Wow- What a year 2010 was for GCC and Eagle Nation. A new (but familiar) coach and a loss of 1/2 the roster due to graduation and transfers left the Eagles outgunned and outmatched for most of the 3-7 season. Several players who could have used another year at the junior varsity level were called upon to perform on Fridays. All 23 players, including 6 freshmen, garnered enough playing time to win varsity letters.
The good part of playing inexperienced players is they now have a year of varsity experience. So, the 16 returnees will be battle tested. The problem is there are only 16 sophs-Sr. The key this year is going to be how quickly a very talented group of 20+ freshmen can step in and contribute.
Strengths-
Coach Kerry Owens and his staff return intact.
The senior leadership is strong and as a result, the weightroom attendence is averaging over 20.
Every returning player has significant varsity experience.
Leading rusher Tony Roark(All-Ohio SM), leading receiver Zach (Wally) Brewer, Quarterback Ben Whitaker, and stud DE/OL Zack Casparro(All-Ohio SM), along with 3 other starting linemen all return. The line averages over 260lbs/man.
The freshman class has a lot of potential. They lost their first 2 games last year, but were not challenged after that.
The schedule-
1) @ Bellaire St John Central
2) Troy Christian
3) Danville
4) Ft Loramie
5) Cincinnati College Prep
6) @ Fairview (KY)
7) @ Fostoria St Wendelin
8) Portsmouth Scioto Community
9) @ Fayetteville-Perry
10) Fairfield Christian

DE/OT Jack Casparro's highlights are now on Scouting Ohio. He is listed as an elite prospect for 2011. Congratulations Zack!!!
http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=5324&name=Casparro

Congrats Zack Casparro for being mentioned in the Boarding House section of bucknuts.com...
http://bucknuts.com/index.php/Football-Article/boarding-house-purdont-edition/menu-id-1346.html
Here is the text....
Fits the bill … Here’s a darkhorse. And a wildcard.

In every recruiting class it seems, Ohio State lands an unknown prospect (often a preferred walk-on) that bolsters depth late (see Glasgow, Graham). If you’re looking ahead to 2012, here’s a name that might fit that mold: Zack Casparro.

The Grove City Christian junior excelled in 2010 at defensive end and on the offensive line for the small Division VI school and his 6-foot-6, 260-frame allows for additional weight – a lot of it. He’s gained 20 pounds in the last seven months – the good kind – and his coaches say he’ll hold 280 before he “starts to show a tackle belly.”

Speed is one huge difference between D-VI football and the Big Ten and Casparro is working hard to combat that. His current 40-yard dash time is 5.2 but coaches expect that to drop this summer.

A source close to Casparro said the junior is spending his “off” days focusing on speed and agility drills and is working to sustain his speed over distances to create a “sexy” 40 time. Casparro’s explosion off the ball is not in question. To enhance his sustained speed, Casparro is following Duane Carlisle's Better Athlete Program. Carlisle became Purdue’s director of sports performance this month after a three-year run as the San Francisco 49ers strength and conditioning coach (he was let-go by new 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh).

Casparro doesn’t have a “dream” school and favors a place that provides the “best education in science.” At the same time, Casparro says he’d “love to go to OSU.” Those close to Casparro say he has tremendous feet and quickness and will camp very well at schools (like Ohio University) that break down 40 times into 10-yard segments.

No doubt Casparro registers as a project. But a strong summer will propel him to another level. Michigan State and North Carolina State are already sniffing around. Academically, he carries a 3.8 GPA, which puts him one step closer to being a Tressel Guy.