'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.

[JCOSU86]

Originally Posted by 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.

Mike Adams is a big, big man.

If the staff feels good about JJ, will that be it? Or will they bring in Rowell or another OL?

[OSUBucks22]

Originally Posted by JCOSU86

Mike Adams is a big, big man.

If the staff feels good about JJ, will that be it? Or will they bring in Rowell or another OL?

I think Jenkins would be it... The only way they take 5 is if Kyle Long decides to play football IMO...

If Rowell gets offered it would be as a DT...

[NavyBuck]

I suspect there will be movement pretty soon. If Shaw comes up to camp and looks as good as he has so far in combines, etc., I think the staff will offer him. Then it becomes interesting. Would Shaw jump on the offer? Would OSU give Jenkins a heads up and tell him "first guy to commit" (if they only want 4 OL). Would they take both?

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by NavyBuck

Would Shaw jump on the offer? Would OSU give Jenkins a heads up and tell him "first guy to commit" (if they only want 4 OL). Would they take both?

You can never have too many solid offensive linemen...

[Hodgepodge]

My guess once it became apparent that OSU was a major player here is that soon after school let out would be an ideal time to switch his commitment. It would be far easier for him to escape upsetWVU fans when school is not in session, and doing it during June would provide the maximum cooling off period for WVU fans. Waiting into the fall could start to put WVU in a bind with respect to getting in on other OL, and he couldn't escape upset WVU fans at that time. Granted, this all assumes that he has the level of interest in OSU that we've been led to believe and that he feels WVU fans would take it really badly.

[NavyBuck]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

You can never have too many solid offensive linemen...

I'm with you on that one. Personally, I think they should bring in five, but the staff doesn't always see things the way I do. I think it is pretty clear they would like four. What isn't clear to me is how comfortable they would be taking five. They may prefer ending up with just three rather than having to take 5. If that is the case, I don't think they offer Shaw (should he be offer worthy) without putting Jenkins on the spot.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by NavyBuck

I'm with you on that one. Personally, I think they should bring in five, but the staff doesn't always see things the way I do. I think it is pretty clear they would like four. What isn't clear to me is how comfortable they would be taking five. They may prefer ending up with just three rather than having to take 5. If that is the case, I don't think they offer Shaw (should he be offer worthy) without putting Jenkins on the spot.

About a year and a half ago. I posted an Ideal distribution of scholarships thread. In there, I said around 18 OL should be on scholarship. Barton is the only OL due to leave due to graduation...there have been rumors that Boone may leave early after this season (which would conveniently open up an additional scholarship). Let's say that Boone does declare for the draft, meaning he and Barton depart. That would leave us with 10 OL who are current on scholarship plus the 3 OL commits for a total of 13 OL if we took no one else. So, I'd say that we definitely have room for two more OL. 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.

[NavyBuck]

I'm with you all the way. And if you break down the projected OL into tackles and interior, the situation is even bleaker. That being said, I have decided that for whatever reason this staff is going to consistently low ball on OL numbers. I don't agree with it and I think it HAS cost the team (PSU), but there is no sign of a change in philosophy. If I were them, I would probably have had 5-6 more offers out there (including Mealer), focusing on OT types. Instead, they have one offer out (Jenkins). If I were a betting man, I would bet they end up with only three OL in this class.