NJ high school teammates squaring off in Ohio…
ATLANTA — The sports activities world will probably be watching Ohio State and Notre Dame Monday evening with the national championship at stake.
So will Rich Hansen, however he will probably be notably targeted on two guys: Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon and Notre Dame defensive finish RJ Oben.
St. Peter’s Prep of Jersey City will probably be on heart stage, that includes two of its alums in faculty soccer’s greatest recreation. The duo performed collectively for 3 seasons.
Cody Simon celebrates during the Ohio State-Oregon recreation on Jan. 1, 2025. AP
“I’m excited for them, man,” Hansen, the school’s athletic director and former soccer coach, stated. “These two guys are among the many most interesting people strolling the planet, and I imply that. Obviously they possess an athletic ability set, however there’s a lot more to them, you realize.
“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.”
Both Simon and Oben have helped their respective defenses be among the many nation’s best.
Cody Simon taking part in for St. Peter’s Prep Courtesy of St. Peter’s Pre
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 in 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 pressured fumble.
RJ Oben celebrates during the Notre Dame-Georgia recreation on Jan. 2, 2025. USA TODAY Sports by way of Reuters Con
Both 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 could have appreciated this 12 months, however he got here up massive in a quarterfinal win over Georgia with a strip sack.
Cody Simon speaks to the media on Jan. 18, 2025. Getty Images
Now, the 2 former high school teammates will share the identical subject one more 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 respect he’s in the place with me and we will all share the second. Two guys from the identical high school 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.”
RJ Oben taking part in for St. Peter’s Prep Courtesy of St. Peter’s Prep
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Ohio State linebacker Cody Simon and Notre Dame defensive finish RJ Oben.
The solely drawback for St. Peter’s Prep and Hansen is choosing a facet. The former 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.”
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