2010 tOSU Recruiting Discussion

[OregonBuckeye]

Seems reminiscent of '07 to me, hopefully without the circus though.

That is the type of class I'm expecting but it's still awfully early.

 

[Sportsbuck28]

Anybody else notice that the '10 recruiting class could end up being a bust? I'm certainly not panicking because we already have a great 5 guys commited (that will hopefully end up signing), but there are few guys I feel confident on. Beyond Roderick Smith, Tyrone Williams (if he has an offer), and Christian Bryant, I honestly don't give us above 50% odds with anyone. I think James, Ware, and Hicks are going to be toughies (we get one, two at the most imo). Nationally I am wondering which players we even have a legitimate chance with (those who are offered). Montana and Joyner are the two I give the highest odds on but even them I'm worried we are going to miss out on. Most of the national offers out there are to great players but players that are likely heading elsewhere. Which brings me to my main point.

We have limited numbers this year, thus delaying many offers. Imo, we could have greatly benefited by offering guys like Gholston, Hurst, Benedict, etc. earlier. I don't know if this will end up hurting us, or if the recruits are just playing it closer to the vest this year. I know we have some solid back up options but obviously we want to see a decent number of the first batch of offers be guys have legit interest in us. Seems reminiscent of '07 to me, hopefully without the circus though. Another disclaimer for good measure...NOT PANICKING.

Duane touched on this..

2011 redux - Duane Long's OSU Buckeyes Football Report

 

[Buckeye737]

Anybody else notice that the '10 recruiting class could end up being a bust? I'm certainly not panicking because we already have a great 5 guys commited (that will hopefully end up signing), but there are few guys I feel confident on. Beyond Roderick Smith, Tyrone Williams (if he has an offer), and Christian Bryant, I honestly don't give us above 50% odds with anyone. I think James, Ware, and Hicks are going to be toughies (we get one, two at the most imo). Nationally I am wondering which players we even have a legitimate chance with (those who are offered). Montana and Joyner are the two I give the highest odds on but even them I'm worried we are going to miss out on. Most of the national offers out there are to great players but players that are likely heading elsewhere. Which brings me to my main point.

We have limited numbers this year, thus delaying many offers. Imo, we could have greatly benefited by offering guys like Gholston, Hurst, Benedict, etc. earlier. I don't know if this will end up hurting us, or if the recruits are just playing it closer to the vest this year. I know we have some solid back up options but obviously we want to see a decent number of the first batch of offers be guys have legit interest in us. Seems reminiscent of '07 to me, hopefully without the circus though. Another disclaimer for good measure...NOT PANICKING.

I agree that it's possible, but I'm also with you that it's far from a panic situation. You mentioned the '07 year and I was actually thinking of '03 which was probably pretty similar. The '08 & '09 classes have been so strong that we could probably have an '03 type year and not even skip a beat. That being said, with the great recruiting classes of the past couple years, it would awesome to keep everything moving without a hitch. I've had my eye on 2010 as a potentially great football team, but 2011 & 2012 could be elite too, especially if the '10 class works out. Let's hope that it keeps on rolling!

 

[jwinslow]

'10 already has more blue-chippers - on paper - than '07 did all year.

Key: Buckeye, Leader, Longshot

Hughes : Smith
Clifford : Bryant
Davis : Norwell
Martin : Turner
Berry : Joyner
O'Dowd : Linder
Johnson : Hicks
Gronkowski : Fiedorpwicz
Oglesby : Henderson
Barksdale : Gholston
Thompson : [strike]Jones[/strike]

OSU has a good shot at a large portion of that list.

The last few years were tremendous, but not every class has to be virtually done by fall camp. OSU does some of their best recruiting stealing a few no-name future standouts, like Troy, Robiskie, Washington, etc. Johnson might be the next one there.

 

[RB07OSU]

I agree that it's possible, but I'm also with you that it's far from a panic situation. You mentioned the '07 year and I was actually thinking of '03 which was probably pretty similar. The '08 & '09 classes have been so strong that we could probably have an '03 type year and not even skip a beat. That being said, with the great recruiting classes of the past couple years, it would awesome to keep everything moving without a hitch. I've had my eye on 2010 as a potentially great football team, but 2011 & 2012 could be elite too, especially if the '10 class works out. Let's hope that it keeps on rolling!

The '03 class could have been tough if they would have been able to make it past their sophomore years here. I think we are going to have a good class but I admit to wondering where our 2-4 Florida guys are going to come from? Most seem like long shots and Joyner is far from a lock. It just seems we are late sending out offers to guys like Benedict, Luc, the corner we just offered, etc. I'm thinking with the speeding up of the recruiting process now, we just have a lot of ground to make up on guys. I know we wanted to be careful with offers but some of these guys were no brainers if they were on our radar.

'10 already has more blue-chippers - on paper - than '07 did all year.

Key: Buckeye, Leader, Longshot

Hughes : Smith
Clifford : Bryant
Davis : Norwell
Martin : Turner
Berry : Joyner
O'Dowd : Linder
Johnson : Hicks
Gronkowski : Fiedorpwicz
Oglesby : Henderson
Barksdale : Gholston
Thompson : [strike]Jones[/strike]

OSU has a good shot at a large portion of that list.

The last few years were tremendous, but not every class has to be virtually done by fall camp. OSU does some of their best recruiting stealing a few no-name future standouts, like Troy, Robiskie, Washington, etc. Johnson might be the next one there.

Probably part of my problem is being spoiled from the last 2 classes. However, I still think it is a bit puzzling how late some of these offers are coming out. I'm all for going for the Benedict's and Dunkley's of the world but I just wonder what our odds even are at the point we offered. If many of the kids this year are waiting, I am A-ok with not having this class mostly full by fall. In fact, it may be a bit more fun assuming we do well.

Good list btw...as far as star power goes, we have it (with Norwell and Turner, who are both 5 stars imo). I would even argue McVey is a star and is horribly underrated. On top of that, Durham and Moore are solid. Adding Bryant and R. Smith will be nice but beyond the two, I'm just wondering what happens if we hit a mass strike out with offers on the line to guys like Hicks, Ware, Henderson/Linder/Benedict, etc. I was just looking at the offer list yesterday and I could see us striking out on the majority of our offer list (not saying it will, just is possible). If it does, I hope the guys like Donnal, Shoefner, etc. will wait.

 

[brodybuck21]

The '03 class could have been tough if they would have been able to make it past their sophomore years here. I think we are going to have a good class but I admit to wondering where our 2-4 Florida guys are going to come from? Most seem like long shots and Joyner is far from a lock. It just seems we are late sending out offers to guys like Benedict, Luc, the corner we just offered, etc. I'm thinking with the speeding up of the recruiting process now, we just have a lot of ground to make up on guys. I know we wanted to be careful with offers but some of these guys were no brainers if they were on our radar.



Probably part of my problem is being spoiled from the last 2 classes. However, I still think it is a bit puzzling how late some of these offers are coming out. I'm all for going for the Benedict's and Dunkley's of the world but I just wonder what our odds even are at the point we offered. If many of the kids this year are waiting, I am A-ok with not having this class mostly full by fall. In fact, it may be a bit more fun assuming we do well.

Good list btw...as far as star power goes, we have it (with Norwell and Turner, who are both 5 stars imo). I would even argue McVey is a star and is horribly underrated. On top of that, Durham and Moore are solid. Adding Bryant and R. Smith will be nice but beyond the two, I'm just wondering what happens if we hit a mass strike out with offers on the line to guys like Hicks, Ware, Henderson/Linder/Benedict, etc. I was just looking at the offer list yesterday and I could see us striking out on the majority of our offer list (not saying it will, just is possible). If it does, I hope the guys like Donnal, Shoefner, etc. will wait.

well said

 

[jwinslow]

Good list btw...as far as star power goes, we have it (with Norwell and Turner, who are both 5 stars imo). I would even argue McVey is a star and is horribly underrated.

To be clear, I'm high on McVey as well... I'm simply working within the confines of the comparison, how they rated on paper.

The flipside of that however, is to be patient. "Low hanging fruit" like #16 lb Hines, #20 DT Heyward, #36 RB Herron, #58 WR Sanzenbacher have panned out quite nicely... and 2009 could see breakout performances by #12 S Torrence & #40 WR Washington.

 

[BayBuck]

Wow, recruiting goes faster than ever these days, when the 2010 class can be basically written off by Spring 2009. These guys have yet to play their senior seasons, and I still believe there's a lot of individual development/growth that can happen between now and December. So okay, maybe we're not going to be Texas every year, with 90% of the class lined up before summer camps, but between the early star commits, late Ohio guys and senior-year standouts that catch the staff's eye, I for one have no concern that this will be a class of 5 studs and a bunch of scrubs.

 

[Oh8ch]

The perception of trouble with this class (which is, I agree, quite premature) is fueled by what is happening in state.

Last year Ohio had 14 4/5 star players. OSU landed 10 of those and offered (by my recollection) only one of the five we "lost".

This year Scout credits Ohio with only 7 such players. Two have committed elsewhere (we did not offer) and there are concerns about two more who we have offered.

OOS is generally a bit sketchy this time of year. The rankings for Ohio kids may also be bogus. I would also submit that our roster is more biased towards younger -and more talented - players than it has been for some time. It has to be a bit tougher to attract top tier kids with that sort of youth-biased competition looming.

Finally, last year's class committed VERY early. Yet at this point last year we had 11 ships left - compared to 10 now. Two years ago only two of 15 ships were taken by the beginning of June.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

To be clear, I'm high on McVey as well... I'm simply working within the confines of the comparison, how they rated on paper.

The flipside of that however, is to be patient. "Low hanging fruit" like #16 lb Hines, #20 DT Heyward, #36 RB Herron, #58 WR Sanzenbacher have panned out quite nicely... and 2009 could see breakout performances by #12 S Torrence & #40 WR Washington.

No Brian Rolle?

After Solomon Thomas' spring, he might be another gem.

 

[jwinslow]

Rolle was #6 at his position. Same with leaving Saine off of the breakout watch list... #11 RB & Mr. Ohio makes him a big recruit "on paper", but Boom didn't get the memo.

 

[NightmaresDad]

Re: D Long

When he says something like " the class of 2010 looks like it will only be average, but the class of 2011 is shaping up to be very special" he is not referring to tOSU's class specifically, but the recruiting class as a whole, relative to other years. Especially in-state.

So, with a great class in 2011, he means the Ohio kids that will be available.

It appears it only took one year for us to get spoiled with all the early commits.

If we are still sitting on 5 or 6 commitments when September gets here, then I suppose it would be time to worry a little, but I think everyone would agree we are off to a great start, quality-wise, and are in good shape with enough high quality recruits to project a very good class, that, like '07, might not be huge in numbers, but will have its share of impact players and contributors.

Certainly, there is no reason at this point to conclude that this tOSU class would/might be a bust.

When we have a great in-state class like in '08 and '09, then that sets us up for top-three type classes.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Color me as not worried yet...

The reason for what we see is low scholarship numbers...

Breakdown by position...

QB - We know we need one...Montana has been offered...Couple others being kept luke warm...Keep in mind in the back of our mind should be Braxton Miller will be in the 2011 class, so the 2010 QB could never be anything more than a career backup...

RB - Looking good for Smith and Ware at this point, but if not we could always go after Howard, or someothers...Do we even need two here? We took 2/3 however you look at it last year...Smith and Ware are just gravy on top...

WR - We don't lose anyone next year...We could go 1 or 2 here...We hvae offered some guys...Dyjuan Lewis is still out there, but if we were to take none I don't think it would be a huge issue, but we will grab one or 2...Lots of talent out there this year...Corey Brown is another one that I like where we stand with...Jordan and Wynn are two names off the top of my head for next year that will be looking at top 10 in state and 4/5 star status...

TE - this is a position that is perplexing to me, note because of who we have offered, but moreso because it doesn't seem the staff ever wants a TE that can stretch the field...Not sure why...I would of offered smith, Welch, CJ early and taken the first 2 to committ...They are all good enough to play here for sure...Do we land any of the two we have offered? at this point I am leaning towards no, but The staff doesn't seem to use the TE, so if we could find someone late in the game we will be fine here...It isn't like this is a make or break position for our classes, but it is a frustrating position.

OL - We have a 5 star OT...we could stay in state and have one of the top recruiting classes in the country...We are seeing what James/henderson/Benedict/Green/Linder/hurst etc want to do...If we land one of them then great, 2 amazing...None we go after guys like Donnal/Schofner, but both have great offer lists and are could end up being just as good as the guys mentioned before, and they both hopefully come to camp and the staff sees them up close...We have landed 7 over the last 2 classes, so a class of 3, with one of them being Norwell we are looking good here...One of the deepest years in state I have ever seen...next year should be pretty good as well...

DE - Fine here...Loaded on the roster, and Moore, Durham, and maybe one more...Next year good here as well with Miller...

DT - this is another position of worry, but they really aren't out there...Maybe a guy like Black gets and offer and suprises here, as he is not the staffs prototype at tackle...But we have depth here on the roster, but this is a position that would be great to continue to really keep stocked...next year will produce at least one stud (Rock) and maybe a couple more...

LB - Stocking up here...Turner/McVey and hopefully Hicks...We will be fine with 2, and next year has some names out there like Depreist...

DB - Probably need 2/3...Bryant, hopefully Joyner and there are a ton out there...They are throwing some offers out to some big time kids and see if anything sticks...If not there are some guys in state that could see offers like Givens or Talbott...

K/P - I think we at least need a prefered walk-on or grey shirt, I hate the idea of one guy doing punting and kicking, their leg wears out doing all that kicking...

If we land guys like Turner, Norwell, Hicks, Ware, Joyner, Smith There is lots of star power then provide 3/4 star depth and load up again next year...

 

[Buckeye86]

If we land guys like Turner, Norwell, Hicks, Ware, Joyner, Smith There is lots of star power then provide 3/4 star depth and load up again next year...

it seems to me that Ohio is LOADED next year with top talent (Steve Miller, Chris Rock, Doran Grant, Braxton Miller, Jarrett Grace, A.J. Jordan ect.), could it be that the staff is being extra picky about throwing out offers this year because they are confident about landing a monster in state class next year?

 

[NFBuck]

After the last two classes and with the relatively low number of schollies this year, a dropoff is to be expected. Not worried at all...2011 is looks like it could be another big year.