ATLANTA — The sports activities world will probably be watching Ohio State and Notre Dame Monday evening with the nationwide championship at stake.
So will Wealthy Hansen, however he will probably be significantly centered on two guys: Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon and Notre Dame defensive finish RJ Oben.
St. Peter’s Prep of Jersey Metropolis will probably be on middle stage, that includes two of its alums in school soccer’s greatest recreation. The duo performed collectively for 3 seasons.
“I’m excited for them, man,” Hansen, the varsity’s athletic director and former soccer coach, stated. “These two guys are among the many best people strolling the planet, and I imply that. Clearly they possess an athletic ability set, however there’s a lot extra to them, you understand.
“They embraced the grind, the competition and challenge, and that’s really what sets them apart. Their work ethic, they carried themselves with maturity and class here. I can’t think of two guys who are more deserving to be in that environment and have that opportunity. It was the honor of my career to coach two guys like that.”
Each Simon and Oben have helped their respective defenses be among the many nation’s finest.
Simon led Ohio State in tackles with 104 and notched seven sacks and 7 passes defensed.
He was the Defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl, a one-sided Buckeyes victory over Oregon through which he had 11 tackles and two sacks.
In his first season at Notre Dame, after spending the primary 5 years of his profession at Duke, Oben had 18 tackles, a sack and a compelled fumble.
Each needed to be affected person.
Simon waited his flip at Ohio State, lastly breaking out as a fifth-year senior.
Oben, the son of former Giants offensive lineman Roman Oben, didn’t play fairly as a lot as he might have appreciated this 12 months, however he got here up massive in a quarterfinal win over Georgia with a strip sack.
Now, the 2 former highschool teammates will share the identical subject another time as opponents at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“I talked to RJ a couple days ago. It’s always bigger than the rivalry or anything,” Simon stated. “I simply admire he’s within the place with me and we will all share the second. Two guys from the identical highschool are fairly cool.
“We have a term called, ‘Prep for Life.’ That really does run deep. There’s a lot of people who have come from our school, and we always try to stay connected. It does mean a lot for our high school.”
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Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon and Notre Dame defensive finish RJ Oben.
The one downside for St. Peter’s Prep and Hansen is selecting a facet. The previous coach can’t do it. He does have a dream for Monday evening, although.
“I am rooting for the first ever 0-0 tie in national championship college football history,” Hansen joked. “That’s the bad part of this whole thing. Someone is going to walk off losing and neither one of them deserves to lose. But I’m going to honestly just enjoy their effort and know that they really deserve to be in this environment.”