Ohio State vs. Michigan

2010 Offensive Big Board Starts to Take Shape

2009-02-20T23:14:00.006-05:00

Each Ohio State recruiting season is a unique adventure, based on scholarships available, targets in play and talent interested in the Buckeyes. Last year the dust had barely settled on the Terrelle Pryor drama before a flurry of commitments got the OSU staff off to a fast start. They never hit the breaks, collecting an overwhelming majority of their verbals before the season started en route to a top 5 class nationally.

This year's class will likely be understated compared to the last two. The '08 class was small but featured unbelievable star power, with elite prospects like DeVier Posey, Mike Adams and Mike Brewster joining a all-world QB in Columbus. The recently minted '09 may lack a true superstar, but it is very deep and littered with top250 talent. The combined classes look like the best back-to-back effort in the Tressel era, and are the foundation for continued Buckeye prosperity.

So what to expect this year? The Buckeyes will probably have less scholarships open, as the class could be 17 on the low end but might balloon to 20. Ohio State will again focus on a core of top players from Ohio, looking to keep the best and brightest in-state. They'll also search their usual haunts - Florida, Pennsylvania, and to less extent Michigan and Georgia - to try and pick off a few top targets. We've already learned that Coach Tressel does not subscribe to the "mile wide" theory of recruiting; he likes to focus on top talent interested in the Buckeyes, and score a high percentage of those players. So who are the players garnering early interest, and what positions to the Buckeyes need to focus on?

QB (1): There was a bit of hand-wringing than I thought necessary over the Tajh Boyd situation, given that his recruitment only came about because Lane Kiffin basically told him to take a hike. The idea that a 5-star kid was going to follow Pryor seemed hard to swallow at the outset; that sort of thing really only happens at places like USC and Florida. (I'm so happy I never happen to mention this kid ever again.) Having an athletic prospect with upside like Kenny Guiton fall into our laps was a great, but the OSU will definitely want to add another signal caller in this class.

Most experts thought the Buckeyes would extend an offer to dual-threat QB Devin Gardner (MI), who fits the offense and has an extremely impressive offer list. But OSU has their eyes set on a different player with a name you might recognize - Nick Montana. Papa Joe apparently has a healthy respect for Jim Tressel, and Buckeyes have indicated to Montana they aren't recruiting anyone else until he makes a decision. It's a good thing, since Gardner was nonplussed by the situation and is no longer listing Ohio State on his list.

So does Nick have the goods? He hails from Oaks Christian, the same school that produced Jimmy Clausen a few years back. Despite the pro-style passing attack, he's also more of a runner than his Dad was. He claims offers from a host of big schools, including LSU, Florida State, Alabama and of course Notre Dame. Montana recently took and unofficial visit with his Mom, and the coaches hope he will come to the spring game.

Other names to file away include Robert Bolden (MI) and Jeffrey Godfrey (FL). And don't forget Braxton Miller, and '11 prospect that is already a message board favorite.

RB (1-2): Despite the bountiful haul of Berry, Hyde and Jordan in '09, the Buckeyes will be looking for at least one back this year. Even at this early stage, there are a diverse set of candidates. But no player may be more talented that Corey Brown (PA), who boasts offers from Florida, Penn State, Alabama and a host of other BCS powers. But OSU's toughest competition might be Rutgers, where Brown's high school quarterback Tom Savage recently enrolled.

Another out-of-state name to watch is Roderick Smith (IN), a somewhat bigger back gathering interest from around the Big Ten and Big 12. Within the confines of Ohio, two names currently stick out: Erick Howard and Spencer Ware. Howard is the reigning Mr. Football in Ohio, but appears to have some work to do off the field before getting an offer. Ware is a dynamite athlete whose best sport might be baseball. His versatility is something Jim Tressel craves, but the coaches face stiff competition from hometown Cincinnati.

WR (1-2): The Buckeyes are young and deep at receiver, so they'll only be looking to add a truly elite player at this position. Tai-ler Jones (GA) might be at the top of that list, but he has offers from everywhere, and pulling him from the south will certainly be a challenge. With the cupboard somewhat bare in Ohio, a number of other out-of-state targets may receive an offer. Terrence Casper (NJ) is a physical 6'6" receiver, Justin Hunter has great leaping ability, and Kadron Boone (FL) has blazing speed. Which players camp at Ohio State or visit during the spring game will be a good indicator who the staff will pursue.

TE (1): The Buckeyes are actually somewhat thin at TE. Jake Ballard is a senior, Jake Stoneburner is more of a receiving threat, and Reid Fragel might turn into a tackle. So Nic DiLillo will be the lone TE in the traditional Tressel mold - a hard-nosed blocker who can also catch passes. Look for the Buckeyes to add at least one tight end, with in-state prospect Alex Smith looking the best right now.

OL (2-3): After years of struggling with lineman recruiting, the Bucks have turned things around in a big way the last two years. And they're already on the board with a commitment from Andrew Norwell, a mauler from Cincinnati. The other top in-state prospect is Matt James, who also hails from the Queen city area. James has a mammoth frame and offers from all over. He'll reportedly take his official visits before making a decision.

The Buckeyes have already extended offers to out-of-state stars like Seantrel Henderson and Chaz Green, but face an uphill battle for those guys. If they can nab James, they'll be selective on one or two remaining players to join the class. An offer to an interior lineman might come if someone impresses at camp.

Next time we'll tackle the defensive side, where the Bucks already have two top in-state players in the fold.

OSU Starts Fast (Again), Adds Top '10 Lineman

2009-02-04T22:06:00.003-05:00

As many fans spent signing day anxiously waiting for some attention seeking-kids to mess around with hats, Ohio State was already back to work on next year's class. It's become a hallmark of Buckeye recruiting that top in-state talent commits early, and this year would be no different. OT Andrew Norwell, considered by some to be the best lineman in the state next year, has already announced his intention to play in Columbus.

Norwell's coach was effusive with praise, claiming he's the best to come out of his school, and has the potential to be one of the all-time greats from the state. His brief recruitment netted him offers from top programs like Notre Dame, Illinois, Cincinnati, Louisville and Stanford. Using his 6'7" 275 lb frame to maul opponents, scouts think Norwell plays a relentless style with a nasty streak.

Norwell is the third commitment, and the first on the offensive player, in a class that should reach 20.

You Might Actually Get Some Work Done Tomorrow

2009-02-03T22:12:00.004-05:00

For recruiting geeks, National Letter of Intent (NLOI) Day is like Christmas. Faxes machines are humming with signed letters, and there are always a handful of top athletes making announcements of where they'll play ball. If a player's recruitment has lasted this long, it's a good bet that a few fan bases are overly worked up after suffering through months of the strange twists and conflicting rumors we've come to expect.

It's also a bit of an odd day for Ohio State fans. More than any other elite BCS team, OSU usually sprints out of the gate each February with top Ohio preps anxious to join the Buckeyes. But that can lead to somewhat of a letdown come January and February, where Ohio State has not always fared well with the type of kids who want the spotlight of signing day. Even last year's amazing triumph - getting Terrelle Pryor - only came after a false start on NLOI day.

But this year is different; there's almost no reason to take off work or skip school to watch 18-year olds hold press conferences. (What do you mean there's no reason to ever do that?) Seriously folks, there's very little action for Buckeye fans tomorrow. There's one possible defection and one low probability announcement. There are no "must have" players, no big duels with Michigan or USC or Florida. You can just check as the signed letters of intent roll in, as Jim Tressel and his staff have delivered another top 5 class.

If you're really interested, check in on WR Marlon Brown (TN), a top 100 player considering Georgia, Tennessee and Ohio State. And maybe follow the saga of CB Justin Green (KY), a speedy DB who may leave OSU in the lurch to play offense in Champaign. In truth, the most exciting moment might come from a big-time commitment...of a 2010 player. We'll be updating throughout the day, and breakdown the Buckeyes impressive class over the next few days.

Top Ohio OL Chooses Buckeyes

2009-02-03T21:54:00.002-05:00

The drama - real or imagined - is over for Glenville's Marcus Hall. Considered one of Ohio's top five players and one of the best line prospects in the country, Hall verbally committed to the Buckeyes on Monday. The announcement was a huge relief for OSU fans and cherry on top of a superb recruiting class for Coach Jim Tressel.

Hall was one of the most sought after tackles in the country, boasting offers from Tennessee, Michigan, Miami (FL), Illinois and number of other elite schools. Like most Glenville players, he let the process play out and was in no rush to make a decision. His official visits caused something of a stir, as teams like the Wolverines and Hurricanes would periodically vault into the "lead" for his services. But Ohio State remained the one constant, despite some residual paranoia from Cordale Scott and the threat of teammate Mike Edwards swaying him at the last minute.

Hall is a top 100 player for both Rivals and Scout, and gives the Buckeyes one of the best line classes in the country. He is joined by C Jack Mewhort, G Corey Linsley and T Sam Longo. All four are from Ohio, and replenish a line that loses three starters to graduation.

(photo by ESPN.com)

Buckeyes Add QB As Signing Day Approaches

2009-01-31T22:20:00.003-05:00

With National Letter of Intent (NLOI) signing day next week, the 2009 Ohio State has only a few targets left on the board. A big piece of the puzzle was in quasi-satisfactory fashion this past week, when the Buckeyes added 3-star dual threat QB Kenny Guiton (TX).
Guiton is visiting this weekend and expected to make his verbal commitment official. His addition caps a whirlwind week for OSU's quarterback situation.

The Buckeyes were actually hoping to add 4-star Tajh Boyd early in the week, and things looked promising on Sunday. Numerous insiders were confident that Boyd would become a Buckeye on Monday, though Oregon and Clemson were in hot pursuit. It's not clear at what point things broke down, but the Monday press conference was bumped to Tuesday, and then Boyd was suddenly a Tiger.

I don't enjoy the drama aspect of recruiting, so I won't waste much more time on a player destined for a mid-level ACC school. But from all reports, Boyd may have actually told coaches from all three schools he was headed for their program. If so, that's a truly classless act. I've got no issue with kids having a hard time deciding, or even changing their mind. And fans that berate 18-year-olds for their choices are terrible, in my opinion. But some level of maturity and decency is also required, so I honestly hope the stories aren't true.

In any event, the Buckeyes immediately turned their attention to Austin Boucher, an Ohio kid they've been scouting for quite awhile. Though only listed as a 2-star, Ohio State coaches were very impressed at the games they attended this past season. He was offered and seemed like a real possibility, but in the end could not be swayed from his commitment to Miami (OH). You may be thinking "ouch", but his brother does also play for the Redhawks. And you can't really blame someone who was likely to be sandwiched between to elite QB prospects his whole career.

That brings us to Guiton, one of the few uncommitted dual-threat QB's. He reportedly held offers from schools like Kansas, Northwestern and Rice, and drew significant interest from Purdue and Kansas State. He played at a high level of Texas high school football and acquitted himself quite well, displaying great scrambling skills and the ability to improvise on the run. He definitely needs some time in the weight room, and Rivals indicated that he must improve his release mechanics.

All in all, the quick recruitment should be considered a relatively successful outcome for the Buckeyes. Only a couple of schools seem capable of piling up 4-5 star QB recruits every season, and they have a high attrition rate if they don't win the job. Guiton is a solid prospect with good upside, and adds much needed depth at the position. He looks similar to - but probably a step up - from 3-star Antonio Henton in 2006. And the Buckeyes will surely go hard and heavy after 1 or 2 QB's in the 2010 class.

Fiesta Hangover

2009-01-07T19:00:00.003-05:00

It's been almost two days since Ohio State lost a last second thriller to Texas in 2009 Fiesta Bowl. Fans and the media swiftly divided into two camps, with blistering the Buckeyes for another BCS loss that cemented the legacy of this senior class. The other lauded OSU for a great game against an elite team, and credited the coaches and players for scaring the daylights out a team that was thisclose to playing for the national title.

As usual, I think the truth belongs somewhere in the middle. For Buckeye bashers, does this game even remotely resemble the embarrassing losses to USC, LSU or Florida? Ohio State stared down the Longhorns powerful offense, led at half, led with two minutes to go, and just ran out of gas at the end. Who would you have preferred here - Boise State? And don't forget in a season of declining bowl ratings, the Feista Bowl scored an outstanding 11.6 overnight rating.

For the scarlet and gray apologists, there's got to be some soul searching. Yes, this program is the class of the (down) Big Ten and is dominating its (down) rival Michigan. But you can make a persuasive case that Ohio State has lost six consecutive big games, including three bowl games in a row. We some some offensive innovation, but we also saw some mind-numbing play calls, including repeated momentum killing runs after big plays in the first half. This had all of the elements of past losses to Texas and Penn State, trying to win with field goals and not capitalizing when opportunities are there. Ohio State dominated the first half but led just 6-3. That trick might work against Minnesota or Purdue, but against top competition, OSU needs to step on their throats when they get the chance.

I don't have the heart to rewatch this game for a real breakdown. Things I'll take away:

*I'm happy for Todd Boeckman and glad he got to play a big role. it would have been fitting for a classy captain to go out as the hero. But here's hoping he's got a little Matt Cassel in him.

*If Beanie Wells goes pro, which seems like a foregone conclusion, he career had a fitting end. He was the most dynamic force on the OSU offense, and should never EVER be lumped into any conversation about how the Big Ten doesn't have the athletes to compete with the SEC. But after 100+ yards in a little over a half, he got injured. I hope he can stay healthy for a few years and really strut his stuff in the NFL.

*The offensive line played better than it had in other big games. But there were still struggles with speed rushes off the edge, and they have a very hard time getting a consistent push on interior runs. It will be interesting to see the revamped line next season, with as many as four new starters.

*Terrelle Pryor played a lot like you would expect from a stellar freshman - poised at times, and showing his youth on others. Some of his scrambles were dazzling, even when he inexplicably ran out of bounds (twice) when more yardage could have been gained. His development as a passer will be THE story of the offseason in my opinion. We have talent in spades at receiver, but he needs to improve on reads, accuracy, and touch.

*The defensive line got pushed around against USC and LSU, but that was not the case against Texas. The Buckeyes pressure McCoy much of the night, but seemed just a step short on most blitzes. Still, you can't fault the effort of players like Nader Abdallah, Thaddeus Gibson and even Nathan Williams.

*Chimdi Chekwa will probably want to forget this one as soon as possible. With Malcolm Jenkins on the other side, Texas picked on him quite a lot. To be fair, OSU's defense is designed to allow a lot of 7-9 yards gains rather than giving up the big play (hear that Anderson Russell?) But if Chekwa is really going to be the projected #1 CB heading into next season, as seems possible, it could a long year defending the pass.

*I hate fans who endless complain about the officiating (yes I mean you, Penn State supporters). But virtually every close call went against Ohio State. Do you seriously expect me to believe Texas passed 59 times and never held once? The second roughing the passer call against Thaddeus Gibson was extremely weak as well...the spot on the fourth down call...it goes on and on. If OSU wins, these plays are forgotten before dawn. But when desperately need some good luck, it really stung. Thanks a lot Big East.

We'll check in on the '09 recruiting class and start sizing up next year's Buckeyes in the next few days.

Elite Junior Commits to Buckeyes

2008-12-16T16:04:00.003-05:00

While Ohio State is working hard to secure the top class in '09, they're already off to a nice start in 2010. Today Ursuline defensive end Jamel Turner committed to the Buckeyes. Turner made the announcement at a press conference at his school in Youngstown, OH.

He becomes the second member of the '10 class, joining another Youngstown native and defensive lineman, J.T. Moore. Turner already reported offers from over 20 top programs, including Notre Dame, Michigan, Illinois and South Carolina.

Turner led his team to the Division V state title, and Rivals.com has flagged him as one of their top 250 to watch. Various scouting sites believe he may be the #1 player in the state of Ohio next year, as Jim Tressel continues to keep quality talent at home.

Recruiting Big Board's Triumphant Return

2008-12-12T23:46:00.004-05:00

Ohio State's tidal wave of recruits this spring left Buckeye fans trying to catch their breath and keep up with the unreal talent lining up to play for Coach Tressel. But with 24 commits already in the fold, there are precious few spots left. And it's made for an odd fall season, with very little movement on the recruiting front. But with a huge visit list on tap for this weekend, it's time to re-examine the players that could finish out the '09 class.

QB: There are some that feel Ohio State must nab a QB in this class, since just two will be on scholarship for next season. The main target at this point is Tajh Boyd (VA), one of the top dual-threat signal callers in the nation. Boyd has already had quite ride, committing to West Virginia, then Tennessee, and re-opening his recruitment after new Volunteer coach Lane Kiffin indicated that Boyd wasn't right for his system. Boyd is visiting Columbus this weekend, and the Buckeye coaches will definitely try to make for lost time.

Boyd was recently added to the U.S. Army All-American game, so a decision could come then. It will be interesting to see what other visits he takes between now and then. There's definitely interest, and it will be easier to gauge where Boyd is leaning in the coming days.

WR: The Buckeyes already have verbals from three top prep players. But Robiskie and Hartline could both be gone next season, and the spectre of transfers looms. OSU remains focused on one name: Marlon Brown. The Tennessee native is considered one of the top ten WR's in the country, a raw athlete with tremendous size, speed and potential. He's reportedly developed a strong relationship with some of the OSU players, including QB Terrelle Pryor. The Bucks face stiff completion from SEC powers Tennessee and Georgia, but nabbing Brown would be a huge coup. At this moment, I wouldn't feel comfortable with anything more than an "even money" prediction. Brown will announce on NLOI day.

TE: Bruising Reid Fragel is in the fold, but OSU wouldn't mind adding an athletic pass-catcher. The player they have in mind is Dion Sims, one of Michigan's top players. Sims like the Buckeyes, but he's also a basketball player looking for an opportunity to play both sports. That may work against the Buckeyes, since the in-state Spartans have already indicated that would be possible in East Lansing. Miami (FL) is also in the mix, but I currently think Mark D'Antonio has the edge in this race.

OL: Another year, another long wait for an elite Glenville kid. Tackle Marcus Hall is taking his time and enjoying the process, as OSU fans bite their nails about letting in-state talent get away. Hall is one of the top ten rated tackles nationally, though some experts think he might be better suited at guard. He is strongly considering LSU and Illinois, where he has developed relationships with the coaching staffs. You have to like Ohio State's chances, but it's definitely not a lock.

DL: Again, the Buckeyes have zeroed in on one elite players, DT Corey Adams (AZ). Adams has an extremely impressive offer list, but appears down to OSU, USC, Nebraska and home-state ASU. Adding Adams to John Simon and Adam Bellamy would give Ohio State an incredible incoming class at a position of need. But as I've said before, the coaches don't seem to win the big recruiting battles out west. The chance to play at Peter Carroll's factory in LA, or the pull to stay at home will likely win out here.

DB: Ohio State is taking a long hard look at Mike Edwards, a Glenville cornerback that had an outstanding senior campaign. He's rocketed up the recruiting rankings, and visited the 'Shoe to watch Ohio State demolish Michigan. He doesn't hold an offer from OSU, but does have one from both Michigan and Illinois. The question is, how long will he wait? OSU might need to go all the way to signing day to see if there's room.

Boyd and Hall are the two needs. Adding Brown to that group would give Ohio State a very legitimate claim to the #1 class overall. I'd be surprised if Coach Tressel didn't find a way to get Mike Edwards in this class.

Mess With Texas

2008-12-07T21:53:00.002-05:00

Buckeye fans clamoring for a BCS at-large bid got what wanted Sunday night, as Ohio State was officially invited to the Fiesta Bowl to face the Texas Longhorns. The predominantly senior team wanted to go out in a big bowl, with a shot to redeem some high-profile losses the past few seasons. The conference and the school certainly won't be complaining about the large pay day. And fans believe the Buckeyes are a different team with a healthy Beanie Wells and Terrelle Pryor at the helm. Certainly The Ohio State University couldn't be passed over for a non-BCS school, right?

There's nothing wrong with any of these perspectives, but this could fall into the category of "be careful what you wish for". The Buckeyes will face an angry, bitter Texas team in the rubber match from the '05-'06 split. The Longhorns beat then (and now) #1 Oklahoma on a neutral field, and it took a Michael Crabtree miracle and a foolishly worded fifth tiebreaker to keep them out of the national title game. The Bucks opened as an eight point dog and the media will certainly assume that Colt McCoy and the Longhorns will mow down an OSU squad that has not performed in big games lately.

The Texas offense will be as dynamic as the USC offense that rolled Ohio State in September, and they'll be playing with an eye on a split championship through the AP ballot. Should Ohio State play it conservative and fall behind early, the "pound Beanie" gameplan will be neutralized, forcing a freshman quarterback to take a big step forward with his passing game.

This should be the best defense Texas has seen all year, and I think the Buckeyes present a great test for McCoy's efficient offense. There is much to be gained here. A win against this year's "we got screwed" team would go a long way to repairing the Bucks big game credibility. Keep in mind that Ohio State and Jim Tressel built their reputation in BCS games winning in '02 and '03 as underdogs. As badly as the Buckeyes have done against the SEC, they've got an impressive record against Big 12 foes.

But the risk is incredibly high. Each season, there are plenty of innocuous bowl games that mean nothing and are forgotten by the masses by February. Because of the history, and because of the "slight" against both Texas and Boise State, OSU is really putting it on the line. A big loss would cause immense damage to Ohio State and the Big Ten, threaten future at-large bids and further deteriorating their reputation in a sport based largely on perception. keep in mind that Penn State will be facing a top 5 team in a virtual road game, and the second at-large means every conference bowl team is "pulled up" one slot to face a better opponent. Ohio State asked for this game, and now they to bring it. They're headed to Fiesta and Glendale, the bowl where they won a title in '02 and the stadium where the crushing Florida defeat occurred in '06. What happens will give the seniors a chance to write their legacy. Dominate Michigan, but lose all of the big ones? Or go out with a bang?

Buckeyes Await Bowl Fate

2008-12-06T12:55:00.004-05:00

With the conference title games and last few regular season matchups set for this weekend, the Buckeyes will find out their fate on Sunday evening when the BCS pairings are announced. The 10-2, Big Ten co-champions are well positioned for the last BCS at-large, but nothing is set at this stage. What are the likely possibilities?

Fiesta - Much of the bowl speculation has centered around the idea of Big 12 powerhouse Texas, who missed a chance at the championship because of the conference tiebreaker, heading to Glendale. They could face undefeated Utah, a regional team that is guaranteed a BCS spot. Other possibilities include Ohio State, who has made a second home in Arizona, and Boise State, who could relive their win over a good but not great Oklahoma team.

But I'm not sure we're really looking at an OSU/Texas rubber match. BuckeyeGrove.com floated the idea that the Fiesta might pair Utah with Ohio State. The game would be a result of a backroom deal by the BCS and Fox, who would put Texas in the Sugar Bowl against the SEC runner-up. It seems to make a lot of sense from a financial and entertainment perspective.

Sugar - Should the Texas/Utah game come to fruition, the Sugar Bowl would be left with Ohio State or Boise State. There will be an outcry for the Broncos, who are undefeated and ranked higher than Ohio State in the polls and BCS. But let's be honest - there best win was against an Oregon team that was down to its third QB. And they're more riding the coattails of their win against an less than elite Oklahoma program a few years back. Does the Sugar Bowl want a repeat of last year's thrashing of Hawaii? Perhaps it would happen no matter what, as the SEC runner-up will be a monster favorite. But in this economy, I don't think the allure of OSU's fanbase can be ignored.

Capital One - This is the default bowl for Big Ten #2, and would be the Buckeyes destination if USC somehow loses to USC, or if undefeated Boise State is selected as an at-large. Georgia was thought to be the opponent, but Ole Miss is a dark horse. That said, all of the public momentum seems headed toward a BCA at-large. Buckeye fans might be disappointed with a trip to old Citrus Bowl, but a chance to start repairing their reputation against a wildly underachieving Georgia team has its benefits.

I think it's going to be the Fiesta, but the opponent remains up in the air. Check back on Monday for quick thoughts on the Buckeyes opponent. And if Boise State is excluded, we'll have some words for those acting like its an epic tragedy.

Thank You, Seniors

2008-11-22T10:15:00.002-05:00

With The Game's kickoff less than two hours away, we take a look at an exception senior class of Buckeyes. They have never lost to Michigan and can help create an unprecedented 5-game winning streak for OSU with a win today.

We could breakdown the matchups in this greatest of rivalries games, but you already know the deal: Ohio State is supposed to win, handily. We're talented, experienced and more skilled at most positions. We have momentum, home field advantage, and a far superior record of performance this year. And we have the coach that understands the tradition and importance of this Game, not the one trying to get the hell out of a nightmare season.

Yes, this a bizarre and terrifying place to be. I feel like I should be sweating, wildly nervous and dreaming of all sorts of scenarios of epic disaster. But imagining how horror could strike and writing about it seems like a waste of good tailgaiting time. And pounding our Buckeye chests and touting our advantages all over the fields doesn't seem classy. So I want to take quick moment on some of the seniors that will taking their last snaps at the 'Shoe.

Malcolm Jenkins - I'll be honest, I thought Malcolm was more Nate Clements than Antonie Winfield. Not that its much of an insult, but I wasn't sure of his place among the upper echelon of Buckeye corners heading into the season. There were too many catches made in front with a big cushion, and some missed assignments in big games. A great player, but perhaps a bit overhyped by OSU fans. But Malcolm came back for his senior campaign and has been simply amazing. He's brought it every single week with intensity and a love for the game that's a joy to watch. He's also been the vocal leader and the heart of the team. This Jersey kid will be sorely missed next season, and even if Terrelle Pryor keeps wearing #2, it'll be awhile before I think of it as someone else's number.

Todd Boeckman - Though I think the analogy is unfair, I hope he gets the Justin Zwick treatment today at the stadium. The crowd needs to acknowledge Todd and his contribution to Ohio State football with one of the loudest cheers when his name is called. I'd like to see him get some meaningful snaps, but in truth, it doesn't matter. He'll still be a guy that turned a rebuilding season into a Big Ten title team with a shot at the championship. And that circumstances conspired against him as a senior, he was a class act the whole time. I hope a Matt Cassell-type future is an option for him.

Jim Laurinaitis - He came to OSU as a 3-star from Minnesota more famous for his Dad's wresting career. But it didn't take long for a legion of fans to fall in love with Little Animal. He started for Bobby Carpenter in the '06 Fiesta Bowl, a lot like A.J. Hawk filled in during the '03 title game. And he's been going at ever since, making big play after big play for that special '06 team. He's won a shelf full of trophies as one of the nation's top defensive players, and will certainly be part of the conversation about Ohio State's top linebackers.

Alex Boone - A loud, free-spirited tackle, Ohio State fans were dreaming of the next Orlando Pace. So to say that expectations were a bit unfair is an understatement. He's been Ohio State's most consistent lineman over the past three years, and played with a nasty streak that is wonderful...if it's on your side. And he was always available for a great quote, full of humor, sarcasm and raw emotion that is sometimes shielded. I hope his best football is ahead of him.

Marcus Freeman - Overshadowed a bit by #33, Freeman battled injuries early in his career and it seemed like he might not ever fulfill his potential. But things really started to click in '07, when he and Laurinaitis formed one of the most talented linebacking duos in the countries. I love his diversity, as he looks comfortable sticking a back in run support and smoothly dropping back in coverage. Another guy that could be a Sunday contributor in the league, with upside like a faster (but smaller) Na'il Diggs.

Nadar Abdallah - My first few memories of Abdallah were always seeing his giant #93 jersey on the sidelines when the camera would go in that direction. But I can't say enough about the big guy this season. OSU's defensive tackles have taken a beating over the past few seasons, but Nader has really come to play in his last season. His intensity is off the charts right now, and he showing great instincts and lateral movement to the ball. He could have been buried on the depth chart and passed by younger players, but you have to really give it up for the effort we've seen in '08.

Shaun Lane - Lane was a Buckeye legacy that never became a full-time starter. However, I've seen him flying all over the field on special teams this season, the type of play that makes you wildly respect a kid. He could have been discouraged or even transferred, but he stayed and is contributing in whatever way he can. If I could find a #29 jersey, I'd buy it.

Rory Nicol - A quiet leader that has done way more than fans will remember. Ohio State doesn't make great use of the tight end in its scheme, but Nicol has made his share of big grabs and has been a very solid blocker. He never complained about getting the ball, and stepped this year when the team needed a kick in the butt. We'll miss his presence on the line more than people think next year.

Jamario O'Neal & Maurice Wells - I've paired these two because they both 4-star studs coming in. O'Neal had some off-field issues and never seemed to harness his unbelievable athleticism. He's started, he's been in the rotation, he's played special teams. And he does it with a lot of heart - I'd love to see him go out with a big hit today. Maurice Wells may have had skills more suited for the ACC, quick and good in space. He struggled early, but I blame the coaches for having him run inside too much. He made strides as a junior and had some big games. His role has been diminished as a senior because of Boom Herron, but he's certainly made his mark on the team.

Curtis Terry - A Glenville kid that wasn't recruited by many schools, Terry found early success as a defensive end. He made some monster hits, but injuries have hurt him over the past few years. He could never find consistency against the run and pass, but his motor was always running when he was on the field. His contributions were greater than many of those that were ranked ahead of him.

Jon Skinner, Kyle Mitchum & Nick Patterson - These three never made it out of the gates the way we expected. Mitchum in particular was one of the most highly-sought after prospects as prep player, but injuries never allowed him to crack the starting lineup. The same goes for Skinner, who battled various ailments his whole career. Patterson was caught up in a numbers game in the defensive backfield, as OSU just had too many safeties and not enough spots.

Brian Robiskie - "Terry's kid" has definitely made his own mark. Not a burner like Galloway, Glenn or Ginn, his smooth routes and acrobatic catches will be missed next year. A shoulder injury limited him this season, but he's still be the Buckeyes top threat. I'll remember his late touchdown in the '06 Michigan game...and forget the drop against LSU. He's beyond classy and will have a bright future in whatever he chooses. But he could be a steal for a NFL team as a #3 WR.

Ben Person & Steve Rehring - Both lineman played tough as starters over the past few years. They've taken their lumps, some fair and some unfair, over the "speed" of the Buckeyes against Florida, LSU and USC. But both Ohio natives made the university proud and paved the way for some of OSU's great wins.

A.J. Trapasso & Ryan Pretorius - Both punter and kicker carried on the OSU special teams tradition with great pride. Trapasso's punting abilities often helped Jim Tressel's ball-control strategy work in tight, tough conference games. And Pretorius' story as an older student-athlete from South Africa is amazing.

Brandon Smith & Ryan Lukens - Two unsung fullbacks that moved all over the place trying to help fill holes for the team. Lukens in particular has been unselfish about his career, making many position switches. And Smith has found the ball in his hands recently with short passes as Pryor gets comfortable throwing the ball.

So from Ohio State fans, thank you for all the joy you've give us over the years. Oh, and one more thing...BEAT. MICHIGAN.

Michigan Week! (Without the Exclamation)

2008-11-19T16:12:00.004-05:00

Is this the weirdest Michigan Week in recent memory? Most of us are used to a big lead up before The Game, with big stakes and emotions running high. But in this unusual season, this Saturday's renewal of college football's greatest rivalry feels a bit off.

Ohio State is a 19-point favorite, which matches the largest spread in the history of the series. Yes, OSU is a top ten team, and Michigan is in the midst of a historically bad season. But 19 points? This is the same Buckeye team that failed to score offensive TD's in multiple conference games this season. So I'm running out to find a bookie on this one, even if OSU is pretty consistent in covering the spread at home.

With Ohio State's recent dominance of the series, no one in the media is giving the Wolverines any chance of winning this game. Feel like a trap? I'm nervous about not being nervous. Surely a proud Michigan team will roll into the 'Show with a chip on their shoulder and throw the kitchen sink at the Buckeyes. It's the only way for The Rod to get some momentum heading into the offseason, where UM fans will be filled with discontent and wanting results in '09.

There are rumors that Sam McGuffie! (aka, the White Horse) may be transferring out of Michigan to a spot that's closer to home, warmer, and likely to get him within striking distance of a bowl game. If this happens, I'll be crushed. I wanted our NFL talent linebackers to abuse this kid for four years. But I'll be interested to see how UM fans react. McGuffie must (a) suck; (b) not be a good fit for the offense; (c) not be committed enough to The Rod's system; or (d) not be serious about his academics. Probably all of them, right?

In the meantime, OSU fans are hotly debating whether senior QB Todd Boeckman should get the first series as a reward for diplomatically handling his benching. I'm very very sympathetic here, but I think the answer is no. Yes, he's a co-captain, all-Big Ten last year and would be starting at 75% the programs in the country. But this is The Game, and Terrelle Pryor is in their for a reason. Pryor's also an emotional guy, so I don't want him thinking about this the wrong way for one second. What I hope is that OSU buries Michigan by a lot of points - not the slow death Jim Tressel prefers to inflict on his opponents. Let Todd get some good playing time in the second half.

Kirk Herbstreit took some time away from kissing USC and the SEC's butt to slam Michigan with former OSU great Chris Spielman on the radio.

In other news, The Rod is rallying the UM fan base before the big game with these motivational words, "Get a Life." I look forward to The Rod's press conference in which he discusses the merits of the auto industry bailout.

Sunday Round Up and Bowl Projections

2008-11-16T09:35:00.004-05:00

It's Michigan Week, and no matter what the national media does to dampen my spirits, I'm still fired up. Ohio State/Michigan is never a walk, no matter the records. And you can bet The Rod will do everything in his power to put a pretty dress on this ugliest of seasons by beating the Buckeyes in the finale.

So while we dream of putting an exclamation mark on the Wolverines worst season ever, here's what's others are writing about the Buckeyes today:

*Beanie Wells and Terrelle Pryor rushed for a combined 253 yards yesterday - you think Coach Tressel loves to run the ball or what.

*Pryor had a good time bantering with the Illini faithful, who gave him some friendly "gestures" and even sent a "present" his way. He's a fiery kid, but I'm afraid there might be an ugly incident at some point in his career.

*Turnovers, penalties and assorted other mistakes killed Illinois yesterday.

*The Buckeyes gethered a measure of revenge from last year's disappointing loss the Zookers.

And the Bowls? Everyone seems to be assuming the following four things will happen:
(1) Oregon State will not beat Arizona and Oregon;
(2) Penn State will not lose to Michigan State in happy Valley;
(3) Texas Tech will not beat Oklahoma in Norman;
(4) Alabama will not beat Florida in the SEC title game.

So you have three likely destinations - the Fiesta to face a Big 12 team, as Sportsline.com projects.

The Sugar Bowl to face an SEC nemisis, as suggested by CollegeFootballNews.com

Or the Capital One Bowl, with Georgia as the likely SEC representative. That's NBC Sports' take, assuming that undefeated Boise State will be get the final at-large.

Yes, the Rose Bowl is still a possibility, especially the way Penn State has struggled lately. Rematch with USC, anyone?

(photo by The-Ozone.net)

Illini Live Blogging - Random Thoughts Edition

2008-11-15T12:30:00.011-05:00

*A great start defending against the run...how do you add sarcasm tag again?

*Brian Hartline with a drop on third down. I bet this isn't how he expected his fourth season to go down.

*Tyler Moeller causes a fumble and the resurgent Nader Abdallah recovers, giving Ohio State awesome field position.

*Terrelle Pryor glides in after Beanie does the heavy lifting...7-0 Bucks.

*Wow. The Buckeye run defense get absolutely gashed down the field. It's hard to feel confident that this defense could stop an elite, BCS bowl caliber offense.

*Fantastic catch by Ohio product Jeff Cumberland in the endzone to tie things up, 7-7.

*Why does it seem like Dane Sanzenbacher gets whacked harder than any other player on the Buckeyes?

*Abdallah is playing out his mind...what a gigantic leap forward for the senior. He made a great lateral stop and then batted down a third down pass. Kudos to the big fellow.

*Malcolm Jenkins blocks another punt into the end zone for a safety. I've said it before, but of all the guys that came back, he's the one that has really performed at a consistently high level. Illinois is trying to give it away, 9-7 Buckeyes.

*ESPN cuts away to a Notre Dame highlight featuring Charlie Weis, and I've lost my appetite.

*An end around to Brian Hartline, who gets popped at the end for his trouble. Umm, I *love* Hartline, but we don't have anyone faster for that one? Lamaar Thomas?

*Beanie punches it in (sort of) on a sweep as the Bucks go up 16-7.

*Juice goes to the no-huddle and marches down the field, until Moeller pressure him into a bad throw. Kurt Coleman picks it off, runs in slow motion, and then fumbles.

*Beanie bouncing off and carrying tacklers, and Pryor sweeping through the secondary on a draw. That's a snapshot of the OSU offense working well.

*Pryor finds Sanzenbacher in the flat for a TD as the Buckeyes extend their lead to 23-7.

*Two Illinois FG's bring the Fighting Zookers within 10 at the half. Not a strong finish for the Buckeyes, who couldn't move the ball on their last possession or run out the clock.

*Halftime. Sure God had Mark May in mind when he invented the mute button.

*A promising drive ended by a Wells fumble. He had been flirting with it all day, losing the ball a number of times as he hit the turf.

*Buckeyes pinned at their own one yard line. They avoid anything disasterous but can't get a first down, giving Illinois great field position. Great tackle by Shaun Lane on the punt return.

*What's this, pressure D? Ross Homan sacks Juice and then Cam Heyward pressure Williams on third down. A strong series for the Buckeye defense.

*Wells breaks away for nice run but comes up a bit lame. Story of the season, and you have to wonder what it will take to keep this kid healthy when he moves to the next level.

*Crazy Pryor as Pryor does his Houdini act and zip a pass downfield. Boom Herron, not the intended receiver, tip the pass. It falls incomplete, but a boneheaded Illinois player delivers a late hit on - you guess it - Dane Sanzenbacher. First down Buckeyes.

*After a fairly uninspiring performance thus far, Boom shoots the gap and stretches for the end zone. The touchdown puts OSU up, 30-13.

*Ohio State has the ball back and is in Jim Tressel's comfort zone - the mind numbing, conservative running game designed to wind the clock down. How many plays in a row can Boom Herron lose yardage?

*Another wild play...Herron is down..or fumbles...Illinois recovers and laterals...Pryor draws a 15 yarder for a questionable facemask...but the fumble is overruled by review. It was really close, but the reversal effectively killed the slim chance had for a big comeback.

*Illinois scores a garbage time TD as the officials refuse to call a holding call the whole drive. Buckeyes win, 30-20. Bring on Michigan!!!

Bucks Looking for Revenge in Champaign

2008-11-15T11:09:00.002-05:00

Ohio State is just about ready to kick off against conference rival Illinois in their final road game of the Big Ten season. It was just over a year ago that the Illini shocked the college football world by marching into Colombus and beating then #1 and undefeated Ohio State. The game catapulted Ron Zook and the Illini to the Rose Bowl, and sent Ohio State spinning off on a strange path that eventually landed them in the BCS championship game.

Ohio State enters the game with much to play for, but we're not really sure what a win might mean. The Buckeyes can still win the conference if they win out and Michigan State is able to beat Penn State in the season finale, leaving OSU in a tie with the Spartans. Even without the conference title, the Buckeyes seem positioned for a shot at a BCS at-large berth. There are a number of scenarios that could play out, but a two-loss OSU would be very attractive for ratings and alumni travel. They would be competing with a potentially undefeated mini-might like Boise State, which likely can't automatically qualify because Utah will be ranked higher. And if Oregon State runs the table, that would also probably push the Buckeyes to the Capital One Bowl.

But back to the matter at hand - the pesky Illini. Ohio State has struggled over the years against Illinois, no matter what the talent looked like on paper. This edition of the Fightin' Illini has lost some of its bite from last season, including current Steelers RB Rashard Medenhall and all-conference linebacker J Lehman. The Buckeyes were absolutely manhandled on both sides of the ball, unable to stop Juice Williams from grinding them down. We didn't know it then, but it was also the beginning of the end for Todd Boeckman. That loss, combined with the LSU bowl game and the USC debacle landed him on the bench, where he hasn't seen substantive action since.

So what of this game today? It will be cold. Michigan is just around the corner. And Ohio State usually looks and plays like they'd just like to get the heck out of there. Despite the Illini's uneven season, which included a loss last week to Western Michigan, Ohio State cannot be on auto pilot today. The Illini offense can score points in bunches, and Ohio State has not looked comfortable in a shootout recently. We'll have to see how wide-open the game plan looks; my guess here is that Jim Tressel plays it close to the vest, hoping Beanie Wells can have a big game. It will be critical to see if Pryor can continue to make the strides he showed passing last week. Yes, this game is important. But for Buckeyes fans dreaming of taking on a Big 12 or SEC power in a big bowl, just winning without improvement is not enough.

Safety McDougald Out of '09 Class

2008-11-15T10:53:00.002-05:00

Bradley McDougald, a highly-regarded prospect from Dublin, is no longer considered committed to Ohio State. McDougald was suspended for three games during his senior campaign for unspecified issues, which may have cooled the Buckeyes on the promising safety.

There were whispers that McDougald would not be part of the class for weeks, and his decision to take other visits only added fuel to the rumor mill fire. He recently took a trip to Colorado, and is looking at programs like Louisville and Cincinnati. An official announcement of the de-commitment was provided by his coach. He was a 4-star player in Rivals.com rankings, and a 3-star at Scout.com.

With McDougald off the board, the Buckeyes may renew their pursuit of star-crossed prep Vlad Emilien, who is poised to make an announcement at his high school on November 23. Emilien was a hot name over the summer, but got caught up in a numbers game when the Buckeyes were flooded with verbals over the summer. He is rehabilitating from a serious ACL injury, and is also considering Michigan, Stanford and Wisconsin. Anything is possible given the strange turns his recruitment took, but we consider it a long shot that Vlad joins the Buckeyes.

Post-Penn State Musings...

2008-11-01T21:28:00.002-05:00

The de facto Big Ten championship ended with Penn State celebrating at the 'Shoe for the first time since they joined the conference. It was Ohio State second prime time game on ABC this year, and unfortunately their second loss in as many tries.

The Buckeye defense came to play, essentially shutting down Penn State's "Spread HD" that terrorized opponents for over 40 ppg. But the Penn State defense was just as stout, stymieing Beanie Wells and the Buckeyes all night. Coach Tressel's conservative approach appeared to have the game in hand at a mind-numbing 6-3 score in the fourth. But true freshman Terrelle Pryor fumbled on a third and one, and Penn State capitalized with the short field to a take a lead they would not relinquish.

Pryor took some positive steps in the passing game, but made some poor decisions, including his game ending interception as the Buckeyes were trying to rally with a minute left. Lamaar Thomas was strong on returns. Guard turned tackle Bryant Browning was abused all night by Penn State pass rush. It brings into question the whole philosophy of trying use linemen at multiple positions. Flexibility is great, but not if players don't find a home, focus on one position, and excel at it. Wells was so frustrated at one point that Brent Musburger reported he was screaming at the offensive line. That makes two out of three games where the Buckeyes couldn't punch it into the endzone.

So what now? I previously said this looked a lot like 2005, and now the analogy is complete. High-profile nonconference loss at night. A quarterback change. A few solid Big Ten wins to get some momentum. A gut wrenching loss at night to Penn State, highlighted by an ineffective offense and questions playcalling. It's all there, but can the Buckeyes finished the script? In 2005, OSU let Troy Smith open things up. They ran the table and were playing a very highly-regarding Notre Dame team in a BCS game. And a strong win in that game propelled them to an almost perfect 2006.

I think all OSU fans at this point are looking ahead to the Michigan game. A win would give the seniors a perfect record against the Wolverines, which hasn't happen in quite some time. And a shot at a BCS at-large isn't out of the question. In fact, a rematch with USC in the Rose Bowl is very possible. Ohio State might also find themselves in Florida locking horns with Georgia or LSU in a New Year's Day bowl. But the Buckeyes must refocus during their bye, preparing for back-to-back road games in Illinois.

We'll take a look at the recruiting landscape later this week.

Buckeyes Ready for PSU Showdown

2008-10-25T12:54:00.003-05:00

Undefeated #3 Penn State comes to Columbus tonight for a showdown that will leave one team toe prohibitive favorite to win the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions have been on a roll all season, thrashing opponents with a powerful offense that averages over 45 points per game. The defense has been stout as well, giving up more 20 points once all season. Legendary coach Joe Paterno has his best team since 2003, the last time they won a conference title.

For Ohio State, the game is a chance to ressurect themselves from the dead. Left by USC as splattered roadkill on the side of the road in September, the Buckeyes are back in the hunt with Beanie Wells getting healthy and Terrelle Pryor at the helm. All week the top college football opinion makers discussed Ohio State's move up the rankings, typically with a caveat on how much fans around the country are dreading it. A big win will propel the Buckeyes right into the thick of the one-loss title contenders, and give Ohio State a great chance at another BCS berth.

There's been a lot of talk about history this week, particularly Penn State's struggles in the 'Shoe. They haven't won in Columbus since 1978, obviously notching zero victories since entering Big Ten play. Experts picking OSU to win believe that OSU's defense will be the strongest Penn State has faced all year. They saw Beanie and Terrelle put on a show in East Lansing last week, rounding into form just in time. Combine those factors with the home field advantage, and Ohio State looks like the team to beat.

But their best teams (94, 99, and 03) all played - and beat - the Buckeyes in Happy Valley. This Nittany Lions team has steamrolled through its schedule, and looked significantly better against common opponent Purdue and Wisconsin. And don't forget their thrashing of Oregon State, a quality nonconference opponent. That "OSU" has a fairly impressive resume, including a win against USC.

So who really has the edge? In truth, they're probably evenly matched. Both quarterbacks will have opportunities; Clark must be accurate and hit his talented receivers against Ohio State's zone coverage. Pryor will rely on his legs, as usual, but if he does not generate a passing threat, it really hurts Beanie. It's imperative that OSU use the rambunctious crowd to get an early lead or stay within one score. This is not a team designed to play from behind. On the defensive side, there will be two key indicators. Do they Buckeyes get a pass rush? And can they shut down PSU on third downs? These have caused problems for OSU at times, and it's unlikely the Buckeyes can win in a shootout.

I think the crowd is going to rowdy and unbelievably loud - a sea of scarlet cheering on OSU. Think Texas '05 or Michigan '06. Pessimistically, this does have the feel of '05, when a conservative Ohio State team couldn't manage enough offense to topple JoePa. But Jim Tressel has saved his best coaching for the conference, and I'm sure the Buckeyes will come in focused. It's the tipping point for the season - for Beanie's sore foot, for Pryor's next big shot in the spotlight, and for the seniors that came back to win an unprecedented third outright title.

It's going to be a long afternoon waiting...

Buckeyes Flatten Spartans - Initial Thoughts

2008-10-18T18:21:00.003-05:00

Ohio State started a critical stretch in conference play today with a huge road win against #20 Michigan State. The Buckeyes jumped out to a quick 28-0 lead and never looked back, blasting the Spartans 45-7. With Penn State pulling away from a chippy Michigan team, the Buckeyes head home to Columbus for an even bigger game that may determine the eventual conference winner. Some quick notes...

*The offense remained predictable but the Buckeyes were able to execute much better than the previous two weeks. Terrelle Pryor looked much more comfortable leading the team, and had his best throwing day of his young career. He remains almost impossible to stop when running, as long as the defense isn't positive its coming. Which seems to happen a lot...

*The defense manned up and played their most complete game of the season. Jim Laurinaitis appeared to take his matchup with Spartans star RB Javon Ringer personally. He was all over the field, and Ringer was limited to just 67 yards.

*Can you really say enough about Malcolm Jenkins? Of all the guys who returned, he's the one making the most of the opportunity. He did a little over everything today, pressuring the quarterback, forcing a fumble, and battling the Spartans speedy receivers. He's been a consistent force these last few games. While I don't think he's an NFL lockdown corner, he might be the safest of the Buckeye draft picks. And he might a devastating safety in the right scheme.

*Beanie Wells was a workhorse today, toting the rock 31 times for 140 yards and a couple of scores. He seemed to favor his foot a few times, but it looks like the Buckeyes star tailback is rounding into shape for the stretch run.

*Speaking of those 31 carries, there was only one real moment of pause in that second half. Leading 28-7, Michigan State backup QB Kirk Cousins had a chance to cut the lead in half with a few minutes left in the third quarter. But Jenkins forced a fumble, Thaddeus Gibson returned it for a TD, and Ohio State never looked back. The defensive was disruptive all day, hammering starter Brian Hoyer and forcing five turnover. Great effort, and a very encouraging sign.

*The defensive scores allowed Jim Tressel to showcase his favorite style of play in the second half - conservative, mistake-free, ball-control offense. The Buckeyes threw just twice in the second half. And you get the feeling even if Michigan State had crept within a couple scores, the playcalling would not have changed one bit. It's worked more often than not, but has sure caused some ulcers over the years.

*Kudos for Robert Rose, who brought pressure in Lawrence Wilson's absence...to the offensive line, which showed marked improvement from the lackluster Purdue game...to Ray Small, for some nice punt returns...

So can this team beat Penn State and gain the inside track to another Big Ten title? The game is at home, if Pryor makes the same leap up he did this week, and the defense stays aggressive, the answer is definitely yes. But Penn State, who lacks a true rival, comes at Ohio State with everything they have every year. They've been on the cusp of an upset at Columbus in the past, and they are very explosive. Ohio State will have to score points to stay in this game...we'll break it down further as the week goes on.

The Second Season

2008-10-17T20:09:00.004-05:00

Blogging has been rather thin this season - what's the deal? It didn't help that our recruiting-focused site witnessed a wild summer with 25 commits in the books before the season kicked off. And with Buckeyes spouting phrases like "unfinished business" and seeking "redemption", the senior-laden team laid a giant goose egg on college football's biggest stage on September 13.

After the loss, Buckeye fans crawled into their shelles, or as much as our ubiquitous fanbase can. When Terrelle Pryor made his first start against against Troy, we knew the coaching staff had an eye on the future, and our minds starting wandering there with them. But this team, trying for unprecedented third straight unshared conference title, still has a half a season in front of them. What are you watching for? We address the hot Buckeyes topics and look at the team goals...

The BCS Championship

There are Buckeyes fans who cling to this idea, clearing out a path for Ohio State to make a third trip in a row to the big game. It involves running the Big Ten table, and hope for mass chaos in the rankings above. With ranked foes like Michigan State and Penn State in the next two weeks, OSU will certainly find out where they're at. Laying waste to those two teams would build up some credibility, and they must for the SEC and Big 12 to beat themselves up to thin the ranks.

Folks, this just isn't happening. I'm not trying to be overly pessimistic, but there are simply too many problems with this scenario. First, there is a segment of the media, and a larger part of college fans, that are sick of watching OSU get dismantled. And with good reason. Second, Terrelle Pryor looks like he has the talent to lead the Buckeyes to a national title, but not this year. And if you haven't noticed, Jim Tressel has brought back his "bore you death" brand of football that was so endearing in 2003-05. There's nothing wrong with dreaming, but this is one to let go.

The Big Ten Title

This is possible, but it's going to be a dogfight. Ohio State has two road games against Michigan State and Illinois that could easily be losses if they don't bring their A game. We all saw what the Illini did last year in Columbus, and if you haven't notice the Buckeyes aren't exactly scoring in bunches this year. Penn State has never beaten Ohio State in the 'Shoe since they joined the conference. But this year feels like a mirror image of 2005, when OSU lost a prime time show down early on, and PSU is firing on all cylinders. Even Northwestern is a threat this year. Seriously.

Should the Buckeyes claw their way to a title, an unfriendly bowl game awaits them. They would be headed to the Rose Bowl for the first time since Joe Germaine broke Jake Plummer's heart in 1996. The reward will likely be a top 5 opponent. USC is the natural choice, but they have a good chance to play their way back into the title game. That would mean a replacement team, which could be SEC #2 (Alabama?) or Big 12 #2 (Oklahoma?).

Beat. Michigan.

It's funny how often people mention this as the key to winning over Ohio State fans. Tressel simply dominated Lloyd Carr, win six of seven and four in a row. With the Rod squad struggling mightily, it's hard to conceive that they could come into Columbus and beat Michigan on senior day. But crazier things have happened. Ohio State could keep struggling on offense, especially if Pryor doesn't progress in the passing game. The Wolverines have a talented defense and an offense that *could* score some cheap points on Mickey Mouse deception. And in truth, the nightmare of another Beanie Wells injury would certainly make this a more interesting matchup. No matter how dismal the Michigan season, a win here would buy The Rod some temporary peace with impatient fans.

All That to Say...

I don't expect Ohio State in the title game, nor do I see them collapsing to the middle of the conference either. Yes, the talent is there to win out. But the combination of Wells' health, Pryor's inexperience, the o-line's disappointment and the inexplicably predicable schemes of the coaching staff make me think a loss or two is likely. If I were being objective, I'd predict a 9-3 finish and a second place finish. That would send OSU to the Capital One Bowl to face SEC #3, a team like Georgia or a even a rematch with LSU. I know it's insane logic - but winning that game would be worth more in a lot of ways than winning the conference and not showing up in the bowl game again.

I'm watching tomorrow to see if Todd Boeckman gets any snaps to jump the anemic passing game...to see if Lawrence Wilson's injury guts the pass rush...to see if Brian Hoyer will hit the open receivers the Bucks commit to stopping Javon Ringer...to see if Terrelle Pryor can get himself untracked...my gut says Michigan State brings the house to this game and the Buckeyes will need 24 points to win. If they do, it should set up a gigantic game with Penn State in a defacto conference title game.

Deuces Wild at Camp Randall

2008-10-04T22:29:00.002-05:00

Madison, Wisconsin has been the scene for many Buckeye nightmares over the years, and it looked like the Badgers were about the write another chapter in a story OSU fans know too well. Leading 17-13 late in the fourth quarter, Wisconsin was on the cup of extending their 16-game home winning streak and severely damaging Ohio State's chances of repeating as Big Ten champions.

Uber-freshman Terrelle Pryor, who mouthed off a bit earlier in the week, needed to lead OSU down the field for a TD to take the lead. Jim Tressel's favorite play, the field goal attempt, would be not be good enough. Throughout the game, Pryor looked uncomfortable in the passing game. Time was running short and this was his chance to really start his legacy, or to further bury a disappointing season.

And the kid came through in a big way. He marched the Buckeyes down the field, mixing run and pass plays, and punching it in himself for the go-ahead score. It wasn't a textbook drive - there were drops, penalties and some plays for loss that wouldn't cut it in a true two-minute drill. But on this night, in one of the toughest places to play in the country, Pryor cemented the start of his era by authoring a great comeback. The 20-17 win was sealed by the #2 on the roster, All-American CB Malcolm Jenkins.

The game didn't really have a lot of surprises. Pryor showed off some smooth running moves and some equally uneven passing skills. He took some bad sacks and his throws seem to float at inopportune times. Beanie Wells was a monster, breaking off two long runs en route to 168-yard day. Despite a lot of jugging, the offensive line showed some improvement. The wide receivers cannot be graded, as they saw very little action all night. Fans waiting for Pryor to morph into a passing version of Troy Smith will need to be patient, because it's not happening in 2008.

On the defensive side, my initial reaction is B to B-. There was actually some pressure from the front four, which has been a source of frustration thus far. The interior of the line struggled at times to stop Badger backs PJ Hill and John Clay, who successfully ran behind their gigantic offensive line. But hey, a lot of teams struggle against Wisconsin in that phase. The defensive backs were generally underwhelming outside of Jenkins. Corners Chimdi Chekwa and Donald Washington looked behind in coverage, and safeties Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman don't seem able to create plays. But 17 points against a talented team on the road certainly isn't a poor performance.

Next up for Ohio State is a date at home with Purdue on Saturday. After a home loss against Penn State this weekend, the Boilermakers dropped to 2-3. Their only wins were against Northern Colorado and Central Michigan.

Live Blogging: Gopher Time

2008-09-27T10:56:00.021-05:00

12:01pm: We're locked and loaded on the couch for the Buckeyes Big Ten season opener. Seeing Beanie and Pyror back-to-back in warmups is definitely something to get worked up about. Minnesota is 4-0 against some junior high teams this month...

12:03pm: Stupid commercial notwithstanding, it is a tragedy of epic proportions that there is no Buffalo Wild Wings in the DC area. And that I have to watch the commercials taunting me all season long.

12:05pm: Former Buckeye assistant and Minnesota head coach Glen Mason is an honorary captain today. Everyone raise your hand if you thought he was going to be hired in 2001 to replace John Cooper. This is why fans don't run the teams.

I'm sure I want to know about Beanie's shoe. I just want to see him healthy and bulldozing through defenses again.

12:08pm: After Beanie gets stuffed, Pryor runs for a first down. He's chippy - I love it, but think he might get into a fight before the season is over.

12:10: Beanie breaks off a long run...but isn't able to use his signature still arm on a Minnesota player. Still, an awesome sight to see #28 cutting back for a long gain.

12:11pm: Touchdown, Pryor! Terrelle looks very comfortable running that option play, and he just glided for 33 yards through Minnesota's "tough" D. 7-0 Buckeyes.

12:13pm: Ok, how disturbing is this Hotels.com commercial with the two guys blowing bubbles into a man's bath tub? I think I'll pass on the simulated jacuzzi...and if your job asks you do this, time to start sending out the resumes.

12:17: The Buckeyes are in the nickel their "quicker" defensive tackles in, and Jermale Hines playing the star position. After one first down, the Buckeyes defend two screens pretty well. Anderson Russell missed a tackle, but Marcus Freeman showed great closing speed on second down. Ross Homan got into the action closing things out on third down.

12:18pm: Ray Small is back retuning punts...where was he last week? Small is such an enigma, dazzling one week and in the doghouse the next.

12:20pm: Great, political campaign ads. I'm voting for switch the channel. That's change I can believe in.

12:22pm: Beanie fumbles before I can even look up again. Yes, it's expected that he would be rusty, but turning the ball over at our 20 yards sucks. I'm having 2006 flashbacks.

12:25pm: The Buckeye D stands tall and holds Minnesota to a field goal, thanks in large part to a false start on third and short. OSU got a QB pressure but just missed a sack. We must lead the country "pressures where we grab the jersey but don't tackle anyone". 7-3 Buckeyes.

12:30pm: The Buckeyes go three-and-out, and it was ugly. Herron stuffed, a near fumbled pitch, and Pryor wildly missing a wide open Brian Hartline down field. And we're back down to earth.

12:34pm: Gophers get a nice completion down field to their best receiver Decker. But the Buckeyes shut them down on the next series. Freeman gets a coverage sack on a delayed blitz, but the pressure from the front four is disconcerting.

12:40pm: Beanie comes back for a few nice runs. Thom Brennaman calls him the best tailback in the country, and Charles Davis adds the world's biggest caveat, "when healthy".

We see Pryor hitting Posey on a slant; it was accurate, but took its time getting weaving through traffic. Not as good on the next throw, a quick hitter to Lamaar Thomas that was neither quick nor on target.

12:42pm: I hate TheTVBoss.org commercials. But I'll spare you the commentary.

12:44pm: Coach Mason says to watch for the QB draw with any empty backfield. What do you know...QB draw. Yes, it was a big gain, but the predictability is scary.

Less encouraging is Pryor under pressure thus far. He gets away sometimes, but is still in the high school mindset that he can run away from everything. He's going to take some bad sacks over the course of this season.

12:55pm: Curtis Terry makes his triumphant return, with a big tackle for loss. Donald Washington, basically invisible since coming back from his suspension, picked off a pass two plays later.

12:56pm: Ohio State's interior line continues to struggle. Herron and Wells are met in the middle with contact before the line of scrimmage.

Pryor eludes a sack, makes a nice throw to Ray Small, and...dropped. The Ray Small show continues to befuddle and confuse.

1:01pm: Pryor converts a key third down to a dinged-up Robiskie, but the velocity still conerns me. The pass just don't look crisp yet.

Nice cutback run for Beanie, who has great vision and speed. I'll be crying in my beer when leaves for the NFL in January.

1:03pm: Ever notice how Ohio State's "trick" plays never fool anyone? The fake QB draw screen loses yards. Pretorius nails a 44 yarder to put the Buckeyes up, 13-3.

1:05pm: The guys are back blowing in another man's bath. Who bathes in hotel tubs anyway? I'm feel sick.

Wait, more political commercials. Such pretty words, so lacking in the gory details. Please go away.

1:08pm: The Buckeyes strip the ball away on a completion, and it sure looked a lot like forward progress was done and the whistle should have been blown. Minnesota challenges and...the play on the field stands. In fairness to Minnesota, you can't really review *when* the whistle should have been blown.

1:10pm: More pressure on the QB. Another pass to an open Hartline off-target. Sigh.

1:12pm: Beanie hurdles a diving player on a nice run. You know it's coming, wait for it...McGuffie!!!

1:18pm: After a delay penalty and a time out send them heading backwards, Pryor throws a TD pass on a corner fade to Brian Robiskie. It's an interesting combination, since Pryor is still finding his passing comfort zone, and Robiskie is clearly not healthy. But hey, we'll take it. Buckeyes, 20-3. Halftime.

1:47pm: Minnesota comes out on their first possession throwing the kitchen sink at Ohio State, with a variety of packages and slick formations. The Buckeyes stand tall in red zone, forcing a field goal, 20-6.

Two comments on this drive. First, Ohio State continues to live dangerously with receivers open down the field. Mediocre QB's continue to miss these guys, but top tier teams will make them pay. Second, that first drive is a little taste of how Michigan might play Ohio State this year, trying to Mickey mouse the Buckeyes to death.

1:53pm: Students are finally back at OSU, meaning the Big Ten Network can pan the crowd for hot girls covered in red body paint. A ESPN once said, "Never Graduate".

1:57pm: Alert the media, two shocking plays. A completion to Brian Hartline, whose projected receptions for this season have taken a big hit. After a big pass interference play, Boom Herrom Herron actually ran it up the gut for a long gain inside the 5. Alas, the next play was stuffed. Pryor glides in for his second TD, Buckeyes 27-6.

2:08pm: A nice possession for the defense, which included some pressure from true freshman Nathan Williams. The future is very very bright on the d-line.

2:10pm: Todd Boeckman is in, and we get discussion about his 13-3 record and his great attitude over the past few weeks. If it is written here enough - this is a classy kid and a talented football player. You can already see his comfort throwing the intermediate passes, completing a number of throws with ease. I'm rooting as hard as I have all day for TD here.

2-17pm: It wasn't meant to be, as Ohio State lined up to go for it on 4th and 3 but Boone was whistled for a false start. The Bucks then miss the FG attempt wide left to keep the score at 27-6.

2:22pm: Minnesota inexplicably calls timeout in order to run a goofy option play on 3rd and 2. The pitch is fumbled and Ross Homand recovers...another nice series for the D.

2:26pm: Is there any freakin' option for my to block the The TV Boss commercials? Or an alternate version where the prison guys shank the Mom and the chainsaw guy eviscerates the lady?

2:28pm: Boeckman throws a great pass to Robiskie in the endzone, and Brian made a awesome grab and kept himself in bounds to extend the lead to 34-6. A good moment for two players than had rough starts to the season.

2:40pm: Minnesota scores a TD on odd improvisation by Minnesota QB Adam Weber, who flipped the ball as he was being tackled. OSU allowed a few conversions that would be very frustrating if the game were in questions. The starters are still in, and OSU continued its tradition of hurrying, but not getting to, the opposing QB. 34-13, Buckeyes.

2:45pm: Pryor is back in and tried to level a Minnesota player on the sidelines. He's "exuberant". Or just kind of a badass.

3:00pm: Live blogging is not too fun when the game is out of hand...Gophers score a second meaningless TD, Buckeyes 34-21.

The Season That Ended and Started Again

2008-09-26T22:00:00.004-05:00

So that USC game a few weeks back didn't so well, eh? Seriously, this Ohio State vs. Michigan blog has always had more of a recruiting bent to it. We let the experts breakdown the X's and O's, and there was a sizeable autopsy to be performed after the Buckeyes tragic performance. For many fans and media members, this cemented Ohio State's reputation as a school that cannot compete an an elite level against other national powerhouses. It also further damaged the Big Ten's credibility when its three-time champion and highest ranked time gets spanked on national television.

There was no use in the aftermath in going back to evaluate the specifics - the holding penalty that brought back a touchdown, Maualuga's pick six or either of Williams' scores during the humiliating second half. This was a soul-crushing defeat for Ohio State, who desperately wanted a win after back-to-back title game losses. At the very least, they needed a strong performance to hold the critics at bay and keep them in the national title hunt. So what do we take away from this?

I think conceptually, we have to concede that this particular Ohio State team is not as good as fans hoped or believed. Let me be clear - this is a talented team, a top 10-15 team, full of top-notch individuals that work their butts off. But this squad - last year's 2007 team and this year's edition - are not going the ones going to bring home the next national championship. College football runs in funny cycles, and I think it's important to look at the evolution of this OSU team.

Coach Tressel took over in 2001, and there are three distinct teams during this era:

(1) The Post-Cooper, '01-'03. This includes the transition year of 2001, generally forgettable save for the stunning upset of Michigan. It would become a theme of Tressel's reign - beating Michigan in some ways take precedence in the fans minds and covers up other blemishes. This first era primarily used player Cooper recruited, with some notable exceptions like Maurice Clarett. Obviously 2002 was a magical season that ended with a national title. 2003 could have very easily been a repeat had Clarett been around, or perhaps even if Craig Krenzel's elbow hadn't been injured all season. This period ended with another BCS win, as OSU took down a Kansas State team that beat #1 Oklahoma. An incredible number of players from this team ended up in the NFL, some as stars (Will Smith), some as solid contributors (Matt Wilhelm), and others for a cup of coffee (Dustin Fox?).

(2) The Glenville Connection, '04-'06. Ohio State struggled in 2004 to find an identity with its young talent. A loss to Northwestern was the low point to a season played under the spectre of the alleged Clarett scandal. Troy Smith replaced Justin Zwick at QB and brought an end to mind-numbing "Tressel Ball", teaming with Glenville buddy and freshman phenom Teddy Ginn to lead the Buckeyes to a solid finish. But his suspension for accepting booster money tainted the Alamo Bowl win, and the subsequent suspension fundamentally changed the Texas game next year.

The loss to eventual national champ Vince Young, in which the Buckeyes led most of the way, may be the most frustrating of Tressel's tenure. The conservative offense failed to capitalize on turnovers and field position, and the Ryan Hamby drop will live in infamy. Still, the Buckeyes recovered enough to thrash Notre Dame in a hyped Fiesta Bowl and enter 2006 will title aspirations. The Buckeyes exacted revenge at Texas, beat a game Iowa team, and beat undefeated #2 Michigan a day after Bo Schembechler passed away. It has basically been downhill since.

We blogged more times than I care to remember about why the Florida game was lost. Suffice to say, it still seems like an outlier; the gap was not in talent at all, but a perfect storm of factors from the long lay-off, lack of intensity, the Ginn injury, etc. Still, this three year period was filled with uber-talented players like AJ Hawk, Santonio Holmes, Donte Whitner to name a few. And it was the first time we saw the vest open things up - with great results.

Great Expectations '07-'08. By all rights, Ohio State was due for a good-to-great rebuilding season in 2007, perhaps a healthier version of 2004. But with a "cupcake" schedule featuring Washington as the main non-conference attraction, the Buckeyes had a shot to "reload" quickly. And it happened, as they pummeled inferior teams all the way to the #1 ranking. It didn't last, as Juice Williams and the Illini pinned a late season loss on them at home. But mighty Michigan, with Henne hurting, lost its fourth straight in the rivalry. And a series of crazy upsets left the Bucks back in the title game at LSU. You may remember how this ended.

So 2008 was the real redemption year, with Malcolm, Boone, Robiskie, Freeman and most of Laurinaitis coming back for another crack at the prize. After the USC debacle, that dream is for all intents and purposes dead, though a Big Ten title and beating Michigan again aren't such bad consolation prizes. And the insane recruiting classes Ohio State has put together, including last year's bonanza of Terrelle Pryor, Mike Brewster, JB Shugarts, Mike Adams, Etienne Sabino, Devier Posey and Lamaar Thomas mean great things could be coming.

But that's for the next period of the Tressel era. The shortcomings of this team are well-documented - the offensive line has struggled in pass protection against speedy defenses. QB Todd Boeckman lacks the mobility to escape a fierce rush. The skill position players not named Chris Wells have been somewhat pedestrian in big games. The defensive line cannot generate a rush with 4 guys, the linebackers may be overrated and the defensive backs have not looked good covering top flight receivers. Perhaps worst of all, Coach Tressel seems to to be back in his shell with the gameplan; it's very conservative on both sides of the ball. And opposing players and coaches are openly calling it predictable, which sounds a lot like what they said about LLLLLLoyd Carr at the end.

So what next? Clearly, the Pryor era is upon us. He's young, he's inexperienced and his throwing mechanics and progressions need a lot of work. But he oozes talent - I hope the coaches bring him along slowly, but continue to open things up as he learns. Right now, it's pretty easy to figure out what's coming. Superior talent can overcome that, but only for so long.

I think Ohio State has an great opportunity to win a title in 2010. Next year might be a bit early, with USC coming to Columbus and visits to Ann Arbor and Happy Valley on tap. But the quality of the program, the players and the coaches is not in question. Most schools would kill to have this type of success. But any fan will tell you, it's unpleasant right now to have a conversation about college football with a fan of the SEC. It's unbearable to watch Mark May and college football announcers. Ohio State will have many chances to rebuild its reputation, but that loss was a bitter pill to swallow. Ohio State fans will have to take their medicine for awhile, and hopefully the promise of the future (and the chance to beat Michigan again) will be enough in the interim.

Buckeyes Add First Commitment for 2010

2008-09-12T05:54:00.003-05:00

Amidst the circus of the USC game this week, the Buckeyes received some great news on the recruiting front. In-state defensive end J.T. Moore from Youngstown Boardman verbally committed on Thursday, becoming the first member of the 2010 class.

Moore is a 6'3", 230 lb athlete that plays on the weakside. He was one of the few players that received an early offer from the Buckeyes after September 1. Moore is a teammate with '09 commit Corey Linsley, whose team is off to a fast start this season. After a few thin years at the end position, the Buckeyes have added top Ohioan in the last few classes, including Soloman Thomas, Nathan Williams and Melvin Fellows. Moore seems a liekly candidate to redshirt, given the Buckeyes depth at end.

Check out J.T.'s highlights here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK0ynJDqK48

(photo by Bucknuts.com)

Bill Plaschke is a Tool

2008-09-11T11:40:00.008-05:00

The countdown to the titanic Ohio State-USC game is two days and Ohio State folks have circle the wagons. It's clear that this game means way more to a team and fanbase that has suffered some big losses to top competition. The media coverage this week has made it clear that few folks outside Ohio believe the Buckeyes can win. The spread remains an insulting double-digit amount, and the obituary has been all but written. News from Ohio State practice yesterday that star tailback Beanie Wells is doubtful to play..

I could post a rather lengthy of articles writing the Buckeyes off. But it doesn't take more than one annoying exchange with an obnoxious fan or reading the inane thoughts of a self-aggrandizing columnist to really the juices flowing for this one. Here's a gem from Around the Horn goof Bill Plaschke that is full of ridiculous statements and specious arguments. It typifies the type of bashing Ohio State and their fans are taking right:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-plaschke10-2008sep10,0,3076831.column

I once though Plaschke was a decent journalist, but over the years he shown a distaste for Ohio State that I didn't quite understand. I even e-mailed him some questions over the years, but he never deigned to respond. But the venom is out in full force in this piece, with his hatred of both the Buckeye team and their supporters. A few of the choice items:

*We've already covered Ray Small's comments about USC, which were inappropriate but hardly hard-core bulletin board talk. Plaschke takes Small's few digs and makes the leap to assume they reflect the attitude of the entire Ohio State staff and its players. This logic is ridiculous, but I guess I shouldn't expect substantive argumentation in his superb work.

*He claims he blames the Buckeyes for "ruining" the last two national championships. Yes, the #1 Buckeyes didn't show up to play against Florida in Glendale, and once Teddy Ginn went down the team and it's gameplan went into the tank. But the LSU game should hardly qualify as a "ruined" game - Ohio State led early on, and you want to give a rebuilt team a hard time about losing to the preseason #1 in a virtual home game? Whatever. Is this game any better if West Virginia or Missouri take care of business? Doubtful, so why penalize a team for overachieving? Do we respect Ohio State more if they lose three games and then dismantle Florida the way Michigan did in the Capital One Bowl?

*Plaschke reaches back to Ohio State's '02 national championship with a cheap shot about the pass interference call. As if this comment has anything to do with the USC game or Ohio State as a program in any useful way. Screenshots and video clearly show the contact on the play. Was it late? Yes. But a number of other critical calls went the other way late in that game. And media must still be in shock that their predictions of a Miami route did not come to fruition. Who did you pick in that game, Billy boy?

*The columns veers into a rambling tirade about how Ohio State fans believe they are better than USC, that OSU football is a superior version of the game, blaah blaah. Apparently it is this attitude that forced Carson Palmer to rip into the Buckeyes on the radio a few weeks ago. Yup, poor Carson just couldn't take it anymore. Must have been the same thing with LenDale White, when the doughboy said unscripted, "Ohio State sucks!".

I could go one. I could write a white paper or a treatise of some sort on this game and Ohio State's place in the sport right now. But there's no need...it's time for the Buckeyes to take the game's biggest stage and shock everyone again. No, this is not Ohio State's best team in the last few years. Yes, the most dynamic playmakers is wounded. But this is a solid, experienced team with a great coach that needs to show the college football world something. Plaschke is right about one thing - college football runs on perception - and Ohio State is on the wrong side of it right now. Plaschke calls OSU "slow, boring, overrated" and there's only one way to change that.

Trojan War Just 4 Days Away

2008-09-09T19:03:00.002-05:00

It seems implausible that the game USC and Ohio State fans have been waiting for is just 96 hours away. The Buckeyes and Trojans have a rich history of Rose Bowl games back in the days of Archie Griffin and O.J. Simpson. But the two teams have never met during this decade they have dominated, despite the Pac-10 and Big Ten alliance.

Though the game pits two top 5 teams against each other, the consensus at this point is that USC will beat down Ohio State. USC is coming off an impressive road win against a BCS opponent, had a week off to prepare, is playing at home, and has a roster full of 5-star players. On the other hand, Ohio State comes stumbling in after an embarrassing win against Ohio University. Their best player missed that game and won't be 100% for this one. And if you haven't heard, the Buckeyes have had some high-profile struggles against the elite teams. The line is currently set at an insulting -10.5 for USC.

So are the Buckeyes headed for another trainwreck? Maybe. The case against: the Buckeyes offensive line, despite returning 4 starters, including 3 seniors, has struggled to protect Todd Boeckman. This is especially true up gut, and right tackle Bryant Browning has been inconsistent. A shaky offensive line performance won't help Boeckman, a sixth-year senior that has struggled in recent games. He's not particularly mobile, and hasn't really stood out on deep balls, check downs or any other big phase of the game. His wide receivers fall into the good but not great category - solid, hard-working players, but no difference makers. This for an offense that suddenly feels more like root canal teams of 2003 instead of the free-wheeling 2006 edition. On defense, there's plenty of talent but is it enough? Can the suspended defensive backs smoothly jump into the flow? Can the linebackers contain the Trojan speed on the outside? Will the line be aggressive enough to pressure Mark Sanchez?

It only takes a reminder of Beanie Wells sprinting past, and sometimes through, the LSU defense to know Ohio State has a chance as long as he's on the field. After a week plus of Favre-esque coverage on ESPN, you might think his leg was amputated. If Wells is even around 90%, Ohio State has a weapon equal to or greater than anything wearing a Trojan uniform. The intermediate and deep passes will be there, daring Boeckman and his "slow" receivers to beat them. This team full of seniors - Alex Boone, Marcus Freeman, Malcolm Jenkins and Jim Laurinaitis - did not forgo the NFL just to be a national laughing stocking. They know what this game means in terms of national perception and their legacy, and the emotions and effort will be at an all-time high.

Time was Jim Tressel was known as the best big-game coach in college. But two BCS title defeats later, and his reputation among the sports opinion makers is in dire need of a boost. Many Ohio State fans think the game plan may be the determining factor. Was that flat effort against Ohio aided by a vanilla, show-nothing gameplan? Will the conservative Tressel open things up, take some chances, and show some creativity? And if so, will his plyers be able to execute? If Terrelle Pryor gets playing time, will be a short series of predicable QB draws and options, then back to the bench? What kind of pressure will the defense bring against the accurate but immobile Sanchez? It will extremely interesting to see how this plays out.

Ohio State fans should enjoy the spotlight this week and remember their team has the guts to schedule a game like this. It's the most anticipated non-conference game since...Ohio State played Texas in '05-'06. So fire up some angry music, get the lucky food ready, toss on the jersey and start whipping yourself into a frenzy. But remind yourself it's only Tuesday.

Small Comes Up Big, Then Trash-Talks USC

2008-09-07T08:16:00.003-05:00

Ray Small has been through a lot during his time in Columbus. From being the anointed successor to Teddy Ginn to being stripped of his #4, he's seen some major ups and down. Saturday was no different, as he sealed Ohio State's comeback win by returning a punt 69-yards against Ohio in the fourth quarter. Finally out of the doghouse? Not so fast.

After the game, Small went off the Jim Tressel cue cards and talked about the difference between USC and Ohio State. During his recruiting visit to USC, he was surprised at the crazy (enthusiastic?) way they approach game day. That's apparently much different from the more serious (professional?) manner in which the Buckeyes prepare. You can't really argue with the success on either side.

But the money quote was his comparison of the programs, in which he said, "It's more of a class thing." He was referring to Carson Palmer's boneheaded rant against Ohio State fans living in Ohio, but failed to mentioned Lendale White's mature "Ohio State sucks!" comment on the radio. Small took it a step further, saying that at Ohio State "they teach you to be a better man", but at USC "it's just all about football". Yikes.

Regardless of whether it's true, the comments were not really appropriate the week before the game. You can be sure USC's coaches will try to get some extra motivation from this. Terry Glenn, anyone?

(photo courtesy of TheOZone.net)

Buckeyes Stumble to Win Against Lowly Bobcats

2008-09-07T07:24:00.003-05:00

After a week of media coverage on Beanie's toe, it was time to get back to the business of football. The Buckeyes entered Saturday looking for a final tune-up before the epic matchup with USC on September 13th. Instead of cruising against an in-state MAC opponent, Ohio State nearly had its season come crashing down. And as the game unfolded, I'm sure every fan had the exact same thing going through their head, "If we're playing like this against Ohio, there's no way we can beat USC in LA".

Yes, Ohio State won 26-14. But the third-ranked Buckeyes could barely generate any offense much of the stay and struggled to stop a backup quarterback on third down all day. The score almost seems deceptive, given that Ohio State trailed heading into the fourth quarter. Before our analysis, a few quick links.

*Bill Livingston says this is not what OSU needed before USC.

*Chris Dufresne thinks the Buckeyes just looked ahead a little bit.

*Maurice Wells generously grades Ohio State's running game at B-.

*Brian Hartline more accurately calls the effort "pathetic".

So what to make of this game? On the positive side of the ledger, there were no major injuries and Ohio State record is now 2-0. That's pretty much it. If you're looking for a silver lining from the game, the defense forced 5 turnovers, an area they targeted for improvement heading into the season. The bad?

*The offense was absolutely dismal in almost every phase of the game. That starts with the vanilla game plan from coaching staff, who apparently took a page out of the 2003 Tressel-ball playbook and expected to bore Ohio to death. The offense play-calling was unimaginative, conservative and showed little signs of adapting as the struggles became apparent.

*Todd Boeckman looked tentative, immobile and not in command of the offense. With no Chris Wells, Ohio State fans might have expected to see the Buckeyes open up the passing game a bit. But the early throws were all short hooks, screens and other plays that were easily sniffed out by an aggressive defense. Boeckman is a sixth-year senior, Brian Robiskie is a senior and Brian Hartline is a fourth-year junior. They've been around too long to play such a disappointing game.

*The offensive line had its lunch handed to it by the Ohio defense. This is the most troublesome aspect, that Ohio could apparently penetrate at will, pressuring the quarterback and sniffing out predictable runs. The interior line featuring Steve Rehring, Jim Cordle and Ben Person was particularly bad. Bryant Browning did not look much better, and one is left to wonder how long it will take J.B. Shugarts or even Mike Adams to take over at right tackle. Problem is, it certainly isn't going to happen this week.

*The running game sputtered, though it's hard to tell how much of that was caused by the line. Maurice Wells and Boom Herron each had a few nice runs to disguise the stat lines. Brandon Saine functionally disappeared until the fourth quarter. The three combined for 26 carries and 113 yards, which is unacceptable against a team that just lost to Wyoming. Fans may be reminded of the post-Maurice Clarett era, when an underachieving line left Lydell Ross fighting for his life behind the line of scrimmage.

*The defense was adequate plus - I suppose giving up one TD is a reasonable "down" effort. We can't count the Boeckman end zone fumble TD against them, and OSU needed every one of the turnovers. But the third-down conversions were troublesome, and there were plenty of times Ohio missed open receivers. If they hit a few of those passes, Ohio State might be looking at a loss.

*Perhaps worst of all, the freshmen got virtually no playing time. Terrelle Pryor played one series and saw some late action. Ditto for Posey, the linemen, and a handful of others. If they aren't trusted to play against Ohio in a pressure situation, can you really expect to see them against USC? I'd say the answer is no, so if you're expecting a bunch of creative packages for Pryor to run against USC, don't get your hopes up. Tressel does not have a history of doing that, and you're more likely to see one set of predictable draws or read options.

There's no way to sugarcoat this - it was an awful effort at almost every level. That said, there's no reason to jump off a bridge...yet. Yes, if Ohio State brings this effort next week, they'll lose badly. But if Chris Wells can be at 85%, the coaches open things up, and Boeckman plays to his potential, Ohio State can beat USC. These seniors came back for a reason, and it wasn't to get embarrassed by Ohio U. So Buckeyes fans should get focused for the Trojans and leave the complaining for some other time.

Berry Visits Columbus, Joins Buckeyes

2008-08-31T18:45:00.005-05:00

The Buckeyes started their season Saturday with excitement, and later, horror, when Beanie Wells was carted off the field. But during the euphoria and worrying, a unannounced guest was in the 'Shoe. It was none other than RB Jaamal Berry, perhaps the top remaining target for Ohio State's 2009 class.

Though the Buckeyes were considered the favorite for his services, Berry indicated that he would take his official visits and not commit anytime soon. But after visiting OSU with his Mom, he pulled the trigger. His commitment is the 25th for OSU's top rated class, completing an incredible running back trio. The verbal leaves just a few spots open with more than five months before signing day.

Considered one of the nation's elite players at his position, Berry is ranked as the #5 back (#35 overall) in the country by Scout.com and #6 by Rivals.com (#44 overall). He was timed at 4.31 at a combine earlier this year. He had offers from national powers like Florida, Clemson, Florida State, and Michigan.

Last Minute Questions: Youngstown State

2008-08-30T07:17:00.004-05:00

So what should Buckeye fans been looking for in today's game? Is it a glorified scrimmage or is there potential for a shocking upset? Better on the former, but a number of players out and Coach Tressel's demeanor, don't expect them to run the score up.

*How crisp will Todd Boeckman look? Great quarterbacks typically take a big leap in their second year of starting, and the Buckeyes will need that from Boeckman if they want to win the championship?

*How much work for Beanie? He's been held out a good deal during both spring and fall camps, and OSU needs him healthy for the season. But then again, Wells needs to get into game shape. And Heisman candidates need to have strong starts and good stat lines in games likes this.

*Who gets the carries once Wells leaves? You've got Mo Wells (seniority), Brandon Saine (speed on crack) and Boom Herron (great fall camp) chomping at the bit. Are their enough balls to go around?

*Just how vanilla will the game plan be? If history is any indicator, expect a double dip of vanilla with vanilla sprinkles. Ohio State should be able to win this game with their base offense and defense - no need to show any wrinkles at this stage.

*Will Ray Small continue his personal redemption tour? Once touted as a more polished WR version of Teddy Ginn, Small is well on his way to being the next Bam Childress. Practice star, oozing talent, but with no game day production. Here's hoping the speedy slot realizes his potential this year.

*How will Mike Adams, Mike Brewster and JB Shugarts look? The question of whether OSU's starting line has improved will not be answered until 9/13. But the most heralded offensive line class in Buckeye history should see the field today. Adams and Brewster have been limited by injuries, but we're excited to see the three on the field nonetheless.

*Who is this Terrelle Pryor character, anyway? I'm still reeling from the AP story that acted like it was news that Boeckman would be the starter, but that Pryor would play. Duh. Pryor's athleticism is undeniable, and I'd love to see one highlight reel run or pass. Of course, it's probably what College Gameday will show no matter what else happens.

*Will the defensive ends, sans Vernon Gholston, generate pressure? Today, for sure. But the Buckeyes have a lot invested in the health of beastly Lawrence Wilson and Robert Rose, both of whom struggled with injuries last year. Cam Heyward will continue to improve, but the coaches are hoping for a breakout year from Thaddeus Gibson.

*Much like the offensive line, the interior tackles won't be tested enough to determine if they can compete an elite level. But the rotation of Todd Denlinger, Dexter Larimore, Nader Abdallah and Doug Worthington needs to start fast and show the improvement from last year's debacles against Illinois and LSU.

*Blink and you'll miss the starting linebackers. Seriously, I'm hoping the score is sufficiently out of hand so Little Animal, Marcus Freeman and Ross Homan are out in the early third quarter. Keeping them healthy is the key, and getting a look at the talented second and third units is a bonus.

*Is anyone still alive in the secondary? Rock solid Kurt Coleman is hurt. Donald Washington and Jamario O'Neal are suspended. Eugene Clifford is now in Parts Unknown, Tennessee. Who's left standing, other than Thorpe candidate Malcolm Jenkins. Don't worry yet, there's plenty of young talent that needs experience, like Chimdi Chekwa, Devon Torrence, Jermale Hines and Aaron Gant. And a few old names - Andre Amos and Shaun Lane - might finally get a crack. The bigger question is whether the suspensions and injuries will prevent the unit from gelling before the USC game.

Final score prediction: Ohio State 44, Youngstown State 10.

Gameday Kick-off: Around the Web

2008-08-30T06:55:00.003-05:00

A quick round-up of some of the stories as we hurtle towards the noon kick-off:

ESPN gives you the vitals on the Yougnstown State game.

Starting safety Kurt Coleman is out, likely replaced by Jermale Hines.

DT Doug Worthington won't be suspended for his DUI.

The Appalachian State-Michigan game has the Buckeyes on alert against looking ahead.

Beanie wants to make sure Archie stays the only two-time Heisman winner.

The Buckeyes knows they've got some unfinished business.

Today's game may be ugly, but it probably won't be the worst opener Ohio State ever played.

The Sports Network takes a look at Coach Tressel's new deal.

Defense Big Board: 18 Hours from Kickoff!

2008-08-29T16:39:00.004-05:00

On the eve of Ohio State opening game against Youngstown State, we take a look at the defensive side of the 2009 recruiting class. Though things are almost set here, some big names are still on the board. Are all of the defensive commitments solid? Could a few blue chippers be added to the mix?

DE: The Buckeyes have already restocked the cupboard with two quality defensive ends from in-state. Mevin Fellows is the headliner - he offered an early verbal to Illinois but switched to OSU - and has star potential. Jon Newsome broke with Glenville traditional by committing this summer, a sign of how quickly the this class filled up.

Ohio State took serious looks at a few other Ohians, Tank Carradine and Pat Muldoon. But the talented Carradine apparently had academic issues, and Muldoon crossed Ohio State off his list once the scholarship become tight. Don't expect any other ends to join this class.

DT: After a few seasons of missing on elite interior defenders, the Buckeyes are back in a big way in the middle. It all starts with John Simon from Cardinal Mooney, one of the top players in the state. Though he was insulted by ESPN inane early rankings, he'll a lock to anchor the middle of the 4-3 attack. Though less heralded, Ohio State is excited about the potential of Adam Bellamy. He seems a lock for redshirt but could an excellent three-technique tackle.

Despite the two highly rated commitment, Coach Tressel is looking to knock it out of the park with Corey Adams. The Arizona stud has offers from almost every national power and is considered a top 100 player in the country. He grew up a Buckeye fan and has Ohio State in his top three. Though I'm generally skeptical of players from the west, keep an eye on the official visit.

LB: It's hard to believe that anyone has a better linebacking core in the '09 than Ohio State. The jewel of class so far is Dorian Bell, a 5-star from Gateway. He's the top player in talent-rich Pennsylvania and has great speed and instincts. He's joined by Storm Klein (OH) and Jordan Whiting (KY) who both committed early. Whiting is a physical specimen and Klein is a hard-nosed player, both with the athleticism to move around the field.

The only player still on the Ohio State radar is Frankie Telfort, an elite outside linebacker from Florida. He'll take visits to other top schools like Florida, USC and Tennessee, but the Bucks will get their shot as well. His friendship with Jamaal Berry can't hurt, along with the Floridians like Sabino and Brewster already in Columbus. Still, this is still a long-shot at this stage.

DB: The Buckeyes are loaded up at defensive back with six commitments. The high number is a sure sign of the transition to spread attacks, where speedy defenders with cover skills are necessary. This group is amazingly talented and balanced, with Rivals.com ranking all of them as 4-star players. At cornerback, Ohioan C.J. Barnett has lockdown potential, and Gateway's Corey Brown has starred at the elite camps this year. He has the ability to play on either side of the ball.

One of the most underrated commits is certainly corner Dominic Clarke (MD). His recruitment surprised some Buckeye fans, but scouts have come away very impressed with his performance this spring. He's a top 5 player in Maryland and the type of high-character player Tressel has a knack for finding. If there's a worry here it's with Justin Green (KY), who's brother Marcus played DT at OSU. Green remains publicly committed, but his verbal occurred before he was probably ready. He's a top-notch athlete but could still be quietly looking around.

S: At safety, two in-state stars are solidly in the OSU camp. Jamie Wood is rated by Rivals as the #2 safety in the country, and unheralded Bradley McDougald has gained recognition for his skills. Though Ohio State has added safeties late each of the past two years, don't expect that to happen again.

The Buckeye blog is at the beach this week, but we'll trolling the bars to catch our game against the Penguins. We'll do a full review of the game Monday, but watch to see what freshmen get into the game late. Youngsters that don't see action Saturday are likely to redshirt, barring injury or a major move.

Offense Recruiting Big Board: Fall Camp Edition

2008-08-28T06:17:00.001-05:00

With the season just days away, it's time for a quick update on the Buckeyes recruiting efforts. The Buckeyes already have 24 verbal commitments for the '09 class, but a few key spots remain open. With signing day more than five months away, the coaching staff will also have to do some maintenance to make sure all of the prospects stay in the fold.

QB: The Buckeyes still haven't offered a quarterback, and the in-state prospect that received the most buzz, Patrick Nicely, is now off the board. With Nicely committed to Bowling Green, might Ohio State look at Devontae Payne? Perhaps, but there are no signs of anything imminent. Look for the Bucks to evaluate during the season and see if anyone makes a great case for a scholarship.

Having just two in '09 is extremely risky, even if Pryor turns out the be Superman. If one of Ohio State's "athletes" isn't moved to QB, it would be surprising if one didn't end up in this class. Because of Pryor, the player would likely be a back-up type, with an eye towards '10 for the next star. The name to watch right now is Devin Gardner, a dual-threat blue chipper from Michigan.

RB: The biggest star left on the board may be Jaamal Berry, one of the top players in talent-rich Florida and a top 50 player overall. Berry would be the exclamation point on an exceptional running back haul, joining power tailback Carlos Hyde and speedy athlete Jordan Hall. Brown has indicated that the Buckeyes lead for his services, but it will be a battle with Florida Gators. Consider him a strong lean at this stage, and his visit to Columbus for the Michigan game an opportunity to publicly seal the deal.

FB: Ohio State is definitely done here, having commitments from Coldwater's Adam Homan and Pickerton's Zach Boren. Both are natural linebackers, and coincidentally both have brothers already on the team. As always, Coach Tressel is collecting athletes that could end up at a number of positions once they join the program.

WR: With three stellar verbals, you would think that Ohio State would close the books on the receiver position. The Buckeyes have a pair of 4-stars in Ohioan Chris Fields and lightening fast Michigan slot James Jackson. And don't forget Duron Carter, son of Buckey great Cris, a silky smooth split end with great upside.

But with Brian Robiskie graduating and Brian Hartline likely to leave as a fourth year junior, the Buckeyes will stay in contact with some of the nation's elite receiving prospects. Depending on how the numbers shake out, the Bucks could take one more if the right guy comes calling. The two players to watch are Marlon Brown (TN) and Kraig Appelton (IL). Both have indicated that they will make official visits to Columbus in the fall, though neither should be considered a Buckeye lean at this time. More than likely, OSU will be happy with the three already on board.

TE: Mammoth Michigan prospect Reid Fragel has already verballed, but the Buckeyes continue to pursue a pair of athletic pass-catchers. At the top of the wish list is Dion Sims, a dual sport player from Orchard Lake in Michigan. Sims may opt to play basketball, but the Buckeyes remain in the hunt for his services if he stays with football. Ohio State remains in contact with Ra'shede Hageman from Minnesota, who is also considering Florida, Wisconsin and his hometown Gophers. Don't be surprised to see one of the remaining spots devoted to TE.

OL: Ohio State has put together amazing back-to-back offensive line classes, a stunning reversal from recent struggles. The class is built from the exceptional base of in-state talent, including center Jack Mewhort, guard Corey Linsley and tackle Sam Longo. And don't forget about college football's most famous transfer, former Michigan Wolverine Justin Boren.
But despite the strength of that foursome, there is still work to do. The Bucks would like to add one more stud lineman, and they have their hearts set on Glenville tackle Marcus Hall. Ted Ginn Sr.'s Tarblooders have been a solid pipeline in the past, but the defection of Cordale Scott to Illinois last year showed that there are no sure things. Like most Glenville prospects, Hall will take his time and go on official visits. Illinois and LSU remain the biggest threats, but the good money is still on Hall to end up a Buckeye.

If things with Hall head downhill, the Buckeyes could make a push for John Martinez, one of the best linemen from the west. Martinez doesn't even hold an offer at this point, but Ohio State is in his top three. OSU has not historically had much success with these types of players (see Kris O'Dowd and Jeff Byers) so I wouldn't hold your breath.

We'll check on the defensive side tomorrow.

(photo of Jaamal Berry by Rivals.com)

BuckeyeDome.com Provides OSU Fans With Maximum Online Coverage

2008-08-27T20:45:00.009-05:00

The Ohio State vs. Michigan blog is proud to announce a partnership with BuckeyeDome.com, the ultimate online source for OSU videos and top Buckeye content. The highly navigable provides users with an incredible number of features, including a extraordinary clearinghouse of searchable Ohio State highlights. The site's powerful browsing capability allows for searching by category, player, year, popularity and date. After checking out your favorite videos, fans can rate and submit their own.

The content is top notch, featuring some of the blogosphere's top Ohio State sites. It's an impressive, one-stop source for news and commentary on OSU sports and recruiting. And FanDome's social networking allows you to meet and connect with other Buckeye fans. The site is integrated with MySpace to make hooking up with fellow fans even easier. And their comprehensive network makes it easy to find multimedia of your favorite pro teams as well.

We highly recommend you check out this well-designed site - we'll be featuring their videos and providing our usual commentary as the Buckeye start their run towards redemption and a national title.

Quick Hitters from the Big Ten Meetings

2008-07-27T18:12:00.002-05:00

It's not often that substantive news comes out of the Big Ten meetings, as the coaches find creative ways to not answer questions. This year was no different, but a few interesting tidbits were confirmed during the media sessions:

*The trouble tenure of uber-prospect safety Gene Clifford has finally come to a close. Clifford was granted his release and is reported transferring to Tennessee State for a fresh start. A top 100 player in 2007 and a star at the U.S. Army All-American game, Clifford had fans dreaming of the next Mike Doss and Donte Whitner. Instead, they got the next Ira Guilford, as Clifford was frequently in trouble for violating team rules.

*The media guide may have inadvertantly let fans know which players are in the dog house. WR Ray Small, who was supposed to be the second coming of Ted Ginn Jr., didn't receive his own page and was listed by the walk-ons. Coach Tressel dismissed the issue as a "mistake" that he was unaware of, but Small's breakout window may be closing. Also looking to get back in the coaches good graces is CB Donald Washington, who was listed as a second-teamer behind Chimdi Chekwa. Washington has had a few minor incidents, and it's possible that he might miss time during the scrimmages, err, games against Youngstown State and Ohio.

*Terrelle Pryor is sort of a big deal. The media couldn't contain themselves about Pryor asking Coach Tressel and everyone else about his possible impact. Everyone's anxious to get a look at the nation's #1 incoming freshman, and Tressel sang his praises fore talent, character and work ethic. On the other hand, the coaches that missed out on Pryor were less than enthused. Penn State's Joe Paterno called a question about Pryor "dumb", and The Rod used his standard line about only talking about Michigan players. How much action Pryor sees will be a hot topic when the season kicks off. I'm most interested to see if his playing time is telegraphed involvement, or whether the coaches can truly integrate him into the offense.

*The topic of conference strength was discussed at length, as Ohio State continues to reap the benefits of getting bludgeoned in back-to-back title games. The coaches acknowledges they needed to start winning the high profile games to turn around the national perception. None will be bigger than Ohio State's September 13 trip to star-studded USC.

Palmer Shows Some Trojan Class

2008-07-24T18:46:00.000-05:00

Ohio State and USC fans have been geared up for their September 13 clash since last season ended. But for some casual fans, Bengals QB Carson Palmer kicked things into overdrive by trashing the Buckeyes on an LA radio station. Palmer dissed both OSU football and their fans, saying the fans drive him nuts and that he can't wait for the '09 game for USC to administer a "butt-kicking".

Not so surprisingly, Bengal fans that also root for Ohio State aren't too amused, though Palmer released a backpedaling statement saying he meant no harm. Coach Tressel gave his usual non-response to the controversy, but you can be sure they'll be replayed over and over again as the game approaches.

The problem isn't really Palmer's pride in his alma mater; it's the tone of the comments, which came off bitter and condescending. It's the kind of thing I'd expect from an SEC player, but Palmer makes it sound like the Pac Ten is superior in some way. Save for his Trojan, the conference has been awfully lame over the last decade. Palmer may still be smarting from his senior campaign, when the Trojans finished strong but lost to their two toughest opponents, Kansas State and Washington State. Myabe he feels like USC deserved a shot at the title over undefeated Ohio State or undefeated Miami (FL). WSU actually won the Pac 10 that season, but lost a big non-conference game - to Ohio State.

ESPN Ruins Lunch

2008-07-24T11:19:00.004-05:00

Sometimes during the grind of the work day, the thirty minute lunch is a life saving break from the craziness. But there's nothing worse that sitting down for a nice sandwich and find this kind of picture on the ESPN homepage. I've cropped out Adrian Peterson so he doesn't get lumped in with the foul-mouth Rod and the man who couldn't beat Eli Manning. I barely recognized Tom without his scarf...

We'll have more on why ESPN sucks in the next day or so, when we breakdown the initial recruiting rankings. You'll have to excuse me while I try to salvage the rest of the day.

(photo by ESPN.com)

Buckeyes Lay Waste to UM Recruiting

2008-07-12T18:12:00.004-05:00

Michigan fans have been busy congratulating themselves for a bevy of verbals from undersized slot guys. But in the midst of this brave new world of Wolverine recruiting, one thing hasn't changed - Ohio State is stomping them in head-to-head competition for elite talent.

We blogged about this last year, when Ohio State garnered a great class with a number of notable prospects that were also pursued by Michigan. Would things change with The Rod replacing LLLLLLoyd Carr? Nope. The Detroit Free Press recently published an article about how Jim Tressel is "crushing" Rodriguez in the recruiting game. New Michigan, pretty like the Old Michigan.

The article cites seven direct wins for Ohio State: WR James Jackson, DE Melvin Fellows, LB Dorian Bell, DB/WR Corey Brown, RB Jordan Hall, OT/DT Adam Bellamy, OL Corey Linsley. Jackson in particular stung the Wolverines, being a Michigan native at a position of need for UM. The lone exception to the list is S Justin Turner, a highly rated Ohio safety that committed to Michigan.

But even this list doesn't give an indication of how strong Ohio State has been in this area the last few seasons. The Buckeyes have gotten so proficient in nabbing early commitments from blue chip recruits that Michigan is constantly shifting to second tier players. UM showed strong interest in players like CB C.J. Barnett, DT John Simon, TE Reid Fragel and WR Duron Carter. And don't forget about Michigan legacy Zach Boren, who choose Ohio State once brother Justin made the unthinkable transfer.

Michigan fans have little to say on this topic, as evidence by the disappearing act by our Wolverine blogger. They will claim that Michigan has successfully raided Ohio talent over the past few seasons. But only Turner and TE Kevin Koger actually had a Buckeye offer; the Trotwood bunch and players like Isaiah Bell and Taylor Hill were never going get OSU offers.

You might also hear that Michigan wasn't really "invested" in some of these players because they didn't focus their "resources" on them. This is insane troll logic; if an elite player has interest from a big-time program and commits elsewhere, it's still a loss. Recruiting fans tend to measure the importance of the recruit by how long it drags on and how much publicity they receive. This may be true in some cases. But for players like Beanie Wells or Mario Manningham, just because the decision was early doesn't alter the impact.

There are a handful of players left on the board that are still looking at in both programs: RB Jamaal Berry, OT Marcus Hall and S Vladimir Emilien. Will be interested to see if Michigan can win any of these battles, or if the Buckeyes will continue to dominate.

Buckeyes Add Longo, Zero in on Final Spots

2008-07-08T20:29:00.002-05:00

In recruiting circles, it has been acknowledged all season that the state of Ohio is deep on the offensive line. The Buckeyes had already secured the commitments of two in-state players - Corey Linsley and Jack Mewhort - and are still hoping to get Glenville Marcus Hall. That left precious few spots for some very talented prospects.

At the top of that list was Sam Longo, a 6'5" tackle from Bellbrook. Longo is Buckeye legacy, as his father Gene played linebacker in the 80's at Ohio State. At times it seemed that Longo would squeezed out by the tremendous numbers in the '09 class. But after patiently waiting, Longo received an OSU offer. It took him just over a week to pull the trigger and become a Buckeye.

Longo certainly had other options; he reportedly had over 30 offers. That list included some impressive national powers, including Florida State, Nebraska and Miami (FL). Penn State, Boston College and Cincinnati were also active in his recruitment. Longo is a 3-star prospect for both Rivals and Scout, and the former recently named him the most athletic lineman in the entire class.

Longo's commitment almost certainly means the end of road for other Ohio linemen hoping for an offer. Nate Klatt just verballed to Michigan State, and Ryan Spiker is definitely looking elsewhere. With 24 commits in the fold, Ohio State fans probably have just 3, maybe 4 more verbals for the entire class.

Breaking Down the Fullbacks

2008-07-03T22:09:00.003-05:00

Though the Buckeyes landed uber-prospect Terrelle Pryor and a host of dynamic wide receivers, reports of the demise of the power running formation at Ohio State are definitely premature. This is still the Big Ten, no matter how The Rod bastardizes the proud Michigan tradition. And for all of the playmakers coming to Columbus, Coach Tressel still value offensive flexibility and the ability to slowly grind an opponent down.

Graduation and injuries have left the Buckeyes thin at the position in 2008. Senior co-captain Dionte Johnson is gone, taking with him Tank Whaley and Trever Robinson. Foot injuries have ended the career of highly regarded Aram Olson. So who will be leading the way for Heisman candidate Beanie Wells?

In terms of returning players, the options are not overly impressive. Converted linebacker Ryan Lukens, a senior, moved to fullback during last year's bowl practices. He is joined by Spencer Smith, a redshirt freshman that walked on. He's the brother of sophomore lineman Conner Smith. At this point, Lukens seems like the odds-on favorite to be the opening day starter, but don't expect to see him toting the rock much. We'll set the season line for carries at 6, and I'm taking the under.

The Buckeyes have a couple other possibilities to explore during fall training camp. The first is rush linebacker Curtis Terry. Injuries ruined his 2007 season, where he would have backed up Larry Grant on the strongside. Terry has shown good burst off the edge at times, and the Buckeyes are hoping he can be a pass-rushing force this year. But this spring he took reps at fullback, actually playing both sides during the jersey scrimmage. He's certainly got enough attitude to seek out defenders to block, but it will be a challenge to learn a new position and stay sharp on defense.

Ohio State will also have true freshman Jermil Martin this fall, though it's unclear if he could step right in and make an impact. Martin was a 3-star prospect from Glenville, and was a late addition to last year's star-studded class. He'll have the inside track to the starting job in 2009.

At this point, it seems clear that Ohio State will continue to recruit the fullbacks vis-a-vis the linebacker position. This year's recruiting class has two such players, Adam Homan and Zach Boren. And don't be surprised if you hear about other linebackers getting reps at fullback - players like Austin Spitler, Brian Rolle, and Andrew Sweat are always rumored to be taking a crack at the backfield.

Newsome Joins the Buckeye Party

2008-06-24T15:06:00.002-05:00

In one of the craziest recruiting blitzes I've ever seen, Glenville DE Jonathan Newsome has committed to Ohio State. This makes him #23 overall and the fifth verbal in the last 72 hours. So how significant is this?

From a strictly ratings perspective, you'd probably consider this a "quality" commitment, but not a jaw-dropping elite player. Newsome is rated as a 3-star for both Rivals and Scout, and his offer list is upper Big Ten (Wisconsin, Illinois) and Big East (West Virginia). However, he didn't garner a lot of national attention.

But for Ohio State, there's nothing but excitement about this announcement. Newsome was offered early this year, before the wave of offers in response to the Illini's maniac strategy of offering every player from Ohio with a pulse. They like Newsome, who has performed extremely well at a number of camps.

He's also a sign that the Buckeyes recruiting juggernaut waits for no man - or for only a few very men. Glenville kids love to wait till the end to commit, but Newsome clearly needed to take action sooner rather than later. This probably ends the chances of Pat Muldoon joining the class - and possibly even Corey Adams, if he even wanted to come.

(photo by Rivals.com)

McDougald Announces for Buckeyes

2008-06-23T15:58:00.000-05:00

Ohio State's efforts to keep Ohio's best at home - along with march to toward a full class in the summer - took another step forward today. Bradley McDougald, a safety from Dublin's Scioto HS, offered his verbal commitment to the Buckeyes.

McDougald becomes the second highly regarded safety to join the 2009 class. Rivals.com rates him as a 4-star player and a top ten safety in the country. Scout.com has him listed as a 3-star player, but he has come on strong in camp performances. Don't be suprised to see him as a 4-star in both when the season ends.

This marks the fourth 4-star commit in a 48 hour period, and the fifth since the weekend. An unbelievable flurry, even by today's recruiting standards.

Corey Brown Commits to Ohio State

2008-06-23T15:26:00.000-05:00

The Buckeyes shocking recruiting pace, along with their recent success in neighboring Pennsylvania, continued today as Pittsburgh athlete Corey Brown committed. Brown is a prep star at Gateway, a Pittsburgh area school that is also home to Dorian Bell.

Brown is a standout wide receiver and cornerback, which is just the type of flexibility Coach Tressel loves. Rivals.com rates Brown as a 4-star athlete and #73 in the country overall. Scout.com also has him at 4-stars and as one of the top 10 cornerbacks in the nation.

Brown held over 30 offers from some of the nation's top programs, including, Michigan, Miami, Tennessee, Penn State, West Virginia and Rutgers. He strongly considered hometown Pittsburgh before ultimately choosing the Buckeyes.

(photo by Scout.com)

Green Reverses Field, Joins Buckeyes

2008-06-22T19:36:00.004-05:00

One of the top athletes in the 2009 class is Louisville Male's Justin Green. Buckeye fans may remember his brother Marcus, a defensive lineman on the 2002 team. Green visited Columbus this weekend but left without committing, and many OSU fans wondered if his timeline might cause them to miss out.

Apparently, Justin didn't want to find out. Despite heavy interest from programs like Miami (FL), Louisville and Tennessee, Green surprisingly committed to Ohio State Sunday evening. Green is known for his speed and could play a number of different positions. He's a 4-star prospect for both recruiting services, and Rivals ranks him as the #67 player overall.

Green's commitment tightens things up in the secondary even more. It will be interesting to see what happens with Corey Brown, Bradley McDougald and Vlad Emilien over the next few weeks. Brown has a press conference scheduled today, and McDougald could announce later this week.

Buckeyes Add Power Back for #19

2008-06-22T19:00:00.003-05:00

With Maurice Wells graduating and Beanie Wells likely to take his considerable talents to the NFL, the Buckeyes are hoping to bring in a great class of running backs to replenish the depth chart. The first piece was Jordan Hall, a versatile player that can line up all over the field. But Hall doesn't project as a traditional back, and OSU would like a couple of other elite prospects to come to Columbus.

The first of those two pieces is now in place, with powerful Carlos Hyde verballing today. Hyde hails from Naples, FL but has family in the Cincinnati area. He had offers from Florida, Florida State and a number of other top programs. Hyde is rated as a 4-star prospect for both Scout.com and Rivals.com.

Because of his size, both recruiting services list him as a fullback - Scout has him #1 in the country, and Rivals #2. But Hyde won't be lining up as a blocker in the Ohio State offense, where you might find Jermil Martin, Adam Homan, or Zach Boren. Hyde was recruited as a punishing, power runner in the mold of the aforementioned Wells or even the hardly mentioned Maurice Clarett. On film he shows strong a ability to turn the corner for a back his size and solid vision to cutback once he gets there.

The Buckeyes will continue to recruit 4-star Jamaal Berry, but this commitment goes a long way toward solidifying the backfield of the future.

(photo by Rivals.com)

Recruiting Crunch Time - 4 Possible Suprises

2008-06-20T22:10:00.007-05:00

With Duron Carter jumping on board today, the Buckeyes probably have 9 spots left for a enormous class of 27 players. Who could they be? We take a crack at naming them and try to identify where surprises might come.

The Safe No Surprises List

QB - None
RB - Carlos Hyde, Jaamal Berry
WR - None
TE - None
OL - Marcus Hall, Chris Watt
DL - Jon Newsome
LB - None
CB - Corey Brown
S - Bradley McDougald, Vlad Emilien
ATH - Justin Green

The biggest name I left off is Brandon McGee, a 4-star corner from Florida. McGee is a talented, flashy kid that had an exception time at the OSU spring game. But he holds a great offer list, and surely will be impressed with each visit he takes. As the spring game memory fades, McGee will not be in any hurry to make his choice. And despite his talent, I don't think he falls into the "must have" category with a reserved spot.

I've said on multiple occasions I don't think the class will end up like everyone thinks, meaning the Buckeyes could be in for some bad news on some kids. Of course, that just means that other deserving players will become targets, but doesn't reduce the stress for obsessed Buckeye fans.
So what should fans be looking for?

1. At running back Carlos Hyde appears set to join the class soon, but Jaamal Berry is probably in for the long haul. The Buckeyes will hold a spot for him, and he'll certainly take an official visit with his Gator-loving Mom. But even with OSU leading, this is no lock.

2. The offensive line situation is crazy, with so many deserving players and simply not enough slots. In years past OSU couldn't find enough quality big guys in-state, but now Ohio is overloaded. Sam Longo, John Prior, Nate Klatt and Ryan Spiker might all be Buckeyes in a different year. You saw Chris Watt up on the safe, but regular readers know I'm a skeptical on that front. Using the unofficial and highly unscientific method of offer lists, depth charts, quotes and geography, I still think Watt may end up elsewhere. That means at least one of these Ohio kids will be joining the mix - and don't be surprised if the staff finds a way to squeeze in two of them.

3. At defensive back, the Buckeyes seem intent on adding at least 3 more players. Bradley McDougald could commit soon, making things even tighter. Corey Brown begged for an OSU offer, but could an in-state team like Pitt sway him? That leaves Emilien and Green, both of whom were considered heavy Buckeye leans at one point. Will one get left out? Emilien was one of the early Buckeye targets and since gained major recognition on the national scene. Will he look around?

As for Green, with his brother Marcus a former Buckeye, many thought an offer would be quickly accepted. But with attention from in-state Louisville and Miami (FL), he may the player Buckeye fans regret missing out on. Brown, McDouglad Green could be labeled "athletes", meaning they're coming in without a designated position. So maybe the coaches will find a creative way to bring them all to Columbus.

4. Could Ohio State miss out on, or run out of room for a Glenville prep player? Both Jon Newsome and Marcus Hall have been penciled in for a long time. But Glenville players almost always wait till the end of the process to make a decision. And no Buckeye fan can be totally comfortable after their pipeline burst last year with the surprise defection of Cordale Scott. Could Newsome get squeezed if players like Pat Muldoon or Corey Adams come calling for a spot? Or could Marcus Hall decide he likes another team's depth chart better?

There are certainly no guarantees in recruiting, so I'd still say to expect the unexpected.

Carter Legacy Lives On

2008-06-20T21:45:00.003-05:00

Of all the great talent that came out of the Ohio State in the past 25 years, perhaps no players enjoyed a better NFL career than Cris Carter. The man who only caught touchdowns is still a big draw in Columbus, but his son is prepared take the spotlight for the next four years. Duron Carter, a 6'3" WR from St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida, announced his commitment today for Ohio State.

Carter had offers from LSU, West Virginia, Auburn and interest from a number of other top programs. His pedigree is undeniable, and he is rated as a 4-star on Scout.com and a 3-star on Rivals.com. His evaluation from the scouts and other recruitniks is somewhat even though. Some peg him a future star, who shows off silky-smooth moves, great hands, body control and understanding of the game. Others see the 4.66 40 time, and think that Carter will be more likely be a good - but perhaps not great - player after a few years of work. Though we'll have to wait to see who is ultimately right, Buckeyes are certainly happy he stayed in the family.

Carter becomes the third WR in the Buckeyes 2009 class, joining Chris Fields and James Jackson. This more than likely finishes the receiver class, and puts the total at 18. That means there's probably just 9 spots left and we're still in June. That number is probably going to shrink over the next few days, as OSU is expecting to gather at least a couple more commits.

QB Henton To Transfer

2008-06-19T11:07:00.001-05:00

QB Antonio Henton will return to his home state and play at Georgia Southern, ending a disappointing run at Ohio State. Rumors had swirled about the Internet for months, but the speculation was officially ended this week.

Henton was a fast-rising 3-star when he was recruited in 2006. Buckeye coaches and fans saw him as the heir apparent to Troy Smith, a mobile dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm and leadership skills. But that potential never came to fruition, and his time in Columbus will probably be more remembered for an embarrassing arrest than any on-field exploits.

Henton redshirted in 2006 and was given an opportunity to compete for the starting role in 2007. He lost that competition to Todd Boeckman, but many fans expected Henton to take over at some point. The coaches also had him prepped to take on a bigger role, or at least run special packages as a change of pace. But his arrest in the fall led to a suspension and things just never got better. by the time Henton returned, Boeckman had solidified his hold on the #1 spot and never looked back. There was some chatter about Henton being used in the BCS Championship game, but that never materialized.

During the recruitment of uber-prospect Terrelle Pryor, many assumed that Henton would have to leave the program. With Boeckman the starter in 2008, Pryor would be the logical choice to succeed him in 2009. But it might have been walk-on Joe Bauserman that really did the most damage. He reportedly outperformed Henton all spring, leaving Henton on the wrong end of the depth chart before Pryor even arrived.

Henton will have three years left and is headed to a school where his high school coach is an assistant. He's the second quarterback to transfer this off-season, joining former 4-star Rob Schoenhoft, who left for Delaware.

Buckeyes fans should wish Henton good luck - we'll certainly be rooting for him. The best in-game memory I have of Antonio was his TD pass to Taurian Washington in the season opener against Youngstown State. It was a gorgeous strike and looked like the future - a young, athletic passer hitting a true freshman in stride for an exclamation point on the game. Hope Antonio has many more of those in the next few years.

Buckeyes Big Board - June Update

2008-06-12T19:23:00.004-05:00

Ohio State wrapped up one of its most decorated classes ever in 2008, though it missed out on some national accolades from the media due to the class size and the Terrelle Pryor circus. But the Buckeyes kept the momentum up since Pryor signed his Letter of Intent, already gathering 17 commitments before mid-June. Who’s left on the board, and what can we expect this summer?

Analysts knew the 2009 class would be large, expecting a number from 23-25. It now appears that the class could swell to as many as 27…and perhaps higher? The unusual scholarship count is due in part to all of the juniors that returned, leaving the Buckeyes with a sizable senior class of 20 players. It is expected that at least 2-3 juniors will depart early for the NFL, including Heisman hopeful Beanie Wells, and fourth-year juniors Lawrence Wilson and Brian Hartline. Factoring in the normal team attrition from injury, transfers and other issues, and the Buckeyes have a lot of roster spots to fill. The Buckeyes will also be able to count some early enrollees from last year's class in a different year, which is allowed by NCAA guidelines.

QB (0-1): Bringing in a top-notch signal caller after Pryor was never going to be easy, and it now appears that the class might not have a quarterback at all. There are a few reasons for that, including the staff's confidence in walk-on Joe Bauserman, as well as the versatility of players like Ohrian Johnson. Victor Marc and Devontae Payne seemed like contenders at one point, but an offer does not seem imminent for either. One in-state prospect that Ohio State will continue to monitor is Patrick Nicely, who has traditional pocket-passer size but has run a spread offense before.

RB (3): Jeanette athlete Jordan Hall is already in the fold, projected as a slot-type weapon that can lineup in a variety of places. The Buckeyes will take at least 1 more back, 2 if the right player wants to come. At the top of that list is Jamaal Berry, a top 100 back from Florida. He grew up a Miami fan, but they already have a commitment from Bryce Brown and appear to be looking elsewhere. Florida remains a threat as well. The Buckeyes would like to add Berry’s speed to the power running of Carlos Hyde, a big back from Naples, FL. Hyde has family ties to the Cincinnati area and is planning to visit OSU next weekend. Should the Buckeyes miss on Berry, they could pursue Trabis Ward (FL) or Ohioan Bud Golden.

FB (2): The Buckeyes have commitments from Adam Homan and Zach Boren, both of whom could also be considered linebackers. They’ll join OSU at a thin position with just incoming freshman Jermil Martin ahead of them.

WR (3): The Buckeyes already have verbals from Chris Fields, the top WR in Ohio, and James Jackson, a lighten-fast slot receiver from Michigan. They plan to add at least one more receiver, and legacy Duron Carter is your best bet at this point. Cris Carter’s son also has an offer from LSU, but the Buckeyes have to be considered the favorite at this point. Ohio State would, of course, find room if an elite 5-star like Marlon Brown wanted to come to Columbus. But the case is less clear for players like Kraig Appelton, Jheranie Boyd or Shaquelle Evans.

TE (1-2): The Buckeyes have mammoth Reid Fragel on board, but could still add another TE if the right one comes calling. They have offers out to Dion Sims (MI) and Ra’shede Hageman (MN), but both seem inclined to stay in-state as of now. Ed Hazelett (IN) could be a possibility as well.

OL (4): Other than defensive back, this is probably the most debated position by the fans. Ohioans Jack Mewhort and Corey Linsley are already going to be Buckeyes, and transfer Justin Boren won’t count against the scholarship total. The Buckeyes want to add two more, and the preference would be Glenville tackle Marcus Hall and guard Chris Watt (IL). The former must be considered a Buckeye lean, but you can never discount the impact of official visits, perception of depth charts, and the unpredictability of teenagers. Though the Buckeyes are in good shape with Watt, he could easily end up at Notre Dame, Illinois or Michigan. Should that happen, OSU can turn to in-staters Ryan Spiker, Sam Longo, or Nate Klatt to fill the last spot. All three appear willing, but the numbers crunch could keep them out. There is no indication that the Buckeyes will offer Ricky Harris or Chris Freeman, who is clearly this year's Zebrie Sanders.

DE (2-3): The Buckeyes lured highly-regarded SDE Melvin Fellows away from his initial commitment to Illinois, a critical swing in their efforts to keep top talent at home. They would also like to add the other top in-state defensive end, Jonathan Newsome from Glenvillle. Newsome has publicly named OSU his leader, though he has not seen other schools. The possibility exists that one other player could sneak into this class on the defensive line, likely Pat Muldoon from the Cincinnati’s famed St. Xavier.

DT (2-3): With this week’s announcement from Adam Bellamy, many thought the Buckeyes were done at defensive tackle. But the Buckeyes continue to pursue two top out of state players, Corey Adams (AZ) and Tyrone Ezell (PA). It appears that OSU might take one, but certainly not both. They could be competing for the same spot as Muldoon, depending on the rest of the class. Even if neither one comes, Bellamy will team with underrated John Simon to form a great interior duo. Simon was an early commit and big victory for the Buckeyes, who struggled at Cardinal Mooney recently.

LB (3): Barring a waiver from the NCAA allowing them to roster 50 linebackers, the Buckeyes are probably done here. They have an incredibly strong threesome of Dorian Bell (PA), Jordan Whiting (KY) and Storm Klein (OH). In the national rankings, Bell will likely remain the highest rated player in the class. Whiting is a physical specimen and Klein in the mold of the prototypical Ohio ‘backer. They may continue to recruit Florida stars Jelani Jenkins and Frankie Telfort, but I don’t expect that either will make it to C-Bus.

DB (6): Defensive back has been a roller coaster already and it’s only June. At corner, the Buckeyes have commitments from Clayton Northmont’s C.J. Barnett (OH) and Maryland speedster Dominic Clarke. The Buckeyes are in hot pursuit of Corey Brown from Gateway (PA), who has a visit set up around June 20. At least three other players are legitimately in the conversation – Justin Green (KY), Brandon McGee (FL) and D.J. Hunter (OH). Green is being recruited as an athlete, and is the brother of former OSU DT Marcus Green. McGee plays QB in high school but projects as a corner at the next level. He visited during the spring game and has consistently named the Buckeyes among his leaders. Hunter is a 4-star player with good footwork and speed, but OSU is by far his best offer.

At safety, the Buckeyes have top 100 prospect Jamie Wood from Pickerington Central. They would like to add at least one more, possibly two depending on the numbers. Vlad Emilien (FL) plays on the same team as Brandon McGee and appears to be a lean at this point. The Buckeyes were in early but will face still competition from SEC schools and Michigan. Bradley McDougal (OH) is another 4-star athlete-type that may come in as a safety but has the talent to move around. E.J. Banks has mentioned OSU frequently, but spots are becoming short for players that want to take visits.

Adding up the numbers, you see a class around 27…could it even be 28? One thing to keep in mind is that recruiting has a way humbling the “experts”; as soon as you think you know how it will all play out, everything changes. Buckeyes don’t want to be reminded of 2006, when a bevy of top prospects were poised to verbal but ultimately ended up elsewhere. At this point, the Buckeyes have to feel confident with Hyde, Hall, Carter and Newsome. All four have strong ties to the state or program and would bump the Buckeyes up to 21 commits. They will take an additional lineman, whether it’s Watt or a deserving Ohio kid, getting us to 22. I think Buckeye fans are expecting Emilien and Brown to join the fray at some point, and we might know on Brown sooner rather than later. That’s 24, which just a few spots open. You can bet that Jamaal Berry will have a spot open regardless. Pencil in one more defensive lineman – likely Muldoon but possibly Adams, and one more athlete/DB – McDougal or Green, and you’ve got the magic number.

I’m most suspicious of the Florida crew, since distance and impressive alternatives are an issue. I’ve just never had a good feeling about McGee, and I also think Adams will ultimately go elsewhere. OSU just does not recruit the west particularly well. Either way, this is a top 3 class at the end of the day, even if some Buckeye fans bemoan the ratings.

It's also interesting with the new Michigan system to see how few head-to-head battles are left. The OSU coaches are definitely on track to have most of this class wrapped up at the end of the summer, just needing to do maintenance so they can focus on the upcoming season.

Ohio Lineman Wastes Little Time Joining Buckeyes

2008-06-11T10:25:00.002-05:00

After impressing the Ohio State coaching staff at the advance senior camp this past weekend, Adam Bellamy got call he was waiting for - an scholarship offer to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes. It didn't take long for Bellamy to pull the trigger, becoming the 17th member of the 2009 recruiting class.

Bellamy was recruited by most schools as an interior offensive lineman, including Michigan. But the Buckeyes are looking at him for defensive tackle. He's certainly got the size measuring 6'4" and 275+ lbs. In addition to UM, he claimed offers from Boston College, Michigan State, Vanderbilt and number of other Big Ten programs.

Initially Buckeye fans assumed the Bellamy commit was bad news for Chris Watt (IL) and some other Ohio lineman looking for offers. But since Bellamy will be working on the defensive side, it's probably more of an indication that OSU's recruitment of DT Corey Adams (AZ) might cool down.

Buckeyes Nab Maryland Corner for #16

2008-06-09T10:07:00.005-05:00

After the disappointment of the Darrell Givens de-commit, the Buckeyes are right back at it in the state of Maryland. They reeled in another verbal Sunday from Dominic Clarke, a 5'10" cornerback from Frederick. Clarke becomes the third defensive back in this class, joining Ohioans C.J. Barnett and Jamie Wood in the 2009 class.

Clarke is an interesting addition to the class, as the timing was somewhat of a surprise to most recruiting experts. His offer list included Boston College, Maryland, Virginia, Stanford and Vanderbilt, but none of the big programs Ohio State is usually competing against. So why the offer to a kid not yet even rated by Rivals or Scout?

In a word, speed. Clarke has a rather impressive record in track, helping his school medal in a variety of events and relays over the past few years. He's run a 4.41 at camps, and the OSU coaching believes that kind of speed can't be taught. Clarke's football resume is not without accomplishment, as he was named MVP at a Virginia combine in 2007 and is one of the top players in the state this season.

However, the commitment still raises some eyebrows. Despite his speed, Clarke will need to bulk up to handle the rigors of the Big Ten. This type of commitment also causes teeth-gnashing over other targets, such as Corey Brown and Brandon McGee. Is their interest fading? Will their spots be taken? Will they go someplace else with less recruits at their position?

The bottom line is that fan reaction is based almost entirely on the ratings of recruiting sites and the other schools pursuing the player. This leads to a rather large dilemma - do you blindly trust that coaches know better than you and high school scouts (which they do)? Or do you openly criticize when your team didn't get the dream recruits you wanted? There's no right answer, but it does seem highly unfair to high school kids to complain unless there's ample evidence pointing to a problem. So for now Buckeyes fans should be excited at the addition of Clarke, who from all reports is a stand-up player and person.

Michigan TE Selects OSU

2008-05-30T08:39:00.000-05:00

Ohio State continued its blistering recruiting pace by picking up its 15th commitment before June 1. They recently added TE Reid Fragel (MI), a 6'8" monster with surprising 4.8 40 speed. Fragel becomes the second prospect from the state Michigan to verbal to the Buckeyes, joining WR James Jackson. Fragel is rated as the top tight end in Michigan and one of the best in the Midwest. He was offered by Michigan State, Purdue, Cincinnati and Maryland, with Michigan showing some interest.

One of the deciding factors was his ability to stay at TE, where the Buckeyes exclusively recruited him. With his huge frame, there was a presumption that Fragel might eventually become a tackle. That still remains a possibility, but certainly shouldn't be assumed. OSU has recruited athletic, mammoth TE's in the past, with Jake Ballard and Andy Miller as examples still on the roster. Both are 6'6", and while Miller has moved to offensive line, Ballard remains at TE.

The Buckeyes will be thin at the position after this season, with Rory Nicol and Brandon Smith both graduating. Jake Stoneburner will be a freshman this season, but he is generally considered a receiver that will split out wide in most formations. Ballard will be a senior in '09, and Coach Tressel will want the flexibility to run packages with a pass-catching TE on the line.

Breaking Down the Running Backs

2008-05-19T16:26:00.003-05:00

The Buckeyes will enter the season with talent returning at many positions, but they come in truly loaded at running back. The focus of the offense will be junior Chris “Beanie” Wells, last year’s leading rusher with over 1,600 yards and 15 TD’s. Wells single-handedly kept OSU in the title game against LSU, and the Akron native is gearing up for a run at the Heisman in 2008. But who else will tote the rock for the Buckeyes, who have a stable of gifted backs? And what will the Buckeyes look for in the 2009 recruiting class?

It all starts with Wells, who brings an unreal blend of power and speed to the table. As a freshman he showed some flashes despite some early fumbling problems. He broke out during the epic Michigan game and was poised to play a big role in the championship game…until Florida blew OSU out and rendered the running game useless. When healthy, he's the best player on the team, capable of explosive, game-changing runs. Of course the caveat of "when healthy" is rather significant, as Wells has struggled with injuries throughout his first two seasons. He sat out spring practices after wrist surgery, and still has a nagging ankle problem. Keeping him healthy may be the key to the season, and certainly for the marquee games on the schedule.

The backup spot behind a Heisman hopeful might not seem like an enviable job, but in a Jim Tressel offense there are plenty of carries to go around. With the talent in the backfield, the coaching staff experimented with a "Pony" formation this spring, utilizing two tailbacks in offset lineup. The formation provides flexibility and puts another weapon on the field for an already potent offense. Three backs are vying for the coveted number two slot: senior Maurice Wells, sophomore Brandon Saine, and redshirt freshman Daniel "Boom" Herron.

Wells has had an up-and-down career in Columbus; early on, the coaching staff seemed confused on how to use him. This led to a lot of groan-inducing runs into the line for 5'10" speed back. But the "other" Wells settled into a role last year, gaining nearly 400 yards and reaching double-digit carries in four games. He operates best in space, outside of the box and in areas where he can maximize his shiftiness.

Wells will be pushed hard by Saine, who many are expecting (waiting?) on to emerge as a star. He entered the program as a high 4-star recruit with blazing speed, holding Ohio state track records. Saine flashed potential early, scoring TD's in two of his first three games. But a knee injury forced him to miss three games, and he never really got untracked after returning. Fans are hoping he'll make the same type of sophomore leap that others backs have made, including Beanie. His ability to catch passes gives him an edge on the other backs for playing time.

A sometimes forgotten player in the equation is Boom Herron, another top recruit from the class of 2007. Despite weekly calls from fans and coaches alike, Herron was able to avoid burning his redshirt last season. Herron is smaller and not as fast as Saine, but he it would be foolish to underestimate his abilities. He's runs with great vision and burst and opened eyes during spring practice. In all likelihood, he will probably struggle to get meaningful carries early in the season. But He'll have a chance to get his feet wet and gain some valuable experience. Next year he and Saine will have to carry the load, so it's critical that he's ready.

Speaking of next season, the Buckeyes are going to need to bring a fresh stable of backs this offseason. Maurice Wells will be out of eligibility. And though he claims otherwise, it's very difficult to see Beanie staying for his senior year. Given his talent, propensity for injuries and the overall statute of limitations on running backs, he should be headed to the NFL. That will leave just two running backs on the roster, meaning the Buckeyes will need to replenish the roster in a big way.

They're off to a good start and hoping to make a big splash when it's all said and done. They have already received the verbal commitment of Jeannette's Jordan Hall, an all-purpose back who play a role similar to Lamaar Thomas. But the Buckeyes apparently hope to add at least two more running backs to this class. At the top of the list is Jaamal Berry, a top 100 prospect from south Florida. Berry is being recruited by Florida, Michigan, Auburn, Florida State and a number of other top programs. he's a game-breaking type back that could come in and make an instant impact, but he'll be tough to pull out of Florida. His official visit is scheduled for the Michigan game.

Two other names to watch are Carlos Hyde and Bud Golden. As we mentioned before, Hyde is a big power back, stylistically different from a player like Berry. With family ties to Ohio, his visit in June will be closely watched by Buckeye fans. Golden does not yet hold an offer and could be left out if the Buckeyes somehow get both Berry and Hyde.

(photo by The-OZone)

Bucks Bounce Back With Top Receiver

2008-05-13T08:35:00.003-05:00

Just days after the de-commit of CB Darrell Givens, Buckeye fans were treated to a much better surprise: they landed James Jackson, one of the nation's elite receivers. The commitment is all the sweeter because Jackson hails from the state of Michigan and is considered one of the top players in the state.

Jackson, who visited OSU during the spring game, cited his relationship with the coaching staff as a key factor in his decision. He had offers Florida, Alabama, Oregon, UCLA, Wisconsin and a number of other top programs. One his main suitors was Michigan, who lost ground with coaching regime change. He was also influenced by the idea of catching passes from Terrelle Pryor, the Buckeye uber-recruit from last season.

Rivals ranked Jackson as part of their top 250, and he is a 4-star in both Scout and Rivals rankings. Jackson is considered a burner with field stretching ability from the slot, something Ohio State needs. Along with Chris Fields, that gives the Buckeyes two top recruits at WR for the '09 class. Should Duron Carter join the team as a legacy, it is difficult to see the Buckeyes adding a fourth receiver to this class. They would certainly take a player like Marlon Brown, who you can't turn down under any circumstances. But it is unclear whether they would continue to pursue players like Jheraine Boyd, Kraig Appelton or James Green.

(photo by Rivals.com)

Buckeyes Lose 4-Star Corner to Penn State

2008-05-11T18:50:00.003-05:00

The Buckeyes have been cruising through the early 2009 recruiting period, pausing only for the Justin Turner speed bump. But in the first real setback, top cornerback Darrell Givens (MD) de-committed and offered his verbal to Penn State at this weekend's NIKE camp. I know this is shocking, since Ohio State and Michigan rarely lose anything to PSU these days.

What to make of this...first, if you didn't have some doubts about Givens staying with OSU, then you're either naive or not paying attention. We flagged the possibility of Givens "wavering" when we initially discussed his commitment, though I wouldn't have guessed it would happen this quickly. Givens was overly positive about every place he visited, and his verbal was a surprise at the spring game. Add it all up, and you have a young player that may have been caught up in the moment.

Ohio State doesn't usually get those kind of "emotional" commitments, which has the upside of far less potential de-commitments. This is also a risk of national recruiting, where players are potentially less loyal and have less ties to your program. Buckeye fans reap the benefits of big out-of-state players like Mike Brewster and Dorian Bell, but they must also be prepared for these kind of disappointments from time to time. And if anyone really wants to complain, keep in mind the Buckeyes have Melvin Fellows, who was a de-commit from Illinois.

What does it mean for the team and the class? Hard to say, but no one should be too crushed. Givens was persuaded by the argument that he could play earlier at Penn State, which is probably the truth. Penn State, in honesty, is not an elite school as far as football talent anymore. And there are plenty of experienced players (Donald Washington, Andre Amos, Chimdi Chekwa) and rising stars (James Scott, Donnie Evege, maybe Devon Torrence) that he would have to compete against. Some top recruits know they're going to have to compete everywhere and welcome the challenge; others look at depth charts and try to pick a place they feel they can make an early impact. I can't really argue with either decision. But it is mildly amusing that another top cornerback prospect, Corey Brown, just called the Nittany Lions out for the their inability to produce NFL-caliber corners (see King, Justin).

Even in this class, the Buckeyes already have C.J. Barnett, a top 100 cornerback rated higher than Givens. They will continue to pursue D.J. Hunter, Brandon McGee and other defensive backs to fill that slot. But it is very unlikely that Ohio State will continue to recruit Givens, who could very well end up somewhere other than Penn State. I'd be shocked if he didn't end up on an official visit to Miami (FL), which made the Centre Daly Times headline so ironic to me.

One positive to take away is that this happened early in the process, and Givens actually called the coaches to let them know, which I respect. Now Ohio State can regroup and replace Givens. Contrast that to last year's Josh Jenkins fiasco, where his half-assed West Virginia commitment and reported silent verbals to OSU paralyzed the offensive line recruiting. No matter though, as the prospects of getting Jack Mewhort, Corey Linsley and transfer Justin Boren on the interior are very exciting. For top programs, every recruiting miss can be turned into something good the next season.

"The Betrayal Is Complete..."

2008-05-01T08:35:00.003-05:00

This was the title of a post on Michigan's Rivals.com message board yesterday after Zach Boren announced his commitment to Ohio State. The verbal came just days after brother Justin, a former starter at Michigan, officially transferred to OSU.

From a football standpoint, it seems like a solid, fairly innocuous get. Boren's a great athlete but without a truly defined position. His best spot might be middle linebacker, but the Buckeyes have a number of top underclassmen already at that position. Boren will likely come in as a fullback, competing with another young brother, Adam Homan.

From a rivalry standpoint, the cements one of the strangest turns in UM-OSU history. The Borens, despite living just outside of Columbus in Pickerington, was a seemingly die hard, bleed blue family. Father Mike was a starter for Bo, and it sounds like the entire family's wardrobe is made up of maize and blue. What fans want to know is, how can you just switch cold turkey? The story will certainly get a lot of play among the national media as their careers progress.

Buckeyes Keep Momentum, Add 4-Star Guard

2008-04-29T07:38:00.002-05:00

Ohio State has added yet another top prospect to the 2009 class, yesterday gaining the commitment of OG Corey Linsley. Hailing from Youngstown's Boardman High School, Linsley impressed coaches and recruiting experts with an impressive film from his junior year. His fast rise up the boards landed him offers from a number of top schools like Notre Dame, Miami and Illinois. A top student, Linsley also strongly considered Stanford.

Linsley give the Buckeyes two top interior lineman in the 2009 class, joining already committed Jack Mewhort. With the addition of transfer Justin Boren, OSU can replenish the offensive line with three starters graduating after this season. The Buckeyes would certainly like to add Glenville's Marcus Hall to this stellar group, giving them another top line class.

(photo by Rivals.com)

Vern Goes #6, Joins Buckeyes East

2008-04-26T21:33:00.002-05:00

Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston became the latest first round pick for the Buckeyes, selected #6 overall by relieved Jets fans. Though sentiment may have favored Arkansas RB Darren McFadden, he was off the board and Jets fans were chanting for Gholston. He joins former teammates K Mike Nugent and C Nick Mangold in New York.

Post-Spring Big Board: Lightening Round Edition (Defense)

2008-04-26T04:11:00.003-05:00

We covered the offense earlier this week, and then the Buckeyes 2009 recruiting officially blew up with 3 commitments and transfer in a five day period. Here's how the defensive class is shaping up...

DE (2): Despite adding some quality pass rushers last season, the Buckeyes will need to add a couple of ends next February. Lawrence Wilson will likely go pro next year, Robert Rose has had problems staying healthy, and Cameron Heyward is increasingly looking like a candidate to leave early. The addition of Melvin Fellows on Thursday adds a bona fide star to the class, though it still seems possible he could grow into an inside player.

The Buckeyes are in good shape with Jonathan Newsome, a Glenville product that does not yet hold an offer. The did recently offer New Jersey native Anthony LaLota, who holds a very impressive list of suitors. OSU will likely take their time here, looking to get at least one more commit from a top player.

DT (2): OSU has done a good job of shoring up the defensive tackle position over the past two years. No one is more central to that effort that Cardinal Mooney's John Simon, perhaps the best player in Ohio this year. At this stage, there are no other recruits that might commit soon. At one point the Buckeyes were high on Corey Adams list, but that interest may have waned somewhat. With Simon aboard, a second DT is likely, but not a desperate need.

LB (3): How many linebackers can one team take? The Buckeyes, with three top backers already in the fold, will be very selective for the rest of '09. Dorian Bell, Storm Klein and Jordan Whiting give the Buckeyes a great shot at the top linebacking class in the country. Toss in Adam Homan and Zach Boren, both coming in as fullbacks, and the cupboard is fully stocked. Should he qualify academically, the Buckeye might still take Quan Fletcher, a talented Floridian. Otherwise, only the opportunity to pick off a top 100 type player would add to this crew.

CB (2-3): The Buckeyes already have two top flight corners in C.J. Barnett and Darrell Givens. But with defensive backs at a premium, there could easily be another added to the mix. Middleton's D.J. Hunter is the top in-state option, and he currently holds a Buckeye offer. OSU is also talking to Justin Green, a fast rising prospect from Kentucky.

S (2): Jamie Wood certainly made an impression on someone at Rivals, shooting all the way up to #26 on their most recent top 100 list. Wood gives the Buckeyes a great start at a position where Coach Tressel always seems to find playmakers. There's a good chance that Vlad Emilien (FL) could join Wood in the defensive backfield. The Florida star had a great visit over the spring game, though he is consider offers from Tennessee, Auburn and other southern schools. It will be interesting to see if OSU adds an under-the-radar in-state safety like it has the last two seasons.

ATH (2): The coaching staff loves players that can move around to multiple positions, so athletes are always a point of emphasis. Two big names to watch are Brandon McGee and Darrell Mason. McGee is a star from Florida with offers from pretty much everyone in the world, and it will certainly be difficult to pull him out of the south. Mason does not hold an offer but could earn one at camp.

Fellows Makes the Switch

2008-04-24T20:39:00.000-05:00

Buckeyes fans were concerned at the start of the 2009 recruiting season when upstart Illinois invaded the state and offered virtually every player with a pulse. With energetic Ron Zook taking the lead, the Illini put a lot of pressure on Ohio State to evaluate in-state players much faster than usual. But the biggest worry was the early commitment of Garfield Heights DE Melvin Fellows to Illinois. Fellows is considered one of the top five players in the state, and the loss of such a player - especially after the Cordale Scott defection - would be a bad sign.

Fellows publicly said that he was 100% committed to Illinois, but would continue to check out other schools, including Ohio State. It became clear over the past couple months that he feelings about Ohio State were getting stronger, and on Thursday he officially changed his mind.

In addition to his Illinois offer, Fellows was being pursued by Notre Dame, Michigan, West Virginia and Louisville. He is the #29 ranked player in the Rivals.com top 100.

Boren Makes it Official

2008-04-23T21:41:00.000-05:00

Justin Boren officially made the move from Michigan to Ohio State, completing a historic transfer that is sure to ratchet up an already heated rivalry. Boren started for Michigan at guard and center, and will have to sit out the 2008 season. He will not be on schoalrship but could start for the Buckeyes in 2009.

Apparently a side controversy has sprung up involving former coach Lloyd Carr. A Dispatch report claimed that he worked behind the scenes to make sure Boren would get his release from the university. Carr flatly denies that.

Either way, Boren is not exactly receiving great press for the move. Unless being called "turncoat" qualifies as a positive.

OSU Doubles Up in PA

2008-04-22T19:53:00.001-05:00

Just one day after landing standout PA linebacker Dorian Bell, the Buckeyes went back into the Keystone state to grab another blue chip prospect. This time it was Jordan Hall, a 4-star all-purpose running back from Jeanette. Teammates last year with future Buckeye QB Terrelle Pryor, Hall said he would have gone to OSU even without Pryor.

With Maurice Wells graduating and the NFL looming for Beanie Wells, Hall will join a very short depth chart at running back next year. With his speed and hands, he's likely to see time carrying the ball and catching it out of the slot.

Buckeyes Land Elite PA Linebacker

2008-04-21T19:42:00.000-05:00

For the second year in a row, the Buckeyes have pulled off a huge recruiting coup. 5-star linebacker Dorian Bell of Gateway announced his commitment to Ohio State this afternoon. That gives the Buckeyes #1 player in the state of Pennsylvania (again) and one of the best linebacker prospects in the country (again).

Dressed in all Buckeye gear, Bell told the media he felt like he "never left home" on his visits to Columbus. Bell had offers from top programs around the country, including Florida State, Penn State, Tennessee, Rutgers, Michigan, and Notre Dame. He projects as a strong side linebacker, but could play the weakside.

Bell is listed as the #22 player in the country by Rivals.com and #7 overall by Scout.com. As usual, we go out of our way to discount ESPN's recruiting rankings.

Post-Spring Big Board: Lightening Round Edition (Offense)

2008-04-21T06:43:00.007-05:00

Ohio State is off to a fast and furious start this recruiting season, picking up right where the '08 class left off. With the spring evaluation period just started, the Buckeyes already have nine commits in a class that could number 25 by next February's signing day. So who's already in, who's on the way, and who's on the radar? We'll start on offense and hit defense later this week...
QB (1): With the personnel drifting toward a fast, spread scheme - think Troy Smith not Pat White - look for one dual threat guy. Victor Marc is the favorite right now, while Devontae Payne might be this year's Dominic Britt.

RB (2-3): Mo Wells graduates and Beanie Wells could be a top 5 pick, leaving just two backs left on the roster. Could Ohio State possibly squeeze three top running backs into this class? A better guess is two, with an "athlete" type that could play running back also in the mix.

Jordan Hall, who plays for Pryor's Jeanette team, seems like a candidate for the scatback slot. The Buckeyes are also pursuing David Oku (OK), who is considering USC, Illinois, Florida State Tennessee and Michigan. The two may be mutually exclusive.

The Buckeyes are looking at a handful of other backs who are all extremely interested. Jamaal Green (FL), Carlos Hyde (FL) and Bud Golden (OH) are all in the mix, but it remains to be seen how many spots are actually open. Green has the most decorated offer list and had a great time at the spring game. But it's possible that admissions could be dicey. Hyde is the only one holding an offer, and has family ties to the state. But is big back Hyde this year's Richard Watson? Golden also attended the game but does not yet have an offer. It seems likely that either Hyde and Golden could join the class, with Green having a spot regardless if he qualifies and wants to come.

FB (2): Yes, you did read "spread offense" and now we're talking about 2 fullbacks? Coach Tressel loves his flexibility, and Ohio State always wants a strong goal line and short-yardage sets. There's method to the madness though. Adam Homan is coming in as a fullback, but he could easily be shifted to linebacker if the need arises. The other candidate is Zach Boren, a good athlete without a defined position. And why does that name sound familiar?

WR (3): The Buckeye had an exception haul last year, but will likely lose their top two receivers after this season. OSU already has one commit in top 100 player and Ohio native Chris Fields. There a handful of other players the Buckeyes would love to land from out-of-state. The list includes James Green (FL), Kraig Appelton (MO), James Jackson (MI) and Duron Carter (FL). The last name on the list is the son former Buckeye great Cris Carter. Look for the Buckeyes to add two more receivers in this class, and it wouldn't be much of a surprise they both came from the Sunshine state.

TE (1): The Buckeyes have recently offered 6'8" Reid Fragel from Michigan. Fragel is athletic and versatile, but it's unclear whether he remain a tight end or grow into a tackle or defensive end. Is this Jake Ballard or Andy Miller? The other name mentioned most at this stage is Ed Hazelett from Indiana. He's also a good basketball player and has an OSU connection through teammate Walter Offutt, committed to the Buckeye hoopsters.

OL: (3): After bringing in their most highly decorated line class of all-time last year, what can the Bucks do for an encore? Despite the addition of three blue-chip freshmen, OSU will be losing three starters to graduation after this year. So adding at least three more to replenish the depth is important. The Buckeyes are off to a good start with the addition of Jack Mewhort from Toledo. He's been impressive at spring camps and projects as an interior linemen.

The biggest prize on line is Glenville's Marcus Hall, the top linemen in the state of Ohio. He's being pursued by all of the Big Ten schools and a number of national powers, all of whom are hoping he doesn't follow Tarblooder tradition and go to Ohio State. A school like Illinois, or even Michigan, may be able to offer early playing time and an easier depth chart. But OSU has to be considered the favorite at this point.

Ohio State is also in hot pursuit of Corey Linsley, a guard from the Youngstown area. Linsley has offers from Notre Dame, Illinois, Miami and Pitt, but Stanford might be the Buckeyes toughest competition. Should Linsley commit, the Buckeyes might slow their recruitment of Chris Watt, another top interior lineman.

One wildcard in this process is Justin Boren, the former Michigan starter who is considering a transfer to Ohio State. He would not take up a scholarship because conference rules prohibit that, but check out fullback again. And remember how things went with John Kerr. If Boren join OSU, it seems unlikely that a player like Ricky Harris from Westerville will get offered.

The '08 Buckeyes: Quarterback Analysis

2008-04-20T15:52:00.004-05:00

It was more than a year ago when we kicked off this blog with a post breaking down the 2007 quarterbacks. How did we do? Well, we were right that Todd Boeckman would get the early nod and run with it. We knew Rob Schoenhoft and Antonio Henton would get a crack at early playing time. We also called Joe Bauserman as the fourth QB on the roster, walking on. And we did mention some kid name Pryor that turned out to be an okay recruit.

But what surprised about 2007? Mainly that Antonio Henton didn't make more of run at it. I personally thought his athleticism would give him an edge over Boeckman, and that he'd force his way onto the field for at least scripted run-pass option plays. But his season was derailed when he was arrested for solicitation. Though charges were later dropped, he never seemed to recover. Boeckman took the reins and had a pretty good season for a first year starter. I say "first year starter" instead of "old enough to be the Dad of some of the players".

What's going this season? Boeckman comes in as the unquestioned starter. He's a senior it seems difficult to envision any scenario in which he relinquishes the #1 spot on the depth chart. That being said, there are two schools of thought on Todd. The first is that he exceeded expectations as a first year player and has all of the tools to lead the Buckeyes to championship. No, he's not Dan Marino, but he's good good size and arm strength, he knows the system and can efficiently run it.

The other side of the story is somewhat less complimentary. They see Boeckman a good but not great quarterback that has some potential holes in his game. He can get happy feet in the pocket, locks onto receivers, and sometimes gets careless, turning it over in bunches. Is this just a game manager, relying on his experience and the talent around him? Will he be able to win the big games?

The truth is probably in between, and is a subject I'm planning to cover at length in the near future. Boeckman's legacy will be judged entirely on three games this season - at USC, home against Michigan, the bowl game. Run the table and join Craig Krenzel in Buckeye lore. Fail to beat USC and listen to people call for your head.

What about the other guys? Everyone will want to know what's going on with Terrelle Pryor from the minute he steps on campus. Best case scenario, he uses his unbelievable skills to bust some big plays in limited action this season. It's another headache defensive coordinators will have to prepare for, and Pryor is definitely a difference maker. I just don't see that a redshirt is possible for Pryor - he's going to come in very prepared to run some specific plays. And even if you know what's coming, he's too good to stop.

Even with a returning senior starter and the #1 recruit, the talk of the spring game was Joe Bauserman. The former baseball player had a great game, connecting on a few long passes with Taurian Washington, leading to some love from ESPN. It's clear he's passed Henton on the depth chart; the latter is in danger of falling out of contention. With Pryor's arrival this fall, it is imperative that Henton make strides between now and then. One of these two guys must develop into a legitimate option, with Boeckman graduating. Right now the guess is that Bauserman sticks around and is the #2 in 2009.

From a recruiting standpoint, the Buckeyes would like to add a QB to the '09 class. With Pryor just a true freshman, getting an elite guy might be a chore. The top name right now is Victor Marc (FL), the only QB that has been offered at this point. He's a bigger bodied QB, and holds offers from Clemson, UNC, and South Carolina. Look for the Buckeyes to be very selective this year.

Givens Verbals at OSU Spring Game

2008-04-20T09:42:00.004-05:00

The Buckeyes spring game wasn't dampened by the heavy rain, as 75,000+ paying fans watched the OSU conclude their April practices. Ohio State hosted a huge group of recruits, including an armada of players from Florida who made the trip north. At least one player already decided he wanted to be a Buckeye - super corner Darrell Givens from Maryland. Givens committed to the coaching staff during halftime, making the game a huge success.

Givens is members of the Rivals250 and currently is ranked at #9 corner in the country by Scout. At one point in high school he played with Buckeye Lamaar "Flash" Thomas, providing a nice connection with the incoming class. He becomes the Buckeyes second corner commit, joining Clayton Northmont's C.J. Barnett.

Givens had offers from virtually all of the top programs, including Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Tennessee. He had previously expressed strong interest in Miami (FL) and Rutgers, so it will be interesting to see if he wavers at all during the process. OSU fans should be very excited to have a player of his caliber on board, a second potential shutdown corner. We'll have much more from the spring game, recruiting news and the 09 position breakdown in the coming days.

Danger WIll Robinson...

2008-04-13T15:25:00.002-05:00

The internets can be a danger place, where rumors spread like wildfire. This past week some "insiders" began hinting on message board that there could be some trouble afoot in the OSU secondary. Of course, we neither spread rumors nor post premium content on the Big Ten Recruiting Blog, so we said nothing. Actually, we were hoping it would go away.

But some confirmation was provided late in the week when key players were held out of practice. Starting cornerback Donald Washington, along with safeties Jamario O'Neal and Gene Clifford were seen running at practice but not participating in drills.

Nobody know exactly what any of this means. Maybe the group of them broke a team rule and are being punished accordingly. But if this wasn't a minor infraction, there could be major implications for Ohio State's national title hopes. Remember that Washington and Clifford were already reprimanded for conduct unbecoming prior to the LSU game. Clifford was actually suspended for the game, while Washington was allowed to play.

Losing Washington would leave a large void at corner. Nickel corner Chimdi Chekwa is fast and decent in coverage, but his abilities against the run leave something to be desired. Redshirt freshmen James Scott and Donnie Evege are talented, but have no game experience.

O'Neal is a former starter that found himself on special teams and second string last year. he responded by playing with a great deal of energy, and he had a shot to displace starter Anderson Russell from the star position in the Buckeyes' five DB set. O'Neal is more athletic that Kurt Coleman or Russell, and many were hoping that this was the year that the proverbial light went on.

Clifford, for all his worldly talent, seems unwilling or unable to stay out of trouble. If this is a serious violation of team rules, he may be headed out. Either way, losing these players for multiple games would serverely diminish any dreams of beating USC and running the table.

Legacy Boren Bolts UM, Could Be a Buckeye

2008-04-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

Buckeye fans like to make up excuses when top in-state talent flees to Michigan, and in the case of Justin Boren, it was too easy. With a family full of Michigan grads, including a father that starred for the Wolverines, there weren't many surprises when the Pickerington star choose Michigan over Ohio State. Boren started as a true sophomore, and along Steve Schilling, was thought to be one of the returning anchors of the Michigan offensive line.

That all changed in spring practice, when Boren did not mesh will with The Rod and his new staff. He abruptly left the team, claiming the coaches were abusive and that the "family values" that the program was built on "have eroded". His family had some rather unpleasant parting words for the school. Other than announcing his departure, The Rod was generally mum on the topic. He only talks about players who are part of the program, which is why you haven't heard him utter a word about Terrelle Pryor yet.

Given the attrition that has occurred at Michigan - including two stud players like Ryan Mallet and Justin Boren being run off - exactly what is going on? Is this just a situation in which a radical change is causing players to re-think their option and leave if they don't fit it? Had the Michigan program become lazy, and was The Rod just imposing his will to whip the players into shape? Or did the coaches cross the line, perhaps not caring if they weeded out players that aren't a great fit for their system? The complicated truth is probably somewhere in between, but it certainly has caused some consternation among Michigan alums and fans.

That might have been the end of the story, but speculation immediately began that Boren would do the unthinkable - transfer to Ohio State. His father all but said he would have recommended Ohio State over Michigan if he knew how things would play out. The rumor kicked into overdrive when Boren attended one of Ohio State's spring practices. At this time, no official decision has been made while Boren wraps up his time in Ann Arbor.

It seems like Boren will be attneding the same university as his brother Zach, a 2009 fullback prospect. Should they choose Ohio State, Justin would have to sit out 2008 and would be ineligible for a scholarship' Big Ten rules prohibit a player from transferring in-conference and receiving a free ride.

The move would turbo-charge the already heated rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State. Boren would be viewed as a low-life, cry-baby traitor by Michigan, while Ohio State fans will welcome him with open arms. Much like in politics, the reactions would surely be the same if the situation was reversed. It does bring up some interesting questions, like whether a player can really jump from one side a rivalry to another. Or does it even matter to the players the same way fans perceive it?

Boren would be a formidable addition to the Ohio State line in 2009. Given that both starting guards will graduate, Boren would have a great shot at starting immediately. I'm just trying to picture how ugly his reception will be at the Big House on November 21, 2009.

Get 'Em While They're Hot...

2008-04-04T10:56:00.000-05:00

Seriously, if you're looking for a big reason why this blog took a spring hiatus, look no further than college basketball. Ohio State beat UMass to win the 2008 NIT championship [isert screams of joy here]. Yes, it an honor to win anything, even if it's the Tommy Amaker Invitational. And of course, the extra games were probably good for youngsters like Evan Turner, Jon Diebler and Dallas Lauderdale.

But it's still the NIT. I'm just trying to figure out what the market is for these t-shirts. Do you really want to commemorate this special moment? Could you wear this out with pride? Not without being mocked by every sports fan you encounter. Maybe this is the kind of shirt that you purchase and wear to mow the lawn. Or paint, preferrably indoors. It also might work at the gym, assuming you either live in Columbus or wear it inside out. Frankly, I'd almost rather wear a 2007 BCS game shirt.

Turner Joins Wolverines

2008-03-30T15:31:00.000-05:00

Our Michigan Man is currently MIA - he may be one of the eleven people left on the planet who care about the NBA, or he may just be waiting for his two-star freshman to show up the fall to run The Rod's system. Either way, I thought I'd add some good news for beleaguered Wolverine fans. Justin Turner, one of the top players in the state of Ohio for 2009, offered his verbal to Michigan staff.

Turner is a safety that plays for Massillon Washington, and is definitely an elite national prospect. More importantly, he was actually someone the Buckeyes wanted. Turner grew up a Wolverine fan, and it seemed like he would be a quick commit to his childhood team, much like Mario Manningham. However, the Buckeyes thought they had a shot when UM went through a coaching and system change. Turner's father remained in the Michigan camp, while his Mom favored Ohio State. In the end, Dad won out.

Turner is the first Ohio recruit offered by Jim Tressel that committed to Michigan. Those who stay...will go 0-4. ;)

Pryor Selects Buckeyes over Wolverines

2008-03-19T11:08:00.003-05:00

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Buckeyes Can't Beat Spartans, Seeking NIT Tickets

2008-03-16T09:19:00.004-05:00

Having beaten two ranked teams in a row to close the season, the Buckeyes needed a third win to secure a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. They faced Michigan State for a second time in six days, and this the time the Spartans came out on top, 67-60. The quarterfinal loss probably dooms Ohio State to the NIT. Some are still holding out hope for a miracle during tonight's selection show. But the Buckeyes are the guy who got the "we need to talk" call from their girlfriend. The bad news is coming, and it's a matter of when not if.

I could dissect the loss, but there's really no point. Jamar Butler got into early foul trouble and played less minutes than usual. Kosta Koufos came out with passion and energy we haven't seen all year - more on that later - but faded in the second half. Evan Turner flashes some silky smooth moves, but still has trouble finishing. Jon Diebler, legend of Ohio prep basketball, badly missed some long-range shots and was barely in the game. David Lighty was solid as usual, but he's not a dominating player than can win games single-handedly. Matt Terwilliger and Othello Hunter played the same kind of games they played their entire careers, and I don't mean that in a pejorative way. They contributed, but just didn't have enough firepower. This Buckeyes team was simply too young, too inexperienced and lacking firepower in a few keys places. They fought hard, but could not overcome a nightmare stretch in the second half that culminated with a pretty lame technical foul on Othello Hunter.

I could lament the losses of Mike Conley and Daequan Cook, first round picks that certainly would have made a huge difference on this year's team. No one could have anticipated that Conley's star would shine so brightly that he would be a top 5 pick, and OSU missed his ability to penetrate all year. Rumor has it that Cook left more out of frustration for his supporting role last year, which is too bad. He wasn't consistent enough to play over seniors like Ron Lewis or Ivan Harris, but would have been a scoring machine on this team. He's had a pretty decent season for the Heat, all things considered. But could have moved his stock up to the top 15 - maybe even the lottery - with a big sophomore season? Perhaps, but not relevant now.

So what for Thad Matta? The Bucks lose Butler, Hunter and Terwilliger - two starters and a valued reserve frontcourt player. Assuming Koufos leaves, which seems like a pretty safe bet if he's around the lottery area, the Buckeyes would be left with the following returning players and freshmen:

PG - P.J. Hill (JR), Anthony Crater (FR)
SG - Jon Diebler (SO), William Buford (FR), Walter Offutt (FR)
SF - Evan Turner (SO), David Lighty (JR), Eric Wallace (SO)
PF - Dallas Lauderdale (SO)
C - B.J. Mullens (FR), Kyle Madsen (SR)

Mullens and Buford are both 5-star McDonald's All-Americans, so they will see the court. Offutt is recovering from a knee injury, so there's no expectation for him to play next season. Crater, a former elite prospects whose star faded a bit, will have an chance to compete at PG.

Overall, the gaping at point guard will be more pronounced in '08. Could one of the talented wings players shift over? Speaking of that - the Buckeyes now have a impressive logjam of shooting guards and small forwards. Lighty and Turner will certainly both be starters, and it will be interesting to see if Diebler can get out of his season-long funk. Buford is talented and could relegate him to the second team if he doesn't turn things around.

The frontcourt is highlighted for the third straight season by a possible one-and-done lottery pick. Mullens is 7'1" and plays with a lot more force that Koufos. Lauderdale had some nice stretches this season, and his development is going to be very important. Even under the best possible scenario, the Buckeyes will play small and fast next year, as Turner, Lighty and Wallace will probably all share time at the small forward spot. The future is incredibly bright, but there will be some more growing pains next season.

(photo by The-OZone.net)

OSU Downs Spartans, Upgraded to Critical But Stable

2008-03-09T14:35:00.004-05:00

Facing there umpteenth consecutive must win situation - of which they've lost more than they won - the Buckeyes closed out the regular season with a stirring 63-54 comeback against Michigan State. With Columbus buried under 20 inches of snow, the Buckeyes used a pressure defense in the second half to rattle the Spartans and beat a second ranked team team this week.
The game was a tale of two halves. OSU floundered through the first, leaving fans to wonder when football spring practice started. But with their ticket to the NIT nearly punched, Ohio State turned up the heat in the second half, forcing 17 turnovers for the game. It was an important win for the Buckeyes, who celebrated Senior Day for Jamar Butler, Othello Hunter and Matt Terwilliger.

All attention now turns...back to Michigan State. The Buckeyes are locked into the #5 seed in the Big Ten tournament, and will face the same Spartans Friday afternoon. Conventional wisdom says they need to win again to get in, but that's not a lock either way. With a horrendous slump at the end of the season, even a third straight quality win might not be enough for the young Bucks. On the other hand, this year's weak bubble might get OSU in even with a loss. Of course, that assumes at-large bid aren't lost during the craziness of conference tournament week. Either way, beating a Tom Izzo-led team twice in a week is a tall order.

(photo by The-OZone.net)

Buckeyes Not Dead Yet...

2008-03-05T10:58:00.003-05:00

...but are still on NCAA life support after beating Purdue 80-77 in OT. Because the bubble is weak this year, they still have a small chance. But they probably have to win at home against Michigan State to partially negate a horrific losing streak punctuated by two embarrassing road loses (Michigan and Minnesota). Beating Tom Izzo's club this weekend, along with at least a first round win in the conference tournament, might be enough to squeeze in. But right now, it's not a good bet. At-large bids are inevitably lost when good small conference teams don't win their respective tournaments. And the committee usually frowns on teams that finish poorly and lack marquee in-conference wins.

The New York Times says Tuesday's win after many losses in a row gives up some hope. What are we, Hillary Clinton?

Vern! Gholston Torches the NFL Combine

2008-02-25T21:15:00.001-05:00

We can't hold a grudge against Gholston for leaving for the NFL, though he was the only junior not to return. After Monday's workout, it looks like his decision will definitely pay off. Gholston had an incredible day, running a 4.61 40 and doing 37 reps of the 225 bench. He also topped the more heralded Chris Long in a number of areas, including broad jump, vertical jump and 10 yard split.

Lots of positive press for Vern...

A top ten spot locked up?

Position flexibility increases value

Jake Long is still bitter he got toasted

A depressing scenario - don't go, Vern

(photo courtesy of the-OZone.net)

Buckeyes Add Another Top Ohio Prospect

2008-02-24T20:55:00.001-05:00

Ohio State continued its recruiting blitz, adding another elite in-state player to its rapidly expanding 2009 class. The latest addition is Jamie Wood a safety from Pickerington Central. Wood wasn't planning to make an early commitment, but offered his verbal to Coach Tressel after this weekend's junior day.

Wood told reporters that he "loved the Buckeyes" since the day he was born, and didn't want to pass on this opportunity. He received early offers from Penn State, Illinois, and Stanford, as well as interest from many other national programs. Though he projects as a defnesive back at this point, Wood has the athleticism to possibly switch to receiver.

(photo courtesy of Rivals.com)

Buckeyes Add #7 for '09

2008-02-20T09:21:00.003-05:00

Painsville Harvey WR Chris Fields grew up an Ohio State fan and was waiting for an offer from his homestate Buckeyes. Fans had been clamoring for the smooth, sure-handed receiver to get an offer, assuming that he would eventually join the '09 class. But Fields set the bar pretty high with his insta-call commitment yesterday. News broke a littl before noon that Fields had been offered by Coach Tressel, and less than half an hour later he was reportedly a commit.

Fields is 6'0" and runs a 4.43 forty and had a great camp at the national High School All-Star Combine earlier this month. He had offers from Illinois and Penn State, and was receiving interest from Florida and Michigan. Thankfully, the Wolverines didn't have to use any precious recruiting resources on Ohio's #1 receiver this year. There are unconfirmed reports though that The Rod is scouting midgets in the Dayton/Trotwood-Madison area.

More on the Fields commitment here...

(photo by Rivals.com)

Notable Quotable

2008-02-18T14:06:00.004-05:00

Saw two interesting quotes today...starting off with Mike Ferrell's Rivals.com article on Terrelle Pryor (subscription required).

"Pryor admits he was set to sign with Ohio State the day before Feb. 6, but a conversation with his father, Craig, made him think twice. His father wanted him to take another look at Penn State and take an official visit."

Huh. This sounds a whole lot like what the OSU insiders were saying all along. And they were verbally disparaged by the classy Michigan fans all over the internet. So what say you, unassailable Michigan Man? What happened to all of the delusional rumors that Pryor was going to Ann Arbor to get the snot knocked out of him as a freshman? Was it because Ohio State's booster paid too much? Surely a public retraction is in order.

The second quote has been flying around the Big Ten message boards, though I haven't been able to find a verified link yet. It's from the newly minted Michigan head coach, aka The Rod. To be clear, I don't a darn about mediocre slot receivers, no matter which school they attend. But this a pretty amusing case of hypocrisy...

"Every coach has his own philosophies. I'm going to tell you what my philosophy is," Rodriguez said. "You always hope that a young man is committed to your school when he says he is committed to your school. When a coach decides to leave, and that player is committed to one school, that coach shouldn't recruit that guy. If you're recruiting a guy who is not committed to West Virginia, that players is still out there, and you go ahead and recruit him. Otherwise you don't," Rod said.

“The hard part about it is when a young man is committed to you and you're committed to him, that's a spot on the roster that's taken. So maybe there are some guys who are out there that you quit recruiting because you're locked into him. Then three or four days before signing day, he switches on you, and you're like, 'Golly, I wish I would have known that three or four months ago so I could have signed someone else." - Then West Virginia HC Rich Rodriuez, 2007

Butler, Terwilliger Fail in Bid for Sweep

2008-02-17T16:41:00.004-05:00

Michigan's, which earlier this year lost to Harvard (in men's basketball, not debate) today beat Ohio State 80-70 in Ann Arbor. It marked their first win against OSU coach Thad Matta, and the first time any Michigan team beat Ohio State since February 2004. Ouch.

So that stings a bit, as Ohio State now has a pretty ugly blemish on their NCAA resume. Conventional wisdom was that Buckeyes needed to beat Michigan and Minnesota, along with one of their four games against the top league teams. With a loss to the Wolverines, OSU may need to split their four marquee games, and definitely needs to win its first round game in the Big Ten tournament.

The signs were sort of out there -Michigan played Ohio State tough at home, they recently beat Iowa on the road, and OSU was pretty listless at Northwestern this week. Still, it would have been quite an accomplish for the seniors to run the table and go 8-0 in their careers against Michigan.

Of little note was The Rod's halftime appearance, a much hyped first address to a Michigan crowd. Fans wondered whether he would make a psuedo-promise like Jim Tressel did in his first year, which led to a big upset in the 2001 game. But The Rod didn't say jack. Basically, the promised that Michigan would play hard and play physical. I'm terrified now...

2009: Names to Watch on Defense

2008-02-16T18:38:00.004-05:00

We continue our preliminary look at some of Ohio State's top targets for 2009 with a quick tour through the defensive side.

DE: The Buckeye brought in 3 talented ends in the '08 class, but they'll certainly be looking for more this season. Lawrence Wilson will almost certainly leave after his redshirt junior season, leaving just two experienced DE's on the roster. The biggest name right now is Melvin Fellows, a huge SDE from Garfield Heights. He made an early commitment to Illinois, but the Buckeyes will make a strong push to bring him back to the fold. Fellows is likely a top 5 player in the state of Ohio, and not the type of kid Jim Tressel likes to lose. Nate Cadogan of Portsmouth is another Ohioan that will get a long look.

The Buckeyes have showed interest in a few high-profile out-of-state players, including Craig Drummond (IL), Donte Moss (NC), and Jack Lippert (PA). None seem to be leaning toward OSU at this moment, though the Buckeyes are hopeful for summer camp visits or unofficial trips to Columbus. Look for the Buckyes to add 1-2 ends in this class.

DT: The best of the class is already on board, as Cardinal Mooney's John Simon made an early verbal to OSU. Despite injuries, Simon had a strong junior season and could very well be the #1 player in the state. Along with Garrett Goebel this year, that marks a second consecutive blue-chip tackle to anchor the middle of the line. The Buckeyes were also an early favorite for Corey Adams (AZ), though he will be a chore to get away from the west coast. OSU can afford to be selective at this point, and will only take a second DT if they find the right guy.

LB: It's February and the Buckeyes are already loaded up at LB. They received an early commitments from top 100 player Jordan Whiting, a chisled middle linebacker from Kentucky. He's joined by friend Storm Klein, an in-state prospect from Licking Valley. Klein is listed as an athlete and has appeared on various top 100 watch lists. Rivals.com lists him as an "athlete", and he seems likely to settle into the upper part of the Rivals top250. No matter to OSU fans, who seem Klein as a lock in the Ohio top 5.

With two already in the fold, OSU is still pursuing a number of other linebackers. Keep in mind that three seniors (Little Animal, Freeman and Curtis Terry) will all graduate after the '08 season. They have already offered John Newsome from Glenville, and hope that he will join this talented class. Two other names to watch in Ohio are Will Studlein from Cardinal Mooney and Mike Marrow from New Albany. Neither hold an offer yet, which may be an issue for Studlein; either he wants to decide very early or wants some more love from the Buckeyes.

But OSU will likely take their time, evaluating at camps and gauging the interest of other blue-chip talent. A few out-of-staters that may visit are Dorian Bell (PA), Quanthony Fletcher (FL) and Willie Ferrell (FL). Bell is a 5-star from Gateway High School of Shayne Hale/Cameron Saddler fame. Fletcher is from Dr. Krop, the same high school as Etienne Sabino. it sounds like Fletcher's offer is contingent upon some academic improvement, but he would be an amazing addition to the class if it works out.

DB: Again, the Buckeyes are already off to a great start in the defensive backfield. C.J. Barnett is likely the top cover corner in Ohio, and he recently pledged to OSU. The Buckeyes remain interest in some of the best corners nationally, including Darrell Givens (MD). Givens was recently featured in a spate of recruiting articles and has been getting offers from many of the big programs. He's already visiting Columbus unofficially, and has a connection to the Buckeyes in former teammate and friend Lamaar Thomas. Rutgers and other top schools will certainly be in the mix.

At safety, the main name right now is Justin Turner. He'll definitely be a top 10 player in Ohio, and unfortunately grew up a Michigan fan. The Buckeyes are hoping that the regime change will help avoid a repeat of the Shawn Crable situation. Turner is warming to the Buckeyes, as hasn't had much contact with The Rod's staff thus far.

One other elite in-state player to remember is Darrell Mason. The Younstown Ursuline star is listed as an athlete, and will certainly be a candidate for top 100 national lists. He could play on either side of the ball, but it would be safety on defense. He grew up a Buckeye fan, so hopefully an offer will be forthcoming.

(photo of Melvin Fellows by Rivals.com)

2009: Names to Watch on Offense

2008-02-12T19:35:00.000-05:00

With the dust settling on most of the 2008 recruiting class, our attention now turn to next year's class. The initial top 100 lists are out, though they must be taken with grain of salt. Rather, with a barrel full - the end of the year lists will look vastly different. At this early stage, there is plenty of evalution time for the current juniors, but there are some names already floating out there with offers.

Ohio State is expected to have a large class - they could likely take the maximum of 25 if they wanted. Or if they were an SEC school, they could probably get away with 40 or so, with about 18 qualifying. We kid because we love. Expect Coach Tressel to try and balance the numbers, shooting for a number in the low 20's, with a few spots left for exceptional players.

QB: With the Pryor situation still unresolved, it's difficult to project how this might play out. With Pryor, it may be difficult to get an elite 5-star, though that's never been OSU's m.o. However, Pryor might only be a three year player, and with Boeckman graduating, there will certainly be a spot open. Tyrik Rollison (TX) is an talented dual-threat player with interest in the Buckeyes, and Devontae Payne is currently the most notable in-state prospect.

RB: The Buckeyes will definitely be looking for 1-2 backs in this class. They'll take their crack at out-of-state studs like Bryce Brown (KS), who has an offer, and Larry Caper (MI) who currently does not. Right now, I don't expect either to be Buckeyes, but the possibility of early playing time will definitely be appealing. There are a handful of in-state possibilities, including Bud Golden, but none truly stand out at this point.

WR: With a three receiver "types" from the '08 class, the Buckeyes will be selective in this class. But Brian Robiskie is in his last year of eligibility and Brian Hartline will be a fourth year junior, so there should be some available spots. Chris Fields of Painsville Harvey is the big in-state name, though there are some differing opinions on his ceiling. Kraig Appelton (IL) is a talented player with a number of big early offers, though he may be a challenge to get away from Ron Zook. The Buckeyes may also try to steal Dion Sims away from Michigan "pipeline" Orchard Lake St. Mary's. He seems way to tall and talented to play WR in The Rod's system.

TE: The Buckeyes signed Nic DiLillo this year, but with Rory Nicol graduating and Jake Stoneburner destined for receiver, they will try to pick up another in '09. Two out-of-state prospects currently top the list: Ed Hazelett (IN) and Malcolm Bush (NJ). Hazelett attends Warren Central, the same school as Buckeye basketball commit Walter Offutt. Bush is drawing interest from a number of national powers, so OSU will see if he's interested in a visit to Columbus.

OL: What can the Buckeyes possibly do for an encore? After landing three truly elite linemen in '08, the Buckeyes will try continue to stockpile talent. Three senior starters on next year's team will graduate, and luckily the '09 class looks even deeper on the line. This is particluarly true in Ohio, where the Buckeyes are aggressively pursuing a number of juniors. Tackle Marcus Hall from Glenville is the top prize, and it will cause a riot if he ends up elsewhere. The Buckeyes are also looking at Chris Freeman, an extremely tall tackle from Trotwood. Freeman has a bizarre Zebrie Sanders-esque offer list already, so we'll see how this plays out.

On the interior, OSU already has a commitment from Jack Mewhort, a big guard from the Toledo area. They would like to add at least one more, possibly Chris Watt (IL), who already has an offer. Center Nate Klatt is getting some love from the coaching staff, and had a favorable one-on-one with Jim Bollman at the most recent junior day. Less promising are the prospects of Westerville South's Ricky Harris, who recently stated that OSU's lack of early involvement have dropped them down his list. This is a recurring theme in recruiting, as schools like Illinois shower early offers to players that increasing want to know where they stand early on. We'll have to see how the coaching staff adjusts...

(photo of Marcus Hall by Rivals.com)

The Sad State of Recruiting Message Boards

2008-02-10T21:33:00.003-05:00

Strangely unphased by the Terrelle Pryor false start, the Buckeye “half” of this blog feels obligated to post some sort of response to this post by our Wolverine counterpart. In truth, a much uglier version of this response was drafted, but ultimately I though I'd tone this down. It's my Barack Obama version of hope for change, bipartisanship and warm college football fuzzies. Or not.

I was mildly amused at the rather loose definition of “banter” used by my colleague, whose absence from blogging almost prompted me to submit a picture of him for use on a milk carton. Obviously there are varying degrees of smack talk, but this seems to qualify more as bitter, cheap shots rather witty zingers.

Though the talking points from this post come in no discernable order, I’ll try to answer the insults in a coherent fashion. First, thanks for checking in. We assumed you were dead or playing with your Easy Bake oven or something. In the midst of the most chaotic time in Michigan football, the dawning a completely new era, you became the blog’s version of Terence Mann. No, we’re not professional journalists here and it’s impossible to try and keep up with the pace of recruiting. But your last post of substance was in November, so it’s depressing that you only resurface to regurgitate some nonsensical cheap shots spewed on a message board.

Overall, it’s ridiculous to assume the antics of message board posters are even remotely reflective of an entire fanbase. There is zero accountability for this crazed segment of the population, which can rant and mock and pound their chests with complete privacy and no liability. Who really cares what these idiots – and yes, every program has their share, including Michigan – think about football?

Second, I call BS that you subscribed to Ohio State sites. Drinks are on me if you can produce a valid receipt. I already alluded to this in a previous post, as the Pryor saga led Michigan fans to post all of the OSU scout premium content directly to their board. This was less so on the OSU sites, though we did get some crossover with Beaver, Webb and God know what other tool insiders are over there. What did your insiders do about this abhorrent practice? Immediately lock and delete the threads? Of course not.

If you don’t like the way an insider handles himself, like nevadabuck on Scout, why bother reading it? It’s not meant for you. You don’t have the context of all his other posts. And every insider has a certain way of handling things. An ===== in scout nomenclature doesn’t mean we’ll bet our children on a commitment. It simply means that the recruit has told players or silently verballed to the coaches. Is recruiting fluid and can circumstances change? Obviously so. It doesn’t make the information wrong at that time, and it’s up to OSU subscribers to decide whether it’s worth paying for. Having Michigan fans berate and flame on our boards and then copy the posts verbatim is objectionable at every level. And while we’re at it, has ANYTHING that has come out about Pryor thus far contradict the Buckeye position that he wanted to go to Ohio State? That he was planning on signing with OSU on NLOI day? Didn’t think so.

You indicated in our conversation that these crazed Ohio State take insider information and twist it in some demented way, spouting off about the greatness of our team, the certainty of recruits, whatever. As I noted at the time, this is no different at all than what some Michigan folks do. Beaver and his chump posse were happy to drop heavy-handed hints about OSU impropriety in regards to Pryor’s recruitment with NO DAMN EVIDENCE at all. And Michigan fans took that and ran with it, venomously accusing OSU of cheating. Explain to me how this is different in anyway – insiders post information, dumbass posters interpret it however they like and annoy their rival fanbase.

Let’s be clear, unless my last post missed the mark. I have no respect at all for the Michigan Scout insiders. I’m sure they don’t give a lick what an OSU fan thinks, but just keep it in mind when we’re doing the rundown that their shtick has no credibility in my world. The swath of posts I was exposed to made it pretty clear how they operate. Frankly, it’s spineless on the predicting part of the recruiting game – you and I could do as good a job. So could a flipped quarter, assuming it lands on the “sunny-side” of “50.1”.

As for your specific accusations:

“irrationally optimistic about everything”

I almost spit out my Buckeye kool-aid when I read this part. Yes, there are some delusional OSU fans out there. I’m not one of them – no Philly fan has optimism about sports, even for a successful college program. But can you honestly say this doesn’t apply in many ways to you? The glass is almost always half full in your descriptions, in terms of players you could sign, what they will turn out to be, etc.

“drunk with success and ignoring their failure” (multiple national championship game embarrassments).

Drunk, yes. Ignoring failure? Don’t think so. Maybe if you had taken the time to answer my post on the BCS game…how can we be embarrassed about a rebuilding team winning their third straight conference title? Qualifying for the title game for a second year and losing to a talented team in a virtual home game?

The folks that criticize Ohio State think we’re overrated and don’t deserve to be in those title games. Why? Because they think the conference is a joke, as we steamroll Michigan every year.

“all of a sudden a bunch of OSU fans that never cared about the sport suddenly do-“

No, basketball is not as important as football in Columbus. Nor in Ann Arbor. But you’re beyond misinformed if you think passionate support of the basketball team is some newfound bandwagon. This is a storied program with a history of success. And even recently, you don’t remember the Jim Jackson-led teams in the 90’s. They were quite good, though they lost one year to the Ed Martin Fab Five (sorry no ‘s’ in that to add a super-cool ‘$’). But why don’t you throw some baseless accusations about the basketball program in while you’re at it?

“They brag about not being U$C but are blind to the fact that they are O$U…”

Lovely. Only cheaters can beat mighty Michigan, where those who stay will keep losing. Arrogance is the birthright of a Michigan fan, and there must be reasons why a rival could so thoroughly dominate them for seven years. What do you have there, Mr. Prosecutor? The $500 Troy Smith cell phone bill? Was that substantially worse than Marcus Ray and the hotel bill?

There is no program – not USC, Texas, Miami, or bluebloods like Michigan – that receives the intense media scrutiny that OSU does. Do you really think with a behemoth compliance office and the media coverage the program receives – that OSU is just teeming with NCAA violations? That the couple you can point to are just the tip of the iceberg? And that Michigan is squeaky clean and never does anything wrong? You’re either naïve or just plain foolish. And I’ll be very interested to see whether The Rod’s version of Michigan is the same as Lloyd Carr’s. I’m betting heavy on a significant decrease in academic standards – program cleanliness remains to be seen.

“I don’t place this blog’s primary post maker in the above category per say (although the above and below taints some of his info).”

Well, then which of these allegations do apply to me, “per say”? My posting is not a carbon copy of insider jibberish. I’ve been downplaying Josh Jenkins for quite some time, and playing up Keith Wells throughout the season. Sure, the collective sum of information from insiders influences my opinions. But there is original though here.

“exclamatory statements that will mask a deep down insecurity that appears to occupy their very core”

See above on vapid, moronic fans. If you truly think there aren’t Michigan fans that act like this, you ought to read more carefully. In fact, I think Michigan Arrogance actually makes it worse on your side. It’s a lot easier to hide the insecurity when you win 6 out of 7.

“I guess what drives me the craziest is that everything they speak or write is in pure hyperbole and subject to change.”

Riiight. Like you never compare marginal prospects to great players. “This random Canadian dude is only a two-star, but the coaches think he’s the next Alan Branch”…”Yeah, our redshirt freshman QB and 2-star true freshman will be like Flynn and Perrilloux”…and on and on and on.

And maybe you missed it, but I always acknowledge when I think Michigan got a good Ohio kid. Burgess. Crable. Manningham. Boren. Even Koger. But Michigan took 6 kids that didn’t have OSU offers. You can make the case that Shaw and Moore simply weren’t suited to the Buckeye system. Maybe Mealer got squeezed by scholarship numbers and higher rated talents. And I don’t doubt that some of those other kids will be nice players. But they are definitely a grade below the players OSU is bringing in - some would never have gotten an OSU offer. But hey, we’ve been beating you with lower rated classes for many years now. Maybe The Rod can turn the tables.

"AND most of all they say that Terrelle Pryor is 80/90% a Buckeye GUARANTEED. I think that OSU fan is right about where he will ultimately end up but if Buckeye fan is wrong I will NEVER let them hear the end of it."

Fine, though I’m really curious who “them” is. Since I’m allegedly not part of this group, will you just spend time on free board hunting down Ohio State fans to taunt?

Pryor ain’t going to Michigan, and it seems pretty likely that you guys were never as close as some of your knuckleheaded insiders indicated. But please show me ONE PLACE where I said he was a lock. Basically you concede that he’s likely to end up at OSU, but hate the fact that you are being told about it. Maybe if your insiders actually had good information, you wouldn’t have gotten your hopes up. Only to have them dashed by our nefarious plan to give Terrelle Pryor 10 million in unmarked bills, right?

“As for TP, be a wolverine baby or we’ll see you on the field in Ann Arbor in ’09 and we’ll have our combo Steven Threet/’09 5-star recruit to oppose you. May the best team win…(which must be the Buckeyes of course *insert drunkin Buckeye screams here*).”

Still pining away like a sad boy on prom night.

Apologies for our drunken screaming. I know classy Michigan folks don’t ever do that. And during the 90’s, there was no taunting or derisive comments about Ohio State. We can only aspire, fruitlessly, to model your program and fans. Please look down on us with condescending sympathy as we try to live up to your amazing legacy. And maybe you’ll get Sheppard or some other elite ’09 guy. These are juniors right now, and it’s unlikely that they will come in and save the program right away. So do I read this right, or are you basically giving up on 2008?