'08 WV OL Josh Jenkins (West Virginia Signee)

[EastSide]

Originally Posted by FritoBandito

If Josh were inclined to head to Columbus, I would expect him not to announce it until the last possible minute -- to avoid the tremendous home-state pressure an early de-commit would bring down on him.

Good observation.

But the end result is still the same and should he choose OSU sooner than later, he could blame it on the coaching change and give WVU a chance to replace his slot.

[Oh8ch]

But the end result is still the same and should he choose OSU sooner than later, he could blame it on the coaching change and give WVU a chance to replace his slot.

What kids say publicly and what they say to the coaches can be very different. He may well be letting Rodriquez know where he stands if he is in fact certain.

[tlinc]

I hope everyone who thinks we have a good chance is correct, but I don't have as good of a feeling about Jenkins as I do most of the other top guys we are in on this year.

I think that with him waiting to make a final decision, it will be easy to get caught up in the 2007 college season. I think that there is a good chance that WVU will have a very good season. With White and Slaton they should also be pretty exciting and will get a lot of national attention. The whole state will get caught up in the hype and it will be easy for the state's top prospect to buy into the hype also.

A very similar scenario happened last year with Anthony Davis and Rutgers.

I worry that if WVU has as good of a season as OSU (or possibly even better with OSU in a little bit of a rebuilding mode) that some of the legit reasons for leaving the state (better program, better competition, better pro prospects, better shot at a NC) become harder to see because of the similar 2007 team performances.

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by tlinc

A very similar scenario happened last year with Anthony Davis and Rutgers. .

There is a huge difference from being from the same hometown as the state university (Rutgers) and being from Parkersburg which is right across the Ohio River. In West Virginia, Morgantown and Parkersburg are very very different.

[HINYG8]

Eh.

I think what could make OSU more attractive to Jenkins is the chance to play with the rest of Block O, no matter how each team fares next year.

I don't think this is about selecting the team having a better season, but rather where does he fit in and how does that balance with distance, the school, and the opportunity to succeed. And I say that even if OSU comes out much better than WVU next season.

WVU can run the string next year, but they can't offer him a chance to line up with Block O. He knows he fits in with those guys, he knows they are talented, and he knows OSU is an established program that puts wins on the scoreboard and kids in the NFL.

WVU is a rising program, with some short term success (and keep in mind even in the last few seasons when WVU has 'emerged' as a national program, they still have not matched OSU in those seasons!) but no established record of competing for NCs, putting kids high in the draft, and the opportunity to play with a unit like Block O.

If Jenkins comes to OSU, I don't think it will have a thing to do with how each team performs next year..I think we should pat Brew, Adams, and Shug on the back for a recruiting job well done.

JMO.

[IrishCalves]

From a different standpoint (ND fan), it sounds like this decision may not be completely Jenkins'. I know it's coming from an Irish Eyes radio show, but it sounds like some adults in his life are running interference with Jenkins, that they've been more than hesitant in giving out Jenkins' phone # to the Notre Dame staff. I never really had much hope for Jenkins, and when I see a picture of him doing this (2nd from right)...



... I think he wants to be a Buckeye too. Just... don't be surprised if this thing gets very awkward/hard to follow, if there are adults trying to actively steer him one way or another.

[OSU_Buckguy]

Originally Posted by IrishCalves

when I see a picture of him doing this (2nd from right)...

thanks for the clarification.