College football: 7 ‘super seniors’ to watch from area high schools

Here is a look at some of those players:

Sixth-year seniors

Richie Carpenter Jr, safety, Wayne — Kent State

An unrated prospect in the class of 2016, Carpenter took a circuitous route to the Golden Flashes. He spent a year at Lenoir-Rhyne then transferred to Urbana, where he played in 11 games and made 34 tackles for the Blue Knights in 2017.

He played in 12 games in 2019 and was third on the team in tackles last season when Kent State played only four games.

Justin Rigg, tight end, Springboro — Kentucky

Already a veteran of 50 games, Rigg is sticking around Lexington for a sixth year as a tight end for the Wildcats.

He has played in parts of five seasons already, including 22 starts over the past three years, and has caught 30 passes for 358 yards and a touchdown.

The 6-6, 263-pounder, who was a three-star recruit, already has a degree in ag economics and is working toward another in communication.

Sean Mahone, safety, Lakota West — West Virginia

The 42nd-ranked recruit in Ohio in the class of 2016 has become a two-year starter for the Mountaineers.

The 6-foot, 203-pound senior has 143 career tackles and a pair interceptions in 42 career games.

A member of the Academic All-Big 12 team since his redshirt freshman season, Mahone has achieved a degree in management information systems and is working on his master’s in business administration.

Jeffery Pooler Jr., defensive end, Dunbar — Northwestern

A two-star recruit, Pooler redshirted in 2016 but played in 38 games over the past four years at West Virginia.

The 6-2, 250-pounder had six tackles for loss, including three sacks, last season and recently announced he will finish his career in the Big Ten as a graduate transfer.

The multiyear Academic All-Big 12 honoree has a degree in sports management and told rivals.com he is seeking to rush the passer and win a Big Ten championship for the Wildcats.

Fifth-year seniors

Danny Davis, receiver, Springfield — Wisconsin

Davis, who received his undergraduate degree in life science communications last week, has caught 99 passes for 1,164 yards in four seasons in Madison. He has 12 career receiving touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns despite being limited to two games last fall when the Badgers were short-handed at receiver for most of the season.

One of the top-rated area recruits in the class of 2017, the four-star prospect made an immediate impact for the Badgers as a true freshman when he caught 26 passes for 418 yards and five touchdowns.

Charlie Kuhbander, kicker, Springboro — Northwestern

Kuhbander has been the Wildcats kicker since 2017 and is set for one more go ‘round with the reining Big Ten West champions as a graduate student.

He was considered one of the top kicking prospects in the country coming out of high school, and he has scored 226 points in four years.

Kuhbander is 37 for 51 on field goals for his career with a long of 47. He has also averaged 57.5 yards per kickoff with 15 touchbacks.

Nathan Monnin, offensive line, Piqua — Kent State

The No. 138 prospect in Ohio in the class of 2017 has outperformed his ranking by becoming a three-year starter for the Golden Flashes and making the All-MAC third team last year.

He played in nine games as a true freshman in 2017, broke into the starting lineup on the offensive line as a sophomore and started every game in 2019. Last year, he helped block for a unit that led the nation in scoring and total offense.

Now a 6-5, 295-pound fifth-year senior, Monnin was a two-star tight end prospect for the Indians.