In football hotbed,2 QBs draw raves

CLEVELAND — Before this week’s NFL combine, The Chronicle ventured to football-rich northern Ohio, an area that has produced two of the top quarterbacks in the 2017 draft. If history is any guide, this region, home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, could play a role in the 49ers’ latest attempt to recapture their glory days. Eddie DeBartolo Jr., Joe Montana and Bill Walsh, who developed the revolutionary West Coast offense when he was working in southern Ohio for eight years as a Cincinnati Bengals assistant. [...] the 49ers have both the No. 2 overall pick and an overwhelming need at a position that’s essential for success in the NFL. Trubisky is an accurate pocket passer, but he has just 13 college starts for evaluators to examine. Kizer, 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, has ideal size and arm strength, but he completed just 59.3 of his passes last season, and Notre Dame (4-8) had its second-fewest wins since 1963. NFL teams use the combine to test physical ability, and they also interview to gauge aptitude and intangibles — qualities that are vitally important for quarterbacks. Both Tribusky and Kizer have NFL skill sets, but do they have the leadership, smarts and work ethic the position requires? The first person who spoke about Trubisky on Monday morning mentioned that he took “incredible notes,” had a “fantastic work ethic” and grinded his way to success in a rigorous environment. [...] how he blended in with his classmates in the aftermath of an epic triple-overtime, state-regional win as a senior. After a redshirt season, Trubisky, the first quarterback to throw for 9,000 yards in the greater Cleveland area, backed up Marquise Williams for two seasons. In 2015, in spot duty, he completed 40 of 47 passes with six touchdowns and no interceptions — but stayed No. 2. In his lone season as a starter, Trubisky set North Carolina records for passing yards (3,748) and touchdown passes (30) while ranking sixth in the nation in completion percentage (68.0). [...] they mentioned Trubisky’s physical skills, but they were particularly wowed by his innate grasp of football, even as a 13-year-old. Central Catholic head coach Greg Dempsey and two assistants visited Notre Dame last year before its spring game, and Kizer showed them around campus. [...] Kizer knew about Touchdown Jesus. [...] Kizer, whose father, Derek, is a police officer who played basketball at Bowling Green, did it all at Central Catholic. The future finance major was an integral part of the school’s peer mentorship program, specializing in helping classmates with academics and character development. College counselor Mona McGhee, in her 43rd year in education, said Kizer was the equivalent of a five-star recruit in the program she leads. Dempsey later realized the kid possessed the grit to handle the pressure. Some assistants still razz Dempsey about his decision after Kizer led Central Catholic to a 34-6 record and a state title, while being named the Ohio Division III Co-Offensive Player of the Year, in his three seasons as a starter.