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

[wadc45]

Looking at the 2012 linemen

Written by Duane Long
Tuesday, 09 November 2010 14:01

I was talking to Mark Porter a couple of days ago and we were talking alot about the linemen in the class of 2012. I wanted to take a look at them again and rank them based on junior film I have seen and reports I am getting.

1 - Greg McMullen, Akron Hoban. I saw a half of a game early in the year and it just reminded me of something Mark and I talked about all off season. What is this kid going to do when he has two healthy hands? I saw it in this half of football. He was an absolute menace. He was making plays and when he wasn't he was still being disruptive. When I first started looking at the class of 2012 McMullen topped the list. He is back at the top of the list. At least amongst defensive linemen.

2 - Adolphus Washington, Cincinnati Taft. He is still the freakiest looking athlete out there. He has the potential to be the top ranked lineman in the class. That at 6-5 245 he is being talked about as a linebacker by people you have to take seriously tells you what kind of athlete he is. I think he outgrows the position but he shouldn't run like he does at 245. He may be running like this at 270. He must find his motor. That is why he is no longer on the top of my list.

3 - Chris Wormley - Toledo Whitmer. I recall seeing a picture of him in t-shirt and shorts at 255 and if I did not know he was 255 I would have said 215. I think he is a diamond in the rough. I watched a half of football of Wormley. He had 2 sacks but did not have an impact in between. I think maturity will take care of that. If it doesn't, you let him add a few pounds and create an all-american left tackle.

4 - Josh Perry - Olentangy. Talk about a kid coming on. I was lukewarm on this offer until I saw his junior tape. He has taken his game up a level. Several if you ask me. He could be anything from a weak side defensive end to a strong side defensive end to a tight end. He is really impressive with the ball in his hands.

5 (tie) - LaTroy Lewis - Akron Hoban. Players this good should not find themselves this far down a list of top players. That he is down this low is the most compelling evidence of just how good this class is.

5 (tie) - Se'Von Pittman - Canton McKinley. The same could be said of Pittman that I said about Lewis. The difference is Pittman has played so much less football than everyone else on this list. He might have the best upside.

Notice I do not list Tom Strobel. He has not had the junior year expected of him. In fact, two people I respect greatly have seen Mentor recently and are higher on his teammate JJ Lessick, who I have not seen. I still want to keep Strobels name out there. He was so impressive as a sophmore. Maybe he is injured and playing through it. We don't know. What we do know is the film does not lie. We know what he is capable of when he is at his best. He could very easily return to that form.

Duane's about the only person I have heard that does not have Wormley #1...but that's part of the fun of recruiting...

 

[y0yoyoin]

More 2012 prospects

We all know what is what with the current recruiting class. I can click off their names in my sleep and I am sure many of you can too. The class of 2012 is fascinating. It is a great class and here are a few more names that are definitely going to be on the radar come spring.

Blake Thomas, TE, 6-4, 240, Cleveland St. Ignatius. Has to be a Buckeye target. I was the first to give Nick Vannett on the radar last year. I am putting Blake Thomas out there this year. He reminds me so much of Vannett. Both are excellent receivers but they are the kind of in-line blockers that appeal to a program like Ohio State. He might be an even better prospect because he has the frame but you can see he is not nearly as well developed as Vannett. He is kind of lanky. He could fill out into a 260 or even 270 lb kid and not lose his speed or athleticism.

William Mahone, Ath, 6-0, 200, Austintown Fitch. Certainly a candidate for the title of the best prospect nobody is talking about, and arguably the front runner. He is also the favorite to be named the best two-way player in the class. Mahone has the misfortune of coming along in a year when his best positions, running back and safety, are prime positions in Ohio. He is a great looking explosive back with great feet and runs with a reckless physical style. He is a Big Ten caliber running back. Maybe a Big Four back. He may be an even better strong safety. We hear about superstar Bam Bradley at Trotwood-Madison and DeShawn Hall at Glen Oak, and there is a name out there we have yet to reveal who may be better than either, but Mahone needs to be mentioned in that elite company. He is a physical strong safety who brings ball skills to the position and is comfortable playing over slot receivers. Keep an eye on this one.

Zack Higgins, OL, 6-5, 300, Marlington. I am very high on Taylor Decker from Butler and Joe Spencer from Mason but I have not seen film of them as juniors yet. Of the junior film I have seen so far Higgins is the best. He is a mauling brawling right tackle right now who might find his niche as a guard. He has a good punch and plays to the whistle.Right now I see a right tackle who has cleared taken his game up a level from his sophmore year.

Jimmy Rousher, Ath, 6-3, 253, Canfield. I don't know if he is going to be a defensive tackle or a tight end. I don't see him having offensive lineman size. He might be a guard in the right offense, one where speed and athleticism are more important, but I can't imagine putting such an athletic big at guard. He looks a little bigger than last year but at the same time more athletic. He runs so very well for a big kid. He packs such a punch. Opposing players look like they are talking to dead ancestors after they take a shot from Rousher. He is an excellent blocker at tight end and catches the ball very well. Some will recruit him as tight end but I would look at him as strong side end or three-technique tackle.

 

[wadc45]

More 2012 prospects

I've been talking about Mahone...

 

[y0yoyoin]

http://www.duanelongreport.com/2010/november/even-more-2012-prospects.html

Marcus Foster, 6-1, 200, S/Hybrid, Troy. These days it is not very often that a player jumps into my top ten this late in the process. Foster is a sure Big Four recruit. I don't think he has the speed to be a corner at the next level but he is not a great safety only because he might be an even better prospect at the hybrid position, called the Star at Ohio State. Big time hitter with an aggressive style, and the ball skills of a top wide receiver. Very athletic kid. I don't know who is better, Foster or Bam Bradley. I can't separate the two of them. I say why bother. Put them together in the Buckeye defensive backfield. It would just be raining receivers with alligator arms if these two were patrolling the secondary. Another thing Foster shares with Bradley is excellent academics. It is a great year for safeties in Ohio with Frank Epitropolous, Allen Gant, DeShawn Hall and a couple of others but they are all looking at the number three spot behind Bradley and Foster.

Cameron Wilson, 6-2, 200, WR, Dublin Jerome. There were always questions about his speed and he did not have a great camp at Ohio State but after watching his film on ScoutingOhi.com I remembered why I liked him in the first place. Wilson is a big split end who plays the split end game. What I mean is he is a go up and get it over the top kind of receiver. Get him one on one and have the quarterback throw it up for him. Let him go get it. He is very physical. He will go across the middle and will drop his shoulder to finish runs. He knows how to use his body. Wilson has long arms and big hands and knows how to use them. He has tremendous ball skills and his awareness is top drawer. After the catch he is as elusive as a player 5-9 and 170.

Evan Jones, 6-6, 240, TE/DL, Ridgewood West Lafayette. We have been asking for athletic bigs in Ohio for as long as I can remember Just what this class needed. Another outstanding big. Why we could not spread them out over a few years I don't know. This kid is from a small school but I could see him blowing up this summer with a good showing on the athlete circuit. He is a better tight end right now, maybe as good as Blake Thomas, but someone is going to give him a shot as a strong side end who could grow into a three-technique tackle. Great body on this kid. Runs well and is very physical. He is one I will be keeping my eye on.


Terrelle Dorsey 6-0, 210, RB, Mansfield Sr. I have to put his name out there. This is a gifted back. I say at least a three-star back who is getting no pub because of the depth of the class in Ohio. A player this talented being no better than the number four back in the state says it all about the talent in the class. Dorsey shows excellent vision and I love how quickly he gets north-south. He is a determined runner with excellent balance and good power. He will be a Big Ten back. He could see offers from that next level of schools behind the Big Four. I am talking about Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan State. Great looking back.

 

[pnuts34]

http://www.duanelongreport.com/2011-articles/january/big-ten-nightmare.html

Duane Long made a good point to one of the reasons the Big 10 has been getting beat down by the SEC, and I agree with him. We need to upgrade(we meaning OSU, don't really care about the other teams) our DL. We have a good DL for the Big 10 but its not nearly that good on a national level. In this 2012 class, we should any and every top level DL that wants to come to us. This DL class is exceptional in OH and we should take full advantage of that! Give all the kids offers and let their playing decide who gets reps, but bring in as much talent as possible. It seems in certain classes that we are quite picky, and I understand that recruiting is a crapshoot, but with the number of high level in 2012 bring in as many possible. So hopefully we can bring in McMullen, Wormley, Washington, Lewis, Strobel and any others because one of the biggest reasons we haven't beaten some of the SEC teams is their relentless pass rush. That DL domination showed against UF and LSU, and even more so this year when Alabama dominated MSU.

 

[RB07OSU]

http://www.duanelongreport.com/2011-articles/january/big-ten-nightmare.html

Duane Long made a good point to one of the reasons the Big 10 has been getting beat down by the SEC, and I agree with him. We need to upgrade(we meaning OSU, don't really care about the other teams) our DL. We have a good DL for the Big 10 but its not nearly that good on a national level. In this 2012 class, we should any and every top level DL that wants to come to us. This DL class is exceptional in OH and we should take full advantage of that! Give all the kids offers and let their playing decide who gets reps, but bring in as much talent as possible. It seems in certain classes that we are quite picky, and I understand that recruiting is a crapshoot, but with the number of high level in 2012 bring in as many possible. So hopefully we can bring in McMullen, Wormley, Washington, Lewis, Strobel and any others because one of the biggest reasons we haven't beaten some of the SEC teams is their relentless pass rush. That DL domination showed against UF and LSU, and even more so this year when Alabama dominated MSU.

I've honestly always thought this...which is why I am such a self repeating, unrepentant advocate of stocking up on DT's (and DL in general). A great DL makes great LB's and DB's. Problem is that usually athletic bigs grow on trees in the south and not so much in the midwest/northeast. The last couple years have been exceptionally good in Ohio though, so hopefully that trend continues.

 

[Diego-Bucks]

I am definitely not certain of the scholarship depth chart (Mili's link is down) but my estimation these are the guys we are losing next year in 2011:

QB:
Terrelle Pryor
Joe Bauserman

RB:
Boom Herron

WR:
Devier Posey
Grant Schwartz

TE:
None

OL:
Mike Brewster
Mike Adams
JB Shugarts
Evan Blankenship

DL:
Solomon Thomas
Nathan Williams

LB:
Tyler Moeller
Andrew Sweat

DB:
Dionte Allen
Donnie Evege
Nate Oliver

I count 16 scholarships available. Some of these may have red-shirted or something in 2010, I am really uncertain. I just have yet to find a recruiting number for the 2012 class; I think we are at 16.

Possible transfers and possible early declarations for the NFL too.

 

[stowfan]

Massive hit to the O-line there:(

 

[t_BuckeyeScott]

schwartz will be gone after this year

 

[stxbuck]

My very early guesses on the #'s/positions for the 2012 class

QB-0 Don't need a QB w/ 3 QBs as sophmores or younger on next year's roster. Only take one if a superstar decides he really wants to be a Buckeye.

RB-2 Really only need 1 for depth, but Dunn and Ball are too good to say no to, this position is filled.

WR/TE- 1 I'll say 1 WR-this position might get the benefit of any additonal slots opening up beyond the 16 on paper. No TEs to say the least.

OL-3-4 Need at least 2 OT, one is already committed w/ Kalis, Boren also committed but he is an interior OL all the way. The staff is looking hard at Taylor Decker from Vandalia and Kyle Dodson from Cleveland Heights-both OTs. The needs will be filled quickly at this position.

DL-4 The instate class is too good not to sign a bunch. I'd like to see at least 1 pure NT type-like Hankins-signed

LB-1 With the likelihood of signing 2-3 LBs in this years class, this position is not critical for next year. Josh Perry is already committed and very well might be it for this class-he is already 6'3 225, so he could play SAM or MIKE-not a Star type.

DB-3 We always need depth/talent upgrades here-the S class in Ohio is primo next year, so I woul say 2 S/Star types, 1 CB type

P-1 We need a punter-both for #'s and to challenge Buchanan

This class could easily be filled by 100% Ohioans and be in the bag by July. 2012 is an insanely talented class, and one that jells nicely w/ the projected needs above.

 

[kanton]

I know all scholarships are year to year but does anyone else think that Adam Griffin's scholarship is contingent on an extra one being available from year to year? This question isn't meant to slight him but I'm guessing with his family situation if his scholarship was really needed for 2012 that it wouldn't be a big deal for the family to have to pay tuition.

Also does anyone know if Nick DiLilo has moved out of the dog-house?

 

[pnuts34]

My very early guesses on the #'s/positions for the 2012 class

QB-0 Don't need a QB w/ 3 QBs as sophmores or younger on next year's roster. Only take one if a superstar decides he really wants to be a Buckeye.

RB-2 Really only need 1 for depth, but Dunn and Ball are too good to say no to, this position is filled.

WR/TE- 1 I'll say 1 WR-this position might get the benefit of any additonal slots opening up beyond the 16 on paper. No TEs to say the least.

OL-3-4 Need at least 2 OT, one is already committed w/ Kalis, Boren also committed but he is an interior OL all the way. The staff is looking hard at Taylor Decker from Vandalia and Kyle Dodson from Cleveland Heights-both OTs. The needs will be filled quickly at this position.

DL-4 The instate class is too good not to sign a bunch. I'd like to see at least 1 pure NT type-like Hankins-signed

LB-1 With the likelihood of signing 2-3 LBs in this years class, this position is not critical for next year. Josh Perry is already committed and very well might be it for this class-he is already 6'3 225, so he could play SAM or MIKE-not a Star type.

DB-3 We always need depth/talent upgrades here-the S class in Ohio is primo next year, so I woul say 2 S/Star types, 1 CB type

P-1 We need a punter-both for #'s and to challenge Buchanan

This class could easily be filled by 100% Ohioans and be in the bag by July. 2012 is an insanely talented class, and one that jells nicely w/ the projected needs above.

I agree with pretty much everything you've stated, but don't you think that based on what they do next year, WR can be position of serious need quickly if they don't produce with a new QB for the first 5 games? We may be looking at needing 2-3 in 2012

 

[Diego-Bucks]

2012 DL: Where do they fit, who do we get?

LEO: Adolphus Washington, Se'Von Pittman
DE: Greg McMullen, Tom Strobel (not sure where to place him, LEO? DE? Great frame), LaTroy Lewis
DE/DT: Chris Wormley
DT: Tommy Schutt

That's 7 bonafide prospects right there. I think that Washington gets here but it will be a national race, McMullen and Lewis are going to be a great package deal and they both have verbal offers.

Then of course, there is Wormley. Would love to have him. Does the addition of Brady Hoke influence his recruitment? Of course it does. He has indicated that Ohio State leads, but there wasn't a lot of tangible and promising facets to being a defensive lineman at Michigan for the last 3 years. Now you have a D-Line coach as your HC, he's led a national title winning line at Michigan... Add in that Wormley is a Wolverine fan. In the past, Ohio State has lost plenty of recruiting battles but not too many recently...

I think that Strobel and Pittman are obvious choices to fill the recruitment when/if any of the others leave. Of the two, I don't know who I'd prefer... Pittman has had an opportunity to be part of a two man wrecking crew, but I'm not sure how Strobel's fellow Mentor lineman fare. That being said, Wormley is a different defensive talent compared with Strobel and Pittman. He's got size and strength to play multiple line positions; I am unsure if the other two have this capability.

Tommy Schutt is someone I know next to nothing about, but if he's a true DT then bring him in.

Are the Buckeyes, who stacked up on DL in 2011 going to be able to bring in more than four recruits to the DL in 2012? Personally, I say bring every elite defensive lineman you can fit but that's easier said than done. Today, recruits are a different breed and often choose playing time over other factors. Many of these guys could be multi-year starters at other schools, they many not get that opportunity at Ohio State.

 

[y0yoyoin]

http://www.duanelongreport.com/2011-articles/january/recruiting-2012-receivers.html

Recruiting - 2012 receivers


Written by Duane Long | 16 January 2011

We hear so much about the defensive line in the class of 2012. I use the expression that I only hope to see a class like whatever position I am talking about. With the defensive line class for 2012 I would say I would not dare to dream we see another like it. It is a class of a lifetime. The class of 2011 is the next best in my time but is not even close to 2012. The back class is one of the two or three best I have seen. So many names out there from both position groups. One that is not being talked about is the wide receiver group.

The Buckeyes just came in with an offer to the best in the class and sure five-star national receiver in Cincinnati Taft's Dwayne Stafford. The best in my time as a talent evaluator in Ohio have been Devier Posey, Mario Manningham and T.Y. Williams. Stafford is right there with them and is only a junior. I think he will be the best receiver we have seen come out of Ohio since Chris Carter. Maybe the best ever. He is 6-4 or 6-5 and can leap out of the building. Outstanding body control and great hands. He is very aggressive on the ball. He does not wait on it to come to him. He goes and gets it. He is a game changer after the catch. You want to hear the best part? He is a sure qualifier and a clear Buckeye lean despite early offers from Alabama, Tennessee, Florida State and Georgia.

Here is the other piece of good news. There are several others who could see Buckeye offers. I love Dublin Jerome's Cameron Wilson. He jumped on the radar early during his sophmore year but has his stock go down when he did not have a great camp at Ohio State. He is back up there on my board after watching his impressive junior film. This is a big split end who plays big. He is strong and knows how to use his body. One on one he is nearly impossible for a high school defensive back to cover. He attacks the ball at its highest point and shows the hands to come down with it. After the catch he is a danger to take it to the house. Very elusive open field runner. He is fearless. He shows no hesitation in going over the middle or going up to make catches in traffic. I love that he is a physical runner. Too often bigger receivers go down on the first solid contact. Not Wilson. Catching up with him is only half the job. Getting him on the ground is a chore. He has an early offer from Boston College. The athlete season will be important to him. If he shows speed he will have his pick of schools.

Moeller's Montanez Madaris is about the same size as Wilson, 6-2 and 190, but has a little different game. He does not possess the strength of Wilson, that is where I give Wilson the edge, but I think he is going to be the one more likely to put up a speed number that is going to push his offer list over the top. He is as good an open field runner as Wilson, doing a great deal of damage with slip screens and long hand-offs.

Madaris and Wilson are the receivers I feel the most confident of seeing Big Five offers but there are a couple of others who I think are likely to join them with good athlete seasons.

I am a big fan of Zack Edwards from Middletown. That program has been known for its basketball tradition but right now it is producing football talent at an impressive rate under coach Jason Krause. 2013 superstar Jalin Marshall is soaking up so much of the spotlight that a talent like Edwards is getting overlooked. He is an outstanding receiver. Catches everything he can reach. Great after the catch. He reminds me of a combination of former Buckeyes Anthony Gonzalez and Dane Sanzenbacher. He is heady like those two former greats and has that uncanny ability to come out with the football in tight spaces and when there is a defender all over him. He is bigger and more athletic like Sanzenbacher but has better speed. Whether that speed is good enough for the big boys to come in remains to be seen. He needs to get with the track coach and listen to him. He needs to get out to camps and combines to show that he has the speed of an elite skill position player at this level. Notice I say skill position player, not receiver. Edwards is a fine defensive back. He is a willing tackler and at 6-1 with an impressive wingspan he is going to get looks at safety and maybe for corner.

Maybe you have heard of Edwards but I doubt you have heard of Delaware Hayes Matthew Bingaya. http://www.scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=6434&name=jordan9
He is a 6-4, 200 lb high school quarterback that could be the biggest surprise in the class. He is a very athletic kid with size. Those are things you can't teach. If he gets out this athlete season (the athlete season is track season plus camps and combines) as a receiver we could see his stock soar into that of a Big Five athlete. Mark Porter did a great job of finding this kid.

 

[Oh8ch]

You gotta love JT.

No, he can't close.

But with three weeks left till NLOI day most of the discussion in our recruiting forum is about 2012 recruits.