With off-season workouts in full swing, the accolades continue to pile for St. Clairsville football.
Junior sensation Michael Ferns has recently been recognized as the 76th best recruit by Scout.com for the 2014 recruiting class. Rivals.com included him in their Top 100, with a rank of being the 84th best high school prospect in the country.
“It’s very humbling, although I don’t let it influence anything I do,” Michael commented. “I just want to improve on anything I can that will give me an advantage going into the next level.”
Alongside a dominant senior class, Michael Ferns helped take the Red Devils to the Ohio Division 5 State Championship game last season. Filling the shoes of graduating players like Dan Monteroso, Matt Kinnick, and Jerrid Marhefka won’t be easy for head Coach Brett McLean, but he may not have to look far to find his next quarterback.
Brendan Ferns, Michael’s younger brother, is hoping to compete for a starting position as a sophomore next year.
“I just want to get on the field next year, and hopefully have an opportunity to make a name for myself,” Brendan added. “I would love to be able to play alongside my brother for his senior year.”
“He has helped me with so many things, because he has gone through all the same things that I’m going through now.” Brendan replied when asked about how his brother Michael has helped him. “If it’s questions about school, football, or just everyday stuff he’ll help me out. Mike is always trying to push me to do my best in everything I do and now we both go to the gym to work out together.”
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a St. Clairsville assistant coach spoke about the youngest Ferns, “Brendan has the potential to be just as good, if not better than Michael.”
“I have high expectations for the remainder of my high school career,” Brendan said. “My biggest goal is try to get back to the State title game again. Along with going to States, I hope I can become as good as my brother and have the opportunity to play college football somewhere. Not only do I have high expectations for football, but I also hope to go far in basketball.”
Since receiving his first scholarship offer from Marshall just over a year ago, Michael spoke about his support system.
“I’m just happy to have the kind of people that I do around me. I feel as if I’m a product of how I was raised (in St. Clairsville) and who I’m around,” Ferns said. “My father has spent countless hours making sure that I didn’t miss out on any of the opportunities that were available to me.”
Ferns’ play alone, in his first three years, has given him a scholarship offer that he has accepted to the University of Michigan which places him among the names of Eddie Drummond (Linsly / Penn State) and Joey Galloway (Bellaire / Ohio State) as OVAC standouts to head to the B1G on scholarship.
“The University of Michigan fit everything I wanted academically and athletically. Plus, I just really enjoy Ann Arbor.” Planning to study pre-med, Ferns added. “I want to get the best out of the education that comes along with my football scholarship. Football ends eventually, a solid degree lasts a lifetime.”
Growing up in the heart of Buckeye Nation, Michael has received much criticism for choosing the school up North.
“I hear about it often, I’m proud of my commitment and know that I made the right decision,” Michael said. “Because of that, it doesn’t get to me at all.”
Ferns also made national news during the season when he helped fellow teammate, Freshman Logan Thompson, score a touchdown to honor his father after his sudden passing days earlier. This story (See story HERE) is a great display of the class and heart that Michigan will be adding to their roster in 2014.
St. Clairsville will kickoff their season against Claymont on August 29th.
