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LB/DE Mark Johnson (official thread)

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lagunasurf said:
One of the problems with Mark's recruitment is that it's real hard to get the straight scoop on anything regarding him from his "camp". Example being his telling Rivals that JT was by his house:wink2: . Here is what I know, he has issues to work out regarding transcripts. If he can get them worked out (and here is where the confusion comes in, CAN it be done?) then we will have him out for a visit in January. A player of his potential in L.A. would have an offer from SC also if he were qualified. IF in fact he is sporting a 2.5 with a 1350 SAT then the issue would be core classes and or class rank (need to be top 50%) etc. Make no mistake, this IS a player of interest for us. But until these issues are cleared we must concentrate on players that are more likely to be able to be Buckeyes. You needn't worry about this years class. It WILL be stellar.:wink2: Those that are complaining about academic standards are silly. With the reality being that 50% of ANY scholarship players not seeing the field, just figure what the odds are of a kid that you "take a chance" on academically are panning out. LOW. With the new NCAA standards in place you must spend your time going after players that are much more likely to succeed academically as well as on the field. SIMPLE.
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This all just makes way too much sense.
 
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Colin McCarthy would be a great addition to this class. As would the kids in question with academic issues too if they can get it together but let's put it this way. 105,000 fans, crucial moment in a game with title implications or just a crucial GAME, what type of kid is most likely to fulfill his assignment on a play or throughout the game? There is so much more to this game than just run fast, jump high. It ALL must be considered. Let me share something with you all. The day before the 2002 Michigan game my son and I were the only people aloud to watch the offense practice that day. One of the players we watched of course was Mo C. I won't go into details but suffice it to say it took me all of about 3 minutes to say to Grant, "this kid is going to be a problem." One of the things I LOVE about JT is he takes responsibility for whatever happens in the program. He will not make a Clarett mistake again. Maybe that's overstating an example but, taking care of grades is a indication of what you MIGHT get from a player down the road. Kids will be kids, we aren't requiring Rhodes Scholars. Messing up on grades as a 9th or 10th grader is COMMON. When guys are still messing up as seniors and juniors. THAT is a concern. There are plenty of good football players out there that fit the programs bill if you are willing to look. And they ARE willing to look. Alot of kids must overcome significant challenges to make it work let's not fail to acknowledge that fact. It's often not easy. You have to love a guy like Lenix. Who persevered to get his house in order to fulfill his goal. His arrival on campus was delayed but so what? That may be the case with some kids in this current bunch. Hopefully, they can follow Freddy's lead.
 
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Nice post, Brian:) I'm an incurable idealist, I suppose, but during my 30 years in the high school classroom, I found that all kids are gifted and all kids can succeed. I was fortunate to have taught many D1 players who were scholar athletes, but I also worked with very good athletes who struggled mightily in their academics. To make a difference for those struggling kids-- athletes and non-athletes alike-- a group of experienced colleagues and I moved from the cozier comfort of working with juniors and seniors to the challenges of the 9th and 10th grade classroom. I came to realize that strong mentoring by dedicated teachers "from the beginning" made a huge difference for kids who had little personal history of scholastic success. :oh: :io:
 
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o-bro

It's so true. So many kids actually believe they aren't good students or aren't good in a particular subject. Most can however succeed if an instructor such as yourself can "unlock the key" to that students abilities. Certainly many kids will never be A students. But with desire, work and support it's amazing what can be accomplished. It all starts with the desire though on the part of the student to want to do it. Thanks, for people like you!!!!
 
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105,000 fans, crucial moment in a game with title implications or just a crucial GAME, what type of kid is most likely to fulfill his assignment on a play or throughout the game?
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The kid that has spent time in the film room that came w/ a free and clear mind and studied his assignments. I really don't think a 3.8 gpa matters at that point in time compared to a 2.5 gpa.

Take a look at the NFL or our team for that matter. I really don't think everyone there is an honor roll student and they make plays in every game.
 
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muto

The days of the dumb football player are LONG gone. Intelligence DOES matter. There ARE plenty of underacheiver students that excell on the football field due to their understanding of the game and as you correctly pointed out film study etc. There are more great plays made due to pattern or play recognition than due to great athletcism. Just about every player awarded a scholarship has the physical ability to succeed. Only a few have the MENTAL makeup. Be it the simple belief in themselves to compete at that level, the time spent in preparation to simply understanding schemes or assignments. Every player, better either be a student of sorts or be beyond the imaginable physically, relative to the other beyond the imaginable specimens on the field:wink2: . This you need to know, the kids that we feel are unable to meet whatever the standards are that are set by the University or the NCAA, AREN'T EVEN CLOSE. We can work on the margins, or the guy that just needs to take care of small things to put them within those standards. We WANT to work with those kids. OF COURSE we do! If we have a problem with where they stand, it means the problem is LARGE. Look grade issues are common for athletes. It's a rare kid that is an acheiver in both academics and on the field. Most kids put the bulk of their efforts into what they like. That's normal and understandable. Like I said the ones that we don't go after hard because of academic isses have giant issues. It's truly a shame for the kid. It could be guidance, discipline, a learning disability or any number of reasons. Just know that no coach is happy when they can't go after a quality player due to grades.
 
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