Barberton High School rising senior Kobie Booker has committed to play football at the University of Akron.
Booker, 18, is 6-foot-1 and 257 pounds. He plays all the defensive line positions, linebacker and tight end for Magics coach Tony Gotto, and has been a starter both his sophomore and junior years.
“Akron is recruiting me to play D-line and linebacker, and the coaches said maybe every once in a while some fullback on goal-line and short-yard situations,” Booker said. “I love the opportunity to play at Akron. I want to put on for the city.”
Booker said UA defensive line coach-recruiting coordinator Todd Stroud and safeties coach Mike Woodford were the two coaches he talked with the most recently after receiving a scholarship offer from the Zips. Booker also holds a scholarship offer from the Air Force Academy.
The chance to play for UA coach Terry Bowden and stay close to home appealed to Booker, who said he has family members who are looking forward to watching him play college football for the Zips.
Booker said he started playing football in seventh grade at Barberton Middle School. Before that, basketball was his main sport on “Mini Magics” teams.
Booker, who has a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average, said he plans to major in sports management at UA.
“I like the atmosphere at Akron,” Booker said. “I like the way the coaches treat the players and everyone that they are recruiting.”
In addition to Booker, 2016 Barberton graduates Brandon McCall, Colton Choma, Amadeo Davis and Kenny Rudibaugh also have made decisions to attend college in Ohio.
McCall is set to play football at Notre Dame College, Choma has selected to play football at Ohio Northern University, Davis plans to play football at Hocking Hills College and Rudibaugh is headed to Notre Dame College to compete in track and field.
McCall, Choma, Davis, Rudibaugh and Booker helped the Magics post a 7-3 record in 2015.
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the #ABJVarsity high school blog at www.ohio.com/preps. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ.