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DE/LB Thaddeus Gibson (official thread)

That was a little interesting to hear him say that he is not sure who is recruiting him now that Tucker has left. How long ago did that happen? I know it just seems longer than it has been but he is a must get LB for this class. I would have thought that who ever took over this responsibilty for Tucker would have contacted Mr. Gibson by now. Maybe JT himself needs to give him a call and let him know what is going on and how bad he is wanted. GO BUCKS!!
 
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I'm sorry but after Chris Wells, this kid is priority number 1 imo, considering the upcoming need to replace backers. I like the fact that he wants to stay close to home because that suggest OSU will always be in the picture, however mom liking scum doesn't sound good. I rather have uncle liking scum and mom to OSU. The big 3 OL are critical because of the competition but lets not forget Gibson. We need this kid bad....I don't want to have to go OOS and deal with another Rico. Lets start showing Gibson some love and hope JT and company close this deal.

Oh, and I should mention Homan was also priority 1a/b until he commited. We need outside linbackers guys. Its plain and simple. I know Terry and Freeman are there (possibly Laurintes - spelling) but we need competion for these guys and depth.
 
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ScarletFever said:
I'm sorry but after Chris Wells, this kid is priority number 1 imo, considering the upcoming need to replace backers. I like the fact that he wants to stay close to home because that suggest OSU will always be in the picture, however mom liking scum doesn't sound good. I rather have uncle liking scum and mom to OSU. The big 3 OL are critical because of the competition but lets not forget Gibson. We need this kid bad....I don't want to have to go OOS and deal with another Rico. Lets start showing Gibson some love and hope JT and company close this deal.

Oh, and I should mention Homan was also priority 1a/b until he commited. We need outside linbackers guys. Its plain and simple. I know Terry and Freeman are there (possibly Laurintes - spelling) but we need competion for these guys and depth.
I agree with you scarlet. I just can't understand why they don't let this kid know who is recruiting him. I think in the end the buckeyes ties to Euclid and that fact he wants to stay close to home bode well for the buckeyes.
 
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crazybuckfan40 said:
I agree with you scarlet. I just can't understand why they don't let this kid know who is recruiting him. I think in the end the buckeyes ties to Euclid and that fact he wants to stay close to home bode well for the buckeyes.
Lets keep in mind the origins of this story/article. We dont know when the original interview was done, it could have been done right after Tucker left and not printed until now. That site is known for biasing comments, stories, etc.

I am not saying that its not true but I highly doubt OSU has not contacted this kid since Tucker left. If that is the case, then he isnt in their top priorities, which I dont believe as well.
 
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Easy guys, he was unsure about who his recruiter would be, not about tOSU.

Trust me, Tressel and Co. have this recruiting thing down. If they were unsure who they wanted to take up the recruiting duties on Thaddeus, they probably would have pulled the Tressel card in the meantime.
 
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I don't get the whole "show some love" attitude w/ some posters on this board. We offered Gibson early, offered recruits have coaches in contact with them-he will get plenty of attention. The early reports have had him saying very positive things about the Bucks, he probably just doesn't feel like commiting this very second. Yes, a recruit has a primary recruiter, but he will also talk a lot w/ his position coach-Fickell?-and the HC to a lesser extent. No worries.
 
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STX, no one is suggesting staff isn't doing their job (at least I wasn't). As you mentioned, he was offered long ago and it's safe to say JT and staff will provide him with "adequate information (attention?)". That being said, we (recruiting geeks....as you are the main audience) should not lose sight of Gibson and his ability to fill a need in this class.
 
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Scout $

4/13/05--Duane Long

Thad is receiving a number of offers including a recent Michigan offer. He does not know any summer plans yet and is not even close to making a decision. However, he did say he will visit or camp at USC, but in all reality, the decision is between tOSU and Michigan. He is close friends with Darius Smith, brother of tOSU LB Brandon Smith, and talks frequently with the brothers.
 
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BN Free
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" width="98%"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#ffffff" valign="top">
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Thaddeus Gibson

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</td> <td valign="top"> Gibson Overwhelmed By Recruitting Experience
By Gary Housteau
Date: May 8, 2005

When all the smoke settles during the recruiting process for Thaddeus Gibson of Euclid High School, he's likely going to be faced with a final choice between Ohio State and Michigan. But, at the same time, he's looking forward to seeing exactly what the whole process has in store for him along the way.
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<hr> Mild-mannered and soft spoken are just a couple of ways to describe Thaddeus Gibson of Euclid High School when he’s not on the football field. A polar opposite to the disruptive and downright nasty role that he portrays on the gridiron when the pads are on.

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“It’s natural. I just go. I don’t know what it is but it’s something that as soon as I put on that hard hat it’s time to get it on,” said Gibson who first started for Euclid as a sophomore at outside linebacker. “I’m a hard-hitting, head-bashing kind of guy with some pretty good speed.”

Along with Ross Homan of Coldwater High School, Gibson is considered the cream of the crop at the linebacker position in the state of Ohio for the upcoming prep football season. Both linebackers were offered scholarships to Ohio State shortly after the ink was dry on the signatures of the recruits from the class of 2005.

Homan, on one hand, almost immediately gave a verbal commitment to Ohio State while Gibson, on the other hand, continues to entertain offers and phone calls from other coaches and universities all around the country.

“It’s a nice feeling getting all of this attention. Coaches always coming in and talking to you and all of the mail and things like that,” Gibson said. “It makes my mom real proud and me as well.”

Recruiting is almost always on his mind. Through basketball season and now track, Gibson has been anticipating what the crush of the recruiting season might be like.

“I’m just trying to keep up with my weightlifting and basically just keeping my head straight and doing what I got to do,” Gibson said. “I really don’t know what to expect. I’ll just continue to do what I do and whatever happens, happens.”

Already Gibson has naturally assumed the leadership role of the football team. With so much expected of him this coming season, Gibson feels the need to lead his teammates by example.

“I know that I have to work even harder this year, I really do,” he said. “I’m doing more than ever in the weight room, trying to work harder than the everyone and trying to get everybody out there. A lot of the dudes are talking about the season right now and I really like that a lot. And a few are coming out for the team that wasn’t out and I talk to them about that a lot. I’m basically just trying to get everybody doing what they need to do.”

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<hr> After a strong season on the hardwood where he averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds a game, Gibson is in the midst of track season right now.

“We’ve got some guys out throwing shot putt and discuss from the football team as well,” Gibson said. “Right now I just started to run the 100 and the 200 so I’m getting my speed up and trying to build a good relationship with the guys (from the football team) that are on the track team.”

Gibson is mainly just a sprinter but he’s learning something new on almost a daily basis. He’s actually competing in track for the very first time ever this spring.

“This is my first year doing track, ever, so it’s new but it’s cool,” he said. “I just found out that I wasn’t running right. The track coach said that my form was a little shaky so I’m working on that right now, getting it where it needs to be. But it’s a good experience though. He says it will really help me for the football and basketball seasons. So I look at it as a plus. I’m all for it.”

Basketball, however, is truly Gibson’s first love. He started as a sophomore on the varsity at Euclid and played some varsity as a freshman.

“Honestly before I even thought about football I was playing basketball,” Gibson said. “When I was little my mom didn’t really want me to play football because she thought I’d get hurt. So I was really focusing all of my attention on basketball.

“But my friend talked me into playing football in my ninth-grade year and I went out there and then I actually decided not to even play football in my sophomore year. But the coaches wanted me to come out and said that it would be my ticket, so I came out.”

Gibson himself now recognizes that football is indeed his ticket.

“I think I really fell in love with the game, really,” he said. “I liked it to watch it but when I’m out there on that field it’s like I’m another man, honestly. The love that I got for the game is real and a lot of people say that I can really make it big so I’m going to stick with it.”

Mike Rezzolla, the head coach at Euclid, thinks that Gibson has some really unique abilities.

“What sets him apart is his combination of the height, the speed and the strength,” he said. “I’ve been here 21 years and he may be one of the more explosive players I’ve ever seen and we’ve sent some good ones away, many to Ohio State. When you watch him on film he just stands out.

“You could be somebody that goes to a football game and had never seen a game before and the first person you would notice would be number 90 on defense because his motor is just working at such a high level of speed and he can make plays all over the field.”

Coincidentally he was initially given 90 and he’s stuck with it, but the number couldn’t be more fitting now according to Rezzolla.

“Years ago Javon Kearse came out of college and they called him the freak and the first time I, and some of the coaches, saw his explosive ability as well as the rangy body of his, the word freak came out,” the coach said. “So it might be a coincidence that he wears 90 but when you saw a young Javon Kearse get up field and be that quick and explosive, that is the kind of kid that you’re seeing with Thaddeus. So the number actually works out well for him.”

Gibson will also play some at wide receiver on offense and return kickoffs this season.

“I played a little fullback and a little at receiver last year but I’m starting this year as a receiver,” said the 6-3, 209-pound athlete. “Right now I really want to put on some more weight as well as keeping my speed too. My speed really makes it happen. I don’t think that I can be blocked personally and I love the contact.”

And he’s still learning how to play the game. His upside potential is really unlimited.

“He’s still a little on the raw side. He came out for football as a ninth-grader for the first time,” Rezzolla said. “He thought basketball was his ticket but he soon came to realize that football was going to be his ticket and he has a passion for it now that matches that passion that he has for basketball. If he makes any kind of progress over the next two to three years like he’s made his first two, then he can be scary.”

And Gibson is at the point in his young career where he’s making solid progress on all fronts now, be it athletically or academically or in particular.

“There was never a problem with the way that he works. In the weight room there are times when we have to kick him out. He’ll go through a track workout and then come back and get his weight lifting in,” Rezzolla said. “Now that he realizes what he has to do and what is expected of him, even with his academics, there’s been a whole new Thaddeus Gibson in the way that he approaches what’s a priority now for him.

“He was a great kid to begin with but now he’s a focused great kid and I’m looking forward to what he can accomplish in the future.”

Obviously there are a lot of schools that would be interested in having Gibson be a member of their team in the future. Ohio State, Michigan, Boston College, Purdue and West Virginia are just a few of his main suitors at this point.

“It’s overwhelming to me. It really is,” Gibson said. “But I’m proud of it though. It’s a great time for me right now and it’s very exciting.”

Of course there’s a good chance that in the end it will come down to a battle between two schools to win his services.

“I’m really looking at Ohio State and Michigan,” said Gibson who has no specific time frame planned. “I want to stay close to home so that my family can come and see me play. I’m going to take some visits and see what’s out there.”

More than anything, Gibson thinks it’s an honor to be in the position that he’s in right now.

“Most definitely, it’s great,” he said. “I can’t explain it. It’s overwhelming.”

Gibson takes the ACT on June 11 for the first time and he’s working hard to improve his current GPA.

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scout.com (free)

5/19/05




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By Jamie Newberg National Recruiting Analyst
Date: May 18, 2005

Thaddeus Gibson is a super linebacker prospect from the Buckeye State that recorded an impressive 17 sacks last season as a junior. Who's in his new top five?
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Thaddeus Gibson is one of the most sought after prospects from the state of Ohio and one of the nation's top linebacker prospects. Gibson, 6-3 and 208 pounds, recorded 67 tackles, 17 sacks, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), and had 25 quarterback hurries as a junior for Euclid High School.

”Honestly, I don’t think I can be blocked,” proclaimed Gibson. “All I do is get to the ball. I am a good pass rusher too.”

At this time Gibson claims scholarship offers from Ohio State, Michigan, West Virginia, Purdue, Boston College, Iowa and Miami (Ohio). Who on this offer list is in Gibson’s top five right now?

”If I had to make five visits right now they would be to Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Miami and Notre Dame.

Brandon Smith (Ohio State) is a good friend of mine and we talk everyday. I am going to Columbus this weekend for a photo shoot for a magazine and I will spend some time there. Coach Tressel is also a good guy and they play great defense.

”I don’t really know that much about Michigan yet. I did go up there on an unofficial visit and I liked it. Everything is close. But they are a school I need to research and investigate a little more.

”I have a friend at Penn State. It’s a great school with a good atmosphere. They are another school I need to learn a little more about.

”My uncle really likes Miami and that has made me like them. They have that hot weather and a good program.

”Tony Fisher has told me a lot of great things about Notre Dame. They have that tradition and that new staff.”

Tomorrow Gibson has a district meet in track and he is scheduled to run in four events – the 100 meters, 200, 4 x 100 and 4 x 200. At 208 pounds he has run an 11.1 100 meter this year and a 23.7 200 meter. ”This spring has all been running and the weight room. Recruiting has also been fun and a little overwhelming. It can be real exciting. I am trying to keep an open mind about things.” Gibson says he carries a 2.7 grade point average and he is schedule to take the SAT next month (June 11).


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Rivals $

5/23 (ND)

Thad just completed his track season and was very impressed with Glenville and tOSU grayshirt Freddie Lenix. He is hearing from many schools and Notre Dame is recruiting him very hard also. Ex-Euclid Panther Tony Fisher is talking to Thad about ND. Thaddeus will visit ND to get an idea of the school on his own.
 
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I guess he was impressed with Lenix. Freddie ran a 10.7 in the 100M for the districts while Thaddeus ran an 11.7, per Bucknut11.

"4.3", as has been discussed before, is a logistical myth. However, granting the inflated times, an 11.7 100M does not even translate into "4.4" range. I'm sure Thad is gifted and quick, but I'm a little surprised at his track showing. Anyone know if he is injured presently?
 
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