'10 OH RB Erick Howard (Ohio U Walk-On)

[bigdog3300]

If he meets all the requirements the coached laid out for him and Hyde and smith are both good I think they would take all three. Were gonna be loaded even if only Smith is in this class. There's already 5 guys coming back who have had some success(except for Berry who hasn't gotten his chance yet) and thats more depth than we've had under the Tressel era. If Howard ended up getting away we would be ok but he is a talent for sure. But if we were 8 deep with all these guys wow!

As of right now I think its Smith and Hyde they take, but I'd love to have all three and let the best players prove themselves when they get here.

Add that to the (hopefully) bounty of Shell and Dunn....that's enough RB talent to make USC jealous!

Did I just jinx us?

 

[pnuts34]

Not only let the best prove themselves, but injuries are always an issue(look at this season). Saine and Herron will be having to fight for every minute of PT next year, if we land those 3 to go with a R/S Berry and Jordan Hall who's been tearing it up this season. Heck look at USC, they were so loaded at RB yet injuries have depleted their depth, to where I think only 3-4 are ready to go this week. And they went 8 deep at one point! And u also never know how kids will mature and grasp the college game as well. I saw we take the most talent at RB possible and let them sort it out themselves, Howard is a talented kid and he should be in S&G next year

 

[Merih]

Not only let the best prove themselves, but injuries are always an issue(look at this season). Saine and Herron will be having to fight for every minute of PT next year, if we land those 3 to go with a R/S Berry and Jordan Hall who's been tearing it up this season. Heck look at USC, they were so loaded at RB yet injuries have depleted their depth, to where I think only 3-4 are ready to go this week. And they went 8 deep at one point! And u also never know how kids will mature and grasp the college game as well. I saw we take the most talent at RB possible and let them sort it out themselves, Howard is a talented kid and he should be in S&G next year

Yes but you don't take this many running backs at the expense of depth at other positions. Unless they are expecting attrition somewhere I don't think they take Mr. Howard, which is in NO WAY a knock on his ability. I just think that they need the depth in the secondary with 2 starting safeties leaving. This explains part of why they are slow playing adding running backs (we don't lose any to graduation) as opposed to corners and safeties.

 

[stowfan]

All of the RBs currently on the roster have had their moments of brilliance this season, but none have looked like elite players on a consistent basis. I don't see any of them making anyone's All American team. I don't see how you turn Howard away if he makes the grades.

 

[Merih]

All of the RBs currently on the roster have had their moments of brilliance this season, but none have looked like elite players on a consistent basis. I don't see any of them making anyone's All American team. I don't see how you turn Howard away if he makes the grades.

Because you already have 7 backs as it is with Smith and Hyde coming in.

Yeah great idea. There are what, 4 All America running backs each year. So anyone who's not all American should be left behind. That's a ridiculous thought process.

 

[osubartender23]

All of the RBs currently on the roster have had their moments of brilliance this season, but none have looked like elite players on a consistent basis. I don't see any of them making anyone's All American team. I don't see how you turn Howard away if he makes the grades.

The question is, exactly how many scholarships do you want to use on RB's in 2010. We would have Saine, Herron, Martin, Berry, Hall, and if you bring in Smith, Hyde, and Howard, that seems like an awful lot of RB's to have for just that one position. If you want to include Homan and Boren in this that would be a total of 10 scholarships for the backfield alone. Heck even if you subtract one or two of those guys you would still have Lamaar Thomas and Corey Brown(2010) who could give you a different look in the backfield. I just dont see how we would be able to conceivably take 3 RB's this year, with a majority of the depth that we have being so young. The only RB's we would lose in 2011 are Saine and Herron.

 

[Merih]

The question is, exactly how many scholarships do you want to use on RB's in 2010. We would have Saine, Herron, Martin, Berry, Hall, and if you bring in Smith, Hyde, and Howard, that seems like an awful lot of RB's to have for just that one position. If you want to include Homan and Boren in this that would be a total of 10 scholarships for the backfield alone. Heck even if you subtract one or two of those guys you would still have Lamaar Thomas and Corey Brown(2010) who could give you a different look in the backfield. I just dont see how we would be able to conceivably take 3 RB's this year, with a majority of the depth that we have being so young. The only RB's we would lose in 2011 are Saine and Herron.

Thank you. The numbers aren't in Howard's favor.

The staff isn't going to offer someone based on the thinking that "Oh we need to give up on Herron/Saine/"such and such"." Nor should they.

 

[bigdog3300]

Don't they plan on using Brown in the slot quite a bit? Even if they did I know that still leaves 6 RB's, just trying to throw some other options out there.

 

[Merih]

Don't they plan on using Brown in the slot quite a bit? Even if they did I know that still leaves 6 RB's, just trying to throw some other options out there.

It's still seven:

Herron
Saine
Berry
Hyde
Martin
Smith
Hall

 

[gracelhink]

I have seen Howard play the last 4 years and IMHO if he can pass admissions, this is a no brainer for the staff.
Too many RBs using the 85 scholarships? If USC can stockpile RB's and allow the ones buried on the depth chart to transfer, why can't tOSU?
Howard has that ability to find/make holes, speed, power, spin, balance, and some intangibles that just make him special.
There are lots of comparisons in terms of his running style, but when I see Ingrahm from Bama, I think of Howard.
Have to believe Sparty is drooling, hoping that Eric does not pass TOSU admissions, they could score another ringer from Ohio.

Preview of the Playoff Massillon vs. Hoover.

Division I, Region 2 quarterfinal
SITE Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.
RECORDS Hoover 7-3; Massillon 7-3.
LAST WEEK Hoover 35, Jackson 0, McKinley 35, Massillon 21.
LAST MEETING Hoover won, 14-7, at North Canton Memorial Stadium in last year?s first round of the playoffs.
PLAYOFF HISTORY Massillon is 3-1 against Hoover in the postseason, winning in 2001, 2002 and 2005 before losing last fall. Hoover is making its third straight postseason appearance and 17th overall. The Vikings are 14-16 all-time, reaching the state semifinals last year. Massillon is making its second straight postseason appearance and 18th overall. The Tigers are 22-17 in the playoffs.
WHAT TO WATCH Massillon?s run defense and Hoover?s pass defense will get put to the test. The Tigers must find a way to prevent RB Erick Howard, Ohio?s reigning Mr. Football, from beating them like he did a year ago. He got loose for a 49-yard TD run and a 59-yard TD catch on a screen pass, and those plays were the difference. He ran the ball 40 times overall for 195 yards. He averages 29.9 carries a game this fall, having gained 1,975 yards with 26 TDs . . .

 

[bigdog3300]

And let's call Martin and Hyde FB's to make more room for Erick

 

[osubartender23]

I have seen Howard play the last 4 years and IMHO if he can pass admissions, this is a no brainer for the staff.
Too many RBs using the 85 scholarships? If USC can stockpile RB's and allow the ones buried on the depth chart to transfer, why can't tOSU?
Howard has that ability to find/make holes, speed, power, spin, balance, and some intangibles that just make him special.
There are lots of comparisons in terms of his running style, but when I see Ingrahm from Bama, I think of Howard.
Have to believe Sparty is drooling, hoping that Eric does not pass TOSU admissions, they could score another ringer from Ohio.

Preview of the Playoff Massillon vs. Hoover.

I most definitely do agree with you in that Howard has an abundant amount of talent, but there are numerous kids each year who have talent who don't get an OSU offer. Personally I dont have a problem with him getting an offer because he is so talented, but by adding an 8th running back what position would you be taking an offer away from? I guess my thoughts are that you can stockpile running backs, but what is the use of having so many on the roster that you expect them to transfer out if they get buried? I just think that the extra scholarship that would be lost by adding a 3rd back this year could be better used elsewhere is all. JMHO though.

 

[pnuts34]

I most definitely do agree with you in that Howard has an abundant amount of talent, but there are numerous kids each year who have talent who don't get an OSU offer. Personally I dont have a problem with him getting an offer because he is so talented, but by adding an 8th running back what position would you be taking an offer away from? I guess my thoughts are that you can stockpile running backs, but what is the use of having so many on the roster that you expect them to transfer out if they get buried? I just think that the extra scholarship that would be lost by adding a 3rd back this year could be better used elsewhere is all. JMHO though.

I see what you're saying and its a very valid point. But my only point is that why not stockpile on RBs and let them play each other out. Other teams have been doing this for years, most recently at USC but the SEC has been doing this for years. Teams like Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, and even Texas
and Oklahoma go 8+ deep at RB. One because of depth, and second because he creates better competition for the players. Boom was just pegged as the starter, but nothing he did last year, or even this year for that matter have screamed that he's on an elite level to be starting. Don't get me wrong, he's a talented kid, but he's not a starter(at least not for us) and the drop off from Beenie has been tremendous(even though any RB following Beenie would have a massive drop off). But when u create that competition, it proves who's really the best player, and that has shown us Jordan Hall. He's been a far better RB in games this season that Boom or even Zoom. We shouldn't peg in a starter based off of what he did last year, it's almost like Herron was our starter by default and not based on skill. I just think we bring in as many talented RBs and let them sort it out on the field, not by seniority or by what they did the previous year. Not saying that Howard would be a starter, but u never know, if he deserves it why not. Howard, Hyde and Smith could be just what we needed at the position, Howard has the talent, if a kid transfers so be it, we just keep the kids here who are elite enough to produce results. If someone transfers, hey then that also opens up schollies for other positions as well.
(Sorry for the essay fellas)

 

[osubartender23]

:osu:

I see what you're saying and its a very valid point. But my only point is that why not stockpile on RBs and let them play each other out. Other teams have been doing this for years, most recently at USC but the SEC has been doing this for years. Teams like Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, and even Texas
and Oklahoma go 8+ deep at RB. One because of depth, and second because he creates better competition for the players. Boom was just pegged as the starter, but nothing he did last year, or even this year for that matter have screamed that he's on an elite level to be starting. Don't get me wrong, he's a talented kid, but he's not a starter(at least not for us) and the drop off from Beenie has been tremendous(even though any RB following Beenie would have a massive drop off). But when u create that competition, it proves who's really the best player, and that has shown us Jordan Hall. He's been a far better RB in games this season that Boom or even Zoom. We shouldn't peg in a starter based off of what he did last year, it's almost like Herron was our starter by default and not based on skill. I just think we bring in as many talented RBs and let them sort it out on the field, not by seniority or by what they did the previous year. Not saying that Howard would be a starter, but u never know, if he deserves it why not. Howard, Hyde and Smith could be just what we needed at the position, Howard has the talent, if a kid transfers so be it, we just keep the kids here who are elite enough to produce results. If someone transfers, hey then that also opens up schollies for other positions as well.
(Sorry for the essay fellas)

I see what you are saying, but dont we already have competition going on with the talent already in the fold for next year? Saine, Herron, Martin, Hall, Berry, Smith, possibly Hyde and/or Howard. At some point you can't rely on players transfering to free up scholarships when there are needs at other positions. You can only have 1 maybe 2 RB's on the field at the same time and having 8 scholarships tied up in the HB position just doesnt seem like very good scholarship management. Howard does have the talent but jmho think its going to be a situation where its either Howard OR Hyde, not both.

 

[Buckrock]

:osu:

I see what you are saying, but dont we already have competition going on with the talent already in the fold for next year? Saine, Herron, Martin, Hall, Berry, Smith, possibly Hyde and/or Howard. At some point you can't rely on players transfering to free up scholarships when there are needs at other positions. You can only have 1 maybe 2 RB's on the field at the same time and having 8 scholarships tied up in the HB position just doesnt seem like very good scholarship management. Howard does have the talent but jmho think its going to be a situation where its either Howard OR Hyde, not both.

I would agree with you that it is either Hyde or Howard not both. Hyde is first in line becuase he agreed to go to Prep school and did not sign with another school. That said, he needs to qualify. The only way I see Howard at this point is first if he qualifies academically, and second if he defers his enrollment (i.e. Greyshirt ala Todd Boekman). This is usually not attractive if there are other scholarship options. Two big hurdles for Howard to become a Buckeye IMO. This class is filling up.