The Recruiting Class of 2008 Revisited

[wadc45]

This thread will be LBJ's lookback eventually but for now...

Ohio State's talented Class of 2008 spearheads Buckeyes' national title aspirations | cleveland.com

Published: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 8:35 PM Updated: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 8:38 PM

Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's potential road to the BCS National Championship game this season began on Sept. 20, 2008, the day quarterback Terrelle Pryor and center Mike Brewster started for the first time as true freshmen.

"He's going to be a great quarterback," Brewster said after that 28-10 win over Troy in Ohio Stadium. "Me and him still have a lot to learn, but we're both working really hard, so I think things are going to work out well."
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Two years later, Pryor and Brewster each have made 22 career starts and won two Big Ten titles and a Rose Bowl. When the Buckeyes open the season against Marshall on Thursday, seven teammates from the 2008 recruiting class should join them as starters, with four others important members of the two-deep roster and expected to play.

Four members of that 19-player class have transferred, but 13 of the 15 remaining should be right where they saw themselves when they signed -- on the field a lot for a national title contender, with the Buckeyes ranked No. 2 in both preseason polls.

"This is where we expected to be," said redshirt sophomore Travis Howard, the Buckeyes' No. 3 cornerback. "We had one of the top recruiting classes, so we had high expectations for every individual in our class. Now you can see we've got big roles to play."

Continued...

Marvin Fong / The Plain Dealer
Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) and center Mike Brewster (50, blocking Southern Cal's Christian Tupou last season) are just two members of a talented 2008 recruiting class which provides the foundation for the Buckeyes' stated goal of a national title run.

PRETTY CLASSY GROUP
Ohio State?s 2008 recruiting class was ranked as one of the top three in the nation. Of the 19 freshmen who were part of the 2008 team, four have transferred and two are deeper on the depth chart. But 13 should see the field often, with nine starters.

CLASS OF 2008
Starters (listed by position and with recruit star rating in parentheses): Terrelle Pryor QB (5); Mike Adams LT (5); Mike Brewster C (5); DeVier Posey WR (5); J.B. Shugarts RT (4); Jake Stoneburner TE (4); Nathan Williams DE (4); Andrew Sweat SLB (4); Ben Buchanan P (3).
Second team: Etienne Sabino LB (4); Garrett Goebel DT (4); Travis Howard CB (4); Orhian Johnson S (3).
Other backups: Nic DiLillo TE (3); Zach Domicone S (3).
Transferred: Willie Mobley (to Arizona) DL (4); Lamaar Thomas (to New Mexico) WR (4); Jermil Martin (to Ashland) FB (3); Keith Wells DE (3)
*? Star ranking from Rivals.com
-- Doug Lesmerises

 

[stowfan]

Thank God for out of state talent!

 

[MaxBuck]

For those who claim "star ratings" have no meaning, note that only one position player noted here as starter or second team was less than 4 stars. And all the 5-stars are starters.

Again, not a perfect predictor, but very meaningful.

 

[stowfan]

SI's look back:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../2008-recruiting-classes/index.html?eref=sihp

 

[wadc45]

Free - Rivals at 10: Ten Best Recruiting Classes

9. Ohio State 2008
Coach: Jim Tressel
Class rank: 4th
Five-star signees: 4 (OT Mike Adams, C Michael Brewster, WR DeVier Posey, QB Terrelle Pryor)
Buzz: While there have been numerous negative headlines about members of Ohio State's 2008 class, their on-field success was impressive. The group, led by QB Terrelle Pryor, won three Big Ten titles while putting together a 33-6 record over the past three seasons. OT Mike Adams, WR DeVier Posey, C Michael Brewster, CB Travis Howard, ATH Orhian Johnson, LB Etienne Sabino, OT J.B. Shugarts, TE Jake Stoneburner, LB Andrew Sweat and DE Nathan Williams are expected to play key roles this season. Still, because of the controversy, the potential of this class never may be fully realized.

 

[wadc45]

Mixed results for B1G's top 2008 recruits - ESPN

 

[ScriptOhio]

Mixed results for B1G's top 2008 recruits - ESPN

Interesting: The B1G only had 17; and Ohio State had 8 of them.

Also, several (including a couple from Ohio State) had "off the field problems". The recruiting rankings never considers or factors in any "character" issues; so no matter how good a recruiting class appears to be...you just never really know (until 4-5 years later).

:osu:

 

[sepia5]

Mixed results for B1G's top 2008 recruits - ESPN

Skipp Bayless


Think this shows ESPN recruiting rankings suck.
1 fan likes this.

 

[JonBenke]

For those who claim "star ratings" have no meaning, note that only one position player noted here as starter or second team was less than 4 stars. And all the 5-stars are starters.

Again, not a perfect predictor, but very meaningful.

I totally agree, the "star ratings" are a nice guide, but people who think they don't matter... I don't get it.

Jimmy T dominated the Big Ten with many aspects, one of which was great recruiting.

 

[stowfan]

I totally agree, the "star ratings" are a nice guide, but people who think they don't matter... I don't get it.

Jimmy T dominated the Big Ten with many aspects, one of which was great recruiting.

You may be surprised, if you click on this link, you can find Scout's team rankings for the last 10 years. Most of those years, UM out-recruited OSU.
I think it's more a case of JT out-coaching Car.

http://michigan.scout.com/a.z?s=162&p=9&c=14&yr=2012

 

[JonBenke]

Wow. Way to take what I said and twist it. Recruiting matters, was my point, that's all.

 

[stowfan]

Wow. Way to take what I said and twist it. Recruiting matters, was my point, that's all.

I meant no offense, and I know how important recruiting is to a football program. I was just pointing out that UM was in fact the king of Big Ten recruiting during the last 10 years. Don't be so sensitive, jeese. :)