08-03-2004, 07:05 AM
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Head Coach
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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http://www.daytondailynews.com/sport...0803osufb.html
Quote:
Buckeyes may get Ringer in back field back field
C-J coach says prospect like Clarett
By Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
COLUMBUS — Ohio State has a legitimate shot at landing what one scouting service is calling the No. 1 high school running back in the nation, but Chaminade-Julienne coach Jim Place believes there may be an even better senior prospect in the Buckeyes’ back yard.
Maurice Wells of Jacksonville is rated first at his position by Rivals.com and seventh overall. Though small at 5-feet-9 and 177 pounds, Wells rushed for more than 3,000 yards as a junior last season, including 429 in one game.
He has told reporters he intends to leave the state for college and has narrowed his choices to OSU, Georgia Tech and Southern Cal.
Another running back in the 2005 class getting much acclaim is C-J’s Javon Ringer, who has rushed for more than 2,000 yards in each of the last two seasons.
The 5-9, 190-pound Ringer has sprinter speed and freakish strength, having bench-pressed 380 pounds, although that may not be his most impressive physical feat.
“He’s a black belt in karate,” Place said. “He can kick an apple off your head — that’s how flexible he is.”
Ringer has gotten offers from virtually every major power, save one: OSU. The Buckeyes are said to be waiting until they’re sure he’ll qualify academically before parting with a scholarship.
Place couldn’t discuss Ringer’s academic status but indicated an offer from OSU would be hard for the player to pass up.
“Let’s just say there’s a very positive relationship between Javon and Ohio State,” Place said.
Although admittedly biased, the coach can’t imagine a running back with more potential.
“He’s going to be a great back in college — and I mean great early,” Place said. “Every coach thinks their guy is the best. But in my opinion, he’s in a category with (Maurice) Clarett.”
Columbus-based recruiting analyst Duane Long doesn’t think that assessment is too far-fetched. The publisher of Ohio Future Stars believes the Buckeyes would be better off passing on Wells and focusing on Ringer.
“I don’t like small backs, and Wells, to me, is just a pure scat back,” Long said. “When you’ve got a small back, you cut your playbook in half because he can’t run between the tackles.
“Ringer does. If I were making the decision, it would be Ringer.”
The Buckeyes already have landed four players in the Rivals.com top 100: cornerback Jamario O’Neal of Cleveland; quarterback Rob Schoenhoft of Cincinnati; offensive linemen Alex Boone of Lakewood, Ohio; and Kevin Bemoll of Mission Viejo, Calif.
Another top-100 player, safety Adam Myers-White of Hamilton, is said to be an OSU lean.
“They’re off to a monster start,” Long said.
The Buckeyes are awaiting the decisions of three other Ohioans, including Middletown receiver Andre Amos. But so far, they’ve let only one in-state player get away: Warren wide-out Mario Manningham (Michigan).
C-J cornerback Brandon Harrison couldn’t prod a scholarship out of OSU despite being clocked at 10.5 seconds in the 100 and 4.29 in the 40.
The Buckeyes prefer DBs who can match up with tall receivers, and the Notre Dame-bound Harrison, who is only 5-10, didn’t qualify.
“With this staff, I don’t think you’re going to see shorter corners brought in here — I don’t care how good they are,” Long said. “They like big corners that can play bump and run.
“But there are some guys who are exceptions to the rule, and I believe Harrison was one of those.”
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