The Buckeyes' Top Prospects for the Class of 2009
Summer Camp Edition
Summer Camp Edition
Even though it's only June and Signing Day is over seven months away, Ohio State's recruiting season is almost over. With seventeen commitments already in the books and several more expected in the next week or so, the Buckeye coaching staff could have almost the entire class in place prior to the beginning of the football season. Uncommitted prospects who are scheduled to visit Columbus in the next few days include Florida running back Carlos Hyde, Florida wide receiver Duron Carter, Pennsylvania defensive back Corey Brown, Pennsylvania athlete E.J. Banks, Kentucky athlete Justin Green, Illinois offensive lineman Chris Watt, Utah offensive lineman John Martinez, and South Carolina defensive back Stephon Gilmore, as well as local prospects Marcus Hall (OL, Cleveland Glenville), Jonathan Newsome (DE, Cleveland Glenville), and Bradley McDougald (DB, Dublin Scioto). We expect at least four of the players named above to commit on or shortly thereafter their respective visits, with Hyde, Carter, Brown, Green, McDougald, and Watt being the most likely candidates. Of course, the Glenville kids are expected to make late announcements (presumably for Ohio State), and Martinez and Gilmore are long shots at this point (although a favorable visit might change things).
Florida stars Vladimir Emilien (DB, Lauderhill Plantation) and Jaamal Berry (RB, Miami Palmetto) will be making their second unofficial visits to Columbus later this summer, probably sometime in July. Although the Buckeyes are the strong leader for each of those prospects, it is quite possible that one or both of them will hold off making a formal announcement for Ohio State until after taking some official visits this fall. Another top Floridian, Brandon McGee (CB, Lauderhill Plantation), has cooled on Ohio State in recent weeks, and he will definitely take a few official visits before making a late decision; the Buckeyes should no longer be considered the team to beat, although it is still quite possible that McGee will come full circle and select the Buckeyes in the end.
Speed
1. Andre Debose, Sanford (Florida) Seminole (6' 0", 170 lbs, 4.43 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Florida, Florida State, Miami, Georgia, Southern Cal, all offered). Okay, there's speed and there's Florida speed ... and then there's Andre Debose. As a high school junior, Debose is already being compared to such dynamic talents as Ted Ginn and Percy Harvin, and his highlight reel shows why - Andre is a player who can literally take it to the house on any given play from anywhere on the field. Although Andre is being recruited as an "athlete", he is so explosive with the ball in his hands that we feel that he will be a wide receiver (and return man) at the next level. Ohio State has recently offered, and the Buckeyes should get a serious look, but the Big Three (especially Florida and Florida State) will be very tough to beat. A "wish list" prospect whom the staff will take regardless of who else ends up in this class. Update 06/16 - After some initial interest, it now seems that Ohio State will be a longshot even to get an official visit. Andre is supposed to trim his list in the near future, and it will be interesting to see whether Ohio State makes the cut.
2. Jaamal Berry, Miami Palmetto (5' 11", 184 lbs, 4.31 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix. Like Vlad Emilien, Jaamal Berry is another Florida kid who is starting to emerge as a top national prospect. As a junior, Berry rushed 140 times for 1,033 yards (7.38 average) and 14 touchdowns, but he really began to make a name for himself when he posted a 4.31 forty at a recent Scout combine in Miami - amongst all of that Florida speed, Jaamal was the fastest player in attendance. Jaamal continued to show well at two Nike combines, and earned the running back MVP award at the Gainesville event. Berry is very interested in Ohio State - he will visit Columbus for the Buckeyes' Spring Game this weekend - and he is the staff's number one target at running back. Academics (2.3 GPA, but rising) may be an issue. Update 04/23 - Berry was another Florida kid who was blown away by his visit to Columbus. The Buckeyes currently lead and will be tough to beat. Update 05/16 - It has been nearly a month since Berry's Spring Game visit, but time and distance have done nothing to diminish his feelings for Ohio State. Update 06/16 - Jaamal and Vlad Emilien, along with their mothers, are planning to visit Ohio State some time this summer. If all goes well with the moms, then a commitment (or two) will be likely. However, as befits one of the top overall prospects in the country, Jaamal will also check out several other schools, including LSU (October 25th official visit, vs. Georgia), Florida, Florida State (July unofficial), Michigan, and Miami (childhood fave, no offer); a final decision might not come until after his official visit to Ohio State (November 22nd, vs. Michigan). For what it's worth, Berry is now reporting a 2.5 core GPA, which is somewhat of an improvement over previous efforts. Update 06/30 - Jaamal has scheduled another official visit, this time to Ole Miss (November 1st, vs. Auburn).
3. Vladimir Emilien, Lauderhill (Florida) Plantation (6' 2", 188 lbs); Ohio State (offered) leads. The Ohio State staff has done a great job of identifying "under-the-radar" prospects from the state of Florida, and Vladimir Emilien is another kid who fits that profile. Prior to receiving his offer from Ohio State in late March, Vlad had been getting interest primarily from Big East schools like Louisville, South Florida, and UConn, but since the Buckeyes arrived on the scene, he has picked up offers from SEC powers like Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Emilien plays defensive back in high school (93 tackles, 8 TFL's, 2 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles as a junior), and he has the size to play safety and the athletic ability to play cornerback at the next level. Vlad admits that he has never been to Ohio, but he is scheduled to visit Columbus for the Buckeyes' Spring Game this weekend, where he will get the opportunity to see his good friend Etienne Sabino make his debut at linebacker for Ohio State. Update 04/23 - Emilien loved his trip to Columbus, and Ohio State is his clear leader. It's not a matter of "if", but "when".... Update 05/16 - It's not a matter of "soon", but "how soon".... Update 06/16 - Emilien is still at the top of our "most likely to commit" list. Vlad and his mother, along with Jaamal Berry and his mother, are planning to visit Columbus some time this summer, and if all goes well, a commitment might soon follow. Don't be surprised if Vlad (and Jaamal) perform some "due diligence" (i.e., official visits) before making a formal announcement ... but the Buckeyes will be tough to beat. For the record, Emilien's official top five, in order, are Ohio State, Wisconsin, South Florida, Stanford, and North Carolina - a list like that has to be encouraging to Buckeye fans.
4. Brandon McGee, Lauderhill (Florida) Plantation (6' 0", 169 lbs, 4.38 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads? McGee is one of the top pure athletes in the class of 2009, as he possesses a lethal combination of blazing speed (10.49 in the 100m dash) and superb lateral agility. McGee plays quarterback in high school, but he will certainly switch positions the moment that he steps foot on a college campus: As far as positions go, defensive back is the most likely possibility; as far as colleges, it's the usual suspects - the Big Three, the SEC, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, Michigan, and Ohio State. Brandon is another Floridian who will make the trek north to Columbus this weekend to see the Buckeyes' Spring Game. Ohio State is in good shape with McGee, and may be his leader (although Brandon has been somewhat cagey when discussing his favorites). Although it's usually a bit difficult to get an accurate "read" on Florida kids this early in the process, it appears that Emilien, Berry, and McGee are all very high on Ohio State, and that the Buckeyes have a legitimate chance of signing each of them (and possibly all of them). Update 04/23 - After last weekend, it's looking more and more likely that the Buckeyes will land the aforementioned trio of Florida recruits, and possibly some others as well (Duron Carter, Frankie Telfort, Victor Marc, James Green). Needless to say, Brandon McGee also had a great visit for the Spring Game, and we expect him to verbal to the Buckeyes eventually. Update 05/16 - McGee still remains very interested in Ohio State, but the staff is still looking at other corner prospects just in case things don't work out with Brandon. Update 06/16 - The longer that McGee's recruitment goes on, the less likely that he will become a Buckeye. Brandon has already scheduled an official visit to Southern Cal for the epic contest with Ohio State (September 13th), and both teams should make the final cut ... but will the Buckeyes wait, even for a player this talented? Ohio State currently has two cornerback commitments (C.J. Barnett and Dominic Clarke), and the staff has offers out to Corey Brown, E.J. Banks, Justin Green, and Brad McDougald, each of whom could project as a corner at the college level. Don't expect an early decision.
5. Duron Carter, Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (6' 3", 180 lbs); committed to Ohio State on June 20th! Duron is the son of former Buckeye legend Cris Carter, which means that he was raised to be a huge Ohio State fan, right? Well, not so fast my friend.... Duron actually claims that he was a Michigan fan growing up, and that he also likes LSU and Southern Cal. It seems that Ohio State was somewhat of an afterthought, at least until Duron and his father visited Columbus for the Spring Game. After his Spring Game experience, Duron pushed the Buckeyes to the head of the pack, and it looks like the younger Carter will eventually follow his father's footsteps to Ohio State, where he will line up as a wide receiver (22 receptions, 361 yards, 8 TD's as a junior) and wear the same #2 jersey. Update 05/16 - It would be very difficult for the son of a Buckeye legend to say "no" to Ohio State ... very difficult. Update 06/16 - Duron is expected to attend Ohio State's senior advanced camp this Friday, and a verbal commitment could follow shortly thereafter. Even if Carter does come aboard later this month, don't expect his fellow Floridians to follow right away, as none of the others has a former Buckeye legend assisting in the decision-making process. Update 06/20 - As expected, Duron committed to Ohio State during his visit to the Buckeyes' senior advanced camp.
6. Jheranie Boyd, Gastonia (North Carolina) Ashbrook (6' 2", 184 lbs, 4.45 forty, 10.45 100m); Ohio State (offered) trails Clemson (offered). Although "speed" is the first word that comes to mind when watching Jheranie Boyd, it soon becomes obvious that he is a very polished receiver who just happens to be blazing fast. Boyd presents a large target, he positions his body well to shield off the defender, and once the ball is in the air he will use his 44" vertical to go up and get it. As a junior, Boyd made 47 receptions for 1,151 yards and 11 touchdowns, and all that was accomplished with a quarterback who had difficulty getting him the ball in stride. Jheranie is a fan of Clemson, but he definitely wants to see Ohio State, most likely on an official visit some time this fall. Boyd is originally from Chicago, so he might not be a "lock" to stay down south. Update 06/16 - Jheranie is currently trying to pare down his list of favorites, and we expect the Buckeyes to make the initial cut. After that, who knows? Clemson is still the front runner, with three other local schools - South Carolina, North Carolina, and North Carolina State - each vying for second place.
7. Corey Brown, Monroeville (Pennsylvania) Gateway (6' 1", 179 lbs, 4.58 forty); committed to Ohio State on June 23rd! Last year, a pair of highly-touted Gateway prospect (Shayne Hale and Cameron Saddler) both signed with Pitt; this year, it looks like another pair (Dorian Bell and Corey Brown) will end up at Ohio State. Bell has already committed to the Buckeyes, but Brown just received his Buckeye offer earlier this week - after taking some time to weigh his other options (Michigan and Notre Dame primarily), we feel that he will commit to Ohio State (childhood favorite) some time in the near future. As a junior, Brown had 54 tackles and 5 interceptions from his cornerback position, and he also added 23 receptions for 500 yards and 3 touchdowns as a wide receiver. Corey is being recruited by Ohio State as a cornerback. Update 06/16 - Corey is scheduled to attend Ohio State's senior advanced camp on June 20th, and the prevailing theory is that he will issue a verbal during his visit or shortly thereafter. If so, then that might end the cornerback discussion for the class of 2009. The other schools still technically in the race are Michigan, Pitt, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida State (not offered). Update 06/20 - Everything is going well, and Corey should pull the trigger in the very near future.... Update 06/23 - ...and he did today, becoming the 21st member of the Buckeyes' class of 2009.
8. Dominic Clarke, Frederick (Maryland) Tuscarora (5' 10", 178 lbs, 4.41 forty, 4.06 shuttle); committed to Ohio State on June 8th! Clarke is a talented and versatile athlete who plays both running back (836 yards, 5 touchdowns) and cornerback (38 tackles, 3 interceptions) in high school; in college, he projects as a defensive back, probably a corner. Dominic was a surprise visitor for the Buckeye Spring Game, and he left Columbus with Ohio State as his leader ... but no offer. However, in the aftermath of the Darrell Givens de-commitment, the Buckeyes did offer Clarke earlier this week, and that move solidified Ohio State at the top of his list. Virginia (childhood favorite), Maryland, Boston College, and Stanford will also get a look. In addition to excelling on the gridiron, Dominic also carries a 4.00 GPA (3.75 core). Update 06/06 - Dominic visited Ohio State this past weekend, and committed to the Buckeyes. With Clarke joining Jamie Wood and C.J. Barnett, the defensive back slots are starting to fill up for the class of 2009, and some of the "offered" players might be in jeopardy of losing their 'ships.
9. Justin Green, Louisville Male (5' 10", 170, 4.4 forty); committed to Ohio State on June 22nd! Right now, Justin Green is a pure athlete without a clearly-defined position. As a track star, Green won four state championships this spring, taking home the gold in the 100m (10.82), 200m (21.82), 400m (48.95), and 4x400m relay; Justin also won the 100m title as a sophomore, with a personal best time of 10.67 seconds. On the football field, Green is equally productive, as he amassed over 2,000 all-purpose yards and 31 touchdowns last season. Colleges are recruiting Justin as an "athlete", and he could play running back, wide receiver, or defensive back at the next level. Justin's older brother, Marcus, played defensive tackle for Ohio State from 2001-2005, so the Buckeyes (camp June 20th) should be considered the leader at this point. However, Green has been accumulating offers from top national programs such as Alabama (camp June 9th), Miami, Tennessee, and Illinois, so he might check out some other schools before making a final decision. The question remains: How long will the Buckeyes wait for Green to pull the trigger? Update 06/20 - Not surprisingly, Justin was the fastest prospect to participate in Ohio State's camp today.... Update 06/22 - ...and he was equally fast to select Ohio State over several other premium offers. Despite the usual "recruit-speak" ("all the schools are even" ... "I'll wait to decide" ... "I want to take official visits"), Justin admitted that his decision to attend Ohio State was an easy one, as he had been a Buckeye fan almost all of his life.
10. Bradley McDougald, Dublin Scioto (6' 1", 188 lbs, 4.5 forty); committed to Ohio State on June 23rd! Although McDougald is a star running back for Scioto (1,045 yards rushing, 288 yards receiving, 13 total touchdowns as a junior), he will likely play defensive back at the college level (29 tackles, 5 pass break-ups, and an interception in limited action as a cornerback last season). Brad has admitted to being a Buckeye fan, and he will be attending Ohio State's senior advanced camp on June 20th, but he will also check out several other schools such as Michigan State, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Boston College, West Virginia, Lousville, Pitt, and Cincinnati. The Buckeyes are the early leader, with the Spartans, Badgers, Illini, and Eagles being the dark horse candidates. Update 06/21 - McDougald performed better than expected at Ohio State's camp ... and he had a Buckeye offer going in. Brad's performance ... and the staff's response ... should solidify the mutual interest between the parties. Update 06/23 - It's official - McDougald is the 22nd member of the Buckeyes' class of 2009.
11. E.J. Banks, McKees Rocks (Pennsylvania) Montour (6' 1", 180 lbs); Ohio State (offered) leads. In high school, Banks plays quarterback (1,235 yards passing, 6 TD's; 920 yards rushing, 10 TD's as a junior), but he will switch positions at the next level, either to defensive back (68 tackles and 5 interceptions) or possibly wide receiver. On the field, E.J. exhibits superior athleticism and an inherent "presence" that most great players possess. Banks is from a Buckeye family, and he is a cousin of former Buckeye superstar Joey Galloway, so look for Ohio State to be at the top of his list (30 offers and counting). Update 04/24 - Instead of taking in the Buckeyes' Spring Game, Banks travelled to Notre Dame to see their spring contest; after the game, he then headed a bit further west to see Illinois. After his trip, E.J. eliminated the Illini, but said that the Irish would likely make his initial cut. With several Florida "speed" prospects being on the verge of committing to Ohio State, it is difficult to gauge the Buckeyes' current level of interest in Banks. Update 05/16 - Sometimes, silence speaks volumes. It has been three weeks since we've had any news on Banks, and for some reason he does not appear to be a "hot" prospect right now. Remember this: Banks, an avowed Buckeye fan from a Buckeye family, did not attend Ohio State's Spring Game, but visited Notre Dame and Illinois instead. Update 06/16 - Is this 'ship still afloat? At this point, no "expert" has E.J. as a member of the Buckeyes' class of 2009, despite the early offer. Banks maintains that Ohio State and Notre Dame are his top two selections, but we get the distinct impression that the Buckeye staff is losing/has lost interest. However, E.J. is supposed to visit Columbus on June 21st, so there might still be some hope....
12. D.J. Hunter, Middletown High (6' 0", 196 lbs, 4.4 forty); Ohio State (not offered) leads Indiana (offered). Hunter is a versatile defensive back prospect who plays strong safety in high school (108 tackles as a junior) but he clearly has enough speed and athleticism to play cornerback at the next level. D.J. has offers from over 20 schools, including most of the Big Ten, but his two current favorites are Ohio State and Indiana, with the early advantage going to the Buckeyes. Update 04/26 - Ohio State and Indiana still lead, but the Buckeyes might be starting to look elsewhere (like Florida). Update 05/16 - Hunter is intrigued with Indiana because the Hoosiers can offer early playing time, and Ohio State is loaded at defensive back. As with Banks, there hasn't been much recent news concerning Hunter, and in the mean time, the Buckeyes have offered two other cornerback prospects (Corey Brown and Dominic Clarke). Update 06/16 - Although Hunter has claimed an offer from Ohio State, we have learned that such is not the case. With Barnett and Clarke "in", with Brown "close", and with McGee being worth the wait, it is unlikely that D.J. will ever receive that coveted Buckeye offer. Update 06/20 - Hunter is attending Ohio State's camp today, in hopes of earning/solidifying his Buckeye offer.
13. Victor Marc, Hallandale, Florida (5' 11", 208 lbs, 4.59 forty); Ohio State (not offered) leads. Like James Green, Victor Marc is another former Dr. Krop player who transferred after his junior season. Victor is an athletic but undersized high school quarterback (three-year starter; 608 yards passing, 8 TD's; 478 yards rushing, 3 TD's in 2007) who has adequate arm strength and good moves in the open field. At the next level, however, Marc will likely have to make a position switch to running back, wide receiver, or defensive back. Victor visited Columbus for the Spring Game, and he was so impressed with Ohio State that he would have committed on the spot ... except that he didn't have an offer from the Buckeyes. Victor is still waiting to hear from the Buckeye staff, and should know in the near future whether there is a spot open for him at Ohio State; if there is a spot available, then it probably means that the staff has cooled on fellow "speed" prospects E.J. Banks and/or D.J. Hunter (or vice versa). If the Buckeyes don't come through with an offer, then Marc will take a look at North Carolina, South Carolina, and Clemson (all offered), and several other southern schools. Update 05/16 - Still no Buckeye offer for Marc ... yet. Finding a position for this athletic but under-sized high school quarterback will be an issue in his recruitment, with safety being a likely possibility. Right now, Emilien and Telfort appear to be higher on "the board" at the safety position, but Victor seems willing to wait for Ohio State. Update 06/16 - Currently, it looks like there will be no room in this class for Victor Marc, but if he is willing to wait like some former prospects (Brian Robiskie, Donald Washington, Ohrian Johnson, to name a few), then a slot might open up toward the end of the recruiting season. Update 06/21 - Committed to University of South Florida, along with wide receiver James Green (Tallahassee Leon) and cornerback Ricardo Dixon (Hallandale). All three prospects had favored the Buckeyes at one time, but none had received an offer from Ohio State.
Big Speed
1. Jonathan Newsome, Cleveland Glenville (6' 3", 215 lbs); committed to Ohio State on June 24th! Ohio State (offered) leads. Newsome is a rangy, explosive, hard-hitting, high-motor linebacker/defensive end prospect who reminds us quite a bit of former Tarblooder and current Buckeye Curtis Terry. As a junior in 2007, Jonathan recorded 72 tackles and 13 sacks for one of the top high school programs in the state. Newsome is scheduled to attend Ohio State's Spring Game along with classmates offensive lineman Marcus Hall (see below), linebacker Travis Freeman, and defensive back Mike Edwards. Update 04/24 - During the Spring Game weekend, Newsome thought about committing to Ohio State, but he decided to hold off so that he can take some official visits this fall. However, Jonathan realizes that scholarships are tight right now, and that could cause him to move up his decision date. Update 05/16 - Newsome keeps indicating that Ohio State leads, but Glenville kids rarely issue early commitments. Update 06/16 - Ohio State is still the clear leader. Update 06/24 - As expected, Newsome committed to Ohio State. What was unexpected was the timing, as Jonathan became the first Glenville prospect to issue an "early" commitment to the Buckeyes. (Memo to nitpickers: Jamario O'Neal was a student at Mansfield when he verballed to Ohio State after his sophomore season).
2. Carlos Hyde, Naples (Florida) Naples (6' 1", 230 lbs, 4.55 forty); committed to Ohio State on June 22nd! Last season, Hyde rushed for 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging over seven yards per carry in the process. At 230 pounds, Carlos is primarily a "big back" who runs well between the tackles, but he also possesses fine agility for a player his size. Although Carlos currently lives in Naples with his grandmother, he grew up in Cincinnati and his parents still reside there; at the present time, he seems to be torn between moving back home to play for his childhood favorite and staying in the Sunshine State. Update 04/24 - When he first received his Buckeye offer, it appeared that Carlos was gung ho for Ohio State. Now, not so much.... And in the mean time, the Buckeyes have landed one running back commitment (Jordan Hall) and are very close to securing another (Jaamal Berry). Update 05/16 - Apparently, Ohio State is back in the lead for Hyde's services. Carlos will visit Columbus in June, and the Buckeye staff could seal the deal at that time. If everything goes as planned, Hyde will be the "power" back in this class, and Berry will be the "speed" back. Update 06/16 - Carlos is planning to visit Columbus tomorrow, and if all goes well, he will issue a verbal commitment to Ohio State. Update 06/20 - Carlos was originally set to visit Columbus on the 17th, then he pushed his visit back until today ... but, he wasn't able to make the trip up from Cincinnati due to his parents' work schedules, so he'll try to again tomorrow. As far as we know, Hyde is still planning to commit to the Buckeyes during his visit. Update 06/22 - Carlos ended what little suspense remained and committed to Ohio State.
3. Ra'Shede Hageman, Minneapolis Washburn (6' 5", 233 lbs); Ohio State (offered) in top 4 (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida, all offered). Although the Buckeyes already have a verbal commitment from 6-foot-8, 260-pound tight end prospect Reid Fragel, the staff is recruiting Hageman as more of a receiving threat (25 receptions, 633 yards, 12 TD as a junior) than as a sixth offensive lineman. Ra'Shede and his father visited Ohio State on June 8th for the first session of the senior advanced camp, and both came away very impressed with the school, the facilities, and the coaching staff. However, Ra'Shede is still planning to make a summertime visit to Florida (June 16-17), and Minnesota (camp June 14th) and Wisconsin (camp June 22nd) are the local favorites, so the Buckeyes will be in a real battle here.
Power
1. Marcus Hall, Cleveland Glenville (6' 5", 285 lbs); Ohio State (offered) leads. Marcus 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 other side of the line as well. As expected, this Tarblooder favors Ohio State, and now that he has been offered by Tressel & Co., Hall should eventually become a Buckeye. In the mean time, Southern Cal, Illinois, and a few other programs will get a look. Marcus will attend Ohio State's Spring Game along with several other Glenville prospects. Update 04/24 - Like fellow Tarblooder Jonathan Newsome, Hall was very impressed with Ohio State's Spring Game, and he left Columbus with the Buckeyes as his clear leader. Marcus also wants to take some official visits, but may pull the trigger earlier if scholarships become tight. Update 05/16 - Another Glenville prospect who will likely make a late announcement, presumably for Ohio State. Update 06/16 - Ohio State still leads, despite some noise to the contrary. Update 06/21 - Marcus performed at Ohio State's camp yesterday, and showed why he is one of the top OL prospects in the entire country.
2. Chris Watt, Glen Ellyn (Illinois) Glenbard West (6' 4", 270 lbs); Ohio State (offered) in top 3 (Notre Dame, Michigan, both offered). Watt is one of the top overall prospects in the state of Illinois for the class of 2009. As a junior, Chris recorded over 100 pancake blocks, including at least one against five-star defensive lineman Craig Drummond (Chicago Morgan Park). Because he lacks ideal height for a tackle, Watt projects as an interior lineman at the college level. Chris is a close friend of 2008 Buckeye signee Garrett Goebel, and his older brother Kevin was a 2007 signee with Northwestern. Some early reports had Chris favoring Ohio State, but he has recently been sighted hanging out in South Bend. Expect an early decision to a Midwest school, with the Irish and the Buckeyes being the leading contenders. In addition to excelling on the gridiron, Chris sports a 4.3 grade point average. Update 04/24 - Notre Dame leads by a slight margin over Ohio State, but it's still early. Chris visited Columbus in late March, and he is planning to return some time this summer. Northwestern may also be a factor, but it would be difficult for Chris to turn down offers from both the Buckeyes and the Irish to play with his brother for the Wildcats. Update 05/16 - Ohio State is in Chris's top five, and he plans to make a decision some time this summer. At the present time, the Buckeye staff is focusing all of their offensive line attention on Watt and Marcus Hall. Update 06/16 - It looks like the Buckeyes are pulling away from the pack here ... Chris and his family will be visiting Columbus on June 21st, and if all goes as expected, Watt will leave town with Ohio State as his solid leader. Notre Dame and Michigan are also still in the hunt. Update 06/20 - Who benefits the least from John Prior's (see below) huge camp performance? Chris Watt...? If Watt waits too long, then the Buckeye staff would not hesitate to offer Prior (or another one of the up-and-coming in-state prospects) in his stead.
3. Corey Adams, Scottsdale (Arizona) Saguaro (6' 4", 272 lbs, 4.85 forty); Ohio State (offered) and Southern Cal (offered) lead. Adams is 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; then as a junior, he more than doubled his production to 117 tackles and 24 sacks, as Saguaro High went 14-0 and repeated as state champions. Adams admits to being a fan of Ohio State (his father grew up in Massillon and is also a big fan), but the Buckeyes will have to battle every major program in the country to get his signature on NLOID. Southern Cal has offered, and so have the Arizona schools, which means that it will now be even more difficult for the Buckeyes to convince Corey to leave the west coast. Update 04/24 - Adams plans to take an official visit to Ohio State. Update 05/16 - This could be another OSU-USC battle for a top "national" recruit. Update 06/16 - Both OSU and USC insiders think that their respective teams lead for Adams ... but location clearly favors the Trojans. Expect a late decision ... and the Buckeye staff will certainly hold a space open for Adams.
4. Adam Bellamy, Aurora, Ohio (6' 4", 280 lbs, 4.8 forty); committed to Ohio State on June 10th! For months, Adam Bellamy has been close to receiving a Buckeye offer, and after his monster performance at Ohio State's senior advanced camp on June 8th, he finally got one. A lifelong Buckeye fan, Adam quickly accepted, selecting Ohio State over Michigan and Michigan State (both offered), and becoming the 17th member of the class of 2009. As a junior, Bellamy posted 48 tackles and 6 sacks from his defensive end position, but he projects as a defensive tackle in college; he also has the versatility to play along the offensive line if necessary.
5. Pat Muldoon, Cincinnati St. Xavier (6' 4", 250 lbs, 4.81 forty, 4.41 shuttle); Ohio State (offered) leads? Muldoon was one of the many stars for a St. Xavier squad that went 15-0 and won the Division I state championship in 2007. On the season, Pat recorded 75 tackles, 16 TFL's, 12 sacks, and an interception while playing defensive end (his projected position in college). Pat grew up a Buckeye fan in a Buckeye family (two of his uncles played for Ohio State), but he claims that he will look around at some other schools before deciding (he already has over 20 offers). Muldoon is a true student-athlete who carries a 3.8 GPA at school known for both its football program and its academics. Update 04/26 - Pat would like to take a few unofficial visits this summer to get a first-hand look at some of the two dozen schools that have offered him. Ohio State still leads. Update 05/16 - Still going through the process ... still a Buckeye lean. Update 06/16 - How does Adam Bellamy's commitment affect Pat Muldoon? We'll see, but spots are getting tight, and we know that the staff is holding one open for Corey Adams. Pat had a very good visit to Notre Dame this past weekend, and it looks like the Domers are climbing up his list of favorites. Usually, local kids who are Buckeye fans (and legacies) don't hold onto to an Ohio State offer for ten weeks (Muldoon was offered in early April), so we have to think that there is an increasing lack of mutual interest here. Moreover, Pat wants to make a late decision ... and that simply doesn't fit in with the Buckeyes' plans.
6. Tyron Ezell, Homestead (Pennsylvania) Steel Valley (6' 4", 248 lbs, 4.75 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 4 (Pitt, Michigan, Colorado, all offered). Ezell is an intriguing prospect whose dream was to become a professional wrestler ... at least until football came along. Although Tyron is still learning the game, he recorded 122 tackles and 9 sacks as a junior defensive lineman. In interviews, Ezell seems somewhat overwhelmed by the entire recruiting process, and he's just starting to forumlate a list of favorites, but it's pretty clear that he has genuine interest in Ohio State (childhood fave). Tyron was supposed to visit Columbus some time this summer, but his plans fell through. With very few spots still open, it will be interesting to see how seriously the Buckeye staff will continue to pursue a talented kid who is just entering in the preliminary stages of the decision-making process ... or whether they will go in an entirely different direction altogether. A "wild card" prospect who has huge upside ... if he decides that football is the sport for him. Update 06/22 - Tyron did in fact make it to the Buckeyes' senior advanced camp, and he came away very impressed with Ohio State. As of now, Ohio State has a slight lead over Pitt, but Ezell does not appear to be close to a decision. The good news for him is that the Buckeyes would like to add two more defensive linemen to this class, and all of the other current candidates (Jonathan Newsome, Pat Muldoon, and Corey Adams) also want to take their time before deciding.
7. John Martinez, Salt Lake City Cottonwood (6' 3", 270 lbs); Ohio State (offered) in top 4 (USC, UCLA, LSU, all offered). As far as Buckeye fans are concerned, John Martinez is a name that came from out of the blue, but on the national scene, he is one of the top offensive line prospects for the class of 2009 (Rivals #2 OG, #67 overall; Scout, #3 OG, #58 overall). Martinez has stated that he will probably stay out west, and thus Southern Cal should be considered his current leader. However, John has already developed a good relationship with the LSU staff (October 25th official visit, vs. Georgia), and he definitely wants to check out Ohio State as well. John is planning to visit Columbus for the Buckeyes' senior advanced camp on June 20th, and if he makes the trip, we should know soon thereafter whether Ohio State has any real shot at landing this tremendous prospect. Update 06/21 - In a recent interview, Martinez admitted that he does not have an offer from Ohio State, but the Buckeyes remain in his top four along with USC (leader), UCLA, and LSU. Apparently, John performed well at Ohio State's camp yesterday ... but so did John Prior and some other local offensive line prospects, so Martinez may remain on the outside looking in. After yesterday's performance, it will be interesting to see whether the Buckeye staff offers Martinez ... and where Ohio State would be on his list if the staff did offer him.
NEW!! 8. John Prior, Portsmouth, Ohio (6' 6", 280 lbs); Ohio State (not offered) leads. A month ago, John Prior was an under-the-radar offensive line prospect with a great frame and a lot of potential. However, Prior's stock has been rising rapidly, and he has recently picked up offers from Florida State, West Virginia, Louisville, North Carolina State, and Indiana. John attended Ohio State's senior advanced camp today, and really impressed the Buckeye coaching staff ... but was his performance enough to earn a lifelong Buckeye fan that coveted Ohio State offer? And would the Buckeyes take a little-known prospect with huge upside over "national 100" offensive linemen like Chris Watt and John Martinez? We should know in the very near future, as the Buckeye staff will try to sort everything out this weekend. Update 06/24 - After a weekend to reflect, it now looks like Sam Longo (see below) is the hot in-state offensive line prospect, which means that Prior is probably headed elsewhere. What a difference a few days make....
NEW!! 9. Sam Longo, Bellbrook, Ohio (6' 5", 250 lbs, 4.94 forty); Ohio State (offered?) in the lead. Like John Prior, Sam Longo established himself as a solid Buckeye prospect through a great performance at Ohio State's summer camp. In fact, Sam may have shown the Buckeye staff enough to have separated himself from the rest of the pack of un-offered in-state offensive line prospects (John Prior, Ryan Spiker, Nate Klatt, etc.). Was it enough to earn him an Ohio State offer ... and if so, does that mean that things are not going well with Chris Watt and/or Marcus Hall? Stayed tuned....
:osu: The Ohio State Buckeyes' Recruiting Class of 2009 :osu:
C.J. Barnett, Clayton Northmont (6' 1", 171 lbs, 4.4 forty); committed to Ohio State on February 10, 2008Dorian Bell, Pittsburgh Gateway (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.5 forty); committed to Ohio State on April 23, 2008
Adam Bellamy, Aurora High School (6' 4", 280 lbs, 4.8 forty); committed to Ohio State on June 10, 2008.
Justin Boren, University of Michigan (6' 4", 305 lbs); announced transfer to Ohio State on April 23, 2008
Zach Boren, Pickerington Central (6' 0", 250 lbs, 4.65 forty); committed to Ohio State on April 30, 2008
Corey Brown, Monroeville (Pennsylvania) Gateway (6' 1", 179 lbs, 4.58 forty); committed to Ohio State on June 23, 2008
Duron Carter, Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (6' 3", 180 lbs); committed to Ohio State on June 20, 2008
Dominic Clarke, Frederick (Maryland) Tuscarora (5' 10", 178 lbs, 4.41 forty); committed to Ohio State on June 8, 2008
Melvin Fellows, Garfield Heights High School (6' 5", 265 lbs); committed to Ohio State on April 24, 2008
Chris Fields, Painesville Harvey (6' 1", 181 lbs, 4.39 forty, 38" vertical); committed to Ohio State on February 21, 2008
Reid Fragel, Grosse Pointe (Michigan) South (6' 8", 251 lbs, 4.88 forty); committed to Ohio State on May 27, 2008
Justin Green, Louisville Male (5' 10", 170, 4.4 forty); committed to Ohio State on June 22, 2008
Jordan Hall, Jeannette (Pennsylvania) High School (5' 9", 185 lbs, 4.5 forty); committed to Ohio State on April 23, 2008
Adam Homan, Coldwater, Ohio (6' 2", 230 lbs); committed to Ohio State on December 29, 2007
Carlos Hyde, Naples (Florida) Naples (6' 1", 230 lbs, 4.55 forty); committed to Ohio State on June 22, 2008
James Jackson, Grand Ledge, Michigan (6' 0", 175 lbs, 4.31 forty); committed to Ohio State on May 12, 2008
Storm Klein, Newark Licking Valley (6' 2", 210 lbs, 4.5 forty); committed to Ohio State on October 14, 2007
Corey Linsley, Boardman High School (6' 4", 285 lbs); committed to Ohio State on April 28, 2008
Bradley McDougald, Dublin Scioto (6' 1", 188 lbs, 4.5 forty); committed to Ohio State on June 23, 2008
Jack Mewhort, Toledo St. John's (6' 6", 283 lbs); committed to Ohio State on December 28, 2007
Jonathan Newsome, Cleveland Glenville (6' 3", 230 lbs); committed to Ohio State on June 24, 2008
John Simon, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (6' 4", 265 lbs, 4.7 forty); committed to Ohio State on December 26, 2007
Jordan Whiting, Louisville (Kentucky) Trinity (6' 1", 226 lbs, 4.61 forty); committed to Ohio State on September 1, 2007
Jamie Wood, Pickerington Central (6' 1", 185 lbs, 4.5 forty); committed to Ohio State on February 24, 2008
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