Recruiting is said to be the lifeblood of college football. This series will countdown the top 100 high schools in Ohio that have provided the Buckeyes with football players. The rankings are based on how many times a player from each high school has been listed on Ohio State's roster between 1970 and 2018.
No. 82, Coldwater
Qualification
Three players from Coldwater have been listed on 11 Ohio State rosters. The Homan brothers were the first two Cavaliers to make it on an Ohio State roster. Ross joined the Buckeyes as a linebacker in 2006. He was in Columbus for five seasons and earned five varsity letters. Ross Homan was named captain of the 2010 team and was also named to the All-Big Ten team that season. He also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors three times.
With Ross Homan on the team, Ohio State was 56-9, won the 2010 Rose Bowl, 2011 Sugar Bowl and went 5-0 against Michigan. In 2009, Homan led the Buckeyes with 108 tackles and 5 interceptions. In 2011, The Vikings selected him in the 6th round of the NFL Draft.
Adam Homan joined his brother in Columbus in 2009. Adam played fullback and special teams as he earned four varsity letters for Ohio State. He was also named to the Academic All-Big Ten team three times. Adam and Ross are cousins of Bobby and Tom Hoying.
The last player from Coldwater was Tony Harlamert (2009-10). He was a walk-on in 2009 and was a scout team workhorse. At Coldwater, Harlamert set an Ohio record by catching a pass in 40 consecutive games. He finished his high school career with 76 touchdowns.
Think about that 40-game reception streak. A high school football player is only guaranteed 10 games each season. For a kid to tie this record on a team that never makes the playoffs, he will have to start the first game of his freshman year and make a catch in every game of his career. It appears Halrmert's record is going to be safe for a long time.
Back To School
Coldwater is located in Mercer County and is a member of arguably Ohio's most dominant league, the Midwest Athletic Conference. The team currently competes in Division VI, Region 24. Coldwate is a force in high school football. The Cavaliers have made the playoffs every year since 1998. That's 21-straight years. The streak could be longer, but that's as far back as I have records. Coldwater is tied for the second most state titles in Ohio with six in football.
Coldwater's first state title in football was earned in 2005. The program was just getting started as the Cavaliers won championships in 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Last year, the team lost to Marion Local in the regional final. In 2017, Coldwater lost to state champ Marion Local in the regional final. In 2016, Coldwater's season ended as state runner-up as the team lost to Canton Central Catholic, 13-16, in the championship game.
2016 was not the only time Coldwater was the state runner-up in football. It also happened in 2011, 2010, 2009, 2000 and 1998. That's one hell of a run.
Notable
Coldwater is not just a football school. Other programs to win state titles are Baseball with six championships (2014, 1992, 1990, 1987, 1984, 1983) girls' bowling with four titles (2017, 2015, 2013, 2012) boys' bowling with three (2015, 2012, 2007), girls' track and field three titles (1996, 1995, 1994) and girls' basketball two (1992, 1990).
Famous Alumni
Some famous names you may know: NFL player Keith Wenning and Arena Football player Steve Vagedes.
Explanation of the Rankings
School "A" had 14 players appear 16 times on Ohio State's roster. School "B" had 11 players appear 20 times on Ohio State's roster. School "B" will have the higher ranking. Why? Even though school "B" has less players, those players played for more years.
If two or more schools have the same number of appearances, the tie will be broken by the school with the highest average of roster appearances per player. If there is a tie in the average, the tie breaker will be the school with the most prominent Ohio State player.
| 100 | 99 | 98 | 97 | 96 | 95 | 94 | 93 | 92 | 91 |
| 90 | 89 | 88 | 87 | 86 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 82 | 81 |
| 80 | 79 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 73 | 72 | 71 |
| 70 | 69 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 62 | 61 |
| 60 | 59 | 58 | 57 | 56 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 51 |
| 50 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 |
| 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 32 | 31 |
| 30 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 |
| 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
| 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
2,753 days since Ohio State has not defeated That Team.
172 days until The Game.
Are you a former player, graduate, live near or have something to add about today's featured high school? Please share your story with us in the comments. What makes the 11W community unique is the amount of great information everybody is willing to share.
