DB Anderson Russell (official thread)

[Buckskin86]

Originally Posted by wadc45

I really hope we are recruiting him as a safety

Yes, tOSU is recruiting him as a safety. Read post #6 in this thread and the article linked in the post. tOSU offered early October as a Safety.

[StoRMinBrutus]

Anderson would be such a great addition to OSU. With that much talent you gotta believe he be getting alot of playing time soon, and as Brutus2002 stated, he is a good student and will pick up the system fast. When he does commit I'm sure so many Buckeyes will breathe a sigh of relief because we need a good athlete like him, at RB or saftey.

[Bucktastic]

I seriously hope we land this guy. He obviously has impressed tOSU coaches and I think hed be a solid pickup. I also think its great that we have an extra RB in our pocket if we need him. Plus, you gotta love a guy who calls tOSU his DREAM school. That puts him over the top. Hope to see him in the S & G very soon!!!

[Savante]

I wouldn't be surprised to see this guy commit this weekend, honestly. Sounds like he loves OSU

Could be a good one. I'd expect that 4.6 speed is not a "fake" time like you see on many, and he's plenty fast. I expect him to play S here, but if we only get one of Wells/Stewart/Ringer, he may play RB.

[tsteele316]

I'd have to agree with savante.


also, I thought i've read before that MSL 40 times are traditionally slower than those at Nike camps. Is this the case, or did I just make that up?

[Savante]

Originally Posted by tsteele316

I'd have to agree with savante.


also, I thought i've read before that MSL 40 times are traditionally slower than those at Nike camps. Is this the case, or did I just make that up?

You... agree... with me? What?!?!?! That's crazy.

That's true, though. It says 4.59 in his profile from MSL, which equates to probably 4.5 at Nike, from what I know.

He's not a super freak, but he's built well, plenty athletic and very intelligent, so I'll definitely take him. He could easily grow into a smaller LB, too, if he puts on 25 pounds. Versatility, baby.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Savante

...He could easily grow into a smaller LB, too, if he puts on 25 pounds. Versatility, baby.

Why move him to LB should he bulk up to 220? Keep him at safety. Miami didn't move Sean Taylor from safety when he was 6'3" and 235...

[Savante]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

Why move him to LB should he bulk up to 220? Keep him at safety. Miami didn't move Sean Taylor from safety when he was 6'3" and 235...

I'm not saying they SHOULD, per se. I'm just saying it's possible. Personally, I think he'll end up at safety, but say that Patterson and O'Neal turn out to be incredible, or Jenkins moves to safety.. the point is, he COULD move there if there was a logjam at S and a need at LB. He'll likely be a safety, but the fact that he could be a back or a LB is nice, too, in case he doesn't fit at either, or a position is too stacked for him to make an impact. Make sense?

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Savante

I'm not saying they SHOULD, per se. I'm just saying it's possible. Personally, I think he'll end up at safety, but say that Patterson and O'Neal turn out to be incredible, or Jenkins moves to safety.. the point is, he COULD move there if there was a logjam at S and a need at LB. He'll likely be a safety, but the fact that he could be a back or a LB is nice, too, in case he doesn't fit at either, or a position is too stacked for him to make an impact. Make sense?

What if there's log jam at LB? Then what? Hell, if he got taller (some kids do continue to grow after high school), we could move him to corner, or maybe even receiver. My point is that so many people pigeon-hole players solely because of size: "Oh, he's 6'2" and 220. He's too big to be a safety...that's linebacker size, so let's move him there."

While versitility is good, I would imagine that the only two positions he should be considered for are safety and running back.

[Savante]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

What if there's log jam at LB? Then what? Hell, if he got taller (some kids do continue to grow after high school), we could move him to corner, or maybe even receiver. My point is that so many people pigeon-hole players solely because of size: "Oh, he's 6'2" and 220. He's too big to be a safety...that's linebacker size, so let's move him there."

While versitility is good, I would imagine that the only two positions he should be considered for are safety and running back.

Okay, let me explain myself better, bro, I'm not doing a good job.

I'm not suggesting having him put on 20 pounds just in case we need a LB, I'm suggesting that at his size, speed and body, he can play many places. I think he puts on 20 pounds natural in the strength and conditioning program, and at 6'1 (my guess is he grows an inch) and 220, that makes him the type of guy that can play at a lot of places -- LB, RB, S, WR, even corner (although he may be a step slow for that). I expect he ends up a little bit taller, in addition to weighing at least 20 pounds more, which is perfect. At that size, he's a big safety, and he's athletic, and it'd be a great place for him to play. But if safety doesn't work out, then he's not done at OSU. Mike Roberts didn't pan out at corner, neither did Harlen Jacobs. Had they been bigger, they might have gotten a shot to play somewhere else, and maybe seen the field. They're both a bit thin, so there's not really anywhere else to play them. Anderson might be a different case.

The best part about that size is his versatility. If he ends up at 6'1", 220, and has the size and speed to realistically excel at four positions, it's better for him and the team. Hell, I'm not suggesting we should move him anywhere yet. He looks to be a safety -- start him there. If he doesn't do a great job there, or isn't looking to make headway at a stacked position, maybe then he'll fit in somewhere else. Really, it benefits him the most, because the coaches have proven they won't hesitate to give someone a chance at a new position, so good for him. Thomas Matthews and Jason Caldwell are just two examples of this. Sounds like a good kid, and if he can't crack the lineup at DB one year, let him play rush LB and situational RB for a year. No reason he can't switch back.

My point isn't "this guy can be moved to a different position if he fails", my point is "his versatility could be a weapon and a half". Imagine him as a freshman, coming in and getting a few carries a game, playing on ST, or being a dime back. Imagine him in his sophomore year, getting time at safety and as a rush linebacker, or even as a coverage linebacker. I love to see a kid so versatile partly because they're a weapon, and partly because it means they have a better chance of seeing the field early and often. I'm not suggesting he put on weight for a move, nor am I suggesting he end up anywhere but safety. He's going to probably end up as a safety, but assuming something happens down the road (like Thomas Matthews, who didn't really pan out at safety), it looks like he could get a chance to fit in somewhere else. Cie Grant is the type of kid I imagine when I see this guy, so for me, it's just natural to want to abuse his versatility.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Savante

Okay, let me explain myself better, bro, I'm not doing a good job.

I understood you 100% from the gitgo. There are a lot of kids on our team, or soon to be on our team, that could "grow into another position" physique-wise. Guys like Grant were the exception, and also he switched positions because other positions needed help and not because he got pushed out of his original position.

[StoRMinBrutus]

Lets just agree he'd be a GREAT athlete at Ohio State and we'll recruit him at Saftey and RB and then figure it out later where he should be. He is smart and wants to be a Buckeye ... thats all that matters to me

[Savante]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

I understood you 100% from the gitgo. There are a lot of kids on our team, or soon to be on our team, that could "grow into another position" physique-wise. Guys like Grant were the exception, and also he switched positions because other positions needed help and not because he got pushed out of his original position.

Yeah, I understand completely -- I think that Tressel enjoys recruiting kids who still may have some growing to do, either height or weight wise, so that they can help them grow the best they can.

Basically, I want him to play where he's best suited, and he wants to play. Hopefully he'll get that chance.

[wadc45]

Well, in response to my own comment yesterday, I am glad that we are recruiting him to play wherever. I don't think there is such a thing as too many athletes. Let him grow into a Cie Grant-type OLB, or let him maintain his weight and be a smash mouth safety ala Will Allen. Or maybe he will be the Ediie George-type bruising runner in the backfield.

So while I agree this probably is not indicative of our standing with any other RB recruits, things cannot be looking terribly good for guys like Freddie Lenix, no?

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Savante

...Basically, I want him to play where he's best suited, and he wants to play...

That I can agree with.

Originally Posted by wadc45

...I don't think there is such a thing as too many athletes. Let him grow into a Cie Grant-type OLB, or let him maintain his weight and be a smash mouth safety ala Will Allen. Or maybe he will be the Ediie George-type bruising runner in the backfield...

Agreed, though I still think we should treat him as a safety or running back first and foremost, because that's where he plays now. If situations dictate otherwise later, then cool.