CBF40's look at '12 recruiting (BP's prediction thread)

[HotMic]

Duane makes a living complaining about the way Tressel and company recruit offensive lineman, he is probably just setting up a future gripe by building McGowan up so much, particularly with his comments about a future at tackle..

This.

 

[wadc45]

Rivals $ - Breaking down the DL targets

2/21

Great breakdown of Lewis, McMullen, Odenigbo, Pittman, Washington and Wormley...positives as well as needed areas of improvement.

 

[y0yoyoin]

http://www.duanelongreport.com/2011-articles/february/2012-athletes.html

2012 athletes


Written by Duane Long | 22 February 2011

I have been going through the state of Ohio position by position but there are some players who do not fit a position or are hard to project. They get lumped into the athlete category. I want to get you up to speed about the top athletes in the state of Ohio.

The first name that just jumps out at me is Bedford safety Tyvis Powell. I am sure those that know about this outstanding player were surprised to see him left off my safety list. I see a 6-4 kid with long limbs. He looks like he is going to fill out into a linebacker or even a defensive end. That is why I could not list him with the safeties. He belonged. He is a rangy player who tackles very well. Very athletic. Reads the game well. I just don't know about a kid that tall and that long staying at safety. I could not list him at linebacker either because he is only 180 lbs. Some school is going to decide that Powell is a talent upgrade to their defense and not worry about where his body eventually takes him.
Cont...

 

[y0yoyoin]

http://www.duanelongreport.com/2011-articles/february/2012-running-backs.html

2012 running backs


Written by Duane Long | 24 February 2011

I cannot believe I nearly forgot to look at the running backs. Back when we first started talking about the class of 2012 the first position to give us an idea of how loaded this class is it was the running backs leading the way. We knew about Brionte Dunn as a freshman. Warren Ball and the others followed soon after. They have been around for so long that we have stopped talking about them.

Warren Ball is the test subject. Some are not as impressed with him, surprised when he was the first back offered. If that was you it is time to go back to recruiting 101. Ball is a special back. He has excellent size, ideal as far as I'm concerned, He has such quick feet. He is explosive. He has great vision. Watch how he looks for the hole and picks his way. Patience is something that NFL backs talk about as a thing that takes backs to the next level. Ball already has it. He is very elusive, not giving a clean shot to tacklers even in tight spaces and he runs with power. He has excellent hands. My only concern is with injuries. He seems to have been dinged a bit. With less depth Ball would be an impact freshman at Ohio State. He is so good that he still might be.

 

[wadc45]

Free Scout - Midwest Week In Review

By Allen Trieu
Midwest Regional Manager
Posted Feb 25, 2011

A lot of offers were handed out this week, and one commit even happened in the Big Ten. Stay up to date with new offers, and a few throughout the week you may have missed in this Midwest rewind.

 

[wadc45]

Ten teams off to fast starts

Ohio State

The Buckeyes annually get off to a fast start in their home state (one of the top talent-producing states in the country) and this recruiting cycle is no different with five early pledges- all from Ohio. Warren Ball (Columbus, Ohio/St. Francis De Sales) and Brionte Dunn (Canton, Ohio/Glen Oak) are the top two running back prospects in the Buckeye State for the 2012 class and two of the best in the Midwest. Linebacker Joshua Perry (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) has excellent size, offensive tackle Kyle Kalis (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Edward) is one of the top prospects at his position in the Midwest and offensive guard Jacoby Boren (Pickerington, Ohio/Central) is an excellent interior line prospect.

 

[buckeyescott11]

Do the recent offers to Richardson and Strobel change anyone's prediction for the class? I just hope we can get Washington. From what I've heard he's one of the best of the DE's we have offered.

 

[scarletngrey11]

Do the recent offers to Richardson and Strobel change anyone's prediction for the class? I just hope we can get Washington. From what I've heard he's one of the best of the DE's we have offered.

I may be wrong but I do not think we get Richardson. I do not have solid info on him, but I feel like he either goes to UM, or a school like Bama. He was also a USC fan growing up. Not throwing in the towel, just I think he could end up about anywhere.

Strobel is a good athlete with a big frame. He could play strongside DE or even grow into a defensive tackle. Maybe he could even bulk up enough to play OT. He is just a versatile athlete, so I do not believe it affects the other DE offers we have out.

All just my opinion however.

 

[y0yoyoin]

http://www.duanelongreport.com/2011-articles/february/recruiting-strategy.html

Recruiting strategy


Written by Duane Long | 27 February 2011

We don't know how many scholarships we are going to have available for the class of 2012. We do know it is going to take a small miracle to get to 25. What a terrible time to have a limited number. Somehow JT always comes up with 20 so that is the number I think we are working with. I want to look at the strategy, the thinking behind the numbers.

ON the offensive line I think the number is four. I hope it is five but with a class that I have to believe is looking at a cap of 20 I can't hope to think there will be five. With verbals Kyle Kalis and Jacoby Boren in place I think we see an offer to Kyle Dodson and then wait on one of the national kids, Jordan Diamond ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GPhF3WMpVU ) Jonah Pirsig
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL9Xws9dkSU ). I would love for that number to be five. I think an offer to Centerville's Benny McGowan says that the Buckeyes are taking five since Dodson is known to be a clear Buckeye lean and I will believe a Centerville kid with a Buckeye offer chooses to go elsewhere when I see it.

 

[y0yoyoin]

http://www.duanelongreport.com/2011-articles/march/picking-my-20.html

Picking my 20


Written by Duane Long | 01 March 2011

A fan sent me this and I thought it would make a good blog. I started it out as one day thing. It is looking like a two-blog post now.

<<<If there are really only 20 spots available Duane, would you please pick the 20 you'd like to see OSU get.<<<


Actually it is 15. We have the 5 verbals. I am going to take a liberty here. With some players I am going to list who I would love to have and who I would be very happy to have as the elite guy is not leaning this way. I will not list any long shots.

Dorial Green-Beckham is the Jadeveon Clowney for skill position players. He is at least the best to come out of high school scince A.J. Green and Julio Jones and is arguably the best since Randy Moss. He has Ohio State in his top five. I think he is likely to pick between Missouri and Oklahoma but until he drops the Buckeyes he will stay at the top of my list.

Any other year Jaquay Williams is the top receiver in the country. The Buckeyes have come in with an early offer and he lists the Buckeyes in his top five. He is another that will stay on my list until I see him drop the Buckeyes.

Both of the above are players you don't even consider saying no to. I don't see receiver as a need, not with the class of 2013 receivers on the horizon. The only receiver I think we have a great shot at that I would not say no to is Dwayne Stanford. I want to see him run later in the year when he has had some rest, a negative of the football and basketball athlete, and has time to prep. His football speed looks impressive.
Cont...

 

[GeorgiaBuck2]

He wouldn't take Washington even though he had him as the second best player in Ohio a few weeks ago?

Typical D.L.

 

[norsk]

I've taken to calling any pair of flip-flop sandals I see "Duanes" instead.

 

[TresselstillownsTSUN]

Washington willl be in this class if he wants to be. No way IMO would the staff not save a spot for him. When Texas comes up to Ohio to offer a guy....that pretty much says it all...

 

[y0yoyoin]

http://www.duanelongreport.com/2011-articles/march/my-20-pt2.html

My 20 - pt.2


Written by Duane Long | 03 March 2011

I think we take three safeties. One of the slots will be reserved for Florida superstar Travis Blanks, a no-brainer wait for him until you are no longer on his list caliber of player. One of the best safety prospects to come out in recent years. There is enough evidence to believe the Buckeyes have a shot for me to keep him on the list. He seemed very excited to hear Stan Drayton was now a Buckeye coach. He had the Buckeyes high on his list before learning that. Deon Bush is another Florida safety and he is almost as good and early reports have him high on the Buckeyes. As good as the Ohio safeties are they are not as good as Blanks and Bush. Other than an offer to Glenvilles Devon Bogard the Buckeyes have not offered an Ohio safety. If I could have any safeties I would take Blanks and Bush. One would be a coup. Both would be one of the all-time great recruiting efforts by Jim Tressel and staff so lets look at the backup plan.
Cont...

 

[MONTbigBuck]

With the verbal of Decker to ND, and recent comments from Persig that distance could be a major factor in his decision, two bodies that could have been the third tackle in this years class now look more like long shots. Obviously Persig's attitude may change once he visits OSU. Hopefully Dodson's test score allows an offer from the Bucks, as most feel an offer would move the Buckeyes into the drivers seat. It will be a dogfight for any other tackle that we currently have offered. Curious if anyone sees the net cast even wider with regards to tackle candidates. A few names seeming to be getting attention from others: JJ Denmon from PA, Jake Meador from IN, or Nacho Garcia from FLA. Aside from Dodson, who do the insiders see as the next to recieve an offer?