RECRUITING DOWN THE ROAD
With the Buckeye recruiting class of 2004 mostly still enjoying their
second semester of their senior year, it might seem fanciful to project
our needs – once again - for the class of 2005. And that’s what
makes it an appealing challenge for old Mr. Bucknuts. Of course!
Now, you can see the attached explanation of my scientific inquiry
into the facts of our needs. But, as any good dedicated scientist will
tell you, there are always different methods by which you can test,
prove, and provoke.
A secondary litmus test in this premature needs analysis is one I
like to call: “Who Will Be Starting Two Years From Now?” In that
way, you can see if the talent level at the various positions is good
enough and you can tell how much trouble we could be facing as the kids
move through their eligibility paces. Just to give myself a little
wiggle room, I project the two-deep for most of the positions since that
gives us a wider horizon of possibilities.
Follow the bouncing ball with me…
Running Backs
In two years, either Erik Haw or Antonio Pittman project to be
our starter and back-up. Maybe Ira Guilford? We need a big back here and
some depth.
Fullbacks
Schnittker will be returning for his senior year and Dionte
Johnson will be in his first full year. We need one coming in, but there’s
probably not enough room this year.
Quarterbacks
Justin Zwick will be a junior in eligibility, as will his back-up
Troy Smith (unless he’s moved to another position by then…). Todd
Boeckman could very well be the #2 guy. This position is more one of
quality rather than quantity. So we need a guy with “superstar” writ
large all over him.
Tight Ends
Hamby and Irizarry should be a formidable duo. But they will also
be a senior and a junior. Nicol is coming up and I decided that Hoobler
will be a linebacker, so we will need one here in the linkage.
Wide Receivers
For the 2005 season, I see Hall as the go-to stud and Holmes sees
himself – unfortunately – in the NFL. We haven’t yet seen where
Gonzalez or Hiley (or even Troy Smith) ends up, so that leaves second
year players Dukes and Lyons in the potential two-deep along with the
unproven Devin Jordan. We need more.
Offensive Line
Mangold and Sims will be seniors. Datish and Downing will be
juniors. That’s hard enough to believe! We will be looking at Schafer
and Barton and Person and Mitchum and Skinner and Boone in the two-deep.
We need two more that can contribute soon after they get to campus.
Defensive Ends
Kudla and Arden and maybe D’Andrea will be seniors. The
yet-to-be unleashed Richardson will be a junior and Frost/Reggie Smith
will be sophomores. Not too bad, as there will be other position
switches. But we need at least one more.
Defensive Tackles
Pitcock and Patterson will be All-American juniors with Penton
challenging for time. Maupin, Cotton and Abdallah will be super
sophomores. We are in very good shape here.
Linebackers
This will be the swan song for the linebacking group of the
millennium as Hawk and Carpenter and Schlegel and D’Andrea are all in
their last year. Back for one more season is Kerr and Stan White. In the
wings are Curt Lukens, Marcus Freeman, and Chad Hoobler – at least. We
need another one of that quality to extend our dominance (would Burgess
and Crable make this team, or not?).
Safeties
Salley will just be a junior as will Whitner. Brandon Mitchell
and Ira Guilford are right behind them. Nick Patterson and a host of
incoming freshmen are a step forward. We are awfully solid here.
Cornerbacks
Our biggest concern here might be the lure of the NFL. We should
be loaded. Ginn will be a sophomore. O’Neal will be a freshman. The
older guys include two Underwoods, Ashton Youboty and…well, there’s
a bunch. A very exciting bunch!
By the way, my all-Glenville Buckeye backfield includes Whitner and
Freddie Lenix at safeties with Ginn and Jamario as corners. Just in
case, we have Superman (Dareus Hiley) as a back up…
That’s the look at why we want whom we want. Now, let’s look more
specifically at the group of guys that will – or won’t – make up
this next recruiting class.
Recruits That Have Already Come and Gone
Mario Manningham: Our annual thumb-in-the-eye from a Buckeye
hotbed town, Manningham committed early to Michigan. Somehow it doesn’t
hurt as much as losing the “lock”, Fred Davis, but any highly rated
Ohio player going to Michigan still sucks…
Ray Williams: My plan for Ray was to have him bulk up his
academics at Fork Union for a year and then become a Buckeye next
season. Ohio State’s plans for Ray? Not public. But it turns out that Ray’s
plans for Ray was to commit to West Virginia where it now seems likely
that he will Prop 48 his first year and then try to get eligible with
that other Ohio Williams (Pernell) to play ball for the Mountaineers.
Dave McLain: We hardly knew ye…Before we could get too excited
about the big OL from Pennsylvania, he committed to Maryland.
RECRUITS WORTH TALKING ABOUT (THE EARLY LINE…)
Here’s your monthly round up on the primary candidates that
everyone seems to be talking about. The list will ebb and flow as new
players emerge and existing listees diminish in either quality or in
their viability as Buckeye recruits.
Running Backs
Tyrell Sutton: Another smallish back (from Hoban) that could be a
DB, but not in the year of the DB in Ohio. He’s still someone to keep
your eye on.
Javon Ringer: The class of the class. Dazzling upside. He
replaced one of the best backs in Ohio (Pernell Williams) in the middle
of the year and rushed for 2000 yards. As a sophomore! He ran for more
than that last year in a Dayton Chaminade program that is known for
producing great talent. Small like Archie was small with unusual power
and exquisite balance. Grades could be a problem here, but he’s
working on it.
Maurice Wells: The first out-of-stater to make a splash…Only
180 pounds but urban legend has it that Conley was so impressed with his
tape that he made an offer without even checking with Tressel. Great
stats and an alleged 5-star ranking forthcoming…A bunch of schools
have now offered as befits one of the best back prospects in the
country.
Quarterbacks
Gene DelleDonne: Delaware QB that has expressed an interest in
the Buckeyes. He is a likely choice for the Elite Eleven quarterback
camp this year, which puts him into an elite group, indeed.
Tyler Horner: An up-and-comer from and up-and-coming program (Northmont)
that goes to the air a bunch. He might be the best of the class in a
so-so year in Ohio quarterbacking. Don’t look for too much noise from
the local lads this year at quarterback.
Bill Stull: Pennsylvania quarterback that has OSU on a list along
with Iowa, Michigan and Purdue. He seems to love the Buckeyes but no one
has indicated yet how much we love Bill.
Wide Receivers
Brian Hartline: With Manningham gone, Hartline is best-in-class
and might be better than Mario, anyway! A great receiver and engaging
kid out of Canton Glen Oak, he is an OSU lean and would be a, well…
great catch. Catch him this week on the Bucknuts Radio Hour.
Rahmir Cottman: Tall and fast New Jersey receiver that lists Ohio
State amongst his top schools.
Derrick Williams: Maryland wide out that is purported to have
already been offered by the Buckeyes. Also purported to be a Top 20 in
the country kind of talent.
Offensive Linemen
AJ Haas: Here’s a Haas we need to ride; a potential Top 100 kid
out of Copley, Duane describes AJ as a “super athletic big man; lean
with a great frame – runs like a player 50 pounds lighter”. Nuff
said…Should see him at camp in Columbus this year.
Rocco Cirroni: The next great one out of Warren Harding (and not
a Michigan guy); he’s been improving dramatically.
Defensive Ends
Curtis Smith: A great one out of Glenville (i.e. OSU’s if they
want him…), at 6’2” and 235, he has some growing to do to be a DE.
Louis Holmes: Yes, after his brother Sherlock, probably the
greatest consistent mystery man around the OSU recruiting circles. Says
he still needs to get eligible and says he still wants to be a Buckeye.
You have to admire his persistence, if nothing else. Now says his
numbers are in order and we are waiting to hear from the NCAA
clearinghouse before the coaching staff opines.
Defensive Tackles
Antwon Hight: Already projected by Duane to end up in the NFL if
he can just get through high school and make it into college. Has
everyone drooling except the various Deans of Admissions.
Todd Denlinger: Probably the best DT potential in Ohio and a
possible Top 100 player that has a definite lean to the Buckeyes.
Joe Akers: Defensive lineman from Maryland that attended the OSU
junior day. 6’2” and 310…
Jeffrey Owens: Florida DE from Plantation High School (FL) where
the OSU coaches recently spent the whole day…
Ekem Udofia: From Arizona with OSU on his Top 5 list, Ekem ran a
sub-4.7 40 at 270 pounds with 29 bench press reps and a 4.1 GPA. Now,
there’s some unusual combinations…Ekem is leading the list of Most
Offers The Soonest.
Walker Ashley: Minnesota tackle from an outstanding program,
Walker’s father played in the NFL. Ohio State is one of many big
schools interested at this point.
James McKinney: Could be a DT, could be a TE. Could be a
commitment to Michigan (he did that once already…) but could be still
looking. The scuttle is that OSU offered him this week and that he will
take a look. The 6’4” 255-pounder from Louisville caught 14 passes
and played stellar defensive line last year. Projects more as a DE,
perhaps…
Terrance Taylor: A national recruit that has already been offered
by Michigan. Lists OSU as an early favorite.
Linebackers
Freddie Lenix: Could be the best linebacker in the class or could
be the best safety. He’s from Glenville and he’s one we want.
Jim Ramella: St. Ignatius linebacker and tight end, Ramella is 6’4”
and 235 with a 4.7 and a 3.4.
Elijah Hodge: From our friends at Dillard HS in Ft. Lauderdale,
Elijah is a small linebacker that might follow in the OSU footsteps of
Thomas Matthews and Chris Gamble. Rated #25 in Florida…
Brian Cushing: 6’3” and 225 with a 4.45 forty, this New
Jersey LB says OSU is in the hunt.
Safeties
Adam Myers-White: Already offered by Ohio State. He would add
nicely to the all Hamilton/Glenville backfields with Whitner, Hiley,
Ginn, O’Neal and the Underwood brothers. Michigan and Michigan State
have also offered.
Ray Herring: Florida safety from a small school that is making a
big noise. He has a number of elite schools on his list, Ohio State
amongst them.
Jayson White: From the same Pennsylvania high school as Kyle
Mitchum, you know that Coach Daniels has certainly gotten a look at
Jayson.
Cornerbacks
Brandon Harrison: In a year of major talent at this position,
Brandon might be the best
of them all. From the same program that could bring us Javon Ringer…
Ryan Brinson: Just a great athlete who would rather be an RB but
might be too small at the next level. Out of Canton McKinley, so he
faces big time competition. Duane says, “Ryan is often the fastest
player on the field and always the toughest”.
Justin King: An alleged OSU offeree out of Pittsburgh. Blinding
speed and a possibility that he goes somewhere even as a tailback.
So, that leaves us recruiting down the road. I am on record (you can
look it up…) as saying we will have 19 schollies available for the
Class of 2005. With two commitments (O’Neal and Boone) and two gray
shirts (Bauserman and Pettrey), that leaves about 15 spots left to
claim. Even this early in the process, there will be a lot of jockeying
ahead for the ultimate disposition of those spots.
Take a look, finally, at some very early season lists of whom we have
and whom we might be in on. And I will update everything again in April
as more information becomes available and as we talk with more of the
kids.
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