Richard Tongohan
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All Things Buckeyes
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
I have been a Buckeye fan since I joined the U.S. Air Force and man, I haven’t seen a day like yesterday! What day am I talking about you ask? I am talking about yesterday’s amazing recruiting coup. The Buckeyes had a day to remember and the future is very much as bright as the stars that fill the night sky. 12 stars that is! TWELVE! Long time target from Florida, Binjimen Victor finally joined the Dream 16 and it essentially triggered the start of the Buckeyes huge day. Later in the day, after Victor accepted the offer from Ohio State, a pair of Maryland commits made their decision to flip to the Buckeyes. There had been a bevy of rumors swirling about the dynamic duo about their commitment status. Eventually, the two finally acknowledged the rumors and made it official. Maryland’s own, QB Dwayne Haskins and OLB Keandre Jones made their decision to bring their talent to Columbus. After weeks of silence, the inevitable was finally taking effect. Since his arrival, Coach Meyer and company have had at least one quarterback commitment per recruiting cycle. In his first class, although he was committed to Coach Tressel, Cardale Jones was the first to pledge to Meyer. Secondly, J.T. Barrett. Thirdly, Stephen Collier. Then Joe Burrow and former QB prospect turned Wide Receiver Torrance Gibson. Now with Haskins’ commitment in the 2016 class and Danny Clark in 2017, the Buckeyes can essentially concentrate on key skill position players and blue-chip prospects. Once again, I cannot explain how great of a day in recruiting yesterday was and the class of 2016 is far from finished.
Personally, I think this class could improve more. I am still counting on having at least 3-5 spots left in this years class. Give or take, I think Coach Meyer and company can drastically improve the future and as it stands now, it is as bright as it can be, but the scary thing about it, it can get better. There are still targets out there that the Buckeyes still have a good, if not great shot at. The biggest fish in the proverbial pond is an obvious one. A huge one at that. Louisiana’s Rashard Lawrence. A mammoth and a beast of a Defensive Tackle, he has the Buckeyes in his final two, along with the hometown LSU Tigers. Lawrence will be announcing this Friday, shortly before noon and it is an even 50/50 shot. We will see on Friday, but I do not want to get my hopes up. The Buckeyes have a good shot and now that they are in the final two, they are in great shape. There is also New Jersey product, Jordan Fuller. He is another prospect who is another one to watch. He is visiting TTUN soon and we will just have to see if the Jersey pipeline will reel him and Gary in. I think the Buckeyes have a good shot with Fuller as well. Barring any surprise sleepovers or intimate tree climbing “recruiting dates” with Harbaugh, I fully expect Fuller to become a critical piece to the Buckeyes future plans. Another name that recently came up is Mecole Hardman from Georgia. With the help or early enrollee Austin Mack, he took an surprise official and came away impressed. Coming away impressed is one thing, but on twitter, he teased about wrecking defenses together with Dwayne Haskins. It is something to keep an eye on. Speaking of Haskins, he also tweeted current Miami commit Sam Bruce. Haskins either jokingly or seriously asked Bruce “So what’s up”. Bruce is another offensive weapon that the Buckeyes could unleash on unsuspecting defenses, IF he decides to flip and pledge to the Buckeyes. Other big names to watch are Pennsylvania’s own Damar Hamlin, Kentucky’s Rodjay Burns, Florida’s Carlos Becker, Ohio’s Malik Harrison and a current Vols commit who will be visiting Columbus, North Carlonina’s Marquill Osborne. A combination of a big-time recruit in Hamlin and four underrated targets, with big-time potential.
The countdown to National Signing Day will be an interesting storyline to follow until the 2017 cycle begins. With two weeks left until Signing Day, I am too excited for what may or may not occur. There is nothing like being ecstatic about a recruit who surprises and/or shocks the world and their parents with their decisions and the disappointment of a big-time recruit spurning the Buckeyes for another school. I will have my eyes peeled and will be paying close attention. Here’s to a boom filled National Signing Day. Go Buckeyes!!!
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Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
I have been a Buckeye fan since I joined the U.S. Air Force and man, I haven’t seen a day like yesterday! What day am I talking about you ask? I am talking about yesterday’s amazing recruiting coup. The Buckeyes had a day to remember and the future is very much as bright as the stars that fill the night sky. 12 stars that is! TWELVE! Long time target from Florida, Binjimen Victor finally joined the Dream 16 and it essentially triggered the start of the Buckeyes huge day. Later in the day, after Victor accepted the offer from Ohio State, a pair of Maryland commits made their decision to flip to the Buckeyes. There had been a bevy of rumors swirling about the dynamic duo about their commitment status. Eventually, the two finally acknowledged the rumors and made it official. Maryland’s own, QB Dwayne Haskins and OLB Keandre Jones made their decision to bring their talent to Columbus. After weeks of silence, the inevitable was finally taking effect. Since his arrival, Coach Meyer and company have had at least one quarterback commitment per recruiting cycle. In his first class, although he was committed to Coach Tressel, Cardale Jones was the first to pledge to Meyer. Secondly, J.T. Barrett. Thirdly, Stephen Collier. Then Joe Burrow and former QB prospect turned Wide Receiver Torrance Gibson. Now with Haskins’ commitment in the 2016 class and Danny Clark in 2017, the Buckeyes can essentially concentrate on key skill position players and blue-chip prospects. Once again, I cannot explain how great of a day in recruiting yesterday was and the class of 2016 is far from finished.
Personally, I think this class could improve more. I am still counting on having at least 3-5 spots left in this years class. Give or take, I think Coach Meyer and company can drastically improve the future and as it stands now, it is as bright as it can be, but the scary thing about it, it can get better. There are still targets out there that the Buckeyes still have a good, if not great shot at. The biggest fish in the proverbial pond is an obvious one. A huge one at that. Louisiana’s Rashard Lawrence. A mammoth and a beast of a Defensive Tackle, he has the Buckeyes in his final two, along with the hometown LSU Tigers. Lawrence will be announcing this Friday, shortly before noon and it is an even 50/50 shot. We will see on Friday, but I do not want to get my hopes up. The Buckeyes have a good shot and now that they are in the final two, they are in great shape. There is also New Jersey product, Jordan Fuller. He is another prospect who is another one to watch. He is visiting TTUN soon and we will just have to see if the Jersey pipeline will reel him and Gary in. I think the Buckeyes have a good shot with Fuller as well. Barring any surprise sleepovers or intimate tree climbing “recruiting dates” with Harbaugh, I fully expect Fuller to become a critical piece to the Buckeyes future plans. Another name that recently came up is Mecole Hardman from Georgia. With the help or early enrollee Austin Mack, he took an surprise official and came away impressed. Coming away impressed is one thing, but on twitter, he teased about wrecking defenses together with Dwayne Haskins. It is something to keep an eye on. Speaking of Haskins, he also tweeted current Miami commit Sam Bruce. Haskins either jokingly or seriously asked Bruce “So what’s up”. Bruce is another offensive weapon that the Buckeyes could unleash on unsuspecting defenses, IF he decides to flip and pledge to the Buckeyes. Other big names to watch are Pennsylvania’s own Damar Hamlin, Kentucky’s Rodjay Burns, Florida’s Carlos Becker, Ohio’s Malik Harrison and a current Vols commit who will be visiting Columbus, North Carlonina’s Marquill Osborne. A combination of a big-time recruit in Hamlin and four underrated targets, with big-time potential.
The countdown to National Signing Day will be an interesting storyline to follow until the 2017 cycle begins. With two weeks left until Signing Day, I am too excited for what may or may not occur. There is nothing like being ecstatic about a recruit who surprises and/or shocks the world and their parents with their decisions and the disappointment of a big-time recruit spurning the Buckeyes for another school. I will have my eyes peeled and will be paying close attention. Here’s to a boom filled National Signing Day. Go Buckeyes!!!
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