Six area football players ink Division I letters

Shawnee’s Zac Rosenbauer and Ada’s Heath Jackson — who were among six area football players who signed NCAA Division I national letters of intent on Wednesday — said it was the completion of a dream of becoming a college football player that began years ago.

“About eighth grade year, I started figuring out that I could be pretty good at football. Then, after my sophomore year, I really started to think I wanted to play college football,” said Rosenbauer, who signed with Toledo.

For Jackson, who signed with Bowling Green, the dream began even earlier. “Since I started playing midget football in the third grade,” he said.

Rosenbauer, a 6-foot, 2-inch, 255-pound defensive lineman, said Toledo offered him a scholarship two days after it got films of him. And he repaid that enthusiasm throughout the recruiting process.

“I had a really good relationship with Coach Beckman (Toledo head coach Tim Beckman) and Coach (Mike) Ward, my recruiting-area coach,” he said.

Rosenbauer had his junior season ended by a broken collarbone and had arthroscopic knee surgery before his senior season. “I had some schools back off a little, but Toledo stayed in it all the way, even with the knee injury,” he said.

Jackson attracted college recruiters as a receiver, but was forced to play quarterback as a senior when Ada’s starting QB Mitchell Faine suffered a season-ending knee injury.

With Bowling Green losing four senior receivers from last year’s team, he hopes to make an early impact as a pass catcher with the Falcons.

“I think I have a good chance if I work hard that I can play right away,” Jackson said.

Bowling Green’s coaches and its pass-heavy offense also attracted him to the school. “I’m used to playing in a spread offense. They throw the ball so having a chance of getting it a lot was a big factor,” he said.

Three other area players signed with MAC schools on Wednesday — Spencerville offensive lineman Tyler Obringer, Kenton defensive lineman Mark Fackler and Coldwater quarterback Keith Wenning.

Coldwater defensive lineman Eric Lefeld signed to play with Cincinnati of the Big East.

Obringer, a 6-3, 280-pound offensive lineman, described Ball State as “an all-around fit” for him.

He is already a two-time state qualifier in wrestling, but said football was always the sport he wanted to compete in at the college level.

“I have always loved football. I’ve always liked wrestling, but football has been my favorite,” he said.

Wenning and Lefeld were first-team All-Ohio when Coldwater finished runner-up in the state in Division V. Wenning threw for 3,699 yards and 40 touchdowns in his only year as a starting quarterback.

Jackson was first-team All-Ohio in Division VI. Rosenbauer was second-team All-Ohio in Division III and Fackler was third-team All-Ohio in Division IV.

Also on Wednesday, three area players signed with NCAA Division II schools.

Shawnee’s Nick Truesdale signed with Ashland, while Pandora-Gilboa’s Josh Lee and Ada’s Mitchell Faine signed with Findlay.