It's hard to believe that September is already here. Not only is September 1st the start of the 2007 football season, it is also the unofficial beginning of the 2009 recruiting season. Now that September 1, 2007, has arrived, college coaches can begin formal contact with the recruits (including the delivery of "official" written offers) who will eventually sign Letters of Intent in February of 2009. Here are a few prospects who have early interest in the Buckeyes:
Speed
1. Corey Brown, Pittsburgh Gateway (6' 1", 180 lbs); Ohio State (offered) in the mix. At this ealry stage, Brown is one of the top wide receiver prospects in the country, and he is a member of the Rivals "100 to Watch" list for the class of 2009. He attends the same high school as 2008 recruits Shayne Hale and Cameron Saddler, and 2009 athlete prospect Dorian Bell. Corey already has verbal offers from West Virginia, Pitt, Penn State, Syracuse, Ohio State, Rutgers, Michigan, Kentucky, and Northwestern, and he will undoubtedly gain many more over the upcoming months. Ohio State has a good shot here, as the Gateway coaching staff seems to have developed a solid relationship with Tressel & Co.
2. Derrell Mason, Youngstown Ursuline (6' 0", 209 lbs, 4.54 forty); Ohio State (not offered) leads. According to Ohio high magazine, Mason is the top overall prospect in the State of Ohio for the class of 2009. In high school, Derrell plays both safety and running back, and he projects well for either position at the college level. Mason currently favors the Buckeyes, but he will also consider overtures from other regional powers such as Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State. Derrell's cousin, Andre Mason, played for Coach Tressel at Youngstown State.
3. Russell Sheppard, Houston Cypress Ridge (6' 2", 183 lbs, 4.4 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Sheppard is one of the top dual-threat quarterback prospects in the nation for the class of 2009. As a sophomore, Russell rushed for 1,336 yards and 20 touchdowns, and passed for 683 yards and 4 touchdowns. Texas is the school to beat, but Russell also has legitimate interest in Ohio State, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, and LSU. Sheppard is a cousin of former Buckeye great Eddie George.
4. Je'Ron Stokes, Philadelphia Northeast (6' 1", 178 lbs, 4.44 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix (Penn State, Rutgers, Florida, Florida State, none offered). Stokes is one of the most highly-touted wide receiver recruits in the country, and he is a member of Rivals "100 to Watch" for the class of 2009. Je'Ron possesses a nice combination of size and speed, and reputedly has a good set of hands as well. Stokes expects early offers from Ohio State and Penn State, and will also take a look at Rutgers, Florida, and Florida State.
5. Justin Turner, Massillon Washington (6' 2", 185 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Turner is one of several Ohioans vying for "Top Ten" recognition in the Buckeye State for the class of 2009. Justin plays running back and defensive back for the Massillon Tigers, and he could conceivably find himself on either side of the ball in college. Turner is looking at schools both locally (Ohio State, West Virginia) and nationally (Virginia Tech, Oregon), and he currently has offers from Toledo and Ball State.
6. Hersey Jackson, Allendale, Michigan (6' 0", 210 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. At this early stage, Jackson appears to be one of the top running back prospects in the midwest. Over the past two seasons combined, Hersey has rushed for nearly 2,600 yards and scored 41 touchdowns. Jackson is currently showing the most interest in Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Wisconsin, and already has an offer from Cincinnati.
7. Ricardo Duncan, Lima Senior, transfer to East Lansing, Michigan (6' 2", 191 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Duncan is an athletic wide receiver prospect who is poised to have a break-out year as a junior. Last season, Ricardo hauled in 43 passes for 461 yards and 5 touchdowns. Duncan likes Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and Cincinnati, and he is waiting on his first offer.
8. Storm Timson, Summit Station Licking Heights (5' 10", 178 lbs, 4.59 forty, 4.38 shuttle); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Despite being on the diminutive side, Timson is a true multi-purpose player who excels at running back, receiver, strong safety, and punt/kick returner. Regardless of where he lines up on the field, Storm lives up to his name, as he is an active, aggressive player who likes to deliver the big hit. Timson likes Ohio State and Michigan, and he is currently receiving interest from some MAC schools.
9. C.J. Barnett, Clayton Northmont (6' 1", 171 lbs, 4.4 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. With good size and excellent speed, Barnett could develop into one of the top cornerback prospects in the state of Ohio for the class of 2009. Clayton Northmont is typically a Buckeye-friendly program, and C.J. reportedly favors Ohio State. In addition to excelling on the gridiron, Barnett also boasts a 4.0 grade point average.
Big Speed
1. Storm Klein, Newark Licking Valley (6' 2", 210 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads. Runs like the wind, quick as lightning, hits like thunder ... we could only be talking about Storm Klein, who is a serious contender for the number one prospect in the state of Ohio in the class of 2009. During his first two seasons of high school football, Klein has rushed for over 3,000 yards and 42 touchdowns. Despite those eye-popping offensive numbers, Storm actually projects as a linebacker in college. Klein has a written offer from Ohio State and loves the Buckeyes, so expect a commitment in the near future.
2. Jordan Whiting, Louisville (Kentucky) Trinity (6' 1", 226 lbs, 4.61 forty); committed to Ohio State on September 1, 2007. After leading his high school to a state championship last season, Whiting established himself as one of the top middle linebacker prospects in the entire country. As an ardent fan of the Buckeyes and A.J. Hawk, it was no surprise that Jordan became Ohio State's first verbal commitment for the class of 2009. Whiting is also a star wrestler and power lifter (360 bench max, 510 squat max, 260 power clean, 610 dead lift).
3. Dorian Bell, Pittsburgh Gateway (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix. Bell is a teammate of 2009 wide receiver prospect Corey Brown, as well as Shayne Hale and Cameron Saddler, who are heavily-recruited members of the class of 2008. Dorian plays linebacker (96 tackles and 5 sacks as a sophomore), but he is athletic enough to play almost anywhere but the lines. Bell currently has offers from Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Rutgers, Michigan, Boston College, West Virginia, Penn State, and Pitt, and he made the Rivals "100 to Watch" list for the class of 2009.
4. Will Studlien, Sunbury Big Walnut (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.66 forty, 4.23 shuttle); Ohio State (not offered) leads. After racking up 204 tackles and 6 sacks as a sophomore, Studlien became recognized as one of the top prospects in the state of Ohio. Although he currently plays middle linebacker, Will might have the speed and quickness to move to the outside. When asked about his "dream school", Studlien replied: "The Ohio State University, and I don't have a second choice at this time." Will is also an excellent rugby player.
5. Julius Ferrell, Youngstown Liberty (6' 1", 230 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Along with Jordan Whiting and Will Studlien, Julius Ferrell is yet another top middle linebacker who has interest in Ohio State. Ferrell is generally considered a top ten recruit in Ohio, and he is on the Rivals "100 to Watch" list for the class of 2009. Julius also plays fullback, and some think that he could possibly grow into a defensive lineman.
6. Mike Marrow, New Albany (6' 2", 235 lbs, 4.7 forty); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Marrow is one of the many outstanding linebacker prospects in the state of Ohio for the class of 2009. Mike favors Ohio State, but he is keeping his options open by looking at Penn State, Notre Dame, and Florida; he possesses an early offer from Toledo. In addition to being a top flight football prospect, Marrow also excels at baseball (pitcher and left field).
7. Devontae Payne, Cleveland South (6' 5", 220 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Yes, there are other Cleveland public schools besides Glenville that field football teams, and Devontae Payne is the rare Cleveland prospect who does not play for Ted Ginn, Sr.'s vaunted program. Payne might be the top quarterback prospect in Ohio since Justin Zwick (class of 2002). As a sophomore, Devontae threw for 1,276 yards and 17 touchdowns with only 3 interceptions. Payne is looking at several schools including Ohio State.
8. Adam Homan, Coldwater, Ohio (6' 2", 230 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Adam is the younger brother of current Buckeye linebacker Ross Homan (class of 2006). Like his older sibling, Adam is a productive linebacker prospect who racked up 137 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception as a sophomore. Of course, Homan favors the Buckeyes at this point, but with all of the other linebacker prospects on the board, he may eventually have to look elsewhere. Adams is an excellent student who sports a 3.9 GPA.
9. Dion Sims, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 5", 230 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Sims is one of the top WR/TE prospects for the class of 2009, and a member of the Rivals "100 to Watch" list. In addition to being a blue chip football prospect, Dion is a top basketball recruit, and he could play either sport in college. Sims has not yet named any favorites, but he will ikely look at local schools such as Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State, plus some traditional basketball powers like Georgia Tech.
Power
1. John Simon, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (6' 4", 265 lbs, 4.7 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads. A defensive lineman with an NFL-ready body as a teenager, John Simon is another serious contender for the top prospect honors in the Buckeye State for the class of 2009. John attends the same high school as 2008 prospects Dan McCarthy (Notre Dame), Mike Zordich (Penn State), Brandon Beachum (Penn State), and Taylor Hill (Oklahoma); but unlike his four older teammates, the odds are in favor of Simon ending up in Columbus instead of somewhere out of state. John also gets the job done in the class room, where he carries a 3.7 GPA.
2. Corey Adams, Scottsdale (Arizona) Saguaro (6' 4", 272 lbs, 4.85 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Adams will likely be one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the country for the class of 2009. As a sophomore, Corey notched 52 tackles and 11 sacks while leading his high school team to a state championship. Adams admits to being a fan of Ohio State, but the Buckeyes will have to battle every major program in the country to get his signature on NLOID.
3. Ed Hazelett, Indianapolos Warren Central (6' 9", 255 lbs, 4.95 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Although he caught only two passes last season, Hazelett is one of the top tight end prospects in the midwest. Although many scouts expect him to eventually slide down to offensive tackle, Ed is also an accomplished basketball player, so he definitely has enough athleticism to remain as a receiver in college. Hazelett already has almost twenty verbal offers, but he is still waiting on Ohio State, Notre Dame, and some of the other national powers. Ed attends the same high school as Walter Offutt, a 2008 verbal commitment for the Buckeye basketball squad.
4. Marcus Hall, Cleveland Glenville (6' 5", 285 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Hall is yet another in the long line of stars to emerge from Ted Ginn, Sr.'s Cleveland Glenville program. At this point, Marcus projects as an offensive lineman in college, but he could also play on the D-line as well. As to be expected, this Tarblooder favors Ohio State, and if offered by Tressel & Co. he should be a Buckeye.
5. Ricky Harris, Westerville South (6' 2", 305 lbs, 5.0 forty); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Harris is one of the top offensive line prospects in the state of Ohio. At 6-foot-2, Ricky projects as an interior lineman, but height is the only quality which he lacks: he has exceptional strength, power, and quickness for a high school lineman, and he is a devastating blocker in the open field. Harris is a big fan of the Buckeyes, and Ohio State is his number one school. If the local team doesn't offer, then Ricky will look to Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Miami of Ohio.
6. Trae Tiller, Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (6' 2", 240 lbs, 4.7 forty); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Last year, Tiller racked up 12 sacks in only four games, and had 7 sacks in one game alone. Now that he is fully recovered from the ankle injury which shortened his sophomore season, Trae should be able to establish himself as one of the leading defensive line candidates in the state. Tiller favors Ohio State, but will also take a look at Illinois, Iowa, Alabama, and Tennessee. Trae attends a small school, and his level of competition is questionable, so he will likely have to prove himself at camps and combines in order to receive the big time offers.
Speed
1. Corey Brown, Pittsburgh Gateway (6' 1", 180 lbs); Ohio State (offered) in the mix. At this ealry stage, Brown is one of the top wide receiver prospects in the country, and he is a member of the Rivals "100 to Watch" list for the class of 2009. He attends the same high school as 2008 recruits Shayne Hale and Cameron Saddler, and 2009 athlete prospect Dorian Bell. Corey already has verbal offers from West Virginia, Pitt, Penn State, Syracuse, Ohio State, Rutgers, Michigan, Kentucky, and Northwestern, and he will undoubtedly gain many more over the upcoming months. Ohio State has a good shot here, as the Gateway coaching staff seems to have developed a solid relationship with Tressel & Co.
2. Derrell Mason, Youngstown Ursuline (6' 0", 209 lbs, 4.54 forty); Ohio State (not offered) leads. According to Ohio high magazine, Mason is the top overall prospect in the State of Ohio for the class of 2009. In high school, Derrell plays both safety and running back, and he projects well for either position at the college level. Mason currently favors the Buckeyes, but he will also consider overtures from other regional powers such as Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State. Derrell's cousin, Andre Mason, played for Coach Tressel at Youngstown State.
3. Russell Sheppard, Houston Cypress Ridge (6' 2", 183 lbs, 4.4 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Sheppard is one of the top dual-threat quarterback prospects in the nation for the class of 2009. As a sophomore, Russell rushed for 1,336 yards and 20 touchdowns, and passed for 683 yards and 4 touchdowns. Texas is the school to beat, but Russell also has legitimate interest in Ohio State, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, and LSU. Sheppard is a cousin of former Buckeye great Eddie George.
4. Je'Ron Stokes, Philadelphia Northeast (6' 1", 178 lbs, 4.44 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix (Penn State, Rutgers, Florida, Florida State, none offered). Stokes is one of the most highly-touted wide receiver recruits in the country, and he is a member of Rivals "100 to Watch" for the class of 2009. Je'Ron possesses a nice combination of size and speed, and reputedly has a good set of hands as well. Stokes expects early offers from Ohio State and Penn State, and will also take a look at Rutgers, Florida, and Florida State.
5. Justin Turner, Massillon Washington (6' 2", 185 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Turner is one of several Ohioans vying for "Top Ten" recognition in the Buckeye State for the class of 2009. Justin plays running back and defensive back for the Massillon Tigers, and he could conceivably find himself on either side of the ball in college. Turner is looking at schools both locally (Ohio State, West Virginia) and nationally (Virginia Tech, Oregon), and he currently has offers from Toledo and Ball State.
6. Hersey Jackson, Allendale, Michigan (6' 0", 210 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. At this early stage, Jackson appears to be one of the top running back prospects in the midwest. Over the past two seasons combined, Hersey has rushed for nearly 2,600 yards and scored 41 touchdowns. Jackson is currently showing the most interest in Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Wisconsin, and already has an offer from Cincinnati.
7. Ricardo Duncan, Lima Senior, transfer to East Lansing, Michigan (6' 2", 191 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Duncan is an athletic wide receiver prospect who is poised to have a break-out year as a junior. Last season, Ricardo hauled in 43 passes for 461 yards and 5 touchdowns. Duncan likes Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and Cincinnati, and he is waiting on his first offer.
8. Storm Timson, Summit Station Licking Heights (5' 10", 178 lbs, 4.59 forty, 4.38 shuttle); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Despite being on the diminutive side, Timson is a true multi-purpose player who excels at running back, receiver, strong safety, and punt/kick returner. Regardless of where he lines up on the field, Storm lives up to his name, as he is an active, aggressive player who likes to deliver the big hit. Timson likes Ohio State and Michigan, and he is currently receiving interest from some MAC schools.
9. C.J. Barnett, Clayton Northmont (6' 1", 171 lbs, 4.4 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. With good size and excellent speed, Barnett could develop into one of the top cornerback prospects in the state of Ohio for the class of 2009. Clayton Northmont is typically a Buckeye-friendly program, and C.J. reportedly favors Ohio State. In addition to excelling on the gridiron, Barnett also boasts a 4.0 grade point average.
Big Speed
1. Storm Klein, Newark Licking Valley (6' 2", 210 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads. Runs like the wind, quick as lightning, hits like thunder ... we could only be talking about Storm Klein, who is a serious contender for the number one prospect in the state of Ohio in the class of 2009. During his first two seasons of high school football, Klein has rushed for over 3,000 yards and 42 touchdowns. Despite those eye-popping offensive numbers, Storm actually projects as a linebacker in college. Klein has a written offer from Ohio State and loves the Buckeyes, so expect a commitment in the near future.
2. Jordan Whiting, Louisville (Kentucky) Trinity (6' 1", 226 lbs, 4.61 forty); committed to Ohio State on September 1, 2007. After leading his high school to a state championship last season, Whiting established himself as one of the top middle linebacker prospects in the entire country. As an ardent fan of the Buckeyes and A.J. Hawk, it was no surprise that Jordan became Ohio State's first verbal commitment for the class of 2009. Whiting is also a star wrestler and power lifter (360 bench max, 510 squat max, 260 power clean, 610 dead lift).
3. Dorian Bell, Pittsburgh Gateway (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix. Bell is a teammate of 2009 wide receiver prospect Corey Brown, as well as Shayne Hale and Cameron Saddler, who are heavily-recruited members of the class of 2008. Dorian plays linebacker (96 tackles and 5 sacks as a sophomore), but he is athletic enough to play almost anywhere but the lines. Bell currently has offers from Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Rutgers, Michigan, Boston College, West Virginia, Penn State, and Pitt, and he made the Rivals "100 to Watch" list for the class of 2009.
4. Will Studlien, Sunbury Big Walnut (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.66 forty, 4.23 shuttle); Ohio State (not offered) leads. After racking up 204 tackles and 6 sacks as a sophomore, Studlien became recognized as one of the top prospects in the state of Ohio. Although he currently plays middle linebacker, Will might have the speed and quickness to move to the outside. When asked about his "dream school", Studlien replied: "The Ohio State University, and I don't have a second choice at this time." Will is also an excellent rugby player.
5. Julius Ferrell, Youngstown Liberty (6' 1", 230 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Along with Jordan Whiting and Will Studlien, Julius Ferrell is yet another top middle linebacker who has interest in Ohio State. Ferrell is generally considered a top ten recruit in Ohio, and he is on the Rivals "100 to Watch" list for the class of 2009. Julius also plays fullback, and some think that he could possibly grow into a defensive lineman.
6. Mike Marrow, New Albany (6' 2", 235 lbs, 4.7 forty); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Marrow is one of the many outstanding linebacker prospects in the state of Ohio for the class of 2009. Mike favors Ohio State, but he is keeping his options open by looking at Penn State, Notre Dame, and Florida; he possesses an early offer from Toledo. In addition to being a top flight football prospect, Marrow also excels at baseball (pitcher and left field).
7. Devontae Payne, Cleveland South (6' 5", 220 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Yes, there are other Cleveland public schools besides Glenville that field football teams, and Devontae Payne is the rare Cleveland prospect who does not play for Ted Ginn, Sr.'s vaunted program. Payne might be the top quarterback prospect in Ohio since Justin Zwick (class of 2002). As a sophomore, Devontae threw for 1,276 yards and 17 touchdowns with only 3 interceptions. Payne is looking at several schools including Ohio State.
8. Adam Homan, Coldwater, Ohio (6' 2", 230 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Adam is the younger brother of current Buckeye linebacker Ross Homan (class of 2006). Like his older sibling, Adam is a productive linebacker prospect who racked up 137 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception as a sophomore. Of course, Homan favors the Buckeyes at this point, but with all of the other linebacker prospects on the board, he may eventually have to look elsewhere. Adams is an excellent student who sports a 3.9 GPA.
9. Dion Sims, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 5", 230 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Sims is one of the top WR/TE prospects for the class of 2009, and a member of the Rivals "100 to Watch" list. In addition to being a blue chip football prospect, Dion is a top basketball recruit, and he could play either sport in college. Sims has not yet named any favorites, but he will ikely look at local schools such as Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State, plus some traditional basketball powers like Georgia Tech.
Power
1. John Simon, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (6' 4", 265 lbs, 4.7 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads. A defensive lineman with an NFL-ready body as a teenager, John Simon is another serious contender for the top prospect honors in the Buckeye State for the class of 2009. John attends the same high school as 2008 prospects Dan McCarthy (Notre Dame), Mike Zordich (Penn State), Brandon Beachum (Penn State), and Taylor Hill (Oklahoma); but unlike his four older teammates, the odds are in favor of Simon ending up in Columbus instead of somewhere out of state. John also gets the job done in the class room, where he carries a 3.7 GPA.
2. Corey Adams, Scottsdale (Arizona) Saguaro (6' 4", 272 lbs, 4.85 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Adams will likely be one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the country for the class of 2009. As a sophomore, Corey notched 52 tackles and 11 sacks while leading his high school team to a state championship. Adams admits to being a fan of Ohio State, but the Buckeyes will have to battle every major program in the country to get his signature on NLOID.
3. Ed Hazelett, Indianapolos Warren Central (6' 9", 255 lbs, 4.95 forty); Ohio State (not offered) in the mix. Although he caught only two passes last season, Hazelett is one of the top tight end prospects in the midwest. Although many scouts expect him to eventually slide down to offensive tackle, Ed is also an accomplished basketball player, so he definitely has enough athleticism to remain as a receiver in college. Hazelett already has almost twenty verbal offers, but he is still waiting on Ohio State, Notre Dame, and some of the other national powers. Ed attends the same high school as Walter Offutt, a 2008 verbal commitment for the Buckeye basketball squad.
4. Marcus Hall, Cleveland Glenville (6' 5", 285 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Hall is yet another in the long line of stars to emerge from Ted Ginn, Sr.'s Cleveland Glenville program. At this point, Marcus projects as an offensive lineman in college, but he could also play on the D-line as well. As to be expected, this Tarblooder favors Ohio State, and if offered by Tressel & Co. he should be a Buckeye.
5. Ricky Harris, Westerville South (6' 2", 305 lbs, 5.0 forty); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Harris is one of the top offensive line prospects in the state of Ohio. At 6-foot-2, Ricky projects as an interior lineman, but height is the only quality which he lacks: he has exceptional strength, power, and quickness for a high school lineman, and he is a devastating blocker in the open field. Harris is a big fan of the Buckeyes, and Ohio State is his number one school. If the local team doesn't offer, then Ricky will look to Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Miami of Ohio.
6. Trae Tiller, Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (6' 2", 240 lbs, 4.7 forty); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Last year, Tiller racked up 12 sacks in only four games, and had 7 sacks in one game alone. Now that he is fully recovered from the ankle injury which shortened his sophomore season, Trae should be able to establish himself as one of the leading defensive line candidates in the state. Tiller favors Ohio State, but will also take a look at Illinois, Iowa, Alabama, and Tennessee. Trae attends a small school, and his level of competition is questionable, so he will likely have to prove himself at camps and combines in order to receive the big time offers.
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