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Mark Pantoni (Assistant Athletic Director, Player Personnel)

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For everyone that wonders about OSU's recruiting philosophy, I encourage you to watch this interview with Mark Pantoni. He's pretty open and honest about the NIL struggles and how they're approaching the new age of college football. A couple takeaways I got from it:

  • They're not budging much on their NIL philosophy. He noted how the players on the team are doing quite well with NIL, and they want to continue keeping NFL development and the brotherhood as their main selling points.
  • They're making a concerted effort to focus more on Ohio going forward (I think we've seen that with the slew of Ohio offers this month). They're still going to be involved nationally, but will move on quicker than they normally would have with a kid from Florida, for example, if that kid makes it known that NIL will be a major part of his recruitment.
  • Quote on Ohio recruiting that I'm sure will be very polarizing here: "This year we signed 8 of the top 9, so we're trying. Now in the NIL world, we kinda think that number should be higher. We're really going out of our way to spend more time in the state of Ohio, and try to find guys that maybe we don't think are as good here day 1, but a couple years in the program we see potential development in a guy that comes here for the right reasons."

per 11w
 
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I'm actually pretty happy with the direction they're taking. We have some very talented players in our own back yard and region. I can see the programs who are buying their teams year after year having issues with too many prima donnas in the locker room. They may all be ultra-talented, but that doesn't always translate to the field of play, especially as a unit. I know if I'm player "B" and player "A" was offered a lot more NIL money because he was ranked higher (probably had the funds to attend more showcases/camps than I did), but I outperform him consistently, I'm going to be pissed if I don't get a "pay raise" in the offseason. It's no different than the corporate world. If I'm making less money than another manager who does much less than I do, I'm either asking for more compensation or taking my talents elsewhere. This is exactly what we are seeing already with the transfer portal. A&M lost half their damn team already. Besides, I want the guys who bleed Scarlet and Gray first and foremost. Then, trickle in some outside all-star players and with great coaching, we won't skip a beat. I almost liken this NIL stuff to the small public schools who have to play against the private schools in the high school playoffs. With great coaching and the "heart" to win, along with a good work ethic, some of these small schools take it to the private schools who openly recruit. Give me some of those Marion Local type kids (maybe not from Marion, but you get the point), who play with heart and as a cohesive unit. Actually, I know they are small schools, but I've always wondered why Ohio State hardly ever recruits from the M.A.C. We've gotten a few over the years, but they have to be doing something in Mercer and Auglaize County, because they pretty much win the state every year in small division sports. Or, maybe just recruit the 5-stars who's parents are already "loaded.":cash:
 
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GreenwoodBuck said:
I'm actually pretty happy with the direction they're taking. We have some very talented players in our own back yard and region. I can see the programs who are buying their teams year after year having issues with too many prima donnas in the locker room. They may all be ultra-talented, but that doesn't always translate to the field of play, especially as a unit. I know if I'm player "B" and player "A" was offered a lot more NIL money because he was ranked higher (probably had the funds to attend more showcases/camps than I did), but I outperform him consistently, I'm going to be pissed if I don't get a "pay raise" in the offseason. It's no different than the corporate world. If I'm making less money than another manager who does much less than I do, I'm either asking for more compensation or taking my talents elsewhere. This is exactly what we are seeing already with the transfer portal. A&M lost half their damn team already. Besides, I want the guys who bleed Scarlet and Gray first and foremost. Then, trickle in some outside all-star players and with great coaching, we won't skip a beat. I almost liken this NIL stuff to the small public schools who have to play against the private schools in the high school playoffs. With great coaching and the "heart" to win, along with a good work ethic, some of these small schools take it to the private schools who openly recruit. Give me some of those Marion Local type kids (maybe not from Marion, but you get the point), who play with heart and as a cohesive unit. Actually, I know they are small schools, but I've always wondered why Ohio State hardly ever recruits from the M.A.C. We've gotten a few over the years, but they have to be doing something in Mercer and Auglaize County, because they pretty much win the state every year in small division sports. Or, maybe just recruit the 5-stars who's parents are already "loaded.":cash:
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I am fine with this as long as they still have a NIL game plan to keep players. Also, we still need to recruit nationally, but back off the players who are just in it for money.
 
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pnuts34 said:
Isn't that all what Pantoni stated, or were you just reinforcing what he said?
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I was kind of loudly going along with Pantoni, however, on second thought this sounds like trouble to me.

Basically we aren't getting 5 star recruits, and I just don't see how we can compete on a national scale without them.

Some money would have pushed a guy like Damon Wilson to OSU, and most likely he would have stayed for good. So we need NIL as a potential kicker.

Now, as to the Mark Fletchers of the world. That is a losing game, no rational program should be playing into that type of player.
 
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My impression from the interview is that the staff are waiting for things to settle down a bit with NIL. It's sort of the same thing that Ryan Day said in his presser last week.

They are still pursuing highly rated recruits, but they are prioritizing making sure that the kids they're looking at fit with the culture of the program as opposed to basing the relationship mostly / only on NIL money.
 
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The strategy makes a lot of sense to me; focus on guys who both 1) don’t need heavy NIL enticement and 2) are way more likely to develop within the program rather than transfer out in a year or two.

Why waste your time and NIL money on a kid who is just as likely to transfer out after a year or two as they are to make an impact on the field.

That’s not to say you give up completely on recruiting national five-star prospects, but exactly as they said, you don’t waste your time on guys who aren’t a really strong culture fit for the program, which means the brotherhood and NFL development (the grind) are their main focuses, reducing the transfer concerns somewhat.

Meanwhile, hit the transfer portal hard yourself for any instant impact needs you might have; which seems likely to have a higher rate of success than gambling on competing on the expectations setting front (NIL and playing time) with kids right out of high school anyway.

Meanwhile, get the OHSAA to let spring football happen so Ohio stops falling behind nationally on player development so you can continue to build the strongest base possible with local recruiting.
 
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Personally I think we can win it all by recruiting the Midwest/northeast. Only if we get the top of the top of those regions.

I think people underestimate Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

We just need to forget the kids who only want UP FRONT money but there'll be kids in every state who are willing to go to Alabama or Ohio State to earn everything. We'll still be players nationally but thankfully we aren't going to just throw money around.

I use to think this was what we needed to do to keep up but thinking more about it leads me to think that's a really good way to have disgruntled players.
 
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Captain Buckeye said:
Personally I think we can win it all by recruiting the Midwest/northeast. Only if we get the top of the top of those regions.

I think people underestimate Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

We just need to forget the kids who only want UP FRONT money but there'll be kids in every state who are willing to go to Alabama or Ohio State to earn everything. We'll still be players nationally but thankfully we aren't going to just throw money around.

I use to think this was what we needed to do to keep up but thinking more about it leads me to think that's a really good way to have disgruntled players.
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No way can you win an NC without big, athletic and fast DL. They are grown on trees in one region, and though some may have been born in the MW/NE, their parents are getting jobs in the south(more specifically south east) and the kids are staying there. The migration of family’s to GA, AL, TX, TN, NC, SC and FL is insane! Arent too many Jalen Carters or Jordan Davis’ in OH or PA. The SEC has been able to dominate based on having players that can control the line, and disrupt the offense, northern regions don’t have the same numbers at those positions.

Everything I agree with fully! And like @Buckeye86 said,
focus on guys who both 1) don’t need heavy NIL enticement and 2) are way more likely to develop within the program rather than transfer out in a year or two.
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There are 5stars who would be willing to work for their NIL deal, and develop. Especially if OSU shows players they have put in the NFL. Find a kid who’s looking to be like Baron Browning in the NFL, and fine with staying and working for His NIL deal on campus. Those kids are out there, and showing success on the field helps too. I believe that OSU lands Wilson or MU if they beat UGA and won the NC. Next year could prove that point if say JT and Sawyer have success all season, same with Burke, Styles, etc. Beat scUM, get back to the NC and this argument of NIL changes. 1 school in the CFP(they won it) offered up front NIL, and the other did not. It can be done the Day way
 
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I'm not saying don't recruit them but landing Noah Spence (Pennsylvania), Chase Young (Maryland) and Adolphus Washington's (Ohio) of the world are certainly good to get into the playoffs and IMO make a push for the championship game. The key is identifying kids like the Bosa's, Paris Johnson and Justin Fields who are obvious cant miss kids and focusing on the few who can land big NIL Packages once on campus.

Forget the 4 star kids who are demanding 500k up front or even like that QB who just went to Arizona State. For example it was a good move not attempting to match for Fletcher.

Those are the kids who our staff is talking about moving on from quickly.
 
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“There’s a lot of vetting going on,” general manager for player personnel Mark Pantoni said Feb. 1. “We want to make sure, most importantly, that they’re a great fit because we feel like we have a great culture and great players here. So we want to make sure it’s all going to mesh well. We don’t want to bring someone in that’s going to cause a disruption.”
 
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www.elevenwarriors.com

Skull Session: Mark Pantoni is “Killing It” for Ohio State, Tim Walton is “The Best Secondary Coach in America” and Ryan Day Explains How the Buckeyes Landed Caleb Downs

Mark Pantoni is "killing it" for Ohio State, Tim Walton is "the best secondary coach in America" and Ryan Day explains how the Buckeyes landed Caleb Downs.
www.elevenwarriors.com www.elevenwarriors.com

“HE’S KILLING IT RIGHT NOW.” Mark Pantoni has been critical to the Buckeyes' success this offseason. When asked about 2024 four-star defensive end Dominic Kirks on Wednesday, Day paused to thank Pantoni and his staff for their efforts in helping Ohio State build a championship roster now and for the future.

Pantoni has killed it for Ohio State. He will continue to kill it for Ohio State – and so will his staff. Day did not provide the names of Pantoni’s staff when he praised them, so I looked them up. Here’s what each staff member accomplishes for Pantoni and how their behind-the-scenes efforts impact the Buckeyes:
  • Ed Terwilliger is Ohio State’s director of high school relations and will enter his 10th season with the Buckeyes in 2023. Before his time at Ohio State, Terwilliger was an accomplished high school football coach, leading Olentangy High School to 138 wins across 24 seasons. He was also an officer in the Ohio High School Coaches Association for 16 years.
  • Nick Murphy is the Buckeyes’ assistant director for recruiting strategy. He arrived at Ohio State in 2022 after stops at UCF (2018), Minnesota (2020) and Charlotte (2019 and 2021), where he held roles as an offensive assistant, graduate assistant, director of on-campus recruiting and director of player personnel.
  • Erin Dunston is the Buckeyes’ director of on-campus recruiting. Dunston came to Ohio State in 2021 after stops at LSU (2015-17), Purdue (2018-19) and Kansas (2019-21). She coordinates official and unofficial visits for recruits, as well as special events and game-day recruiting activities.
  • Billy Homer is Ohio State’s college scouting coordinator and monitors the transfer portal for the Buckeyes. Before Homer arrived at Ohio State in 2022, he worked for the San Francisco 49ers (2009-13), the Edmonton Eskimos (2018-19) and Florida (2019-21).
  • Ryan Mayhew and Parker Wereb* are football recruiting assistants for Ohio State. Both became full-time staff members in 2023 – Mayhew after a year with the Washington Commanders’ equipment staff and Wereb after a year as a student assistant for the Buckeyes. Their role includes film evaluation of high school recruits and assistance with on-campus prospect visits.
*FUN FACT: I have known Parker since I was 6 years old. We went to elementary, middle and high school together, and we played football, basketball and baseball together. He was the best man at my wedding. He is an all-around good dude, and he deserves tremendous praise for his hard work.

Cheers to Pantoni, Terwilliger, Murhpy, Dunston, Homer, Mayhew and Wereb. Ohio State’s success with the 2024 class, both in high school recruiting and the transfer portal, was due to their hard work and determination. They represent the Buckeyes well!
 
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