'08 WV OL Josh Jenkins (West Virginia signee)

[FritoBandito]

Picking up two more OL commits would give us 15 scholarship OL going into 2008...out of a roster of 85 scholarship players, that's not a lot at all.

If I were a betting man, I would bet they end up with only three OL in this class.

Problem is the low total number of schollies available this year. There are several 'take-em-no-matter-what' kids out there with an interest in tOSU. I think there will be four OL in this class, almost guaranteed. But a fifth would have to compete for a spot against exceptional athletes at other skill positions.

[OSU SPORTS]

As far as I'm concerned, he is not coming to OSU. This information is not coming from some third party, the recruit has actually made it clear. Taking visits doesn't equate to being uncertain about his decision. Reminds me of Doug Worthington. He told everybody he was a solid verbal, but still made some visits and was considered a "soft" verbal by the recruiting services.

[OSUnumber45]

I wouldn't write Jenkins off just yet.

[Best Buckeye]

Originally Posted by OSUnumber45

I wouldn't write Jenkins off just yet.

No one is writing him off except himself. Jt will just pursue the more promising prospects yet leave the door open if that in fact is how JT wants to proceed.
No one is hanging their hopes and dreams on him either.

[Best Buckeye]

Originally Posted by OSUsushichic

Not if it isn't best for the player. He should go where he wants and where he will be the happiest. You shouldn't go to a school just to appease everyone else in the state.

Exactly.

[Best Buckeye]

Originally Posted by EastSide

your logic sounds good but when you go from super stud to getting booed daily, when at the mall, the grocery store, basically branded a trader, its best to take one for the team. basically, this is the hatfields and mccoys. there are many ohio high school stars that chose michigan over ohio state at basically the wrong time and decades later are not warmly welcomed in their hometowns because of their choice. Maybe Jenkins fears for what ridicule will come to him and his family should he go to OSU or even decommitt for that matter.

And what happens when that kid isn't happy where he goes to and doesn't fulfill the promise he had? You can't force kids to go where they don't want to. It just doesn't work out most times.

[sandgk]

Let's not over dramatize this situation. Jenkins gave an early commit to the 'Eers.

He is (simultaneously) sending smoke signals of being firm to West Virginia while looking seriously at other schools. While he might be doing the former to ward of the less forgiving elements in the local fan base, the latter isn't done solely to add to his frequent flyer miles or places I have been diary.

And neither action leads to the conclusion that it is best he "take one for the team." Lastly, those less forgiving elements will always have some new target on which to vent their bile - and have been spurned before, in their minds, many times over.

[osugrad21]

Martyrdom split off...back to Josh

[RB07OSU]

I'm not worried about it...put yourself in Jenkin's shoes. Every newspaper in West Virginia is afraid that he is removing his verbal to go to OSU and are knocking down the door for interviews...what else is he going to tell them? He is likely tired of saying everything else and just wants to get the reporters and locals off his back. If he said there was a good chance he may go to OSU over WVU, all of West Virginia would have a fit. It would make no sense for Jenkins to remove his verbal or even mention until near NLOID when he wouldn't be harrassed as much. Just relax and trust what the staff is doing here. I still think we are in fine and dandy shape.

[wadc45]

BG $

6/12

By BK...will likely be at the next camp hanging out but will not participate.

Far cry from the stuff quoted in the Gazette...FWIW.

[OSUBucks22]

Originally Posted by wadc45

Far cry from the stuff quoted in the Gazette...FWIW.

And yet another visit to Columbus for Mr. Jenkins...

[Napoleonbuck]

I agree. The only reason he would have said those things was to get the local press and the West Virginia sites off his back. He's going to be the first five star from that state in how long? I mean, I couldn't imagine the local pressure he's facing. Like it's been said before, it's one thing to see the country on your official visits, but it's an entirely different thing to visit the same campus repeatedly on your own dime.

[Bestbuck36]

I would say I feel sorry for Josh in his position, but I'd give up a lot to have to decide what he's deciding right now. Lets not forget that these young men aren't adults yet. Also don't forget that either way Josh goes he's going to get a hero's welcome. Playing major college football at a school thats going to a major bowl game next season.... hey sign me up right now and I dont give two rats behinds about a group of people being upset with my decision. Now, does Josh Jenkins and his family feel that way? Thats the question. If he goes to WVU he's a hometown hero instantly. He'll get to play for a pretty good program with a good shot at a major bowl this season. If he decides OSU is the place to be, he gets villified in West Virginia for spurning them but ends up idolized by the best fan base in the country bar none. He would also get to play with "Block O", play in at least one major bowl game and have a good shot at being drafted into the NFL if he lives up to his potential. Honestly I don't see a losing situation in there for him.

[Bestbuck36]

Hey, that was proper medical terminology! Maybe these recruits want to go to medical school at tOSU. You never know!

[FritoBandito]

It would make no sense for Jenkins to remove his verbal or even mention until near NLOID when he wouldn't be harrassed as much. Just relax and trust what the staff is doing here.

Bingo! If Josh makes the decision to switch over to tOSU, no one here or in the WVA media will know about it until he puts on the hat at his press conference.

I wonder if there were threads like this one on the Tennessee site last year, with everyone getting all lathered up about Ben Martin?