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tOSU Recruiting Discussion

It's next to impossible to predict what this class is going to look like right now, but I think it makes it easier when you look at who are the most likely players who will be in the class, so here goes.

QB
1. Allen/Harris/Watson/Darlington

We're definitely going to land a QB. Who exactly that is will be the question. Kyle Allen is the best passer, Brandon Harris probably has the most upside running the ball, DeShaun Watson is a perfect mix between the two and Zack Darlington fits in somewhere as well.

RB

I don't see the need for another RB in this class and don't think the coaches will push hard for one until December or so (if they do at all) when they have a better idea if there will be a spot for one or not. Some people consider Parris Campbell a back and I like what I am hearing early from the '15 class so I'm not worried at all.

WR
2. Lonnie Johnson
3. Derek Kief

At 6'3" I view Johnson as a perimeter WR and I think adding Kief would just about finish up the search for perimeter WRs in the class.

Pivot/Slot
4. Parris Campbell

This is an area where one or two more additions will be made. It's too early to even speculate about who those might be at this time but it's a pretty safe bet that they are going to be an explosive weapon on offense.

TE/H-Back

5. Austin Roberts

I think we will end up with Roberts or a major surprise like Tyler Luatua. The depth here is pretty thin so they may be targeting more than one player but the staff definitely isn't going to reach on anyone.

Sam Hubbard might factor in here as well.

OL
6. Marcelys Jones
7. Kyle Trout
8. Jamarco Jones
9. Demetrious Knox
10. Chad Mavety

Ohio State has a great shot at Jones, Knox and Mavety and it would be hard to say no to someone like Damian Prince or Alex Bookser if they wanted to join as well. Between those five I wouldn't mind adding four additional players to the OL but that might be getting a little greedy. This is the biggest area of need in the class (along with LB) and the only area of lingering doubt regarding recruiting.

Jones wants to decide at the end of June, it would be nice if Mavety committed on his visit which is currently scheduled for the middle of June, I'm not sure what the situation is with Bookser, while Knox and Prince are almost certainly going to be all-star or signing day decisions.

Getting a strong OL class is extremely important and the only thing I am somewhat concerned about right now. Getting Jones and Mavety on board in June would be absolutely huge and would make the wait for guys like Prince or Knox much easier.

DL
11. Dylan Thompson
12. Poona Ford

Thompson is a SSDE type who could slide down to 3-technique DT, Ford is a NT who could slide to 3-technique DT as well- I think he is highly likely to commit during or shortly after camps this summer.

That leaves a Viper/LEO for the staff to target. There is a lot of speculation that Dante Booker is a candidate here and I think there will be a major push for an elite defensive lineman or two, Viper or otherwise, in the final months.

LB

13. Kyle Berger
14. Raekwon McMillan
15. Chase Winovich
16. Sam Hubbard
17. Dante Booker

The other major position of need that the staff is well on its way to filling with flying colors. Berger, Hubbard and Booker are on board but as previously mentioned, only Berger seems like a lock to end up at LB in college.

Almost everyone has McMillan as a strong lean to Ohio State and the staff is visiting with Winovich today so we might find out where he is going very soon. People are speculating that the depth chart might scare Winovich into the arms of Michigan but it is almost certain that either Hubbard or Booker don't end up at LB. The depth chart can easily accommodate three to four additions at LB in this class. I'm sure that will be a topic of conversation today.

I think the staff would like to add Winovich while continuing to close the deal on McMillan and call it a day. If either goes elsewhere there will be a push in the final months for some of the other players on the board. This staff has proven they can do that if needed but it would be nice to wrap things up at LB before then.

DB
18. Damon Webb
19. Marshon Lattimore
20. Erick Smith

Like the pivot/slot, the staff is going to be pushing hard for some elite DBs down the homestretch (Quincy Wilson, Tony Brown etc.) and I think they will add at least one more.

That said, the numbers are already at the limit just from the players that seem highly likely to be in the class right now. If you assume the staff is targeting at least one more elite player at the Pivot/Slot, DL and DB (which they are) that takes the number up to 23 which will probably require additional attrition from the current roster to reach as it is.

Either way, the class is shaping up extremely nicely. If we can lock up most of the heavy leans in the next month or two and maybe just maybe a QB (while assuming that Lattimore, Smith and McMillan are locks) we will be sitting pretty for the final push to finish out the class.
 
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Buckeye86;2340200; said:
It's next to impossible to predict what this class is going to look like right now, but I think it makes it easier when you look at who are the most likely players who will be in the class, so here goes.

QB
1. Allen/Harris/Watson/Darlington

We're definitely going to land a QB. Who exactly that is will be the question. Kyle Allen is the best passer, Brandon Harris probably has the most upside running the ball, DeShaun Watson is a perfect mix between the two and Zack Darlington fits in somewhere as well.

RB

I don't see the need for another RB in this class and don't think the coaches will push hard for one until December or so (if they do at all) when they have a better idea if there will be a spot for one or not. Some people consider Parris Campbell a back and I like what I am hearing early from the '15 class so I'm not worried at all.

WR
2. Lonnie Johnson
3. Derek Kief

At 6'3" I view Johnson as a perimeter WR and I think adding Kief would just about finish up the search for perimeter WRs in the class.

Pivot/Slot
4. Parris Campbell

This is an area where one or two more additions will be made. It's too early to even speculate about who those might be at this time but it's a pretty safe bet that they are going to be an explosive weapon on offense.

TE/H-Back

5. Austin Roberts

I think we will end up with Roberts or a major surprise like Tyler Luatua. The depth here is pretty thin so they may be targeting more than one player but the staff definitely isn't going to reach on anyone.

Sam Hubbard might factor in here as well.

OL
6. Marcelys Jones
7. Kyle Trout
8. Jamarco Jones
9. Demetrious Knox
10. Chad Mavety

Ohio State has a great shot at Jones, Knox and Mavety and it would be hard to say no to someone like Damian Prince or Alex Bookser if they wanted to join as well. Between those five I wouldn't mind adding four additional players to the OL but that might be getting a little greedy. This is the biggest area of need in the class (along with LB) and the only area of lingering doubt regarding recruiting.

Jones wants to decide at the end of June, it would be nice if Mavety committed on his visit which is currently scheduled for the middle of June, I'm not sure what the situation is with Bookser, while Knox and Prince are almost certainly going to be all-star or signing day decisions.

Getting a strong OL class is extremely important and the only thing I am somewhat concerned about right now. Getting Jones and Mavety on board in June would be absolutely huge and would make the wait for guys like Prince or Knox much easier.

DL
11. Dylan Thompson
12. Poona Ford

Thompson is a SSDE type who could slide down to 3-technique DT, Ford is a NT who could slide to 3-technique DT as well- I think he is highly likely to commit during or shortly after camps this summer.

That leaves a Viper/LEO for the staff to target. There is a lot of speculation that Dante Booker is a candidate here and I think there will be a major push for an elite defensive lineman or two, Viper or otherwise, in the final months.

LB

13. Kyle Berger
14. Raekwon McMillan
15. Chase Winovich
16. Sam Hubbard
17. Dante Booker

The other major position of need that the staff is well on its way to filling with flying colors. Berger, Hubbard and Booker are on board but as previously mentioned, only Berger seems like a lock to end up at LB in college.

Almost everyone has McMillan as a strong lean to Ohio State and the staff is visiting with Winovich today so we might find out where he is going very soon. People are speculating that the depth chart might scare Winovich into the arms of Michigan but it is almost certain that either Hubbard or Booker don't end up at LB. The depth chart can easily accommodate three to four additions at LB in this class. I'm sure that will be a topic of conversation today.

I think the staff would like to add Winovich while continuing to close the deal on McMillan and call it a day. If either goes elsewhere there will be a push in the final months for some of the other players on the board. This staff has proven they can do that if needed but it would be nice to wrap things up at LB before then.

DB
18. Damon Webb
19. Marshon Lattimore
20. Erick Smith

Like the pivot/slot, the staff is going to be pushing hard for some elite DBs down the homestretch (Quincy Wilson, Tony Brown etc.) and I think they will add at least one more.

That said, the numbers are already at the limit just from the players that seem highly likely to be in the class right now. If you assume the staff is targeting at least one more elite player at the Pivot/Slot, DL and DB (which they are) that takes the number up to 23 which will probably require additional attrition from the current roster to reach as it is.

Either way, the class is shaping up extremely nicely. If we can lock up most of the heavy leans in the next month or two and maybe just maybe a QB (while assuming that Lattimore, Smith and McMillan are locks) we will be sitting pretty for the final push to finish out the class.


I'm surprised no mention of curtis samuel, noah brown or jonathan haden. Will they be victims of a lack of scholarships? All seemed like guys the staff really wanted
 
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pnuts34;2340306; said:
I'm surprised no mention of curtis samuel, noah brown or jonathan haden. Will they be victims of a lack of scholarships? All seemed like guys the staff really wanted

buckeyegunners;2340308; said:
Curtis Samuel is the only guy I'd put on there if predicting today but overall agree almost entirely.

I would put them in this category.

Buckeye86;2340200; said:
Pivot/Slot

This is an area where one or two more additions will be made. It's too early to even speculate about who those might be at this time but it's a pretty safe bet that they are going to be an explosive weapon on offense.
 
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buckeyegunners;2340308; said:
Good breakdown 86, Curtis Samuel is the only guy I'd put on there if predicting today but overall agree almost entirely. Plus the kicker from Walsh Jesuit.

Most important thing will be getting Jones and Mavety plus a Knox and Prince.
FIFY.

Given the necessity of OL in this class...
 
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With the amount of speedy weapons were now collecting, the commitment of peppers to scUM doesn't worry me nearly as much. He can shut down one wr but it doesn't matter if we have 3-4 other great options to throw to. I would only like to add a little more size on the outside but wr, pivot and rb recruiting have been top notch by urban & Co.
 
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pnuts34;2341151; said:
With the amount of speedy weapons were now collecting, the commitment of peppers to scUM doesn't worry me nearly as much. He can shut down one wr but it doesn't matter if we have 3-4 other great options to throw to. I would only like to add a little more size on the outside but wr, pivot and rb recruiting have been top notch by urban & Co.

When the talent is equivalent it boils down to coaching, schemes and most importantly heart. I'll take Meyer over Hoke in each of those areas every day of the week.
 
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merge

RB07OSU;2342781; said:
For whatever reason, the Ohio State brand name/Urban's method isn't resonating early on with the big names for 2014.
Coach Meyer's list of "big names" may differ from those of the recruiting sites.

Now for a little insight into "Urban's method". A friend of mind played football at Notre Dame. He was a "top 100" recruit who became a multi-year starter at Notre Dame and had a career in the NFL. Urban Meyer was his recruiter.

My friend made an early commitment to Notre Dame. One night during his senior season, he had a bad game. The next morning, Coach Meyer called him up and asked him what happened.

My friend said that the other team was one of the best in the state, the weather was bad, they were keying on him, blah blah blah. He was trying to explain the situation, and he expected empathy and understanding from Coach Meyer.

In response, Coach Meyer said (and I paraphrase): "I don't care about your excuses. We're trying to sign the number one recruiting class in the country, and right now you're bringing us down."

Now, Coach Meyer is going to use different "methods" in different situations, but it is clear that he expects and demands a lot from his players. He is driven to be successful (perhaps over-driven), and he wants players who share this attitude and ethos. That approach isn't going to "resonate" with every kid.
 
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LordJeffBuck;2342810; said:
Coach Meyer's list of "big names" may differ from those of the recruiting sites.

That approach isn't going to "resonate" with every kid.

And I completely understand that. I was moreso saying that his approach won't have a homogeneous result as some might think. As for bigger names, I just mean the guys we've pursued hard and simply didn't garner much interest/missed on (Peppers, Hand, Blanding, Hurd, Kelly Jr., Byrne, Ferns, Nelson, Hood, Drake Harris, Mustipher, Bars, Cole, likely Winovich, etc.) regardless of ranking.

That being said, I still expect Urban to close well and hit some big commits. Webb is our headliner thus far and I expect McMillan to be in sooner than later. If we land Allen soon, that is another 5 star type and I feel that ranking is more than justified. Plus there are plenty of big names like Knox, Mixon, Petera Wilson, Prince, etc. that I feel we are in good shape with and can only increase our chances with a great season. Plus there will be prospects that UFM will look to flip per the usual (Clemson commits could be prime targets if/when Morris bolts and plenty of unpredictable movements happen). Just look at last year...Wilson, Clark, Bell, Mitchell, Johnson, Conley, Corey Smith, and Munger all happened down the stretch. While we cannot expect that every year, it just proves UFM is more than capable of knocking it out of the park.
 
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I love the fact that there is absolutely no freak out over Winovich's commitment today. We're going to be stacked at LB going forward even with our limited scholarship numbers this year. Can't wait to see how Meyer closes out this class.
 
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This time of year is always interesting because kids are committing at a rapid pace, yet nothing is binding yet and there's still a lot of time until signing day. This time last year, didn't we have Anzalone and Lewis Neal committed? And nobody was mentioning guys like trey Johnson and Gareon Conley. Losing chase sucks, but I can't wait to find out about the late offer guys the staff goes after, and how the landscape in CFB will change and push commits in other directions. The impending sanctions at Oregon and Miami could work in our favor, and we could end up with a 4star DE or LB from south FL or a kid from Cali or Texas. Still so much time, it's only the beginning of June and were actually looking really good with our current commits and the top remaining recruits
 
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