The Buckeyes' Top Prospects for 2006
Post-Camp Edition
In the first edition of this article, we examined the Buckeyes' top recruits during the May evaluation period. Since that time, Ohio State has held its summer camp, several new prospects have received Buckeye offers, and quite a few players on our original list have committed (to Ohio State and elsewhere). We have updated our prospect list to reflect all of the activity over the past two months.
Two of Ohio's top overall prospects, Jake Ballard and Kurt Coleman, committed prior to the Buckeyes prior to Ohio State's camp. They joined Chris Wells and Ross Homan, both of whom verballed in February, as members of Ohio State's promising class of 2006.
At Ohio State's summer camp, Georgia QB prospect Antonio Henton excelled, firmed up his offer, and committed shortly thereafter. the other top-flight quarterback prospects in attendance - Mike Hartline, Adam Weber, Arvell Nelson, and Nate Davis - left empty-handed, and will likely pursue other Big Ten opportunities.
Several in-state linemen improved their stock at camp, most notably Bryant Browning, Ryan Palmer, Bill Nagy, and Joe Thomas (who committed to Pitt a few days after camp closed). We anticipate that at least one of the aforementioned will receive a Buckeye offer at some point.
Wide receiver Josh Chichester also performed well at camp, earned an offer, and quickly accepted. Josh is also a star basketball player, and he will be a walk-on forward/center for Thad Matta's hoops squad.
The Buckeyes remain serious contenders for several other top prospects, including offensive linemen Connor Smith and Aaron Brown, wide receiver Wesley Lyons, tight ends Jeff Cumberland and Konrad Reuland, defensive lineman Robert Rose, linebackers Thaddeus Gibson and Jeremiha Hunter, and all-around athlete Raymond Small; in addition, a couple of newcomers are very high on the Buckeyes.
Quarterbacks
1. Tim Tebow, Jacksonville (Florida) Nease (6' 3", 225 lbs, 4.6 forty); OSU (not offered) in the mix (Florida, Michigan, Southern Cal, Alabama, all offered). Lefty Tim Tebow may be the best QB prospect in the country this season: he is an Elite 11 quarterback, the number two overall prospect in the state of Florida according to FloridaKids, and a member of the Rivals 100 list. After an outstanding sophomore campaign in 2003 (809 yds rushing, 18 TD's; 2,194 yds passing, 64.8 %, 18 TD's / 8 Ints), Tebow had a phenomenal junior season during which he compiled some mind-boggling numbers: not only did he rush for 1,227 yards and 24 touchdowns, he also threw for 4,304 yards, completing 61.4 percent of his passes for 46 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. Despite playing football for Nease, Tim is home-schooled; he has a strong Christian faith and will journey to the Philippines this summer where he will attempt to spread the gospel. Last season, Tebow visited Ohio State for the Penn State game, and later called his experience "incredible" and "impressive". Tim was a Gator fan growing up, and he has family ties to UF, so Florida is his probable leader. However, Tim has some legitimate interest in Ohio State, and if the Bucks offer, they might still get a serious look. Update 07/05 - Not much new, at least with respect to the Buckeyes. At the Tallahassee Nike combine, Tebow posted measurables as freakish as his junior year stats: 4.69 forty, 4.16 shuttle, 32 inch vertical, and 38 bench reps, which is far more than most lineman; his SPARQ, which measures overall athletic ability, was an outstanding 96.92. In addition, Rivals recently named Tim the #1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation, the #2 overall prospect in Florida, and the #23 overall prospect in the nation.
2. Isiah "Juice" Williams, Chicago Vocational (6' 1", 210 lbs, 4.61 forty); committed to Illinois.
3. Demetrius Jones, Chicago Morgan Park (6' 3", 192 lbs, 4.5 forty); OSU (offered) in top 6 (Notre Dame, leader; Illinois, Oregon, Tennessee, and Northwestern, all offered). Jones, a member of the Rivals 100 list, is a teammate and cousin of blue chip wide receiver prospect Chris James, and the two make quite an impressive tandem on the football field. Demetrius is a true dual-threat quarterback who rushed for 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, while throwing for 2,100 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jones is definitely a raw prospect who currently relies more on his innate athleticism than technique. When throwing from the pocket, Demetrius tends to be off balance with his weight too far forward; he seems to be more natural when throwing on the run, and when he improvises, some exciting plays can result. In order to take his game to the next level, Demetrius will need to accept a bit of coaching and to learn some patience in the pocket, but all of the physical tools are there. At the present time, Demetrius favors Notre Dame, but he will take some visits this summer (along with his cousin Chris and several other Chicagoland recruits, including QB prospect Isiah Williams), and Columbus should be one of their destinations. Update 07/05 - Demetrius's current leaders are Notre Dame and Illinois, with Ohio State, Purdue, and North Carolina also in the mix. With Antonio Henton already in the fold, it is questionable whether the Bucks will continue to pursue Jones.
4. Antonio Henton, Fort Valley (Georgia) Peach County (6' 2", 210 lbs, 4.6 forty); OSU (not offered) in the mix (Florida, Georgia, not offered, lead). Henton is the typical raw but athletic dual-threat quarterback who has a nice arm and fine maneuverability. Antonio moves around the pocket well, but he takes too many gambles that might work in high school, but will result in interceptions at the college level. Henton also likes to throw the "home run" ball - as a junior, he connected on 73 of 149 passes (only 49% completion ratio), but for 1,810 yards (nearly 25 yards per completion); if he wants to remain at quarterback in college, he will need to develop a broader repertoire. With his size, speed, and running ability, Antonio would make an excellent wide receiver prospect, and he might also get a look at safety. Henton has offers from Maryland and Illinois, but he is still waiting on several schools, including Ohio State. If Antonio can show well during the summer camps, then his stock should rise rapidly, as he possesses rare athleticism that could easily be refined at the next level. Update 07/05 - Antonio attended Ohio State's senior advanced camp, where he performed exceptionally well in all of the QB drills. The Buckeyes have offered Henton as a quarterback, not as an athlete, and he has committed to Ohio State!
5. Adam Weber, Shoreview (Minnesota) Mounds View (6' 3", 205 lbs, 4.65 forty). Update 07/05 - With an early commitment from Antonio Henton, the Bucks have stopped recruiting Weber; his finalists are Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan State, Miami (OH), and Western Michigan, with Minnesota being the probable leader, as it is both his hometown school and his father's alma mater.
6. Arvell Nelson, Cleveland Glenville (6' 5", 180 lbs, 4.75 forty). Update 07/05 - Arvell performed very well at Ohio State's camp, but was outclassed by Antonio Henton, who has now committed to the Bucks. Unless something changes drastically, Nelson will not receive an offer from Ohio State. Wisconsin has offered, and it is quite possible that Arvell will follow fellow Tarblooder Daven Jones (wide receiver, class of 2006) to Madison.
7. Michael Hartline, Canton Glen Oak (6' 5", 175 lbs, 4.8 forty). Update 07/05 - Mike also performed well at Ohio State's camp, and many Bucks fans are holding out hope that he will join his older brother Brian in Columbus; however, with Henton in the fold, Hartline appears to be on the outside looking in. Although there is an slight chance that Ohio State could sign two quarterbacks in 2006, we would expect Michael to end up elsewhere, probably at another Big Ten school like Michigan State or Wisconsin (both offered).
8. Nate Davis, Bellaire (6' 3", 215 lbs, 4.85 forty). Update 07/05 - Word on the street is that Davis outperformed Hartline at Ohio State's summer camp. However, Davis did not earn a Buckeye offer, and he will be looking elsewhere for a scholarship. Nate might be a good fit for a MAC school (Toledo and Bowling Green have offered), but he is really high on the Indiana Hoosiers (also offered), who are quietly putting together a very nice recruiting class.
Running Backs
1. Chris "Beanie" Wells, Akron Garfield (6' 1", 228 lbs, 4.5 forty); committed to Ohio State!
2. Josh Adams, Cary, North Carolina (5' 11", 171 lbs, 4.58 forty); OSU (offered) in the mix (Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Clemson, others, all offered). Adams is one of the few top-level running backs who is still considering Ohio State after the early commitment of Chris Wells. Adams is a slippery scat back with quick feet, good vision, and excellent change of direction, and he would make a nice complement to power-runner Wells. Although he does not boast true world-class speed, Josh has no problem getting to the corner and then out-racing the defense. On the other hand, despite his lack of size, Josh is a surprisingly effective runner between the tackles, and he is not afraid of contact when he is unable to elude it. Adams, a member of the Rivals 100 list, rushed for 2,884 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. Josh claims to be wide open in his recruitment, so the Bucks still have a chance, however slight it might be. Update 07/05 - Ohio State is still in the running, but Josh now admits to being a fan of the North Carolina Tarheels (offered).
3. Carlos Brown, Heard County, Georgia (6' 0", 195 lbs, 4.57 forty); OSU (offered) in top 5 (Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami, all offered). Brown is a four-sport star (football, basketball, baseball, and track) for Heard County. On the gridiron, Carlos lines up all over the field (QB, RB, WB, WR, S, KR, and he even K on occasion), though his future is definitely at tailback. He shows great explosiveness at the line, and has some shiftiness once he gets into the open field. Although Brown does not possess either the pure power of Chris Wells or the elusiveness of Josh Adams, he provides a nice combination of both qualities. Carlos has average speed for a tailback, so he'll have to become more adept at running between the tackles, and rely less on bouncing to the outside (where equally fast OLB's will be waiting for him at the next level). Brown is an "Elite 11" prospect from the state of Georgia who should enjoy some success in the college ranks. Ohio State has been one of Carlos's favorites for quite some time, so the Bucks should be considered legitimate contenders in this recruiting battle. Update 07/05 - Carlos is still interested in Ohio State, but the Buckeyes remain one of many (and the only northern school) in the running.
4. Chane Moline, Mission Viejo, California (6' 1", 235 lbs, 4.7 forty). Update 07/05 - Chane's top four are UCLA, Southern Cal, Ole Miss, and Utah, with UCLA leading; Ohio State has not offered, and the Buckeyes appear to be out of the running.
5. Norman Whitley, Rockingham (North Carolina) Richmond County (5' 8", 176 lbs, 4.46 forty, 4.00 shuttle); OSU (not offered) in the mix (North Carolina, only offer; many others). In 2004, Whitley accumulated an incredible 3,540 all-purpose yards (2,666 rushing, 268 receiving, 606 returning), which set a single-season record in the state of North Carolina. As you might expect from a player who scored 39 times last season, Norman's videos are quite impressive. He can cut on a dime and has an amazing ability to weave through traffic, and once he gets into the open it's a footrace that Norman will win almost every time. Whitley has a decent amount of power for his size, and can break the occasional tackle; but speed and quickness are the essence of his game, and he can usually outrun the defense, or avoid contact with a well-timed juke or spin move. The big question concerning Norman is obviously his size, and that fact appears to be the sole reason that he has just one scholarship offer as we head into the summer camp season. Norman performed well at the recent Athens Nike combine, running 4.4 forties, 4.0 shuttles, and confirming the excellent cutting ability, agility, and lateral speed which he demonstrates on the football field. Ohio State is always a long shot to draw talent from the south, but an offer would certainly keep the Bucks in contention for one of the most exciting and prolific players in the class of 2006. Update 07/05 - According to Rivals, Norman is the #10 overall prospect in the state of North Carolina. There is not much new to report on the recruiting front; Norman remains interested in Ohio State, but the Bucks have not offered.
NEW !! 6. Jacob Ramsey, Columbus Independence (6' 0", 205, 4.5 forty); OSU (not offered) leads Cincinnati (offered). As a sophomore in 2003, Ramsey was the second option to current Buckeye RB Erik Haw, who tallied most of the carries while amassing 3,000 yards rushing. Prior to the 2004 season, Ramsey broke his ankle and missed the entire campaign. Now fully recovered and heading into his senior year, Jacob is a prospect with a lot of talent and potential, but a very thin resume` which consists mostly of some outstanding summer camp performances. If Jacob plays up to expectations this fall, then the offers should start rolling in, and the Buckeyes might be one of the interested parties; if not, then look for Jacob to head down I-71 and join the Bearcat squad.
7. Keith Payne, Vienna (Virginia) Oakton (6' 2", 220, 4.4 forty); OSU (not offered) in the mix (Virginia Tech, Virginia, Wake Forest, others). Payne certainly has impressive measurables (he is somewhat of a Chris Wells clone in that respect), but he has yet establish his credentials on the gridiron. Last season, Keith posted some solid but unspectacular numbers, rushing for approximately 1,000 yards (6.4 avg) and 17 touchdowns in 12 games. Nevertheless, we like his size and raw potential, and have tabbed him as one of our "sleeper" prospects for the class of 2006; we look for him to bolster his reputation at various summer camps (he may attend Ohio State's) and throughout his senior season. Some feel that Keith may outgrow running back and end up as an outside linebacker in college. Virginia Tech is Keith's lone offer and presumptive leader at this early stage. Update 07/05 - Rivals has named Keith the #24 overall prospect in Virginia. There is nothing new concerning Payne's recruitment.
NEW ! ! 8. Aram Olson, Columbia (South Carolina) Irmo (6' 1", 237 lbs, 4.9 forty, 4.25 shuttle); OSU (not offered) in top 6 (Clemson, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia Tech, no offers). Aram is a big, bruising fullback who loves to play physical, smash-mouth football. He is also an excellent student who carries a 4.54 GPA and has already scored an 1180 on the old SAT and a 25 on the ACT. Although Olson has no offers to date, he is not discouraged, as he realizes that many teams offer fullbacks late in the process. Aram plays for one of the top high school programs in South Carolina, and he wants to attend a college with a winning tradition. With his work ethic both on the gridiron and in the classroom, Aram would be a perfect Tressel recruit, and we hope that he can demonstrate enough football talent to earn a Buckeye offer; if not, we're confident that he'll end up all right.
9. Xylon Purkiss, Ravenna, Ohio (5' 10", 255 lbs, 4.85 forty); OSU (not offered) leads. Purkiss is a two-way player for Ravenna, lining up at fullback on offense (385 yards, 2 TD's in 2004) and nose tackle on defense (54 tackles, 8 TFL's, 4 sacks last season). We like him better at fullback, where his power and low center of gravity could serve him well as a lead blocker. Xylon is an intriguing prospect who is extremely strong (375 bench max, 600+ squat max) and very active on the football field, but probably three inches too short to attract the attention of the major programs. As a first-time wrestler this winter, Purkiss had a successful season, and even participated in the state tournament. Xylon's dream is to play for Ohio State, but the Bucks seem to be lukewarm for the moment; however, Cincinnati and all of the MAC schools are showing a lot of interest in this kid who doesn't fit the "profile", but who can flat out play the game. Update 07/05 - Nothing new here.
Wide Receivers
1. Vidal Hazelton, Staten Island (New York) Moore Catholic (6' 3", 192 lbs, 4.5 forty). Update 07/05 - Vidal, a five-star prospect, has shown no interest in Ohio State recently.
2. David Ausberry, Lemoore, California (6' 4", 200 lbs, 4.72 forty); OSU (childhood fave, offered) trails Southern Cal (strong leader, offered). Although Ausberry was born in Columbus and grew up rooting for the Buckeyes, he has never been to the Ohio State campus and does not know much about the football program. In the mean time, his family relocated to California, and David became a fan of Southern Cal, which is now his clear leader. However, David will travel back to Columbus this summer to attend Ohio State's camp, and a strong visit will be necessary in order to even the score with the Trojans. As a sophomore in 2003, Ausberry was one of the top wide outs in California (800 yards, 10 TD's), but a high-ankle sprain hindered him throughout his junior season, and limited his productivity. Nevertheless, he is regarded as one of the top talents in the state, and should draw interest from many major programs besides the Buckeyes and Trojans. Update 07/05 - Although he was scheduled to camp at Ohio State, David cancelled his visit; however, he did attend Southern Cal's camp, thus supporting the speculation that he is a Trojan "silent verbal" with no serious interest in Ohio State.
NEW !! 3. Chris Slaughter, Fort Valley (Georgia) Peach County (6' 3", 170 lbs, 4.55 forty); OSU (offered) in top 8 (Auburn, South Carolina, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, all offered; Southern Cal). Chris is a teammate of, and the primary target for, Peach County QB Antonio Henton, who recently verballed to the Buckeyes. Last season, Chris had an outstanding year, racking up 42 catches for 1,016 yards and 14 TD's. Slaughter is a tall, athletic receiver who has enough speed to go deep, but isn't afraid to go over the middle. Although Auburn and South Carolina currently lead, Chris is apparently somewhat of a Buckeye fan, and he has expressed some interest in following Henton to Columbus.
4. Chris James, Chicago Morgan Park (6' 0", 169 lbs, 4.55 forty); committed to Illinois.
5. Wesley Lyons, Pittsburgh Woodland Hills (6' 6", 205 lbs, 4.65 forty); OSU (offered) co-leader (Miami, also offered). No one's stock is rising faster than Wesley Lyons's - two months ago, he was flying under the radar, but now he boasts offers from several top programs including Ohio State, Miami, Penn State, and West Virginia. Although Lyons had a fairly productive year as a junior (33 receptions for 600 yards and 7 TD's), his size and potential are what have begun to attract the college recruiters. Despite his height, Lyons is being recruited as a pure wide out and not as a tight end. Wesley is the younger brother of current Ohio State sophomore wide out Devon Lyons, and the smart money says that "little" Lyons will follow his brother to Columbus. However, Wesley also really likes Miami, and a few other schools may get a look as well. Update 07/05 - Wesley really likes Ohio State, but wonders whether he can earn playing time in the Buckeyes' offense, which is currently loaded with receivers (including his brother Devon). Miami's depth chart is more inviting, but we feel that Wesley will eventually follow Devon to Ohio State.
6. Crawford Kilpatrick, Suwanne (Georgia) North Gwinnett (6' 5", 197, 4.62 forty); OSU (not offered) in top 4 (Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina, none offered). Kilpatrick is still somewhat of a sleeper prospect, but he has the requisite size (he is a legit 6' 5", and his frame is beginning to fill out) and has produced well at the high school level (60 receptions for 925 yards and 9 TD's in 2004), so it is only a matter of time before college recruiters start swarming. Crawford has excellent speed and quickness, but his primary attributes are his height, leaping ability, and soft hands, which are an ideal combination for a possession receiver. In addition, Crawford's coach states that he is very physical football player who enjoys contact and loves to block. Kilpatrick has only two offers to date (Duke and Maryland), but he appears content to show his talents at the spring combines and summer camps and wait for more offers to roll in. Ohio State has consistently been a member of Crawford's top five list, and the Bucks would certainly be in contention if the staff would decide to send him an offer. Update 07/05 - According to Rivals, Kilpatrick is the #26 overall prospect in Georgia. Ohio State remains in Crawford's top four, but the Buckeyes have yet to offer. With Josh Chichester already in the fold, and Wesley Lyons still a very strong possibility, it is unlikely that Ohio State will pursue another "big" receiver in this class. Duke is in with a written offer, and the Blue Devils are probably the team to beat at this point.
7. Markeith Summers, Olive Branch, Mississippi (6' 4", 190 lbs, 4.5 forty, 37" vertical). Update 07/05 - The Buckeyes have shown no interest in Markeith, and he is looking at a host of southern schools, most of which have offered.
8. Troy Pascley, Alliance (6' 2", 180 lbs, 4.39 forty, 35" vertical, 10' 4" broad jump). Update 07/05 - Troy has transferred from Marlington to Alliance. Ohio State is showing no interest, and Troy is looking elsewhere.
9. Ray Fisher, Cleveland Glenville (5' 10", 170 lbs, 4.4 forty, 3.97 shuttle; 3.7 GPA); OSU (not offered) leads. Fisher is the rare Glenville prospect who is receiving little buzz in recruiting circles, probably because his teammates DE Rob Rose, QB Arvell Nelson, and ATH Raymond Small are drawing most of the attention. Ray has speed and quickness to burn, but his size is a major concern (in an era of big wide outs, he is quite short, and his weight might be closer to 150 than 170), as is his strength (only two bench reps at 185 pounds). Ray currently holds offers from several schools, including Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, and Syracuse, and he expects an offer from from Ohio State in the near future. However, the Buckeyes are currently "in" on several top receiver and "athlete" prospects (including Raymond Small, who is a strong OSU lean), and Fisher might end up being yet another late Glenville offeree (Troy Smith, Curtis Terry, Freddie Lenix). Update 07/05 - At the Blacksburg Nike combine, Fisher measured 5' 8" and 156 pounds, while managing just a single rep on the bench press; he also posted a rather mundane 4.64 forty, but did excel at the shuttle, clocking an excellent 3.97 in the quickness/agility drill. Despite the questionable measurables, Ray claims offers from Big Ten powers Iowa and Wisconsin, plus LSU and Ball State; Ohio State remains his favorite, but the Buckeyes have yet to offer, and it appears unlikely that they will do so. The Badgers might be the team to beat.
Tight Ends
1. Konrad Reuland, Mission Viejo, California (6' 6", 235 lbs, 4.75 forty); OSU (not offered) in the mix (Southern Cal, UCLA, Notre Dame, others). Reuland was born in Springfield, Ohio, grew up rooting for Ohio State, and is still a fan of the Buckeyes. Konrad is a teammate of 2006 FB prospect Chane Moline, and attends the same school as incoming Buckeye freshman DE Ryan Williams. Although he is currently one of the top tight end prospects in the country, Konrad, like Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez (his idol), began his athletic career on the basketball court. With only two years of experience on the gridiron, Konrad should have tremendous upside despite the fact that he already made the Rivals Junior All-American Team after his performance last season (47 receptions, 800 yards, 7 TD's for the second-ranked team in the nation). Konrad has very good hands and enough speed to beat linebackers to the seams in the zone; he is also a very good blocker who seems to enjoy the task. Off the field, Konrad is an outstanding student who carries a 3.8 GPA. Reuland hasn't seen Ohio State yet, but he is excited to visit the school, probably this summer, possibly for camp. If Ohio State should offer, then the Bucks would likely be a serious contender for Konrad's signature on Signing Day. Update 07/05 - Konrad has received an offer from the Buckeyes, and he will visit Ohio State some time this summer. The Bucks are still very much in the picture.
2. Nate Byham, Franklin, Pennsylvania (6' 4", 220 lbs, 4.65 forty); OSU (offered) in the mix (Miami, Southern Cal, Pitt, Iowa, others, all offered). Although he is listed as a tight end prospect, Byham is not a physically imposing player, especially for a lineman. However, Nate displays excellent hands, decent speed, and shifty moves after the catch, and these qualities make him a serious offensive threat (45 receptions for 883 yards and 9 TD's in 2004). Unless he can add some bulk (at least 20 pounds), Nate will probably end up switching from tight end to wide receiver in college, where he could present some serious match-up problems for opposing defenses. Byham is also a productive middle linebacker at the high school level, having posted 91 tackles, 14 TFL's, 9 sacks, 3 INT's, and 4 fumble recoveries last season; however, his future is definitely on the offensive side of the ball, where he has the potential to be a true star. Although Nate will visit Ohio State this summer, the Buckeyes appear to be a long shot here. Update 07/05 - Nate's interest in the Bucks appears to be growing, but Pitt is probably in the lead. Byham has added some much-needed weight during the off-season.
3. Jeff Cumberland, Columbus Brookhaven (6' 6", 220 lbs, 4.55 forty, 34" vertical); OSU (not offered) in top 3 (Miami, Minnesota, neither offered). Cumberland is the number one tight end prospect in the state of Ohio for the class of 2006. Last season was Jeff'’s first on offense, and he responded by leading the 'Haven in receiving (19 receptions, 372 yards, 8 TD's), helping his team to a state championship (Division II) along the way. Jeff has recently mentioned a desire to play wide receiver, but if he grows into his frame, he will be a fixture at tight end (and tip the scales at the 250-pound mark). Although he is also an excellent high school basketball player, Cumberland's athletic future is definitely on the gridiron. Jeff has always been a fan of Ohio State, and it is quite possible that he would accept an offer from the Buckeyes, should one come his way; however, Minnesota has been a haven for Brookhaven (Alex Daniels, Dominic Jones, Keith Massey all signed in 2005), and Jeff may also end up with the Golden Gophers. Update 07/05 - After an outstanding performance at the Akron combine (4.47 forty, 4.28 shuttle), Jeff may now have an offer from Ohio State; however, any Buckeye offer would be contingent upon grades. Miami (not offered) and Minnesota (offered) also remain as favorites.
4. Josh Chichester, West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West (6' 8", 210 lbs, 4.7 forty); OSU (not offered) in the mix (see below). Like fellow Ohioan Jeff Cumberland, Josh Chichester is a tight end prospect who also excels on the hardwood. However, unlike Cumberland, Chichester is actually being more-heavily recruited for basketball (he is a member of the RivalsHoops Top 150), and he might end up dropping football at the next level. Many observers feel that such a move would be a big mistake, as Josh could become a special player who would present unbelievable match-up difficulties lining up as a tight end, or even as a wide out on occasion (as Rickey Dudley did so successfully for the Buckeyes during the mid-1990's). As you might expect from a basketball star, Chichester has very soft hands and good leaping ability; conversely, his weaknesses - a lack of bulk and physical strength - also derive from his basketball background. Josh is definitely a football project at this point, but he had some decent production as a junior (27 receptions, 603 yards, 11 TD's), and his upside is huge. Chichester already has several offers for basketball and several more for football. Ideally, Josh would like to play both sports in college, and Ohio State is considering that possibility; head basketball coach Thad Matta has already stated that Josh could also be an integral member of the roundball team even if he accepted a football scholship from Coach Tressel. If Ohio State would offer, then it is likely that the Bucks would rise to the top of his list. Update 07/05 - After camp, Josh received an offer from the Buckeyes, and and a few days later he committed to Ohio State! Josh will apparently get a look at wide receiver, but should eventually grow into a tight end. In addition, Chichester will be a walk-on forward/center on the OSU basketball team.
5. Joe Torchia, North Arlington (New Jersey) Queen of Peace (6' 3", 231 lbs, 4.8 forty); committed to Virginia.
Offensive Linemen
1. Aaron Brown, Cincinnati Princeton (6' 6", 270 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (offered) leads (Florida, Florida State, many other offers). Brown is the top offensive line prospect in the state of Ohio, and one of the best in the entire nation. Not only does Aaron have a great frame with plenty of room to grow, he also is a sound technician with excellent footwork. Moreover, Aaron is a fierce competitor who plays with great intensity. In college, Brown projects as a left tackle, which only increases his stock among recruiters. Aaron has been fairly reticent to discuss recruiting, but all indications seem to indicate that Ohio State will be the school to beat. Update 07/05 - Aaron has scheduled official visits to Ohio State and Florida, and he has developed an interest in Tennessee. Most local experts still feel that Aaron is signed, sealed, and delivered to Ohio State, but many national gurus feel that he is headed out of state.
2. Connor Smith, Cincinnati Colerain (6' 5", 280 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (offered) leads Michigan (offered). Smith is a versatile O-line prospect who could play either guard or tackle in college. Connor is a devastating run blocker who is always looking to maul a defender, even if he is 25 yards downfield. In last year's Division I state title game (which was won handily by Colerain), Smith absolutely manhandled Antwon Hight, Canton McKinley's highly-rated defensive lineman, often pushing him several yards off of the line of scrimmage, or simply pancaking him. Besides possessing dominating physical power, Connor also has excellent quickness and footwork, which allow him to pull from any position on the line. Connor's father, Joe, was an Academic All-American offensive lineman for Ohio State in the early 80's, and it is quite possible that the younger Smith will follow suit; however, Michigan is always a big player for Cincinnati talent (the Wolverines signed Colerain's Mister Simpson in 2005), and That School Up North will battle the Bucks to the end for this Rivals 100 blue chipper. Update 07/05 - Connor attended camp at both Ohio State and Michigan, and those two school are still his leaders. We still feel that Ohio State is the team to beat, especially now that Michigan supposedly has already filled its interior line positions for this class. Connor is set to announce his decision on August 1st.
3. Justin Boren, Pickerington (Ohio) North (6' 3", 319 lbs, 5.2 forty, 40 bench reps); committed to Michigan.
4. J.B. Walton, Indian Head (Maryland) Lackey (6' 3", 270 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (offered) in the mix (Maryland, offered, leader; many others, all offered). Walton is a Rivals 100 selection as an offensive lineman, and he will probably play guard in college. On offense, J.B. displays excellent footwork, speed, quickness, and athleticism, and he is the rare high school lineman who can pull with skill. On several plays, Walton took out a defender near the line, then proceeded 10 or 15 yards downfield to flatten another one - nice stuff! Walton also plays defensive tackle in high school, and he could get a look on that side of the ball as well; however, on defense, J.B. gets by more on talent than technique, and he just seems to be more comfortable paving the way for a running back than trying to track one down. On either side of the line, J.B. demonstrates real power along with the desire to punish his opponent, a superb combination for a guy who will be operating in trenches. With so many talented Ohioans this year, Walton is one of the few out-of-state offensive line prospects who has piqued the interest of the Ohio State staff. Maryland is the favorite in this race, but J.B. also likes Virginia and Penn State; the Buckeyes seem to be a long shot at this point. Update 07/05 - Ohio State remains in Walton's top eight, but there is no reason to believe that the Bucks are a serious contender here.
5. Jacob Ballard, Springboro, Ohio (6' 7", 255 lbs, 4.8 forty); OSU (not offered) leads (Michigan State, Indiana, Louisville, all offered). Ballard may be the best "jumbo" athlete in the state of Ohio this year. While he plays tight end and defensive end in high school, Jake has the frame to bulk up to OL range, and that is where we see him playing at the next level; in that respect, he is similar to current Buckeye Kirk Barton, a rangy, athletic high school end who successfully made the move inside to tackle. Ballard might also wind up on defense (88 tackles, 12 TFL's, 6 sacks in 2004), where he could play strong-side end or three-technique tackle. Jake's twin brother, Josh, plays linebacker for Springboro, but he is probably a MAC prospect. By all accounts, Jake is a huge Ohio State fan, and would likely accept a Buckeye offer. Update 07/05 - As expected, Jake received an Ohio State offer in early June and with little hesitation he committed to Ohio State! Jake will begin his Buckeye career as a tight end, but will almost certainly outgrow that position and end up as an offensive tackle (similar to current Buckeye OT Kirk Barton).
6. Bryant Browning, Cleveland Glenville (6' 3", 328 lbs, 5.4 forty); OSU (not offered) leads (Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, all offered; Notre Dame). Browning is an absolutely huge kid, but maybe not quite the way that college recruiters would like to see - at 328 pounds, his weight is obviously a cause for concern. Bryant is also a bit on the short side, and his lack of height will limit him to guard in college. Despite the fact that his body doesn't fit the ideal computer profile for an offensive lineman, Browning is a decent athlete who performed very well at the recent Blacksburg Nike combine. Off the field, Bryant excels in the academic arena, as he currently carries a 4.2 GPA and is on track to become his school's valedictorian. Although Browning is from Glenville, it is unlikely that he will follow the pipeline to Columbus; at this point, the Buckeyes do not seem particularly interested in Bryant, and there are just too many good in-state prospects ahead of him. Update 07/05 - Bryant performed very well at Ohio State's senior camp, and is now "in the mix" for a Buckeye offer. Stay tuned....
7. Ryan Palmer, Canton Glen Oak (6' 7", 280 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (not offered) in top 5 (Michigan, Notre Dame, Pitt, Purdue, none offered). Palmer is a raw prospect with a great frame and decent athleticism for a big man. If Ryan can add some weight and strength, and gain some experience and confidence, he could join Brown, Smith, and Boren as one of the elite linemen in this fabulous O-line class. Ryan is a teammate of 2006 QB prospect Michael Hartline, and attends the same school as Buckeyes Brian Hartline, T.J. Downing, and Dustin Fox. We feel that the Buckeyes would be the leader if they offered, but Palmer needs to impress at summer camp in order to get the attention of the Ohio State coaching staff. Update 07/05 - Ryan did impress at Ohio State's summer camp, but it remains to be seen whether he demonstrated enough to earn a Buckeye offer. We feel that an offer is a reasonable possibility down the road. Duke, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, and Marshall are Palmer's only offers to date, so he will likely wait and see what develops with the Buckeyes.
8. Joe Thomas, Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edwards (6' 5", 310 lbs, 5.1 forty); committed to Pitt.
9. Lee Tilley, Springfield (Ohio) South (6' 7", 300 lbs, 5.0 forty). Update 07/05 - There is currently no mutual interest between Tilley and Ohio State. While there are many reasons for the staff's decision to "pass" on Tilley, one thing remains certain - Lee will not be a Buckeye any time soon.
10. Clark Crum, Dublin Scioto (6' 7", 255 lbs, 5.15 forty); committed to Virginia Tech.
11. Mark Jackson, Columbus Brookhaven (6' 6", 300 lbs, 5.4 forty). Update 07/05 - Ohio State has not offered Jackson, and a Buckeye offer seems very unlikely at this point. Mark claims offers from several Big Ten schools including Minnesota, and we would not be at all surprised if he ends up signing with the Golden Gophers.
12. Chris Hanna, Pittsburgh Gateway (6' 4", 292 lbs, 5.0 forty). Update 07/05 - Ohio State has shown little interest in Hanna, and Chris has dropped the Buckeyes from consideration. Chris has several offers, including Akron, but he is waiting on Pitt. Look for Hanna to be a Panther if Pitt offers, a Zip otherwise.
Defensive Tackles
1. Micah Johnson, Fort Campbell (Kentucky) West Potomac (6' 2", 267, 4.8 forty, 30+ bench reps); OSU (offered) in the mix (many others, all offered). Johnson is close to being in the "freak" category - at nearly 270 pounds, he plays running back (1,249 yards, 10.3 average, 17 TD's in only six games last season) and linebacker (173 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interceptions as a junior) for his high school squad. After his junior season, Micah was named as a first-team all-state selection, and he is currently one of the most highly recruited prospects in the entire nation. In college, Johnson could be a devastating fullback (a la Ironhead Heyward or Pooh Bear Williams or even Brandon Joe), but we feel that he would excel as a defensive lineman who could shift between strongside end and tackle; in fact, with his quickness, explosiveness, and ability to blow up plays in the backfield, he reminds us quite a bit of former Buckeye great Darrion Scott, who had much success in a similar role for Ohio State. As far as recruiting goes, Micah lists several favorites, including Ohio State (which is recruiting him as a RB/FB, his preferred position). Interestingly, Micah has developed a relationship with former Buckeye and NFL wide receiver Chris Sanders, and that contact could assist Ohio State in their pursuit of this Rivals 100 prospect. In recruiting a super blue chipper like Micah Johnson, every little advantage helps. Update 07/05 - Depending on whom you want to believe, Ohio State is either solidly in Micah's top three (with Michigan and Georgia) with an official visit a certainty, or he has eliminated the Bucks altogether. We really don't know, and we don't expect an answer until Signing Day.
2. Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh Baldwin (6' 5", 273 lbs, 4.9 forty); committed to Pitt.
3. Terron Sanders, Bradenton (Florida) Southeast (6' 2", 298 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (offered) in top 5 (Florida State, USF, Ole Miss, all offered; Florida). Sanders is a two-way lineman whom the Buckeyes are recruiting as a nose guard. As a junior, Terron made 70 tackles and 7.5 sacks on route to being named a second-team all-state (class 3A) selection. According to Rivals, Terron is the #84 prospect in Florida for the class of 2006. Terron was a Gators growing up, so Florida should be considered his leader; however, Florida has not yet offered, so Ohio State still has a slight chance here. Update 07/05 - Terron excelled at Florida's camp, received an offer from the Gators, and verballed to his childhood fave shortly thereafter.
4. Alex Dekle, Statesboro, Georgia (6' 2", 273 lbs, 4.82 forty); OSU (offered) in top 3 (Ole Miss, North Carolina, both offered). To be honest, we do not know very much about Alex Dekle, and we are not alone in that respect - Rivals does not have much more than his height, weight, and forty time, and Scout has no information whatsoever. About all we know is that Alex claims that Ohio State is one of his three favorites, and that each of his favorite schools has offered him a scholarship. Dekle apparently performed well at the recent Athens Nike combine, where he displayed good leg strength and drive. We will be on the lookout for more information concerning this intriguing prospect. Update 07/05 - Not surprisingly, we have nothing new to report on Mr. Dekle.
5. Tom McEowen, Feasterville (Pennsylvania) Neshaminy (6' 4", 279 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (not offered) in the mix (Boston College, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, NC State, Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers, and Virginia). Update 07/05 - Florida, Maryland, and Penn State (all offered) are Tom's three favorites, with Ohio State (not offered) apparently out of the running.
6. Bill Nagy, Hudson, Ohio (6' 4", 285 lbs, 4.85 forty, 4.5 shuttle); OSU (not offered) in top 5 (Louisville, Nortwestern, both offered; Notre Dame, Michigan). Although we have Nagy grouped with the defensive linemen (52 tackles, 8 TFL's in 2004), he is an equally good prospect for the offensive line (78 pancake blocks last season), and he might very well end up on offense in college. We chose to list him as a defensive tackle for several reasons: (a) he prefers defense; (b) he has a very active motor that would be better utilized on the defensive side of the line; (c) he is quick off the ball, another quality that would serve him well on defense; and (d) as an offensive lineman in a class replete with quality players, Nagy is just another name; on the other hand, he is clearly the best defensive tackle prospect in the state of Ohio this year. Bill has a great attitude on the field, and after watching him, it is obvious that he is a guy who simply never takes a play off. Nagy is from a high school that is not known as a football powerhouse, and for that reason he has been flying a bit under the radar. However, if Bill can showcase his talent during the upcoming summer camps, then he should start to see the offers rolling in. Update 07/05 - According to all reports, Nagy performed very well at Ohio State's summer camp, but he hasn't received a Buckeye offer yet. If Nagy can wait a while, then an OSU offer might materialize. In the mean time, Bill can contemplate offers from Indiana, Louisville, Northwestern, and Wisconsin.
7. Ben Alexander, Anderson (South Carolina) T.L. Hanna (6' 1", 285 lbs, 5.02 forty); committed to Texas.
Defensive Ends
1. Robert Rose, Cleveland Glenville (6' 5", 238 lbs, 4.6 forty, 4.6 shuttle); OSU (offered) leads (Michigan State, offered; Michigan, Iowa, Southern Cal). Of all the players on the Buckeyes' radar screen this year, Robert Rose may be the one who best personifies the "freak" athlete - he has the frame of a defensive lineman with the speed of a wide receiver and the agility of a running back. At Glenville, Robert has played tight end, defensive tackle, and defensive end, and we feel that he could ultimately end up at any of those positions in college, and maybe even at outside linebacker like former Tarblooder Pierre Woods, whom Robert resembles in both size and athletic ability. Rose is only one of the many Glenville players who will receive serious attention from Division I programs (Raymond Small, Ray Fisher, Arvell Nelson, Bryant Browning, Royce Adams, and Wisconsin verbal Daven Jones), but he might just be the best of the bunch. We suspect that Robert will eventually follow the Glenville pipeline to Columbus, but, as any top recruit should, he will likely visit several other schools before making his decision final. Update 07/05 - Ohio State still leads, but don't expect a decision until January.
NEW !! 2. Walter Dublin, Sarasota, Florida (6' 3", 235 lbs, 4.58 forty); OSU and Nebraska lead (both offered). As a junior, Dublin racked up 84 tackles, 22 TFL's, and 14 sacks in 11 games, and his on-the-field production combined with his natural athleticism have begun to attract recruiters from around the country. Although Walter has lived in Florida for the past several years, he wants to leave the Sunshine State to attend college, and the midwest seems to be his currently favored destination, with Nebraska, Ohio State, Iowa, Iowa State, and Minnesota receiving plenty of attention lately. Although Walter's top five list changes frequently, the Huskers and Buckeyes are the two teams consistently at the top of the ledger.
NEW!! 3. Brian Whitmore, Chesapeake (Virginia) Oscar F. Smith (6' 3", 240 lbs, 4.65 forty); OSU (offered) in top 8 (Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, and Penn State, all offered). As a junior, Whitmore recorded 75 tackles, 18 TFL's, and 10 sacks from his defensive end position. While Brian will probably begin his college career as a strongside end, he could eventually grow into a defensive tackle. On film, Brian displays excellent speed and solid instincts; his technique could use some work, but this should improve with the proper coaching at the next level. Although Brian claims serious interest in Ohio State, we see the Bucks as an extreme long shot; Virginia Tech, Maryland, and Miami are the most likely candidates for his services.
NEW !! 4. McKenzie Matthews, Syracuse Christian Brothers (6' 3", 235 lbs, 4.8 forty); OSU (offered) in top 3 (Pitt, offered; Michigan). According to Rivals, Matthews is the #6 overall prospect in the state of New York. In 2004, McKenize racked up 60 tackles, 10 TFL's, and 13 sacks, and was a second team all-state selection. McKenzie was a teammate of Greg Paulus, who was one of the top quarterbacks for the the class of 2005, but elected to attend Duke on a basketball scholarship. This season, Matthews will be the star of the Christian Brothers' squad. Although his leaders change frequently, McKenzie seems to be high on Ohio State, and the Buckeyes should be in the running until the end.
5. Drew Gloster, Damascus (Maryland) Good Counsel (6' 4", 215 lbs, 4.57 forty, 4.59 shuttle, 33" vertical, 22 bench reps). Update 07/05 - Unexpectedly, Drew has dropped Ohio State; Miami, Florida, and Virginia Tech lead, with Miami being the team to beat.
6. Aaron Maybin, Ellicott City (Maryland) Mt. Hebron (6' 3", 220 lbs, 4.64 forty, 4.30 shuttle, 36" vertical). Update 07/05 - Ohio State has not offered, and Aaron has dropped Ohio State from consideration; look for Maryland to win this battle.
7. Lamar Mapp, Springfield (Ohio) South (6' 3", 234 lbs, 4.65 forty, 4.65 shuttle); OSU (not offered) in the mix (Akron, offered; several others). Mapp is one of our "sleepers" for the class of 2006. Although he has recorded some excellent numbers on the field (118 tackles, 12 sacks as a junior), Lamar has only recently begun to receive attention from college recruiters. Despite the fact that Mapp is on the short side for a defensive end prospect, he deflected 19 passes last season alone. Right now, Mapp excels at rushing the passer, but his run defense needs some work; in the running game, Lamar tends to get locked up with his blocker, but after disengaging, he possesses enough speed to recover and make the play. Lamar is undeniably a tremendous athlete (at a recent track meet, he posted an 11.3 in the 100 meter dash), but one factor will probably keep him on the back burner for a while: grades. While we do not have any specifics, some have reported that Lamar might be destined for a prep school or junior college. If he can make the cut academically, then many major programs will be giving serious consideration to Lamar Mapp. Update 07/05 - Nothing new to report here - with grades being an issue, the offers will have to wait.
8. Darius Smith, Euclid, Ohio (6' 3", 195 lbs, 4.6 forty); OSU (not offered) leads. Weighing in at just under 200 pounds, Darius Smith may be the skinniest DE prospect that we've seen in quite some time. However, his high school coach thinks that Smith will start to fill out this season and begin to make a name for himself. Darius is a teammate of blue chip linebacker prospect Thaddeus Gibson, and the younger brother of current Buckeye linebacker Brandon Smith. The older Smith surprised a few experts when he received his Buckeye offer a couple of years ago, and the younger Smith might do the same. Ohio State is Darius' clear leader, and an offer from the Buckeyes would likely be accepted on the spot. In the mean time, Darius needs to bulk up, and to demonstrate his skills at camps this summer and on the gridiron this autumn. Update 07/05 - Nothing new to report - Darius would commit to the Buckeyes if he were offered, but there is nothing to indicate that an Ohio State offer is in the works.
Linebackers
1. Akeem Hebron, Damascus (Maryland) Good Counsel (6' 2", 193 lbs, 4.45 forty, 33" vertical); OSU (offered) in top 5 (Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, all offered). According to Rivals, Hebron is the number three prospect in the state of Maryland for the class of 2006, and he is a member of their Top 100 list; last season, Akeem was a consensus all-state selection, and was runner-up for Maryland's defensive player of the year honors. Hebron is a teammate of 2006 DE recruit Drew Gloster, who is also considering the Buckeyes. Akeem plays outside linebacker in high school (110 tackles, 11 sacks, 2 interceptions), but may switch to safety in college if he is unable to add about twenty pounds to his frame. He reminds us a bit of incoming Buckeye freshman LB Freddie Lenix - a bit undersized, but extremely fast, very tough, and a vicious hitter who explodes on the ballcarrier. In addition, Hebron has both great technique (he stays low when he tackles) and natural instincts (he reads plays well and has a real nose for the football). With his great speed, Akeem has the ability to police the field from sideline to sideline, yet he also demonstrates the power to bull rush past the offensive line and administer the type of hits that will have the quarterback constantly looking over his shoulder. If we had to single out one kid in this class who defines the term "football player", it would be Akeem Hebron; he is one of our top overall prospects for the class of 2006, and we will be following his recruitment very closely. Update 07/05 - Georgia and Florida lead, with LSU right behind; Ohio State is not yet officially out of the running, but look for Akeem to be a Bulldog in the near future.
2. Ross Homan, Coldwater, Ohio (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.55 forty); committed to Ohio State!
3. Thaddeus Gibson, Euclid, Ohio (6' 3", 208 lbs, 4.4 forty); OSU (offered) leads Michigan (offered). Gibson is a classic outside linebacker with decent size (with plenty of room to grow) and outstanding speed (he recently ran the 100 meters in 11.1 seconds and the 200 meters in 23.7 seconds). In fact, Thaddeus has already earned the reputation as the best pure pass rusher in the greater Cleveland area (67 tackles, 17 sacks, two interceptions last season), which is high praise considering all of the talent in northeast Ohio. Despite the fact that he tips the scales at just over 200 pounds, Gibson is a lights out hitter who loves to search out and destroy opposing ball carriers. Gibson has visited Ohio State several times, and is friends with current Buckeye redshirt freshman LB Brandon Smith and his younger brother Darius, who is a 2006 DE prospect from Euclid High. At this early stage of the game, it appears that Thaddeus favors the Buckeyes, but Michigan and possibly a few other schools will also get a serious look. Update 07/05 - No official news, but most of the buzz indicates that Thaddeus will end up in Columbus eventually.
4. Jeremiha Hunter, Manheim (Pennsylvania) Central (6' 2", 210 lbs, 4.5 forty); OSU (offered) in top 4 (Michigan, Penn State, West Virginia, all offered). Hunter is yet another outstanding outside linebacker prospect (135 tackles as a sophomore; 143 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 interceptions as a junior) who has the Buckeyes on his short list. Jeremiha is also a legitimate fullback prospect (1,500 yards, 21 TD's in 2003; 1,100 yards, 22 TD's in 2004). While Jeremiha was an all-conference selection at both positions, he was named to the Associated Press and Pennsylvania Football News all-state first teams as a linebacker, and he projects as an OLB in college. At the Elite College Combine, Jeremiha was the second-best linebacker in attendance, behind only Akeem Hebron (no surprise there). Until recently, Hunter had been a Michigan lean, but Ohio State and Penn State appear to have closed the gap somewhat, and his recruitment will likely be a three-team race. Update 07/05 - The Buckeyes are still strong players here, but Hunter's list seems to be expanding, not contracting. If Jeremiha's recruitment begins to drag out, then the Bucks might consider going in a different direction.
5. A.J. Edds, Greenwood, Indiana (6' 4", 215 lbs, 4.7 forty); OSU (not offered) in top 5 (Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, all offered; Notre Dame). Currently, Edds is being recruited as a linebacker (139 tackles, 12 TFL's, 4 INT's in 2004), but he has the frame to grow into a defensive end. On offense, A.J. plays tight end (544 yards, 4 TD's last season), and he could remain on the side of the ball in college. Edds is a great student, as evidenced by his 3.9 GPA and 1170 SAT (old scale). A.J. already has three Big Ten offers, but he is still looking at Ohio State, Notre Dame, and a few other major programs, hoping that some more offers will materialize down the road. He will camp at Ohio State this year, which will give him an excellent chance to showcase his talents for the Buckeye coaching staff. Update 07/05 - A.J. camped at Ohio State, but did not earn an offer from the staff. Although A.J. remains somewhat interested in the Buckeyes, his current leaders are Iowa, Purdue, and Georgia Tech (all offered). The longer that he waits to commit to another school, the better the chances that he is on the Buckeyes' short list for an offer.
6. Tommy Becker, Plymouth (Minnesota) Wayzata (6' 2", 230 lbs, 4.77 forty); OSU in top 6 (Minnesota, offered; Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State, Oklahoma). Becker plays for the same high school as incoming Buckeye freshman LB James Laurinaitis, and the two formed quite a tandem in the middle of the Wayzata defense last season. While Laurinaitis racked up nearly 200 tackles on his way to being named Minnesota's Mr. Football, Becker added 139 of his own, together with 3 interceptions. This year, Tommy will have the spotlight to himself, and should post some more huge numbers. Becker plays middle linebacker in high school, and he should remain inside at the college level. Minnesota has offered, and they should be considered Tommy's probable leader; however, Ohio State and many other schools will be watching Tommy closely this season, and he may generate quite a bit of interest down the road. Update 07/05 - Becker attended Ohio State's camp, but did not receive an offer from the Buckeyes; however, Tommy still remains interested in Ohio State, and, like A.J. Edds, he may be able to play his way into an offer this fall.
7. Cobrani "Cobra" Mixon, Cincinnati Colerain (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.6 forty); "soft" verbal to Michigan; Ohio State might still have an outside shot at changing Cobra's mind.
8. Greg Webster, Pittsburgh Woodland Hills (6' 2", 225 lbs, 4.7 forty); committed to Pitt.
9. Kevin Green, Jr., North Chicago, Illinois (6' 2", 213 lbs, 4.55 forty, 37" vertical). Update 07/05 - Iowa and Purdue (both offered) are the teams to beat; Ohio State has not offered and the Bucks are now out of the mix.
Defensive Backs
1. Darrin Walls, Pittsburgh Woodland Hills (6' 1", 175 lbs, 4.4 forty). Update 07/05 - Darrin has eliminated Ohio State; he appears to be down to Michigan and Notre Dame, with Florida and Pitt still having a shot at the nation's number one corner prospect.
2. Antwine Perez, Camden (New Jersey) Woodrow Wilson (6' 2", 197 lbs, 4.53 forty, 4.15 shuttle, 36" vertical). Update 07/05 - Antwine has eliminated Ohio State; his final three are Southern Cal, Michigan, and LSU, with USC leading.
3. Jamar Hornsby, Jacksonville Sandalwood (6' 4", 195 lbs, 4.45 forty). Update 07/05 - Jamar has dropped Ohio State from consideration, and his final five are Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Michigan, and Southern Cal.
4. Kurt Coleman, Clayton (Ohio) Northmont (5' 11", 190 lbs, 4.44 forty); committed to Ohio State!
NEW !! 5. A.J. Wallace, Pomfret (Maryland) McDonough (6' 1", 195 lbs, 4.4 forty); OSU (offered, official visit 09/10) leads Nebraska (offered, official visit 10/29). According to Rivals, A.J. is the #63 overall prospect nationally, the #3 cornerback nationally, and the #3 overall prospect in the state of Maryland for the class of 2006. In high school, A.J. is definitely a two-way player, as he rushed for 2,467 and 30 TD's over the past two seasons, and made 140 tackles and 2 interceptions during that same time. Wallace visited Ohio State in June, and came away very impressed - he met several of the current players, and developed relationships with Nate Salley, Jamario O'Neal, and others. For the past several years, Ohio State has been close to landing a top player from Maryland (legacies like Stan White, Jr. and Shwan Springs don't count), and it looks like Wallace might be the guy who ends up finally signing with the Bucks.
6. Reshad Jones, Atlanta Booker T. Washington (6' 2", 177 lbs, 4.5 forty). Update 07/05 - Reshad has dropped Ohio State from consideration, and is currently leaning toward Miami.
NEW !! 7. Raeshon McNeil, Mocksville (North Carolina) Davie County (6' 0", 175 lbs, 4.40 forty); OSU (not offered) in top 3 (Notre Dame, offered, leader; Virginia, offered). While he is currently somewhat of a "sleeper" on the national level, Raeshon is the type of "big" corner favored by the current Buckeye regime. Based on his performance last season (60 tackles, 5 interceptions), Rivals has rated McNeil the #5 overall prospect in the state of North Carolina. Besides being a superb athlete, Raeshon is also an excellent student who boasts a 4.1 GPA and an 1100 score on the old SAT. Raeshon claims a "verbal offer" from Ohio State - with Maryland corner A.J. Wallace leaning toward the Buckeyes, and Florida corner/athlete Bryan Thomas still very much in the mix, we wonder whether that verbal offer will ever become memorialized in writing. If it does become official some day, then the Bucks should have a decent chance to sign McNeil, as he is not particularly interested in any of the in-state schools (all offered); in any event, Notre Dame will be tough to beat.
NEW !! 8. Chris Fox, Westwood (Massachusetts) Xaverian Brothers (5' 11", 191 lbs, 4.47 forty, 4.10 shuttle); OSU (not offered) in top 7 (Boston College, leader, offered; Colorado, Duke, Oregon, Wisconsin, all offered; Notre Dame). If his name sounds sort of familiar, that's because his father is former Buckeye All-American defensive back Tim Fox, and his cousins are former Buckeye defensive back Dustin Fox and former Penn State defensive back Derek Fox. While Chris is an all-around athlete for his high school team (he plays wide receiver, cornerback, safety, and punt returner), he most likely projects as a corner at the college level. Chris uses his excellent technique to get and maintain proper position on the receiver, and he doesn't rely on his superior speed and agility to "recover" and make plays. Although Chris shows some skills as a receiver, he seems more natural on the other side of the ball; besides, playing defensive back is obviously a Fox family tradition. Given his family ties to Ohio State, Chris naturally favors the Buckeyes; however, the staff (which likes Chris as a safety) has yet to offer, and Chris might be on the waiting list for a while. Notre Dame, which also has not offered, is a serious player as well. If the Bucks and Domers don't extend an offer, then look for Chris to stay close to home and sign with Boston College.
9. Jovani Chappel, Trotwood (Ohio) Madison (5' 8", 169 lbs, 4.53 forty, 33" vertical, 20 bench reps. Update 07/05 - Jovani does not have an offer from Ohio State, and it is doubtful that he will get one - the Buckeye staff likes "big" corners, and they almost certainly will pass on Chappel.
10. Robert Williams, Cincinnati Withrow (5' 11", 179 lbs, 4.5 forty); OSU (not offered) leads (Boston College, Cincinnati, Illinois, Kentucky, Miami of Ohio, Minnesota, West Virginia, all offered; Notre Dame). Williams is a pure cornerback prospect who has 14 interceptions for his high school career. Although he is on the small side, Robert is a tough player who doesn't mind hitting people when he's not busy locking down the other team's best receiver. Williams has several offers to his credit, but he is holding out for one from the Buckeyes, who are his clear favorite. Robert will camp at Ohio State this summer, and he hopes to make such a favorable impression on the coaching staff that they offer him a scholarship. Grades may be an issue here. Update 07/05 - Robert still favors Ohio State and Notre Dame, but neither school has offered; it appears that the Buckeyes will go in a different direction.
11. Peris Edwards, Toledo Rogers (6' 1", 175 lbs, 4.43 forty); OSU (not offered) leads (Miami of Ohio, Bowling Green, both offered; Purdue). Part of the reason that Edwards is somewhat of sleeper recruit at this stage of the game is the fact that he suffered a leg injury during the middle of his junior campaign. Despite the fact that Peris played only five games last season, he still compiled 508 yards rushing and 32 tackles. Although he plays quarterback in high school, Edwards is being recruited as a safety. Peris likes Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have been slow to offer, so Purdue and several MAC schools have entered the race. Peris will camp at Ohio State and Purdue this summer, and with a good performance, he will begin to see the offers arrive in his mail. Update 07/05 - Nothing new here, except that Scout has rated him the #11 safety prospect in the country; however, that recognition has yet to result in any additional offers.
12. Cody Blevins, Miamisburg, Ohio (6' 2", 200 lbs, 4.6 forty). Update 07/05 - Cody still has no offers; Ohio State is looking elsewhere, and so is Blevins.
Athletes
1. Marcus Ball, Stone Mountain (Georgia) Stephenson (6' 0", 200 lbs, 4.49 forty, 4.13 shuttle, 19 bench reps, 33" vertical); OSU (offered) in the mix (Auburn, Florida, both offered; several others). Like Akeem Hebron, Marcus Ball is another small but tenacious linebacker who has power and pop well beyond his size. If Marcus should remain near the 200-pound mark, then a move to safety might be in order, but he has more than enough speed to make the switch. Ball recently made the "Elite 11", a group of the best prep players in the state of Georgia, and he is a member of the Rivals 100 list. As a junior, Marcus had 136 tackles, 14 TFL's, and 8 sacks; he also is an outstanding running back prospect, and Ohio State is apparently recruiting him at both positions. On defense, Ball roves the entire field and hits like ton of bricks; his great speed is evident both when blitzing and when pursuing plays to the corner. Ball may not have the technique or anticipation of Hebron, but he is every bit as athletic and quite possibly even more aggressive; it is almost a toss-up as to which is the better player, but we favor Akeem slightly for his instincts and football skills. While he has "plus" speed, exceptional acceleration, and a bevy of shifty moves, Marcus is first and foremost a power back who loves to run through and over defenders - the ones who don't get steamrolled usually get dragged five yards downfield. Although Marcus is the younger brother of Georgia Tech QB Reggie Ball, it appears that he wants to play his college ball out of state (another brother, Raeshon, plays CB for Central Michigan). It has been reported that Ball really likes Ohio State, but that Auburn and Florida will also be major players. Update 07/05 - Rivals has rated Marcus the #1 prospect in the state of Georgia, the #2 outside linebacker prospect in the nation, and the #11 overall prospect in the nation. No news on the recruiting scene, so until we hear otherwise, we have to assume that Ohio State is still in the running.
2. Asher Allen, Tucker, Georgia (5' 10", 187 lbs, 4.39 forty); OSU (offered) in the mix (Georgia, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Auburn, all offered). Like Akeem Hebron and Marcus Ball, Asher Allen is an undersized player who runs like lightning and hits like thunder. Allen is being recruited primarily as a defensive back or wide receiver, but he could also play running back in the right kind of system (say Florida State); in addition, he will certainly be a contributor on special teams as a return man. Asher's natural position is cornerback, and he has the speed, reactions, and footwork to lock down a receiver in man coverage. However, don't be fooled by his size - Asher is a ferocious hitter who loves to mix it up in run support (as evidenced by his 81 tackles last season), and he would not be out of place as a free safety. For all of the above reasons, he reminds us quite a bit of former Buckeye All-American CB Antoine Winfield. On offense, Allen displays good hands, some shifty moves, and truly outstanding football speed; while he's not as fluid or graceful as Teddy Ginn, Asher is nearly as fast, and his sub-4.4 speed is legit. When he has the ball in his hands, Allen naturally tries to outrun or out-maneuver the defense, but when contact is imminent, he is not afraid to lower his head and drive for extra yardage. Allen is a member of the Georgia "Elite 11", and he could have probably made that list as either a cornerback or a "multi-purpose" running back. Asher is not only a superior athlete, but is also an excellent student who carries a 3.85 GPA. The smart money says that AA stays down south, possibly at UGa, but he does have family in the Columbus area, so the Buckeyes may get a serious look as well. Update 07/05 - According to Rivals, Asher is the #3 overall prospect in Georgia, the #5 cornerback prospect nationally, and the #74 overall prospect in the country. While Ohio State is still nominally in the mix, it is apparent that Asher is concentrating on southern schools; Georgia will be tough to beat.
3. Brandon Warren, Alcoa, Tennessee (6' 3", 230 lbs, 4.6 forty); OSU (offered) in the mix (Tennessee, Florida State, LSU, others, all offered). Update 07/05 - Ohio State has been eliminated from consideration; we would be surprised if Brandon signed anywhere but Tennessee, although Florida State, Miami, and LSU still have a chance.
NEW !! 4. Bryan Thomas, Zephyrhills, Florida (6' 0", 186 lbs, 4.39 forty, 4.06 shuttle); OSU (offered) in top 3 (Florida, Tennessee, both offered). Bryan is from the same high school as former Buckeye great DT Ryan Pickett, and this relationship has put Ohio State in a select group at the top of Bryan's list. As a junior, Bryan had a monster season on both sides of the ball, with 500 yards rushing, 793 yards receiving, and 14 TD's on offense; and 93 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense. We actually like Thomas better on offense, where he seems more natural and self-assured; with proper coaching, he could also be a tremendous cornerback, but he is still rather raw as a DB prospect. Thomas is a lanky six-footer, with a long, graceful stride, excellent body control, and great vision (dare we say that he reminds us a little bit of Teddy Ginn when he runs?). Bryan might not have TGII's "extra gear" (then again, who does?), but he certainly has more than enough speed to go all the way any time he gets his hands on the ball. Florida has a definite edge in this race, but Ohio State still has a shot, especially if Bryan decides to make an official visit to Columbus.
5. Dorin Dickerson, Imperial (Pennsylvania) West Allegheny (6' 3", 205 lbs, 4.51 forty); committed to Pitt.
6. Raymond Small, Cleveland Glenville (6' 0", 190 lbs, 4.4 forty); OSU (offered) leads (Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, all offered; Southern Cal). Small is the next in the long line of super-talented, multi-dimensional athletes who have been produced by the Glenville football program under the guidance of Ted Ginn, Sr. Fortunately, most of the previous Tarblooder stars (Teddy Ginn, Jamario O'Neal, Donte Whitner, Troy Smith, et al.) have emigrated down I-71 to Columbus, and Raymond will likely join them at Ohio State. Small plays running back, wide receiver, and cornerback for Coach Ginn, and he could play any of those positions in college. Raymond is an excellent cover corner (and cover corners are always in demand), but he is so electric with the ball in his hands that his college offensive coordinator will be lobbying hard to get him on that side of the ball. What a dilemma! Ohio State currently leads, but Raymond also likes USC, which is pursuing him hard. Update 07/05 - Raymond still favors Ohio State, but don't expect to a formal announcement until January.
7. Steve Brown, Columbus (Indiana) East (6' 1", 200 lbs, 4.39 forty). Update 07/05 - Michigan and Notre Dame are the teams to beat; Ohio State appears to be out of the running.
8. Devin Parrish, Miramar (Florida) Parkway Academy (6' 0", 155 lbs, 4.46 forty, 4.12 shuttle); OSU (offered) leads (Tennessee, offered; Michigan, USC, Miami, not offered). Parrish is a true two-way player who lines up at wide receiver on offense and cornerback on defense. Parrish's strengths and weaknesses are pretty obvious - he is very fast, quick, and agile, but quite small, almost diminutive; regardless of where he ends up in college, he'll need to get his weight up around the 180-pound mark. Devin is the cousin of former Miami Hurricane WR Roscoe Parrish (a second round draft pick in 2005), but many believe that the younger Parrish wants to establish a name for himself anywhere but "The U"; in addition, Devin is receiving some family pressure to leave south Florida. It has been reported that Parrish not only wants to play in the Big Ten, but is also a huge fan of Buckeye phenom Teddy Ginn. For these reasons, Ohio State is the current leader for this Florida speedster, but it's still only May - Miami, Tennessee, Michigan, and several other major programs will be pushing hard for Devin's signature on National Letter of Intent Day. Update 07/05 - Apparently, Devin does not have an offer from Ohio State, although he still favors the Bucks. However, his stock seems to be falling, with his size (155 pounds) and academics (he didn't play football as a sophomore to concentrate on his grades) being legitimate issues.
9. D'Vontrey Richardson, Leesburg (Georgia) Lee County (6' 1", 205, 4.45). Update 07/05 - With the commitment of QB Antonio Henton, D'Vontrey has apparently dropped the Bucks from consideration, and vice versa.
NEW !! 10. Royce Adams, Cleveland Glenville (5' 11", 165 lbs, 4.68 forty, 4.12 shuttle); OSU (not offered) leads (Michigan State, Iowa, Cincinnati, all offered). Last season, Royce played at St. Ed's, but he has since transferred to Glenville. Royce is a versatile athlete who could end up at WR, KR, or DB at the college level. Although he is a bit small and needs to improve his strength (only 8 bench reps), Adams is aggressive on the field and he plays bigger than his size. Royce recently attended Ohio State's camp, where he improved his stock somewhat. It remains to be seen whether Ohio State will eventually offer, but if they do, then Adams will likely become yet another Glenville Buckeye.
Other players to watch are Florida CB Chris Duvalt, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney ATH Derrell Johnson, Pennsylvania ATH Elijah "Scoot" Fields, Maryland LB Bani Gbadyu, Berea (Ohio) OL Bob Gulley, Florida TE Cory Powers, Cleveland Benedictine RB Jahmal Brown, Indiana DT Dexter Larimore, Columbus Brookhaven DB A.J. Harris, and Cincinnati Colerain LB Tyler Moeller
For additional information on some of the recruits listed above, check out the previous editions of this article:
Buckeyes' Top Prospects for 2006 - May Evaluation Edition
Post-Camp Edition
In the first edition of this article, we examined the Buckeyes' top recruits during the May evaluation period. Since that time, Ohio State has held its summer camp, several new prospects have received Buckeye offers, and quite a few players on our original list have committed (to Ohio State and elsewhere). We have updated our prospect list to reflect all of the activity over the past two months.
Two of Ohio's top overall prospects, Jake Ballard and Kurt Coleman, committed prior to the Buckeyes prior to Ohio State's camp. They joined Chris Wells and Ross Homan, both of whom verballed in February, as members of Ohio State's promising class of 2006.
At Ohio State's summer camp, Georgia QB prospect Antonio Henton excelled, firmed up his offer, and committed shortly thereafter. the other top-flight quarterback prospects in attendance - Mike Hartline, Adam Weber, Arvell Nelson, and Nate Davis - left empty-handed, and will likely pursue other Big Ten opportunities.
Several in-state linemen improved their stock at camp, most notably Bryant Browning, Ryan Palmer, Bill Nagy, and Joe Thomas (who committed to Pitt a few days after camp closed). We anticipate that at least one of the aforementioned will receive a Buckeye offer at some point.
Wide receiver Josh Chichester also performed well at camp, earned an offer, and quickly accepted. Josh is also a star basketball player, and he will be a walk-on forward/center for Thad Matta's hoops squad.
The Buckeyes remain serious contenders for several other top prospects, including offensive linemen Connor Smith and Aaron Brown, wide receiver Wesley Lyons, tight ends Jeff Cumberland and Konrad Reuland, defensive lineman Robert Rose, linebackers Thaddeus Gibson and Jeremiha Hunter, and all-around athlete Raymond Small; in addition, a couple of newcomers are very high on the Buckeyes.
Quarterbacks
1. Tim Tebow, Jacksonville (Florida) Nease (6' 3", 225 lbs, 4.6 forty); OSU (not offered) in the mix (Florida, Michigan, Southern Cal, Alabama, all offered). Lefty Tim Tebow may be the best QB prospect in the country this season: he is an Elite 11 quarterback, the number two overall prospect in the state of Florida according to FloridaKids, and a member of the Rivals 100 list. After an outstanding sophomore campaign in 2003 (809 yds rushing, 18 TD's; 2,194 yds passing, 64.8 %, 18 TD's / 8 Ints), Tebow had a phenomenal junior season during which he compiled some mind-boggling numbers: not only did he rush for 1,227 yards and 24 touchdowns, he also threw for 4,304 yards, completing 61.4 percent of his passes for 46 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. Despite playing football for Nease, Tim is home-schooled; he has a strong Christian faith and will journey to the Philippines this summer where he will attempt to spread the gospel. Last season, Tebow visited Ohio State for the Penn State game, and later called his experience "incredible" and "impressive". Tim was a Gator fan growing up, and he has family ties to UF, so Florida is his probable leader. However, Tim has some legitimate interest in Ohio State, and if the Bucks offer, they might still get a serious look. Update 07/05 - Not much new, at least with respect to the Buckeyes. At the Tallahassee Nike combine, Tebow posted measurables as freakish as his junior year stats: 4.69 forty, 4.16 shuttle, 32 inch vertical, and 38 bench reps, which is far more than most lineman; his SPARQ, which measures overall athletic ability, was an outstanding 96.92. In addition, Rivals recently named Tim the #1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation, the #2 overall prospect in Florida, and the #23 overall prospect in the nation.
3. Demetrius Jones, Chicago Morgan Park (6' 3", 192 lbs, 4.5 forty); OSU (offered) in top 6 (Notre Dame, leader; Illinois, Oregon, Tennessee, and Northwestern, all offered). Jones, a member of the Rivals 100 list, is a teammate and cousin of blue chip wide receiver prospect Chris James, and the two make quite an impressive tandem on the football field. Demetrius is a true dual-threat quarterback who rushed for 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, while throwing for 2,100 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jones is definitely a raw prospect who currently relies more on his innate athleticism than technique. When throwing from the pocket, Demetrius tends to be off balance with his weight too far forward; he seems to be more natural when throwing on the run, and when he improvises, some exciting plays can result. In order to take his game to the next level, Demetrius will need to accept a bit of coaching and to learn some patience in the pocket, but all of the physical tools are there. At the present time, Demetrius favors Notre Dame, but he will take some visits this summer (along with his cousin Chris and several other Chicagoland recruits, including QB prospect Isiah Williams), and Columbus should be one of their destinations. Update 07/05 - Demetrius's current leaders are Notre Dame and Illinois, with Ohio State, Purdue, and North Carolina also in the mix. With Antonio Henton already in the fold, it is questionable whether the Bucks will continue to pursue Jones.
5. Adam Weber, Shoreview (Minnesota) Mounds View (6' 3", 205 lbs, 4.65 forty). Update 07/05 - With an early commitment from Antonio Henton, the Bucks have stopped recruiting Weber; his finalists are Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan State, Miami (OH), and Western Michigan, with Minnesota being the probable leader, as it is both his hometown school and his father's alma mater.
6. Arvell Nelson, Cleveland Glenville (6' 5", 180 lbs, 4.75 forty). Update 07/05 - Arvell performed very well at Ohio State's camp, but was outclassed by Antonio Henton, who has now committed to the Bucks. Unless something changes drastically, Nelson will not receive an offer from Ohio State. Wisconsin has offered, and it is quite possible that Arvell will follow fellow Tarblooder Daven Jones (wide receiver, class of 2006) to Madison.
7. Michael Hartline, Canton Glen Oak (6' 5", 175 lbs, 4.8 forty). Update 07/05 - Mike also performed well at Ohio State's camp, and many Bucks fans are holding out hope that he will join his older brother Brian in Columbus; however, with Henton in the fold, Hartline appears to be on the outside looking in. Although there is an slight chance that Ohio State could sign two quarterbacks in 2006, we would expect Michael to end up elsewhere, probably at another Big Ten school like Michigan State or Wisconsin (both offered).
8. Nate Davis, Bellaire (6' 3", 215 lbs, 4.85 forty). Update 07/05 - Word on the street is that Davis outperformed Hartline at Ohio State's summer camp. However, Davis did not earn a Buckeye offer, and he will be looking elsewhere for a scholarship. Nate might be a good fit for a MAC school (Toledo and Bowling Green have offered), but he is really high on the Indiana Hoosiers (also offered), who are quietly putting together a very nice recruiting class.
Running Backs
2. Josh Adams, Cary, North Carolina (5' 11", 171 lbs, 4.58 forty); OSU (offered) in the mix (Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Clemson, others, all offered). Adams is one of the few top-level running backs who is still considering Ohio State after the early commitment of Chris Wells. Adams is a slippery scat back with quick feet, good vision, and excellent change of direction, and he would make a nice complement to power-runner Wells. Although he does not boast true world-class speed, Josh has no problem getting to the corner and then out-racing the defense. On the other hand, despite his lack of size, Josh is a surprisingly effective runner between the tackles, and he is not afraid of contact when he is unable to elude it. Adams, a member of the Rivals 100 list, rushed for 2,884 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. Josh claims to be wide open in his recruitment, so the Bucks still have a chance, however slight it might be. Update 07/05 - Ohio State is still in the running, but Josh now admits to being a fan of the North Carolina Tarheels (offered).
3. Carlos Brown, Heard County, Georgia (6' 0", 195 lbs, 4.57 forty); OSU (offered) in top 5 (Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami, all offered). Brown is a four-sport star (football, basketball, baseball, and track) for Heard County. On the gridiron, Carlos lines up all over the field (QB, RB, WB, WR, S, KR, and he even K on occasion), though his future is definitely at tailback. He shows great explosiveness at the line, and has some shiftiness once he gets into the open field. Although Brown does not possess either the pure power of Chris Wells or the elusiveness of Josh Adams, he provides a nice combination of both qualities. Carlos has average speed for a tailback, so he'll have to become more adept at running between the tackles, and rely less on bouncing to the outside (where equally fast OLB's will be waiting for him at the next level). Brown is an "Elite 11" prospect from the state of Georgia who should enjoy some success in the college ranks. Ohio State has been one of Carlos's favorites for quite some time, so the Bucks should be considered legitimate contenders in this recruiting battle. Update 07/05 - Carlos is still interested in Ohio State, but the Buckeyes remain one of many (and the only northern school) in the running.
4. Chane Moline, Mission Viejo, California (6' 1", 235 lbs, 4.7 forty). Update 07/05 - Chane's top four are UCLA, Southern Cal, Ole Miss, and Utah, with UCLA leading; Ohio State has not offered, and the Buckeyes appear to be out of the running.
5. Norman Whitley, Rockingham (North Carolina) Richmond County (5' 8", 176 lbs, 4.46 forty, 4.00 shuttle); OSU (not offered) in the mix (North Carolina, only offer; many others). In 2004, Whitley accumulated an incredible 3,540 all-purpose yards (2,666 rushing, 268 receiving, 606 returning), which set a single-season record in the state of North Carolina. As you might expect from a player who scored 39 times last season, Norman's videos are quite impressive. He can cut on a dime and has an amazing ability to weave through traffic, and once he gets into the open it's a footrace that Norman will win almost every time. Whitley has a decent amount of power for his size, and can break the occasional tackle; but speed and quickness are the essence of his game, and he can usually outrun the defense, or avoid contact with a well-timed juke or spin move. The big question concerning Norman is obviously his size, and that fact appears to be the sole reason that he has just one scholarship offer as we head into the summer camp season. Norman performed well at the recent Athens Nike combine, running 4.4 forties, 4.0 shuttles, and confirming the excellent cutting ability, agility, and lateral speed which he demonstrates on the football field. Ohio State is always a long shot to draw talent from the south, but an offer would certainly keep the Bucks in contention for one of the most exciting and prolific players in the class of 2006. Update 07/05 - According to Rivals, Norman is the #10 overall prospect in the state of North Carolina. There is not much new to report on the recruiting front; Norman remains interested in Ohio State, but the Bucks have not offered.
NEW !! 6. Jacob Ramsey, Columbus Independence (6' 0", 205, 4.5 forty); OSU (not offered) leads Cincinnati (offered). As a sophomore in 2003, Ramsey was the second option to current Buckeye RB Erik Haw, who tallied most of the carries while amassing 3,000 yards rushing. Prior to the 2004 season, Ramsey broke his ankle and missed the entire campaign. Now fully recovered and heading into his senior year, Jacob is a prospect with a lot of talent and potential, but a very thin resume` which consists mostly of some outstanding summer camp performances. If Jacob plays up to expectations this fall, then the offers should start rolling in, and the Buckeyes might be one of the interested parties; if not, then look for Jacob to head down I-71 and join the Bearcat squad.
7. Keith Payne, Vienna (Virginia) Oakton (6' 2", 220, 4.4 forty); OSU (not offered) in the mix (Virginia Tech, Virginia, Wake Forest, others). Payne certainly has impressive measurables (he is somewhat of a Chris Wells clone in that respect), but he has yet establish his credentials on the gridiron. Last season, Keith posted some solid but unspectacular numbers, rushing for approximately 1,000 yards (6.4 avg) and 17 touchdowns in 12 games. Nevertheless, we like his size and raw potential, and have tabbed him as one of our "sleeper" prospects for the class of 2006; we look for him to bolster his reputation at various summer camps (he may attend Ohio State's) and throughout his senior season. Some feel that Keith may outgrow running back and end up as an outside linebacker in college. Virginia Tech is Keith's lone offer and presumptive leader at this early stage. Update 07/05 - Rivals has named Keith the #24 overall prospect in Virginia. There is nothing new concerning Payne's recruitment.
NEW ! ! 8. Aram Olson, Columbia (South Carolina) Irmo (6' 1", 237 lbs, 4.9 forty, 4.25 shuttle); OSU (not offered) in top 6 (Clemson, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia Tech, no offers). Aram is a big, bruising fullback who loves to play physical, smash-mouth football. He is also an excellent student who carries a 4.54 GPA and has already scored an 1180 on the old SAT and a 25 on the ACT. Although Olson has no offers to date, he is not discouraged, as he realizes that many teams offer fullbacks late in the process. Aram plays for one of the top high school programs in South Carolina, and he wants to attend a college with a winning tradition. With his work ethic both on the gridiron and in the classroom, Aram would be a perfect Tressel recruit, and we hope that he can demonstrate enough football talent to earn a Buckeye offer; if not, we're confident that he'll end up all right.
9. Xylon Purkiss, Ravenna, Ohio (5' 10", 255 lbs, 4.85 forty); OSU (not offered) leads. Purkiss is a two-way player for Ravenna, lining up at fullback on offense (385 yards, 2 TD's in 2004) and nose tackle on defense (54 tackles, 8 TFL's, 4 sacks last season). We like him better at fullback, where his power and low center of gravity could serve him well as a lead blocker. Xylon is an intriguing prospect who is extremely strong (375 bench max, 600+ squat max) and very active on the football field, but probably three inches too short to attract the attention of the major programs. As a first-time wrestler this winter, Purkiss had a successful season, and even participated in the state tournament. Xylon's dream is to play for Ohio State, but the Bucks seem to be lukewarm for the moment; however, Cincinnati and all of the MAC schools are showing a lot of interest in this kid who doesn't fit the "profile", but who can flat out play the game. Update 07/05 - Nothing new here.
Wide Receivers
1. Vidal Hazelton, Staten Island (New York) Moore Catholic (6' 3", 192 lbs, 4.5 forty). Update 07/05 - Vidal, a five-star prospect, has shown no interest in Ohio State recently.
2. David Ausberry, Lemoore, California (6' 4", 200 lbs, 4.72 forty); OSU (childhood fave, offered) trails Southern Cal (strong leader, offered). Although Ausberry was born in Columbus and grew up rooting for the Buckeyes, he has never been to the Ohio State campus and does not know much about the football program. In the mean time, his family relocated to California, and David became a fan of Southern Cal, which is now his clear leader. However, David will travel back to Columbus this summer to attend Ohio State's camp, and a strong visit will be necessary in order to even the score with the Trojans. As a sophomore in 2003, Ausberry was one of the top wide outs in California (800 yards, 10 TD's), but a high-ankle sprain hindered him throughout his junior season, and limited his productivity. Nevertheless, he is regarded as one of the top talents in the state, and should draw interest from many major programs besides the Buckeyes and Trojans. Update 07/05 - Although he was scheduled to camp at Ohio State, David cancelled his visit; however, he did attend Southern Cal's camp, thus supporting the speculation that he is a Trojan "silent verbal" with no serious interest in Ohio State.
NEW !! 3. Chris Slaughter, Fort Valley (Georgia) Peach County (6' 3", 170 lbs, 4.55 forty); OSU (offered) in top 8 (Auburn, South Carolina, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, all offered; Southern Cal). Chris is a teammate of, and the primary target for, Peach County QB Antonio Henton, who recently verballed to the Buckeyes. Last season, Chris had an outstanding year, racking up 42 catches for 1,016 yards and 14 TD's. Slaughter is a tall, athletic receiver who has enough speed to go deep, but isn't afraid to go over the middle. Although Auburn and South Carolina currently lead, Chris is apparently somewhat of a Buckeye fan, and he has expressed some interest in following Henton to Columbus.
5. Wesley Lyons, Pittsburgh Woodland Hills (6' 6", 205 lbs, 4.65 forty); OSU (offered) co-leader (Miami, also offered). No one's stock is rising faster than Wesley Lyons's - two months ago, he was flying under the radar, but now he boasts offers from several top programs including Ohio State, Miami, Penn State, and West Virginia. Although Lyons had a fairly productive year as a junior (33 receptions for 600 yards and 7 TD's), his size and potential are what have begun to attract the college recruiters. Despite his height, Lyons is being recruited as a pure wide out and not as a tight end. Wesley is the younger brother of current Ohio State sophomore wide out Devon Lyons, and the smart money says that "little" Lyons will follow his brother to Columbus. However, Wesley also really likes Miami, and a few other schools may get a look as well. Update 07/05 - Wesley really likes Ohio State, but wonders whether he can earn playing time in the Buckeyes' offense, which is currently loaded with receivers (including his brother Devon). Miami's depth chart is more inviting, but we feel that Wesley will eventually follow Devon to Ohio State.
6. Crawford Kilpatrick, Suwanne (Georgia) North Gwinnett (6' 5", 197, 4.62 forty); OSU (not offered) in top 4 (Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina, none offered). Kilpatrick is still somewhat of a sleeper prospect, but he has the requisite size (he is a legit 6' 5", and his frame is beginning to fill out) and has produced well at the high school level (60 receptions for 925 yards and 9 TD's in 2004), so it is only a matter of time before college recruiters start swarming. Crawford has excellent speed and quickness, but his primary attributes are his height, leaping ability, and soft hands, which are an ideal combination for a possession receiver. In addition, Crawford's coach states that he is very physical football player who enjoys contact and loves to block. Kilpatrick has only two offers to date (Duke and Maryland), but he appears content to show his talents at the spring combines and summer camps and wait for more offers to roll in. Ohio State has consistently been a member of Crawford's top five list, and the Bucks would certainly be in contention if the staff would decide to send him an offer. Update 07/05 - According to Rivals, Kilpatrick is the #26 overall prospect in Georgia. Ohio State remains in Crawford's top four, but the Buckeyes have yet to offer. With Josh Chichester already in the fold, and Wesley Lyons still a very strong possibility, it is unlikely that Ohio State will pursue another "big" receiver in this class. Duke is in with a written offer, and the Blue Devils are probably the team to beat at this point.
7. Markeith Summers, Olive Branch, Mississippi (6' 4", 190 lbs, 4.5 forty, 37" vertical). Update 07/05 - The Buckeyes have shown no interest in Markeith, and he is looking at a host of southern schools, most of which have offered.
8. Troy Pascley, Alliance (6' 2", 180 lbs, 4.39 forty, 35" vertical, 10' 4" broad jump). Update 07/05 - Troy has transferred from Marlington to Alliance. Ohio State is showing no interest, and Troy is looking elsewhere.
9. Ray Fisher, Cleveland Glenville (5' 10", 170 lbs, 4.4 forty, 3.97 shuttle; 3.7 GPA); OSU (not offered) leads. Fisher is the rare Glenville prospect who is receiving little buzz in recruiting circles, probably because his teammates DE Rob Rose, QB Arvell Nelson, and ATH Raymond Small are drawing most of the attention. Ray has speed and quickness to burn, but his size is a major concern (in an era of big wide outs, he is quite short, and his weight might be closer to 150 than 170), as is his strength (only two bench reps at 185 pounds). Ray currently holds offers from several schools, including Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, and Syracuse, and he expects an offer from from Ohio State in the near future. However, the Buckeyes are currently "in" on several top receiver and "athlete" prospects (including Raymond Small, who is a strong OSU lean), and Fisher might end up being yet another late Glenville offeree (Troy Smith, Curtis Terry, Freddie Lenix). Update 07/05 - At the Blacksburg Nike combine, Fisher measured 5' 8" and 156 pounds, while managing just a single rep on the bench press; he also posted a rather mundane 4.64 forty, but did excel at the shuttle, clocking an excellent 3.97 in the quickness/agility drill. Despite the questionable measurables, Ray claims offers from Big Ten powers Iowa and Wisconsin, plus LSU and Ball State; Ohio State remains his favorite, but the Buckeyes have yet to offer, and it appears unlikely that they will do so. The Badgers might be the team to beat.
Tight Ends
1. Konrad Reuland, Mission Viejo, California (6' 6", 235 lbs, 4.75 forty); OSU (not offered) in the mix (Southern Cal, UCLA, Notre Dame, others). Reuland was born in Springfield, Ohio, grew up rooting for Ohio State, and is still a fan of the Buckeyes. Konrad is a teammate of 2006 FB prospect Chane Moline, and attends the same school as incoming Buckeye freshman DE Ryan Williams. Although he is currently one of the top tight end prospects in the country, Konrad, like Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez (his idol), began his athletic career on the basketball court. With only two years of experience on the gridiron, Konrad should have tremendous upside despite the fact that he already made the Rivals Junior All-American Team after his performance last season (47 receptions, 800 yards, 7 TD's for the second-ranked team in the nation). Konrad has very good hands and enough speed to beat linebackers to the seams in the zone; he is also a very good blocker who seems to enjoy the task. Off the field, Konrad is an outstanding student who carries a 3.8 GPA. Reuland hasn't seen Ohio State yet, but he is excited to visit the school, probably this summer, possibly for camp. If Ohio State should offer, then the Bucks would likely be a serious contender for Konrad's signature on Signing Day. Update 07/05 - Konrad has received an offer from the Buckeyes, and he will visit Ohio State some time this summer. The Bucks are still very much in the picture.
2. Nate Byham, Franklin, Pennsylvania (6' 4", 220 lbs, 4.65 forty); OSU (offered) in the mix (Miami, Southern Cal, Pitt, Iowa, others, all offered). Although he is listed as a tight end prospect, Byham is not a physically imposing player, especially for a lineman. However, Nate displays excellent hands, decent speed, and shifty moves after the catch, and these qualities make him a serious offensive threat (45 receptions for 883 yards and 9 TD's in 2004). Unless he can add some bulk (at least 20 pounds), Nate will probably end up switching from tight end to wide receiver in college, where he could present some serious match-up problems for opposing defenses. Byham is also a productive middle linebacker at the high school level, having posted 91 tackles, 14 TFL's, 9 sacks, 3 INT's, and 4 fumble recoveries last season; however, his future is definitely on the offensive side of the ball, where he has the potential to be a true star. Although Nate will visit Ohio State this summer, the Buckeyes appear to be a long shot here. Update 07/05 - Nate's interest in the Bucks appears to be growing, but Pitt is probably in the lead. Byham has added some much-needed weight during the off-season.
3. Jeff Cumberland, Columbus Brookhaven (6' 6", 220 lbs, 4.55 forty, 34" vertical); OSU (not offered) in top 3 (Miami, Minnesota, neither offered). Cumberland is the number one tight end prospect in the state of Ohio for the class of 2006. Last season was Jeff'’s first on offense, and he responded by leading the 'Haven in receiving (19 receptions, 372 yards, 8 TD's), helping his team to a state championship (Division II) along the way. Jeff has recently mentioned a desire to play wide receiver, but if he grows into his frame, he will be a fixture at tight end (and tip the scales at the 250-pound mark). Although he is also an excellent high school basketball player, Cumberland's athletic future is definitely on the gridiron. Jeff has always been a fan of Ohio State, and it is quite possible that he would accept an offer from the Buckeyes, should one come his way; however, Minnesota has been a haven for Brookhaven (Alex Daniels, Dominic Jones, Keith Massey all signed in 2005), and Jeff may also end up with the Golden Gophers. Update 07/05 - After an outstanding performance at the Akron combine (4.47 forty, 4.28 shuttle), Jeff may now have an offer from Ohio State; however, any Buckeye offer would be contingent upon grades. Miami (not offered) and Minnesota (offered) also remain as favorites.
Offensive Linemen
1. Aaron Brown, Cincinnati Princeton (6' 6", 270 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (offered) leads (Florida, Florida State, many other offers). Brown is the top offensive line prospect in the state of Ohio, and one of the best in the entire nation. Not only does Aaron have a great frame with plenty of room to grow, he also is a sound technician with excellent footwork. Moreover, Aaron is a fierce competitor who plays with great intensity. In college, Brown projects as a left tackle, which only increases his stock among recruiters. Aaron has been fairly reticent to discuss recruiting, but all indications seem to indicate that Ohio State will be the school to beat. Update 07/05 - Aaron has scheduled official visits to Ohio State and Florida, and he has developed an interest in Tennessee. Most local experts still feel that Aaron is signed, sealed, and delivered to Ohio State, but many national gurus feel that he is headed out of state.
2. Connor Smith, Cincinnati Colerain (6' 5", 280 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (offered) leads Michigan (offered). Smith is a versatile O-line prospect who could play either guard or tackle in college. Connor is a devastating run blocker who is always looking to maul a defender, even if he is 25 yards downfield. In last year's Division I state title game (which was won handily by Colerain), Smith absolutely manhandled Antwon Hight, Canton McKinley's highly-rated defensive lineman, often pushing him several yards off of the line of scrimmage, or simply pancaking him. Besides possessing dominating physical power, Connor also has excellent quickness and footwork, which allow him to pull from any position on the line. Connor's father, Joe, was an Academic All-American offensive lineman for Ohio State in the early 80's, and it is quite possible that the younger Smith will follow suit; however, Michigan is always a big player for Cincinnati talent (the Wolverines signed Colerain's Mister Simpson in 2005), and That School Up North will battle the Bucks to the end for this Rivals 100 blue chipper. Update 07/05 - Connor attended camp at both Ohio State and Michigan, and those two school are still his leaders. We still feel that Ohio State is the team to beat, especially now that Michigan supposedly has already filled its interior line positions for this class. Connor is set to announce his decision on August 1st.
4. J.B. Walton, Indian Head (Maryland) Lackey (6' 3", 270 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (offered) in the mix (Maryland, offered, leader; many others, all offered). Walton is a Rivals 100 selection as an offensive lineman, and he will probably play guard in college. On offense, J.B. displays excellent footwork, speed, quickness, and athleticism, and he is the rare high school lineman who can pull with skill. On several plays, Walton took out a defender near the line, then proceeded 10 or 15 yards downfield to flatten another one - nice stuff! Walton also plays defensive tackle in high school, and he could get a look on that side of the ball as well; however, on defense, J.B. gets by more on talent than technique, and he just seems to be more comfortable paving the way for a running back than trying to track one down. On either side of the line, J.B. demonstrates real power along with the desire to punish his opponent, a superb combination for a guy who will be operating in trenches. With so many talented Ohioans this year, Walton is one of the few out-of-state offensive line prospects who has piqued the interest of the Ohio State staff. Maryland is the favorite in this race, but J.B. also likes Virginia and Penn State; the Buckeyes seem to be a long shot at this point. Update 07/05 - Ohio State remains in Walton's top eight, but there is no reason to believe that the Bucks are a serious contender here.
6. Bryant Browning, Cleveland Glenville (6' 3", 328 lbs, 5.4 forty); OSU (not offered) leads (Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, all offered; Notre Dame). Browning is an absolutely huge kid, but maybe not quite the way that college recruiters would like to see - at 328 pounds, his weight is obviously a cause for concern. Bryant is also a bit on the short side, and his lack of height will limit him to guard in college. Despite the fact that his body doesn't fit the ideal computer profile for an offensive lineman, Browning is a decent athlete who performed very well at the recent Blacksburg Nike combine. Off the field, Bryant excels in the academic arena, as he currently carries a 4.2 GPA and is on track to become his school's valedictorian. Although Browning is from Glenville, it is unlikely that he will follow the pipeline to Columbus; at this point, the Buckeyes do not seem particularly interested in Bryant, and there are just too many good in-state prospects ahead of him. Update 07/05 - Bryant performed very well at Ohio State's senior camp, and is now "in the mix" for a Buckeye offer. Stay tuned....
7. Ryan Palmer, Canton Glen Oak (6' 7", 280 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (not offered) in top 5 (Michigan, Notre Dame, Pitt, Purdue, none offered). Palmer is a raw prospect with a great frame and decent athleticism for a big man. If Ryan can add some weight and strength, and gain some experience and confidence, he could join Brown, Smith, and Boren as one of the elite linemen in this fabulous O-line class. Ryan is a teammate of 2006 QB prospect Michael Hartline, and attends the same school as Buckeyes Brian Hartline, T.J. Downing, and Dustin Fox. We feel that the Buckeyes would be the leader if they offered, but Palmer needs to impress at summer camp in order to get the attention of the Ohio State coaching staff. Update 07/05 - Ryan did impress at Ohio State's summer camp, but it remains to be seen whether he demonstrated enough to earn a Buckeye offer. We feel that an offer is a reasonable possibility down the road. Duke, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, and Marshall are Palmer's only offers to date, so he will likely wait and see what develops with the Buckeyes.
9. Lee Tilley, Springfield (Ohio) South (6' 7", 300 lbs, 5.0 forty). Update 07/05 - There is currently no mutual interest between Tilley and Ohio State. While there are many reasons for the staff's decision to "pass" on Tilley, one thing remains certain - Lee will not be a Buckeye any time soon.
11. Mark Jackson, Columbus Brookhaven (6' 6", 300 lbs, 5.4 forty). Update 07/05 - Ohio State has not offered Jackson, and a Buckeye offer seems very unlikely at this point. Mark claims offers from several Big Ten schools including Minnesota, and we would not be at all surprised if he ends up signing with the Golden Gophers.
12. Chris Hanna, Pittsburgh Gateway (6' 4", 292 lbs, 5.0 forty). Update 07/05 - Ohio State has shown little interest in Hanna, and Chris has dropped the Buckeyes from consideration. Chris has several offers, including Akron, but he is waiting on Pitt. Look for Hanna to be a Panther if Pitt offers, a Zip otherwise.
Defensive Tackles
1. Micah Johnson, Fort Campbell (Kentucky) West Potomac (6' 2", 267, 4.8 forty, 30+ bench reps); OSU (offered) in the mix (many others, all offered). Johnson is close to being in the "freak" category - at nearly 270 pounds, he plays running back (1,249 yards, 10.3 average, 17 TD's in only six games last season) and linebacker (173 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interceptions as a junior) for his high school squad. After his junior season, Micah was named as a first-team all-state selection, and he is currently one of the most highly recruited prospects in the entire nation. In college, Johnson could be a devastating fullback (a la Ironhead Heyward or Pooh Bear Williams or even Brandon Joe), but we feel that he would excel as a defensive lineman who could shift between strongside end and tackle; in fact, with his quickness, explosiveness, and ability to blow up plays in the backfield, he reminds us quite a bit of former Buckeye great Darrion Scott, who had much success in a similar role for Ohio State. As far as recruiting goes, Micah lists several favorites, including Ohio State (which is recruiting him as a RB/FB, his preferred position). Interestingly, Micah has developed a relationship with former Buckeye and NFL wide receiver Chris Sanders, and that contact could assist Ohio State in their pursuit of this Rivals 100 prospect. In recruiting a super blue chipper like Micah Johnson, every little advantage helps. Update 07/05 - Depending on whom you want to believe, Ohio State is either solidly in Micah's top three (with Michigan and Georgia) with an official visit a certainty, or he has eliminated the Bucks altogether. We really don't know, and we don't expect an answer until Signing Day.
4. Alex Dekle, Statesboro, Georgia (6' 2", 273 lbs, 4.82 forty); OSU (offered) in top 3 (Ole Miss, North Carolina, both offered). To be honest, we do not know very much about Alex Dekle, and we are not alone in that respect - Rivals does not have much more than his height, weight, and forty time, and Scout has no information whatsoever. About all we know is that Alex claims that Ohio State is one of his three favorites, and that each of his favorite schools has offered him a scholarship. Dekle apparently performed well at the recent Athens Nike combine, where he displayed good leg strength and drive. We will be on the lookout for more information concerning this intriguing prospect. Update 07/05 - Not surprisingly, we have nothing new to report on Mr. Dekle.
5. Tom McEowen, Feasterville (Pennsylvania) Neshaminy (6' 4", 279 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (not offered) in the mix (Boston College, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, NC State, Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers, and Virginia). Update 07/05 - Florida, Maryland, and Penn State (all offered) are Tom's three favorites, with Ohio State (not offered) apparently out of the running.
6. Bill Nagy, Hudson, Ohio (6' 4", 285 lbs, 4.85 forty, 4.5 shuttle); OSU (not offered) in top 5 (Louisville, Nortwestern, both offered; Notre Dame, Michigan). Although we have Nagy grouped with the defensive linemen (52 tackles, 8 TFL's in 2004), he is an equally good prospect for the offensive line (78 pancake blocks last season), and he might very well end up on offense in college. We chose to list him as a defensive tackle for several reasons: (a) he prefers defense; (b) he has a very active motor that would be better utilized on the defensive side of the line; (c) he is quick off the ball, another quality that would serve him well on defense; and (d) as an offensive lineman in a class replete with quality players, Nagy is just another name; on the other hand, he is clearly the best defensive tackle prospect in the state of Ohio this year. Bill has a great attitude on the field, and after watching him, it is obvious that he is a guy who simply never takes a play off. Nagy is from a high school that is not known as a football powerhouse, and for that reason he has been flying a bit under the radar. However, if Bill can showcase his talent during the upcoming summer camps, then he should start to see the offers rolling in. Update 07/05 - According to all reports, Nagy performed very well at Ohio State's summer camp, but he hasn't received a Buckeye offer yet. If Nagy can wait a while, then an OSU offer might materialize. In the mean time, Bill can contemplate offers from Indiana, Louisville, Northwestern, and Wisconsin.
Defensive Ends
1. Robert Rose, Cleveland Glenville (6' 5", 238 lbs, 4.6 forty, 4.6 shuttle); OSU (offered) leads (Michigan State, offered; Michigan, Iowa, Southern Cal). Of all the players on the Buckeyes' radar screen this year, Robert Rose may be the one who best personifies the "freak" athlete - he has the frame of a defensive lineman with the speed of a wide receiver and the agility of a running back. At Glenville, Robert has played tight end, defensive tackle, and defensive end, and we feel that he could ultimately end up at any of those positions in college, and maybe even at outside linebacker like former Tarblooder Pierre Woods, whom Robert resembles in both size and athletic ability. Rose is only one of the many Glenville players who will receive serious attention from Division I programs (Raymond Small, Ray Fisher, Arvell Nelson, Bryant Browning, Royce Adams, and Wisconsin verbal Daven Jones), but he might just be the best of the bunch. We suspect that Robert will eventually follow the Glenville pipeline to Columbus, but, as any top recruit should, he will likely visit several other schools before making his decision final. Update 07/05 - Ohio State still leads, but don't expect a decision until January.
NEW !! 2. Walter Dublin, Sarasota, Florida (6' 3", 235 lbs, 4.58 forty); OSU and Nebraska lead (both offered). As a junior, Dublin racked up 84 tackles, 22 TFL's, and 14 sacks in 11 games, and his on-the-field production combined with his natural athleticism have begun to attract recruiters from around the country. Although Walter has lived in Florida for the past several years, he wants to leave the Sunshine State to attend college, and the midwest seems to be his currently favored destination, with Nebraska, Ohio State, Iowa, Iowa State, and Minnesota receiving plenty of attention lately. Although Walter's top five list changes frequently, the Huskers and Buckeyes are the two teams consistently at the top of the ledger.
NEW!! 3. Brian Whitmore, Chesapeake (Virginia) Oscar F. Smith (6' 3", 240 lbs, 4.65 forty); OSU (offered) in top 8 (Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, and Penn State, all offered). As a junior, Whitmore recorded 75 tackles, 18 TFL's, and 10 sacks from his defensive end position. While Brian will probably begin his college career as a strongside end, he could eventually grow into a defensive tackle. On film, Brian displays excellent speed and solid instincts; his technique could use some work, but this should improve with the proper coaching at the next level. Although Brian claims serious interest in Ohio State, we see the Bucks as an extreme long shot; Virginia Tech, Maryland, and Miami are the most likely candidates for his services.
NEW !! 4. McKenzie Matthews, Syracuse Christian Brothers (6' 3", 235 lbs, 4.8 forty); OSU (offered) in top 3 (Pitt, offered; Michigan). According to Rivals, Matthews is the #6 overall prospect in the state of New York. In 2004, McKenize racked up 60 tackles, 10 TFL's, and 13 sacks, and was a second team all-state selection. McKenzie was a teammate of Greg Paulus, who was one of the top quarterbacks for the the class of 2005, but elected to attend Duke on a basketball scholarship. This season, Matthews will be the star of the Christian Brothers' squad. Although his leaders change frequently, McKenzie seems to be high on Ohio State, and the Buckeyes should be in the running until the end.
5. Drew Gloster, Damascus (Maryland) Good Counsel (6' 4", 215 lbs, 4.57 forty, 4.59 shuttle, 33" vertical, 22 bench reps). Update 07/05 - Unexpectedly, Drew has dropped Ohio State; Miami, Florida, and Virginia Tech lead, with Miami being the team to beat.
6. Aaron Maybin, Ellicott City (Maryland) Mt. Hebron (6' 3", 220 lbs, 4.64 forty, 4.30 shuttle, 36" vertical). Update 07/05 - Ohio State has not offered, and Aaron has dropped Ohio State from consideration; look for Maryland to win this battle.
7. Lamar Mapp, Springfield (Ohio) South (6' 3", 234 lbs, 4.65 forty, 4.65 shuttle); OSU (not offered) in the mix (Akron, offered; several others). Mapp is one of our "sleepers" for the class of 2006. Although he has recorded some excellent numbers on the field (118 tackles, 12 sacks as a junior), Lamar has only recently begun to receive attention from college recruiters. Despite the fact that Mapp is on the short side for a defensive end prospect, he deflected 19 passes last season alone. Right now, Mapp excels at rushing the passer, but his run defense needs some work; in the running game, Lamar tends to get locked up with his blocker, but after disengaging, he possesses enough speed to recover and make the play. Lamar is undeniably a tremendous athlete (at a recent track meet, he posted an 11.3 in the 100 meter dash), but one factor will probably keep him on the back burner for a while: grades. While we do not have any specifics, some have reported that Lamar might be destined for a prep school or junior college. If he can make the cut academically, then many major programs will be giving serious consideration to Lamar Mapp. Update 07/05 - Nothing new to report here - with grades being an issue, the offers will have to wait.
8. Darius Smith, Euclid, Ohio (6' 3", 195 lbs, 4.6 forty); OSU (not offered) leads. Weighing in at just under 200 pounds, Darius Smith may be the skinniest DE prospect that we've seen in quite some time. However, his high school coach thinks that Smith will start to fill out this season and begin to make a name for himself. Darius is a teammate of blue chip linebacker prospect Thaddeus Gibson, and the younger brother of current Buckeye linebacker Brandon Smith. The older Smith surprised a few experts when he received his Buckeye offer a couple of years ago, and the younger Smith might do the same. Ohio State is Darius' clear leader, and an offer from the Buckeyes would likely be accepted on the spot. In the mean time, Darius needs to bulk up, and to demonstrate his skills at camps this summer and on the gridiron this autumn. Update 07/05 - Nothing new to report - Darius would commit to the Buckeyes if he were offered, but there is nothing to indicate that an Ohio State offer is in the works.
Linebackers
1. Akeem Hebron, Damascus (Maryland) Good Counsel (6' 2", 193 lbs, 4.45 forty, 33" vertical); OSU (offered) in top 5 (Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, all offered). According to Rivals, Hebron is the number three prospect in the state of Maryland for the class of 2006, and he is a member of their Top 100 list; last season, Akeem was a consensus all-state selection, and was runner-up for Maryland's defensive player of the year honors. Hebron is a teammate of 2006 DE recruit Drew Gloster, who is also considering the Buckeyes. Akeem plays outside linebacker in high school (110 tackles, 11 sacks, 2 interceptions), but may switch to safety in college if he is unable to add about twenty pounds to his frame. He reminds us a bit of incoming Buckeye freshman LB Freddie Lenix - a bit undersized, but extremely fast, very tough, and a vicious hitter who explodes on the ballcarrier. In addition, Hebron has both great technique (he stays low when he tackles) and natural instincts (he reads plays well and has a real nose for the football). With his great speed, Akeem has the ability to police the field from sideline to sideline, yet he also demonstrates the power to bull rush past the offensive line and administer the type of hits that will have the quarterback constantly looking over his shoulder. If we had to single out one kid in this class who defines the term "football player", it would be Akeem Hebron; he is one of our top overall prospects for the class of 2006, and we will be following his recruitment very closely. Update 07/05 - Georgia and Florida lead, with LSU right behind; Ohio State is not yet officially out of the running, but look for Akeem to be a Bulldog in the near future.
3. Thaddeus Gibson, Euclid, Ohio (6' 3", 208 lbs, 4.4 forty); OSU (offered) leads Michigan (offered). Gibson is a classic outside linebacker with decent size (with plenty of room to grow) and outstanding speed (he recently ran the 100 meters in 11.1 seconds and the 200 meters in 23.7 seconds). In fact, Thaddeus has already earned the reputation as the best pure pass rusher in the greater Cleveland area (67 tackles, 17 sacks, two interceptions last season), which is high praise considering all of the talent in northeast Ohio. Despite the fact that he tips the scales at just over 200 pounds, Gibson is a lights out hitter who loves to search out and destroy opposing ball carriers. Gibson has visited Ohio State several times, and is friends with current Buckeye redshirt freshman LB Brandon Smith and his younger brother Darius, who is a 2006 DE prospect from Euclid High. At this early stage of the game, it appears that Thaddeus favors the Buckeyes, but Michigan and possibly a few other schools will also get a serious look. Update 07/05 - No official news, but most of the buzz indicates that Thaddeus will end up in Columbus eventually.
4. Jeremiha Hunter, Manheim (Pennsylvania) Central (6' 2", 210 lbs, 4.5 forty); OSU (offered) in top 4 (Michigan, Penn State, West Virginia, all offered). Hunter is yet another outstanding outside linebacker prospect (135 tackles as a sophomore; 143 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 interceptions as a junior) who has the Buckeyes on his short list. Jeremiha is also a legitimate fullback prospect (1,500 yards, 21 TD's in 2003; 1,100 yards, 22 TD's in 2004). While Jeremiha was an all-conference selection at both positions, he was named to the Associated Press and Pennsylvania Football News all-state first teams as a linebacker, and he projects as an OLB in college. At the Elite College Combine, Jeremiha was the second-best linebacker in attendance, behind only Akeem Hebron (no surprise there). Until recently, Hunter had been a Michigan lean, but Ohio State and Penn State appear to have closed the gap somewhat, and his recruitment will likely be a three-team race. Update 07/05 - The Buckeyes are still strong players here, but Hunter's list seems to be expanding, not contracting. If Jeremiha's recruitment begins to drag out, then the Bucks might consider going in a different direction.
5. A.J. Edds, Greenwood, Indiana (6' 4", 215 lbs, 4.7 forty); OSU (not offered) in top 5 (Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, all offered; Notre Dame). Currently, Edds is being recruited as a linebacker (139 tackles, 12 TFL's, 4 INT's in 2004), but he has the frame to grow into a defensive end. On offense, A.J. plays tight end (544 yards, 4 TD's last season), and he could remain on the side of the ball in college. Edds is a great student, as evidenced by his 3.9 GPA and 1170 SAT (old scale). A.J. already has three Big Ten offers, but he is still looking at Ohio State, Notre Dame, and a few other major programs, hoping that some more offers will materialize down the road. He will camp at Ohio State this year, which will give him an excellent chance to showcase his talents for the Buckeye coaching staff. Update 07/05 - A.J. camped at Ohio State, but did not earn an offer from the staff. Although A.J. remains somewhat interested in the Buckeyes, his current leaders are Iowa, Purdue, and Georgia Tech (all offered). The longer that he waits to commit to another school, the better the chances that he is on the Buckeyes' short list for an offer.
6. Tommy Becker, Plymouth (Minnesota) Wayzata (6' 2", 230 lbs, 4.77 forty); OSU in top 6 (Minnesota, offered; Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State, Oklahoma). Becker plays for the same high school as incoming Buckeye freshman LB James Laurinaitis, and the two formed quite a tandem in the middle of the Wayzata defense last season. While Laurinaitis racked up nearly 200 tackles on his way to being named Minnesota's Mr. Football, Becker added 139 of his own, together with 3 interceptions. This year, Tommy will have the spotlight to himself, and should post some more huge numbers. Becker plays middle linebacker in high school, and he should remain inside at the college level. Minnesota has offered, and they should be considered Tommy's probable leader; however, Ohio State and many other schools will be watching Tommy closely this season, and he may generate quite a bit of interest down the road. Update 07/05 - Becker attended Ohio State's camp, but did not receive an offer from the Buckeyes; however, Tommy still remains interested in Ohio State, and, like A.J. Edds, he may be able to play his way into an offer this fall.
9. Kevin Green, Jr., North Chicago, Illinois (6' 2", 213 lbs, 4.55 forty, 37" vertical). Update 07/05 - Iowa and Purdue (both offered) are the teams to beat; Ohio State has not offered and the Bucks are now out of the mix.
Defensive Backs
1. Darrin Walls, Pittsburgh Woodland Hills (6' 1", 175 lbs, 4.4 forty). Update 07/05 - Darrin has eliminated Ohio State; he appears to be down to Michigan and Notre Dame, with Florida and Pitt still having a shot at the nation's number one corner prospect.
2. Antwine Perez, Camden (New Jersey) Woodrow Wilson (6' 2", 197 lbs, 4.53 forty, 4.15 shuttle, 36" vertical). Update 07/05 - Antwine has eliminated Ohio State; his final three are Southern Cal, Michigan, and LSU, with USC leading.
3. Jamar Hornsby, Jacksonville Sandalwood (6' 4", 195 lbs, 4.45 forty). Update 07/05 - Jamar has dropped Ohio State from consideration, and his final five are Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Michigan, and Southern Cal.
NEW !! 5. A.J. Wallace, Pomfret (Maryland) McDonough (6' 1", 195 lbs, 4.4 forty); OSU (offered, official visit 09/10) leads Nebraska (offered, official visit 10/29). According to Rivals, A.J. is the #63 overall prospect nationally, the #3 cornerback nationally, and the #3 overall prospect in the state of Maryland for the class of 2006. In high school, A.J. is definitely a two-way player, as he rushed for 2,467 and 30 TD's over the past two seasons, and made 140 tackles and 2 interceptions during that same time. Wallace visited Ohio State in June, and came away very impressed - he met several of the current players, and developed relationships with Nate Salley, Jamario O'Neal, and others. For the past several years, Ohio State has been close to landing a top player from Maryland (legacies like Stan White, Jr. and Shwan Springs don't count), and it looks like Wallace might be the guy who ends up finally signing with the Bucks.
6. Reshad Jones, Atlanta Booker T. Washington (6' 2", 177 lbs, 4.5 forty). Update 07/05 - Reshad has dropped Ohio State from consideration, and is currently leaning toward Miami.
NEW !! 7. Raeshon McNeil, Mocksville (North Carolina) Davie County (6' 0", 175 lbs, 4.40 forty); OSU (not offered) in top 3 (Notre Dame, offered, leader; Virginia, offered). While he is currently somewhat of a "sleeper" on the national level, Raeshon is the type of "big" corner favored by the current Buckeye regime. Based on his performance last season (60 tackles, 5 interceptions), Rivals has rated McNeil the #5 overall prospect in the state of North Carolina. Besides being a superb athlete, Raeshon is also an excellent student who boasts a 4.1 GPA and an 1100 score on the old SAT. Raeshon claims a "verbal offer" from Ohio State - with Maryland corner A.J. Wallace leaning toward the Buckeyes, and Florida corner/athlete Bryan Thomas still very much in the mix, we wonder whether that verbal offer will ever become memorialized in writing. If it does become official some day, then the Bucks should have a decent chance to sign McNeil, as he is not particularly interested in any of the in-state schools (all offered); in any event, Notre Dame will be tough to beat.
NEW !! 8. Chris Fox, Westwood (Massachusetts) Xaverian Brothers (5' 11", 191 lbs, 4.47 forty, 4.10 shuttle); OSU (not offered) in top 7 (Boston College, leader, offered; Colorado, Duke, Oregon, Wisconsin, all offered; Notre Dame). If his name sounds sort of familiar, that's because his father is former Buckeye All-American defensive back Tim Fox, and his cousins are former Buckeye defensive back Dustin Fox and former Penn State defensive back Derek Fox. While Chris is an all-around athlete for his high school team (he plays wide receiver, cornerback, safety, and punt returner), he most likely projects as a corner at the college level. Chris uses his excellent technique to get and maintain proper position on the receiver, and he doesn't rely on his superior speed and agility to "recover" and make plays. Although Chris shows some skills as a receiver, he seems more natural on the other side of the ball; besides, playing defensive back is obviously a Fox family tradition. Given his family ties to Ohio State, Chris naturally favors the Buckeyes; however, the staff (which likes Chris as a safety) has yet to offer, and Chris might be on the waiting list for a while. Notre Dame, which also has not offered, is a serious player as well. If the Bucks and Domers don't extend an offer, then look for Chris to stay close to home and sign with Boston College.
9. Jovani Chappel, Trotwood (Ohio) Madison (5' 8", 169 lbs, 4.53 forty, 33" vertical, 20 bench reps. Update 07/05 - Jovani does not have an offer from Ohio State, and it is doubtful that he will get one - the Buckeye staff likes "big" corners, and they almost certainly will pass on Chappel.
10. Robert Williams, Cincinnati Withrow (5' 11", 179 lbs, 4.5 forty); OSU (not offered) leads (Boston College, Cincinnati, Illinois, Kentucky, Miami of Ohio, Minnesota, West Virginia, all offered; Notre Dame). Williams is a pure cornerback prospect who has 14 interceptions for his high school career. Although he is on the small side, Robert is a tough player who doesn't mind hitting people when he's not busy locking down the other team's best receiver. Williams has several offers to his credit, but he is holding out for one from the Buckeyes, who are his clear favorite. Robert will camp at Ohio State this summer, and he hopes to make such a favorable impression on the coaching staff that they offer him a scholarship. Grades may be an issue here. Update 07/05 - Robert still favors Ohio State and Notre Dame, but neither school has offered; it appears that the Buckeyes will go in a different direction.
11. Peris Edwards, Toledo Rogers (6' 1", 175 lbs, 4.43 forty); OSU (not offered) leads (Miami of Ohio, Bowling Green, both offered; Purdue). Part of the reason that Edwards is somewhat of sleeper recruit at this stage of the game is the fact that he suffered a leg injury during the middle of his junior campaign. Despite the fact that Peris played only five games last season, he still compiled 508 yards rushing and 32 tackles. Although he plays quarterback in high school, Edwards is being recruited as a safety. Peris likes Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have been slow to offer, so Purdue and several MAC schools have entered the race. Peris will camp at Ohio State and Purdue this summer, and with a good performance, he will begin to see the offers arrive in his mail. Update 07/05 - Nothing new here, except that Scout has rated him the #11 safety prospect in the country; however, that recognition has yet to result in any additional offers.
12. Cody Blevins, Miamisburg, Ohio (6' 2", 200 lbs, 4.6 forty). Update 07/05 - Cody still has no offers; Ohio State is looking elsewhere, and so is Blevins.
Athletes
1. Marcus Ball, Stone Mountain (Georgia) Stephenson (6' 0", 200 lbs, 4.49 forty, 4.13 shuttle, 19 bench reps, 33" vertical); OSU (offered) in the mix (Auburn, Florida, both offered; several others). Like Akeem Hebron, Marcus Ball is another small but tenacious linebacker who has power and pop well beyond his size. If Marcus should remain near the 200-pound mark, then a move to safety might be in order, but he has more than enough speed to make the switch. Ball recently made the "Elite 11", a group of the best prep players in the state of Georgia, and he is a member of the Rivals 100 list. As a junior, Marcus had 136 tackles, 14 TFL's, and 8 sacks; he also is an outstanding running back prospect, and Ohio State is apparently recruiting him at both positions. On defense, Ball roves the entire field and hits like ton of bricks; his great speed is evident both when blitzing and when pursuing plays to the corner. Ball may not have the technique or anticipation of Hebron, but he is every bit as athletic and quite possibly even more aggressive; it is almost a toss-up as to which is the better player, but we favor Akeem slightly for his instincts and football skills. While he has "plus" speed, exceptional acceleration, and a bevy of shifty moves, Marcus is first and foremost a power back who loves to run through and over defenders - the ones who don't get steamrolled usually get dragged five yards downfield. Although Marcus is the younger brother of Georgia Tech QB Reggie Ball, it appears that he wants to play his college ball out of state (another brother, Raeshon, plays CB for Central Michigan). It has been reported that Ball really likes Ohio State, but that Auburn and Florida will also be major players. Update 07/05 - Rivals has rated Marcus the #1 prospect in the state of Georgia, the #2 outside linebacker prospect in the nation, and the #11 overall prospect in the nation. No news on the recruiting scene, so until we hear otherwise, we have to assume that Ohio State is still in the running.
2. Asher Allen, Tucker, Georgia (5' 10", 187 lbs, 4.39 forty); OSU (offered) in the mix (Georgia, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Auburn, all offered). Like Akeem Hebron and Marcus Ball, Asher Allen is an undersized player who runs like lightning and hits like thunder. Allen is being recruited primarily as a defensive back or wide receiver, but he could also play running back in the right kind of system (say Florida State); in addition, he will certainly be a contributor on special teams as a return man. Asher's natural position is cornerback, and he has the speed, reactions, and footwork to lock down a receiver in man coverage. However, don't be fooled by his size - Asher is a ferocious hitter who loves to mix it up in run support (as evidenced by his 81 tackles last season), and he would not be out of place as a free safety. For all of the above reasons, he reminds us quite a bit of former Buckeye All-American CB Antoine Winfield. On offense, Allen displays good hands, some shifty moves, and truly outstanding football speed; while he's not as fluid or graceful as Teddy Ginn, Asher is nearly as fast, and his sub-4.4 speed is legit. When he has the ball in his hands, Allen naturally tries to outrun or out-maneuver the defense, but when contact is imminent, he is not afraid to lower his head and drive for extra yardage. Allen is a member of the Georgia "Elite 11", and he could have probably made that list as either a cornerback or a "multi-purpose" running back. Asher is not only a superior athlete, but is also an excellent student who carries a 3.85 GPA. The smart money says that AA stays down south, possibly at UGa, but he does have family in the Columbus area, so the Buckeyes may get a serious look as well. Update 07/05 - According to Rivals, Asher is the #3 overall prospect in Georgia, the #5 cornerback prospect nationally, and the #74 overall prospect in the country. While Ohio State is still nominally in the mix, it is apparent that Asher is concentrating on southern schools; Georgia will be tough to beat.
3. Brandon Warren, Alcoa, Tennessee (6' 3", 230 lbs, 4.6 forty); OSU (offered) in the mix (Tennessee, Florida State, LSU, others, all offered). Update 07/05 - Ohio State has been eliminated from consideration; we would be surprised if Brandon signed anywhere but Tennessee, although Florida State, Miami, and LSU still have a chance.
NEW !! 4. Bryan Thomas, Zephyrhills, Florida (6' 0", 186 lbs, 4.39 forty, 4.06 shuttle); OSU (offered) in top 3 (Florida, Tennessee, both offered). Bryan is from the same high school as former Buckeye great DT Ryan Pickett, and this relationship has put Ohio State in a select group at the top of Bryan's list. As a junior, Bryan had a monster season on both sides of the ball, with 500 yards rushing, 793 yards receiving, and 14 TD's on offense; and 93 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense. We actually like Thomas better on offense, where he seems more natural and self-assured; with proper coaching, he could also be a tremendous cornerback, but he is still rather raw as a DB prospect. Thomas is a lanky six-footer, with a long, graceful stride, excellent body control, and great vision (dare we say that he reminds us a little bit of Teddy Ginn when he runs?). Bryan might not have TGII's "extra gear" (then again, who does?), but he certainly has more than enough speed to go all the way any time he gets his hands on the ball. Florida has a definite edge in this race, but Ohio State still has a shot, especially if Bryan decides to make an official visit to Columbus.
6. Raymond Small, Cleveland Glenville (6' 0", 190 lbs, 4.4 forty); OSU (offered) leads (Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, all offered; Southern Cal). Small is the next in the long line of super-talented, multi-dimensional athletes who have been produced by the Glenville football program under the guidance of Ted Ginn, Sr. Fortunately, most of the previous Tarblooder stars (Teddy Ginn, Jamario O'Neal, Donte Whitner, Troy Smith, et al.) have emigrated down I-71 to Columbus, and Raymond will likely join them at Ohio State. Small plays running back, wide receiver, and cornerback for Coach Ginn, and he could play any of those positions in college. Raymond is an excellent cover corner (and cover corners are always in demand), but he is so electric with the ball in his hands that his college offensive coordinator will be lobbying hard to get him on that side of the ball. What a dilemma! Ohio State currently leads, but Raymond also likes USC, which is pursuing him hard. Update 07/05 - Raymond still favors Ohio State, but don't expect to a formal announcement until January.
7. Steve Brown, Columbus (Indiana) East (6' 1", 200 lbs, 4.39 forty). Update 07/05 - Michigan and Notre Dame are the teams to beat; Ohio State appears to be out of the running.
8. Devin Parrish, Miramar (Florida) Parkway Academy (6' 0", 155 lbs, 4.46 forty, 4.12 shuttle); OSU (offered) leads (Tennessee, offered; Michigan, USC, Miami, not offered). Parrish is a true two-way player who lines up at wide receiver on offense and cornerback on defense. Parrish's strengths and weaknesses are pretty obvious - he is very fast, quick, and agile, but quite small, almost diminutive; regardless of where he ends up in college, he'll need to get his weight up around the 180-pound mark. Devin is the cousin of former Miami Hurricane WR Roscoe Parrish (a second round draft pick in 2005), but many believe that the younger Parrish wants to establish a name for himself anywhere but "The U"; in addition, Devin is receiving some family pressure to leave south Florida. It has been reported that Parrish not only wants to play in the Big Ten, but is also a huge fan of Buckeye phenom Teddy Ginn. For these reasons, Ohio State is the current leader for this Florida speedster, but it's still only May - Miami, Tennessee, Michigan, and several other major programs will be pushing hard for Devin's signature on National Letter of Intent Day. Update 07/05 - Apparently, Devin does not have an offer from Ohio State, although he still favors the Bucks. However, his stock seems to be falling, with his size (155 pounds) and academics (he didn't play football as a sophomore to concentrate on his grades) being legitimate issues.
9. D'Vontrey Richardson, Leesburg (Georgia) Lee County (6' 1", 205, 4.45). Update 07/05 - With the commitment of QB Antonio Henton, D'Vontrey has apparently dropped the Bucks from consideration, and vice versa.
NEW !! 10. Royce Adams, Cleveland Glenville (5' 11", 165 lbs, 4.68 forty, 4.12 shuttle); OSU (not offered) leads (Michigan State, Iowa, Cincinnati, all offered). Last season, Royce played at St. Ed's, but he has since transferred to Glenville. Royce is a versatile athlete who could end up at WR, KR, or DB at the college level. Although he is a bit small and needs to improve his strength (only 8 bench reps), Adams is aggressive on the field and he plays bigger than his size. Royce recently attended Ohio State's camp, where he improved his stock somewhat. It remains to be seen whether Ohio State will eventually offer, but if they do, then Adams will likely become yet another Glenville Buckeye.
Other players to watch are Florida CB Chris Duvalt, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney ATH Derrell Johnson, Pennsylvania ATH Elijah "Scoot" Fields, Maryland LB Bani Gbadyu, Berea (Ohio) OL Bob Gulley, Florida TE Cory Powers, Cleveland Benedictine RB Jahmal Brown, Indiana DT Dexter Larimore, Columbus Brookhaven DB A.J. Harris, and Cincinnati Colerain LB Tyler Moeller
For additional information on some of the recruits listed above, check out the previous editions of this article:
Buckeyes' Top Prospects for 2006 - May Evaluation Edition
