Ohio State all recruiting bust team

[BigthickThaddeus_gibson09]

That’s right, I’m pleased to present to you the most noteworthy recruiting busts since 2001. More points awarded the higher the recruits rankings. The # at the end is what the player’s rank was for their position that year. Reasons for inclusion range from injuries, crimes leading to expulsion, lackluster play, early transferring, etc. please list any glaring omissions.

QB Justin Zwick 02’ five star #2
TB Lydell Ross 04’ 5 star
HB Jamaal Berry 09’ 4 star #4
WR Torrance Gibson 15’ 4star #7(ATH)
WR Ray Small 06’ 4 star #8
WR Lamar flash Thomas 08’ 4 star #4
TE Louis Irizarry 03’ 5 star #3
LT Kyle Mitchum 04’ 4 star #4
LG Connor Smith 06’ 4 star #4
C Brian Bobek 11’ 4 star #2
RG Matt Burrell 15’ 4 star #7
RT Evan Lisle 13’ 4 star #6

DE Robert Rose 06’ 5 star #2
DT Tommy Schutt 12’ 4 star #8
DT Melvin Fellows 09’ 4 star #7
DE Se’von Pittman 12’ 4 star #8
OLB Dorian Bell 09’ 5 star #2
MLB Mike D’Andrea 02’ 5 star #1
OLB Mike Mitchell 13’ 4 star #5
CB Armani Reeves 12’ 4 star #8
CB Eric Glover-Williams 15’ 4 star #9
CB Corey Pittsburgh brown 09’ 4 star
S Jamario O’Neal 05’ 5 star #3
S Eugene Clifford 08’ 5 star #1

Honorable mentions:RB Brian Snead #3, QB Tate Martell #2, RB Maurice Hall, S Erick Smith #6, DE Noah Spence #1, RB Bri’onte Dunn #8, Mark Johnson #8, LB Trey Johnson #2, DE Kenny Hayes #9, WR Trevon Grimes #5,CB Darius Hiley #9, G Tyler Gerald #7, WR James Louis #13, LB Kyle Berger #14, T Kyle Dodson #20, CB Amir Riep #26, LB Nick Conner #8, DT Willie Mobley #13, WR James Jackson #35, OLB Ejuan Price #13, T Kyle Trout #19, Freddie Lenix #17, DE Keith Wells #11, WR Duron Carter #11, LB Storm Klein #15, LB Scott McVey #10, LB Jordan Whiting #23, S Ron Tanner #18, DerJuan Gambrell #20, LB Connor Crowell #21, LB Cam Williams #17, LB David Perkins #18, G Joey O’ Connor #8, DT Michael Hill#16 OLB Dante Booker #4, WR L’christian Smith #15, S Isaiah Pryor #8

 

[ScriptOhio]

Interesting topic. It just shows what we all know, i.e. recruiting rankings are not a guarantee of performance at the college level. He's a couple comments:

I wouldn't have Justin Zwick as the starter at QB, he played OK when given the chance. He was a Buckeye all the way and even helped recruit after he committed. Maybe he was a little over rated: regardless, he shouldn't be considered a bust just because he was #2 behind Troy Smith. Tate Martell would be a better candidate for that spot.

I would have Noah Spence on the 1st team. He had all the ability in the world and just blew it. Put him in at #1 and bump Robert Rose to "Honorable Mention".

 

[starBUCKS]

Lydell Ross was no All-American, but far from a bust, guy is #19 for rushing yards in Ohio State football history, and had 10 TD's his junior year.

 

[Thump]

Lydell Ross was no All-American, but far from a bust, guy is #19 for rushing yards in Ohio State football history, and had 10 TD's his junior year.

Sammy Maldonado anyone?

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

Lydell Ross was no All-American, but far from a bust, guy is #19 for rushing yards in Ohio State football history, and had 10 TD's his junior year.

whether or not he meets anyone’s definition of a bust, it’s not his fault that he was Ohio state’s best option at running back for a time. He suited up and did his best for the scarlet and grey, and he still serves as a decent ambassador for the program, supporting the Cruise for Cancer among other things. Guys who are way better athletes than any of us yet still fell short of our expectations deserve better than our derision.

This thread is a potentially interesting topic, but it will be moderated strictly. Not everyone of these guys deserves as much respect as lydell ross, but every one of us has fallen short of perfection. Nobody has crossed any lines yet... kudos... let’s keep it that way

 

[BigthickThaddeus_gibson09]

whether or not he meets anyone’s definition of a bust, it’s not his fault that he was Ohio state’s best option at running back for a time. He suited up and did his best for the scarlet and grey, and he still serves as a decent ambassador for the program, supporting the Cruise for Cancer among other things. Guys who are way better athletes than any of us yet still fell short of our expectations deserve better than our derision.

This thread is a potentially interesting topic, but it will be moderated strictly. Not everyone of these guys deserves as much respect as lydell ross, but every one of us has fallen short of perfection. Nobody has crossed any lines yet... kudos... let’s keep it that way

indeed. Slammin Sammy Moldonado came before 2001 and I don’t have much intel on Lydell’s career or contributions there after. I understand he was effectively known as “lay down loss” on the airwaves way back when but on second glance at his stats he had talent

 

[Bill Lucas]

Noah Spence was not a bust.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

I prepared these lists back in 2012 for Tressel recruits. The first list - Most Overrated - are all players who actually finished their careers at Ohio State. The second list - biggest busts - are players who transferred, had career-ending injuries, or left the program due to off-the-field problems.

The first list, IMHO, is much more interesting than the second list. When I get a chance, I will update the first list to include players from the Urban Meyer era.

For some reason, the links are all broken.

Top Ten Most Overrated Prospects
01. Mike D'Andrea (LB; Class of 2002; Rivals 5*, #2 ILB, #29 overall; Scout 5*, #2 LB, #12 overall); 44 tackles, 6.5 TFL's, 1 sack
02. Robert Rose (DL; Class of 2006; Cleveland Glenville; Rivals 5*, #1 SDE, #17 overall; Scout 4*, #5 DE, #52 overall); 31 tackles, 11 TFL's, 7.5 sacks, 5 pass deflections
03. Jamario O'Neal (S; Class of 2005; Cleveland Glenville; Rivals 4*, #3 CB, #31 overall; Scout 5*, #3 CB, #17 overall); 49 tackles, 1 interception
04. Connor Smith (OL; Class of 2006; Cincinnati Colerain; Rivals 4*, #4 OG, #55 overall; Scout 5*, #4 OL, #30 overall)
05. Corey "Pittsburgh" Brown (DB; Class of 2009; Pittsburgh Gateway; Rivals 5*, #6 CB, #31 overall; Scout 4*, #9 CB, #74 overall); 81 tackles, 1 interception
06. Kyle Mitchum (OL; Class of 2004; Erie (PA) McDowell; Rivals 4*, #6 OT, #56 overall; Scout 4*, #7 OL)
07. Ray Small (ATH; Class of 2006; Cleveland Glenville; Rivals 4*, #7 WR, #88 overall; Scout 4*, #11 CB, #98 overall); 2,252 all-purpose yards, 5 total touchdowns
08. Justin Zwick (QB; Class of 2002; Massillon Washington; Rivals 4*, #3 pro-style QB, #40 overall; Scout 4*, #14 QB); 158/276 (.572), 1,779 yards, 7 TD, 7 INT
09. Maurice Wells (RB; Class of 2005; Jacksonville Sandalwood; Rivals 4*, #4 all-purpose back; Scout 4*, #19 RB); 1,271 yds rush, 4.14 ypc, 145 yds rec, 12 total TD
10. Roy Hall (WR; Class of 2002; Lyndhurst Brush; Rivals 4*, #19 WR; Scout 4*, #24 WR); 52 receptions, 580 yards, 3 touchdowns
HM. Stan White, Jr. (FB; Class of 2002; Baltimore Gilman; Rivals 4*, # 18 OLB; Scout 4*, #9 TE); 11 receptions, 78 yards
HM. Curtis Grant (LB; Class of 2011; Richmond (VA) Hermitage; Rivals 5*, #1 MLB, #2 overall*; Scout 5*, #1 OLB, #19 overall); 2 tackles
HM. Etienne Sabino (LB; Class of 2008; Miami Dr. Krop; Rivals 4*, #1 MLB, #46 overall; Scout 5*, #2 MLB, #39 overall); 74 tackles, 7 TFL's, 2.5 sacks
HM. Marcus Hall (OL; Class of 2009; Cleveland Glenville; Rivals 4*, #6 OT, #52 overall; Scout 4*, #5 OT, #65 overall)
HM. Garrett Goebel (DT; Class of 2008; Lombard (IL) Montini; Rivals 4*, #6 DT, #64 overall; Scout 4*, #4 DT, #51 overall); 44 tackles, 5 TFL's, 1 sack
HM. Jamie Wood (S; Class of 2009; Pickerington Central; Rivals 4*, #4 S, #74 overall; Scout 4*, #9 S, #131 overall); 17 tackles

Top Ten Biggest Busts
01. Dorian Bell (LB; Class of 2009; Pittsburgh Gateway; Rivals 5*, #3 OLB, #33 overall; Scout 5*, #2 WLB, #19 overall); 9 tackles
02. Derek Morris (OL; Class of 2002; Rivals 5*, #2 OT, #24 overall; Scout 5*, #6 OL); never enrolled at Ohio State
03. Eugene Clifford (S; Class of 2007; Cincinnati Colerain; Rivals 4*, #4 S, #60 overall; Scout 5*, #2 S, #25 overall); 8 tackles
04. Louis Irizarry (TE; Class of 2003; Youngstown Ursuline; Rivals 4*, #3 TE, #38 overall; Scout 4*, #4 TE); no stats
05. Jamel Turner (DE; Class of 2010; Youngstown Ursuline; Rivals 4*, #22 WDE; Scout 4*, #6 OLB); never enrolled at Ohio State
06. Redgie Arden (DE; Class of 2001; Ironton; Rivals 4*, #7 LB, #54 overall); 4 receptions, 50 yards; 3 tackles
07. Jaamal Berry (ATH; Class of 2009; Miami Palmetto; Rivals 4*, #5 RB, #56 overall; Scout 4*, #8 RB, #69 overall); 970 all-purpose yards, 1 touchdown
08. Lamaar Thomas (ATH; Class of 2008; Fort Washington (MD) Friendly; Rivals 4*, #4 ATH, #33 overall; Scout 4*, #10 RB, #107 overall); 766 all-purpose yards
09. Duron Carter (WR; Class of 2009; Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas; Rivals 4*, #11 WR, #90 overall; Scout 4*, #10 WR, #93 overall); 13 receptions, 176 yards, 1 touchdown
10. Dareus Hiley (DB; Class of 2003; Cleveland Glenville; Rivals 4*, #14 CB; Scout 4*, #6 CB); no stats
HM. Melvin Fellows (DE; Class of 2009; Garfield Heights; Rivals 4*, #10 WDE, #216 overall; Scout 5*, #3 DE, #22 overall); career-ending injury
HM. Angelo Chattams (WR; Class of 2001; Dayton Chaminade Julienne; Rivals 4*, #9 WR, #67 overall; Scout NR); career-ending injury
HM. Adam Olds (OL; Class of 2001; Dublin Coffman; Rivals 4*, #27 OL; Scout NR); career-ending injury

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

If we were to go back a couple of decades further the biggest disappointment of the 80s was probably DT Chuck Jones. He was the kind of tackle Ohio State had been lacking for more than a decade at that point. I think it was academics that prevented him from making an impact. IIRC he never played a down.