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tOSU Recruiting Discussion

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It feels like there is a bit of a perfect storm brewing for a big time OL class. A small class of 2 or 3 guys this year. Transfers of guys like O'Connor and Brown making the overall numbers pretty low. And 4 starters graduating leaving open the legit possibility of competing for instant playing time. I can see a very good OL class.

There are so many guys that OSU seems to lead for or be very near the top for at DB, LB, WR, TE and RB that it almost seems like picking which great players to accept commits from will lead to really tough decisions for the coaching staff. Not at all worried about these positions, just really excited about the possibilities.

The only position in this class that I am a little bit worried about is QB. They obviously love Watson and have a decent shot at him. But that looks like a recruitment that goes all the way to signing day no matter who he is committed to. How do you weigh the risks of putting most of your eggs in that basket while also pursuing other options who are likely to want to make their decisions early in the process? I have no idea and this is going to be really tough for Urban I think.
 
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To be blunt, I pointed out our pitfalls at OT in the '13 class just as that...it was one year we really had issues recruiting at OT. The year before Dodson and Decker was a miracle pull. All that considered, no way we falter in '14. The staff has already begun targeting many OT prospects and we have backup plans to our backup plans.

Now I do think tlinc brings up an excellent point I hadn't considered at this early juncture yet...what will happen at QB? It is obviously important with no real indication of how C. Jones is progressing and if Barrett will recover properly from his injury. If Barrett is healthy, I really do think he can be a STAR here. That being said, we need a good/great QB in '14. Seems like Watson will go the length with his recruitment and I would HATE to see us pass on someone like Barker while we wait in vain for Watson. Clearly the staff is in a tough spot but it will make for an interesting dilemma. As good as Watson is, I truly think Barker is going to be just as good if not better at the next level, so I hope we figure it out as quickly as possible.
 
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One of the best ways to recruit o linemen (and receivers) is to have the stud early commit qb in their ear. The best examples that comes to mind are Zwick and Braxton. There is a selfishness that doesn't indicate strong leadership to qb's who wait until signing day or after, but will not name names. I would take 1b if he's ready and eager if 1a is looking for attention. I do understand there are legitimate reasons not to commit early.
 
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greyscarlet;2298842; said:
One of the best ways to recruit o linemen (and receivers) is to have the stud early commit qb in their ear. The best examples that comes to mind are Zwick and Braxton. There is a selfishness that doesn't indicate strong leadership to qb's who wait until signing day or after, but will not name names. I would take 1b if he's ready and eager if 1a is looking for attention. I do understand there are legitimate reasons not to commit early.
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Another tactic, is to have a top OL already committed and have him recruit another brew crew. We do have jones committed, and he has publicly stated that hes going to recruit other top players besides his glenville teammates
And im sure the coaching staff wont put all of their eggs in the watson basket. Maybe just 8-9 of them and the rest to barker and the other top rated qbs on their board. Regardless who they get at qb, they will have/need a year or 2 to grasp the playbook and speed of CFB
 
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Some good points made in the last few comments.

RB, I know you like Barker, but I think if the coaches had the QBs evaluated similarly, they would have moved onto the safer option already in Barker. The biggest difference to me between the two is level of competition. Watson has proven it against fantastic big school competition in Georgia and even has a three year track record of success to look at. He has also done it basically running an Urban Meyer offense.

Barker has done it against DII competition in Kentucky, very weak opponents. We have seen an example with the 2013 class with Ryan Timmons who absolutely destroyed the same DII competitors in KY and it still looks like it wasn't enough to really get OSUs interest. It is just really hard to tell how Barkers abilities, especially his athleticism would translate vs. better athletes. Is he a guy Meyer could count on to carry it 10 or 15 times against Alabama in a national championship game down the line? That is the kind of question I think Urban is thinking about and the level he is recruiting on right now..

As far as the QB being the lynchpin for the rest of the class, I do agree to a certain extent. However, I think it has to be a QB that moves the needle so to speak with your target recruits. Watson does that with this big group of GA kids we are targeting. They know who he is and respect his game. I also think that a top rated player at another position who has the respect of his peers can also be a guy who leads the recruiting charge. Raekwon McMillan seems to really fit that bill and may be our guy who brings others with him in 2014.
 
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There I was, sitting here, minding my own business, basking in the glow (gloating) of the Ohio State signing day massacre, when I clicked on the visits
thread that MD and Wade tend to for the board. I was wondering if anything was going on this weekend? 12-0 season, number 1 rated recruiting class, who would the staff have on hand to tell of all this?

February 8th-10th

2014 QB DeShaun Watson (Gainesville, GA)
2014 RB Nick Chubb (Cedartown, GA)
2014 RB Shai McKenzie (Washington, PA)
2014 WR Demarre Kitt (Tyrone, GA)
2014 OL Jamarco Jones (Chicago, IL)
2014 DL Dante Sawyer (Suwanee, GA)
2014 DE Lawrence Marshall (Southfield, MI)
2014 DB Nick Glass (Atlanta, GA)
2014 ATH Myles Autry (Norcross, GA)


That's crazy
 
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stowfan;2302105; said:
There I was, sitting here, minding my own business, basking in the glow (gloating) of the Ohio State signing day massacre, when I clicked on the visits
thread that MD and Wade tend to for the board. I was wondering if anything was going on this weekend? 12-0 season, number 1 rated recruiting class, who would the staff have on hand to tell of all this?

February 8th-10th

2014 QB DeShaun Watson (Gainesville, GA)
2014 RB Nick Chubb (Cedartown, GA)
2014 RB Shai McKenzie (Washington, PA)
2014 WR Demarre Kitt (Tyrone, GA)
2014 OL Jamarco Jones (Chicago, IL)
2014 DL Dante Sawyer (Suwanee, GA)
2014 DE Lawrence Marshall (Southfield, MI)
2014 DB Nick Glass (Atlanta, GA)
2014 ATH Myles Autry (Norcross, GA)


That's crazy
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So were starting out with lightweights, lol
Jk
This is just insane. Ride the heck out of our momentum on and off the field. I love how relentless our coaches are. Its funny that ive been listening to sports talk radio down here in Austin, tejas and the commentators were so upset with mack brown for taking such a nonchalant approach to recruiting still. Far contrast from urban meyer and our coaching staff. Brown actually thinks that after a recruit commits, he shouldnt and wont look around. This thought process will get him buried in recruiting. Kids like to be wooed still after they're committed. And coaches shouldnt rest going after players even after the season is completed or NLOID has just been finished. Love that our coaches are relentless and will go to the end of the earth to find top talent and bring it in
 
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We are seeing a lot of "we'd like you to visit Columbus so we can evaluate you in person" 'verbal offers' in this class.

Meyer has mentioned that some kids won't even visit without an 'offer' these days. He is obliging to get them on campus but I don't think anyone has an OFFER until they visit and the staff is impressed. The recruiting services are clearly not concerning themselves with the difference.
 
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stowfan;2302787; said:
Many of the 2013 crop of premier offensive line recruits committed very early. The trend seems to be continuing again this this year, six of the Scout top 15 offensive tackles have already committed. I'm looking forward to Meyer and staff addressing the need in the near future.

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=4&pid=3&yr=2014
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Kyle Trout, Jamarco Jones, Rod Johnson... please.
 
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westbuck04;2302786; said:
No.

Don't think Watson is, either, unfortunately. And Autry will be in Knoxville.
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Bummer, I was really looking forward to getting those guys in this weekend to make an early impression.

BGriffBuckeye;2302790; said:
Kyle Trout, Jamarco Jones, Rod Johnson... please.
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And I raise you an Orlando Brown, who is my favorite target at tackle but yes, we should do well. Trout may not be done growing and could end up a LT prospect, plus Jones is a stud RT prospect that has the leverage and mass to move down to guard if need be. Really like where we sit right now.
 
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