Here is a breakdown of the guys we are after as of right now.
My best guess list in GRAY.
Commitments are in RED.
Guys with offers are ITALICIZED.
QBs - I am pretty sure we will take one and might not take any.
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1.) Clay Belton - Big tall Lefty, that will also have to impress at camp, have heard not so good things, but he has size and throws a pretty nice ball, it was rumored last year that Tress is not a big fan of lefthanded qbs so we shall see, We would be the leader if we offer. On a side note he is the number 3 ranked player in Ohio, from Ohio high, rankings done by Duane Long, so we shall see.
2.) Chris Smith - was the favorite towards the middle of the recruiting season last year but has really fallen off, I don't think our one will be him, unless he impresses at camp.
3.) Andrew Nowels - Was rumored for awhile that there was high interest from the staff and might still be but we shall see. Should be at camp and we will know more after that. Also his film wasnt overly impressive.
4.) Sam Proctor - He is a troy smith type athlete at QB, and that is who he compares himself too. He plays multiple positions in high school. He is a lefty so as with Belton we shall see if the staff wants to go that way. I was honestly not blown away in any way by his films.
5)Mitchell Evans - I havent watched film, but there have been mulitple people that think he is the best in Ohio, another one that will have to impress at camp
- Just like last year there could be a guy that comes out of nowhere, but I think that we will take one and it will probably be a guy that impresses at camp, unless we could pull a stud from OOS.
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RBs - Might only need one, b/c there are a couple studs in the state next year, but wouldnt mind taking two.
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1.) Robert Hughes - much the same as Martin, with everyone in the midwest after him, but he doesnt have an offer yet. I have watched film on him know and he is a stud. Even know Saine is much faster it seems that Saine maybe recruited as an athlete that could play a number of different postions. I would now put Hughes as the number back on our board. He shows extremely good vision, the ability to come out of a cut and then the ability to run you over. He reminds me a lot of MoC in this respect. He was here last weekend for Junior day and he really enjoyed his time. His words were actually that he Loved It. I think we have moved up his list and have a very good shot at him. The interest should pick up even more once he gets his ACT score back.
2.) Morgan Williams - As grad has convinced me and after second look, Williams is a very good back, and I would love to take him as our second back. He is a very good shifty guy and can hit the holes and expload, but he might have to bring his grades up b4 we show strong interest. Hopefully he comes to camp and shows the coaches what he is about.
3.) Brandon Saine - The best words to describe him are Extremely fast athelete. He could end up at a number of positions and has that top end speed. I see him being more of receiver, but he is listed as a rb in all of his profiles so I will keep him here for now. I think we are running second in this race unfortunatly to TSUN. His family are scUM fans and he grew up one too.
4.) Dan Herron - Just watched his film as was pretty impressed. He is a tough hard runner. He is more of a pure back than Saine, but doesnt have that speed that Saine has, but he isnt slow either. He also plays at Warren Harding where competition is not the question at all. He has been rumored for about a month to be on the verge of getting an offer from scUM. I think that would put them in the drivers seat for him. My best guess on this one would be PSU tho, unless we end up striking out on a guy like Hughes, then we might push him hard.
5.) Darren Evans - I was impressed with him on flim. His school runs out of the shotgun all the time and that would fit our system good if we are going to stay with the spread like we run now. I don't think he would have a huge problem even if we didnt , but I have other guys ahead of him. I don't see him getting the offer from tOSU, too many top backs in the midwest. Rumor is that Mississippi st. is looking real good for him.
- We have some guys on the list early that project to be studs, but we will see how it turns out
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FBs - not sure here dont think we take one after we took Olson last year.
1.) Henry Hynoski - Said in his latest update that he was the top fullback on our board, so if we do look for one he is a name, that could pop up.
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WRs - I think depending on number that we could take 3 here. We missed on a couple guys last year and with a probable early departure from Ginn we are going to need some added depth here.
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1.) Tony Clemons - STUD. I think he is a top 25 player in the country. He is a very good looking prospect, and he has quite a bit of interest in us, but word is the staff hasnt been able to evaluate him, b/c they havent received film. This is the same thing for most of the big schools recruiting him. He could be a Pitt lean at the moment, b/c of having that early offer, and that it is what he is familar with as it is close to his hometown. But Pitt is not really a big boy right now in terms of recruiting even though they did have a very good class last year, they are not in a major conference and I see Clemons wanting to go somewhere bigger than Pitt. I have my fingers crossed on this one. He would be a major pickup.
2.) Eugene Clifford - He could play either safety or WR, but he reminds many people of a Braylon Edwards type WR and we look to be loaded at safety and we already have Oliver coming in and are looking good for a couple other guys. I would love to land him, but this is going to be a battle between us and scUM. There have been reports that we lead and they lead. We shall see, He has said that he will wait, but I still think that coach combs will push him to get it down b4 the season starts.
3.) Deonte Thompson - Not gonna happen, but we have a couple positive on our side, so I will keep him on here.
4.) Phelon Jones - He is from Alabama, so he will be very hard to steal out of the south. He is a very impressive looking athelte and I would love to land him. He has an offer, but I don't think we are goign to win this battle. I believe that either his mom or both parents attended tOSU so that might help.
5.) Chirs Givens - He is my sleeper this year from Ohio. He might be a better safety prospect, and I wouldnt mind him getting an offer there if a guy like Clifford were to go up North, but I will list him as a receiver right now. He has top end speed and Size at 6'3'' to go with that speed. He also showed good blocking skills from his WR position in his videos and you know how our coaches value that.
6.) Nick Sukay - A very solid reciever from PA, his videos were really impressive and I for one would love for him to be in this class, think Brain Hartline, but not quite as fast.
7.) Taurian Washington - Also from OLSM, he has showed interest and even said he was a buckeye fan, but Michigan came with an offer and at this time I don't think we are showing major interest. We will see if anything comes of this. I think him and Sukay would both be great additions, but not sure if the staff is really pushing either one.
- Some guys to watch at camp, and maybe during the evaluation period:
- Kyle Hubbard - I like him a lot, but not sure on position(te/wr) should know more after camp.
- Kyle Jefferson - rail thin, from Glenville, will need a very impressive camp to get an offer.
- Terrance White - From Pickerington, lost all last season due to a knee injury so not many have heard about him, but he was on his way to stardom, b4 that, we shall see if he comes to camp and impresses.
Wild Card = Dante Jackson - if he doesnt go the bball route and it looks like he will do that. ,
- Like I said above we will take 3 and we are in on some studs, and there will be more come the end of the year.
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TEs - Not sure if there is a need here, I think it would have to be someone impressive to garner an offer. TE is going to be very deep in the state next year, with and Cameron Lowery from Indiana who love the bucks.
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1.) Mike Ragone - I was really impressed with his film, and his latest update said he took a touchdown 89 yds. and outrunning Perez(safety recruit for USC last year). He is a good all around TE, that I would love to have stretching the field in the Shoe', but don't envision it happening. I see him going to Notre Dame.
2.) Eric Thomas - As many of you have seen in his thread, alot of people are not sure on him, he is a very good example of big speed, but it is still unsure where he would fit tho, I for one don't think at this point in time that he would get an offer, but if he does I think it will be a te, that is why I listed him here. Needs an impressive camp to get an offer IMO.
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OL - We need 4 to get some much needed depth after only taking 2 two years ago and 2-4 depending on where they project Miller and Ballard, but I think both could possibly stay at TE. I think the big need is Tackle too. I would like to take 2 and maybe a guard and guard/center type prospect. O-line is another position that could be stacked next year, so we might be able to get away with 3 guys this year, but I would still like 4. We have the depth chart to show to the studs so hopefully we can pull something off.
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1.) Josh Ogelsby - He is the top dawg. Could be the number one player in the nation, everyone is after him and he mentions us, his favorite player is Pace, has been to games, camp. This one is going to take awhile and there is going to be tons of speculation. No reason to worry about this one much right now, but if we landed him that would be huge huge huge. Also on his film, he is a total stud. When I see him I think OPace and he could easily step in and start after Barton leaves. Him and Boone at tackles would be a thing of beauty.
2.) Anthony Davis - He sounds like a bad man. He is out to hurt these guys and loves it when the guy across from him is scared b4 every play. He is open to everyone, and doesnt care. I think our o-line depth could help us in a way and I don't think he will look too hard at the home school Rutgers here. He could come in and be a back up to Boone and Rehring for a year and then be ready to take over. He also says we could be ready to come with an offer soon. I stll hope that we offer him, b/c I think we could have a chance, but he hasnt talked about us much
3.) Kris O'Dowd - Another very highly recruited lineman. He is stud has been to camp. It will be a war to get him from the left coast tho, especially if a school like USC comes calling. He was rumored to have been favoring us and Notre Dame at one point, but I think proximity to home has started to set in. I think he is a long shot. He would be a nice tackle prospect tho, if we able to grab him. From the latest updates we sound to be in good shape to land him. I am going to add him to my best guess now. His bro is on this site and has said that we lead, so lets keep our fingers crossed, and hope we land this stud.
4.) Evan Blankenship - I think he is the one guy right now that most of us figure to be in this class, he had a real early offer, the staff really likes him and he his high on the bucks, could help with other PA targets Sukay and Clemons. Still has us on top so it is still looking good.
5.) Nick Claytor - Real big kid from GA, has some big schools, showing interest, not much out there besides the fact that we have showed some interest. Would be nice if we could get him to come to camp, this is a wait and see.
- some guys to watch at camp:
- Dan Barry - Was fairly impressed with his film and he won the best lineman award at AA combine so we shall see.
- Mark Wetterer
- Nick Shepsis
- Jason Chaffin
Trinton Sturdivant, Blake Pritchard, Carmichael, scwartz, Simmons
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DEs - We could take 1-2, We only need one, but with the studs we have looking at us we could possibly take 2.
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1.) Ben Martin - He is an absolute stud, top DE in the nation, He could be a four year starter, he is that good, he runs on his high school 4X1 team. I would love nothing more than to land him in this class, you can never have enough DE's on your team. He is from Cincy and we have really mended the fences in that area and with the colerain kids coming to tOSU it should only help. I am not sure on a timetable on his decision, but there is going to be a lot of talk about his recruitment over the next couple months. Also said that he will attend camp this summer. It looks likes ND holds a light lead right now.
2.) Solomon Thomas - Has been said that if it wasnt for Martin we would be talking about Solomon as being a great DE. I think there is a chance we would take two b/c he is a stud. I don't care if you have guys on your team already, you take a guy like Thomas, b/c he is that good. I wouldnt think there would be an offer until around camp time tho, still think the time table is about right, but maybe a little earlier in the evaluation period, especially depending on how the staff feels aobut Martin.
These are the main two guys at DE.
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DTs - We need two kids here, especially with our losses in the senior class coming up. We are going to need some guys that are going to help with much needed depth.
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1.) Joe Barksdale - It was rumored early on how much he liked the Bucks, I think it says alot for a Michigan kid wanting to attend camp at tOSU. That tells me he isnt a lock to Michigan by any means, we have his former teammate Vernan Gholston on the team and the possibility of playing beside him on the line might help us here. His film from the junior AA combine was very impressive, he is very quick off the ball and could be very disruptive as a DT here. I still think we are in great shape here, and I futura likes our chances, so I do too. :)
2.) Wayne Thomas - top dt in New Jersey, isnt a whole lot of articles on him, but he had early interest in the bucks and there hasnt been any articles since, so I don't know where we stand.
3.) Anotonio Jerimiah - Top Dt, in the state, and is a very good wrestler. He is tall at 6'7'' so he gives up a lot of body and will have to work on staying low. I would like to see him get an offer at camp.
3.) Stuart Hines - He was pretty impressive on film, but needs work. Not a whole lot out there on him Just that he is the top player in Kentucky, but his only offer at the moment is from Kentucky.
4.) Nick Jenkins - I thought he was also impressive on film. He did a pretty good job of staying low. He is from Maryland so he would be a tough one to land. I also believe he just received an offer from PSU and we all know that connection all to well from last year.
5.) Charlie Hatcher - He is much like D'Andrea where he is going to have to come to camp to get an offer. I really liked what I saw on film, he was pretty disruptive. He is a guy I would love for him to have an impressive camp, expecially b/c of our need for DT.
6.) Joey D'Andrea - Smaller kid, that has a great motor, If he could put on the weight he could be a stud, but that is yet to be seen, if we recruit him it is going to be at DT, b/c DE should be loaded with the other guys mentioned above. If an offer were to come he would probabaly be a lock seeing as he is from Upper Arlington which is basically in the backyard of tOSU.
- The list has grown but hopefully we can get some more interest from guys b/c we need some depth.
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LBs - I think we need 2. I would like an Outside and an inside, but we will take what we can get.
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1.) Chris Colasanti - From the state up north. Been rumored to really be enamored with a lot of schools. I believe there is a connection to PSU the most tho and will end up there. He is a very solid prospect and was the first lb to get an offer, and was invited to pro day, so I believe the staff is very high on him, but I am just not sure that we will be able to land him.
2.) Carlton Peake - Well he was on my initial list but as a safety. In his recent update he says that we are the only school to mention lb to him. He is a freak athlete and has the frame to add weight and become an excellent outside backer. Rumored to be looking at getting an offer soon and when he does it looks like we can't start painting the endzones.
3.) Bryce McNaul - He is a lb prospect from Minny. He has some nice measurables and has garnered some early interest from us. His recruitment has really picked up gettting some nice offers. He was also very impressive on film. I would love for the staff to show interest, but htere might be guys higher on the board. I would think that the staff would want him to come to camp and get that offer tho. He is a wait and see prospect.
4.) Jermale Hines - He is a very athletic kid from Glenville. I think he is one that would have to impress at camp to get an offer. He is undersized, and is going to really add some weight. He is from Glenville so once again I think he would come here if he got that offer.
5.) Andrew Dailey - He is another guy like Hines that projects as a lb, from film he hasnt shown much, but we have shown interest in him as he has been to junior day and hey was invited to the Tejas game last year. We will see if his recruitment takes off. He will be a battle between us and Notre Dame if we offer him.
- Some names to watch out for at camp or maybe during the evaluation period. Can't really tell where they guys would rank and if they are tOSU material.
Dewey Elliot - He was fairly impressive on film and has great measurables. hopefully he comes to camp and impresses.
Alex Delisi
Tony Jackson
Lebron Daniel
Pat Lazear
Greg Jones
Tyler Repogle
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CBs - I think we take two and I think we have some very good prospects to choose from.
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1.) Donnie Evege - already has his offer, he is a stud, very very fast with speed to burn, He is also a lock, paint the endzones guys. Still waiting on film.
2.) Devon Torrence - As I mentioned above in WR, he could play anywhere and is a guy that we just need to get to come here and not go the MLB route. If he goes to college it is going to be here tho. Recently he has sounded more and more like he might go MLB, but I hope not.
3.) Eric Berry - Nate Oliver said that he has been talking to him, about coming here, he would be a heckuva steal from GA, he might want to play QB tho, so we will see, to early to tell on this one. He does have an offer and if probably a top 100 type player. I will keep him on the list awhile longer and maybe something will come of it.
4.) Dionte Allen - He is a lock to Michigan, but the only reason I put him on here, was b/c Oliver said he was trying to recruit him. We shall see tho. sit this past week and cousins with michigan having a bad year, could be a steal form that state.
5.) Jordan Mabin - He is one that I am slowly becoming more and more impressed with. He won the mvp at the AA combine and was very impressive at the scout combine. If he gets an offer and accepts I will welcome him with open arms, but I think he is going to have to earn it at camp, b/c there are some guys that the staff has rated above him.
6.) Brian Gamble - I watched his flim and he is another kid that could play multiple position, could be a second rb in the class, could move to WR, could play cb or s. I was extremely impressed with him and he basically single handly won that game for them vs. St. Eds. He is my sleeper in the class, that people arent real high on, but I really want him. If he gets an offer I would say he has an 90% chance of being a buckeye.
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S - We already have one down and we will probably take another guy that could play here, but could also play somewhere else. S is loaded on our team.
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1.) Nate Oliver - First committment, seems to really be trying to make this class very good, as he is already recruiting. His film was very impressive and he plays both ways, so he struggled in their last game when Gamble basicallly shut him down. He will be a safety in college tho and he says he models his game after Jack Tatum. If he plays half as good as tatum we have ourselves a stud here. Hopefully he can pull some other guys in early and make this class a very good one.
1a.)- Eugene Clifford - Talked about him in the receivers, but he could also be a safety, he is a stud and a top 25 type player in the country, and he is at the top of most lists.
3.) David Arnold - has been rumored that he has the buckeyes on top, but he is also going to have to impress the coaches at camp, with the limited number of schollies. Would have to be a camp offer, I think this is just a guy we don't take b/c of numbers. I see the possibility of him ending up at TSUN, b/c of his relatives playing there and being fans.
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OVERALL VIEW:
I think we need:
QB - 1
RB - 1-2
FB - 0
WR - 2-3
TE - 0-1
OL - 3-4
DE - 1-2
DT - 2
LB - 2
CB - 2
S - 1-2
My Best Guess at this time:
QB - Belton
RB - Hughes
RB - ??(not sure if we need another one)
WR - Clemons
WR - Givens(my sleeper)
WR - Clifford
OL - Ogelsby
OL - Blankenship
OL - O'Dowd
OL - ???(Not sure yet)
DE - Martin(Even tho he is leaning to Notre Dame)
DE - Thomas (I see interest picking up soon)
DT - Barksdale
DT - Jerimiah
LB - Peake
LB - Hines
CB - Evege
CB - Torrence
S - Oliver
Keep in mind that there is a long time until signing day and this list will probably look just a little different b4 then.
