SHARONVILLE, Ohio – The road to Super Bowl 57 for two defensive backs began with high school football at Greater Cincinnati.
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Josiah Scott He played at Fairfield High School for coach Jason Krause. Kansas City Chiefs safety Brian Cook, A graduate of Mount Healthy High School, he played for current Hamilton High School coach Arvi Crouch. Both were in the Class of 2017.
As Krause and Crouch prepare to celebrate the Greater Miami Conference’s 24th Annual National Signing Day Wednesday afternoon, Scott and Cook are discussed as examples of success through their perseverance.
Nearly 40 seniors from GMC’s 10 schools have committed to or signed a National Letter of Intent to play college football since the early NCAA signing period in December.
The Delta Marriott Hotel in Sharonville will host this year’s National Signature Day party, presented by Beacon Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, beginning at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday.
The WCPO High School Insider Podcast, hosted by Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Chick-fil-A restaurateurs, will host a special live episode Starting at 11 a.m., with scheduled talks with GMC instructors.
Later, the coaches will get to know their student-athletes during the ceremony and explain why Wednesday is also the beginning of a new journey.
“I think the number one thing is to stay in school, get your degree, play all four years — that’s a big thing,” Krause said. “Don’t give up. It’s going to be tough. Be the best you can be. That’s got to be your mindset.”
A three-year letter winner for Michigan State, Scott was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He received 20 scholarship offers during the recruiting process and selected Michigan State in late July for his senior season.
Jason Krause
A former safety at the University of Cincinnati, Cook only had one scholarship offer from Howard University in his first season at Mount Healthy. Five years later, he was selected to the Pro Football Focus All-America Team. The Chiefs selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Crouch said his work ethic and personality prove any doubters wrong. That was evident in the AFC Championship game when Cook deflected a pass in the fourth quarter that the Chiefs intercepted to halt a Bengals rally on third down.
Cook’s former coach said he wasn’t surprised by his success on the field and in life.
“I have college coaches asking me about some guys,” Crouch said. “(There was) a kid here who was kind of a late fall. He (college coach) listened because of Brian Cook. And he didn’t listen when I tried to tell him about Brian Cook before.”
Arvi Crouch
This is why Wednesday is such an important day for GMC.
It’s an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of high school students, athletes, and teams, but also to start a new chapter with a vision toward success athletically and academically.
“I think it’s important for these kids to be recognized,” Krause said. “Our coaches do a really great job of not only in-season training on Friday nights but they also do a tremendous job recruiting their kids. That’s the number one thing. We’re trying to get those guys on the next opportunity. And college is that opportunity to take your game and go ahead and get your degree.” Through it “.
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