According to our scholarship breakdown, we have five more spots left for this class. Assuming Hyde makes it here next season and a JR declares early, that number will stay the same. Here's how I see it:
QB: we are set. With positive reports about Guiton and where we are with Miller, I don't see us taking another QB in this class.
RB: we are set. Boom and Saine are still relatively young players. They are going to be the cornerstone of this position. Berry and Hall, especially Berry, look promising early on. With two big backs in Smith and Hyde coming in, I say we are set here as well.
FB: Homan has been getting good vibe, and Martin has been moved into the big back/short yardage role. The only question here is how long Tressel waits before making Georgiades a scholarship player.
TE: I think coaches are content with having three guys for now. If Stoneburner doesn't seem like a trench player, or if Fragel looks too good at Tackle, then the staff may go after one more. But don't forget how long people had been calling Hartsock a Tackle, and it never happened. TEs at OSU are tackles.
WR: With Louis in the fold, I am tempted to say that we are set. What we are missing is a tall weapon in the redzone. Stoneburner may be that guy, if Tressel chooses to use him that way. I still think it's likely that we take Williams, if he has the grades.
OL: Can't blame the coaches for not being more aggressive with OL recruiting, since we are only losing Cordle this year, and there are a lot of impact underclassmen. I would like to see us take one more guard/center, preferably Linder.
DT: Can't say I am too excited about Hankins at this point. Talbott and Tomlison are off the table. I would like us to land Shariff, but this might be a wait and see situation with regards to how well our young DTs do this fall (Goebel, Mobley, Simon, and Bellamy).
DE: we are stacked at weakside DE/Leo spot. Even if Gibson goes to the NFL after this season, we'd still had Williams, Thomas, Wells, Newsome, and Turner. At strong side DE, we are losing a couple of bodies in Wilson and Rose. Fellows looks very promising, and depending on how DT shakes out, Mobley may end up here as well. Both Baldwin and Moore are also candidates to compete down the road. I tend to think that we are set here as well.
LB: Hicks would be luxury in what is already a very deep position.
CB: Here's where it gets interesting. Amos is gone after this year. Chekwa might be gone too for the NFL, and you never know when Torrence may decide to focus on baseball. With Evege not being a factor up to this point, it will be up to Howard and one of the freshman to step up. Landing Joyner and/or Shaw would be awesome.
S: Hines looks to be a full-time starter next season. Reading between the lines, it seems that the coaches like the combo of Domicone and Johnson for the future. In case if anything doesn't work out, Wood, Hagan and Bryant will provide competition.
ST: Sounds like we are looking for a punter as well. If that's the case, I hope Hagerup can be that guy.
That's seven names in scarlet competing for five spots. We don't currently enjoy an outright lead for Joyner, Linder, Hicks or Hagerup, so it's likely that a couple of them may not end up here. If more than one JR declares for the draft, then additional spots may open up. Gibson looks ready, and depending on how the season goes, Chekwa and/or Heyward may follow. Also, if Rowell doesn't make it due to academic reasons, that's one more open spot.
Current verbals (c/p from cb40):
QB - Taylor Grahm
RB - Rod Smith
WR - James Louis
OL - Andrew Norwell
DE - David Durham
DE - J.T. Moore
DT - Darryl Baldwin
LB - Jamel Turner
LB - Scott McVey
DB - Chad Hagan
K - Drew Basil
