OL Justin Boren (official thread)

[wadc45]

Kurelic Premium

Boren does not plan on stretching his decision out too long. He is hopeful to have a choice made by May or June. He would like to graduate early to enroll for spring practices wherever he goes. He admits to having grown up on Michigan football, but also to liking the Buckeyes having grown up in central Ohio. He has had an offer from tOSU since his sophmore year. He attended the Junior Day at OSU and he enjoyed hearing about the academics. He is fully qualified.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I think we are in good position with Justin. SCUM brought in Marques Slocum #1, Cory Zirbel #10, Justin Schifano #12, David Moosman #11, Mark Ortmann #43, Tim McAvoy #29 in the class of 2005.

I would think we would have the advantage on the depth chart and the fact that according to Duane, Justin's father said he was an tOSU lean and that he was a homebody who didnt want to go far away.

Is SCUM to far away?

[wadc45]

Rivals Premium

2/9/2005

From the Michigan Rivals site...Justin has been going to Michigan games as long as he can remember, tailgating with his father's former teammates. He likes the tradition at Michigan. But he also says he feels very comfortable in Columbus. Michigan and OSU are his top two as of right now. He is headed north for Michigan's Junior Day next weekend. He is aware that Michigan took a lot of lineman last year, so he wants to see how he will fit in up there. He plans on taking all five official visits, but he is open to committing at any time.

[tsteele316]

Originally Posted by wadc45

Rivals Premium

2/9/2005

From the Michigan Rivals site...Justin has been going to Michigan games as long as he can remember, tailgating with his father's former teammates. He likes the tradition at Michigan. But he also says he feels very comfortable in Columbus. Michigan and OSU are his top two as of right now. He is headed north for Michigan's Junior Day next weekend. He is aware that Michigan took a lot of lineman last year, so he wants to see how he will fit in up there. He plans on taking all five official visits, but he is open to committing at any time.

ttun writers are notorious homers (although nowhere near as bad as the canesport bunch), so if this is what they put out, i feel pretty good about osu's chances at this point.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Its still real early in the process, but I think Justin makes a decision before in the summer and I think we are in great position right now. I believe the depth chart will play a big role.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

SCOUT

2/12/05

From the SCUM site, Justin is going up for their Junior day and will be attending Purdue's Junior day the same weekend. His two leaders are tOSU and SCUM. He expresses some concern about the number of lineman SCUM recruited this past class. Justin also hopes SCUM will offer when he comes up for Junior Day. He still states his desire to make a decision in May or June, graduate early. Might take visits to USC and Miami (FL).

[msj2487]

I had thought scUM already offered...

[OH10]

scUM may not offer. The fact is that they did have an offensive lineman coup in last year's class. Their priorities this year are goig to be the speed players, such as wrs and dbs, as well as lbs and rushing ends. An offer for Boren may depend upon the development of the linemen already brought in by Michigan in this last class.

But, if they do offer, watch out. It's hard for a depth chart to overcome being a fan.

[Oh8ch]

Michigan has broght in 4 OL in each of their last three classes - including 8 who were rated in the top 25 at the positoin.

[Highstreet]

Per GBW:
Justin is scheduled to attend the Mich. Junior Day this weekend.

[Buckeye Dan]

Can anyone confirm an article in the Dispatch stating that Justin received an offer from UM on Friday? Also, that he plans to enroll early as well.

[ysubuck]

Dispatch reported that scUM offered on Friday.

I'm not sure that the Buckeyes will be able to overcome the family connections to Michigan.

Ex-Wolverine is in middle of contest to recruit son
Pickerington North’s Boren sought by Michigan, OSU
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--> <table class="phototableright" align="right" border="0"> <!-- begin large ad code --> <tbody><tr><td id="story-ad"> <script **********\"**********1.1\" type=\"text/**********\" src="http://adsrv.dispatch.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.dispatch.com/osufootball@Position1"> </script> <noscript> </noscript> </td></tr><tr><td> <table align="center"> <tbody><tr><td align="center"> </td></tr> <tr><td class="credit" width="200"> TIM REVELL | DISPATCH </td></tr> <tr><td class="cutline" width="200">Pickerington North offensive lineman Justin Boren grew up a Michigan fan. </td></tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr> </tbody> </table>

As Mike Boren recalled, Bo Schembechler wasn’t sure what to make of the news that Boren’s older son was considering a scholarship offer to play football for Ohio State.

Boren, a Columbus native, played for Schembechler at Michigan, where he was a standout linebacker in the early 1980s. Now Boren’s son Justin, a junior at Pickerington North, is considered one of the top offensive line prospects in the country.

He received a scholarship offer from Ohio State more than a year ago. An offer from Michigan coach Lloyd Carr arrived Friday.

The tug of war is on.

As far as Schembechler was concerned, though, there is nothing to discuss.

"Bo just said, ‘He’s your son. You tell him where he’s going to go,’ " Mike Boren said with a laugh. "But I told Bo, ‘I’m not going to tell him where to go. He has to make this decision for himself.’ "

If anything, Boren has cautioned his son not to be hasty.

"My dad wants me to go through the process, to take all five official visits, because he said it’s a great experience, and you never know, there might be another school out there that surprises me," Justin Boren said. "So my doors are wide open, and I am going to keep them that way for a little while."

Justin, who plans to graduate next winter to facilitate an early move to college, expects to commit before the 2005 highschool season. His father will back that decision, as long as it’s based on more than just football.

"It’s a privilege to have this opportunity," Justin Boren said. "I’m looking at it not just for football but also to get a good education. Football is not going to last forever."

On that topic, father knows best. Mike Boren left Eastmoor High School for Michigan in 1980 intent on someday playing in the NFL. He might have, too, if he hadn’t suffered a knee injury his senior season.

"I took football for granted, and then when I didn’t have football anymore, I about cried," Mike Boren said.

Upon leaving Michigan, he had a degree in education, but he had no desire to be a teacher or a coach. That he has become the owner of three successful businesses is more of a testament to his work ethic.

"He went after a major in college that he hasn’t used his whole life," Justin Boren said. "He went to college, he said, just to play football. And he has told me, ‘Do as I say, not as I did.’

"He wants me to get an education I can use, because he went to college to play football and it came back to bite him in the butt."

Justin Boren will seek a major in construction management or civil engineering. Which is why now is not the time to play favorites, at least with his heart.

"I was always a big Michigan fan; I hated Ohio State growing up," Boren said. "But I got around to seeing it’s not all about what college you like. It’s about what college is best for you."

If you think Schembechler is having a hard time understanding that philosophy, Mike Boren said, you ought to talk with Justin’s 13-year-old brother, Zach.

"He is such a huge Michigan fan, and he is so sick about Justin even contemplating going to Ohio State, he is crying," Mike Boren said. "But Justin has got to make his own decision. And I told Zach, when it comes his time, he’ll have to make his own decision, too."

[Buckeye Dan]

Originally Posted by ysubuck

Justin Boren will seek a major in construction management or civil engineering. Which is why now is not the time to play favorites, at least with his heart.

"I was always a big Michigan fan; I hated Ohio State growing up," Boren said. "But I got around to seeing it’s not all about what college you like. It’s about what college is best for you."

If you think Schembechler is having a hard time understanding that philosophy, Mike Boren said, you ought to talk with Justin’s 13-year-old brother, Zach.

"He is such a huge Michigan fan, and he is so sick about Justin even contemplating going to Ohio State, he is crying," Mike Boren said. "But Justin has got to make his own decision. And I told Zach, when it comes his time, he’ll have to make his own decision, too."

After reading this exert, it would seem that Justin has moved past the feelings he had as a child growing up (hatred towards tOSU). The guidance he has received from his father is helping to guide him towards making an informed decision and one that is best for him.

The quote from Mike Boren in regards to Justin's 13 year old brother jumps right out at you, and may lead one to believe that Justin may be leaning towards the Buckeyes...

"He is such a huge Michigan fan, and he is so sick about Justin even contemplating going to Ohio State, he is crying."

Granted, Junior Day Weekend at UM could certainly reverse some of the affinity that Justin now holds towards OSU, but given that JT has been showing him a ton of love for the last year can only help... Compared to Lloyd just now getting around to offering.

[Oh8ch]

His Dad is letting him make his own decision, but I see nothing to indicate he wouldn't mind seeing his son go to Michigan. I mean, the guy raised both his kids to hate OSU. (Sounds something like Aaron Brown's Dad who is also letting his son go through the process - but has his own bias as well.)

With that bias in place I'm not sure what OSU has that Michigan doesn't that would overcome that bias and persuade him to come here. I certainly didn't read anything in that article that indictes he is anything more than 'open' to OSU.

This is a very, very long shot IMO.

[Highstreet]

If he was not seriously close to committing to OSU, or acting like he was going to come here, what would the little brother have to cry about....