'08 OH OL Elliot Mealer (Michigan Signee)

[Tresselbeliever]

Originally Posted by crazybuckfan40

Kirk Barton mold all the way...

It is just too bad that we arent going to have room for a guy like this...

This is 2 in-state lineman that Michigan has sent offers to that we havent...

Don't think for a minute that Block O is set in stones. This is recruiting, and things never pan out the way you expect them to, especially this early. Just about every year, it seems that a group of prospects emerge as fan favorites, and out of nowhere, coaches offer a prospect that has never been heard of. Coaches go after guys who can play, and if they like him enough, I don't think they will hesitate to offer him.

[OSUnumber45]

I live in the Toledo area so it's close enough for me to go see Mealer since Wauseon is about 45 mins away. I'll try to get down there to watch a game or two and let you guys know what I think.

Same with Koger.

[bryanhd20]

limited numer of schollies this year will probably hurt some kids we would have offered any other year, and I think Mealer will be one of those. I am from wauseon also, and I hope he ends up in the scarlet and gray!!!!

[wadc45]

Originally Posted by crazybuckfan40

Kirk Barton mold all the way...

another guy, like Ballard, that people didn't know if he was going to be a TE or a tackle...

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

I would REALLY like to see this kid get an offer.....REALLY would.

[RB07OSU]

Originally Posted by OSUBuckeye4Life

I would REALLY like to see this kid get an offer.....REALLY would.

Would you rather have him over any of Adams, Shugarts, Long, Brewster, or Jenkins? As of now it looks like we get at least 4 of those 5, possibly all 5. Good prospect but we just don't have room for him. Now if we do happen to miss on someone, then he is a possibility. In fact, I would rather have Shaw be the next OL offer if that happened, or Sanders.

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

Originally Posted by RB07OSU

Would you rather have him over any of Adams, Shugarts, Long, Brewster, or Jenkins? As of now it looks like we get at least 4 of those 5, possibly all 5. Good prospect but we just don't have room for him. Now if we do happen to miss on someone, then he is a possibility. In fact, I would rather have Shaw be the next OL offer if that happened, or Sanders.

Not necessarily over those, but they aren't certain. I would take Mealer over Sanders due to his versitility. We have enough Tackle propsects in those you mentioned. Shugarts and Mealer would be versatile enough to play other positions on the line.

Shaw is intriguing, but how much interest does he really have? I know Brewster has been in contact but I haven't seen much in terms of updates between him and Ohio State.

As it stands though, I can understand why we haven't offered due to where we stand with some key guys......but if one were to fall though I'd want Mealer to get an offer 3 weeks ago.

[Tresselbeliever]

Originally Posted by RB07OSU

Would you rather have him over any of Adams, Shugarts, Long, Brewster, or Jenkins? As of now it looks like we get at least 4 of those 5, possibly all 5. Good prospect but we just don't have room for him. Now if we do happen to miss on someone, then he is a possibility. In fact, I would rather have Shaw be the next OL offer if that happened, or Sanders.

OT, but there have been a ton of success stories in the Tressel era with Ohio linemen who are not regarded as blue chippers nationally: Rob Sims, Nick Mangold, TJ Downing, Kirk Barton...I'm sure there were tons of OL prospects that people wanted to get ahead of Kirk Barton; and you can add Ben Person and Jim Cordle to that list shortly. Not saying that we should place Mealer on top of our priority list ahead of some other guys, but the fact of the matter is Ohio State and Michigan identify and recruit OL talent in the Midwest the best, and an early offer from Michigan can not be simply dismissed. If Mealer does not commit before fall, put me down as someone who predicts that he will receive an offer.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by Tresselbeliever

OT, but there have been a ton of success stories in the Tressel era with Ohio linemen who are not regarded as blue chippers nationally: Rob Sims, Nick Mangold, TJ Downing, Kirk Barton...I'm sure there were tons of OL prospects that people wanted to get ahead of Kirk Barton.

Yep, Tressel has done a fine job finding diamonds in the rough. Joe Thomas looks like he'll become a strong OL for Pitt (who we offered too late).

Not saying that we should place Mealer on top of our priority list ahead of some other guys, but the fact of the matter is Ohio State and Michigan identify and recruit OL talent in the Midwest the best, and an early offer from Michigan can not be simply dismissed.

UM is in dire need of many OTs and most of their offers don't look promising (Adams-OSU verbal, Shugarts-not top4, Brewster-osu leads, Robinson-NEB verbal, Nix-Pitt leads, Givens-Neb leads, Sanders-not top3). O'Neill was a good land, and Clelland is definitely in play, but Mealer could be their third most realistic option at OT. Mealer seems to be a good prospect, I'm just putting UM's need in perspective.

If Mealer does not commit before fall, put me down as someone who predicts that he will receive an offer.

Even if all 4 of Brewster, Long, Shugarts & Jeknis (+ the verballed Adams) are still on the board?

[Tresselbeliever]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Even if all 4 of Brewster, Long, Shugarts & Jeknis (+ the verballed Adams) are still on the board?

Especially if they are still on the board...

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by Tresselbeliever

Especially if they are still on the board...

Then if they all verbal, we have two remaining scholarships (one if you assume the GVille pipeline continues w/ Scott), until someone leaves (transfers, goes pro, kicked out).

What about Pryor, Scott, Hale, Sweat, Goebel, etc?

[Tresselbeliever]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Then if they all verbal, we have two remaining scholarships (one if you assume the GVille pipeline continues w/ Scott), until someone leaves (transfers, goes pro, kicked out).

What about Pryor, Scott, Hale, Sweat, Goebel, etc?

If Brewster/Long/Shugart/Jenkins as well as Mealer are all still on the board after summer, verbals would be accepted on a first come first serve basis. This would have no impact on the scholarship situation.

PS. With the exception of Brewster, I don't think any of these other kids are even close to being an OSU "lock". And even with Brewster, you have a couple of very hot coaches on his trails. Maybe I'm just more paranoid, but no one is safe from being named Pete's #1 guy. Therefore, if all four of these kids are still undecided by fall, and with OSU in dire need of help on the OL, I don't see the coaches hesitating to offer other quality prospects at all.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by Tresselbeliever

If Brewster/Long/Shugart/Jenkins as well as Mealer are all still on the board after summer, verbals would be accepted on a first come first serve basis.

Where do you get the idea that they will be pressured to commit?

[Tresselbeliever]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Where do you get the idea that they will be pressured to commit?

They won't be forced to give their commitments, but no one understands that OSU coaches have to secure commitment in a position of need more so than OSU coaches, and their delay is not a justification for not going after other top prospects.

I don't think the coaches will tell them explicitly that they have to commit by so-and-so day or their spots will no longer be secure. As the process drags on, I'm sure the coaches will be looking more and more at contingency plans. Mike Adams seems to be very tight with these guys and he can convey some thoughts from the coaches.

[RB07OSU]

Well if you put it in our perspective right now, we have 4 guys who look very promising to be in this class. Adams is in, Brewster may as well be, if Long doesn't pick baseball he is ours, and Shugarts we are in great shape with(slight lead but LSU can't be discounted) and he is visiting on the spring game. It looks more likely than not to land all these guys...then there is Josh Jenkins, who we have a legit shot at, especially if those 4 are in and calling him up. With so few schollies to hand out, how could you justify an offer at this point when you are looking so good? Yes, there are certainly diamonds in the rough and we have found them occasionally...but how do you discern a diamond in the rough from a player that is ranked below a blue chipper for a reason? That is the staffs job and they haven't offered, so good enough for me. They must have a good handle on the situation...but like you said, if those guys do fall through, Mealer certainly wouldn't be a bad plan B. The guys you gave as examples:
Rob Sims- 4 star guard
Nick Mangold- 4 star center, top 100 player, select to the AA game
Barton+Downing- Good point, both were 3 stars, though Downing was rated pretty high on ESPN's ratings(I know, a joke)
- So some were rated highly, some weren't...point is that the staff knows how to find them and I am not worried about the OL recruiting this year in the slightest. Mealer looks like a good player but with limited schollies, there are many other guys in Ohio I would probably rather have that we may not have room for (Williams, Beachum, Adams, Pead, Fairchild, and Moore).