Kirtland's Philip LaVerde commits to Case Western Reserve | Spent one year at Ohio State as student

Philip LaVerdePhoto byOhio varsity.com

KIRTLAND, OH- Phillip LaVerde the one time second team All-America by MaxPreps linebacker out of Kirtland High School has committed to Case Western Reserve according to his "X" account (formally known as Twitter).

LaVerde spent one year at the Ohio State University as a student before making the decision to play football at Case Western Reserve, "I am really grateful to have had the opportunity to go to Ohio State for a year," LaVerde said.

"After my senior year I decided to stop playing because I was pretty beaten up and needed two surgeries," said LaVerde. "Once I recovered I started to feel like I could play again," he elaborated. This was speaking on his one year absence from the game he loves and decision to come back to play.

"I love football and I love being around the game, with my dad being a football coach."

Phillip was part of a Kirtland team that went 55-2 over his 4 years, the only losses for him were in the OHSAA State Championship games in '21 and '22 respectively, in his last season he earned co-defensive player of the year a Div. V honor.

The LaVerde name is well known in the small town of Kirtland, he is the son of the legendary Tiger LaVerde head football coach of the Hornets who has compiled a record of 249-30 with 229 of those wins coming at Kirtland and winning 7 OHSAA state football championships.

LaVerde talked fondly of his new situation at Case Western Reserve, "Ultimately I just missed football and I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to work with the coaches and players at Case." LaVerde told ohsfbmedia.com.