Walsh gets surprise as football trio signs

By CHRIS BEAVEN
Repository sports writer

WADSWORTH — Walsh University football coach Jim Dennison sat in the stands on Friday nights like any other Wadsworth High School football fan the last two years.

Dennison did not come to scout or recruit. He simply came to watch the team coached by his son, Greg.

And at the games, the elder Dennison marveled at the passing game his son’s team assembled. He thought the tall quarterback was a shoo-in for a Division I scholarship. The big tight end looked like a D-1 player, too. And the sure-handed wide receiver certainly could help a college team at that level.

Dennison spent little time thinking about Wadsworth quarterback Mike Hoover, tight end Chris Brink and wide receiver Adam Copeland playing for his Walsh Cavaliers, a five-year-old NAIA program.

Then the twists and turns of the recruiting process changed everything. All of sudden, Dennison had a brand-new passing attack when all three of the All-Ohioans chose Walsh University.

“I was amazed,” said Dennison when he found out all three were being passed over by Division I schools and considering Walsh.

Thursday afternoon, the trio made it official. Hoover, Brink and Copeland signed their letters of intent to attend Walsh in a press conference at Wadsworth High School.

“Walsh is getting three legitimate Division I players,” said fifth-year Wadsworth head coach Greg Dennison. “Just ask any coach we played against. This is a definite coup for Walsh. It says a lot for them and what kind of program they have.”

Walsh has put together five straight winning seasons since adopting football under the direction of Jim Dennison. He has been coaching college football at one level or another for much of his adult life. And he could not be any happier about his latest recruits.

“I’ve been recruiting a long time, and I was totally amazed about Mike, and that’s to our advantage right now,” Jim Dennison said. “There is no question he’s a Mid-American (Conference) quarterback and maybe higher. And Chris has got the whole game for a tight end. He’s big and fast, and makes plays. Adam I was not surprised by because Division I schools look for pure, flat out speed. He’s a possession guy with hands. But he’s good enough to play Division I, too.”

The trio all put up huge numbers this past season for Wadsworth, leading the Grizzlies to a school-record 11 wins. And Division I colleges took notice of two of the three.

Akron, Kent and Bowling Green initially recruited Hoover. Brink heard from those schools as well. But that interest waned as the recruiting process heated up in the weeks leading up to this past Wednesday’s signing day for NCAA Division I football.

“I was too small and not fast enough,” said the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Brink, who could easily fill out to 230 or 240 pounds.

“He runs a 4.6 (40-yard dash), but he’s not fast enough,” Hoover said jokingly.

Copeland, at 6-1 and 172 pounds, also was deemed not big or fast enough for the bigger schools.

And Hoover, who looks like a quarterback prototype at 6-4 and 200 pounds, still is unsure of the knock against him. He just knows the interest dried up, which simply stuns Jim Dennison.

“I think Mike Hoover can be in a class by himself,” the coach said of his new quarterback. “He’s that good. He throws well, runs well, he makes good decision and he’s a winner.”

As the big schools backed away, Walsh moved into the picture with other in-state small schools, including Mount Union. The three never thought much about attending the same school until they visited Walsh two weeks ago.

“It was pretty much after that visit, we all liked Walsh and we all wanted to play together,” Brink said.

“This is the best opportunity for all of us,” Hoover said.

Of course, having family connection at Wadsworth gave Walsh the inside track on the three players. But all three said those ties were never pushed on them, and they all appreciated that.

What sold them on Walsh was pretty much the same thing that sells any program to a player.

“We know it’s a good program with good coaching and a good reputation,” Copeland said. “We know we can win there.”

Last fall, Wadsworth went 11-2, losing in the Division II regional finals to Sylvania Southview.

Hoover completed 192 of 352 passes for 3,332 yards and 38 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. His play earned him first-team All-Ohio honors and a spot in this summer’s Ohio North-South All-Star Football Game.

“He’s got that leadership ability where the other guys know they can count on him because he makes plays,” Greg Dennison said. “He’s got everything you want in a quarterback.”

Brink caught a school-record 16 TD passes among his 51 receptions for 1,025 yards. He received second-team All-Ohio honors.

“Chris is a tight end that has got great speed,” Greg Dennison said. “He gets into the defensive backfield so quickly for a tight end, and that’s why he makes so many big plays.”

Copeland set Medina County records with his 71 catches for 1,120 yards. He scored 11 touchdowns, and also was named second-team All-Ohio.

“When it was third down, everyone knew we were going to Adam,” Greg Dennison said. “And it didn’t matter, he’d make the play. He runs great routes, and he makes great catches.”

Jim Dennison said all three will be given a chance to compete for starting jobs as freshmen. “I’d be very disappointed if they all didn’t contribute early,” he said.

Known for his run-oriented offense over the years — he’s had a 1,000-yard rusher each of his last 12 seasons — Jim Dennison promises he’ll get the most out of his new air attack.

Hoover, for one, is not too worried about his new coach’s love of the running game.

“We bring the passing game to them,” Hoover said with a smile. “I don’t think he’d recruit us if he didn’t plan to throw it.”