The Mauk family is legendary in Kenton, Ohio. Mike Mauk, the longtime Kenton coach who recently stepped down to take a coaching job in Missouri, produced two quarterbacking legends.
Ben Mauk was the first, setting national high school passing records, two state championships and Ohio's 2002 Mr. Football award. Mauk went on to play for Wake Forest and Cincinnati before turning professional for the the CFL's Saskatachewan Rough Riders and the CFL's Cincinnati Commandos.
Maty Mauk, Ben's little brother, was an even more prodigious talent. He shattered his older brother's passing records, led Kenton to a state championship game and also captured an Ohio Mr. Football award. His efforts were good enough to secure a scholarship to Missouri.
Last year, he was back-up to quarterback James Franklin. After Franklin went down injured, Mauk led the Tigers to victories over Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.
With Franklin off to the Detroit Lions, now is Mauk's time to shine. He has also apparently caught the eyes of SEC programs.
In a poll of the conference's 14 football information directors, Maty Mauk was named the league's best passer. (Auburn's Nick Marshall came in second.)
Mauk isn't a Buckeye, but it's still cool to see Ohio high school players, especially from smalltown schools, do well on the biggest stages in the sport.
