FB/LB Zach Boren (Official Thread)

[Deety]

Scout $

4/2

By The Bank...very candid interview with Zach...talks about the offer, which he has been told is completely independent of whatever decision his brother makes, about the infamous story of his brother considering a verbal to OSU and about where he projects at the next level.

and mross' bring up a valid point...I don't think it is inconceivable to imagine that Homan grows into a LEO/DE...

Highly impressive answers. Certainly sounds like a leader!

 

[wadc45]

FYI, I linked the Rivals article back in that post as well...

 

[jwinslow]

What has been wrong with our FB play?? They've done a solid job.. even guys like Tank, who dont look like they have an ounce of skills in them...

You can't really use Tank to support your argument, he supports the other side of the debate if you ask me. He's a walkon turned scholarship player by hard-nosed play & tremendous work ethic... not on Zach Boren's level as a prospect. When Tank was not blocking last fall, the FB play was average at best, imo... at least for the first 10 games or so.

Dionte Johnson arrived with tremendous pedigree (son of former OSU great and NFL starting LB) & was even awarded the honor of captain, yet was not as effective as the strangely proportioned 'tank' if you ask me.

For those using the typical A.J. Hawk response.. IMO this kid doesnt display the agility, sideline to sideline ability, or quickness which AJ displayed in HS.. It's a myth that Hawk was a no name player.. he would have been a 4 star player if not for the injury he suffered..

You're ignoring the larger point, which is more than just one isolated case of hawk-andrea... some of OSU's best players were complete nobodies in terms of recruiting visibility (Laurinaitis, Robiskie, Washington, Russell). Heck even Gholston was thought to be too much of a project by UM.

 

[jlb1705]

What has been wrong with our FB play?? They've done a solid job.. even guys like Tank, who dont look like they have an ounce of skills in them...

Maybe I'm wrong. My perception stems from the way Tressel recruits by size/speed rather than position, and perhaps a more liberal rotation of players.

When I look at the FB position however, I see players that didn't pan out at other positions. I see that there hasn't been a go-to player at FB since Jamar Martin. Joe and Schnittker split time. Schnittker and Johnson split time. White and Johnson split time. Whaley and Johnson split time. And now we have three guys that have never hit anybody in anger in a Big Ten game, and one of them is hurt. That's not to say that neither of them will step up, but the FB position is far from being set at this moment.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Any chance he grows into a DT?

This is a big class, so one ship to pull a solid player and get his brother who could be an all big ten lineman is a good use of a ship by me...

 

[Buckeyecty4]

You can't really use Tank to support your argument, he supports the other side of the debate if you ask me. He's a walkon turned scholarship player by hard-nosed play & tremendous work ethic... not on Zach Boren's level as a prospect. When Tank was not blocking last fall, the FB play was average at best, imo... at least for the first 10 games or so.

Pepper Johnson arrived with tremendous pedigree (former OSU great and NFL starting LB) & was even awarded the honor of captain, yet was not as effective as the strangely proportioned 'tank' if you ask me.
You're ignoring the larger point, which is more than just one isolated case of hawk-andrea... some of OSU's best players were complete nobodies in terms of recruiting visibility (Laurinaitis, Robiskie, Washington, Russell). Heck even Gholston was thought to be too much of a project by UM.

Those players werent respected by recruiting services... but if u watched them you saw skills.. you saw projectability.. you saw elements of talent that could be developed..

I dont see that in Boren on the defensive side of the ball.. Im not gonna continue to go on about it cause i dont want to knock the kid, cause he's a fine player for Pick Central. But at his height and his size, he cant even project at the next level defensively IMO...

Will be be a 6'1 defensive end? Will he be a 250 pound LB? I just dont see skills that you can project at the next level, outside of strength, determination, and straight line quickness..

Would that make a heckuva FB.. yea it would granted he knows how to play FB..

My point isnt that he wont be a great FB.. it's that why are we recruiting three FBs in the last two classes, when those roster spots could be filled with better players who project at more important positions

 

[BengalsAndBucks]

My point isnt that he wont be a great FB.. it's that why are we recruiting three FBs in the last two classes, when those roster spots could be filled with better players who project at more important positions

Name me another position that has less depth than fullback does? Maybe DE, and thats it. If by more important positions you mean glamor positions, then maybe you should rewatch the Florida game.

 

[jwinslow]

My point isnt that he wont be a great FB.. it's that why are we recruiting three FBs in the last two classes, when those roster spots could be filled with better players who project at more important positions

If he walked on, do you think he'd earn a scholarship eventually as a FB?

I think he's more talented than Robinson or Whaley on the surface.

 

[Buckeyecty4]

Name me another position that has less depth than fullback does? Maybe DE, and thats it. If by more important positions you mean glamor positions, then maybe you should rewatch the Florida game.

It's FB.. by 2009.. The two deep will be two recruited players.. Jermil Martin and Adam Homan.. then w/e walks on make the switch..

How many scholly FBs do u feel are neccesary on a roster??

What positions am I referring to?? Umm, maybe Oline where we still have walk ons in the two deep... The Dline could, especially DE could use as many good recruits as possible.. Right now we have two converted LBs in the two deep..

I could go on and on.. id love to bring in good recruits all over the board to create competition and depth..

Dont be one of those people that believe every position has equal importance and should have equal depth.. because FB is a position that is definately not as important as the other positions

 

[jwinslow]

then w/e walks on make the switch.

So if Zach walked on and then got converted by Tressel, would that be acceptable to you? That's how I look at this. Last fall & early this year, Zach was not offered a scholarship. This spring, that changed.

What positions am I referring to?? Umm, maybe Oline where we still have walk ons in the two deep

Last year OSU had 2.5 walkons in the 2 deep, in part due to two season-long injuries to high profile OL, Skinner & Mitchum. Blankenship was redshirting. Now OSU has added 3 BIG time OL to the mix. If those walkons retain their spot in the 2-deep, it's more a testament to their hard-work and play than a reason to be jumping off a cliff about depth.

OSU landed 3 big time OL, very well may land a standout OG for 09 & 10... and are sitting pretty for a talented haul of 4 this year (most likely: mewhort, hall, linsey & watt). I don't agree that OL is something to be worried about as things stand now.

Of course, if OL depth is really that big of a concern of yours, then helping to bring in both borens (a desired but not forced desire of Mike Boren) is certainly a good thing. And I think you have it completely backwards about Tressel... if this is about Justin, it's done out of class not out of spite. I really don't think Tressel was sticking it to Indiana with the Kerrs, they're practically a satellite campus on gameday.

The Dline could, especially DE could use as many good recruits as possible.. Right now we have two converted LBs in the two deep..

One of which is a freak...

Dont be one of those people that believe every position has equal importance and should have equal depth.. because FB is a position that is definately not as important as the other positions

Sorry, I'll be one of those people. Almost always (Tank), OL are nothing but OL. FB/LB/HBacks can man your special teams even if they aren't starting at other positions.

 

[Mrknowitall]

Congratulations to the boren family and especially zach boren. He will be a good player in the next level because he is hard working.

I think him n his family know more than any of us on where he will be projected as of now...if the coaches are telling him defense, we should beleive its defense. Hawk was 6ft 3/4 or something like that at the combine, he isn't tall and neather is laurenitis, but im not saying his is anything like these guys but if he keeps workin his butt off he will be good. He runs a 4.65 thats not bad for a linebacker

Congratulations once again :-)

 

[jlb1705]

Dont be one of those people that believe every position has equal importance and should have equal depth.. because FB is a position that is definately not as important as the other positions

I think Chris Wells and Todd Boeckman would respectfully disagree. The FB (or relative lack thereof) is of utmost importance if you need to pick up the blitz, dump it off in the flat or get a hat on a linebacker or safety in the run game.

 

[Buckeyecty4]

I think Chris Wells and Todd Boeckman would respectfully disagree. The FB (or relative lack thereof) is of utmost importance if you need to pick up the blitz, dump it off in the flat or get a hat on a linebacker or safety in the run game.

1) Did we ever dump it off in the flat last yr to the FB?

2) Did Beanie not have a ridiculous season with what everyone is labeling a "under achieving" FB in Johnson and a converted OL in Whaley?

I stand by my point, that there is little need to have 3 scholly FBs on the roster (all within 1 yr of eligibility between them) with the same skillset.. Not like any of these kids are like the FB out at SC.. who makes all types of plays in the passing game..

 

[jwinslow]

2) Did Beanie not have a ridiculous season with what everyone is labeling a "under achieving" FB in Johnson and a converted OL in Whaley?

Can you explain why you keep using Whaley to support your point? He's the opposite of your point. He's the guy who doesn't pass the look test and is taking away scholarships from sexier prospects & positions. He's comparable, but not half the prospect that Zach will be, comparing incoming frosh.

OSU had Dionte Johnson & Stan White Jr, yet OSU chose to upgrade Trevor Robinson & Tank Whaley to scholarship status. At the time I admit I wondered if they needed walkon depth at FB, but deferred to Tressel's first-hand observations and ability to build a team.

I sure am glad he didn't listen to my doubts. That doesn't mean they were without merit, but I'm glad JT took on these extra blockers without fanfare. I think Tank was pivotal last year.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

1) Did we ever dump it off in the flat last yr to the FB?

2) Did Beanie not have a ridiculous season with what everyone is labeling a "under achieving" FB in Johnson and a converted OL in Whaley?

I stand by my point, that there is little need to have 3 scholly FBs on the roster (all within 1 yr of eligibility between them) with the same skillset.. Not like any of these kids are like the FB out at SC.. who makes all types of plays in the passing game..

1) No, but don't you think that's exactly why they're recruiting FB's who can? Jermil Martin, Adam Homan, and Zach Boren appear to have much better ball skills than Johnson or Whaley.

2) Why not make things easier on him? Why settle? If we can get better blockers, why not do it?

I stand by my point that the coaches probably have a better handle on the situation than you do and we should probably trust them.