By Zac Jackson
FOX Sports Ohio
November 15, 2010
Akise Teague's senior season figures to end with Teague winning Ohio's prestigious Mr. Football award and a third-straight Div. V state championship for Youngstown Ursuline.
His future might include playing at Ohio State.
A source at Ursuline told FOXSportsOhio.com Monday that Ohio State coaches visited Youngstown late last week and that a scholarship offer could come as soon as this week. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Teague is a bit of late-comer to the recruiting party but is having an outstanding season, having rushed for an unofficial count of 1,753 yards, scoring 35 total touchdowns through 12 weeks. Ursuline plays Kirtland in a battle of 12-0 teams this weekend for the Region 17 championship.
Teague, who also stars at cornerback, might fit best at that position or as a slot receiver at the college level. He's undeniably a playmaker on both sides of the ball and has also accounted for more than 450 yards in the receiving game for an Ursuline team that runs a no-huddle offense and employs Teague primarily as a tailback but also uses him in the slot and as a kick returner.
Teague reportedly had offers from most in-state Mid-American Conference schools and Youngstown State before the season. He was offered a scholarship by Wisconsin in late October.
* Click to watch Akise Teague in FOX Sports Ohio's video archives - Ursuline vs St. Vincent St. Mary *
The Ursuline source indicated that Ohio State and other BCS schools may have had concerns about Teague's size and physicality, but his recent game film should alleviate those concerns and lead to more offers. Teague, who wasn't Ursuline's primary ball-carrier last season but scored 3 touchdowns in last December's state championship game, has indicated throughout the process that he was interested in Ohio State.
The source also said Teague has met the NCAA's academic and clearinghouse initial eligibility requirements.
Ursuline has only been tested once all season, in a narrow early-season win over Div. II state title favorite Mentor Lake Catholic, and is the heavy favorite to complete the three-peat in Stark County on Dec. 4. Teague leads an Irish offense that's averaging 40 points per game.
The Mr. Football award winner is usually announced the week of the state championship games. Current Ohio State running back Brandon Saine won the award in 2006.
