BPRT Update - January 2012

[808 Buck]

I would love to be wrong, wherever Jordan ends up. I just think he is going to be a guard down the road.

It could be A LOT worse but I'm not sure how it could be a lot better when you think about where we were a few months ago when the dream OL haul included Kozan and most likely a yet to have been identified in-state "project" to go along with Boren and Elflein (who is vastly underrated for someone who is likely a future center).

To paraphrase Bank, O'Connor is better than any of the OL OSU took last year not named Bobek. I still think Underwood could be a player down the road but it will be at guard.

Second (or third, I'm late due to Hawaiian time), on all of the above. After watching Diamond in the Semper Fidelis game, I saw a guard. Elflein is a real wildcard. When I first saw his video (and that's a poor way to make a judgement, I believe in seeing the guy play in person, or at least a whole game, not clips), I thought that he was destined for defense. But, with the d-line haul, and the huge need on offense, I guess he starts out on O. I would offer O'Connor right now. Roll the dice with Fragel, cross train Mewhort, and O'Connor would be the most game-ready guy coming in, if needed. If a young guy has to play, it's safer having them on the inside (just my opinion).

I'm just happy that we are even having a discussion of possible names anywhere. I do not want to think about where this class might be without the hiring of Meyer.

Great writeup, once again, by the BPRT.

 

[Taosman]

At first I didn't understand why the staff were looking at so many DBs.
Unfortunately, now it's become clear why. :(
I guess this is just what a coaching turnover is about.
A player turnover.

 

[Diego-Bucks]

Its good to know my monthly $49.95 is being used for good purposes.

 

[amybuckeye]

Second (or third, I'm late due to Hawaiian time), on all of the above. After watching Diamond in the Semper Fidelis game, I saw a guard. Elflein is a real wildcard. When I first saw his video (and that's a poor way to make a judgement, I believe in seeing the guy play in person, or at least a whole game, not clips), I thought that he was destined for defense. But, with the d-line haul, and the huge need on offense, I guess he starts out on O. I would offer O'Connor right now. Roll the dice with Fragel, cross train Mewhort, and O'Connor would be the most game-ready guy coming in, if needed. If a young guy has to play, it's safer having them on the inside (just my opinion).

I'm just happy that we are even having a discussion of possible names anywhere. I do not want to think about where this class might be without the hiring of Meyer.

Every bit of this.

Underwood = keeper for guard. Kid plays with great leverage, let's not write him off because of the Purdue game. By way, if there is any doubt that Bollman is [censored]ed in the head, then explain to me why on Earth would anybody think it was a good idea to start Underwood at right tackle. It will be fun to watch Boston college from afar and not because I want to see them suffer. The disaster that is Bollman will be playing on Boston area television sets in the fall! Enjoy!
Elflein = guard or center. Or I could see this kid being brought in as a super o-line sub/pulling guard. There is no way the staff won't eventually use this kids tenacity. You guys remember the walkon form Upper Arlington that the staff brought in as a pulling guard (I can't remember his name). That is who Elflein reminds me of.
O'Conner = I love the kids nasty play. I say you offer him regardless. JMHO
Diamond = LordJeff's description says it best, mercurial.
Dodson = I love his game. He is a true left tackle. Where he ends up...
Decker = I guess he's making the switch. I don't know what to think of him after watching some of his film. I'm not as sold as some that he is a left tackle.
Hall = In my mind I have not written this kid off as I am holding out hope that he can still get it together. This kid has the ability to play tackle in a pinch, let's not forget that. I guess sometimes it is a Glenville thing so maybe the new coaching staff can get Hall's light to turn on.
Mewhort = stud
Norwell = I'm glad we have him.
Bobek = I don't know.
Linsley = Good guard. The new o-line blocking scheme will suite him well.
Chris Carter and Tommy Brown = I hate to see people on message boards tossing these kids into the dumpster. I say let's see what happens with the spring practices. Maybe the new coaches can carve out a couple of diamonds. Carter will be the greater challenge...
Boren = See Elflein. I have to wonder if he ends up at another position like fullback. Regardless, the Boren's are football players and the staff will figure out a way to use him.
Fragel = I understand the necessity in asking Fragel to make this switch, however I'm not so sure making a position switch this late in ones college career is as easy as some are making it. Time will tell. If there was any chance that Fragel could use his redshirt year I'd love to see, but that ain't gonna happen thanks to the former O-line think tank. Bravo!

 

[MUBuck]

For 2012, the starting tackles are probably Andrew Norwell (LT) and Jack Mewhort (RT), and Brian Bobek is probably the starting center.

That leaves five scholarship players fighting for the two guard spots: Corey Linsley, Marcus Hall, Antonio Underwood, Tommy Brown, and Chris Carter, Jr. Any of those guys excite you? Joey O'Connor is quite possibly in the two deep by the end of training camp.

If the Buckeyes can lock up Dodson and Decker for the tackle spots, it makes it a lot easier to offer O'Connor (a sure thing, albeit at guard) and stop chasing the mercurial Jordan Diamond.

Any feeling that the staff pursues all 4 no matter what? Seems to me that we could use the influx of talent and numbers. I know scholarships are tight, but Urban did say 24 was the number.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

Any feeling that the staff pursues all 4 no matter what? Seems to me that we could use the influx of talent and numbers. I know scholarships are tight, but Urban did say 24 was the number.

Doubtful, but possible. That would mean six OL in this class, which is really too many. In any event, if the staff locks up Decker, Dodson, and O'Connor in the very near future, would Diamond still be interested?

 

[MUBuck]

Doubtful, but possible. That would mean six OL in this class, which is really too many. In any event, if the staff locks up Decker, Dodson, and O'Connor in the very near future, would Diamond still be interested?

Hopefully Diamond has enough confidence that he wouldn't see that as an issue. Seems like the staff is looking for kids who don't mind competing for their spot. In regards to the previous OL commits, I remember there being some talk of Elflein as a possible DT recruit, but you're probably right that 6 OL is too many.

 

[buckiprof]

Doubtful, but possible. That would mean six OL in this class, which is really too many. In any event, if the staff locks up Decker, Dodson, and O'Connor in the very near future, would Diamond still be interested?

With it being reported in his thread that he will announce his decision on February 3rd, 2 days after NLOID, maybe the real question is will OSU still be interested?

 

[LordJeffBuck]

With it being reported in his thread that he will announce his decision on February 3rd, 2 days after NLOID, maybe the real question is will OSU still be interested?

I'm not convinced that OSU is particularly interested now. Diamond has proven to be a game player, and Meyer has already shown with Clarke and Gambrell that he isn't in the mood to play any games. If Dodson (likely) and O'Connor (very likely) commit, then I would not be at all surprised to see the staff walk away from Diamond.

 

[Taosman]

Kids say a lot of things but when they see the dominoes falling there will be some panic.

A big thank you for all the work that the BPRT people do!

 

[osugrad21]

With the 2012 class rapidly coming to a close, it is time for us to focus a bit on the class of 2013. With many top-flight prospects already favoring Ohio State, and with Urban Meyer having a full year to recruit the rest, it looks like the class of 2013 will be one for the ages. Here's an early look at some of the Buckeyes' prime targets:

Cameron Burrows (Trotwood-Madison; 6' 2", 195 lbs, 4.4 forty) is the top cornerback prospect in Ohio (46 tackles, 12 passes broken up, 4 interceptions), although he certainly has the size to move over to safety. Burrows helped lead his team to a state championship last season, and he should be one of the top five prospects in the state for the class of 2013. As expected, Cameron made a verbal commitment to Ohio State this afternoon!!!

Jalin Marshall (Middletown; 6' 0", 190 lbs, 4.5 forty) is the highest-ranked prospect in Ohio and one of the top overall prospects in America. A high school quarterback, Marshall has the skills to be a signal caller in college, but with his superior athleticism, he could easily switch to running back, wide receiver, or even defensive back, and he could certainly see action returning kicks. An explosive player with the ball in his hands, Jalin should be an early star wherever he goes. Marshall will announce his college decision on January 31st, and the smart money is on Ohio State.

Eli Woodard (Voorhees (New Jersey) Eastern; 6' 0', 170 lbs, 4.48 forty) is perhaps the top prospect in the state of New Jersey for the class of 2013, and one of the best cornerback prospects in the country. Woodard has been an ardent Buckeye fan for years, and he has called Ohio State his dream school. Although Eli has offers from several powerhouse programs, we fully expect him to be an early commitment to Ohio State.

Derrick Green (Richmond (Virginia) Hermitage; 6' 0", 218 lbs, 4.43 forty) is one of the top running back prospects in the country. Originally offered by the former staff, Green has had Ohio State at the top of his list for more than a year. In fact, Green was such a fan of the Buckeyes that he influenced 2011 signee Curtis Grant to check out Ohio State. However, there is some speculation that Green - a straight ahead between-the-tackles runner - might not be the best fit for Urban Meyer's offense. We don't agree with that assessment - Meyer will definitely figure out a way to utilize a back this talented - and feel that Ohio State is still the team to beat.

Robert Foster (Monaca (Pennsylvania) Central Valley; 6' 3", 170 lbs, 4.49 forty) is one of the top recruits in the nation, regardless of position. Foster will likely be a wide receiver and kick returner at the next level, but wherever you play him, just get him the ball because he can score from anywhere on the field on any given play (37 receptions for 584 yards and 12 touchdowns, plus several scores on punt, kick, and interception returns). It's really too early to call a leader in this race, but Ohio State is certainly one of the favorites to land perhaps the most exciting player in the class of 2013.

Adam Breneman (Camp Hill (Pennsylvania) Cedar Cliff; 6' 5", 220 lbs) is one of the top overall prospects in the state of Pennsylvania, and perhaps the top tight end prospect in the country for the class of 2013. Breneman has not named any favorites at this point, but he has expressed definite interest in Ohio State. The Buckeyes will almost certainly sign a tight end in this class, and Breneman will be one of the staff's prime targets.

Jake "The Mauler" Raulerson (Celina, Texas; 6' 5", 250 lbs) is one of the top offensive line recruits in the country. Even though he's a bit undersized, Raulerson is a very active and agile lineman, and he has a mean streak a mile wide. Jake also plays along the defensive line in high school, but in college he'll earn his scholarship by mauling opposing defensive linemen. Texas is probably the favorite here, but Raulerson will be recruited by everybody, including Ohio State, who is already in the mix with an early offer.

Shelton Gibson (Cleveland Heights; 6' 1", 175 lbs, 4.38 forty) is the best pure wide receiver prospect in the state of Ohio. Gibson was a strong Auburn lean last fall, but Urban Meyer made him a huge priority; in fact, Shelton was the first class of 2013 player offered by the new coaching staff. Cleveland Heights is not a Buckeye-friendly program, so this one might not end well for the good guys. However, there is over a year until Signing Day, and you know that Coach Meyer will work this recruitment until the very end.

Jaylon Smith (Fort Wayne (Indiana) Bishop Luers; 6' 3", 215 lbs) is the younger brother of current Buckeye running back/linebacker Rod Smith. The younger Smith is one of the top linebacker prospects in the Midwest. Jaylon has long favored Ohio State, and right now it looks like he is ready to follow brother Rod to Columbus.

Billy Price (Austintown Fitch; 6' 4", 265 lbs) is the best lineman prospect in the state of Ohio for the class of 2013. Although he plays on both offense and defense in high school, Price projects as a defensive tackle in college. Another kid who grew up rooting for the Buckeyes, Billy is likely to be another early commitment for Ohio State.

Mike Heuerman (Naples (Florida) Barron Collier; 6' 4", 215 lbs, 4.76 forty) is the younger brother of current Buckeye tight end Jeff Heuerman, and like his older brother, Mike plays tight end as well. Although Mike does not yet have a Buckeye offer, we feel that he is an Ohio State level recruit, and that he will also end up in Columbus as soon as he receives his offer.

Caleb Day (Hilliard Darby; 6' 0", 175 lbs) is one of the top defensive back prospects in the state of Ohio for the class of 2013. Day has the size to play safety, but he has the speed and technique to play cornerback, so he could end up at either position in college. Caleb is a big Buckeye fan, and we see him eventually issuing a verbal commitment to Ohio State, probably sooner rather than later.

Malik Zaire (Kettering Alter, possibly transferring to Trotwood-Madison; 6' 1", 190 lbs, 4.6 forty) is perhaps the top quarterback prospect in the state of Ohio. Zaire amassed more than 1,000 yards both passing and rushing during his junior season, and he is considered a top flight dual-threat quarterback. Malik was offered by the former Buckeye coaching staff, and it remains to be seen if he fits into Urban Meyer's plans. If the new staff makes a strong push for Malik, then he should be a Buckeye someday; if not, then the Wisconsin Badgers are a strong possibility to get his signature on Signing Day.

Michael McCray (Trotwood-Madison; 6' 2", 220) is the top rising senior linebacker prospect in the state of Ohio. Michael's father, also named Michael, played linebacker for Ohio State in the late 1980's, and it's reasonable to assume that the younger McCray will follow in his father's footsteps. At the present time, Michael does not have a Buckeye offer, but there is a strong possibility that he will receive one down the road.

Evan Lisle (Centerville; 6' 5", 265 lbs) is currently the top offensive line prospect in Ohio. Lisle grew up a Buckeye fan and he comes from one of the most Buckeye-friendly schools in the state. Evan is a tackle prospect with good length and athleticism, but he definitely needs to add quite a bit of weight before he will be ready for the next level. Right now, Evan does not have an offer from Ohio State, but if he does get one, look for him to become a Buckeye.

Alex Gall (Cincinnati Moeller; 6' 5", 295 lbs) is another top offensive linemen from Ohio. Gall does not have an offer from Ohio State, but he was the offensive line MVP of Ohio State's underclassman camp, and he has been invited to an upcoming Buckeye junior day. While Meyer and company will definitely be on the look out for blue chip OL prospects from around the nation, they will also keep a close eye on homegrown players like Alex Gall.

Lovell Peterson (Huber Heights Wayne; 6' 3", 270 lbs) is another standout offensive line prospect from Ohio. Peterson is a huge Buckeye fan, but he has yet to receive an offer from Ohio State. The staff is still trying to sort of the current offensive line situation, and once they do, look for offers to be sent out to some of the top linemen from the class of 2013. There's a good chance that Lovell Peterson will be on that short list.

Jacob Matuska (Columbus Bishop Hartley; 6' 5", 240 lbs) plays tight end in high school, but some experts believe that he will mature into an offensive lineman in college. Matuska is just starting to receive some big time offers, but he currently favors Notre Dame and Ohio State (neither offered). Right now, Jacob is on the borderline to receive a Buckeye offer, but the staff is definitely keeping an eye on him.

 

[stowfan]

I kept finding myself smiling as I read that.