied by Jim Tressel, who never took a break from recruiting throughout the controversy engulfing his coaching career at that time. Tressel told Tyvis the Buckeyes only offer the best players in the country, and that he was one of them. That night that dream option finally came through. He didn't accept it right away; he had to talk to his mom first.
A quick conversation with mom and one week later Tyvis made it official. It may seem like a quick turnaround and obvious conclusion now - he was all Buckeye before the Buckeyes offered him the chance, and everyone knew it - except
that particular week was different from most others. Ohio State football changed dramatically between the evening with Taver and Tress when got his offer and that morning when he accepted it.
You already know what happened next. But it's amazing and awesome and feels good so we're going talk about it anyway.
Entire article:
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2017/02/80310/tyvis-powell-renaissance-man