The Buckeyes' Top Prospects for 2008
July Edition
Ohio State has recently gone through a tough stretch in recruiting, having lost in-state stars linebacker Mike Zordich (Penn State, his parents' school), safety Dan McCarthy (Notre Dame, his brother's school), and tight end Kevin Koger (Michigan, his father's school) in the past two months. However, during that same time, the Buckeyes picked up a verbal commitment from Pennsylvania linebacker Andrew Sweat, and solidified their positions with offensive lineman Josh Jenkins (Parkersburg, West Virginia); quarterback Terrelle Pryor (Jeannette, Pennsylvania); defensive tackle Garrett Goebel (Lombard, Illinois); defensive tackle Willie Mobley (Eden Prairie, Minnesota); wide receiver Lamaar Thomas (Fort Washington, Maryland); [strike]and cornerback D.J. Woods (Strongsville, Ohio).[/strike]
Speed
1. Mike Floyd, St. Paul Cretin-Derham Hall (6' 3", 195 lbs, 4.55 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 4 (Notre Dame, Florida, Michigan, all offered. Some people consider Floyd to be the best wide receiver prospect in the country for the class of 2008. As a junior, Mike caught 63 passes for 1,240 yards and 16 touchdowns en route to being named the AP Player of the Year for the state of Minnesota. Floyd was long considered to be a strong Notre Dame lean, but the Buckeyes have recently pulled into a tie with the Domers. Update 03/30 - Nothing new to report here - Floyd is still very interested in Notre Dame and Ohio State, but he will check out several other schools (Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Florida to name a few) before deciding. Update 05/05 - This summer, Mike will make unofficial visits to Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Florida, Miami, and Wisconsin. Update 07/19 - Notre Dame seems to be the favorite, although Ohio State and Florida are both still in the running.
3. Cordale Scott, Cleveland Glenville (6' 5", 181 lbs, 4.46 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads. Scott is yet another in the long line of athletes who will matriculate to a Division I program from Glenville High. Cordale has excellent size for a wide receiver, and he should be a featured member of the Tarblooders' offense. Like most Glenville kids, Scott currently favors Ohio State; if the Buckeyes don't offer, then Cordale will have several other options, including Wisconsin, Bowling Green, and Akron (all offered). Update 03/30 - The Buckeyes have now offered, and everyone assumes (with reason) that Cordale will follow the Glenville pipeline to Columbus. That being said, don't expect an early commitment, as Coach Ginn requests that his players announce late in the process. Update 05/03 - Cordale was named the MVP of the NHSASC Combine.
5. Lamaar Thomas, Fort Washington (Maryland) Friendly (5' 10", 166 lbs, 4.36 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 6 (Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, all offered). Thomas is a versatile athlete who could play running back, wide receiver, or defensive back at the college level. As a junior, Lamaar accounted for 800 yards from scrimmage, scored 14 touchdowns (7 rushing, 5 receiving, 2 on kick-off returns), and made two interceptions. Thomas claims written offers from his six favorites, and he plans to make an unofficial visit Ohio State some time this summer. Update 05/05 - Lamaar has dropped Ohio State from his top five. The Buckeyes no longer need help at running back or receiver, and they are looking closer to home for a cornerback, so the parting of ways is probably mutual. Update 07/19 - Not so fast my friends.... Lamaar visited Ohio State on June 22, and came away so impressed with the school's facilities that he named the Buckeyes his new favorite, surpassing Illinois and Maryland. Still on Thomas's list of schools to see this summer are Tennessee and Florida. Lamaar plans to take a few official visits in September, and then to decide shortly thereafter. By the way, Ohio State receivers coach Darrell Hazel loves Lamaar's speed (10.55 in the 100m dash), agility, and overall athleticism (21' 6" long jump), and thinks that he would make an excellent slot receiver for the Buckeyes. Update 07/25/07 - Lamaar visited Florida for the Friday Night Lights camp, but came away underwhelmed with the Gators, and re-affirmed that Ohio State is his leader.
6. Jeffrey Fuller, McKinley (Texas) Boyd (6' 4", 200 lbs, 4.55 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Texas A+M, Oklahoma, LSU, all offered; Southern Cal). Jeffrey's father, also named Jeffrey, played defensive back at Texas A+M before becoming a stand-out on the great San Francisco Forty-Niner teams of the 1980's. On film, the younger Fuller looks like a man amongst boys. His frame is obvious (long arms, big hands, sleek build), and he utilizes those advantages well. He shows an adequate burst, good straight-line speed, excellent hands and body control, and decent open field ability after making the catch. Jeffrey is definitely a top-tier athlete whose stock is on the rise after a tremendous showing at the recent Rivals combine in Fort Worth, Texas. While his father's alma mater will be tough to beat, Jeffrey also has serious interest in major programs like Oklahoma, LSU, USC, and Ohio State. Update 07/19 - Jeffrey is still interested in Ohio State, and he wants to make an official visit to Columbus. Several other schools are still in the mix (Texas A+M, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, and Michigan to name a few). Update 07/28/07 - Jeffrey will make an official visit to Ohio State for the Wisconsin game (11/03), the same weekend that super-recruiter Michael Brewster will be in town for his official visit.
7. Martin Bayless, Chula Vista (California) Castle Park (6' 3", 190 lbs, 4.53 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Cal, Southern Cal, UCLA, Stanford, Texas, Texas A+M, Florida, Michigan, none offered). Martin's father (also named Martin) has been involved with the NFL for the past 23 years (14 seasons as a defensive back, 3 in the front office, 6 as a coach). So far, the younger Bayless is following in his father's footsteps, as he has had a successful high school career as a safety, wide receiver, and special teams performer. This summer, the Bayless family are moving from California to Texas, but Martin's father also has strong ties to Ohio (grew up in Dayton, attended Bowling Green). Right now, Martin's recruitment is just starting to take off, but expect Ohio State to be in the mix for a while.
8. D.J. Woods, Strongsville, Ohio (6' 0", 169 lbs, 4.35 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads. As a junior, D.J. caught 35 passes for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns; made 49 tackles and 3 interceptions; and returned 4 kicks for touchdowns. Woods began the year as a sleeper, but emerged as a legitimate Big Ten prospect at the recent NHSASC Combine, where he posted a 4.35 forty time and displayed outstanding skills at both wide receiver and cornerback. Shortly after the Combine, Woods received offers from Iowa, Indiana, Pitt, Kentucky, and a few MAC schools. At the present time, Ohio State has ranked D.J. as the number one cornerback prospect in Ohio, but the Buckeye coaching staff wants to see him perform at summer camp before extending an offer. If Ohio State should offer, then Woods would most like become a Buckeye. Update 07/19 - Woods received his Buckeye offer last night, and could pull the trigger in the near future. Some other schools still in contention are Auburn, Penn State, and West Virginia (all offered), as well as Alabama and Florida, where he is scheduled to visit this weekend. Update 07/27/07 - Nebraska made a strong push for Woods over the summer, and today he verbally committed to the Cornhuskers.
Big Speed
1. Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette, Pennsylvania (6' 6", 220 lbs, 4.4 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 5 (Pitt, Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame, all offered). Pryor is one of the top recruits in the country, regardless of position. As the quarterback for his high school squad, Terrelle completed 92 of 163 attempts (56.4%) for 1,732 yards and 15 touchdowns, and rushed 197 times for 1,676 yards (8.7 average) and 28 touchdowns; he also had a TD receiving. Although he is already being compared to Vince Young, Pryor is also one of the nation's top basketball recruits (he originally committed to Pitt for basketball), and he is the rare athlete who might get a chance to play both sports in college. Location will definitely be a factor in Terrelle's recruitment, as he does not want to be more than a six-hour drive from home. Ohio State is currently in good shape here, but it is a long way till Signing Day. Update 03/30 - Not much new here - Ohio State is still near the top of Pryor's list, with Penn State, Pitt and others also in hot pursuit. Update 05/01 - Ohio State and Penn State still seem to be the favorites, but all of the powerhouse programs (Florida, Texas, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, Michigan, etc.) are still trying to get into the mix for one of the nation's top overall prospects. Don't expect an early decision here. Update 07/19 - Terrelle attended Ohio State's senior camp, and came away impressed with the school, the coaches, and the Buckeye verbals who were also in attendance. It is safe to say that Ohio State currently leads, but that every major school in the country will continue to pursue Pryor to the bitter end (and maybe even after that).
5. Shayne Hale, Pittsburgh Gateway (6' 4", 218 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Michigan, Penn State, Pitt, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, all offered). Hale is on track to be one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2008 recruiting class; as a junior, he was named first team All State after recording 105 tackles, 13 TFL's, 5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles while playing against premier competition. Shayne admits to being a fan of the Buckeyes, but Gateway's coach Terry Smith played at Penn State, and former Gateway star Justin King (who happens to be Coach Smith's step-son) is currently playing for Penn State, and those connections should keep the Nittany Lions near the forefront. Update 03/30 - Ohio State currently leads, but several other major programs (Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, etc.) are still in the hunt. This recruiting battle probably won't be decided for a while. Update 05/05 - Hale's top two programs are Ohio State and Florida (both offered), with Texas and Southern Cal (both not offered) also near the top of his list. In any event, Shayne currently plans to leave the state, so Pitt and Penn State appear to be out of the running. Update 07/19 - Hale's final four are Ohio State, Michigan, Virginia, and West Virginia. However, Shayne's teammate and cousin, Cameron Saddler, keeps insisting that the two of them will definitely be attending the same school, and Saddler doesn't have a Buckeye offer (although he does have offers from the other three of Hale's finalists). Where this puts Ohio State is anyone's guess at this point, but Hale has never fully endorsed the notion of a "package deal" with Saddler.
6. Keith Wells, Gainesville, Georgia (6' 5", 225 lbs, 4.8 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Georgia Tech, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Miami, North Carolina, South Carolina, all offered; Georgia, not offered). Wells is a new Buckeye offeree, but he already seems to have some serious interest in Ohio State as he plans on heading north to Columbus to attend Ohio State's summer camp. In high school, Wells plays defensive end, but he might be destined to play more of a DE/OLB combo at the college level. Although Ohio State is a school of interest, all of the southern powerhouses are in the mix, and it will be difficult for the Buckeye coaching staff to convince him to leave SEC country. Wells was a teammate of 2007 Georgia Tech signee Nick Claytor. Update 07/19 - Wells originally favored Florida, but now he seems to be even more enamored with Florida State. The good news for Buckeye fans is that Ohio State rounds out Keith's top three, and he hasn't even visited Columbus yet. If Wells can refrain from committing somewhere else before taking an official visit to Ohio State, then the Buckeyes should have at least a decent chance to win this battle. Update 07/27/07 - Keith named Florida, Florida State, and Auburn as his top three; it appears that Ohio State is now out of the running.
7. Steven Filer, Chicago Mount Carmel (6' 4", 220 lbs, 4.65 forty); Ohio State (offered) tied with Notre Dame (offered). After racking up 87 tackles and 8 sacks as a junior, Filer gained a reputation as one of the premier linebacker prospects in the country. For months we felt that Steven was all Notre Dame, but recently he stated that the Buckeyes and the Domers were tied at the top of his list, with the Michigan Wolverines running in third place. We still think that the Irish will eventually win out, but the Buckeye staff will make this one interesting. Update 07/24/07 - As predicted, Steven issued a verbal commitment to Notre Dame.
8. Quinton Coples, Kinston, North Carolina (6' 7", 235 lbs, 4.8 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Clemson, North Carolina, North Carolina State, East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, all offered). At 6-foot-7 with good speed and agility, Coples makes an intriguing defensive end prospect, even if he is a bit un-polished. Last season, Quinton made only 63 tackles and 7 sacks in a "read-and-react" defense, but he has shown enough athleticism and big play ability to have attracted offers from major programs around the country. Currently, Ohio State leads, despite the fact that Coples has never been to Columbus. However, never count the southern schools out, especially on their home turf. In addition, academics will be an issue (2.3 core GPA, no test score) that might cause the Buckeyes to cool somewhat.
Power
4. Josh Jenkins, Parkersburg (West Virginia) Vienna (6' 3", 282 lbs, 4.62 shuttle); Ohio State (offered) trails West Virginia (soft verbal). Jenkins, a two-way lineman, is clearly the top player in the state of West Virginia, and one of the most highly-ranked prospects nationally. Although Josh will likely play on the offensive line in college, he has posted some impressive numbers on defense: 82 tackles, 10 TFL's, and 4 sacks, which earned him All-State honors as a sophomore. Jenkins made an early commitment to the home state school, but due to some coaching changes, he has recently re-opened his recruitment; since then, many major programs (including Ohio State) have been quick to send offers. While West Virginia should still be considered the favorite, Ohio State cannot be counted out just yet. Update 03/30 - Not much new to report - Jenkins should be considered a "soft verbal" to West Virginia with legitimate interest in Ohio State. Despite the early verbal to WVU, don't count Josh out of the "Block O" just yet. Update 04/24 - Jenkins visited Ohio State for the Spring Game, and came away very impressed with the Buckeyes. At this point, we think that Josh will eventually de-commit from West Virginia and issue a verbal commitment to Ohio State. However, Jenkins will get a lot of pressure from the locals to stick with the home town school, so it may be quite some time (if ever) before he makes the switch. In the mean time, Adams, Brewster, and Shugarts will keep the heat on Jenkins to become a member of the "Block O". Update 07/19 - Josh and his mother are visiting Ohio State this weekend, and if everything goes well, then the Buckeyes might emerge as his leader. Florida State has also gotten involved in the action recently.
7. Willie Mobley, Eden Prairie, Minnesota (6' 2", 264 lbs); Ohio State (offered) in top 4 (Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, all offered). Mobley, a defensive tackle prospect, is a relatively new offeree who is starting to generate a lot of interest amongst the top programs in the midwest. Last season, Willie led his team to a 14-0 record and a Class 5A state championship. The Golden Gophers will put on a full court press to keep Mobley at home, but the top prospects from Minnesota often end up leaving the state (there are many examples, including James Laurinaitis, who signed with Ohio State in 2005). Update 03/30 - The Buckeyes are still near the top of Mobley's list, and he is scheduled to visit Ohio State for the Spring Game. Update 05/05 - Willie now favors Minnesota slightly over Ohio State. Update 07/19 - Willie now seems to favor Ohio State, but academics are suddenly a concern.
8. Justin Thompson, El Camino Community College (6' 5", 290 lbs); Ohio State (offered) in top 3 (Miami, LSU, bot offered). Justin originally made a verbal commitment to Miami back in April but he has since re-opened his recruitment. Although Thompson is still considered to be a Hurricane "soft verbal", he has already scheduled official visits to OSU and LSU for this October. Although Ohio State doesn't generally sign JUCO players, Justin is reportedly at the top of the Buckeye coaches' wish list. Update 07/26/07 - Justin will also schedule an official visit to Nebraska.
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