Simon says hes Shaker Heights best

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio – Names like Greg Pruitt Jr., Robert Price, Arthur Boyd, Greg Love and Michael Bell fill the list of former Division I prospects at Shaker Heights, Ohio. But when you ask Shaker Heights coach Dave Sedmak about his talented junior Nick Simon, a big smile comes across his face.

“I’ve never coached anybody that is as aggressive as Nick,” Sedmak said. “On every single play his motor is running and he gets from sideline-to-sideline making big plays. He’s something special.”

At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Simon has all of the tools to be a major Division I recruit in the Class of 2005. He plays a number of different positions for Shaker Heights, including left tackle, linebacker and even nose tackle, but with his size and his 4.7-second speed in the 40-yard dash, he likely projects as an inside linebacker.

“I’m intense and aggressive and always go hard until the whistle blows,” Simon, who has 188 career tackles, said.

Sedmak especially sees that when Simon is lined up on the offensive line.

“We know that he’s not going to be an offensive lineman in college, but I think that’s where he plays his best high school ball at,” Sedmak said. “You should see him get after it. He’s doesn’t always have the bulk that your typical lineman does, but he just works so hard to open up holes and make a lot of big plays.

“His effort is amazing.”

Athletic ability does run in the Simon family tree. His older brother played college hockey at Notre Dame and is in the Predators’ organization.

Simon lists Notre Dame as his top choice early on, followed by Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Boston College and Ohio State. He camped at Penn State as a sophomore.

“I’ve always followed Notre Dame because of my brother, so that’s been one of my dream schools,” Simon said. “But I’ll be looking at location, a good education and reputation of the football program when it comes time to make a decision.”

But Simon isn’t the only player on Shaker Heights that will be worth a look in the Class of 2005. Remember the names Mark Woodson and Antoine Washington, because both have the tools to play on the next level.

Woodson, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver, has a pair of solid hands and knows how to turn a short pass into a long touchdown.

“He doesn’t dance,” Sedmak said. “He gets that ball and goes upfield.”

Woodson is an outstanding sprinter and has been timed as fast at 10.5 seconds in the 100 meters. He had 28 catches for 565 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior.

“He’s a football player that just runs track and not the other way around,” Sedmak said.

Washington is an interesting story because he missed seven games of his junior season, so a lot of teams might overlook him. They shouldn’t, though. Washington definitely passes the eye-ball test with his 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame and on film he flashes to the ball with good quickness and explosion.