See a storify from Tweets from local schools, players and coaches

See a storify from Tweets from local schools, players and coaches

Watch a live show analyzing which local high school football players to keep an eye on for 2016 and 2017.

Watch a live show analyzing which local high school football players to keep an eye on for 2016 and 2017.

Three from Glenville and one from John Hay signed with Division I programs on Wednesday.

Three from Glenville and one from John Hay signed with Division I programs on Wednesday.

Football coach Mike Bell leaving Eastlake North after one season for the Twinsburg position.

Football coach Mike Bell leaving Eastlake North after one season for the Twinsburg position.

If it's news involving college recruiting Ohio State, the Big Ten or national powers, you'll find it here throughout National Signing Day 2015

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Who knew that fax machines were still so important?

Today is full of press conferences and school assemblies as high school stars around the country announce which collegiate scholarship offer they will accept. But the cheers and colorful hats don't matter nearly as much as a signed letter of intent sliding through a device that most Americans have pretty much forgotten about.

Today, we'll be keeping you up to date with all of the developments from the college's point of view. Urban Meyer and Ohio State finished an impressive class by collecting signatures from a few more uncommitted stars. Can anyone still the day's thunder from Alabama, the consensus No. 1 class?

Just keep refreshing throughout the day for the latest from our Ohio State crew in Columbus and experts around the country.

2:18 p.m.: Yup, he gets the rivalry.

Where they should be pic.twitter.com/WD8M9kHl9R

— Joey Burrow (@Joe_Burrow10) February 4, 2015

2:16 p.m.: Some quotes are just too good to pass up. Especially when they come from a particular Coach Up North.

Harbaugh says having to go after other guys committed elsewhere at the end was "kind of the way the pickle squirted this year."

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 4, 2015

2:14 p.m.: Penn State's James Franklin, who gave Ohio State its biggest scare last season, is finishing off a recruiting class solidly in the top 20 in most rankings and perhaps can elevate to the top 15. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg had a few questions for the Buckeyes' East Division rival.

How critical were the weeks and months after your hiring to put this class together?

Franklin: This is truly our first class. This staff has a lot of connections and a lot of us are from this part of the country, so that was helpful. And we were able to get all these guys from Day 1, had some momentum early on, which was really, really important, and then we were able to finish strong as well. We've already got four of the top players in the country committed for 2016, and that's when you're able to really make an impact, when you've been recruiting guys for two or three years.

What areas of the roster were your biggest priorities, given the scholarship situation?

JF: Everybody knows O-line was a major concern for us. We had one scholarship offensive tackle in the senior, junior and sophomore classes. No seniors on scholarships, one junior and he came out early [Donovan Smith] and no sophomores. So we walked into an interesting situation. We were able to redshirt all those guys we signed last year and we have a group coming in for this year. That's important, but it's not something you're able to fix overnight.

2:04 p.m.: Wake Forest has seldom had anything to brag about when it comes to football, but Demon Deacons TE coach Adam Scheier was feeling his oats when it came to touting his school's recruiting haul compared to the program just down the road, North Carolina.

And maybe he went overboard a little? Maybe?

1:55 p.m.: So far, highly-ranked recruits Byron Cowart (Auburn) and Roquan Smith (UCLA) have announced their commitments but have not sent in their letters of intent. Oh, the drama. Oh, the suspense.

But this is hardly a new development. Remember the player who found out his mother had forged his signature because she wanted him at Mississippi instead of Texas A&M?

Ah, those are the days.

1:40 p.m.: Kent State announces its signings, with the Golden Flashes saying they got "Our kind of guys."

1:35 p.m.: The latest Big Ten rankings from 247Sports has Wednesday being a good day for OSU, Nebraska, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, not so much for Northwestern, Iowa, Rutgers and Purdue.

NOTE: The national ranking (and movement today) is to the left of each school name. They are not listed graphically in actual order.

1:26 p.m.: You can't become a football hero without your new home going all out with its graphics department in welcoming you. The Big Ten Network's web site put together a package of how each conference school greeted the LOI arriving in its offices -- at least on Twitter.

Here's one visual example:

Northwestern football just got faster. The speedy @ReturnMan5 is all in with the #B1GCats. pic.twitter.com/RFGwJaTfCD

— Pat Fitzgerald (@coachfitz51) February 4, 2015

I wonder where Patriot Super Bowl stars Malcolm Butler (West Alabama) and Julian Edelman (Kent State) ranked as recruits?

— Tom Dienhart (@BTNTomDienhart) February 4, 2015

1:13 p.m.: A savvy piece of perspective on recruiting rankings and eventual success in the professional ranks from Sam Amico.

Not one 5-star recruit among 22 starters in Super Bowl. #NationalSigningDay

— Sam Amico (@SamAmicoFSO) February 4, 2015

1:10 p.m.: Out of the mouths of Baby Buckeyes comes this observation about the future of the OSU backfield:

RT @GeorgeSipple: Mike Weber on Ohio St.: "I have a really good relationship with Zeke Elliott. "He told me he's leaving after this year."

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 4, 2015

Not that it would be a huge surprise, given another solid season by Elliott, but it's an interesting insight to how the recruiting process works.

1:05 p.m.: Feel free to offer your best SEC "recruiting" jokes.

Just hours ago, DE Byron Cowart -- the top recruit in the country -- announced he was going to Auburn, bypassing a verbal commitment to Florida. Now, at lunchtime, it's not quite so certain.

Byron Cowart has signed LOIs to #auburn and #gators even though he has committed to Auburn per his coach http://t.co/jQB2xMZ2bO

— Jamie Newberg (@JamieNewberg) February 4, 2015

Per coach Callahan at Armwood, Byron Cowart told him he was going to commit to #Auburn but not send in letter.

— Mike Farrell (@rivalsmike) February 4, 2015

Perhaps someone is doing a little more "recruiting" of him ...

12:51 p.m.: Some National Signing Day wisdom from the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.

J.J. Watt, a former 2-star recruit, chimes in with some advice for prospects. pic.twitter.com/OvrSUH2JQM

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 4, 2015

12:42 p.m.: You think Ohio State has had a big day? No way. Brigham Young, the (sometimes) mighty Cougars, has had A BIG DAY with the signing of defensive tackle Motekiai Langi-- all 6-7, 410 pounds of him.

Not sure if he can play -- there isn't much about him in high school in Liohona, Tonga -- but he's going to get some attention over the next few falls.

But hey, there's a BYU rap already out for him.

The 410-pound lineman BYU signed today is apparently serving a mission in Arizona. If he asks if you've heard the good news, you have.

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) February 4, 2015

12:25 p.m.: A couple of observations from Urban Meyer on today's recruiting decisions. First on Cass Tech RB Mike Weber, who apparently hesitated between the Buckeyes and Wolverines all morning.

.@OSUCoachMeyer on RB signee Mike Weber: That was a big get for us. He's a great kid. He had a tough decision to make. #GoBucks

— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) February 4, 2015

And then, something that true Buckeye fans already know -- but are told repeatedly by Meyer:

.@OSUCoachMeyer: You never walk away from a great offensive lineman or defensive (lineman). We'll never change that at Ohio State. #GoBucks

— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) February 4, 2015

12:21 p.m.: Who might be the instant impact players among the incoming OSU recruits? Our crack OSU crew make their choices.

Doug Lesmerises: Tight end/receiver/H-back A.J. Alexander: He's not the most highly-rated recruit. Alexander is the No. 507 overall player in the 247sports.com composite rankings of recruit sites, which places him 18th among the players pledged to Ohio State's class. But he's a unique player to the class, and isn't like many other guys on the roster.

Ari Wasserman: Linebacker Jerome Baker: For as much as Urban Meyer says he hates redshirting prospects, contributing right away at a place like Ohio State right away is just so hard. There's just too much talent and too many prospects from previous elite recruiting classes who have waited for their chance to shine.

So that's why I picked Baker. He's one of the top prospects in Ohio State's class - by rating, of course - and he'll come to Columbus physically advanced and versatile.

Bill Landis: Defensive end Jashon Cornell: On this team, the spots where a true freshman can come in and contribute right away are few and far between, but defensive end looks like it might be one of those spots. The glaring hole is the spot opposite Joey Bosa vacated by Steven Miller, Rashad Frazier.

12:06 p.m.: Given the avalanche of UCLA commitments today, there's no shock in seeing that the Bruins have moved up 10 spots in the 247Sports rankings to No. 9 with the afternoon still to come. Top 10: Alabama, Southern Cal, Florida State, Tennessee, LSU, Ohio State, Clemson, Auburn, UCLA and Georgia.

12:01 p.m.: Cleveland.com's OSU writers -- Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis take their best shots at who might be a sleeper recruit in Ohio State's 2015 class. At the same time, the roster's depth makes that task pretty difficult.

"Who are those sleepers in Ohio State's 2015 class? We really don't even know the answer to that question when looking back on the Buckeyes' last two classes. A guy like Parris Campbell comes to mind from last year's class -- an immense talent forced into scout team duties with so many players to contend with at his position. Maybe 2015 will be Campbell's year, it's more likely 2016 could be his coming out party.

"That scenario will continue to play out as long as Urban Meyer brings in top five classes on top of top five classes."

11:55 a.m.: On CBSSportsNetwork, Brady Hoke as an analyst is part of a phone interview with Jim Harbaugh ... and there's obviously still warm feelings between the two, with Harbaugh saying "everything is in place ... a tremendous team that you left us with" to Hoke.

Harbaugh: "I have not redecorated (Hoke's) office at all, it's immaculate and perfect."

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 4, 2015

UM has almost every kid from #7 & #5 ranked classes in '12 & '13 still on their roster. That's the core Harbaugh has to coach up.

— jamie mac (@justcoverblog) February 4, 2015

11:45 a.m.: Thanks to Tennessee recruit Preston Williams, a WR from Hampton, Georgia, we have this candidate for National Signing Day Picture of the Day.

This is an A+ #NationalSigningDay outfit. (via @Cowboy_Caleb) pic.twitter.com/GPTuFfUSFT

— NBC Sports Network (@NBCSN) February 4, 2015

8 of the top 25 most followed college football recruits on Twitter signed with Tennessee http://t.co/y681x0xDP6

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 4, 2015

11:39 a.m.: After such a good morning for the Buckeyes, they have moved up to No. 6 on the 247Sports team recruiting rankings. They were seventh at the start of the morning.

11:29 a.m.: Very funny moment when Georgia LB Roquan Smith placed four cards in front of him for his finalists -- UCLA, Michigan, Georgia and Texas A&M -- and Desmond Howard on ESPNU had an inside piece of information.

"He's not going to Michigan, because he has "Michigan University" on the card," chuckled Howard, sending the rest of the set into laughter.

Smith -- the No. 2 linebacker in many rankings -- chose UCLA.

No. 2 OLB Roquan Smith (No. 29 overall) commits to @UCLAFootball, giving Bruins 3 ESPN 300 top-30 recruits in 2015 (had 1 from 2006-14)

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 4, 2015

11:26 a.m.: For even more exhaustive coverage of every OSU recruit, Bill Landis of cleveland.com has you covered right here.

It includes these tidbits:

• Of the 27 current commitments there are one five-star prospect, 16 four-star prospects, 9 three-star prospects and one two-star prospect.

• Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class includes 12 players from Ohio, matching the number from last year.

• The Buckeyes will add five players from SEC country, three from Florida and one each from Georgia and Arkansas.

11:16 a.m.: Here's the complete commitment list from Ohio State, via 247 Sports.

Very interested to hear Urban Meyer's plan to get to 85 scholarships in the fall. The man who is vehemently against over-signing is at 91.

— Rob Kunz (@RobKunz_) February 4, 2015

11:12 a.m.: There may be a few more announcements from players who list Ohio State on their finalists, but they're not coming to Columbus. The roster is full.

That's it for Ohio State's 2015 class. Wrapped before lunch. RT @markpantoni: We out [?] (drops the [?] )

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) February 4, 2015

11:09 a.m.: It's not always easy to find humility on the day that you sign with the defending national champions, but Benedictine's four-star LB/RB/ATH Jerome Baker was just that today, according to cleveland.com's Stephanie Kuzydym.

"On National Signing Day in his school's conference room, Baker was jubilant, elated, upbeat and blissful. He could not stop smiling and laughing and smiling some more. ...

"He's already unknowingly set goals for Ohio State too. It's simple, almost like a mantra: 'I'll do whatever it takes for the Buckeyes to win.'

"Hey Jerome, are you willing to play immediately? 'I'll do whatever it takes for the Buckeyes to win.' Do you want to play linebacker? There's talk of you possibly playing other positions. 'I'm open to playing anything but I'd love to play linebacker.'

"How about redshirting your first year? (Long pause.) 'If it comes down to that. I just want to play and help the team win.'"

10:57 a.m.: Mike Weber officially chooses Ohio State.

You have to give credit to @OsuCoachCoombs for recruiting the Detroit area. He has done really well there.

— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) February 4, 2015

Weber: "It was hard to say no" ... he said Karan Higdon committing helped sway him to Ohio State .

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 4, 2015

10:56 a.m.: No particular surprise, but East St. Louis defensive end Terry Beckner Jr., who had been considering Ohio State, chose Missouri instead.

"Ohio State came into National Signing Day knowing it had an outside shot at landing five-star defensive tackle Terry Beckner of East St. Louis, Ill., so it wasn't a surprise when he signed with Missouri Wednesday morning.

"Rated by 247Sports the No. 3 defensive tackle in the 2015 recruiting class, Beckner chose Missouri over Ohio State, Florida State, Auburn and LSU.

"Beckner got emotional during his announcement, which was aired live on ESPNU, before selecting the Tigers. 'I just followed what my heart told me to do," Beckner said, "and that was to go to Missouri. So I went.'"

10:48 a.m.: Late to the Detroit Public League announcement ceremony, Cass Tech RB Mike Weber says he's still making up his mind, despite other reports. He's also waiting on his parents to arrive -- the Detroit area had snowstorms overnight and into the morning, affecting local roads.

Mike Weber certainly doesn't have to make up his mind today, right now ... he can obviously take more time if he wants.

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 4, 2015

10:37 a.m.: There's always some quipsters who have noticed that Auburn (with former Gators coach Will Muschamp) continues to poach players who had original interest in Florida.

Muschamp is shutting out Florida so far today. Just like his own offenses did.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) February 4, 2015

10:26 a.m.: It's unofficial, but the Twitter world is now seriously leaning OSU in the Mike Weber hunt.

4-star RB Mike Weber is sticking with Ohio State over Michigan: http://t.co/ZNaEAPpSvY pic.twitter.com/xVoFbzLmXr

— Land-Grant Holy Land (@Landgrant33) February 4, 2015

10:23 a.m.: Ah, the wonders of modern recruiting ...

James Franklin on ESPNU said they accidentally misdialed a number on Skype and called a fan instead of a recruit.

— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) February 4, 2015

10:06 a.m.: Waiting on the Weber announcement, but there's no delaying the excitement around the Ohio State coaching staff for the players who have already committed.

Honored for the opportunity 2 recruit these young men & help bring BuckeyeNation A1A kids, students & ELITE players! pic.twitter.com/aN58vLOv2s

— Zach Sith #Zone6 (@CoachZachSmith) February 4, 2015

9:54 a.m.: One rumor has been quashed ... although the idea of Brady Hoke and Brian Kelly on the same staff was pretty priceless...

Oh what a day ... RT @SamWebb77: Just got word from Brady Hoke on the Notre Dame rumors via text. He said, "NOT HAPPENING"

— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) February 4, 2015

So if I'm reading this correctly, Brady Hoke decommitted from Notre Dame.

— Doug Lesmerises (@DougLesmerises) February 4, 2015

9:52 a.m.: More from Ari Wasserman on new OSU lineman Isaiah Prince:

"It's hard to imagine Urban Meyer could be having a better day.

"After earning a signature from four-star wide receiver K.J. Hill of North Little Rock, Ark., earlier in the morning of National Signing Day, Meyer closed on the second elite prospect of the day when four-star offensive tackle Isaiah Prince of Greenbelt (Md.) Eleanor Roosevelt announced his decision to sign with the Buckeyes.

"A former Alabama commit, Prince became member No. 27 in Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class, spurning the Crimson Tide and the home state school Maryland in the process."

9:49 p.m.: Urban Meyer has made clear his emphasis on keeping the offensive and defensive lines strong, and he's added another talented player today.

Maryland OL Isaiah Prince picks Ohio State. That's 6 offensive linemen in this class after 5 last year for Buckeyes.

— Doug Lesmerises (@DougLesmerises) February 4, 2015

9:44 a.m.: Michigan's Jim Harbaugh is getting some flips, if they aren't at the five-star level -- four-star New Mexico QB Zach Gentry (from Texas and 247's No. 8 pro-style quarterback) and three-star Alabama CB Keith Washington from California.

And he's obviously still waiting on Mike Weber, with some Twitterheads saying the decision isn't quite made yet despite considerable OSU optimism.

Mike Weber going back and forth. Won't send his LOI until after Cass Tech's ceremony.

— Chris Balas (@Balas_Wolverine) February 4, 2015

9:30 a.m.: With the signing of Plano (Texas) RB Soso Jamabo -- the consensus No. 2 running back in the country -- UCLA is already off to a pretty big day this morning.

9:26 a.m.: The letters of intent are exciting and fans are already curious to see how the new faces fit in Columbus. But there's an issue with the Buckeyes that Doug Lesmerises points out has to be resolved in the near future.

There are too many athletes at Ohio State -- who will be leaving the football program?

"Some of the players who currently are Ohio State Buckeyes or you think will be Ohio State Buckeyes aren't going to be Ohio State Buckeyes when the 2015 season opens on Sept. 7. The numbers won't allow it. ...

"The Buckeyes are already at a roster of 89 players. That's four over the limit of 85. And Ohio State is back at that full 85-man limit for the first time under Urban Meyer, after they were held to 82 scholarship players because of NCAA sanctions from the Jim Tressel era for Meyer's first three Signing Days.

"Ohio State doesn't have to get down to the limit of 85 until preseason practice starts in August. But the school does have to keep the Big Ten informed now about its roster management. And there is some managing to be done.

"The coaches know more about the future of players than we do right now, but there have to be some things in the works."

9:17 a.m.: Here's more on the Buckeyes' new four-star receiver, K.J. Hill from North Little Rock, Arkansas from cleveland.com's Ari Wasserman.

And here's some more biographical info from Bill Landis.

"Everyone knows Urban Meyer is off to a fast start on National Signing Day. Rated by 247Sports the No. 17 wide receiver in the 2015 recruiting class, Hill was the first of three prospects Ohio State was still hoping to add Wednesday morning.

"The former Arkansas commitment officially visited Ohio State the weekend of Jan. 23 and he was in Ohio Stadium for the Buckeyes' official national championship celebration."

9:10 a.m.: The No. 1 recruit in the country, Seffner (Fla.) defensive end Byron Cowart selects Auburn, who hired former Florida head coach Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator -- who had recruited Cowart hard for the Gators.

9:08 a.m.: Has nothing (directly) to do with recruiting, but another fascinating piece of college football news, involving someone who not that long ago displayed considerable disdain for a certain school in Indiana.

Brady Hoke to join the staff at Notre Dame?? That's the biggest surprise of the day!

— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy_) February 4, 2015

Michigan owes Brady Hoke $120K a month for the next 2 years. If he goes to ND, they'll owe him difference in salaries.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 4, 2015

9:06 a.m.: Here's potentially good news for Ohio State, in an early battle with Michigan, as signs are looking strong for Cass Tech (Mich.) RB Mike Weber.

More on what I'm hearing about Top100 RB Michael Weber sticking with #OhioState: http://t.co/vEsVNDum09 via @247Sports

— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) February 4, 2015

9 a.m.: Ohio State's day started well. Already credited with the No. 7 recruiting class by 24/7 and other sites, the Buckeyes nailed down one of their top targets with the final commitment from American Heritage (Fla.) QB Torrence Gibson .

From cleveland.com's Ari Wasserman on the signing:

"Four-star quarterback Torrance Gibson took official visits to LSU, Auburn and Miami (Fla.) in January and decided to cut off communication with media in the weeks heading into National Signing Day.

"All traces of his Ohio State commitment were wiped from his Twitter profile and the Buckeyes, though never publicly losing his pledge, weren't sure if they were going to land his signature on National Signing Day on Wednesday.

"So there was plenty of reason for Ohio State to worry.

"It turns out there never was."

The Buckeyes also landed North Little Rock (Ark.) WR K.J. Hill, the state's top athlete.

Around the Big Ten, Michigan's Jim Harbaugh started well with a flip from Sarasota (Fla.) RB Karan Higdon from Iowa, even though the Wolverines missed on Avon, Connecticut TE Chris Clark, who committed to UCLA.

Watch video of six Nordonia football players, including Ohio State commit Denzel Ward, sign letters with colleges and fax them in. Plus, interviews with reporter David Cassilo.

Watch video of six Nordonia football players, including Ohio State commit Denzel Ward, sign letters with colleges and fax them in. Plus, interviews with reporter David Cassilo.

The $500,000 Ohio Derby has been scheduled for June 20 at ThistleDown Racino, becoming Ohio's richest horse race in 2015.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The $500,000 Ohio Derby has been scheduled for June 20 at ThistleDown Racino, becoming Ohio's richest horse race in 2015.

The 81^st edition of the local thoroughbred classic is a 1 1/16-mile test for three-year-olds. The Ohio Derby purse was increased from $300,000 a year ago, when East Hall scored a 9-1 upset on July 19. It was at its lowest point in decades in 2013 with a $100,000 purse, causing the race track to lose graded stakes status.

"The added money will go a long way in attracting some of the best three-year-olds in the country," said Racing Secretary Pat Ellsworth in a prepared statement. "Since the addition of VLTs nearly two years ago, the quality of racing at ThistleDown has improved significantly."

Racino revenues are responsible for the big jump in the Ohio Derby purse, and will increase purses for all 100 days of thoroughbred racing at ThistleDown. The average for daily purses in 2015 will be $130,000, an 18 percent increase over last year's $111,000 daily average. Thistledown has also increased its number of stakes races to 20, including the return of the rich Best of Ohio races on Oct. 10.

Harness racing fans insist the premier Little Brown Jug three-year-old pace each September at the Delaware County Fairgrounds is the richest horse race in the Buckeye State. The overall Little Brown Jug jackpot was $647,500 in 2014, but it covered more than just one race.

The Little Brown Jug is raced in heats, with the top sophomore pacers returning for the finals. Limelight Beach won a $103,600 heat of the Jug on Sept. 18 and the $310,800 final.

Northfield Park had the honor of hosting Ohio's richest race in 2014, the inaugural $400,000 Milstein Memorial for three-year-old pacers won by All Bets Off on Aug. 15. The Milstein Memorial and $100,000 Milstein Consolation return on Aug. 14.

"I have no idea at the moment if we'll try to give the Milstein Memorial purse a little boost," said Northfield Park General Manager Brent Reitz. "We'll have to sit down with senior management and discuss it. We were delighted with the 2014 race, and look forward to hosting it again in 2015."

Reitz said he would also like to see Northfield Park host the Ohio Sires Stakes Championships in 2016. The eight races each have a $225,000 purse and are being held Sept. 12 at Scioto Downs again this year, the long-time home of the OSS championships.

With all Ohio harness racing tracks contributing to OSS purses, Reitz wants Northfield Park to have its chance to host the championships.

"It was good to see the Best of Ohio races begin to rotate among the three Ohio thoroughbred tracks," said Reitz. "We want the same type of rotation among the four harness tracks with the Ohio Sires Stakes Championships."

Weber had been pledged to Ohio State since December, but Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh made a strong push to get the four-star running back to Ann Arbor.

DETROIT -- It is finally settled.

Detroit Cass Tech running back Mike Weber stuck with Ohio State despite a hard push from Michigan late in his recruiting process, officially signing with the Buckeyes on National Signing Day at the Horatio Williams Foundation headquarters in Detroit.

However, it was not an easy decision, as Weber said he did not decide until this morning as conversations with both Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer carried over from Tuesday night.

"This morning ... I talked to coach Harbaugh and I talked to coach Meyer and went from there," Weber said. "It was just hard to say no to a lot of good things. Coach Harbaugh, coach Meyer, they're some good guys. It's really hard to say no to those guys."

Weber, a four-star running back, has been committed to Ohio State since Dec. 10, after decommitting from Michigan in late November.

There had been some speculation on Michigan having a chance to sway him, especially after Harbaugh paid him a visit a week before signing day.

"It's real stressful and I'm glad it's over with," Weber said. 

Weber finished with 2,268 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns on 224 carries, averaging 10.1 yards per carry this season for Cass Tech. In his four playoff games alone, Weber rushed for 890 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Weber was third in the Michigan High School football Player of the Year voting and was the MLive Detroit Co-Player of the Year.

Weber will be joining Cass Tech teammate Josh Alabi, a defensive lineman, at Ohio State as well.

"I played with him the last four years and we had a lot of success and I hope we do it again," Weber said.

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

More coverage is coming.

Kent State football coach Paul Haynes calls his 20-man football recruits, 'Our Kind of Guys.'

KENT, Ohio -- Kent State football coach Paul Haynes announced Wednesday a football signing class of 20 players, which was long on linemen, both offensive and defensive, plus defensive backs.

There is also one quarterback, Mylik Mitchell from Cleveland's John Hay High, who fits the prototype for a pocket passer at 6-4, 185 pounds, with the ability to escape.

"Ever since he came to camp in June he's a guy we liked,'' Haynes said of Mitchell. "He's got a really good arm."

While Mitchell did not lock into the Golden Flashes until late in January, one early commitment from St. Edward, linebacker Troy Dipre, locked on early in the football season and stuck to the end.

"Troy will fit into our locker room,'' Haynes said. "He is not afraid to hit, and he can play in space."

Dipre finished his senior season with 155 tackles, including 9.5 sacks, two fumbles and two interceptions. A three-star recruit, Dipre's name could be found on most recruiting sites. Not so with Mitchell.

Playing at a public school in a big city does not lend itself to being highly recruited, unless one is a dervish of an athlete. But Mitchell, a left-hander, comes with credentials beyond size as a four-year starter who led John Hay to the playoffs in 2012 and 2013.

"A little bit of that is perception,'' Haynes said of Mitchell's recruitment. He passed for 2,614 yards and 23 TDs as a senior.

"A lot of kids at better high schools are tapped out. He's a great leader, a great student, a great person, what else what do you look for?

And while Mitchell looks like a late recruit, that is not really the case, either.

"He's always been high on our board,'' Haynes said. "At the beginning (of recruiting) I was going to take two (quarterbacks), a select two, or one."

The Flashes had an early verbal commit at quarterback, who decommitted. That, along with a switch to new offensive coordinator Don Treadwell, led to new evaluations. And once again Mitchell was high on Kent's recruiting board.

"At the end, we were going to offer Mylik no matter what,'' Haynes said.

Of Kent's 20 signings, the breakdown was 12 defensive players and eight offensive, who come under the moniker of "OKGs", "Our kind of Guys" described by Haynes. "These are the guys we got, they aren't all the guys we offered."

See pictures from National Signing Day ceremonies held from Mentor to Lorain.

See pictures from National Signing Day ceremonies held from Mentor to Lorain.

The Browns and general manager Ray Farmer could be penalized soon for the Text-gate scandal, in which Farmer may have texted from the press level to the sidelines during a game, which is against the rules.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns and general manager Ray Farmer are facing possible sanctions from the NFL for "Textgate," including a multigame suspension for Farmer, and a fine and loss of draft pick for the Browns, league sources told Northeast Ohio Media Group.

The investigation -- one of three "integrity of the game" probes currently underway in the NFL -- is expected to be wrapped up soon, as early this week or next week.

NEOMG reported on Jan. 6 that a Browns "high-ranking personnel member texted from the press box to the sidelines about playcalls'' during a game, which was one of the reasons former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, now with the Falcons, felt that working for the Browns had become dysfunctional for him.

Multiple league sources have told NEOMG that Farmer was the high-ranking personnel member who violated the NFL's electronic use policy by the impermissible texting. Those messages were then apparently relayed to the coaches.

The NFL investigated the improper texts, and are prepared to announce sanctions within the next couple of weeks. A resolution could come as early as this week, but probably no later than three weeks.

Farmer is facing a multigame suspension -- as many as three or four games -- and the Browns are facing the loss of a draft pick if the probe, conducted by in-house NFL executives, shows that Farmer acted improperly.

Farmer, asked by NEOMG at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 21 if he texted from the press level during a game, said "I can't comment on that. The league is investigating.''

A Browns spokesman reiterated Wednesday that the club has done everything the league has asked and is awaiting results of the probe.

The Browns have never denied that such texts occurred, and coach Mike Pettine revealed during a press conference on Jan. 22 that investigators had already come to Cleveland to question members of the organization.

At the Greater Cleveland Sports Award ceremony later that night, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam stressed that the club was cooperating fully.

"I know that Ray and Pett and Sashi Brown, our general counselor, are cooperating fully with the NFL, and if we did anything wrong I'm sure we'll correct it and make whatever amends,'' he said. "I know we've cooperated fully with the NFL."

"Textgate'' was the first of three scandals that have erupted over the past month that impact the integrity of the game, and the NFL is taking all three very seriously.

The second was "Deflategate,'' the controversy over the Patriots deflating footballs during their AFC Championship Game victory over the Colts. And the third was the Falcons pumping artificial crowd noise into the Georgia Dome over the past two seasons, which owner Arthur Blank admitted to on Tuesday.

The NFL is likely to wrap up all three investigations within the next three weeks.
 
"It's not really a fine line," Blank told The Associated Press. "I think what we've done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong. Anything that affects the competitive balance and fairness on the field, we're opposed to, as a league, as a club and as an owner. It's obviously embarrassing but beyond embarrassing it doesn't represent our culture and what we're about."

Blank told the AP that he knew enough about the investigation to own up to the allegations.

"We've gotten some information from the league but until we read the full report and until they publish their findings, we can't be totally clear. We've talked to a lot of people and we've cooperated and we'll be anxious to read the report."

During his Super Bowl press conference last week, Commissioner Roger Goodell stressed the importance of protecting the game's integrity.

"This is my job," Goodell said in response to a question about Deflate-gate. "This is my responsibility to protect the integrity of the game. I represent 32 teams. All of us want to make sure that the rules are being followed. And if we have any information where the potential is that those rules were violated, I have to pursue that. And I have to pursue that aggressively.

"So this is my job. This is the job of the league office. It is what all 32 clubs expect and I believe our partners and fans expect. We will do it vigorously and it is important for it to be thorough and fair."

The Browns' Textgate investigation comes at a difficult time for the club. Their first-round quarterback, Johnny Manziel, checked himself into a rehab facility last Wednesday for a possible dependence on alcohol; and their All-Pro receiver, Josh Gordon, was suspended for a minimum of a year.

How do the Indians rate against the A's, Rays and Royals over the last 10 years?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Do you have a question that you'd like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here 

Hey, Hoynsie: How come Kansas City, Oakland and Tampa Bay, all small market teams, have done much better than the Mark Shapiro-led Indians over the last ten years? - Rich Novak, Fairview Park.

Hey, Rich: Here are the winning percentages of the four teams you mentioned over the last 10 years (2005 through 2014): Oakland .519, Tampa Bay .506, Indians .498 and Royals .440.

A's GM Billy Beane has wheeled and dealed his way to five winning seasons, three AL West titles, four postseason appearances and three seasons of 93 or more victories in your allotted time period. 

The Rays, well run and managed by departed GM Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon, have posted six winning seasons, one pennant, two AL East titles, four postseason appearances and five seasons of 90 or more victories.

 The Indians, a picture of stability in the front office, have posted four winning seasons, one AL Central title, two postseason appearances and three seasons of 90 or more victories.

The Royals have had just two winning seasons in the last 10 years. Yes, they won the AL pennant and reached the World Series last year, but that was their first postseason appearance since 1985.

In the last 10 years they've lost 100 or more games twice and 90 or more games seven times.

While you were right about Oakland and Tampa Bay outperforming the Indians over the last 10 years, the Tribe has been much better than the Royals over the same period.

Hey, Hoynsie: Has the Indians equipment truck left for Arizona yet? I'm getting tired of winter. - James Keane, Bay Village.

Hey, James: Good news, the Tribe's equipment trucks are leaving Friday from Progressive Field to Goodyear, Ariz. Clubhouse manager Tony Amato and his staff are busy packing them right now.

As I look out my window across the frozen tundra of Lake County, perhaps spring really will come again.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why don't the Indians move Jason Kipnis to third base? It is less demanding physically and he seems to wear down during the season. So the Indians could have Kipnis at third, Jose Ramirez at second and Francisco Lindor at shortstop for an improved defense and perhaps a better offense. -- Robert Drobot, Lyndhurst.

Hey, Robert: Looking down the road, Kipnis could be in for a position change, but I don't think it happens this season. If Kipnis hits like he did in 2012 and 2013, I don't think anyone is going to worry about his defense.

As for opening this season with new starters at third (Kipnis), short (Lindor) and second (Ramirez), I don't think wholesale changes are a recipe for success.

Hey, Hoynsie: Ever since the Indians drafted Clint Frazier I've been intrigued by his attributes and skill to play the game, constantly checking in to see how he's playing in the minors. Will he be bumped to Class AA or Class AAA starting this season or is he still progressing in the lower levels? -- Shawn Marshall, Garfield Heights.

Hey, Shawn: Frazier spent last season at Class A Lake County where he played center field and hit .266 (126-for-474) with 37 extra base hits and 50 RBI. I would think he'd start this season at Lynchburg, Va., the new home of the Indians advanced Class A team in the Carolina League.

The Indians used their No.1 pick in the 2013 draft to take Frazier out of Loganville High School in Georgia.

Hey, Hoynsie: What is the possibility of adding an infielder like Chris Johnson or Matt Dominguez? Both have shown some promise in producing results and could provide the Indians with much needed depth in regards to the right side of the plate. -- Shawn Marshall, Garfield Heights.

Hey, Shawn: To add either player would take a trade and some roster shuffling. Not to mention that Johnson is making a lot of money, $23.5 million over through 2017.

Manager Terry Francona likes versatile players. A guy like Mike Aviles, who can play all over the diamond, often allows him to carry an extra reliever.

Dominguez and Johnson are primarily third basemen.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to extend their winning streak to 12 games on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. and the game will be shown on TNT.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to extend their winning streak to 12 games on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. and the game will be shown on TNT. On radio, it will be simulcast on WMMS-FM 100.7, 87.7 FM (ESP) and WTAM-AM 1100.

The Cavs' current 11-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the NBA, was extended on Monday night with a 97-84 win against the Philadelphia 76ers.

During their current streak, the Cavs (30-20) are outscoring opponents by an average of 12.9 points (108.4-95.5), while also holding them to just .418 shooting from the field.

It's the second meeting between the Cavs and Clippers this season. The Cavs beat the Clippers, 126-121, in Los Angeles on Jan. 16 behind 37 points from Kyrie Irving, the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

Los Angeles (33-16) is in the midst of an eight-game road trip, which includes a Monday night loss to the Brooklyn Nets, 102-100. The Clippers are 2-2 on the trip.

Blake Griffin is the team's leading scorer, averaging 22.6 points per game. Chris Paul, who scored 20 points and dished out eight assists in the Clippers' recent loss, is averaging 17.7 points and 9.6 assists.

Northeast Ohio Media Group's Joe Vardon has the latest on the Cavs, including thoughts from LeBron James on the changes defensively. Later, catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage.

Cleveland State's Anton Grady continues to overpower teams; Akron Zips can't make a free throw and lose by one on the road; Kent State makes all of its free throws, but not enough to avoid losing on the road.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It is crunch time in the world of college basketball. Every victory is a major celebration and every loss is a crusher. Wednesday night Cleveland State celebrated. Akron and Kent State, both on the road, suffered last-second defeats.

The victory for CSU kept the Vikings tied with Valparaiso for first place in the Horizon League, with a home game Saturday afternoon against Wright State upcoming. Akron and Kent State are home Saturday as well, with the Zips hosting Buffalo and Golden Flashes hosting the Miami RedHawks.

Akron and Kent are in a four-way tie for first place in the MAC East with Buffalo and Bowling Green, and a five-way tie for first in the MAC overall including Toledo.

Akron Zips (15-7, 6-3): Ohio University showed up like old times against Akron as the Bobcats came from behind to take down the Zips, 83-82. A big night from OU guard Javier Willis with 31 points cancelled out a big night from Akron's Deji Ibitayo, who had 21 points.

It was nearly 23 for the senior guard from Chicago but his attempted driving layup at the end would not fall. And while most any player or coach would want a favorable whistle in that situation, it is doubtful that would have helped, either.

The Zips didn't shoot many free throws against OU, but they were perfect on their six attempts ... they missed them all.

Kent State (15-7, 6-3): The Golden Flashes, playing without leading scorer and rebounder Jimmy Hall (mono), used a season-high 13 3-pointers to stay up on Western Michigan most of the night. But a 3-pointer for a two-possession lead in the final minute was missed, and followed by a failed defensive stop for a tough 67-66 setback at WMU.

"That's a lot of threes (13 of 31),'' head coach Rob Senderoff told the media after the game. "Sometimes when teams pack in the lane like they did, you get a lot of opportunities to shoot them.

"We have good shooters and shot well tonight. I would have liked to see us get to foul line more though."

Kent was flawless from the line against the Broncos, going 5-for-5. But WMU had fouls to give at the end of the game and used them to keep KSU from getting a good look at the basket.

Cleveland State (14-10, 8-2): The Vikings, and the opposition, are finding out few teams have what it takes to slow down 6-8 junior center Anton Grady. The Central Catholic product posted his sixth double-double of the season, all in conference play, delivering 17 points and 13 rebounds in a comfortable 73-60 victory over Youngstown State.

The win kept CSU tied with Valpo (21-4, 8-2) and a half game ahead of Green Bay and Oakland. The Vikings have six league games left, three at home and three on the road, plus a non-conference game at Western Carolina to round out the season.

If CSU can win the league title outright, or get the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament via tiebreaker, Grady and Co. will host that critical series in the Wolstein Center in March.

See a list of postponements and cancellations for high school wrestling, bowling for Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015.

See a list of postponements and cancellations for high school wrestling, bowling for Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015.

Robinson is quietly putting together a monster season for Lake Catholic.

Robinson is quietly putting together a monster season for Lake Catholic.

Despite winning nine games in a row, Beachwood has to play three games on the road against tough opponents next week.

Despite winning nine games in a row, Beachwood has to play three games on the road against tough opponents next week.

Because recruiting is always about what's next, here's a look at elite prospects Meyer and the Buckeyes have already started heavily recruiting for National Signing Day 2016. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Urban Meyer said Ohio State's recent national championship didn't play as big of a role in the assembly of the 2015 recruiting class as it will for next year. 

He's right. Consider this: The Buckeyes picked up a verbal commitment from five-star running back Kareem Walker at halftime of their win over Oregon in the national title game. 

Ohio State is fresh off of signing 27 prospects in its 2015 recruiting class - a group 247Sports rated No. 6 overall in the country - but it already has six pledges for 2016. 

Because recruiting is always about what's next, here's a look at elite prospects Meyer and the Buckeyes have already started heavily recruiting for National Signing Day 2016. 

* Five-star DE Nick Bosa of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas - Ohio State is considered the favorite to land the 6-foot-3, 250-pounder, which is huge for the Buckeyes considering what his older bother, Joey, has accomplished. Aquinas coach Rocco Casullo told cleveland.com that Nick is even more advanced than Joey was at his age. Ohio State should feel good about where it stands with Nick after his father said "Vegas odds would be stacked in favor" of the Buckeyes. 

* Five-star QB Jawon Pass of Columbus (Ga.) Carver - Cleveland.com dropped in on Pass at his Georgia high school a few weeks ago and he said there has been a little lull in his Ohio State recruitment since Tom Herman left for Houston. However, Pass is one of the top prospects in the 2016 class. The Buckeyes won't forget about him. 

* Five-star S Brandon Jones of Nacogdoches, Texas - Rated by 247Sports the top safety in the 2016 class, Jones released his initial top 10 in early December and Ohio State and Alabama were both on his list. Making a junior's top 10 in December may not be all that exciting, but getting in early with a prospect like Jones - especially considering he's from Texas - is big for Ohio State. 

* Four-star QB Jarrett Guarantano of Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic - One of Ohio State's top quarterback targets in the 2016 class, Guarantano has visited Columbus and is thought to be nearing a decision. Back in August, Gaurantano named Ohio State, Alabama, Oklahoma and Clemson his final schools, but he's also considering Michigan State and Mississippi. He was at a summer camp with Pass at Ohio State last summer, so it's clear the Buckeyes have pointed out top talents at that position with which to gain solid positioning. 

* Four-star DE Prince Sammons of Cincinnati (Ohio) Christian Academy - Like with five-star linebacker Justin Hilliard in the 2015 class, Meyer doesn't want to let this elite Ohio prospect from the Cincinnati area leave the state. Alabama's early offer is an indication that the 6-foot-8, 280-pound prospect is going to have a hectic recruitment. The Buckeyes are hoping early momentum and the in-state advantage pay off in Sammon's recruitment. 

* Four-star CB Jared Mayden of Sachse, Texas - Cleveland.com dropped in on Mayden a few weeks ago and his interest in Ohio State was deep. In the time since, the prospect whom 247Sports rates the No. 8 cornerback in the 2015 class has cut his list to a final three - Ohio State, Oregon and TCU. 

* Four-star WR Devin Duvernay of Sasche, Texas - Mayden's teammate, Duvernay has emerged as one of the best receivers in the 2016 class. Rated by 247Sports the No. 4 junior wideout, he has offers from programs like Alabama, Clemson, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Stanford, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA and others. He told cleveland.com that he wants to visit Ohio State. 

Ohio State's 2016 commits: Walker; four-star running back George Hill of Hubbard, Ohio; four-star tight end Jake Hausmann of Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller; four-star defensive end Jonathan Cooper of Gahanna (Ohio) Lincoln; four-star offensive tackle Tyler Gerald of Portsmouth (Ohio) Sciotoville; and four-star athlete Kierre Hawkins of Maple Heights, Ohio. 

RaysMTB is a second home for all riders, young and old. Please be aware of other rider's varying skill levels. Relax and have fun.

CLEVELAND, OH--Ray Petro's credo is printed on a poster that hangs outside the front door of an old warehouse on Cleveland's near West Side. The list is equal parts common sense and Golden Rule, with added warnings to youngsters not to terrorize the geezers who still want to party like it's 1999.

"RaysMTB is a second home for all riders, young and old," it begins. "Please be aware of other riders' varying skill levels. Relax and have fun."

In Cleveland's bleak midwinter, it's hard to have fun when you want to be spending every day tearing up hills and jumping over tree trunks on your mountain bike. Ohio's snowfall buries most people's hope of outdoor riding until spring. That is exactly why, 11 years ago, Ray Petro, 48, created Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park.

Using mad carpentry skills, Petro and a squadron of his bike buddies transformed 140,000 square feet of warehouse into rooms full of trails that run across mountain peaks, down ravines, around wicked curves and over tree roots. Slabs of wood simulate logs to jump, or narrow railroad ties to ride across. 

It was the country's first mountain bike, cross country and BMX park. 

Because of its terrain variety and attention to detail, it is also one of the country's best indoor parks, drawing riders from everywhere.

On a recent Sunday, four young riders from East Burke, Vermont, line up against a wall that is painted to look like a woodland summer day. The tallest boy, Quinn Campbell, is also the oldest; he's 15. At the moment, he seems content to wait his turn to shoot down a ramp into "Transferland," a room filled with jumps and transitions. Riders swoop into valleys and fly over plateaus, doing 360s in the air.

Quinn explains the group's hesitation to plunge in. "We've been riding since Friday," he said. "We got a room at the Holiday Inn nearby so we could be here from opening til close."

The boys had already been at the park this morning for an hour and a half. "It's 10:30 and I'm tired already," says Wilder Hudson, 12. "You should see our hands, they're shredded!"

Quinn peels off his red-and-black gloves. The tops of his palms, just under the fingers, are indeed calloused and blistered. Quinn shrugs.

"This is a great place to train, to work back from an injury or to keep your skills up through the winter," he says, gingerly tugging the tight gloves back on. "There are areas here for all ability levels. You can start slow and work up." 

Transferland, in particular, has areas suitable for beginners to expert riders. Trails are rated as to difficulty, and all trails, especially the expert areas, are well marked. There are nine different rooms, with different themes and skill levels.

Wilder rolls his bike toward the edge, ready to drop down a dizzying ramp. "It's awesome here," he yells. "There's so much air!"

On the "pump track," kids who still have their baby teeth ride alongside silver-haired weekend warriors. Rolling hills rise and fall in quick succession, allowing riders to use the momentum and "pump" by pulling up and pushing down with their upper and lower bodies, not even pedaling. It's good exercise, and builds confidence, but it doesn't take expert skills to ride the this track.

In fact, 5 year-old Kate Dillen of Strongsville has been riding the pump track for a year. She careens around a curve, picking up speed for the hills.

"Pump, pump, pump!" yells her mom, Shelly, trying to convince her daughter not to pedal. She watches Kate's pink leopard-print helmet bob up and down as the tiny blonde takes another lap.

Shelly Dillen glides onto the track, and catches up with her older daughter, Lily, 8. Lily maintains the lead, and is keeping careful count of how many laps she has ridden. The family member who completes the most laps gets to choose what to have for lunch. Lily is up to 18 laps.

Her dad, Don, coasts down a cross-country ramp to a loft above the pump track to see how things are going with the kids. "We do the family thing here," he says. "It's $350 a year for membership. We ride two or three times a week. What else can you do for that amount of money? It's $20 to go to most movies, and that's not including popcorn and stuff. And, this keeps us fit."

The rest of the family joins Don on the loft. It's after noon and they have worked up an appetite. Kate and Lily squabble over who gets to make the lunch choice. Lily wins by four laps. 

Riding can work up an appetite

As the Dillen family leaves, other families pour in, some hefting large coolers full of drinks and food. There are three lounge areas in the park, and Ray's encourages riders to bring whatever fuel they need. There are picnic tables, radiant heaters hanging from the ceiling, free wi-fi and outlets for electronics. Ray's has drinks and limited snacks for purchase, and Ray's employee Paul Radosevich says "There are even some pizza and Chinese restaurants that deliver here."

Families settle in for lunch. Kids jump into their smartphone worlds, playing games and talking with friends while they eat.

The vibe is welcoming--it's part of the credo. "Take the time to show new riders and visitors around," it reads. The place is chill, literally. The temperature inside Ray's is kept cool so the riders are comfortable. And if you need to warm up, there are four fireplaces where you can pull up a chair and talk forks and gears.

Back to the trails

After lunch, Alex Baker and his New Jersey neighbor, Sean Timmons, sit by the fire and relax while their sons, Brady Baker, 12, and  Aiden Timmons, 11, ride BMX bikes. It's the foursome's fourth out-of-town trip in four weekends.

"We went to Raleigh, North Carolina, Pittsburgh's Wheel Mill for two weekends, then we came to Ray's," Sean Timmons says. "Next weekend, I think we'll take a breather."

Alex Baker laughs. "There is nothing this big in the Northeast," he says. "Brady's been riding, and competing, for two years."

Neither man can stand not watching their boys for long, and they go see how they are doing.

Brady shows an all-out approach to the sport, and a carefree style only a 12 year-old can have. He climbs a ramp, gets big air and yanks his handlebars to the left, turning his front wheel toward the back of his bike. He pulls the wheel straight again, and sticks the landing.

"It doesn't freak me out anymore," Baker says as he watches his son speed toward the next jump. "I'm so used to it now. His mom is a skier. I guess he got all the 'no fear' genes."

Over in the Trek bicycle room, Jeremy Higginbotham of Akron soars through the air, hanging on to his handlebars, body stretched out behind him. His white T-shirt flutters. He looks like Superman as he gets back on the bike seat and crashes softly into a huge foam pit.

The pit allows riders to perfect tricks without worrying about a harsh landing.

"Ray's is the most enjoyable park I've ever been to," Higginbotham says as he wrestles his bike out of the giant foam squares. "But we can't always afford to come here. I learned to ride here. I never rode until my son got into it four years ago. I learn as my kids learn. I get hurt as my kids get hurt. This place taught me how to jump, how to balance and how to stay focused." 

He watches his son, Logan,16, whoosh down a steep ramp and do a 180 and head back up the same ramp. 

"I'm getting my income tax refund, so we're coming back on Monday," he said. "I share my check with my kids, because I get tax credits for them. So we're coming back to Ray's."

Have fun and love Mother Nature

An add-on to Ray's credo is this: "Ray's started only to avoid bad weather, not to replace the great outdoors. When spring hits, we close. Get out there and ride."

And when the place closes due to good weather, the hard work begins. Petro and his group of evil geniuses will come up with new concepts. Bigger and better rooms, ramps, jumps. They will ride, in the warm winds, then head back inside and try to find more ways to bring Mother Nature under Ray's roof. 

Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park
9801 Walford Ave., Cleveland

raysmtb.com

216-631-7433 (RIDE)

Hours: Noon-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Admission: $26.99 on weekends for a day pass; $20.99 weekdays for a day pass. Two-day weekend pass, (Fri and Sat) $45.99; three-day weekend pass (Fri through Sun) $55.99; Sundays after 4pm, $12.99; $5 off for children under 12.  Annual membership: $349.99. 

Women's Weekend: Friday through Sunday, Feb.6-8. Women only from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., and half off admission. The event is led by hall-of-famer Leigh Donovan, her coaches and staff. Small group lessons will be offered.
As always, bikes are available for rent, first come, first served. Cost: $19.99 advance pre-paid reserve, $14.99 same-day walk-in rental. Safety equipment is free with price of admission, but is all one size, and first-come, first-served. 

Considered the nation's 15th-best recruit in 2010, Latwan Anderson began at Miami (Fla.), then fell off the football radar until signing with Notre Dame College this week.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Five years ago, Latwan Anderson was considered one of the 15 best high school football recruits in the country.

On Wednesday, he signed with Notre Dame College, the Division II school in South Euclid, hoping to resurrect a once promising career. Anderson is enrolled full time at NDC, living on campus, and has two years of eligibility remaining, according to NDC coach Adam Howard.

"Latwan bounced around. He's had some things going on,'' Howard said. "Much like the Doniel (Gambrell) story, he has kid now, and he's really kind of matured and he's been declared eligible by the NCAA and has a couple years left.''

Gambrell, also a Glenville graduate, landed at NDC after starting at Eastern Michigan and is supporting a wife and three children while working and going to school. He could be selected in the NFL Draft in May.

"Coming out of high school, he was one of the best players in the country,'' Howard said of Anderson. "We're happy to have him. He has a support system here in Cleveland and he's serious about coming to school and getting his degree, and we're excited to have him.

Anderson, a defensive back and kick returner, was the 15th-ranked overall football recruit by Rivals.com in 2010.

He was even more highly regarded as a sprinter. He recorded the nation's fastest high school 200-meter time (20.92) and second-fastest 400 (47.26), as well as the second-fastest indoor 55-meter time (6.38).

"He's an elite level talent. He has Olympic speed. He'd going to make a difference at this level,'' Howard said.

At Glenville, Anderson was being recruited by Ohio State and USC, among others, and initially committed to West Virginia, but didn't sign. He wound up at Miami (Fla.) on a track scholarship, where he was to play football. He left after a few months and later enrolled at two community colleges.

Howard said he had been in contact with Anderson for several years through Scott Niedzwiecki, an NDC consultant who coached Anderson at St. Edward and later at Glenville. Anderson, who began his high school career at Euclid, scared off some recruiters while in high school because he had been in and out of trouble, including being kicked out of St. Edward after a confrontation with a teacher.

Greene signs with NDC: The rest of NDC's recruiting class centered on running backs and linemen. Willoughby South's D.J. Greene (6-0, 210), who rushed for 1,903 yards and 26 touchdowns in eight games and received The News-Herald's Tony Fisher Award, is one of three key running back recruits. Devin Williams (5-5, 175) and Micah Massey (5-8, 190) received all-state honors in Georgia and Texas, respectively.

The Falcons also beefed up on the line with Michael Kyle (6-4, 280, Columbus Northland), Jesse Peters (6-2, 325, Glenville via Ellsworth Community College), Tyson Jackson (6-2, 290, Wooster) and Nick O'Brien (6-3, 292, Columbus St. Francis DeSales).