Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Jason Hewlett and DJ Waller (front-center) pose with their families after officially signing their letter of intent at Chaney High School on Wednesday morning. The duo is heading to Michigan.

YOUNGSTOWN — Adoring the entrance to Chaney High School’s gymnasium is a slew of life-sized portraits of Cowboys who competed at the collegiate level.

Featuring wood-grain plaques and inscribed text describing their accomplishments, the likes of Frankie Sinkwich, winner of the 1942 Heisman Trophy at Georgia, or more recently, Anthony Floyd, who played at Louisville, and Brad Smith who played at Missouri, look down toward the halls.

Seniors DJ Waller and Jason Hewlett believe they’re the next batch of Cowboys to saddle up and make a splash at the Power Five level.

Both Waller and Hewlett signed their national letters of intent Wednesday morning and are heading to the University of Michigan. They’ll become the latest talent from the Mahoning Valley to don the winged helmet in Ann Arbor, but the story of the Chaney duo goes back years.

Rivals for a few seasons when Waller attended East High, the two have known each other since they were young. But, it was during their time at AAU that they understood how well they sync together on the gridiron.

“We was talking like, if we get together we can really make something shake, and we can really turn up the city,” Hewlett said. “I think we put the city on the map, we put Chaney on the map, not just us, but our teammates too. So, I think we did everything we accomplished out to do.”

During the 2021 season, Hewlett found himself with a season-ending injury only moments into their first game of year, meaning that seeing actual game time with Waller would have to wait at least another year.

Meanwhile, Waller started to post numbers, notably recording 47 tackles this past fall, seven of which went for a loss. He also recorded a sack, an interception, and multiple scores on offense. Originally committed to the University of Toledo, the talented senior admits that he was slipping a bit, but overcame adversity when he realized there was a big opportunity on the table.

“My story is kinda tough, I kept pushing, I kept working, and now look, so I’m blessed,” Waller said. “I wasn’t really focused on the field, I wasn’t really focused in the classroom. I had to figure out stuff on my own, so when I figured it out, I got it down pat.

“When I was getting interest and my grades wasn’t even good. (College coaches) still talked to me, and they still told me I had a chance to come D1. So when I heard that and coach Chris (Amill), was talking to me all the time, when I heard that it just motivated me to go crazy, and that’s what I did.”

Hewlett was originally committed to the University of Cincinnati, but there was always a connection with the maize and blue. Both talked about the importance of Steve Clinkscale, Michigan’s Co-Defensive Coordinator and defensive backs coach, who’s a Chaney alum himself.

“(Clinkscale) said how we got that grit in us, how we can raise the tempo, and how we’re dogs for real,” said Waller. “Hardly anybody knew about us. Youngstown is kind of a small city, so everybody probably looks over it, but it’s a good town down here, and he really understood that.”

Both searched for a new college to attend after decomitting from their respective schools. Hewlett was offered first, then Waller, who was hooked off the bat. The duo fell in love with Jim Harbaugh and Clinkscale, knowing they wanted to be a part of the Wolverines tradition.

“I committed first, but me and DJ always talked, our recruitment process was two different things,” Hewlett said. “So I let him do his, he let me do mine. We always talked about it, but at the end of the day, we wanted to each to pick a spot not because we’re both wanting to go there, but we wanted to pick a spot that’s best for us.

“I feel like going to a new situation with somebody you know is a little better, because even when you’re down, you can talk to him. He can lean on me, I can lean on him, and we just push each other like nobody else could. So seeing him work hard is going to make me work harder, so that level of competition is good and I love that guy.”

In attendance were plenty of friends, teammates, and family members, alongside 2021 graduate Clive Wilson, who’s currently playing at Boston College.

Having these next batch of Cowboys take a big step is what the program needs after not sponsoring athletics for several years, especially with the varsity football program just being four years old following its hiatus.

“It speaks volumes to how tight (Waller and Hewlett) are, you go through a football season or multiple football seasons with somebody, we really try to preach family and brotherhood,” said Chaney coach Seth Antram. “It shows, they have a great relationship, and they’re going to continue that at the next level.”

“It’s one thing to go play college ball somewhere with your brother, but to do it at the highest level, you’re looking at a team that’s in the college playoffs right now. A place where you’re going to get a great education and a great football experience, it’s awesome.”

When it’s all said and done, the defensive duo admits they do it now just for Chaney, but for the area as a whole. More so, it’s about giving those younger people something to aspire to.

“It means a lot because I do want to come back and talk to kids that were my age, just talk to them about their future. It means a lot just being a leader to the kids and our youth, and I’m just blessed to be in the opportunity I am today,” said Waller.

Hewletts adds, “The younger kids don’t really know Brad Smith and Anthony Floyd and them because they’re too young to remember them. Them seeing me and DJ, it’s giving them a new spark. They come up to us every day, saying they look up to us, so it’s very special, you start thinking they look up to you, and it really warms your heart.”