Beacon Journal sportswriter David Lee Morgan reported this item:

A familiar face will be roaming the Garfield sidelines during football games this fall.
Former longtime Rams coach Bill McGee has joined head coach Bob Sax’s staff as a volunteer assistant.

McGee retired in April 2002 after compiling a 191-83-4 record in 26 seasons and winning 16 City Series titles. His last City title was in 2001, when the Rams defeated Buchtel 7-6 and finished 8-2 overall and 7-0 in the City.

Moments after that game, McGee’s eyes filled with tears that then rolled down his face as he praised his group of ”overachievers” for playing such a great game against a formidable opponent.

McGee, the United Press International AAA Coach of the Year in 1983, when the Rams finished second in the state playoffs, taught English at Garfield before retiring. He recently had been a substitute teacher at Manchester High.

”It’s great to have a legendary coach like Coach McGee back with the program,” said Sax, who played for McGee. ”He represents so much when it comes to Garfield football and we’re privileged to have him back.”

The football season is approaching, so I compiled a list of high school seniors from the Beacon Journal’s five-county coverage area who are listed as prospects on www.scout.com. There are several area players who are not on this list who will surely play in college. Nonetheless, this should give you some names to look for this season.

Here are the players, the positions they are being recruited at and their high schools (click on the player’s name for more information from scout.com and make sure to scroll down the player’s bio page to see which colleges have made offers):

DeVoe Torrence/running back/transfered from Canton South to Massillon Washington/committed to Ohio State University

Johnny Adams/wide receiver/Buchtel

Steve Yoak/linebacker/Archbishop Hoban

Will Fleming/safety/Archbishop Hoban

Eric Magnacca/safety/Perry

Whitney Mercilous/defensive end/Garfield

Larry Dawson/running back/North

K.J. Herring/runnning back/Massillon Washington

Jeff White/running back/Alliance

Carlin Isles/running back/Jackson

Kameron Alexander/running back/Buchtel

Dominic Surace/fullback/Twinsburg

Jordan Bell/wide receiver/Barberton

Chris Edwards/wide receiver/Wadsworth

Teddy Robb/wide receiver/Northwest

Justin Ray/offensive line/St. Thomas Aquinas

Reggie Comeaux/offensive line/Massillon Washington

Grady Spidell/offensive line/Buchtel

Kevin Dahl/linebacker/North Canton Hoover

David Whipple/safety/Canton South

Matthew Vick/safety/Perry

Steve Schott/kicker/Massillon Washington

Steve Yoak