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DDN article on Denlinger commitment

Troy's Denlinger verbally commits to Ohio State

By Doug Harris

Dayton Daily News

Most major football powers were prepared to fawn over coveted recruit Todd Denlinger, but the Troy High School senior-to-be advised them to save their breath.

Denlinger, who is considered one of the top five prospects in Ohio, orally committed to Ohio State on Wednesday. The 6-foot-4, 282-pound defensive lineman turned down offers from Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Stanford and Tennessee.

"It's a great relief to get that off my shoulders," said Denlinger, who admitted to being a rabid OSU fan. "They've been my team for as long as I can recall. Always on Saturdays, I watch the Buckeyes. Why go against them?"

Much fuss would have been made over Denlinger if he had waited until signing day in February to make his decision. But he told his many suitors to put him on their do-not-call list.

"I heard it gets ridiculous in August and September," he said. "You'll get phone calls every hour of the night from recruiters trying to get you to go to their school. I don't see the need for that.

"I want to focus on my high school team and get that show on the road."

Denlinger, who made second-team All-Greater Western Ohio Conference in 2003 as a linebacker, said he could bulk up to 300 pounds if needed, and he has been clocked in the 40-yard dash at a fleet 4.71 seconds.

In a one-season stint at middle linebacker in 2003, he led the Trojans with 125 tackles.

"He's got all the physical skills," Troy coach Steve Nolan said. "He's a big kid that can run very well. He gets to the football."

Denlinger also reportedly has a 3.85 grade-point average.

"He's a great all-around kid that's real coachable," Nolan said.

Denlinger is the fifth player in the 2005 class to commit to OSU, joining Ohioans Jamario O'Neal, Alex Boone and Jimmy Cordle and California's Ryan Williams.

The Buckeyes have been stockpiling defensive linemen — another Miami Countian, Quinn Pitcock of Piqua, was a catch in 2002 — but Denlinger won't cower from the competition.

He expects to get a shot right away in OSU's liberal substitution scheme. "I know they have great players," he said. "But the way they rotate at that position will benefit me. I'll be able to see plenty of early playing time.

"It just gives me something to strive for — to beat somebody out and try to take their job

Tim May- free Dispatch article

Tackle from Troy gives in to urge, settles on OSU
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Todd Denlinger was trying to keep his options open in the college football recruiting lottery, but he said he had to give in to the irresistible force.

"It’s always been my dream to play at Ohio State," said Denlinger, a 6-foot-3, 282-pound defensive tackle from Troy. "I’ve committed to the Buckeyes."

Evidently, it has been at least a short-term desire of the OSU coaches to have Denlinger join them, too. He is rated the top defensive line prospect in the state by the Ohio Football Recruiting News.

Denlinger said defensive coordinator Mark Snyder, assistant head coach/defensive line coach Jim Heacock and linebackers coach Luke Fickell took turns wooing him.

"I think the coaches are great there, and the campus is a great place," Denlinger said. "And the football program obviously is great.

"Coach Heacock is one of the best defensive line coaches in the country, as you can tell" by the recent selections of defensive linemen Will Smith, Tim Anderson and Darrion Scott in the NFL draft.

Denlinger still could have written his ticket to a lot of places. Despite his size, he ran a 4.71-second 40-yard dash at OSU’s summer camp last year. He played linebacker at Troy last season, collecting 125 tackles (17 for loss). Those stats, coupled with his 3.85 grade-point index, made him a hot commodity this spring.

"He’s one of the top defensive line prospects in the country," OFRN publisher Bill Kurelic said of OSU’s fifth commitment to the 2005 recruiting class.

Denlinger said he had 20 scholarship offers, including Wisconsin, Penn State, Oklahoma, Stanford, Duke, Tennessee, Cincinnati and South Carolina. He said OSU’s coaches did not apply pressure for him to make up his mind early.

"They put it in my own hands," Denlinger said. "It has been my goal to get it over with quickly.

"May was kind of the active time for recruiting. I wanted to finish the month and see what would happen. Nothing changed. Ohio State is where I’ve always wanted to go."


tmay@dispatch.com