When Elyria senior Isaiah Byler put pen to paper on Wednesday, it completed a journey that a few years ago seemed unlikely. But several acts of kindness gave Byler an opportunity and he took full advantage by working hard and staying committed. The result was a Division I football scholarship to Bowling Green State University.

Two years ago the six-foot-five Byler weighed 330 pounds. His head coach Steve Hamilton told him for a D-I school to take him seriously as a prospect, he needed to slim down and increase his mobility.

A process that is easier said that done. Byler needed help. A chain of events unfolded that changed Byler’s life.

His youth pastor Josh Kirskey committed to pay for the first six weeks of Byler’s training with former NFL player LaCharles Bentley and Bentley agreed to cover the rest if Byler showed promise.

"It was a blessing," Byler said of Kirskey’s kind offer. "I wouldn’t have been able to pay for LeCharles’ camp. It was $1,000 for six weeks. He said that someone blessed him when he was young and he was paying it back."

Working with Bentley evolved Byler’s body and his game.

"No doubt. I still work four to five days with LeCharles," Byler said. "It has been a big blessing. It is unbelievable how much he has helped me. He gave me that diet that helped me lose 60-70 pounds. Now the weight is lost, he has me on another diet to convert fat to muscle. He helped me get a D-I scholarship and be All-Ohio."

Byler committed to Bowling Green in July and his signing yesterday made it official.

"I am excited to start a new chapter in my life," Byler said. "High school is almost over and I’m excited to play college ball."

Byler first met the Bowling Green coaches at Ohio State’s football camp. He made an unofficial visit and then an official one and he was hooked.

"I visited there and it was just a wonderful place," Byler said. "It is a very beautiful campus. There is a lot of history there as it is over 100 years old. It has some of the best programs in the country."

Byler was also impressed with the football program. Last season first year head coach Dave Clawson, previously Tennessee’s offensive coordinator, guided the Falcons to the Humitarian Bowl and a 7-6 record.

"The football facility is the best in the (Mid-American Conference)," Byler said. "I really like the new coaching staff. Coach Clawson is a great guy. I really like his personality. I grew up partly in the south in Tennessee so I relate to him. The football program is really on the rise with being in the Humanitarian Bowl. It is a pretty strong team. All of these are reasons I chose Bowling Green."

Byler credits all those who helped him earn this opportunity to play D-I football.

"It was a big circle of people helping me," Byler said. "Coach Hamilton for giving me time to work with LeCharles, Pastor Josh Kirskey paying for the camp, my parents helping out with gas money to get there and LeCharles working with me. Without them I would not be getting a D-I scholarship."

Courtesy of Zachary Dzurick

Elyria's P.J. Mahone led Bowling Green defensively with 13 tackles, despite losing a game they led 20-6 over Missouri on Saturday night.

MU came back to score 21 unanswered points and defeat the Falcons 27-20.

Mahone's 13 tackles was just one shy of his career-high of 14, set against Eastern Michigan last season.

Up next for the Falcons will be a trip to Huntington, Wv. for a showdown with former Mid-American Conference opponent, Marshall on Saturday.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

For Elyria's P.J. Mahone, bad pre-season rankings and a new coach with a new system don't faze him.

Despite his Bowling Green football team being picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference East Division — and having a new coach in Dave Clawson — Mahone is expecting big things for the Falcons when they start their season against the Troy University Trojans tonight at Doyt Perry Stadium.

"I wanna go out my senior year with a MAC Championship," said Mahone, Lorain County's 2005 Golden Helmet Award winner. "That's our ultimate goal is to make it to the MAC Championship. I'm expecting big things from this team."

The Falcons return 11 starters from last year's 6-6 team that tied for second in the MAC East Division. Buffalo is favored to repeat in the East with Temple (2nd), Akron (3rd), Ohio University (4th) picked to finish ahead. Only Kent State (6th) and Miami of Ohio (7th) were picked to finish worse.

The last time BG was picked to finish fifth was two years ago when the surprising Falcons went on to capture a share of the MAC East and advance to their third bowl game in five years. Can they repeat?

"I'm driving to do the best I can do to help my team win," said Mahone, a defensive back/safety. "We've had a lot of catching up to do with putting in a new system on defense. I think I fit in good. I've worked on my technique and my open field tackling in the off-season. I worked hard in my summer conditioning program and I watched extra film during the summer with my position group."

He also said there is closeness on this team that he's never seen.

"We have really come together as a team," Mahone said. "There aren't any cliques or small groups that hang out. It's all of us. We all collectively hang out and we get along with each other."

Mahone is not only expecting big things for the team, but he wants to have a big year and possibly move on to a bigger stage.

"I definitely have a dream to play in the NFL," Mahone said. "That's a dream of every college player to get to the NFL. If I have the opportunity, I'm going to take the most of that opportunity. I would have to have a better year than last year. More like I did my sophomore year when I had seven interceptions, I only had three last year."

Last year, Mahone started all 12 games and led the team with 95 tackles. He recorded at least 10 or more tackles in four games and nabbed three interceptions.

As a sophomore he was named second team All-MAC after recording 90 tackles and had a conference-leading seven interceptions, which tied for third in school history for interceptions in a season. He returned those interceptions for 220 yards, which is a BG school record. He was also named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week twice after a 10 tackles, two interception performance against Akron and Toledo.

In 2005, the year he won Lorain County's Golden Helmet award, he was also a first team All-Ohio selection, along with All-District Offensive Player of the Year and the MVP of the Pioneer Conference. He scored 30 touchdowns and recorded 2,600 yards of total offense, leading the Pioneers to their first-ever playoff appearance, a 21-9 win over Toledo St. John.They advanced to the regional semifinal, before losing to Canton McKinley, 35-9.

swalker@MorningJournal.com