DE Melvin Fellows (official thread)

[osugrad21]

CPD

Fellows says it's Illinois



Friday, January 25, 2008 Bob Fortuna

Plain Dealer Reporter
University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook and his staff liked what they saw in Garfield Heights High School defensive end Melvin Fellows during the 2006 high school season.
They were so impressed they offered the 6-5, 245-pounder a scholarship after his sophomore season, and Fellows returned the favor by recently giving the Fighting Illini his oral commitment.
"I know it's only a verbal [commitment] but right now, it's Illinois," said Fellows, a junior defensive end who has already made unofficial visits to Illinois and Ohio State. "Illinois was the first college to offer me a scholarship, they've kept in constant contact with me and I love Ron Zook."




Cont...

[LitlBuck]

From the PD article referenced above. Notice the two words right now.

"I talk to Cordale and Ashante all the time," said Fellows, who hinted he might major in physical therapy. "As I said, right now it's Illinois."

[WiseBuck]

From the article, looks like Melvin has already chosen his friends in Scott and Williams. To throw a scholly away from tOSU IMO is probably something a player regrets 2-3 years later since I have heard this from other players who went elsewhere because it all sounded real good at the time but it didn't turn out the way it was told to them or supposed to be. Then reality and disappointment set in and the mistake cannot be reversed. It's one and done. With that said, players and parents make their decision and have to live with it. I really wish all these players well because it is alot to sort through.

[LordJeffBuck]

Signing Day 2009 is over a year away, so all this talk about Melvin being "solid" with Illinois is premature.

When looking at Fellows's recruitment, consider the case of Keith Wells. Keith committed to Florida State on August 10th. At that time, his top three schools were Auburn, Florida, and Florida State. Wells then played his senior season without giving any public indication that he was wavering on his FSU verbal; the first report that Wells was still looking around came in late November (11/26). However, after his season ended, Wells began to take official visits, including trips to Ohio State (12/07) and Tennessee (01/18). Wells de-committed from Florida State on January 14th.

Between November 26th and January 14th, Keith consistently maintained (at least in public) that he was still committed to Florida State, that he was just looking around to make sure that Florida State was the best school for him, that he was just having some fun with the recruiting process, etc. Even after his formal de-commitment from Florida State, Keith stated that the Seminoles were still kinda, sorta his leader. Now, on January 26th, Keith's top three schools are Ohio State, Tennessee, and Notre Dame, and he isn't even taking an official visit to Florida State.

So, back to Melvin Fellows ... don't be too concerned with what he says today, because there's still a looooong way to go.

[osubucksfan2]

Originally Posted by WiseBuck

From the article, looks like Melvin has already chosen his friends in Scott and Williams. To throw a scholly away from tOSU IMO is probably something a player regrets 2-3 years later since I have heard this from other players who went elsewhere because it all sounded real good at the time but it didn't turn out the way it was told to them or supposed to be. Then reality and disappointment set in and the mistake cannot be reversed. It's one and done. With that said, players and parents make their decision and have to live with it. I really wish all these players well because it is alot to sort through.

That happens to players everywhere......not just Ohio State...

[brutus2002]

Lets just wait and see how Illinois does this season. They had 5-6 guys leave their defense and a few OL and Mendenhall on offense. Zook is hot because their RB appearance "legitimized" ILLINOIS...beating the buckeye helped their cause in Midwest recruiting as well. Illinois will not be the underdog and will get everyones best shot. We'll see how they handle the favorite rather than the underdog role.

[cbrian815]

They lost a ton of senior leadership. No more sneaking up on people. usc showed how to defend them with there defense. Now Illinois will find out how good the zoookerrr is. I believe they could be a slightly better than 500 team next year unless juice really steps his game up. I didnt think we played well against them and got the SHAFT with the officials during our game. It should be a war up there next year when we come in to play. I also think JT will have to change his recruiting style because zook is offereing Ohio boys much sooner than anyone is used to. It should be interesting to see how Tressel deals with a very AGGRESSIVE recruiter looking to make inroads in OHIO, and doing a respectable job at it. Tressel cant be happy about losing Scott, he was quite an athlete. Go Bucks

[stowfan]

I could be wrong but I think IL put up over 400 yards on USC

[Sportsbuck28]

Originally Posted by stowfan

I could be wrong but I think IL put up over 400 yards on USC

They did, but most of them came because they had no choice but to pass late in the game.

[BuckTwenty]

Originally Posted by Sportsbuck28

They did, but most of them came because they had no choice but to pass late in the game.

Yup. The majority were Mendenhall on a couple long carries late in the game after the game was pretty much over. Unfortunate for Illinois, if Mendenhall had any doubt about leaving early, those long carries against USC interested a LOT of scouts and made him at least a mid-to-late 1st round prospect.

Losing Mendenhall is gonna make a LOT of difference for their team next year, as well will losing J.Leman and other vital members to their D. I don't mean to offend our Illinois posters on here (or to look like an arrogant Ohio State prick), but last year's Illinois team probably reached their pinacle or ceiling getting to the Rose Bowl and have no where to go but down, especially since they'll be getting everybody's best shot the next few years and are losing a lot of players responsible for getting them to where they got last year. Think Iowa.

Completely agree with LJB. I think this coming year will help open up Melvin's eyes between the 2 schools. Stay in state to play in front of 105,000+, play for the best D 2 years (and soon to be 3 years) running, be coached up by Jim Tressel and the best coordinator in the nation, win some Big Ten and national championships, and have arguably the best platform to get to the pros. That's without mentioning the depth chart looks awfully favorable for time early, with players graduating and possibly leaving early (C.Heyward).

Make Mama happy. Stay home.

[Buckeyecty4]

Did OSU screw up with this kid by offering too late... I cant help but think if we had offered him first, he probably would have visited, and committed..

Instead Zook offered first, he tripped there, and got his verbal..

I personally feel this kid is gonna be very tough to pull, and must give Zook and his staff props, cause u can make an argument that they outfoxed us here

[The Man]

Originally Posted by Buckeyecty4

Did OSU screw up with this kid by offering too late... I cant help but think if we had offered him first, he probably would have visited, and committed..

Instead Zook offered first, he tripped there, and got his verbal..

I personally feel this kid is gonna be very tough to pull, and must give Zook and his staff props, cause u can make an argument that they outfoxed us here

Not sure offering him a month earlier would matter, Illinois has been on him since he was a Soph. Don't be mislead, OSU is still in this.

[LordJeffBuck]

Originally Posted by Buckeyecty4

Did OSU screw up with this kid by offering too late... I cant help but think if we had offered him first, he probably would have visited, and committed..

Instead Zook offered first, he tripped there, and got his verbal..

I personally feel this kid is gonna be very tough to pull, and must give Zook and his staff props, cause u can make an argument that they outfoxed us here

I mean, seriously, when should OSU have offered? In eighth grade?

There will always be a first offer ... and there will always be a best offer ... the goal is to be the in latter category.

[illinidarrin]

Originally Posted by BuckTwenty

Yup. The majority were Mendenhall on a couple long carries late in the game after the game was pretty much over. Unfortunate for Illinois, if Mendenhall had any doubt about leaving early, those long carries against USC interested a LOT of scouts and made him at least a mid-to-late 1st round prospect.

Losing Mendenhall is gonna make a LOT of difference for their team next year, as well will losing J.Leman and other vital members to their D. I don't mean to offend our Illinois posters on here (or to look like an arrogant Ohio State prick), but last year's Illinois team probably reached their pinacle or ceiling getting to the Rose Bowl and have no where to go but down, especially since they'll be getting everybody's best shot the next few years and are losing a lot of players responsible for getting them to where they got last year. Think Iowa.




Completely agree with LJB. I think this coming year will help open up Melvin's eyes between the 2 schools. Stay in state to play in front of 105,000+, play for the best D 2 years (and soon to be 3 years) running, be coached up by Jim Tressel and the best coordinator in the nation, win some Big Ten and national championships, and have arguably the best platform to get to the pros. That's without mentioning the depth chart looks awfully favorable for time early, with players graduating and possibly leaving early (C.Heyward).

Make Mama happy. Stay home.

BTW, i think Melvin will stick to his commitment.

[wadc45]

To see the Illinois take on his recruitment, feel free to visit this thread:

'09 OH DE Melvin Fellows (Illinois Verbal) - Recruiting Forums