Ohio OL worth a look

Every year in Ohio there are players that come from smaller schools that end up being fine college prospects. A player to keep your eye on for the class of 2007 is 6-foot-2, 275-pound two-way lineman Matthew Beaver from Gallipolis (Ohio) Gallia Academy.

Beaver attended the recent Rivals.com Junior Day and looked the part of a solid Division I prospect. He plays offensive line, defensive line and is a deep snapper, which could make him a valuable commodity for a program looking for a player that can do it all.

"My best asset would have to be hands, my size and my footwork," Beaver said. "I am very versatile among my positions. I have played offensive tackle, offensive guard, defensive tackle, defensive end and I am also a snapper. I can play anywhere on either side of the ball where I need to."

Early on the attention has come from Marshall, Ohio University and Dartmouth. He plans on camping this summer at Marshall, Ohio and Ohio State.

"I am looking for somewhere with good academics, plus a college that has a great winning tradition," he said. "I am looking for comfort ability with the coaching staff. The best part of the process so far has been talking with new coaches and exploring new teams and looking at what each school has to offer."

Beaver will lean hard on his family for support when it comes time to make a decision.

"I'm going to rely on my brother and my father," Beaver said. "My brother is helping because he played and coached at Marshall and knows a little bit about what needs to be done and what to expect. My father is helping because he assisted my brother get recruited."

Beaver said he would love to get more attention from Ohio State, Purdue, Georgia and Northwestern. He's spending the off-season working in track and lifting weights three times a day.

"Everything is coming along great," he said. "I just have to keep working hard to get better."