'07 MI DT Joseph Barksdale (LSU signee)

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by unionfutura

I don't think he'll be a buck though.

Yep, definately appears LSU bound. Homerism aside that's a pretty solid choice. LSU has done a nice job churning out NFL talent, and it's a program that appears to be in the big-time to stay. Would be a nice rope-a-dope though if he were to chose tOSU.

[osugrad21]

Link

Joseph Barksdale
Detroit, defensive lineman
Undecided on college choice
What's playing on your iPod player right now? Yung Joc, Lil' Wayne, and about two classical songs.
Who would play you in a movie based on your life? Michael Clarke Duncan. But I wouldn't mind acting after I'm done playing football.
What book are you reading right now? "The Soul of a Butterfly," by Muhammad Ali. It's pretty good so far.
Who's your celebrity crush? Keyshia Cole
What's your favorite celebrity couple? Jay-Z and Beyonce.
What's your cell phone ring tone? "100-yard dash," by Young Dro.
Who's better for Tony Romo: Jessica Simpson or Carrie Underwood? Jessica Simpson. It looks like they would mix well personality wise.
What is your can't-miss TV show? "The Boondocks."
What movie do you and your friends quote the most? "Talladega Nights."

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

Yep, definately appears LSU bound. Homerism aside that's a pretty solid choice. LSU has done a nice job churning out NFL talent, and it's a program that appears to be in the big-time to stay. Would be a nice rope-a-dope though if he were to chose tOSU.

Solid choice but nowhere near a tOSU.

[Okinawa's#1Buck]

As for the "roller-coaster" ride JB has taken us on.

Look, this kid is 17 or 18 years old. He came to tOSU and likely thought it was the greatest experience he?d ever known. And at the time it likely was. So, he hits another campus and gets a whole new recruiting experience. And that feels good to him and of course he is going to want to be wanted. So he mumbles to somebody it's between tOSU and school X (and every recruiting "expert" and every board in the country hears that whisper and jumps on it). Well, the next visit is a new experience for him and in his limited life experience, this is the greatest experience and now it's between tOSU and school y and over and over.

My point is this. The recruiting experience is exactly that, experience. For many of these kids it is their first taste of real life experience. Do you really think at any point it was his (or any other recruits) intention to "take us on a ride"? Or do you think it was nothing more than youthful innocence enjoying the attention he was receiving (followed by over-reactions by all the recruiting hounds out here in our petty world)? There may be someone with some type of vendetta to settle, but that is rare if at all.

Give the kid a break. Let him pick the school that is best for him for whatever that reason may be.

As has been stated already, tOSU football will be played next year with or without this talented prospect (and 5 or 10 others just like him). We?ll still have a top team competing for Big 10 and national titles. A kid who wants to be a Buckeye will step into his spot and with or without all the talent this kid has will do a fine job.

Joseph, good luck on the final stages of your recruiting journey.

[txbuckeye1983]

Originally Posted by Okinawa's#1Buck

As for the "roller-coaster" ride JB has taken us on.

Look, this kid is 17 or 18 years old. He came to tOSU and likely thought it was the greatest experience he?d ever known. And at the time it likely was. So, he hits another campus and gets a whole new recruiting experience. And that feels good to him and of course he is going to want to be wanted. So he mumbles to somebody it's between tOSU and school X (and every recruiting "expert" and every board in the country hears that whisper and jumps on it). Well, the next visit is a new experience for him and in his limited life experience, this is the greatest experience and now it's between tOSU and school y and over and over.

My point is this. The recruiting experience is exactly that, experience. For many of these kids it is their first taste of real life experience. Do you really think at any point it was his (or any other recruits) intention to "take us on a ride"? Or do you think it was nothing more than youthful innocence enjoying the attention he was receiving (followed by over-reactions by all the recruiting hounds out here in our petty world)? There may be someone with some type of vendetta to settle, but that is rare if at all.

Give the kid a break. Let him pick the school that is best for him for whatever that reason may be.

As has been stated already, tOSU football will be played next year with or without this talented prospect (and 5 or 10 others just like him). We?ll still have a top team competing for Big 10 and national titles. A kid who wants to be a Buckeye will step into his spot and with or without all the talent this kid has will do a fine job.

Joseph, good luck on the final stages of your recruiting journey.

Nice post OB (you don't walk into the OB talking that noise). Comparing recruiting to real-life though...

[unionfutura]

Originally Posted by Okinawa's#1Buck

As for the "roller-coaster" ride JB has taken us on.

Look, this kid is 17 or 18 years old. He came to tOSU and likely thought it was the greatest experience he?d ever known. And at the time it likely was. So, he hits another campus and gets a whole new recruiting experience. And that feels good to him and of course he is going to want to be wanted. So he mumbles to somebody it's between tOSU and school X (and every recruiting "expert" and every board in the country hears that whisper and jumps on it). Well, the next visit is a new experience for him and in his limited life experience, this is the greatest experience and now it's between tOSU and school y and over and over.

My point is this. The recruiting experience is exactly that, experience. For many of these kids it is their first taste of real life experience. Do you really think at any point it was his (or any other recruits) intention to "take us on a ride"? Or do you think it was nothing more than youthful innocence enjoying the attention he was receiving (followed by over-reactions by all the recruiting hounds out here in our petty world)? There may be someone with some type of vendetta to settle, but that is rare if at all.

Give the kid a break. Let him pick the school that is best for him for whatever that reason may be.

As has been stated already, tOSU football will be played next year with or without this talented prospect (and 5 or 10 others just like him). We?ll still have a top team competing for Big 10 and national titles. A kid who wants to be a Buckeye will step into his spot and with or without all the talent this kid has will do a fine job.

Joseph, good luck on the final stages of your recruiting journey.

That's all fine and good, but the kid shouldn't commit 7 different times to five different programs either. The teams in question would've moved on and recruited other prospects if the kid didn't promise he'd be part of their class.

Kids like the kid who decommitted from Texas to go to LSU on signing day a couple years ago, did Texas a horrible disservice, what did Texas do to deserve that type of treatment? Sure they were fortunate to land a Colt McCoy, but still that's a low class way to treat any program.

If you're not sure don't commit that's all I'm saying. I'll go more in depth later on.

[craigblitz]

If you're not sure don't commit that's all I'm saying. I'll go more in depth later on... I look forward to hearing more from you later on this.

I said the same thing a couple pages back... It is fun for these kids and they should enjoy the process, but you can do that without being a man of your word. Again maybe I am old fashion, but I still believe you are only as good as your word.

[Okinawa's#1Buck]

Originally Posted by unionfutura

That's all fine and good, but the kid shouldn't commit 7 different times to five different programs either. The teams in question would've moved on and recruited other prospects if the kid didn't promise he'd be part of their class.

Kids like the kid who decommitted from Texas to go to LSU on signing day a couple years ago, did Texas a horrible disservice, what did Texas do to deserve that type of treatment? Sure they were fortunate to land a Colt McCoy, but still that's a low class way to treat any program.

If you're not sure don't commit that's all I'm saying. I'll go more in depth later on.

All I am saying is do you really know (first hand knowledge) of his "commitment" to 5 schools 7 times? Do you know what was said behind closed doors? Has he ever stood infront of a camera and said I will be a Buckeye (seriously, I've read 20+ pages of this thread but haven't seen it)? There is a big difference between what we all believe to be true and what is really true. That is what makes this whole recruiting thing so much fun for the rest of us. Speculation, excitment over the future, fodder back and forth about who may go where.

I am sure the coaches are all smart enough to realize that no two recruits are the same. They know there are recruits who are [censored]-hot over tOSU at the beginning of the process but will cool as the process continues. They know there will be kids who change their mind at the process developes. And they know the kids who will make a commitment and stick to it. Coach T and the staff have proven again and again they have good reads on all the kids and I doubt this really knocks them for a loop.

[Okinawa's#1Buck]

Originally Posted by craigblitz

Again maybe I am old fashion, but I still believe you are only as good as your word.

I don't disagree with this, but it is a different generation and these are still young kids who may or may not have learned this lesson.

I am not saying you are wrong, just that it is wrong to blast this kid the way some of the posters have for simply changing his mind. And really, we don't even know 100% that he has (looks like tomorrow afternoon will clue us on to the answer).

[808 Buck]

This probably isn't my place, but union is well-connected in the recruiting world. As his post states, he will go more in-depth when he sees fit.

[calibuck]

good points OB, and consider.....here's a kid that may not have the confidence, and gives a 'soft-commitment' to a school just to have a place held for him. He then has the luxury of traveling to far away places (where neither he nor his family may have ever been), and be treated like a veritable king. Heck, I'm on the north side of 50 and I"D like that kind of treatment, let alone an 18 year old who doesn't quite know come here from sic'em yet.

Can't blame a youngster from changing their mind. You'd think that they'd see through the BS, like those of us with the tire treads of life down our backs, but maybe not. The Buckeyes will survive. Tress and staff have convinced me that they can 'coach up' the kids. With the position staff and our speed and strength coaches, we can take those 3*'s and turn them into All-Americans. Teamwork and chemistry are more important than one or two people with high skill levels. My opinion FWIW.

Heck, to parse another thread, have the USC songgirls take them down to the Santa Monica pier for a walk. That'd be enough to get me to commit right there! The LSU ladies and New Orleans? A close second.

[RB07OSU]

Originally Posted by unionfutura

That's all fine and good, but the kid shouldn't commit 7 different times to five different programs either. The teams in question would've moved on and recruited other prospects if the kid didn't promise he'd be part of their class.

Kids like the kid who decommitted from Texas to go to LSU on signing day a couple years ago, did Texas a horrible disservice, what did Texas do to deserve that type of treatment? Sure they were fortunate to land a Colt McCoy, but still that's a low class way to treat any program.

If you're not sure don't commit that's all I'm saying. I'll go more in depth later on.

I agree 100% and I think that may be the thing everyone doesn't realize. JB told numerous staffs to count on him going to their school. I can sometimes see somebody telling a school they will go there and changing their mind...once. OSU got a commitment, then Texas, Texas then backed off since he wouldn't commit, then ND had themselves a fine DT all of the sudden, then OSU got another great DT commitment, and now LSU has themselves a great DT commitment. I think I missed a school by union's count but maybe he will fill me on the 5th school. See what I mean? To tell all those schools that he would be part of their class threw off their recruiting I'm sure and if he wasn't 100% sure as union said, he shouldn't have told all of those staffs that. Even telling one of those schools that is bad enough (Brent) but to do it 7 times...that just shows us that we should all share LJB's sentiment of JB. Good luck at LSU but I just hope he doesn't end up treating his football career or life like the recruiting process.

[osugrad21]

Originally Posted by RB07OSU

I agree 100% and I think that may be the thing everyone doesn't realize. JB told numerous staffs to count on him going to their school. I can sometimes see somebody telling a school they will go there and changing their mind...once. OSU got a commitment, then Texas, Texas then backed off since he wouldn't commit, then ND had themselves a fine DT all of the sudden, then OSU got another great DT commitment, and now LSU has themselves a great DT commitment. I think I missed a school by union's count but maybe he will fill me on the 5th school. See what I mean? To tell all those schools that he would be part of their class threw off their recruiting I'm sure and if he wasn't 100% sure as union said, he shouldn't have told all of those staffs that. Even telling one of those schools that is bad enough (Brent) but to do it 7 times...that just shows us that we should all share LJB's sentiment of JB. Good luck at LSU but I just hope he doesn't end up treating his football career or life like the recruiting process.

So.....basically...in a nutshelll...you agree with UF and his inside info?

Thanks.

[buckeye247]

At least he isnt going to scUM.

[wadc45]

Originally Posted by Okinawa's#1Buck

All I am saying is do you really know (first hand knowledge) of his "commitment" to 5 schools 7 times? Do you know what was said behind closed doors? Has he ever stood infront of a camera and said I will be a Buckeye (seriously, I've read 20+ pages of this thread but haven't seen it)? There is a big difference between what we all believe to be true and what is really true. That is what makes this whole recruiting thing so much fun for the rest of us. Speculation, excitment over the future, fodder back and forth about who may go where.

I am sure the coaches are all smart enough to realize that no two recruits are the same. They know there are recruits who are [censored]-hot over tOSU at the beginning of the process but will cool as the process continues. They know there will be kids who change their mind at the process developes. And they know the kids who will make a commitment and stick to it. Coach T and the staff have proven again and again they have good reads on all the kids and I doubt this really knocks them for a loop.

No one on BP has better info than UF...this is a free site and you are likewise free to believe whoever you want. But when UF speaks, I listen...