Cbf40's look at '11 recruiting

[stowfan]

If they can swing it (meaning my dream finish), I would love to see this class close with Shazier, Gorman, D. Grant, C. Grant and one of Haynes/Walker/Price/Pagan/Teague/Clowney/Moore.

Add that to this class and that is unreal:

QB: Braxton Miller
RB: None
WR: Evan Spencer
WR: Devin Smith
TE: Nick Vannett
TE: Jeff Heuerman
OL: Chris Carter
OL: Antonio Underwood
OL: Tommy Brown
OL: Brian Bobek
DL: Chase Farris
DL: Michael Bennett
DL: Joel Hale
DE: Kenny Hayes
DE: Steve Miller
DE: Ryan Shazier
LB: Connor Crowell
LB: Curtis Grant
DB: Ron Tanner
DB: DerJuan Gambrell
DB: Jeremy Cash
DB: Jabari Gorman
DB: Doran Grant
Wildcard: Teague? Walker? Haynes? Price?

I don't care what the ranking say and yes I know there are a lot of guys on the OL who project inside but I'd take that class over any in the nation...the Buckeyes would be able to boast one of the top QBs in the nation (Miller), one of the top centers (Bobek), one of the top DTs (Bennett), one of the top DEs (Shazier or Miller), one of the top LBs (Curtis Grant) and one of the top DBs (Doran Grant). Not to mention almost every other guy is highly rated at his position and even better I think every other guy has a very high ceiling (Crowell, Gambrell, Hayes, Gorman, Spencer and Smith especially).

A more realistic finish might be Walker, Price, Teague, Doran Grant and Haynes...which would still be great.

You mention Shazier at DE, the front page of his thread lists him at 6'1" 187?

 

[wadc45]

You mention Shazier at DE, the front page of his thread lists him at 6'1" 187?

Currently at 6-3 210...the coaching staff at OSU has him at LB on the board but I see him filling a Thad Gibson-type role at OSU.

 

[y0yoyoin]

http://www.duanelongreport.com/December/recruiting-the-dice-are-rolling.html

Recruiting - The dice are rolling


Written by Duane Long | 09 December 2010

I don't know if I can remember a time when a series of events left the Buckeyes looking at a recruiting situation that could break more favorably in the programs interests.

The firing of Randy Shannon and the resignation of Urban Meyer has some national top 100 recruits rethinking where they are going to spend the next four years. There is nothing certain until they sign on the dotted line on national signing day but you have to like where the Buckeyes are standing with Charles Grant, Ryan Shazier and Jabari Gorman.

Shaizer is the biggest surprise. I knew he liked the Buckeyes but I had no idea that Ohio State was the only other school that had a shot at him. He is talking about visiting this weekend or next. He says he will not take any other visits. He is committed to Florida. I think he sticks with that verbal until he finds out who the next coach is going to be. I think Ohio State is only a back-up plan in case Florida drags on too long with the coach search or if Shazier is not impressed with who the Gators hire.

whats the deal with duane and charles grant? why does he keep doing that?

 

[Diego-Bucks]

If it turns out that the Glenville-Four do all go to either Penn State or Michigan it would definitely turn around the prospects of both those schools 2011 recruiting season to date.

I don't know that these guys are "game-changers" but I do think that all 4 are going to be significant contributors and probable multi-year starters. It would be unfortunate to see them leave the state, however it is also unfortunate that they just don't seem to have the academic side of things figured out. Ohio State needs student-athletes, and that merits serious classroom commitment. If any of them turn it around, I'd love to see a Buckeye offer go out.

Out of the best of a bad situation I think I'd rather have them in Penn State, or Michigan State, simply because I respect those programs much more than the current Michigan situation.

 

[Joe6809]

Duane doesn't know if he can remember a time like this? What about, oh, last year? Pete Carroll and Urban Meyer both stepping down, and things looked unbelievably good for us. Then things got weird...

 

[OSU_D/]

If they can swing it (meaning my dream finish), I would love to see this class close with Shazier, Gorman, D. Grant, C. Grant and one of Haynes/Walker/Price/Pagan/Teague/Clowney/Moore.

A more realistic finish might be Walker, Price, Teague, Doran Grant and Haynes...which would still be great.

I'd like to see the same 4, but in order of desire it is D Grant, Shazier, C Grant and Gorman. For the 5th spot I don't see a need for a DE unless it somehow by the grace of God is Clowney. With all the DE's in Ohio in the '12 class and where we stand with them I think DE isn't a big deal. If we take a 5th then if JT says he needs a LS, then lets get him. If not, bank it for the smallish '12 class.

 

[westbuck04]

I'm thinking Shazier, Price, D. Grant, Moore and Walker to finish out the class.

Curtis Grant has been a silent to Florida for a while now, and hiring a great recruiter like Muschamp isn't changing that. Gorman I think chooses Florida as a compromise pick. Carradine will be a Nole by the end of the week I think. Clowney isn't coming here. Haynes got the offer he wanted....Domer.

 

[wadc45]

I'm thinking Shazier, Price, D. Grant, Moore and Walker to finish out the class.

Curtis Grant has been a silent to Florida for a while now, and hiring a great recruiter like Muschamp isn't changing that. Gorman I think chooses Florida as a compromise pick. Carradine will be a Nole by the end of the week I think. Clowney isn't coming here. Haynes got the offer he wanted....Domer.

Based on what Im hearing I would agree with that finish minus Moore...I think he ends up in the SEC.

 

[westbuck04]

Based on what Im hearing I would agree with that finish minus Moore...I think he ends up in the SEC.

We'll see after he visits.

I thought the conventional wisdom was that if didn't stay out west (probably UCLA) that OSU had as good a shot as any? He's gotta be looking at who we lose and see some playing time available next year...

 

[MD Buckeye]

QB: Braxton Miller
RB: None
WR: Evan Spencer
WR: Devin Smith
TE: Nick Vannett
TE: Jeff Heuerman
OL: Chris Carter
OL: Antonio Underwood
OL: Tommy Brown
OL: Brian Bobek
DL: Chase Farris
DL: Michael Bennett
DL: Joel Hale
DE: Kenny Hayes
DE: Steve Miller
DE: Ryan Shazier
LB: Connor Crowell
LB: Curtis Grant
DB: Ron Tanner
DB: DerJuan Gambrell
DB: Jeremy Cash
DB: Jabari Gorman
DB: Doran Grant
Wildcard: Teague? Walker? Haynes? Price?

 

[k2onprimetime]

I'll be happy with C.Grant or Shazier. Gorman or Tank would be nice to have, but not a need.

 

[BuckTwenty]

DL: Chase Farris
DL: Michael Bennett
DL: Joel Hale
DE: Kenny Hayes
DE: Steve Miller
DE: Ryan Shazier
LB: Connor Crowell
LB: Curtis Grant
DB: Ron Tanner
DB: DerJuan Gambrell
DB: Jeremy Cash
DB: Jabari Gorman
DB: Doran Grant

Sick.

If Curtis Grant doesn't work out, would love to see Ejuan Price's name there instead.

 

[wadc45]

Sick.

If Curtis Grant doesn't work out, would love to see Ejuan Price's name there instead.

I think Price is much more realistic...but would love to see OSU land Curtis Grant. But the Muschamp hiring probably locks him up for Florida. Price's senior film didn't blow me away...he's going to need to improve on his motor once he gets to the next level.

 

[y0yoyoin]

http://www.duanelongreport.com/2010-articles/december/tressel-cant-close.html

Tressel can't close


Written by Duane Long | 16 December 2010

Tressel can't close. We have heard it for so long we can just use the abbreviation, "TCC". There were rumblings even before the National Championship game in the 2006-2007 season. After that most forgettable game the bottom fell out of recruiting. It looked like one of those years that Buckeye fans would always remember. A National Championship and the number one recruiting class. Fans were talking about it like was just a matter of time. A player like Joseph Barksdale, rumored to be a Buckeye even before the season started verballed LSU. It seemed to steamroll from there. Tressel can't close.

It seems to rear its ugly head every year at the end of recruiting. The message boards on the various sites are dominated by it. Fans no longer believe the Buckeyes are going to finish strong in recruiting. The recent verbal of Ohio born and raised Tank Carradine set off a barrage of I told you so posts when Carradine verballed Florida State on Wednesday.

Here is the truth. It isn't that Tressel can't close. Tressel doesn't try to close. Not the way it is done out there by so many programs. I will never forget a few years ago talking with the mother of an out of state recruit I got friendly with during recruiting. This was post-signing day. Her son did not sign with the Buckeyes. She saw them all. About the only major coach who did not offer her son was Mack Brown at Texas. Every other coach made his way into her living room. She told me the only coach who did not negatively recruit was Jim Tressel. It is important to keep in mind that her son did not choose to become a Buckeye. The Buckeye coach is not going to play the game the way the "closers" play the game. Pete Carroll is a great guy. You can hate him all you want. People associated with Ohio State speak highly of him. Do you recall just a couple of years ago that two of the nations best receivers were comparing notes and discovered that Carroll told each of them that he was their number one guy? Nobody is going to forget that spectacle last year with Urban Meyer, after resigning, coming back and some of the things he was telling recruits. It was appalling. Do you see Jim Tressel doing that?

 

[wadc45]

A quick 2011 recruiting note

Written by Duane Long | 06 January 2011

The Buckeyes have received two outstanding verbals from 2011 prospects that I have not commented on.

Recently the Buckeyes have benefited from the resignation of Urban Meyer by swooping in and getting a verbal from national top 100 linebacker prospect Ryan Shazier. I am cautiously optimistic about Shazier. Why I say that is because he played as a rush linebacker in high school but he does not bring the size that is necessary to play as a Leo let alone as a hand on the ground 4-3 defensive end. He passed an important test the past few days by looking very natural as linebacker in the Under Armor All-Star game which was played last night and the practices leading up to the game. He has natural instincts. He finds the ball easily and is an outstanding tackler. There seems to be some dispute out there about his speed. I want to see a good forty time but game speed is the trump card. I have seen him run sideline to sideline and catch people. His read-react-run is elite caliber. He does not have a defensive linemans body but he certainly has a great looking linebacker body. Great get for the Buckeyes.

Last night on national television cornerback Doran Grant made the worst kept secret you will ever get whispered in your ear official. He committed to the Buckeyes. He has been the one player I thought put a ribbon on this class. Getting an elite corner was crucial for this class. Grant is that elite corner. He needs some technique work and his tackling must improve before he hits the field but this is an elite athlete at the corner position. He is a kid known to have that drive to be a champion. With his athleticism and the work ethic that walks hand in hand with driven people, I suspect Grant will be in the two-deep this fall. The Buckeyes lack depth and experience at corner. An elite player like Grant can expect to get a hard look.

A couple of other notes about 2011. There are some big names still on the board. Fans are getting very excited about the likes of Curtis Grant, the elite linebacker prospect from Virginia, and national top ten wide receiver Ja'Juan Story from Florida. Grant was supposed to be a solid Florida lean and Story was verballed to Florida. Grant was also high on Ohio State. Now with the decision by Urban Meyer to step down there is much buzz that Ohio State might be the team to beat for Grant. He is a signing day announcement so we are going to have to wait. Story has taken a visit to Oregon since Meyers resignation. He is scheduled to visit Ohio State. An under the radar talent, Darius Jennings from Maryland, still has Wake Forest to visit but the smart money is on Ohio State or Virginia.

The above players can push this class into the argument for best class in the country. I do think we have a shot but I want to caution fans not to get too excited until we hear something more definitive. All you are doing is setting yourself up for disappointment.