At the Division III level, players come and go. Fincham expects five players on the current list to either not show up to camp or to show up and quit the team within a day. That’s typical.
“With small-college turnover, which is inevitable, you’ve got guys who come to play college football, and it’s not like they’re on scholarship,” Fincham said. “If they leave your team, their financial aid doesn’t change. They can go be a student. If you’re at Ohio State and you leave the team, all of a sudden, you’re paying for room, board, books, tuition, the whole nine yards.”
» WITTENBERG BASKETBALL: Recruiting class includes two 6-11 players
The new recruits join a program coming off its first 10-0 regular season since 2010. Among the players are two Clark County graduates: Northeastern tight end Tanner Stratton and Catholic Central linebacker Dominic Catanzaro.
As has become common in recent years, there are a number of recruits from Florida. There were 21 players from Florida in the 2017 class and 13 in this class.
"We like the class," said Fincham, who earned his 200th career victory last season and enters his 23rd season as head coach. "Of course, almost everybody in the country is going to say that at this stage in the game. With change comes optimism, and a new recruiting class is change."
Here’s a glance at some of the standouts in the group:
Reid Allen, Akron Archbishop Hoban linebacker: Allen's grandfather, Roy Allen, was Wittenberg's MVP in 1962 and is a member of the Wittenberg Hall of Honor. His dad Scott was a golfer at Wittenberg.
Avery Powers, New Bremen running back:
Powers is the son of Aaron Powers, who played for the Tigers from 1993-96 and ranks sixth in school history in rushing yards (3,122). Powers rushed for 769 yards and 11 touchdowns last season and had 30 receptions for 370 yards and six touchdowns.
Adam McCardle, Hilliard Bradley linebacker: Fincham described McCardle as a “scrappy playmaker.”
Donte Ashcraft, Hilliard Darby defensive end: Knee surgeries may have prevented Ashcraft from getting a chance to play in a higher division, Fincham said, but Ashcraft is "
tremendously athletic. He's not big in stature, but boy is he explosive."
» FACILITY UPDATE: Part of football stadium comes down
Anthony Ferrara, Portsmouth offensive lineman: Ferrara’s family has ties to the Kayser family in Portsmouth. Jack Kayser was a senior defensive back at Wittenberg last season, and Sam Kayser was a freshman wide receiver.
Rodney Van Cleaf, Westerville North defensive end: Van Cleaf made the All-Central District team. Fincham said he has a “good motor.”
Mark Pratt, Hamilton offensive lineman: Of Pratt, Fincham said, “He has a r
eally good frame on him. He runs around. We think he’s going to grow a bunch by the time he’s out of here.”
Eric Davis, Cardinal Gibbons (Fla.) linebacker: Davis is an explosive player who has a nose for the ball, Fincham said.
Jake Roberts, Cincinnati LaSalle, wide receiver: Roberts had 18 catches for 270 yards last season.
Jacob Evans, Tipp City Bethel quarterback: Evans was one of a number of Wittenberg recruits who played in the Miami Valley Football Coaches Association All-Star Game on Friday, along with: teammate Hunter Shelley, an offensive lineman; Northmont linebacker Logan Jewsikow; Catanzaro; Hamilton Ross defensive lineman Logan Lange and Eaton linebacker Chase Smith. Tahj Roberts, Cincinnati Colerain offensive lineman:
Roberts is the biggest player in the class. He’s 6-foot-6, 310 pounds.
Ethan Higgins, linebacker, and Lance Lambert, quarterback, of West Jefferson:
Higgins and Lambert led West Jefferson to a 10-0 regular season and two playoff victories.
Israel Anis, Community School (Fla.) linebacker: Anis is from Naples, Fla. He’s a “great kid,” Fincham said, “with good size and another good student. There’s a bunch of good students in the class.”
2018 Wittenberg recruiting class
Reid Allen, Akron Archbishop Hoban, LB, 6-1, 215
Israel Anis, Community School, (Fla.), LB, 5-10, 200
Donte Ashcraft, Hilliard Darby, DE, 5-10, 205
Connor Bates, Wellston, LB, 6-1, 230
Austin Belle, Cincinnati Princeton, CB, 5-10, 165
Sean Bennett, Cardinal Ritter (Ind.), OL, 6-3, 220
Logan Bloom, Waynesville, LB/TE, 6-2, 205
Kenny Bowling, Oak Hills, DB, 5-9, 160
Trenton Bowsher, Perry Meridian (Ind.), DE, 6-1, 237
Dominic Catanzaro, Catholic Central, LB, 6-0, 225
Nick Commings, Hilliard Davidson, DB, 6-0, 180
Douglas Crowell, East River (Fla.), OL, 6-1, 280
Connor Davey, Beavercreek, TE, 6-1, 230
Eric Davis, Cardinal Gibbons (Fla.), LB, 6-0, 190
Jonathan Diaz, Lakeland Christian (Fla.), DL, 6-1, 285
Gunnar Doran, West Jefferson, OL, 6-2, 310
David Dorsey, Nordonia, DE, 6-1, 210
Link Draper, Fort Myers (Fla.), TE, 6-4, 225
Jacob Durstock, Scott High School (Ky.), OL, 6-2, 285
Jacob Evans, Tipp City Bethel, QB, 6-1, 170
Anthony Ferrara, Portsmouth High, OL, 6-1, 280
Jared Fox, Wyoming, CB, 5-11, 180
Jakyi Galloway, Mifflin, RB, 5-9, 200
Johnny Ganson, Bellefontaine, WR, 5-11, 160
Ethan Gordin, Jonathan Alder, K, 5-10, 170
Michael Halka, Oregon Clay, LB, 5-11, 190
Rassaun Harris, Harvest Prepatory, CB, 5-8, 160
Peyton Hayman, Cypress Lake (Fla.), OL, 6-6, 260
Trey Hennekes, Roger Bacon/Mount Union, WR, 5-10, 175
Ethan Higgins, West Jefferson, LB, 6-0, 200
Josh Huber, Cincinnati Colerain, WR, 6-1, 185
Conner Ignarski, Lima Bath, DE, 6-2, 210
Travis Jayjohn, Wellston, RB, 6-0, 175
Mervin Jean, Miami Norland (Fla.), DB, 5-9, 160
Logan Jewsikow, Northmont, LB, 5-10, 200
Seth Jones, Lafayette Jefferson (Ind.), LB, 5-11, 210
Blake King, Milford, QB, 6-1, 185
Mike Knock, Springboro, DL, 5-10, 220
Bailey Knox, Milford, LB, 6-0, 185
Lance Lambert, West Jefferson, QB, 6-0, 190,
Logan Lange, Hamilton Ross, DL, 6-3, 270
Jordan Lindsey-Webber, Cypress Creek (Fla.), WR, 6-0, 175
Adam McCardle, Hilliard Bradley, LB, 5-9, 210
Johnny Miller, Cincinnati Reading, QB, 6-1, 190
Samuel Monachino, Zionsville (Ind.), QB, 6-3, 205
Nathan Moore, Madison Consolidated (Ind.), LB, 5-11, 190
Gene Nobles, Boone (Fla.), WR, 5-11, 155
Julio Novarini, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.), S, 5-11, 170
Josh Palmentera, Nordonia, K, 5-6, 155
Zarek Porter, Eastmoor Academy, LB, 5-8, 190
Avery Powers, New Bremen, RB, 6-0, 180
Mark Pratt, Hamilton, OL, 6-1, 240
William Richardson, North Central (Ind.), DL, 6-5, 255
Bowen Roberson, Allen Park (Mich.), DT, 6-2, 220
Jake Roberts, Cincinnati LaSalle, WR, 6-2, 185
Tahj Roberts, Cincinnati Colerain, OL, 6-6, 310
Tyler Sandifer, Cincinnati St. Xavier, WR, 6-3, 160
Jake Saus, Akron Archbishop Hoban, WR, 5-11, 183
Spencer Schell, Licking Heights, WR, 5-9, 170
Nicolas Schuler, Golden Gate (Fla.), Safety, 5-8, 160
Greg Shehee, Westerville North, LB, 5-9, 190
Hunter Shelley, Tipp City-Bethel, OL, 6, 265
Chase Smith, Eaton, LB, 6-1, 210
Levi Smith, Amanda Clearcreek, OL, 6, 270
Jordan South, West Jefferson, TE, 6-3, 210
Ethan Stambaugh, Buckeye Valley, DT, 6-1, 290
Tanner Stratton, Northeastern, TE, 6-4, 250
Nick Tyree-Martin, Harvest Prep, RB, 5-9, 210
Rodney Van Cleaf, Westerville North, DE, 6-1, 208
Giancarlo Velez, Riverdale (Fla.), LB, 5-9, 180
Nicholas Williams, LaBelle (Fla.), DB, 6-1, 155
