The Buckeyes' Top Prospects for 2007
Final Edition
Well, if you thought that the 2007 recruiting season was an unusual one, then you were right. Let's look at a few of the strange signings: It may not be so surprising that the top two prospects in the state of Arizona (Everson Griffen and Kristofer O'Dowd) both decided to attend nearby Southern Cal, but the Trojans also inked the #1 players in Louisiana (Joe McKnight) and Michigan (Ronald Johnson), and lost out on the top recruit in California (Jimmy Clausen) to Notre Dame. Several other top prospects also defected from their home states: The #1 player in Ohio (Ben Martin) signed with Tennessee; the #1 player in Pennsylvania (Derrick Morgan) signed with Georgia Tech; the #1 player in Missouri (Aron White) signed with Georgia; and the #1 players in Maryland (Joe Haden), Indiana (Jerimy Finch), and Connecticut (Aaron Hernandez) all signed with Florida. Even stranger signings came out the nation's capital, where the #1 player (Marvin Austin) signed with North Carolina (3-9 last season, with narrow victories over I-AA Furmand and perennial doormat Duke), while the #2 player (Arrelious Benn) signed with Illinois (2-10 last season, with one of those victories being over I-AA Eastern Illinois).
Our "friends" to the North experienced one of the worst recruiting disasters in recent memory: the Wolverines lost out on the top 9 recruits in the state of Michigan, and signed only 3 of the top 20. Meanwhile, the #1 prospect in Michigan (CB Ronald Johnson, who was thought to be a Michgan lock) signed with Southern Cal; the #2 prospect (Dionte Allen) signed with Florida State; the #3 prospect (Joseph Barksdale) signed with LSU; the #4 prospect (Keith Nichol) signed with Oklahoma; and the #5 prospect (Darris Sawtelle) signed with Tennessee! To make up for the in-state losses, TSUN signed the #1 player in Texas (Ryan Mallett), the #3 player in Pennsylvania (Toney Clemons), and the #3 player in California (CB Donovan Warren, who was thought to be a USC lock).
Now on to our beloved Buckeyes. While Ohio State lost the top player in state (Ben Martin, to Tennessee), the Bucks were able to sign every other Ohioan player whom they offered: Brandon Saine (#2 in Ohio); Eugene Clifford (#3 in Ohio); Nate Oliver (#5 in Ohio); Jermale Hines (#7 in Ohio); Devon Torrence (#8 in Ohio); Donnie Evege (#10 in Ohio); Solomon Thomas (#11 in Ohio); Danny "Boom" Herron (#13 in Ohio); Dane Sanzenbacher (#26 in Ohio); and Rocco Pentello (#40 in Ohio). In addition, Ohio State signed the following highly-touted out-of-state prospects: Taurian Washington (#11 in Michigan); Evan Blankenship (#18 in Pennsylvania); Cameron Heyward (#7 in Georgia); James Scott (#18 in Florida); and Brian Rolle (#34 in Florida).
Below is a list of the players who signed with Ohio State, as well as some others who looked at Ohio State before signing elsewhere.
Speed
Eugene Clifford, Cincinnati Colerain (6' 0", 190 lbs, 4.49 forty); signed with Ohio State!
Donnie Evege, Huber Heights Wayne (5' 11", 185 lbs, 4.4 forty); signed with Ohio State!
Danny "Boom" Herron, Warren Harding (5' 11", 178 lbs, 4.5 forty); signed with Ohio State!
Jermale Hines, Cleveland Glenville (6' 2", 205 lbs, 4.5 forty); signed with Ohio State!
Nate Oliver, Lakewood St. Edward's (6' 0", 201 lbs, 4.55 forty); signed with Ohio State!
Rocco Pentello, Westerville South (6' 0", 190 lbs, 4.45 forty); signed with Ohio State!
Brian Rolle, Immokalee, Florida (5' 10", 202 lbs, 4.47 forty); signed with Ohio State!
Brandon Saine, Piqua, Ohio (6' 1", 190 lbs, 4.34 forty); signed with Ohio State!
Dane Sanzenbacher, Toledo Central Catholic (5' 11", 174 lbs, 4.6 forty); signed with Ohio State!
James Scott, Daytona Beach Seabreeze (5' 10", 163 lbs, 4.59 forty); signed with Ohio State!
Devon Torrence, Canton South (6' 0", 200 lbs, 4.4 forty); signed with Ohio State!
Taurian Washington, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 0", 200 lbs, 4.6 forty); signed with Ohio State!
Big Speed & Power
Evan Blankenship, Monaca (Pennsylvania) Center Area (6' 3", 310 lbs); signed with Ohio State!
Cameron Heyward, Suwanee (Georgia) Peachtree Ridge (6' 5", 264 lbs); signed with Ohio State!
Solomon Thomas, West Chester Lakota West (6' 4", 235 lbs); signed with Ohio State!
Going Elsewhere
Donovan Warren, Long Beach Poly (6' 0", 160 lbs, 4.4 forty); signed with Michigan.
Toney Clemons, New Kensington (Pennsylvania) Valley (6' 3", 190 lbs); signed with Michigan.
Junior Hemingway, Conway, South Carolina (6' 2", 201 lbs, 4.54 forty); signed with Michigan.
Chris Colasanti, Birmingham (Michigan) Brother Rice (6' 3", 209 lbs, 4.63 forty); committed to Penn State.
Nick Sukay, Greensburg (Pennsylvania) Central Catholic (6' 3", 193 lbs, 4.45 forty); signed with Penn State.
Andrew Dailey, Massillon Washington (6' 3", 212 lbs, 4.57 forty); signed with Penn State.
Devon Still, Wilmington (Delaware) Howard (6' 6", 251 lbs, 4.9 forty); signed with Penn State.
Jordan Mabin, Macedonia Nordonia (5' 10", 185 lbs, 4.42 forty); signed with Northwestern.
David Arnold, Copley, Ohio (6' 0", 185 lbs, 4.47 forty); signed with Northwestern.
Vincent Browne, Lisbon David Anderson (6' 5", 245, 4.7 forty); signed with Northwestern.
Brian Gamble, Massillon Washington (6' 0", 188 lbs, 4.4 forty); signed with Illinois.
Martez Wilson, Chicago Simeon (6' 4", 228 lbs, 4.58 forty); signed with Illinois.
Josh Brent, Bloomington (Illinois) Central Catholic (6' 3", 280 lbs, 5.0 forty); signed with Illinois.
Jordan Bernstine, Des Moines Lincoln (5' 11", 195 lbs, 4.43 forty); signed with Iowa.
Josh Oglesby, St. Francis, Wisconsin (6' 7", 325 lbs); signed with Wisconsin.
Antonio Jeremiah, Hilliard Darby (6' 7", 295, 5.05 forty); signed with Michigan State.
Eric Thomas, Cleveland Benedictine (6' 4", 250 lbs, 4.8 forty); signed with Indiana.
Robert Hughes, Chicago Hubbard (5' 11", 227 lbs, 4.7 forty); signed with Notre Dame.
Steve Paskorz, Pittsburgh Hampton (6' 1", 215 lbs, 4.48 forty); signed with Notre Dame.
Myles Caragein, Pittsburgh Keystone Oaks (6' 3", 260 lbs, 4.84 forty); signed with Pitt.
Henry Hynoski, Catawissa (Pennsylvania) Southern Columbia (6' 1", 240 lbs, 4.7 forty); signed with Pitt.
Brandon Lindsey, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania (6' 3", 210 lbs, 4.65 forty); signed with Pitt.
Kyle Hubbard, Lakewood St. Ed's (6' 4", 225 lbs, 4.6 forty); signed with Pitt.
Joe Martinek, Hopatcong, New Jersey (6' 0", 190 lbs, 4.49 forty); signed with Rutgers.
Anthony Davis, Piscataway, New Jersey (6' 6", 330 lbs); signed with Rutgers.
Sidney Glover, Warren Harding (5' 11", 202 lbs); signed with West Virginia.
Carlton Peake, Trotwood Madison (6' 2", 216 lbs, 4.46 forty); signed with Louisville.
Mark Wetterer, Cincinnati Anderson (6' 5", 300 lbs); signed with Louisville.
Patrick Grant, Lauderdale Lakes (Florida) Boyd Anderson (6' 4", 200 lbs, 4.51 forty); signed with Louisville.
Ben Martin, Cincinnati Lasalle (6' 5", 220 lbs, 4.5 forty); signed with Tennessee.
Eric Berry, Fairburn (Georgia) Creekside (6' 0", 180 lbs, 4.37 forty); signed with Tennessee.
Art Evans, Lakeland (Florida) Victory Christian (6' 1", 185 lbs, 4.47 forty); signed with Tennessee.
Joseph Barksdale, Detroit Cass Tech (6' 4", 315 lbs, 4.9 forty); signed with LSU.
Jordon Corbin, Lakeland (Florida) Lakeland (6' 5", 235, 4.7 forty); signed with LSU.
Deonte Thompson, Belle Glade, Florida (5' 11", 183 lbs, 4.28 forty); signed with Florida.
Ahmad Black, Lakeland (Florida) Lakeland (5' 11", 170 lbs, 4.5 forty); signed with Florida.
Joe Haden, Fort Washington (Maryland) Friendly (5' 11", 185 lbs, 4.4 forty); signed with Florida.
James Wilson, St. Augustine Nease (6' 4", 308 lbs, 4.9 forty); signed with Florida.
Vance Cuff, Moutrie (Georgia) Colquitt County (5' 11", 170 lbs, 4.35 forty); signed with Georgia.
Leonard Hankerson, Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (6' 2", 185 lbs, 4.4 forty); signed with Miami.
DeMarcus Van Dyke, Miami Pace (6' 0", 161 lbs, 4.30 forty); signed with Miami.
Dionte Allen, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 0", 175 lbs, 4.4 forty); signed with Florida State.
Nick Schepis, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (6' 4", 275 lbs, 5.1 forty); signed with Boston College.
Darren Evans, Indianapolis Warren Central (6' 0", 208 lbs, 4.6 forty); signed with VPI.
Blake DeChristopher, Midlothian (Virginia) Clover Hill (6' 6", 300 lbs, 5.0 forty); signed with VPI.
Andrew Devlin, Pittsburgh Mt. Lebanon (6' 6", 255 lbs, 4.9 forty); signed with Virginia.
Nick Claytor, Gainesville, Georgia (6' 7", 305 lbs, 5.6 forty); signed with Georgia Tech.
Derrick Morgan, Coatesville, Pennsylvania (6' 4", 260, lbs, 4.9 forty); signed with Georgia Tech.
Scotty Cooper, Lake City, South Carolina (6' 0", 200, 4.4 forty); signed with Clemson.
Brian Linthicum, Charlottesville (Virginia) St. Anne's-Belfield (6' 5", 225 lbs, 4.72 forty); signed with Clemson.
Greg Little, Durham (North Carolina) Hillside (6' 2", 214 lbs, 4.5 forty); signed with North Carolina.
Charlie Hatcher, Hamilton, Ohio (6' 4", 265 lbs, 4.7 forty); signed with Duke.
LaTravis Washington, Bradenton (Florida) Bayshore (6' 3", 210 lbs, 4.55 forty); signed with Nebraska.
Kris O'Dowd, Tucson Salpointe Catholic (6' 4", 275 lbs, 5.16 forty); signed with Southern Cal.
Ronald Johnson, Muskegon, Michigan (6' 0", 177 lbs, 4.5 forty); signed with Southern Cal.
Broderick Green, Little Rock Pulaski Academy (6' 1", 230 lbs, 4.57 forty); signed with Southern Cal.
Rob Gronkowski, Pittsburgh Woodland Hills (6' 6", 232 lbs, 4.8 forty); signed with Arizona.
Charlie Carmichael, Sherman Oaks (California) Notre Dame (6' 5", 275 lbs); signed with Oregon.
Adrien Robinson, Indianapolis Warren Central (6' 5", 222 lbs, 4.73 forty); signed with Cincinnati.
Chris Givens, Chillicothe (6' 3", 190 lbs, 4.47 forty); signed with Miami of Ohio.
Clay Belton, Clayton Northmont (6' 6", 215 lbs, 4.9 forty); signed with Miami of Ohio.
Morris Council, Atlanta SW Dekalb (6' 4", 235 lbs, 4.7 forty); signed with Miami of Ohio.
Morgan Williams, Canton McKinley (6' 0", 190 lbs, 4.5 forty); signed with Toledo.
Chris Smith, South Point, Ohio (6' 3", 215 lbs, 4.7 forty); signed with Marshall.
Ben Graeff, Massillon Jackson (6' 3", 220 lbs, 4.65 forty); signed with Harvard.
Joey D'Andrea, Upper Arlington (6' 3", 235 lbs, 4.7 forty); signed with Ashland.
Aaron Johnson, Baton Rouge Southern Lab (5' 10", 152 lbs, 4.56 forty); no announcement.
Andrew Nowels, Clearwater (Florida) Catholic (6' 4", 211 lbs); no announcement.
Dan Barry, Mentor Lake Catholic (6' 4", 282 lbs); no announcement.
Final Edition
Well, if you thought that the 2007 recruiting season was an unusual one, then you were right. Let's look at a few of the strange signings: It may not be so surprising that the top two prospects in the state of Arizona (Everson Griffen and Kristofer O'Dowd) both decided to attend nearby Southern Cal, but the Trojans also inked the #1 players in Louisiana (Joe McKnight) and Michigan (Ronald Johnson), and lost out on the top recruit in California (Jimmy Clausen) to Notre Dame. Several other top prospects also defected from their home states: The #1 player in Ohio (Ben Martin) signed with Tennessee; the #1 player in Pennsylvania (Derrick Morgan) signed with Georgia Tech; the #1 player in Missouri (Aron White) signed with Georgia; and the #1 players in Maryland (Joe Haden), Indiana (Jerimy Finch), and Connecticut (Aaron Hernandez) all signed with Florida. Even stranger signings came out the nation's capital, where the #1 player (Marvin Austin) signed with North Carolina (3-9 last season, with narrow victories over I-AA Furmand and perennial doormat Duke), while the #2 player (Arrelious Benn) signed with Illinois (2-10 last season, with one of those victories being over I-AA Eastern Illinois).
Our "friends" to the North experienced one of the worst recruiting disasters in recent memory: the Wolverines lost out on the top 9 recruits in the state of Michigan, and signed only 3 of the top 20. Meanwhile, the #1 prospect in Michigan (CB Ronald Johnson, who was thought to be a Michgan lock) signed with Southern Cal; the #2 prospect (Dionte Allen) signed with Florida State; the #3 prospect (Joseph Barksdale) signed with LSU; the #4 prospect (Keith Nichol) signed with Oklahoma; and the #5 prospect (Darris Sawtelle) signed with Tennessee! To make up for the in-state losses, TSUN signed the #1 player in Texas (Ryan Mallett), the #3 player in Pennsylvania (Toney Clemons), and the #3 player in California (CB Donovan Warren, who was thought to be a USC lock).
Now on to our beloved Buckeyes. While Ohio State lost the top player in state (Ben Martin, to Tennessee), the Bucks were able to sign every other Ohioan player whom they offered: Brandon Saine (#2 in Ohio); Eugene Clifford (#3 in Ohio); Nate Oliver (#5 in Ohio); Jermale Hines (#7 in Ohio); Devon Torrence (#8 in Ohio); Donnie Evege (#10 in Ohio); Solomon Thomas (#11 in Ohio); Danny "Boom" Herron (#13 in Ohio); Dane Sanzenbacher (#26 in Ohio); and Rocco Pentello (#40 in Ohio). In addition, Ohio State signed the following highly-touted out-of-state prospects: Taurian Washington (#11 in Michigan); Evan Blankenship (#18 in Pennsylvania); Cameron Heyward (#7 in Georgia); James Scott (#18 in Florida); and Brian Rolle (#34 in Florida).
Below is a list of the players who signed with Ohio State, as well as some others who looked at Ohio State before signing elsewhere.
Speed
Big Speed & Power
Going Elsewhere
Aaron Johnson, Baton Rouge Southern Lab (5' 10", 152 lbs, 4.56 forty); no announcement.
Andrew Nowels, Clearwater (Florida) Catholic (6' 4", 211 lbs); no announcement.
Dan Barry, Mentor Lake Catholic (6' 4", 282 lbs); no announcement.
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