Lamar Sperling explains Buffalo football pick on national signing day

On Feb 1, 2023

Kentucky and Ohio State forced Lamar Sperling to reconsider his plan, but the Archbishop Hoban senior running back stuck with his original college choice.

Ohio’s Mr. Football, Sperling went wire to wire with the University at Buffalo, verbally committing to the Mid-American Conference program in late July and eventually signing to play for the Bulls in December.

“They’ve been loyal to me since day one,” Sperling said Wednesday after participating in a national signing day ceremony at Hoban.

Archbishop Hoban senior running back Lamar Sperling with family during the school's national signing day ceremony. Ohio's Mr. Football, Sperling signed in December with the University at Buffalo.

A day after Hoban fell 28-21 to Toledo Central Catholic on Dec. 1 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Kentucky offered Sperling a scholarship to play in the Southeastern Conference.

“It was surprising, shocking,” Sperling said, “and I did have a thought like, ‘What do I do now?’

“At the end of the day, I felt most comfortable at Buffalo. They knew what I was capable of, even before the [OHSAA] playoffs. That’s what I valued.”

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Neither Ohio State nor Penn State offered Sperling, but he spoke with both Big Ten schools. The Buckeyes hosted him for a visit, along with Toledo and Buffalo.

“[Ohio State] wanted to just keep recruiting me, but at that point, I was like, ‘Buffalo wants me,’” Sperling said. “[Buffalo] pushed the hardest from the start, so I went with my heart.”

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Even after Sperling had signed with Buffalo, he became a bit concerned because Greg Knox left the Bulls last month to take a job Mississippi State. Knox had been Buffalo’s running backs coach and recruited Sperling, who ran last season for 3,867 yards and set single-season OHSAA records with 58 rushing touchdowns and 59 total TDs.

“It was a little worry once he left, but after talking to the head coach [Maurice Linguist], he kind of told me the deal and what was going on,” Sperling said. “I talked to my mom. I talked to my coaches. So that kind of calmed me down and helped me understand what the process was.”

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Five other Hoban seniors will play college football: offensive linemen Keon Johnson (North Texas) and Drew Holt (Toledo), defensive linemen Grant Thompson (Ashland) and Jason Martin III (Saint Francis) and linebacker Jayvian Crable (Ohio). Like Sperling, Martin and Crable signed in December.

“It’s cool to see all the seniors who really played are deciding to keep playing,” Holt said. “We all played such a key role for our high school team, and I hope it’s the same at the college level for all of us.”

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Mayor Dan Horrigan declared “Lamar Sperling Day” in Akron

Sperling’s Hoban career transcended the tenure of a typical high school football star. In a recent proclamation, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan congratulated him for winning Mr. Football and named Jan. 20, 2023, “Lamar Sperling Day.”

“It’s a big opportunity,” Sperling said, “especially growing up here, living here my whole life, knowing that the whole city is watching me and supporting me throughout my whole journey.”

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Sperling’s Hoban teammates are eager to see what he’ll accomplish at Buffalo.

“He’s just all around a great dude. He’s really selfless,” Johnson said. “After every long run in the huddle and then touchdown on the sidelines, he thanks us and tells us, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing. I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing.’”