The Buckeyes' Top Prospects for 2008 - February Edition

[aurorabuckeye13]

great write up as usual... however Brandon Beachum is from Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, not Ursuline. Same thing with Zordich.

Edit: talking about at the top of the post where it talks about interest.

 

[scarletngray]

Nice breakdown and good job, as always.

Wow, could you imagine the size we would have at WR if we got Stoneburner, Scott and Tate!

 

[Tabasco]

Great job guys! The coverage provided on BP is second to none! Including non-Buckeye team sites. Thanks!

My head is spinning with the possibilities. There seems to be an incredible amount of talented kids with OSU at or near the top of their list. I think LJB's comment about being hard to trim the list would hold true for the coaches too. Makes me appreciate the fact that we have such a good coaching staff that can scout and determine best student athletes and best fit.

The enthusiastic coverage on this site contibutes to my optimism. I know it's early, but..... it could be great in 2008!

 

[LordJeffBuck]

LBJ showing a little optimism...

You turning over a new leaf?

Not really. I think that 15 signees would not be unreasonable, but the actual number will probably be between 8 and 12.

In 2007, the Buckeyes signed nine players who were included on our initial prospect blog (Oliver, Saine, Clifford, Torrence, Evege, Washington, Thomas, Blankenship, and Hines). Of the remaining six signees, Scott, Rolle, and Heyward did not have early interest in Ohio State (we added them to later editions); Sanzenbacher and Pentello were on nobody's radar screen until they were actually offered; and we missed on Herron, who should have been included in retrospect.

This year, we feel that our list is likely to be "better" than last year's for several reasons:

1) The staff has sent out more early offers, which helps us to identify their targets;
2) There are more offered prospects with a high level of interest in Ohio State;
3) There is better talent in the region (Ohio and western Pennsylvania); and
4) We have one more year of experience under our belts.

That being said, the Buckeyes' 2008 class will probably be about 15 players, and I really doubt that our initial list includes every prospect who will eventually sign with Ohio State. Someone always comes out of nowhere to earn a camp offer, a few kids emerge after monster senior seasons, and some prospects for whatever reason develop late interest in the Buckeyes.

I'll take eight players off of our list, as long as they are the "right" eight guys.

 

[Okinawa's#1Buck]

I'll take eight players off of our list, as long as they are the "right" eight guys.

In the end, the "right eight guys" are the ones who sign on the dotted line. The others we dismiss as not having their hearts in the right place, etc. In the end, we trust Tress and the boys know best and have the ability to turn the 15 or so players we sign into Buckeyes and champions.


As always (if I only had a greenie for every time I've made this post - not to ask for greeneis {We all know that is bad juju}, but to show how many times the BPRT has earned my praise :) ), great job by the BPRT. Laymen like me can't follow every recruit through each of their unique recruiting processes. Having threads like this make it possible for me to enjoy the recruiting process.


I thank each and every one of you for the dedication you show to the process and to the BP faithful.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Not really. I think that 15 signees would not be unreasonable, but the actual number will probably be between 8 and 12.

In 2007, the Buckeyes signed nine players who were included on our initial prospect blog (Oliver, Saine, Clifford, Torrence, Evege, Washington, Thomas, Blankenship, and Hines). Of the remaining six signees, Scott, Rolle, and Heyward did not have early interest in Ohio State (we added them to later editions); Sanzenbacher and Pentello were on nobody's radar screen until they were actually offered; and we missed on Herron, who should have been included in retrospect.

This year, we feel that our list is likely to be "better" than last year's for several reasons:

1) The staff has sent out more early offers, which helps us to identify their targets;
2) There are more offered prospects with a high level of interest in Ohio State;
3) There is better talent in the region (Ohio and western Pennsylvania); and
4) We have one more year of experience under our belts.

That being said, the Buckeyes' 2008 class will probably be about 15 players, and I really doubt that our initial list includes every prospect who will eventually sign with Ohio State. Someone always comes out of nowhere to earn a camp offer, a few kids emerge after monster senior seasons, and some prospects for whatever reason develop late interest in the Buckeyes.

I'll take eight players off of our list, as long as they are the "right" eight guys.

Yeah I agree that 8-12 would be great, I am thinking more along the lines of that 12-14, but I am more optimistic than you...

For the instate guys I would say we will be in for a battle for Rudolph and McCarthy, but anyone else from instate that we offer will be a buckeye IMO, they just need offers...Maybe Sanders might fall into the upper category, but at this point it doesnt look like he will be getting an offer.

Then for OOS we all know it is going to be a battle, but you have to like our chances for guys like Brewster, Hale, Long Shugarts, Tate, Flyod, Sweat, Watson...

The only position that really scares me at this point in filling our needs is DT and maybe QB if Pryor goes elsewhere and maybe getting 2 RB's...

We have big names at WR, TE, OL, LB, DB that are really giving us strong looks and we seemed to have casted a wide net of guys that woudl probably accept offers and guys that have us near the top that have offers...

 

[OhioState49]

Great job guys, Thanks again!

 

[BearBuck27]

Fantastic job, guys!

 

[LordJeffBuck]

Many thanks to jwinslow for the cool new graphic at the top of the article - if you haven't seen it (I just added it), check it out!

 

[tlinc]

Not really. I think that 15 signees would not be unreasonable, but the actual number will probably be between 8 and 12.

In 2007, the Buckeyes signed nine players who were included on our initial prospect blog (Oliver, Saine, Clifford, Torrence, Evege, Washington, Thomas, Blankenship, and Hines). Of the remaining six signees, Scott, Rolle, and Heyward did not have early interest in Ohio State (we added them to later editions); Sanzenbacher and Pentello were on nobody's radar screen until they were actually offered; and we missed on Herron, who should have been included in retrospect.

This year, we feel that our list is likely to be "better" than last year's for several reasons:

1) The staff has sent out more early offers, which helps us to identify their targets;
2) There are more offered prospects with a high level of interest in Ohio State;
3) There is better talent in the region (Ohio and western Pennsylvania); and
4) We have one more year of experience under our belts.

That being said, the Buckeyes' 2008 class will probably be about 15 players, and I really doubt that our initial list includes every prospect who will eventually sign with Ohio State. Someone always comes out of nowhere to earn a camp offer, a few kids emerge after monster senior seasons, and some prospects for whatever reason develop late interest in the Buckeyes.

I'll take eight players off of our list, as long as they are the "right" eight guys.

I think this year's class ends up closer to 20 than 15. I think we are at 13-14 available as of now. Jenkins and Gholston are odds on to leave early. Plus, there are always a few guys who transfer/fail out and there are a number of guys who are already rumored to be transfer candidates so I think 3 is actually a conservative estimate here. So, that should give us a minimum of 18-19 schollies and with having a ton of scholarships to give in 2009, I doubt we choose to bank any. Especially since it seems like we are in on so many great players.

 

[wadc45]

There is no reason to bank any schollies this year...we will have 25+ to give in 2009.