Mikel Horton, who starred for Lakota East last fall, will likely be given the opportunity to carry the football for Lakota West in 2012. Horton, who rushed for 662 yards last season, is making many preseason recruiting lists. Photo taken at Winton Woods in 2011 by Barb Trimble of Trimble Photography, www.trimphoto.com.
Cincinnati Enquirer recruiting reporter Mike Dyer mentioned four Lakota West football players among those to watch this season in the classes of 2013 and 2014.
The only Lakota West senior mentioned in Dyer’s list of “50 area football players to watch in the 2013 class” was offensive lineman Kyle Meadows. Meadows, however, was ranked No. 5 among the list of 50 athletes from throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
The 6-foot-5 lineman has had a busy summer making visits and attending camps. As of right now, he has offers from Louisville, Ohio, Youngstown State, Toledo, Pittsburgh, Akron, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, West Virginia, Northern Illinois, Florida State, Purdue, Kansas, North Carolina State and Kentucky. Furthermore, according to Lakota West head coach Larry Cox, Ohio State is “extremely interested in him.”
The other three Lakota West student athletes were mentioned in Dyer’s “40 area football players to watch in the 2014 class.” Making that list was running back Mikel Horton (No. 8), quarterback/athlete Tyler Jones (No. 16) and quarterback Malik Grove (No. 18).
- Cincinnati Enquirer’s recruiting blog with Mike Dyer
- Lakota West football news from WestChesterBuzz.com
- Lakota West OL Kyle Meadows video highlights
- Lakota West RB Mikel Horton video highlights
- Lakota West QB Malik Grove video highlights
- Lakota West ATH Tyler Jones video highlights
Last fall, Horton starred at Lakota East High School and predominantly lined up at fullback in the Thunderhawks’ triple-option offense. In the first two games of the season, Horton rushed for a combined 279 yards and five touchdowns in wins against Western Hills and at Winton Woods.
Lakota West QB Malik Grove runs a drill during summer practice in July of 2011. This summer, he will have a chance to earn the starting QB job. Photo by Adam Kiefaber.
Horton has also been mentioned by Rivals.com as the No. 6-rated prospect in Ohio’s class of 2014.
Meanwhile, the other two student athletes mentioned by Dyer will be competing for starting quarterback duties at Lakota West this season.
Last summer, Tyler Jones was named the starter for the season opener. He would eventually end the season ranked fifth in the Greater Miami Conference in passing yards. He also tossed nine touchdowns and ran for nine more. According to Cox, Cincinnati has shown interest in Jones.
Towards the end of the season, Malik Grove became the starter after almost leading the Firebirds to an upset win against Colerain. After that game, Grove won two of his three starts, including a last-minute touchdown pass that defeated rival Lakota East in the season finale. Grove also plays basketball and bowled a perfect game, earning GMC Bowler of the Year honors in 2010.
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