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Midwest Recruiting Blog - ESPN

Key recruits to attend OSU's spring game

Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Posted by Bill Kurelic

Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel has four verbal commitments. Three of the top prospects in the state of Ohio have announced they are headed to OSU, linebacker Jamel Turner (Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline), offensive lineman Andrew Norwell (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) and defensive end J.T. Moore (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman).

Linebacker/defensive end David Durham (Austin, Texas/Westlake) is Tressel's lone out-of-state commitment at his point.

The Buckeyes' spring game is Saturday and some of the top targets on Tressel's list will be in attendance, including linebacker Scott McVey (Cleveland/St. Ignatius). McVey, who has scholarship offers from Ohio State, Boston College, Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, West Virginia and others, has the Buckeyes comfortably at the top of his and is a candidate to become commitment No. 5 for Tressel this weekend.

Under Armour All-American defensive back LaMarcus Joyner (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) will head north to Ohio State's spring game with fellow Aquinas star Duron Carter who signed with the Buckeyes in February. Joyner has Ohio State at the top of his list, but after recently visiting Florida State, said the Seminoles are right on the Bucks' heals. After this weekend he will determine if OSU remains his leader or FSU moves into his top spot.

Offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (Whitehouse, Ohio/Anthony Wayne) attended Notre Dame's spring game last weekend and will be in Columbus this weekend. Donnal has a very good list of scholarship offers, though it does not include Ohio State at this point.

Another top in-state prospect who will attend the Buckeyes' spring game on Saturday is running back Erick Howard (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover). If the Buckeyes were to offer it might not take Howard long to commit.

Defensive back Christian Bryant (Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville) and defensive end teammate Jayrone Elliott will attend the Bucks' spring game. Bryant has over a dozen scholarship offers while Elliott has a couple Big Ten offers, though neither has an offer from Tressel to this point.

Tressel has offered Under Armour All-American Nick Montana (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian). Montana is the Buckeyes' target at quarterback this recruiting season. If they can land Montana he will be the only quarterback they sign this year. They won't offer anyone else at the position until they know what Montana is going to do. Montana attended Notre Dame's spring game last Saturday.

"I'm still trying to see if I can make it to (Ohio State's) spring game," Montana said. "If I do it will be a late decision."