A blurb from Duane Long and some quotes from Conley.
Some question
OSU recruit plan
Buckeyes target fewer prospects; key running back down to Buckeyes, USC.
By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
COLUMBUS | Duane Long has spent 20 years analyzing college recruiting, the last seven as a full-time occupation, and he can't ever remember a time when news from Ohio State was so scarce.
"I've never seen it like this," Long said. "It's so quiet it's almost eerie.
"Usually this late in January, there are 20, 25 or 30 players we would need updates on. This year, there are only six players we're tracking."
Whether by design or through circumstances beyond their control, the Buckeyes' recruiting emphasis has shifted into a much more selective approach.
They've gotten oral commitments from 15 players — including four ranked in the top 100 nationally by Rivals.com — but reaching their goal of 20 in this class by Signing Day on Feb. 2 will require a strong finishing kick.
Jason Gwaltney of North Babylon, N.Y., rated the nation's third-best running back by Rivals.com, has narrowed his choices to
OSU and Southern Cal.
The Buckeyes also are awaiting decisions from defensive end Lawrence Wilson of Akron, defensive back Kyle McCarthy of Youngstown, linebacker Tavares Kearney of Tucker, Ga., and defensive lineman Walker Ashley of Eden Prairie, Minn., all of whom are being pursued by other major powers.
Bill Conley, who spent 11 years as
OSU's recruiting coordinator before resigning last April, told an Agonis Club audience last week that the Buckeyes are putting themselves at risk by concentrating on only a handful of prospects.
"The thing about recruiting is you have to make sure you have a large enough pool because you're only going to get one of every seven out-of-state players," Conley said. "My biggest concern is I'm not sure they're recruiting enough guys."
Conley said
OSU routinely scheduled at least 40 visits during the first two weeks in December and the first week of January. But only 16 prospects made campus tours this winter.
"That's not nearly enough," Conley said.
Increasingly stringent admission standards at
OSU might be contributing to the reduced numbers. And an ongoing NCAA investigation of the football program may have become a hindrance, too.
But Long believes the Buckeyes have purposely singled out fewer players, leaving him somewhat baffled.
"To me, there's still a definite appeal of firing a shotgun into a pack and keeping what you hit," he said. "This is a sniper-rifle way of going about it.
"The good thing is it allows the coaches to concentrate on a few less kids and give them more specialized treatment. If they can pull it off, it's a great strategy. I'll shut up if it works."
The Buckeyes' recruiting class currently is ranked ninth nationally by Rivals.com and could climb into the top five with some key commitments.
Gwaltney rushed for nearly 3,000 yards and 40 touchdowns as a senior. And he put on such an impressive display during the U.S. Army All-Star Game in San Antonio that ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming has begun listing the 6-foot, 235-pound bruiser as the nation's No. 1 fullback.
"He's going to remind you of a combination of Maurice Clarett and Eddie George," Long said. "He's a little smoother than Clarett. As good as he was, he wasn't pretty to watch, while Eddie had a gliding, more attractive style. Gwaltney is a combination of those two."
Southern California still has a recruiting chip to play — coach Pete Carroll hasn't made his in-home visit — but Long believes the Buckeyes will prevail.
"It's always a bad sign (for other schools) when a coach still has an in-home visit," Long said. "But I don't think that's going to sway him.
"The opportunity to play (immediately) at Ohio State is going to be attractive, in addition to it being much closer to home. I think those are the issues it's going to come down to."
OSU verbal commitments
Player Pos. Hometown
Andre Amos WR Middletown
Alex Boone* OL Lakewood
Jim Cordle OL Lancaster
Todd Denlinger DL Troy
Brian Hartline WR Canton
Malcolm Jenkins DB Piscataway, N.J.
Jim Laurinaitis LB Plymouth, Minn.
Freddie Lenix LB Cleveland
Jamario O'Neal* DB Cleveland
Anderson Russell DB Atlanta, Ga.
Rob Schoenhoft QB Cincinnati
Maurice Wells* RB Jacksonville, Fla.
Austin Spitler LB Bellbrook
Ryan Williams DE Mission Viejo, Calif.
Doug Worthington* DE Athol Springs, N.Y.
*Ranked in top 100 players nationally by Rivals.com
