'08 TX ATH Sam McGuffie (Michigan Signee, Transfer to Rice)

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeKilla

Didn't we run into this situation in 2002 when Zwick was basically told he was the only QB, so we took Troy Smith as an "athlete"?

No. Especially because Troy started out playing a COUPLE of positions other than QB. Zwick had plenty of opportunity to solidify himself as the starting QB.

Anyway, as far as McGuffie is concerned. The only part of me that wants him in S&G is because I dont want him ending up at Michigan. Honestly.

Best of luck to him at camp though. If he gets that offer I'm sure he earned it.

[BrowardBuck]

If he is willing to move positions and he camps at tOSU, he may well wind up with an offer.

BB

[BuckeyeKilla]

Originally Posted by OSUBuckeye4Life

No. Especially because Troy started out playing a COUPLE of positions other than QB.

Troy started out at quarterback DAY 1 at OSU.

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeKilla

Troy started out at quarterback DAY 1 at OSU.

Not according to his bio on the Ohio State official site.
(2002) - Redshirts, then

2003 (Freshman): Played in 10 games, but was used primarily as a slash back and on kick returns ... made his debut in the season opener against Washington and had a 2-yard run ... also had two carries against Northwestern, including an 8-yard run ... longest kick return was 18 yards at Indiana.

[OSUBuckeye4Life]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeKilla

Troy started out at quarterback DAY 1 at OSU.

Link

2003 (Freshman): Played in 10 games, but was used primarily as a slash back and on kick returns ... made his debut in the season opener against Washington and had a 2-yard run ... also had two carries against Northwestern, including an 8-yard run ... longest kick return was 18 yards at Indiana.

...ahhh, beat me to it. Appreciate that.

[super_mario]

I might be a bit biased here, because my favorite team just might land him, having said that, even if we don't land him I still think he's a Top 100 type player. I see no reason why he should move positions in college or that would suggest to me that he'd have to move to have a succesful college career. The kid is a freakish talent at RB. What's with the notion that he must switch positions? Is it because he's white? I know that is a touchy issue, but just my two cents and it's about all I can come up with.

I've seen about an hour of film on this kid (49 mins to be exact) and the bottom line is he's a baller. The kid isn't as small as some of you think either, he was measured in socks and shorts at a tick under 6-ft. and at 190 pounds. Pretty good size for a high school kid playing that position. The kid tore it up against the best competition this country has to offer.

[OSUsushichic]

Originally Posted by super_mario

The kid is a freakish talent at RB. What's with the notion that he must switch positions? Is it because he's white? I know that is a touchy issue, but just my two cents and it's about all I can come up with.

It's not about race at all. That's just ridiculous to insinuate that. It's about how best to utilize his athletic ability. He might be fast enough and have good enough hands try him a few other positions than solely a pure RB.

[BuckeyeLiger87]

Originally Posted by super_mario

I might be a bit biased here, because my favorite team just might land him, having said that, even if we don't land him I still think he's a Top 100 type player. I see no reason why he should move positions in college or that would suggest to me that he'd have to move to have a succesful college career. The kid is a freakish talent at RB. What's with the notion that he must switch positions? Is it because he's white? I know that is a touchy issue, but just my two cents and it's about all I can come up with.

I've seen about an hour of film on this kid (49 mins to be exact) and the bottom line is he's a baller. The kid isn't as small as some of you think either, he was measured in socks and shorts at a tick under 6-ft. and at 190 pounds. Pretty good size for a high school kid playing that position. The kid tore it up against the best competition this country has to offer.

I think the talk around here about him trying other positions is because if offered it most likely won't be as a runing back. People want him in our class but DeVoe is already our RB prospect so they want to imagine him coming in as a CB or slot. I'd be surprised if he were offered let alone ended up a part of our class. But I think the talk of the move is becuase of tOSUs recruiting class not because of race.

[FritoBandito]

And because of the alleged staff commitment to Torrence that, if he came on board, tOSU would not recruit other RBs in this class.

[super_mario]

is Torrence even a lock to end up at RB though?

I know tOSU promised him that because Michigan was whispering RB into his ear, but honestly I think the kid is going to be a LB'er in college and that his future in the NFL would be much brighter at LB'er than at RB.

[LordJeffBuck]

Originally Posted by super_mario

is Torrence even a lock to end up at RB though?

I know tOSU promised him that because Michigan was whispering RB into his ear, but honestly I think the kid is going to be a LB'er in college and that his future in the NFL would be much brighter at LB'er than at RB.

Regardless of what we might think, the staff promised Devoe that he would be the only RB in this class, so.....

If Devoe should have a change of heart after arriving on campus, I'm sure that the staff would accommodate him and give him a shot at LB.

[Napoleonbuck]

He's a running back. He's probably a better runningback than McGuffie. He's that good. He has great speed, good vision, terrific balance, some of the best hands I've ever seen for a runningback. He's the complete package. He's a legitimate top ten(top five IMO, but at the very worst he's top ten) rb in the nation.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by super_mario

is Torrence even a lock to end up at RB though?

No one's a lock to end up anywhere. He has more than enough ability to stick at the position, if that's what you're asking. He was very impressive in pittsburgh, and should have a big year at Massillon.

Where does OSU need help going forward... LB or RB?

• The Wells' are gone in 2 years (probably), then we're left with two frosh, one that might move around in the formation, and another that's somewhat under the radar.

• Contrast that with LB, where OSU has Laurinaitis, Spitler, Johnson, Homan, Freeman, Rolle, etc... and are adding Sweat, Williams and possibly Hale.

I know tOSU promised him that because Michigan was whispering RB into his ear, but honestly I think the kid is going to be a LB'er in college and that his future in the NFL would be much brighter at LB'er than at RB.

The more notable 'whispering' is Michigan telling Torrence that OSU is just blowing smoke, and that they'll move him to FB/LB as soon as he gets to cbus. Besides the fact that its false, it's an ironic pitch to make given how much safety Burgess played at UM.

[nojoke2008]

Originally Posted by Napoleonbuck

He's a running back. He's probably a better runningback than McGuffie. He's that good. He has great speed, good vision, terrific balance, some of the best hands I've ever seen for a runningback. He's the complete package. He's a legitimate top ten(top five IMO, but at the very worst he's top ten) rb in the nation.

Beat me to it, I couldn't be happier with devoe as our rb. However I still think McGuffie is ready to be used like Reggie Bush, not saying that he has that talent level because its unfair to compare him to a phenom like bush at this stage, but McGuffie's talents could deffinitely be used in a similar way to Bush.

[buckeyepup]

I think race is a factor in where white players play. Tony Dungy has talked about the "slotting" or "funneling" of white players away from rb/cb to fb/lb/s in college. I'm not saying that's the case here but its clearly a real issue. To watch McGuffie run with the ball and think he might be more valuable at another position is absurd. You want the ball in his hands as much as possible. If he came here he would compete for a starting job with the other rbs and if he wasnt good enough then he could move to the slot or wherever. But to move him pre-emptively seems odd and not at all in line with his obvious rb skills. Secondly, its hard for me to believe Tressel would promise Torrence not to recruit any other rbs. I've seen him play here in Canton and he's a fine talent but there's no guarantee he won't bust or be nothing more than average. Of course they could always move him to fullback or linebacker.