Garfield Heights LB has the numbers

Four-star Garfield Heights, Ohio, defensive end Melvin Fellows has already made his pledge to Ohio State, but that has not stopped college coaches from streaming through the Cleveland area school. One of the reasons for the continued parade of coaches is the potential of Garfield Heights linebacker Dillon Voss.

Voss teamed with Fellows on Garfield Heights' defense last season, coming out with all-conference honors after putting up 131 total tackles, 26 tackles for loss, six sacks and seven pass break ups. According to Garfield Heights head coach Charles Reisland, Voss played every bit as well this past season as those numbers would indicate.

"He's a kid who plays every play," Coach Reisland said. "Him and Melvin are our two captains and they are two of the finest captains you're ever going to see. The kids rally around both of those guys. We're sitting here right now watching film on those guys and he's a big-time hitter. He's a complete linebacker and a downhill guy. He'll knock your face off.

"He could play a MIKE, but he could probably play outside too. I see him as a MIKE because he plays so much downhill. A lot of the schools wanted to see him move his hips a little better so he wrestled this winter."

His production on the field notwithstanding, college coaches like the fact that the 6-1, 225-pound Voss also has 4.6 40-yard dash speed, bench presses 325 pounds and squats 450. He backs those numbers up with a 3.79 GPA in the classroom and a 25 on the ACT, opening the doors to just about every institution of higher learning in the country.

"West Point offered him last week," Coach Reisland reported. "I'm pretty sure Miami (Ohio) and (OhioU.) are both going to offer him and I really think Northwestern is going to offer him, so he's starting to get a lot of things now. Illinois likes him as a fullback because they need a fullback in that offense. It's not out of his reach to play in the Big Ten. He's a pretty good player."

Having Fellows on the same field has helped Voss not only keep offensive linemen off of him, but also in attracting more colleges. The coaches at Ohio State were one of the first to recognize Voss' talents after watching tape of Fellows.

"They were in watching Melvin and (Coach) Taver Johnson said 'Who the heck is 45?'" Coach Reisland said. "He said 'We're not going to recruit him, but somebody should,' and he passed the word around so that's why everybody is really high on him right now. He's a really hot commodity right now."

Voss will camp with Ohio State this summer and is also looking at several other schools' camps to attend. The chance to check out other elements of a university will also be important in Voss' final decision.

"No. 1, he wants to get a good education," Coach Reisland said. "He likes the Miami of Ohio's and the Northwestern's. The Ivy Leagues have all been in and they all want him. He wants a good education, but he wants to play big time football too."