Focus 2007 - Ohio DT Daryle Ballew

Withrow High School in Cincinnati, Ohio had some very good D-1 football prospects in 2005 and it looks like Doc Gamble’s squad will be loaded with stars once again in 2006. Defensive tackles are always at a premium and Withrow has one of the best in the Buckeye State in Daryle Ballew. Ballew already has a Big Ten scholarship offer.

“Illinois has offered me a scholarship.” Daryle Ballew said. “I’d say right now that Wisconsin and Illinois are recruiting me the hardest. My favorites are Miami, Illinois, Ohio State, Florida, Georgia, Virginia and Wisconsin.”

Ballew unlike other big-time prospects in the Class of 2007 has been taking it easy this winter and has only been to Cincinnati on a junior day. Daryle is listing a lot of southern schools as favorites and we asked why he had so much interest in the south.

“My family is down in Georgia,” Ballew said. “I’ve always liked football in the south. The SEC is a great conference and my cousin, Cortez Kennedy, went to Miami so I have a real interest in them.

“I’m not really sure what camps I’m going to this summer. I haven’t decided on anything yet. I’m going to wait and see what happens in April and May before deciding on camps.”

Coach Gamble had high praise for Ballew.

“Daryle just showed up on our doorstep,” Coach Gamble explained. “He transferred to us from Walnut Hills in Cincinnati. He commands a double team and we’ve had teams triple team him this past year.

“Daryle blew everyone away this year, he’s extremely strong, he sheds blocks well and he gets to the football.”

Ballew carries a 2.9 GPA in the classroom and he scored 1440 on his SAT.