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RB Jaamal Berry (Transfer to Murray State)

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Berry stays true to Ohio State
Florida tailback resists pull from other schools
Monday, February 2, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Take it from Bill Conley, who used to go through this as Ohio State's recruiting coordinator: These are the days that tread on college football coaches' nerves.

The recruiting season is almost over. Signing day is Wednesday. If only everyone sticks to their word and signs that letter of intent

Ohio State has 25 commitments to date. It might pick up a 26th today when offensive lineman Marcus Hall of Cleveland Glenville is expected to announce his choice. He is also considering the University of Miami and Tennessee, but it is believed he favors Ohio State.

That's what the home-state pull can do for a team. That's also why these are nervous times for the Ohio State coaches, said Conley, now a recruiting analyst for ESPN.com.

Jaamal Berry, a running back from Miami, committed to Ohio State at the end of August. He has repeated his pledge several times, even as he expressed interest in other schools from a curiosity standpoint, especially in national champion Florida.

"You always worry about the out-of-state kids, but Jaamal Berry would probably be the biggest concern for OSU for the simple fact he's in Florida and the Florida coaches aren't quitting on him," Conley said.
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BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Berry stays true to Ohio State
 
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Buckskin86;1396934; said:
BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Berry stays true to Ohio State
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The team that was probably the closest (other than tOSU of course) was Ole Miss. Florida, especially now with Tebow coming back, won't be doing the run. As Miami Palmetto (his high school) alums, we're all proud of Jaamal and very happy to see he is going somewhere where it's the best fit possible for him. We look very much forward to being able to see him on tv down here (we get lots of tOSU coverage in Miami). :wink2:
 
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Commentary: Berry needs to be among the cream of OSU's recruiting crop
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
By Jason Lloyd
Journal Register News Service

There are higher-ranked players in Ohio State's incoming recruiting class, but perhaps no one is more important to the success of the Buckeyes in 2009 than tailback Jaamal Berry.

Berry is expected to fax his letter of intent to Ohio State today during National Signing Day, which shouldn't be the spectacle it was last year thanks to Terrelle Pryor.

With the departure of Beanie Wells, Berry has a chance to play immediately. His stiffest competition will be from Dan Herron, but come this summer, the competition will be wide open.

Berry is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound tailback out of Miami who runs a 4.4 40-yard dash and is rated as the fifth-best tailback in the nation. All of that sounds terrific, but I've always been leery of any Florida tailback who slips by the Big Three ? Florida, Florida State and Miami.

It's not always true, but often there is a flaw or reason why top backs escape the in-state schools.

Lydell Ross and Maurice Wells are the two latest examples of Florida tailbacks who came to Ohio State highly regarded, but passed through barely making an impact.

Now it's Berry, who was passed over by his hometown school when the Hurricanes landed a verbal commitment last year from tailback Bryce Brown, widely regarded as the nation's top recruit. Brown's older brother plays for the Hurricanes, although it's not certain the younger Brown will sign with the Hurricanes today. There is a chance he waits a week or so and reassesses the recruiting landscape before committing.

Berry has received late interest from the Gators, but his commitment to the Buckeyes remains strong.

Ohio State fans need to hope now that his career is far more productive than either of the previous Florida tailbacks under Jim Tressel.
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Commentary: Berry needs to be among the cream of OSU's recruiting crop - The News-Herald Sports : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

As is Berry. At 5-10 and 185 pounds, he's ranked as the No. 5 running back in the country by Rivals and No. 8 by Scout. He battled injuries during his senior season, but ran for 1,033 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior.

"He's able to stop and start and make people miss," said Larry Coffey, Berry's coach at Palmetto High. "He's got great vision and he runs very well in traffic."

Berry doesn't have an Ohio connection, but was swayed by the Buckeyes, calling Coffey to say he was ready to commit before he made an official visit. Coffey managed to hold him off, but he still made his pledge Sept. 1.

"He never wavered," Coffey said. "It was never anyone for him but Ohio State."

According to Coffey, Berry has work to do to qualify academically for Ohio State and plans to take two more runs at raising his standardized test scores.

"He's taking courses to prepare himself every day," Coffey said. "[Ohio State] coach [Jim] Tressel is monitoring things for him, and we are a top school academically, so it's going to be something that's done legally, but I think ultimately he'll make it happen."
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The Ohio State Buckeyes hope to find a top running back in their 2009 recruiting class - Cleveland.com
 
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