Arizona junior making a name
Class of 2009 defensive end/tight end Craig Roh (6-5, 230, 4.75) from Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral is having an outstanding junior season and is one of the reasons his team is 7-1 with No. 2 state ranking in the 4A division.
Roh is the defensive leader, leading the team in tackles and sacks, despite being double and triple teamed for most of the season.
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Through his eight games, Roh has 53 tackles, 13 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one safety.
Roh's 13 sacks for a loss of 86 yards ranks him No. 1 in 4A and No. 2 for of the state's divisions. He has added two receptions as a tight end.
Chaparral's lone loss this season came at the hands of last year's state champs and the No.1 ranked 4A team in the state, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro in a thriller 31-28.
In the weight room, Roh currently power cleans 225, benches 260, and squats 380. He is also excellent in the classroom as his 4.3 GPA would indicate.
A good all around athlete, Roh also plays basketball and as a sophomore earned defensive player of the year for the varsity team.
"Craig is a definite Division I prospect," Chaparral Coach Charlie Ragle said. "He practices and plays with a high motor and physically dominates.
Ragle is in his first year as Chaparral head coach after coaching with Dirk Koetter at ASU last year so he definitely knows what a D-I coach looks like.
"Craig is one of the most cerebral kids that I have coached and uses his hands better than anyone I have ever coached and has a great frame to build on," Ragle said. "As a junior, his upside is huge as a prospect for the '09 class."
Roh comes from outstanding athletic bloodlines. His father signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons and played five seasons in the CBA.
Roh has the potential to get even bigger as his Father stands at 6-foot-7.
Schools indicating interest at this time are Stanford, Northwestern, Northern Colorado, Idaho State and Montana.
Look for that list to grow a bunch over the course of the season and into spring.