The BPRT - A Candid Conversation
The elitists (er, Buckeye Planet Recruiting Team) frequently PM each other with info about what's going in the OSU recruiting circles and info they have gathered from a variety of sources. Recently, the guys got together behind the scenes to get a master list going of OSU's current verbals and targets - each of us has presented his comments in a different color (you can try to guess who is who). Now you can be a fly on the wall (or whatever they call it when you eavesdrop on the Internet) during one such conversation:
Uncommitted:
WR/TE Tyrone Williams = Buckeye, eventually...a certain scout has been raving about Williams since seeing him in person...Buckeye...possible academic casualty, either before or after he enrolls.... All Buckeye. Says he wants to decide after his first game next week. Great article in the PD with him yesterday states that he's now 6-7 215. Despite what some people think about him staying at WR, he may have no choice but to be the next Flex TE behind Stoneburner if he keeps growing....If he doesnt end up in Columbus, he is a non-qualifier
WR/CB Joshua Shaw = Buckeye barring something miraculous happening between now and the USC game...Beware a "silent verbal" here. If the kid's still taking visits after September 12th, then I don't like our chances, as some other school will have the opportunity to "close" him. We've seen too many kids leave Columbus as "silent verbals" only to end up elsewhere (Devon Still, Anthony Davis, Joseph Barksdale, Major Wright, etc.), so I won't be comfortable unless he gives a firm public commitment and cancels his remaining visits...Buckeye during or right after his visit. Visit will be 2nd time that he and his parents will be here. Has been telling commits in this class (chiefly Chad Hagan, whom he bonded with when they visited at the same time a few weeks ago) and friends at home (Riley) that he will commit. My ND guy said that Shaw told Chris Martin (ND DE commit) in June that he was going to ND, but that was before visits. Martin called him last week and said Josh was non-committal and the best he would give him was "50-50 tOSU & ND". Smells like a blow off to me... LOVE this kid's potential... Would be a massive get for us......Love Shaw...only way I see him not committing is a USC blowout
OL Matt James = I'll play dumb...I really believe it's a toss up right now between ND, UC and OSU...probably decides after visits...The next time that a kid chooses UC over both OSU and ND will be the first. I'll say that he's a Buckeye in the end....My OSU guy knows Cincy very well. He says we are the team to beat for James (was the source of renewed confidence from some other inside guys). Says UC has fallen back and it's tOSU/ND for Matt. I think we get him in the end... Will be here for USC on an unofficial, then likely take an official later in the year......Gotta go against the grain here...I'll be surprised if he ends up in Columbus. Still thinking about strained relations at X.
LB Jordan Hicks = OSU has the local edge but will have to stave off the likes of USC, Texas, Alabama and Florida...No clue, really. This spring, I thought that Jordan was headed out of state for sure, but OSU has made up a lot of ground, and is in pretty good shape right now....Visits will tell the tale, and there should be 5. He does want to enroll early, so they should be done by the end of November. Will be here for the USC game as well. My guy told me that if we land Hicks we can thank the economy. He's from a single parent home and his Mom hasn't been able to afford trips all over this summer. So instead of going nowhere, Jordan and his mom have been to tOSU about 6 times... Mom really likes it, but likes Saban, Brown, and Meyer as well... Will be a fight but we've made a huge impression...I feel good here...Mom has been vocal off the record that she wants him in Ohio.
DB Lamarcus Joyner = either OSU or FSU at this point...I want to drink the Kool-Aid but this one smells to me...I never thought that he was going to Ohio State...Two team race. A Florida guy I've talked to says LJ's "posse" says he's all Seminole. That's where one national guru's proclamation of an FSU lock comes from. Others say no. I guess we'll see and know more after he's up here twice in 3 weeks coming up... Not as confident as I once was, but I think we're in the game still......tOSU's shot is legit. LJ is surrounded by some solid pro-OSU people. FSU's season will tell the story
RB Erick Howard = all up to him in the classroom...With Rod Smith in the fold, not a priority recruit. Maybe you roll the dice if there's a scholly still available in late January...It's been laid out the deal that he has with JT... I'm betting he makes it. Kid's worked his tail off the last two years and I would love to have that work ethic on our team...He will be the borderline guy..he may make it or he may not. If he slips once, the offer goes elsewhere
CB Christian Bryant = likely OSU lean given the Glenville ties but UVA, Illinois, UNC and MSU will all get their shot...but I don't buy the Glenville pipeline to the extent that some others do unless you have a kid like Hall who was truly tight with guys like Rowell and such...Bryant was a baby when guys like Small and Rose got to OSU...Ginn Sr. is the Glenville pipeline....Despite your skepticism, there IS a Glenville pipeline... Those kids know what it means to play for tOSU... Teddy Sr. won't let them not know it. They all love it here (even Scott did)... I don't see any way that he's not a Buck in the end...Buckeye...
ATH Corey Brown = OSU lean according to a national guys who has ties...No idea, other than what the national guy says...tOSU/Rutgers race for Brown... UF's interest has waned majorly... that national guy actually has the goods with this one... The HS coach is important here, and he says all tOSU... Corey loves the staff and we are presently recruiting him the hardest. Will official for the USC game and could decide soon after. Love the kid's play-making abilities. Will likely be the slot-WR they thought Jordan Hall was...I have no clue...
OL Seantrel Henderson = Minnesota or USC in my opinion...Somehow, I just can't see Ohio State being his choice. Ask me again after his official visit....My ND guy tells me tOSU or USC... He thinks we're the big-time darkhorse to land Seantrel... Doesn't think Minny will be a big enough stage and thinks USC may be too far... Thinks the family may have similar questions about USC that Shaw and his family do (infractions)... Guess we'll see how his visit goes in 3 weeks... Barksdale of 2010
P Will Hagerup = will come down to visits...Florida/OSU/UM/Wisconsin all get their shot...No clue, but we need a punter, so I like the offer...Not much of a feel on this one. I know the staff is in love with his leg... I think it's tOSU/UM for him... UM's got no other P's in his way...No clue
OL Brandon Linder = no clue...and no one believes in package deal less than me so I don't think Joyner's decision will have any impact...I see Linder picking Miami...Not Ohio State ... UF or Miami...At one time was hearing that we had a good shot, but not so much any more. I think we get an official, but I think either Miami or UF for Brandon...Not coming North
CB Tony Grimes = anywhere but OSU...Agreed...Probably scUM... Wanted more love, we liked Shaw better...Nope..
CB Keion Payne = word is he is a Miami lock and wanted an OSU offer like McGuffie did...No idea, but souds plausible...Don't know much on him... Not sure if he's got a legit offer, which means I doubt he comes here
LB Jeff Luc = Miami, IMO...closest of the three Florida schools to Port St. Lucie and he seems to like Shannon...One of the Big 3 will land him...Still calls the staff a lot... Should visit. But I think he stays in FL...Payne and Luc...nope
LB Deon Rogers = no legit interest...Agreed...I think he sticks with UGA or goes wherever Luc goes...Ditto
S Dietrich Riley = doesn't get offered, IMO...Not so sure about that. Tressel is always looking for safeties...This one's interesting... Been calling the staff asking for an offer... Staff likes his tapes. Might end up with an offer soon... He and Josh Shaw are very tight
DT Sharrif Floyd = no offer, no interest...Agreed - sounds like there are some academic issues here...I've heard he'll have qualification issues
DT Johnathon Hankins = no clue...does he have an offer? is it a Howard situation? is it Rowell part 2? does his talent level even merit an offer? color me confused...Rowell part 2, IMHO... Not sure on this kid either... Called the one OSU recruiting website staff and said he was committing...then didn't. Says he has an offer, but who knows... Might be a back-burner kid that they want to see production from this year before giving him the green light... Will commit here if allowed...Hankins is not going to qualify according to a few people...possible that he is confusing written offers and "would you like to be a Buckeye?"
CB Dior Mathis = no offer... Agreed...Agreed, probably Oregon bound
OL Chaz Green = makes an official, stays south...Agreed Agreed...Yup
DL Fre'Shad Hunter = apparently doesn't have an offer...Agreed Agreed
TE Dakota Mosley = If the staff really, really, really wants to sign a tight end in this class, then maybe he'll get a look. I think he ends up w/o an offer and at Ole Miss...
DB Latwan Anderson = Probably the most overrated kid in this class. Plus attitude/character issues. No offer. I don't think there's any way this kid gets an offer. No room, not the right type of character.
?? Mr. X = You just know that some unknown kid will get an unexpected offer. Happens every year.... May not be many spots for a Mr. X this year, but watch out for Jayrone Elliott (if Turner falls through) and Kurtis Drummond from Hubbard as dark-horse OH kids...I would agree on both accounts...always seems to be a late offer/addition but this year there may not be room, unless the kid is a TE or DL that the staff really likes
Verbals:
QB Taylor Graham = doesn't play much at OSU because of Pryor and Miller Not sold on Miller yet - is he an athletic quarterback or an athlete playing quarterback? Graham is solid and will get a legit shot to win the starting job in 2011/2012...Like his raw potential... When he's sandwiched between Pryor and Miller, I think you can take a kid with big upside and potential... No one thought Troy would ever play over Justin either...And I think Miller is a QB that's an athlete from the several times I've seen him... Bridgewater's the ATH playing QB for me...
RB Roderick Smith = 5 star...Could be a great one ... if he can do the work in the classroom...I've got a buddy in Van Wert that's going to watch him a few times this year. He should let us know what's up... Measurables are out of this world..
WR James Louis = really reminds me of Holmes...I hear that JT is going to be charged with grand theft down in Florida...Hearing no way that this doesn't stick... Loves what he knows about us and should be up for the USC game. Agree on the Holmes comparison, but he's more ready to play right away...
OL Norwell = continues the renewed nasty attitude along OSU's OL...Head of the class...This kid's my favorite player in the class... The upper classmen better watch out, because this kid wants to play ASAP and he'll fight them for a spot...
DL Darryl Baldwin = reminds me of Fellows...long arms and could grow into a DT...hope all the talk is true that he is ready to take his game to the next level...Hope he can shake the "looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane" label this year... I like the "looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane" line
DE J.T. Moore = hoping he lives up to the early offer this season...want to see him dominate...Sleeper with high ceiling - should be a solid player in college....Intriguing prospect... Buddy of mine teaches and lives up that way and will see them play a bunch this year... I'll send you the reviews when I get them...
LEO David Durham = I might be alone here but I love this kid...If attitude means anything, then this kid will succeed...High motor kid that will be around the ball... With us going to smaller DE's and an emphasis on getting to the QB, I think he'll fit right in...
LB Scott McVey = no way this kid doesn't shine at OSU...did you see the picture of him at Iggy's scrimmage? Kid has put on some serious muscle and looks like a college LB today...Very talented, and with a coach like Chico Kyle, you know he knows how to play the game. BTW, how in the heck is Jewone Snow (#27 ILB) rated higher than McVey (#33 ILB) on Rivals?...Someone that knows a lot about LB's tells me this kid will be the next Sam Mills... That's pretty high praise if you ask me......The Snow thing is because Greg Ladky is the OH guy for Rivals now, and he falls in love with certain kids... Snow is one of them. Brian Snow, Marc Givler, Kevin Noon, and Steve Hare have all told him he's nuts and that McVey is 100X the football player Snow is, but he won't listen and is hung up on the size issue...
LB Jamel Turner = talent is there...let's see how he does off the field at Valley Forge...This kid is on such thin ice, how can he not fall through?...Last chance for Jamel... Seems to want it now. We'll see how he does...
DB Chad Hagan = I see him growing into a OLB...similar to Cie Grant...I'll just trust the staff on this one...Very perceptive about OLB... Buddy of mine in Pitt saw him at a local water park last weekend (was how we found out about the Shaw/Hagan convo)... My buddy saw him play last year and was completely underwhelmed... After seeing him the other day said "He's a grown-up man". Put on a bunch of muscle this off-season. Said he wouldn't be surprised if the reports of 230 are real... Thinks he can now be a speedy OLB... Another one I'll be getting reports on from games...
PK Drew Basil = all I know is I like his stats...Agreed...Has a pretty nice leg... Should do well here. We always coach up kickers well...
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