Five Blue Devils Sign Letters of Intent

A handful of Zanesville football standouts took to the cafeteria stage on Wednesday, and nearly all of them signed with a program familiar to the Blue Devils.

Wide Receiver Alessio Amato, athlete Ben Kaufman, linebacker Leondre Crosby and offensive lineman Tavian Butts will continue their academic and athletic careers at Ohio Dominican University, hiking Zanesville’s grand total of Panthers signed up to 12.

"(It’s) just like we’re representing Zanesville at a different school," said Crosby, who plans on majoring in psychology and minoring in criminal justice. "A lot of us have played together… so getting a chance to play with (former teammates) again, it’s going to be fun."

Former Blue Devils J.T. McFarland, Thomas Wibbeler, Dar Stanford and Jeremiah Jones were on ODU’s roster last season.

"I’ve never got to hit Jeremiah so it’s going to be fun to hit him," Crosby joked.

The fifth Blue Devils to put pen to paper will be playing at much larger stadium in Ohio’s capital city. Offensive lineman Coulter Wilson is set to attend The Ohio State University as a preferred walk-on.

"It’s an unbelievable opportunity that they’re giving me," said Wilson, who has been a lifelong Buckeye fan. "I’m just extremely excited to go up there and do my part and help the team out in any way that I can."

Per head coach Chad Grandstaff, at least three more Zanesville seniors will continue their football careers at the Division III level: quarterback Derek Grandstaff (Muskingum), offensive lineman Parker Mason (Wilmington) and offensive lineman Drew Hoskinson (Mount Union).