Massey ready to add offers

When Columbus (Ohio) Marion Franklin head coach Brian Haffele saw what he had in athlete Tyrell Massey after the 5-11, 190-pound prospect transferred to his school before this past season, he knew he had hit paydirt. The versatile Massey was a standout on both sides of the ball and even plugged a hold at the quarterback position late in the season.

By the time Massey had completed his junior season he had rushed for 700 yards and seven touchdowns, totaled 350 receiving yards and four more scores and picked off five passes on defense. That effort was good enough to bring in first team all-city, all-Central Ohio and all-state honors.

"He's the home-run player that every team hopes they can find," Coach Haffele said. "When the ball's in his hands he plays at a very fast pace and he's always around the ball to make plays. He's just a playmaker. If we need a play made, he makes it."

Translating Massey's game to the college level is a little more difficult because the question becomes where to play him? Haffele says that answer changes depending on which coaching staff he talks to.

"He played free safety for us, but he's not super big Some schools talk about him playing corner," said Haffele. "A lot of Big Ten schools, like Ohio State for instance, they have talked to him about playing slot receiver."

Massey's game involves both power and speed. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds and has his bench press north of 300 pounds. Those talents have certainly attracted their fair share of attention thus far in the recruiting process with interest coming from schools throughout the Midwest and beyond.

"My mailbox pretty much has his name on it, that's what I keep on telling him," said Haffele. "The most interest probably is [from] Cincinnati. They are waiting on his test scores to determine if they are going to offer him in the spring or not. He's taking the test in April for the first time.

"Indiana, Georgia Tech, Ohio State have interest. He's getting a lot of mail from pretty much every Big Ten school. Purdue sends a lot, Illinois is really high on his list and Iowa. Then, all the MAC schools. He tells me right now his top two choices right now would be Cincinnati and Illinois."

This summer, Massey will attend several camps including the NIKE Camp in Columbus and Ohio State's Senior Day Camp. His research of the schools recruiting him will also include unofficial campus visits.

"I know he's going up to Ohio State. We're here in Columbus and I take a group of guys every year," said Haffele. "He talked about going to Illinois and Cincinnati. He actually has been down to Cincinnati already. Those are three that I know are on his list [to visit]."

Off the field Haffele is just as complimentary about Massey's demeanor and gives him a vote of confidence any father can appreciate.

"Character-wise, the best way to sum it up is if I had a daughter, I'd let him date her. He's a quality young man," Haffele commented. "He's somewhat independent, so it is hard for him to be a vocal leader. I really expect him to be a better leader this year as a senior. Last year was actually his first year at our school. He's still learning the ropes, but everyone on the team knows he's the man."