Happy Independence Day - OSU Big Board

Happy Fourth of July to everyone out there. It's a great day to barbecue, have a cold drink, and blow some stuff up. More seriously, it's a time to reflect on the birth of our country and the common bonds that make us Americans: our freedom of speech, our limited government, and watching Rocky kick hell out of the drugged up Commies in IV. At least the movie has stood the test of time...has anyone looked into a sequel where Barry Bonds plays the steroid-abusing bad guy?

Back to Buckeyes football, and it's been a little slow since camp broke in late June. Great camp experiences are similar to official visits: prospects get all hyped, gush about the coaches and the facilities, become BFF with the other recruits, and say your school is the leader. But you have the let the dust settle and the shininess wear off the new toy to get a real indication of where you stand with some players. Here's an abbreviated edition of the Buckeyes Big Board.


Quarterback
Targeted: Terrelle Pryor (PA)

The news continues to be positive on the nation's #1 player. Buckeyes fans are hoping Pryor will move his announcement up from signing day to one of the January All-Star games. The Buckeyes will have to withstand a strong push by regional schools like West Virginia and Penn State, who pose more of threat than national powers like Texas and Florida. Two sleeper schools from the SEC are Tennessee and Alabama, though it seems unlikely that Pryor will go that far away. Michigan and Notre Dame are hamstrung by the '07 commitments of Jimmy Clausen and Ryan Mallet, so at this point, Pryor might be categorized as "slight lean" toward OSU. But there's a lot left to play out.

Running Back
Committed: Devon Torrence (OH)
Targeted: Richard Watson (FL)

Despite impressive camp performances by top 100 players Jonas Gray (MI) and Brandon Beachum (OH), both left without offers. It appears that OSU is going to abide by their promise not to take another RB in this class. Richard Watson was someone they offered early, but he sounds leery of an increasingly deep backfield. I would categorize him as "trending down", but hurtling quickly toward "longshot". If another back joins the fray, it will under the auspicious of a different position. See Beachum at linebacker and Isaiah Pead at defensive back.

Wide Receiver
Committed: Devier Posey
Targeted: Jeff Fuller (TX), Michael Floyd (MN), Lamaar Thomas (MD), Kenny Tate (MD), Fred Smith (MI), Josh Jarboe (GA) and Cordale Scott (OH)

With a top 5 receiver already committed, the Buckeyes are looking for 1-2 more prospects. In this very deep class, seven top 250 names have OSU high on their list. Glenville product Cordale Scott is a near certainty, which reduces a lot of the guesswork. The best chance at this point is probably Lamaar Thomas, a lightening fast athlete from Maryland. He loved the camp, but will still consider Illinois and his home state Terps. Floyd would be the ultimate prize, but I still think Notre Dame or Florida will be his choice. Fuller is my favorite of the bunch, and OSU fans will flat-out say he's a better prospect than Mr. "#1" Stonum. Pity he'll probably stay in the Big 12. Jarboe is a guy to watch if he visits, since OSU has had decent success recruiting in Georgia. Tate and Smith are on the radar but heading elsewhere.


Tight End
Committed: Jake Stoneburner (OH)
Targeted: Kevin Koger (OH) and Blake Ayles (CA)

The consensus is that the 6'6" Stoneburner will likely play outside at receiver or be an H-back. As such, Coach Tressel is still looking for a tight end in this class. Koger is the ideal candidate, given his athleticism and versatility. This is arguably one of the few competitive battles between OSU and Michigan this recruiting season. Koger was a longtime Michigan lean, growing up in Toledo with a family of Wolverine fans. But the commitment of Brandon Moore changed the situation and gave the Buckeyes an in. Koger and his father had a great time with the Buckeye coaches and players at camp, and now appears to be a true tossup. He's taking one more visit to each school and will decide some time in July. The two schools of thought: (a) he's always known he wanted to be a Wolverine, but let the process play out; or (b) he originally favored Michigan, but things have changed and given the Buckeyes a slight lead.

Ayles is an excellent top 100 prospect that doesn't get as much publicity because it's assumed he'll stay out west. He has a visit to OSU planned, but if Koger commits the Buckeyes might stop pursuing him. Should Koger choose Michigan, he could be the only tight end OSU actively recruits the rest of the year.

Offensive Line
Committed: Mike Brewster, J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams
Targeted: Josh Jenkins (WV)

The soap opera with Jenkins continues. He publicly remains verbally committed to West Virginia and is really getting the business from locals. At this point, there's no indication that he might de-commit, but he does plan to take visits to schools like OSU and Florida State. Any "change of heart" is probably going to happen pretty late in the process. I currently have Jenkins near 70% to stay with the Mountaineers, but this is a very fluid number.

OSU still wants four linemen in this class, but there are plenty of three-star type Ohio kids available. If Jenkins falls through, OSU will look for the one with the best senior year performance. It also gives them the luxury of monitoring academic progress for some marginal qualifiers.

Defensive Line
Committed: Nathan Williams (OH)
Targeted: Quinton Coples (NC), Keith Wells (GA), Garrett Goebel (IL), Willie Mobley (MN), Justin Thompson (CA)

Williams was superb at the Buckeyes camp, giving the Buckeyes a nice jump on a key area of recruiting for this class. With the recent transfers of Walter Dublin and Ryan Williams, along with the general depth at tackle, it is critical that the Buckeye assemble a strong group in '08. At this point, Goebel is the most likely to join the Buckeyes, and a decision is expected in July. He seemed a lock just a few weeks ago, but a second visit to Ann Arbor certainly raised some eyebrows in the OSU camp. At this point, I'd still put the Buckeye chances at 65/35. Thompson is an intriguing junior college transfer, but is currently committed to Miami (FL). He's aware of OSU's depth chart, and a visit could give the Buckeye's a legitimate shot.

Wells still seems likely to stay in the south, with the Gators firmly in the lead right now. A commitment at the Friday Night Lights camp isn't out of the question. Coples and Mobley are both strong prospects with tremendous upside. Coples has ideal SDE size and strength, while Mobley has the potential to rush the passer or play with his hand on the ground. Both face a hurdle with the overly zealous OSU admissions office. Remember whose standards are actually higher the next time a Michigan fan tries to pawn off their retread MSU jokes about Ohio State's academics. The Buckeyes are in good shape with both of these players, but certainly can't be considered a leader for either.

Look for the Buckeyes to take 2-3 more lineman. That total doesn't count Shayne Hale, a linebacker that projects as a WDE. It's very possible that new names could emerge if the Bucks miss on Wells, Mobley and Coples. At tackle, in-state players Dawawn Whitner (Donte's brother) and Shawtel Rowell still have an outside shot at an offer.

Linebacker
Committed: Andrew Sweat (PA)
Targeted: Shayne Hale (PA), Steven Filer (IL), Brendan Beal (NJ), Etienne Sabino (FL), and Brandon Beachum (OH)

With a very deep depth chart and Sweat already in the fold, the Buckeyes aren't in great need of additional linebackers. Any program would take Hale, who looks like a beastly rusher with shaky cover skills. Hale has narrowed the the field to Ohio State, Michigan, West Virginia and Virginia. The latter three have all offered his midget buddy, Cameron Saddler, and the two have discussed going as a "package deal". Saddler won't be offered by OSU, so if that's really the case, someone else will land Hale. Package deals rarely work out, so the Buckeyes are excited to be the only non-Saddler team in the final four. While it looks like an OSU-Michigan battle, West Virginia is a sleeper here.

None of the other players, all ranked in the top 100, could be considered Buckeye leans at this point. Filer recently visited, but this looks like Notre Dame, Michigan or even Illinois might eventually be the choice. I've had Beal to USC for ages, and can't imagine that's going to change before his October announcement. Sabino is a stud, and it will probably take a miracle to pull him from the south. That miracle might be the beaches of USC rather than the cool air in Columbus. But I'd bet on a Florida school right now. Beachum needs to go in as a running back - he just looks a little small to play linebacker. With no OSU offer coming, Louisville, Penn State, Wisconsin and Florida State are all in the mix for his services.

As always, don't discount the handful of talented Ohio kids that could emerge during their senior year. With more 'ships to play with, Steve Gardiner, Justin Staples or a few others could get a surprise offer. Taylor Hill is evidently no longer and option, and personal favorite Doug Rippy committed to Nebraska.

Defensive Back
Committed: none
Targeted: Danny McCarthy (OH), D.J. Woods (OH), Johnny Adams (OH), Brandon Harris (FL) and Isaiah Pead (OH)

Again, not a huge need after last year's haul. McCarthy has apparently narrowed his list down, and possibly even made his choice. Unfortunately, there is substantial conflicting evidence on what that choice might be. Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford, Penn State and Ohio State are the final five. I still say he joins his brother until proven otherwise - but OSU is a close second in my opinion.

Woods has been a camp phenom, and if an OSU offer comes this fall, I expect him to join the '08 class. Adams remains an interesting option; he's known as "Mr. Excitement" for his electric play. If he shows consistency and durability this fall, an offer could be his. Will he wait? I'm hoping so, because he looks awesome to me. Yeah, that's a scientific term, thanks for asking.

Pead falls into that Beachum category - he brings the ability to play both sides of the ball has showed great burst at camp. There's not room for all of these in-state kids, so it may come down to who's willing to wait and who has the best senior year.

Harris is a potential lockdown corner and one of the top prospects in Florida. He will likely stay there, but Rutgers is a serious player and could land him. The Buckeyes will just try to get an official visit and go from there.