With the outcry over missing McCoy (not so much here as elsewhere) I thought it would be worthwhile to discuss how we (you know - 'we' - the coaches and all us posters who have been working so hard) are doing at meeting our needs. This team is loaded at every position except RB for next year and sits quite nicely everywhere but LB for the next two years. The question we should ask every recruiting season is how we are shaping up for the next three or four years.
Egotist that I am I am referencing my own chart (
Scholarship Breakdown by Position and Recruiting Class) for this. I know I need to move a few players - and I haven't added Wells yet - but I think this is pretty much on the mark.
QB - No, we didn't get Sanchez, but
OSU never lands a Sanchez. However, with Schoenhoet on board I can't remember a time where
OSU was in this good a shape in terms of having quality QBs flowing through the pipeline. Of course, we need to keep Smith - as I believe we will and should (sorry if I am in the minority on that one).
RB - Wells helps here but IMO does not fully solve the problem (it would help if he were more of a power back). I may still be selling Haw and Pittman short, but
OSU needs and has always had an outstanding stable of RBs. We don't. We haven't since we lost Clarett (who screwed us up for two recruiting classes along with everything else he did). Land Gwaltney and I will change my assessment of this one somewhat. The three kids we have (make it 4 with Anderson who - if he stays at RB will likely RS) could surprise but at this point I think our recruiting efforts have fallen short (over the past three years more than just this year). Again, I am not discounting Wells and others, I am only saying that tOSU traditionally has a more experienced and proven capability than we have now or will have next year. Time may be the only solution here.
(BTW - anybody know the latest on Guillford?)
FB - Johnson looks good and has three more seasons. You only need one healthy FB the way
OSU is now using the position. This is a big speed position and we can always move folks into it. We had no strong need here in this class IMO.
TE - Similar to FB. We can move folks around to TE but we also have some excellent players two of whom have at least three years left. No need here IMO.
WR - Loaded. Would have been great to get a five star, but we are simply loaded at WR and that isn't changing soon.
OL - We are in better shape at OL than we have been in at least five years with or without Bemoll. We have 7 OL with 3 or more years left and four of those were rated 4 stars or better. I am really excited about our OL.
DL - (I am not going to talk DT vs DE because we move folks too much.) We could use another body or two - and likely will get them - but the pipeline is loaded here as well. Nine kids with three or more years remaining and lots of studs in that group.
DB - Tons of talent, but we lose 7 of these kids in the next two years - more if you consider folks who could leave early. We need another quality kid in this class - but that is not a pressing need if we cover it next year.
LB - Here is the spot everyone is so worried about. Four outstanding LBs leave after next season - unelss Mike D gets another season (he doesn't meet the definition of medical redshirt as I understand the rules - but here's hopin). But in the last two classes we have landed six kids at this position. Freeman is a stud. Coaches love Hoobler. Lenix is a stud. We have three more kids plus Lukens from two years ago (and Kerr who might finally see the field in '06) with a chance to step up. We are simply not short on LBs. Still, McCoy would have been huge. Kids like that always are. But the issue at LB after next season is experience, not talent. McCoy would not have solved that problem.
Oh, and we aren't done yet.
So, despite ESPNs best efforts to undermine our program the coaches are doing just fine thank you very much.
