Lamarcus Joyner (DB New York Jets)

[t_BuckeyeScott]

Because it is twelve months to Signing Day, and at this point, the best policy is to doubt every recruit's "seriousness" ... especially if he is from out of state ... especially if he is a "top 10" prospect in the country ... especially because Ohio State does not "close" kids who make late decisions/announcements.

Genron,
What LJB said. Its not that we doubt you or LJ's seriousness now. It's just that Ohio State almost never gets big-time Out of State recruits on signing day, especially from the south. Terrelle Pryor being the exception.

 

[Todd McShay]

I think there's two camps of doubt, those who are listening intently but are wary of past recruitments, and those who just won't or can't let themselves get emotionally invested after being burned before. I think you'll find more of the first group here.

Pryor was one of the very few recruitments where OSU fans were confident going into signing day, but he is right on the border of Ohio and despite his offer list, he was a midwest recruit (UM, PSU, OSU).

 

[berryfan]

Keep in mind, LJ is keeping the Buckeyes under consideration this early.

A lot of players in the Miami-Dade area don't necessarily have schools in mind as early as LJ did (though people often assume they do). That should be a feather in our cap. One thing that often occurs with players here is that they, the local fans, think that because the young man is out of Miami, that magically he is thinking of going to the big 3 state schools (principally UM (that's Miami)) and that isn't necessarily the case (in fact most often it's plain wrong). Jaamal Berry was a perfect example.

Most of the guys from my high school, Palmetto, where Berry played, think he picked the best school given the information he had at hand, it really is the best fit. But I heard many a fan at games wondering why he wasn't staying in-state. They just don't get it. There is just no way that every single top player is going to play for Miami, FSU or the Gators as much as any local fan down here would like to dream that fantasy.

Over the years, the Buckeyes have done an excellent job of getting young men a great education, great opportunity for playing time and excellent preparation for the NFL. That's hard to say about most schools in this country.

 

[southcampus]

Genron touched upon LJ's lack of fear with regards to picking where he wants to play football. I think that helps us out a little and if the situation is right up here in C-bus, I feel like LJ would be the type of guy to make the best decision for him, not the popular one.
LJ seems confident in his ability to see the field wherever he goes but our defensive secondary has to be appealing to him. Especially if we see Travis Howard, a fellow Miami-an, able to crack the starting lineup in his first year of action.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

One thing that often occurs with players here is that they, the local fans, think that because the young man is out of Miami, that magically he is thinking of going to the big 3 state schools (principally UM (that's Miami)) and that isn't necessarily the case (in fact most often it's plain wrong).

But I heard many a fan at games wondering why he wasn't staying in-state. They just don't get it. There is just no way that every single top player is going to play for Miami, FSU or the Gators as much as any local fan down here would like to dream that fantasy.

Over the years, the Buckeyes have done an excellent job of getting young men a great education, great opportunity for playing time and excellent preparation for the NFL. That's hard to say about most schools in this country.

Ohio State was one of the first midwestern schools to look to Florida for talent, and that decision was the best thing that John Cooper ever did for Ohio State football. Ohio State has pulled some serious high school talent out of Florida over the past 20 years or so - Bernard Edwards, Foster Paulk, Tito Paul, Brent Bartholomew, the Bellisari Brothers, Courtland Bullard, Tam Hopkins, Ryan Pickett, Bryce Bishop, Fred Stirrup, Bobby Britton, Thomas Matthews, Michael Jenkins, Chris Gamble, Lydell Ross, Santonio Holmes, Nate Salley, Albert Dukes, Maurice Wells, Walter Dublin, Chimdi Chekwa, Brian Rolle, James Scott, Michael Brewster, Etienne Sabino, Travis Howard, Jaamal Berry, Carlos Hyde, and Duron Carter, to name many if not all of the Floridians who have signed with Ohio State over the past two decades. Of course, not all of those guys worked out so well for Ohio State, but Bullard, Hopkins, Pickett, Bishop, Ross, Wells, Scott, and the Bellisaris (especially Steve) were all considered major prospects when they were in high school, and were huge "steals" for the Buckeyes (and you can add Brewster, Sabino, and Berry to that list).

So, getting talent out of Florida is not the problem. There is certainly plenty of talent to go around, and the Big 3 can only take so much each year. But when you combine all of the factors - top 10 prospect, out of state, fan of FSU, late decision - it's just waaaaay too early to get excited about Lamarcus Joyner. If he shows up for the Spring Game ... and if he comes to summer camp ... and if he makes an official visit ... then we can get a true gauge on his interest in Ohio State ... and even if he does all those things, then it's still going to be a lot of work to seal the deal and steal one of Florida's finest from the local schools (not to mention USC, Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, and whoever elese ends up getting involved).

 

[DontHateOState]

Why are a ton of Buckeye fans really doubting the seriousness of LJ to OSU. I guess I understand though. But Lamarcus is just different.

That is good to hear. The worry comes mostly from two things; Florida schools and Brandon McGee. The Florida fanbases are incredibly confident that they will land LJ. They are acting like they don't even need to recruit him.

And Brandon McGee fell in love with O-State last year, silently committed at the Spring game, and then fell away a couple months later.

Most OSU fans are worried that this is what will happen to LJ. The "home state" pressure among other things will lead to him feeling like he has to stay in Florida. I know Miami played that up big with McGee- his "duty" to go to the U.

 

[dozerbuck]

Why are a ton of Buckeye fans really doubting the seriousness of LJ to OSU. I guess I understand though. But Lamarcus is just different. Let me let you in on a little of his back ground. He played little league football for Tacolcy park. In the ultra competitive area of miami football him going there was rare. It's tons of recruiting down here starting with little league football already. Basically that park teams are terrible and the other 3 local parks have Luke Campbell, Chad johnson, and the NFL supporting them but he chose to play for a team he'll stand out for. Dont be crazy and say he's afraid to compete. I asked him why he wanted to play for them and he said he wanted to go to a sorry team and make them good. I played at the park before so I was good with it. After a week of practice he was moved from the 115 pound to the 135 pound squad. After another week he played for the 150 pound squad, those guys were 3-4 years older. He relished the opportunity to play the squads that when to lil league championship games in Orlando. His teams never got far in the playoffs but after every game he was the talk. He always wanted to do something different. When it came down to HS, I thought it would be impossible to get him to come with me to Southwest HS. We won only 2 games the yr before and the school never had a .500 or better record in its history. On top of that, Northwestern is his home school. But he said he loved the challenge to compete against those teams and show everyone what he could do. He always believed he could help turn things around. Plus I had a chance to really work him out and train him along with coach Johnson. I was always asked why SW, and I always said his choice. So to me he has a different type of mentally. Not the typical Miami football thinking in regrads to staying close to home. He thinks just like Frankie Telfort and Vlad E.

Kid couldn't have picked a better coaching staff and school to be interested in...

JT is different...he isn't an ordinary head coach.

Don't ask the stars players that have played for him....ask the kids that have transferred...because he more than likely was the one that found them a spot to land when they approached the staff about leaving.

You should hear the lengths they went to help Walter Dublin, Dennis Kennedy, and other players that truly tried to make things work out.

It is truly a different atmosphere inside the WHAC

 

[sflbuck]

Why are a ton of Buckeye fans really doubting the seriousness of LJ to OSU. I guess I understand though. But Lamarcus is just different......

First things first, what a great story about Lamarcus.

In addition to the excellent reasons that other BP posters may have offered, I also think that due to the fact that we got "singed" ( I can't really say we were burned) in the recruitment of the last two top CB out of South Florida has made us a little gun shy.

In 2008, Brandon Harris out of Booker T Washington in Miami had a late flirtation with OSU. There was enough to the story that respected insiders at other OSU sites reported that they would not be "surprised" if Harris were a Buckeye. In the end he signed with Miami and in the cool light of the day after NLOI signing day, it appeared more likely that this late flirtation was just a head fake to keep people quessing.

Then last year, Brandon McGee from Plantation in Broward, was very high on OSU in the spring but we seemed to fade from view in summer and he also chose Miami.

As we go forward, I am sure you will see more Buckeye believers. Of course I believe because LJ's first name is not Brandon.

 

[genron187]

especially if he is a "top 10" prospect in the country ....

So your saying stay away from OSU because no top 10 kid would want to choose them. So stay down south is what your telling me. OSU really only appeal to midwest kids, it that right.
It seems to me that faith is low around here for most people. I hope OSU coaches have a lil more fight.

 

[Roger Goodell]

Nope, OSU chases them every year, JT just doesn't tend to land the signing day type kids. He gets great talent, but does better before January.

I hope OSU coaches have a lil more fight.

They do, and that's why Berry, Sabino, Brewster and many others play here. However, OSU tends to strike out on the Marlon Brown's of the world, despite their strong like for the program.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

So your saying stay away from OSU because no top 10 kid would want to choose them. So stay down south is what your telling me. OSU really only appeal to midwest kids, it that right.
It seems to me that faith is low around here for most people. I hope OSU coaches have a lil more fight.

I'm not "saying" anything ... I'm merely commenting on the well-documented history of Ohio State recruiting under Jim Tressel. The Ohio State coaching staff will present the benefits of the program ... and all of the other apsects of the school and the community. But will they "fight" for a kid...? That all depends on how you define "fight"....

And the "fight" goes both ways ... a kid should want to go to Ohio State as much as the coaches want him to go there.

 

[OHSportsFan]

I'm not "saying" anything ... I'm merely commenting on the well-documented history of Ohio State recruiting under Jim Tressel. The Ohio State coaching staff will present the benefits of the program ... and all of the other apsects of the school and the community. But will they "fight" for a kid...? That all depends on how you define "fight"....

And the "fight" goes both ways ... a kid should want to go to Ohio State as much as the coaches want him to go there.

Which it sounds like LJ does.

It'd be great for LJ to break the trend of top prospects, from out-of-state that have late decisions, not going with Ohio State.

The Buckeye Nation would love for that to happen. No doubt.

 

[DontHateOState]

So your saying stay away from OSU because no top 10 kid would want to choose them. So stay down south is what your telling me. OSU really only appeal to midwest kids, it that right.
It seems to me that faith is low around here for most people. I hope OSU coaches have a lil more fight.

Our coaches will go after anyone, anywhere, anytime. And they will take on any program that opposes them.

The fans may be sheepish on parts of the internet, but that is the nature of a fanbase as large as Ohio States. We have the largest fanbase in the nation.

And if you want someone to come out and say it then I certainly will; I think LJ will be a Buckeye. I think it's everything he is looking for in a school. I think it's the best fit for any top player in the nation. He will compete against the best players in the nation in practice every day, and he will play for the best coaches in the business. He will grow as a player and a person.

So, if it's confidence you are looking for, some of us certainly have it.

 

[dozerbuck]

So your saying stay away from OSU because no top 10 kid would want to choose them. So stay down south is what your telling me. OSU really only appeal to midwest kids, it that right.
It seems to me that faith is low around here for most people. I hope OSU coaches have a lil more fight.

I am guessing that no one is saying "stay away" lol Especially since it is obvious LJ is such a special talent, and such a good kid.

JT and staff take recruiting very seriously...and when I say that, I mean the kids they recruit are not only great athletes, but they have to be willing students and great people. It is a philosophy that they hold in high regard.... "You win with people"...going back to Woody Hayes.

For a short time, that philosophy was falling into the background and Jim Tressel and his coaches have made it a priority to run the program by those standards.

Some fans fail to realize that Jim Tressel sells that in recruiting. He does the obvious as well....... He sells the facilities. He sells the competition. He sells the fact that kids make it to the NFL. He sells the tradition. But what he doesn't do is tell kids what they want to hear. He wants them to get it....to get the fact that they are not simply choosing a school to play football and take some classes...they are choosing to become part of something special....a family.

Being 18, being out of state and not being born into the OSU atmosphere makes it hard for a lot of OOS talent to understand exactly what it is that JT is selling....

Some don't understand and still choose OSU...but they soon get it when they arrive on campus. It ranges from saying "THEE Ohio State University" during Monday night football, to singing Carmen Ohio to the fans, all the way to finding success after football is over.

So, yeah, I think that is why JT and staff don't do the greatest at "closing" on signing day with OOS recruits. But they stick to what has worked...and that is getting kids that really want to be Buckeyes...kids that truly get what JT and his staff are selling.

It seems to be working pretty well.

 

[southcampus]

So your saying stay away from OSU because no top 10 kid would want to choose them. So stay down south is what your telling me. OSU really only appeal to midwest kids, it that right.
It seems to me that faith is low around here for most people. I hope OSU coaches have a lil more fight.

Nobody is saying to stay away from O State. We all want him here. And for the record, I have faith in our coaches being able to get a guy like Lamarcus up here to compete in the scarlet and gray!:osu: