Thought came to me re-watching this yesterday very early in the morning.
At the point in the documentary when the TSUN alum opines that Ohio State has never been able to put up a leak-proof fence around Ohio - the thought came to me, is that less true going forward than in the past? (Especially when one considers the scholarship limits mean that Tressel cannot stockpile talent, keeping gifted players out of other team's clutches.)
Look over the Buckeye State schooled players on their roster today - think of who is coming in, think of who may be exiting stage left hoping to make green on Sundays.
Definitely Coming Back - 3 Players:
On Special Teams
Mesko and Kicker
Bryan Wright are definitely coming back. Still think it is a shame that Wright could not be offered. Though, the lack of such an offer for Wright is part of a critical trend. Flat out fewer players are being lost head-to-head with TSUN.
Also returning is legacy O-lineman
Boren. True he was offered head-to-head, but we all knew where Boren was likely headed, and the tOSU staff made this a tough choice. (Which arguably would not have been the case in years gone by).
Definitely Departing
Leo LB
Shawn Crable - hope you enjoyed that 0-4 run Shawn.
Possible Departures:
WR Manningham - who was a head-to-head loss versus tOSU, but I think this trend is changing.
TE Mike Massey - he is a true Junior, but is he less likely to leave than Manningham? This TE was also offered by
OSU, a family divided with members playing in the past at Ohio State and TSUN. (Pat Massey was at TSUN at the time of recruitment).
Most Likely Staying
CB Brandon Harrison - also an academic Junior, and arguably not a loss in recruiting considering the Ohio State class reeled in Jenkins and JamO that same year, plus the then WR prospect Donald Worthington. Plus, TSUN was Harrison's 2nd choice - after he decommited from ND.
Incoming Border Crossers:
TE Kevin Koger - The Only one of these 3 who carried an
OSU Offer. Head-to-head win for TSUN in the recruiting department.
TE Brandon Moore - no doubting his talent, but
OSU never offered - you cannot call this a loss when the tOSU staff saw better prospects elsewhere.
OT Elliott Mealer - tOSU never offered. Mealer opted for TSUN a day or so after he failed to snag an offer around his visit to the Spring Game. Perhaps he saw a certain Block "O" practicing their OHIO cheer?
So, this year - TSUN has 6 significant border crossing contributors on their depth chart. (Can't really count Wright at this time, K. C. Lopata being their present go-to guy for kicking).
Next year TSUN could have as
few as 3 returning border crossers.
They will add 3 more to that total, of whom only
one was a TSUN-tOSU contested recruit.
The maximum likely border crossing head count is 9 - if
none of Manningham, Massey or Harrison depart, and
all the incoming recruits hold firm in the face of a possible (likely) exit from Carr.
Besides which, here is a great perspective question. Given the alternatives slotted in by the staff at the respective positions is there anyone, other than Manningham or Boren, that you would contemplate taking over their current equivalent at Ohio State?
I thought not.
Of the incoming recruits who except Koger is a loss in a head-to-head battle? (Rhetorical question really).
A good fence is in place in my view. tOSU is losing fewer important recruits to TSUN straight up, and they are keeping more often exactly those they want and can keep in state, in Scarlet and Gray.
Days like yesterday can only help shore things up for the good guys.
