CBF40'S Look at '09 recruiting

[buckeyes_rock]

Originally Posted by sepia5

This may help explain the situation.

I agree with those who see this class being around 26 or so. I expect a couple early departures for the draft, and people seem to forget that every year guys realize they're buried on the depth chart and will probably never see the field aside from mop-up duty, and so they look into transfers, not because they haven't been happy at OSU, but because they want to play football. Likely the staff has already had some internal conversations with kids in such a position, and have a feel for what the turnover will be. I understand there are currently only 22 scholarships available, but the one thing I haven't heard from those that doubt a class of over 25 is an explanation for the pattern of offers going out. It just doesn't make any sense if we weren't going to take 25-27. You don't send out offers just to send out offers, especially when many receiving them and already holding them are openly interested in OSU.

Unless you're Illinois!

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

With 8 months remaining. That's a pretty crucial distinction.

Uh, not really, considering the fact we already have 17 of 22 slots taken, where as of this time (June 16th) last year we had only 8 of 20 slots taken. So, even though there is a lot of time left, there aren't a lot of slots left.

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Five? Probably not. Four? Quite feasible.

If our entire starting secondary declares we either will have the best secondary of all-time or the staff isn't properly briefing the kids on when to go pro early. I seriously doubt all four are first-day material let alone first-round.

[jwinslow]

If our entire starting secondary declares we either will have the best secondary of all-time or the staff isn't properly briefing the kids on when to go pro early. I seriously doubt all four are first-day material let alone first-round.

Check your scholarship chart (or that all three have been key players since 06), or brutus' post after mine.

Only 2 of the 5 are up for debate here, barring some unforeseen circumstances. The rest will be out of eligibility after 2009.

[sepia5]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

Uh, not really, considering the fact we already have 17 of 22 slots taken, where as of this time (June 16th) last year we had only 8 of 20 slots taken. So, even though there is a lot of time left, there aren't a lot of slots left.

Isn't that sort of the point? That we already have about as many offers out there as all of last year, far earlier, and they keep coming, despite the fact that, according to publicly known scholarship numbers, we only have 5 spots left. I mean, am I missing something, or is this not exactly why everyone believes we'll ultimately sign 25, 26, or even 27?

[jimotis4heisman]

one in the hand is better than two in the bush...
unless, i wont go there, nevermind.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Check your scholarship chart (or that all three have been key players since 06), or brutus' post after mine.

Only 2 of the 5 are up for debate here, barring some unforeseen circumstances. The rest will be out of eligibility after 2009.

Uh, I did check the chart. The five "up for debate" per my post you quoted are Amos, Russell, Coleman, Washington, and Chekwa (whom were mentioned earlier as possible early departures). Four have eligibility through 2009 (Amos, Russell, Coleman, Washington) because they are juniors eligibility-wise, while Chekwa can play through 2010 because he's a sophomore eligbility-wise (yet he can declare after this season because he'll meet three years out of high school requirement). Amos and Chekwa don't even start, so anyone thinking about them leaving early is in dire need of some rehab. Russell, Coleman, and Washington have been solid at their positions, but weren't even 2nd-team all-conference last year (either coaches or media, and Washington wasn't even honorable mention on the media list). The only one I think has a real shot at being a possible first-rounder is Russell...

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

Four have eligibility through 2009 (Amos, Russell, Coleman, Washington) because they are juniors eligibility-wise

Exactly...

Originally Posted by brutus2002

If the rumor about Clifford is true there could be 10 DB's gone after the next two seasons. Washington, Russell, Patterson, Jenkins, Lane, Coleman, O'neal, Amos, Clifford, and Chekwa could all be gone after 2009.

...

The only one I think has a real shot at being a possible first-rounder is Russell...

Probably true. I wouldn't bet on Washington, but he has a small chance.

[TheStoicPaisano]

Can I ask where we're getting 22 for the present count? I have 20 seniors + Olson (not even listed on the official site's roster) for 21. Mili's chart has 21 but counts Wilson as a senior when his RS has come through by all accounts. I must be missing something.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by TheStoicPaisano

Can I ask where we're getting 22 for the present count? I have 20 seniors + Olson (not even listed on the official site's roster) for 21. Mili's chart has 21 but counts Wilson as a senior when his RS has come through by all accounts. I must be missing something.

The 3 returning classes (pre-09) add up to 63, so there's one spot unfilled by the '08 class.

[sepia5]

For those who think we aren't looking at a class of 26 or 27 this season--and I'm not saying you're wrong--could you please directly answer these questions or direct me to a place where they have been answered before:

1) How do you explain the sheer number of offers at such an early stage when there are only supposedly 5 more spots available?

2) How do you explain that offers continue to be sent out?

3) How do you explain that, of late, when new offers are sent out, they're primarily sent to kids that are VERY likely to commit to OSU or at least place OSU at the top of their list (Bellamy, Brown, Green, McDougald, etc.), when there are other, generally slightly more acclaimed recruits, that have been holding their offers and that still seem very high on OSU (Berry, McGee, Adams, etc.)?

4) If 22 really is the number, and we already have 17, which of the following do you not see becoming Buckeyes: Berry, Hyde, Vlad, Carter, Newsome, Hall, McDougald, Green, Brown, Watt? These are all players that there has been a considerable amount of smoke surrounding, and at the very least have OSU on top right now (arguably Watt excluded, but with the recent rumors, I've included him on this list). If you think we only take 22, you have to eliminate 5 of those. Even if you think we get up to 25, you have to eliminate 2. And this doesn't even include the likes of Muldoon, Ezell, Banks, and Adams who most think we're still in strong contention for, at the very least.

You can't just ignore these glaring questions and continue to say 22 is the number, 22 is the number, 22 is the number. These obvious quandaries are why so many think this class will end up with at least 25 members, and more likely 26 or 27. I know the easy answer is, "Well, we only have 22 scholarships, so you tell me where the other others are coming from." But of course, the obvious answer to this is who knew we'd sign 20 last year? Who knew Robbie S. or any of the others would transfer? We all know there are a bevy of ways in which our class could expand and we could still stay under 85 total scholarships (transfers, NFL declarations, dismissals, and other attrition). Point being, the staff has a better idea of how many we'll have room for and what each player's mind frame is, and all we can do is interpret the patterns within the scholarship offers that are going out. If you still think we won't get to 25-27, that's fine, but I'm sincerely interested in knowing how you answer the above questions.

[TheStoicPaisano]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

The 3 returning classes (pre-09) add up to 63, so there's one spot unfilled by the '08 class.

Interesting. I have 64 as my count with Wilson being pushed back to junior status. I'm not trying to nitpick, just figure why my count is messed up.

17 JRs/RSJRs
20 SOs/RSSOs
7 RFr.
20 True FR.

[jwinslow]

I'm not trying to nitpick, just figure why my count is messed up

Nah, it's useful. I didn't realize Wilson was on mili's sr list until you pointed that out.

So it's 21 before any probable declarations like Beanie, Wilson, etc.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by TheStoicPaisano

Interesting. I have 64 as my count with Wilson being pushed back to junior status. I'm not trying to nitpick, just figure why my count is messed up.

17 JRs/RSJRs
20 SOs/RSSOs
7 RFr.
20 True FR.

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Nah, it's useful. I didn't realize Wilson was on mili's sr list until you pointed that out.

So it's 21 before any probable declarations like Beanie, Wilson, etc.

Until Wilson is granted his medical redshirt, he is a senior eligbility-wise. Granted, it's quite likely he'll get his extra year of eligibility, but as we've seen with college athletic bureaucracy, nothing can be taken as a given.

[itownbuckeye]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Nah, it's useful. I didn't realize Wilson was on mili's sr list until you pointed that out.

So it's 21 before any probable declarations like Beanie, Wilson, etc.

Just wondering why you list Wilson as a probable early departure. I realize he's got the measurables and 4th year juniors seem to leave early at a much greater clip than 3rd year juniors but he really doesn't have much of an on-field resume.

[jwinslow]

Talk had Wilson ahead of Gholston heading into last season. He was the 5th DL IIRC as a true frosh. This will be his fourth season, if he plays up to his talent level, he may likely go, imo...