The Buckeyes' Top Prospects for 2006 - December 1st Edition

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The Buckeyes' Top Prospects for 2006 - December 1st Edition

Well, this is the most depressing time of the recruiting season, the time when all of those blue chippers that you thought the Bucks had a decent chance to sign pledge to other schools. It is easy to forget about the ones you already have when the ones you don't start slipping away. Sure, running back Chris Wells is a top-ten player nationally, but we just lost WR/CB Bryan Thomas, who recently verballed to Florida without even visiting us! So what if UF was his "local" school and childhood favorite, this is just further proof that JT can't recruit out-of-state! And LB Navorro Bowman claims that he was a Buckeye fan growing up and always envisioned himself wearing the scarlet and grey, but now he's enamoured with Penn State and wants a chance to play for Paternosaurus Rex. Go figure.... The Bucks seemed to be the leader for CB A.J. Wallace, but now he's attracted to Florida State's "swagger", and he wants to visit Miami and Southern Cal. Is this yet another national recruit whom the Buckeyes will come from ahead and lose to a "sexy" program? Furthermore, all of the top offensive linemen are leaving the state - Aaron Brown to Virginia Tech, Lee Tilley to Auburn, and Justin Boren to Michigan. (So what if the best of the bunch, Connor Smith, will be a Buckeye - we're fans, and we wanted them all!) And to make matters worse, Michigan just landed another Ohio kid, their third for the class of 2006! (Okay, so he was a place kicker without a Buckeye offer, but it still burns us up when an Ohioan defects to that school up north!)

(* * * Pause for a moment to regain sanity * * *)​

Alright, we feel better now, so let's take a realistic look at how the Buckeyes' class of 2006 is shaping up. Currently, Ohio State has nine verbal commitments: QB Antonio Henton from Peach County Georgia; RB Chris Wells from Akron Garfield; WR Josh Chichester from Lakota West; OT/TE Jake Ballard from Springboro; OL Connor Smith from Cincinnati Colerain; LB Tyler Moeller from Cincinnati Colerain; LB Ross Homan from Coldwater; DB Kurt Coleman from Clayton Northmont; and DB ATH Grant Schwartz from Dana Hills California. We believe that the Bucks also have a solid lead for Cleveland Glenville stars OL Bryant Browning, DL Robert Rose, and WR Raymond Small, and for Indiana DT Dexter Larimore. In other words, more than half of the class of 2006 has already been filled (or soon will be), and the remaining two months of the recruiting season will be spent trying to secure verbal commitments from serious prospects such the aforementioned A.J. Wallace and Navorro Bowman; DE McKenzie Matthews; DE Steven Wesley; DE Jason Adjepong, WR David Ausberry; and LB Colin McCarthy. The staff may also be attempting to get DT/TE Kyle Sheehan (Purude verbal) and OL Joe Thomas (Pitt verbal) to reconsider their respective commitments.

Since the last edition of this article, we have dropped several recruits, and added two new prospects. Gone from the list are Chicago Vocational QB Isiah Williams, who is still questioning his Illinois verbal, but no longer seems to be considering Ohio State; Suwanee Georgia WR Crawford Kilpatrick, an athletic prospect who is for some reason not generating a lot of recruiting interest; Elizabeth City North Carolina FB Devven Sutton, who is no longer on the Buckeyes' radar screen; Tusky Valley OT Jake Miller, who committed to Illinois, but might be interested in taking some visits; Plymouth Minnesota Wayzata LB Tommy Becker who camped at Ohio State but didn't generate much interest from the Buckeye staff; and Chesapeake Virginia Oscar F. Smith DL Brian Whitmore, who seems to favor Miami, and who might not fit into the Bucks' DL-heavy recruiting class. We have added to our list Detroit Murray-Wright WR Dominique Douglas, a smallish receiver with excellent production (1,500 yards and 24 TD's on 85 receptions); and Canton McKinley WR Joe Morgan, a super athlete (4.4 forty, 23-foot long jump) who has developed some legitimate football talent during his break-out senior season (1,018 yards, 13 TD's). Euclid LB Thaddeus Gibson is also back in the mix, even though his grades may still prevent him from attending Ohio State.

The first two weekends in December are traditionally the biggest recruiting weekends for Ohio State, and this year is no different, as the following prospects are scheduled to visit: Chris Wells (OSU verbal), Jake Ballard (OSU verbal), Kurt Coleman (OSU verbal), Tyler Moeller (OSU verbal), Bryant Browning, Robert Rose, Raymond Small, Tyler Moeller, Joe Thomas, Grant Schwartz (OSU verbal), Ryan Hill, Jamil Paris, Dominique Douglas, Jason Adjepong, and Dexter Larimore.

Quarterbacks

1. Antonio Henton, Fort Valley (Georgia) Peach County (6' 2", 210 lbs, 4.6 forty); committed to Ohio State!

Running Backs

1. Chris "Beanie" Wells, Akron Garfield (6' 1", 228 lbs, 4.5 forty). Update 11/11 - Even though Wells recently took an official visit to Southern Cal, he remains committed to Ohio State. Chris enjoyed his visit to USC, but felt that Los Angeles was just too far away from home. We think that Wells is still solid to Ohio State, but we wouldn't be surprised if he took another visit or two.

2. 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. Update 08/31 - In his first game of the season, Whitley rushed for 256 yards and 2 TD's on 26 carries (in only three quarters of play), and demonstrated surprising strength despite his size. Norman has offers from North Carolina and East Carolina, and is "hearing from" Ohio State. In fact, Norman believes that the Buckeyes are close to offering him a scholarship, and he states that he would commit to Ohio State if offered. Speculation is that recruiters are concerned about Norman's size (even though he is almost the exact height and weight as Maurice Wells), and that is the reason for his lack of offers; on-the-field production certainly isn't a problem. Norman will try to make an official visit to Ohio State for the Texas game. Update 09/28/05 - Whitley was unable to attend the Texas game, but he still remains interested in Ohio State; apparently, a member of the Buckeye staff will visit Norman's school and watch his game during OSU's current "bye" week. Update 11/11 - Even though he saw limited action due to the fact that his team regularly blew out the opposition, Norman neverthless finished the regular season with 1,533 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. He still remains interested in Ohio State, and feels that a Buckeye offer is imminent. the Buckeyes have made several late offers in past years, and Whitley might still be in consideration.

3. 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. Update 11/11 - In somewhat of a surprise move, Aram and fellow South Carolinian QB Nick Prochak (Spartanburg High School) made unofficial visits to Ohio State for the Illinois game on November 5th. Olson greatly enjoyed his Buckeye experience, and indicated that he would seriously consider Ohio State if offered. A quick note on Prochak: he is from Cleveland originally, grew up a Buckeye fan, is a 4.0 student, and is an excellent all-around athlete (4.60 forty, 4.01 shuttle, 21 bench reps, 81.07 SPARQ) with the size (6' 4", 207 lbs) to play linebacker or possibly even tight end if things don't work out at quarterback. The Buckeyes are currently reviewing Nick's film, and if interest picks up in the future, we'll include a separate bio on him. Update 11/30 - Chatter concerning Olson appears to be picking up in the past few weeks, and since our last update, he received an offer from East Carolina. Rivals recently posted some film of Olson in action (primarily as a fullback), and we were all impressed with his game - he runs tough between the tackles, is a "lights out" lead blocker, and displays more speed and athleticism than one would expect for a kid his size. We certainly would not be surprised if he received a late offer from Ohio State. By the way, fellow Palmetto State prospect Nick Prochak has received offers (as an "athlete") from both Clemson and South Carolina; no word on Ohio State's level of interest.

Receivers

1. 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, most of 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. Update 08/31 - Southern Cal still leads, with Ohio State remaining a distant second. David will probably make an official visit to Ohio State, possibly during the season. Update 09/28 - David made an official visit for the Iowa game, and seemed to have a good time; some speculate that Ohio State is gaining a little ground, while most others feel that David is still a "lock" for Southern Cal. Update 11/29 - On a recent West Coast trip, Coach Tressel made an in-house visit with David, who claims that the Buckeyes are still in his top four (along with Southern Cal, Nebraska, and Georgia). Ausberry will make an official visit to Southern Cal on the weekend of December 2nd, and will announce his college choice (likely USC) at the Army All-Star game on January 7th.

2. 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. Update 08/31 - Nothing new to report - Ohio State still leads. Update 09/28 - Ray and teammate Rob Rose took an official visit to Southern Cal for the Trojans' blow out victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks. Small apparently enjoyed his visit very much, and some USC insiders claim that Ray verbally commited to the Trojans during his visit. Despite such reports, it is a long way to Signing Day, and it is still very possible that Small will re-think his commitment and sign with the Buckeyes come February. Update 11/11 - With the Tarblooders chasing the state title, there has been little recruiting news coming out of Glenville in recent weeks. Small remains torn between Ohio State and Southern Cal. Update 11/30 - Raymond will make an official visit to Ohio State on December 2nd, along with fellow Tarblooders Robert Rose and Bryant Browning. Although he apparently made a slient verbal to Southern Cal during his official visit, Small recently stated that he wants to attend the same school as his close friend, Robert Rose. And Rose has always been a Buckeye lean.... Raymond will also take an official visit to Tennessee over the weekend of December 9th, and to Michigan State the following weekend; he also wants to visit North Carolina before deciding. Ohio State and Southern Cal remain his favorites.

3. 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. Although he is generally considered to be a cornerback prospect, 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. Update 08/31 - Bryan still likes Florida, Ohio State, and Tennessee, and he will likely make official visits to all three schools; he may also make officials to South Carolina and West Virginia. Although Bryan nearly committed to Florida this summer, it now appears that the Buckeyes are pulling closer to the Gators. Thomas likes the fact that Ohio State puts many players into the NFL, and that he could possibly play both ways for the Buckeyes (a la Chris Gamble and Ted Ginn). Update 09/28 - Florida still leads, but Ohio State is a close second; Tennessee has fallen back to the pack. Bryan (ranked the 49th best player in the state of Florida by Rivals, far too low in our humble opinions) could be the player that the Bucks "steal" from the Sunshine State schools this year. Although most programs are still recruiting Bryan as a cornerback, he is such a dynamic runner that we like him better as a wide receiver and kick returner. Update 10/10 - Bryan had a good visit to Tennessee, and states that the Volunteers are near the top of his list; however, it appears that Florida and Ohio State are still leading, with official visits to Gainesville and Columbus still to come. Update 11/11 - We have liked Bryan as a wide out all along, and now Scout has him rated as the #3 wide receiver in the southern region. Bryan is a Mr. Football candidate in the state of Florida, and he has been electrifying audiences with huge plays on offense and defense. Florida and Ohio State still lead, with Tennessee running as a dark horse. Update 11/27 - Not surprisingly, Bryan committed to Florida, his childhood fave, during an unofficial visit to Gainesville for the Gators' thrashing of arch-rival Florida State. However, Bryan still wants to visit Ohio State, and if he does so, then there is still a ray of hope for the Buckeyes.

4. Josh Chichester, West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West (6' 8", 210 lbs, 4.7 forty); committed to Ohio State!

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. Update 08/31 - In the past two months, Wesley has at various times named Miami, Oklahoma, and West Virginia as his leader; but regardless of who leads, Ohio State always seems to be in the #2 slot. However, Lyons remains a fan of Ohio State, and will attend several Buckeye games this season. Don't expect a quick decision, and don't count out the Bucks, despite "negative" reports. Update 09/28 - Wesley made an official visit to West Virginia this past weekend, and some speculate that the Mountaineers now lead for his services. Update 10/20 - Wesley made an official visit to Ohio State for the Michigan State game. Although he enjoyed his visit, and remains a fan of the Buckeyes, we feel that Lyons is turned off by the depth at wide receiver, and that he may not be getting enough "love" from a coaching staff that already has a commitment from 6' 8" wide out Josh Chichester. Right now, West Virginia and Boston College lead, but Ohio State remains a serious contender. Update 11/11 - Wesley feels most comfortable at Ohio State, but West Virginia and Boston College are promising early playing time. Still too close to call, but Ohio State is definitely in the mix.

6. Dominique Douglas, Detroit Murray-Wright (6' 0", 174 lbs, 4.5 forty); OSU (not offered) and Michigan (offered) lead. Even though the Buckeyes have not offered, Dominique will make an official visit to Ohio State on the weekend of December 9th. Douglas has already made an unofficial visit to Michigan for The Game, where he got to see the Buckeyes' tremendous come-from-behind victory over the Wolverines; although he was a guest of Michigan and sat on the Michigan side of the field, he was also able to meet with Coach Hazell and Eddie George. Douglas was a classic late bloomer who was on nobody's radar before the season; however, as a senior, Dominique caught 85 passes for 1,500 yards and 24 touchdowns. Update 12/1 - Dominique received an offer from Iowa, and he will take an official visit there this weekend; he still plans to visit Ohio State.

7. Joe Morgan, Canton McKinley (6' 2", 175 lbs, 4.4 forty); OSU (not offered) leads Toledo and Akron. Like Dominique Douglas, Joe Morgan was a late developer who did little as a junior, but amassed 1,018 yards and 13 TD's on 39 receptions as a senior (including 9 TD catches of 45 yards or longer). Although he does not have an Ohio State offer, the Buckeye staff seems interested in Morgan as an extremely athletic "sleeper" (he has legit 4.4 speed and long jumps nearly 23 feet in track) who could really develop into something special after a few years in the program. Morgan is from the same high school as former Buckeye stars Michael Doss, Kenney Peterson, and Jamar Martin, and current Buckeye defensive back Tyler Everett. If Ohio State should eventually offer, then look for Joe to accept it. Update 12/1 - Joe has an offer from Illinois, and he will visit Champaign on the weekend of December 9th; he is still interested in the Buckeyes, and would like to visit Ohio State before deciding. Morgan is fully qualified with a 3.6 GPA and a score of 21 on the ACT.

Offensive Linemen

1. Connor Smith, Cincinnati Colerain (6' 5", 280 lbs, 5.1 forty); committed to Ohio State!

2. Jacob Ballard, Springboro, Ohio (6' 7", 255 lbs, 4.8 forty); committed to Ohio State!

3. Joe Thomas, Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edwards (6' 5", 310 lbs, 5.1 forty); OSU (offered) chasing Pitt (verbal). Thomas attends the same high school as incoming Buckeye freshman OT Alex Boone. While Boone, a five-star recruit and one of the best line prospects in the entire country last year, received most of the attention and accolades, Thomas also managed to distinguish himself, earning second team all-district honors as a junior. Although Joe has decent height, he projects as a guard at the college level. Update 09/28 - Although Joe remains committed to Pitt, he recently received an offer from Ohio State. With Pitt have predictable results under the tutelage Dave Wannstedt, Thomas is reconsidering his verbal, which he made in early July. In fact, Joe made an unofficial visit to Ohio State for the Iowa game, and he plans to take an official visit to Columbus at a later date. Apparently, the Buckeye staff is very high on Thomas, who is having an excellent senior campaign (90% blocking efficiency, 46 pancake blocks). Update 11/01 - Thomas maintains that he is "100 percent" committed to Pitt. We'll just wait and see.... Update 11/30 - Well, so much for the "100% committed to Pitt" nonsense. Joe will be making an official visit to Ohio State on December 2nd, and will follow that up with his official to Pitt on December 9th. Count the Buckeyes back in this race!

4. 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.... Update 08/31 - Browning still favors Ohio State, but still hasn't received a Buckeye offer. However, Bryant has earned several major offers, including Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State, and several other Big Ten programs; of the offering schools, Wisconsin probably leads. Update 09/28 - Bryant's name keeps coming up in recruiting circles, but he still does not have an Ohio State offer. However, we still question whether the Buckeye staff has a real interest in a lineman whose weight is approaching 350 pounds. Update 10/10 - Bryant was just offered by Ohio State, which means that the staff must be convinced that his weight issues are under control (production and academics not being concerns with him); look for Browning to be a member of the Buckeyes' class of 2006. Update 11/29 - Bryant, along with teammates Robert Rose and Raymond Small, will make an official visit to Ohio State over the weekend of December 2nd.

5. 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 offensive linemen (78 pancake blocks last season), he is an equally good prospect for the defensive line (52 tackles, 8 TFL's in 2004), and he might very well end up on either side of the line in college. 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. Update 08/31 - Ohio State still leads, but has yet to offer; if the Bucks don't some through, then Nagy has several very good schools to choose from, including Illinois, Louisville, Maryland, and Wisconsin. Update 09/28 - we feel that Nagy is very close to receiving a Buckeye offer, and that he will verbally commit to Ohio State soon thereafter. Update 11/11 - Still no offer.... Update 11/30 - ...And not much chatter, either. It looks like the Buckeye staff has moved on.

Defensive Linemen

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. Update 08/31 - No news is good news - Ohio State still leads. Update 09/28 - Rob and teammate Raymond Small visited Southern Cal for the Trojans' game against Arkansas. Reportedly, Rob did not enjoy the trip nearly as much as Ray, and there is absolutely no talk of a Rose "silent verbal" to USC. Update 11/29 - Robert, along with teammates Bryant Browning and Raymond Small, will make an official visit to Ohio State over the weekend of December 2nd.

2. Steven Wesley, Bartow, Florida (6' 2", 235 lbs, 4.8 forty); OSU (offered) in top 5 (Florida, Alabama, Maryland, Ole Miss, all offered). Wesley is a player who did not receive much publicity until this summer, but now he is one of the hottest prospects around, having garnered interest from such traditional powerhouses as Ohio State, Florida, LSU, and Alabama. Last season, Steven had 60 tackles, 8 sacks, and one interception from his defensive end position, and caught 7 passes for 129 yards and one touchdown as a tight end. We think that Steven will end up on defense in college, where his quickness and relentless nature would serve him well as a pash-rushing defensive end; however, he is very athletic and possesses soft hands, so tight end could still be a possibility. Wesley will make an official visit Ohio State on September 10th for the Texas game, and will also take official visits to Ole Miss (October 15th, playing Alabama); Alabama (November 12th, playing LSU); Maryland (December 2nd, post-season); and Florida (January 28th). Update 9/15 -Wesley loved his visit to Ohio State, and the Buckeyes are now his number one team; however, Steven did not issue a verbal commitment to the Bucks, and he plans on taking his remaining visits. Ohio State looks good for the present, but a lot can happen before Signing Day. Update 10/20 - Steven enjoyed his visit to Ole Miss, and claims that the Rebels are very much in the picture. Miami recently offered, and they should be a major player as well. We think that it will be tough to dislodge Wesley from the south, but that the staff will put on the full-court press for this kid. Update 11/11 - Although Ohio State held an early lead, with each passing week, it seems more and more likely that Wesley will stay somewhere in the south. While he remains a top priority for Ohio State, we see McKenzie Matthews, Walter Dublin, and/or Jamil Paris as being more likely to be the Buckeyes' DE signees for the class of 2006. Update 11/29 - Steven will visit Miami on December 9th and Florida on January 20th, after having visited Alabama on November 12th. Although he claims that all of his favorites are even, we think that Ohio State's chances will continue to decline as the winter continues to deepen. Another southern boy who will stay south.

3. Dexter Larimore, Merrillville, Indiana (6' 3", 265 lbs, 4.8 forty); OSU (offered) in top 4 (Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, all offered). Even though Larimore is the top-ranked 275-pound high school wrestler in the nation and has several scholarship offers from top wrestling programs, he is planning to focus on football at the college level. With his wrestling background, Dexter's game revolves around technique, leverage, and power. As a junior, Larimore had 8 sacks from his defensive tackle position, and he is continuing to have success as a senior. Dexter's older brother, Riley, is a defensive end for Ball State, but Dex will end up playing in the Big Ten. Although Larimore was a Michigan fan growing up, he was noticeably underwhelmed with his unofficial visit to the Big House for the Notre Dame game; Dexter seemed to have a much better time during his unofficial to The 'Shoe for the Iowa blow out. Dexter is planning to make an official visit to Ohio State in December. We feel that Ohio State is the leader, but that Michigan will also be a major factor. Update 10/25 - Dexter again saw the Buckeyes in action, as he took in the Indiana game in Bloomington; he will make an official visit to Columbus on the weekend of December 2nd, which is traditionally Ohio State's biggest recruiting weekend of the year. Update 11/11 - Dexter's final three are Ohio State, Michigan, and Indiana (official visit November 5th). We feel that the Buckeyes lead (Dexter likes OSU's attacking style of defense), but that Michigan will make a strong push, especially during his upcoming official visit (November 12th). Update 11/30 - Dexter will make his official visit to Ohio State this weekend, and we feel that he will issue his verbal commitment to the Buckeyes shortly thereafter. Update 12/1 - Last night, Lloyd Carr made an in-home visit to Dexter in an eleventh hour pitch to sway Larimore to the dark side. Will Coach Carr's last ditch effort be enough? Check in next week.

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. Update 08/31 - Matthews' current top four are Ohio State, Michigan, Pittsburgh, and North Carolina (all offered); he will visit Ohio State for the Michigan State game, and Michigan for the Ohio State game. Update 10/20 - Apparently, Matthews loved his official visit to Columbus; at this point, the Bucks should be considered his leader, but McKenzie might need a little bit of work in the classroom before his Ohio State offer becomes "official". Update 11/30 - McKenzie still seems to favor the Buckeyes, but several teams (including Pitt) are starting to make a strong push, and Matthews is at least listening.

5. Jason Adjepong, Carteret, New Jersey (6' 3", 248 lbs, 4.69 forty); OSU (offered) in the mix. Adjepong is a relatively new name in Buckeye recruiting circles. Jason is listed as either a fullback or defensive end, and the Bucks could use a player at either position. As a junior, Jason had 87 tackles, 22 TFL's, 12 sacks, and 4 fumble recoveries from his defensive end position, where he exhibited very good speed and strength, the ability to shed blockers, and very long arms. As a fullback, Adjepong is a crushing blocker and a decent straight-ahead runner who won't make anyone miss; however, he also has fine hands and could be a weapon in the receiving game. Overall, we like him better as a DE, where his 4.69 forty-time makes him "fast", as opposed to FB, where his speed would be only average; moreover, at 6' 3", he is also quite tall for a fullback. Currently, Ohio State is in Adjepong's top eight, and the Buckeyes seem to have as good a chance as anyone else; of course, when there are so many other schools invlolved, their chance isn't all that good. Update 10/15 - Ohio State is in Jason's top six, along with Miami, Michigan, Iowa, Georgia, and Virginia Tech; he will take his official visits after the season. Update 11/30 - Adjepong has scheduled an official visit to Columbus for the upcoming weekend; he seems to have developed quite a relationship with Coach Hazell, so the Bucks might have a decent chance of getting a commitment out of Jason. Adjepong will visit VPI on the weekend of December 9th.

6. Jamil Paris, Vero Beach (Florida) Sebastian River (6' 5", 213 lbs, 4.54 forty, 4.50 shuttle); OSU (not offered) in top 5 (Florida, Miami, Auburn, Clemson; no offers). Despite the fact that Paris played only three games as a junior due to injury, he is still ranked as the #50 overall player in the state of Florida, and the #13 weakside defensive end prospect in the nation by Rivals. Jamil has an incredible frame, and boasts a wingspan of greater than 100 inches; in his build, he reminds us of former Florida high school star Willie Young, a DE prospect who signed with N.C. State during the 2004 recruiting season. Although he does not have much game experience, Paris is nevertheless an intriguing prospect for his frame and athleticism. Florida and Miami lead, but Jamil is scheduled to visit Ohio State for the Iowa game. Update 09/28 - Apparently, Jamil did not visit Ohio State for the Iowa game, and missed out on the opportunity to see the Buckeyes thump the Hawkeyes. Florida leads, with Miami in second, but Ohio State is still in the hunt. Update 10/15 - Jamil has scheduled an official visit to Ohio State for the weekend of December 9th. At this point, the OSU staff is very interested in Jamil, and they are trying to get his senior films for review; if the tapes look good, expect an offer to follow shortly thereafter, possibly during his official visit. Florida (not offered) leads, but Ohio State is a solid second. Update 11/11 - We really like this kid as somewhat of a "sleeper" prospect. At the present time, Florida (not offered) and Ohio State (not offered, official visit December 9th) lead Kentucky (offered, official visit December 2nd) and Minnesota (not offered).

7. Kyle Sheehan, Fairmont, Minnesota (6' 5", 260 lbs, 4.8 forty); OSU (offered) trails Purdue ("soft verbal"). Kyle's grandfather, Terry Sheehan, was a two-time All-American for Purdue, and for that reason, Kyle decided to commit to the Boilermakers back in February. Well, since then, things have apparently changed somewhat, and Sheehan has re-opened his recruitment. While this is still breaking news, we feel that Sheehan has some serious interest in Ohio State, and that he will make an official visit to Columbus some time in December. On the field, Kyle had an outstanding year, with 81 tackles, 19 sacks, 11 TFL's, and 3 forced fumbles from his defensive tackle position; and hauled in 9 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown while recording 60 "pancake" blocks as a tight end. In the classroom, Sheehan is a solid 4.0 student. Regardless of which side of the line he will eventually play, it appears that Kyle is now a prime recruiting target for the Buckeye staff. Update 11/30 - Kyle is trying to schedule a visit to Ohio State, although no date has been set yet.

8. 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. Update 08/31 - Ohio State has passed Nebraska, but both schools remain far ahead of the pack; Walter has no official visits scheduled. Update 09/28 - Walter has proclaimed Ohio State to be his "clear leader", and he is trying to schedule an official visit to Columbus. Update 11/11 - Grades appear to be an issue with Dublin, and that may be preventing him from making an official visit to Columbus. If his academics are in order, then expect the Buckeyes to be a finalist for Walter's services. Update 11/30 - Walter's favorites still change frequently, but the Buckeyes have remained at or near the top of his list. In addition to Ohio State, the current flavors of the week are Iowa and Florida.

9. Johnnie Troutman, Browns Mills (New Jersey) Pemberton Twp (6' 4", 289, 4.9 forty); OSU (offered) in top 5 (Penn State, Maryland, Virginia, Boston College, all offered). Troutman is a defensive lineman with the size to play tackle and the speed and quickness to play end. As a junior, Johnnie had 69 tackles, 7 TFL's, and 4 sacks en route to being named a second team all-state selection. This year, however, Johnnie tore his ACL, and the injury has prematurely ended his senior season. Despite that physical setback, Troutman is still being pursued by several major programs, including Ohio State. Johnnie would like to make an official visit to Columbus, probably in December or January. Update 11/25 - Johnnie claims an offer from Ohio State, and that the Buckeyes are in his top three (along with Virginia and Penn State).

Linebackers

1. Ross Homan, Coldwater, Ohio (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.55 forty); committed to Ohio State!

2. Mark Johnson, Los Angeles Dorsey (6' 4", 230 lbs, 4.55 forty); OSU (offered) co-leader with LSU (offered). According to Rivals, Johnson is the #6 MLB prospect in the country, and the #16 prospect in the state of California. Mark is a teammate of 2006 prospects RB Stafon Johnson, DL Keith Browner (Cal verbal), and OL Jovon Hayes; former Buckeye All-American Na'il Diggs graduated from Dorsey High. As a junior, Mark recorded 138 tackles, 5 sacks, and an interception. Despite claiming strong interest in OSU and LSU, we feel that Southern Cal (not offered) would be the team to beat if the Trojans came through with an offer. If not, then the Bucks have a legitimate chance to land another West Coast prep star. Mark would like to make an official visit to Ohio State for the Texas game; he has no other officials scheduled at this point. Update 09/28 - Mark has twice attempted to make an official visit to Columbus, first for the Texas game, then for the Iowa game. For some reason, neither visit happened, which has led to much speculation, including some who say that the coaching staff has cooled on Johnson, despite initially proclaiming him to be their #1 linebacker recruit this year. The reason? It could be grades - Mark claims a 2.5 GPA and a score of 1350 on the new SAT (out of 2400 points), which might make him a qualifier, but which may not be enough to satisfy OSU's increasingly stringent admissions. Update 11/11 - Mark favors Ohio State, and Ohio State wants Mark to be a part of this recruiting class, but academics remain a sticking point. Update 11/30 - Mark has apparently scheduled an official visit to Columbus for the first weekend of January. He remains the Bucks' number one priority at linebacker, and the Bucks remain one of his top schools. We are cautiously optimistic, but academics are still a concern, and a late offer from Southern Cal might be enough to keep Mark at home in the City of Angels.

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. Update 08/31 - In his first game of the season (a 33-0 loss to Mentor Lake Catholic), Gibson was ejected for punching an opposing player; he is suspended for Euclid's week two game against Strongsville. On the recruiting front, Thaddeus favors Ohio State and Iowa. Update 09/28 - Gibson still favors Ohio State, but grades appear to be an issue. If Thaddeus can get his academic house in order, then he should be a Buckeye come February. Update 10/20 - It appears that Gibson's grades are so weak that he may be a non-qualifier; as a result, the Buckeye staff has seemingly cooled on Thaddeus. Update 11/30 - Well, look who's back on our list.... Even though Gibson remains in jeopardy of becoming an academic non-qualifier, the Buckeye staff is still pursuing him with hopes that he will pass admissions at Ohio State. We're not holding our breath, although we can't blame the staff for trying to sign a major talent who has always been a Buckeye lean. For what it's worth, Thaddeus will try to make an official visit to Tennessee over the weekend on December 9th, and then visit Ohio State some time in January.

4. Navorro Bowman, Suitland (Maryland) Suitland (6' 0", 218 lbs, 4.7 forty); OSU (offered) in top 5 (North Carolina, Penn State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, all offered). After amassing 165 tackles, 9 sacks, and an interception as a junior, Bowman was named the defensive player of the year for the state of Maryland. According to Rivals, Navorro is the #8 prospect in Maryland, and one of the top 250 players in the country. At six feet even, Bowman may be a bit short for MLB, but he has good instincts and attitude for the position; he definitely projects as a LB, and a move to safety is not in the offing. Navorro also plays running back for his high school squad, where he exhibits good toughness between the tackles. Navorro currently carries a 3.63 GPA and a 990 on the SAT (old scoring system), and he wants to graduate early from high school. Ohio State appears to be a solid contender, especially now that Bowman has cooled on the home town school (Maryland). Update 08/31 - Bowman has official visits set for Penn State (09/03, playing South Florida) and Virginia Tech (11/05, playing Miami). Ohio State is still very much in the running, and the Buckeyes will likely receive an official visit. Update 09/28 - Bowman currently favors Penn State and Virginia Tech, but he will also make official visits to Tennessee and Ohio State. While the Bucks are by no means out of the running, they do have some ground to make up, and his official visit to Columbus will be crucial if Ohio State is to remain in the chase. Update 10/20 - Navorro made an official visit to Columbus for the Michigan State game; although he stated that he enjoyed his visit, Penn State and Virginia Tech still lead, which is not a good sign. Update 11/28 - Bowman canceled an official visit to Florida, and will decide among Virginia Tech, Penn State, and Ohio State, probably by the middle of December so that he can enroll early in the college of his choice. In a recent interview (from Penn State Rivals), Navorro claimed that he has been an Ohio State fan for a long time. Will childhood sentiments be enough to overcome the lure of the Nittany Lions? Let's hope so, but we're not counting on it.

5. Tyler Moeller, Cincinnati Colerain (6' 1", 205, 4.48 forty); committed to Ohio State!

6. Colin McCarthy, Clearwater (Florida) Central Catholic (6' 1", 210 lbs, 4.53 forty, 4.13 shuttle); OSU (offered) in top 5 (Penn State, offered, leads). As a junior, McCarthy was named a first team all state selection after he recorded 163 tackles, 13 TFL's, 4 sacks, and 5 interceptions; as a receiver on offense, he caught 32 passes for 595 yards and 8 scores. Colin is also a fine basketball player, as he averaged 15 points per game on the hardwood. In college, McCarthy projects as an outside linebacker, or possibly a strong safety. Although he now lives in Florida, Colin was born and raised in Pennsylvania, so it would not be surprising to see him head back north for college (he loves cold weather). Penn State is McCarthy's probable leader, and he will make an official visit to Happy Valley for the October 8th contest against our beloved Buckeyes; Colin has already seen the Bucks once this season, as he made an official visit to Columbus for the Iowa thrashing. The Florida schools will also get a look (Miami has offered), but we see this as an OSU-PSU battle. Update 10/10 - Although Colin was scheduled to visit Happy Valley for the OSU-PSU game, Nittany Lions' head coach Joe Paterno canceled all official visits for that weekend. Apparently, McCarthy was very upset at the last minute cancelation, and he now has dropped Penn State from consideration. Ohio State might be Colin's leader at this point, but the three Florida schools will all get a close look, too. Update 11/11 - There is some indication that Ohio State leads for McCarthy, although he will likely take a few more visits before deciding. Update 11/30 - McCarthy's final four are Ohio State, Nebraska, Miami, and Georgia Tech. We still feel that Ohio State leads, but that Nebraska (again) will be a major player, as will Miami, whom he visits on December 16th. Coach Tressel will be down for an in-home visit next week, and Colin plans on making another (unofficial) visit to Columbus prior to making his final decision. On the season, Colin recorded nearly 150 tackles (26 for loss), and caught 39 passes for 640 yards and 6 TD's.

Defensive Backs

1. A.J. Wallace, Pomfret (Maryland) McDonough (6' 1", 195 lbs, 4.4 forty); OSU (offered) leads Nebraska (offered). 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 Shawn Springs don't count), and it looks like Wallace might be the guy who ends up finally signing with the Bucks. Update 08/31 - A.J. will make an official visit Ohio State for the Texas game. Many observers feel that that experience will put the Buckeyes over the top, and that Wallace will commit to OSU shortly thereafter. We'll see.... A.J. will also make an official visit to Nebraska on 10/29 for the Oklahoma game, and 10/01 to Florida State for the Syracuse game. Update 09/28 - Wallace did take an official visit to Ohio State for the Texas game, and by all accounts that trip made a lasting impression on A.J.; most observers feel that Ohio State solidified its position as the team to beat, but Nebraska and Florida State are still serious contenders. Update 10/05 - A.J. had a great visit to Florida State on the weekend of October 1st, and it appears that the Seminoles for the moment have at least pulled even with the Buckeyes. Update 11/11 - Wallace enjoyed his recent visit to Nebraska, but we feel that distance and uncertainties in the coaching situation will eventually lead to the Huskers' demise in this recruiting battle. A more serious concern for Buckeye fans appears to be Florida State, as AJ has stated that he likes the Seminoles' "swagger". We feel that this race is still too close to call, with Ohio State gradually relinquishing a strong early lead to a "sexy" program which is a mater at playing all of the recruiting tricks and games. Update 11/30 - It's now pretty obvious that A.J. is attracted to the "sexy" programs - he loves Florida State's swagger (but were they swaggering in The Swamp?), and he is planning to schedule an official visit to either Miami or Southern Cal. Maybe his initial love for Ohio State carries the day, and then again, maybe not. Update 12/1 - Southern Cal just offered Wallace, and have discussed playing him on both sides of the ball. A.J. will make an official visit Penn State this weekend; Ohio State will make an in-home visit on December 5th.

2. Kurt Coleman, Clayton (Ohio) Northmont (5' 11", 190 lbs, 4.44 forty); committed to Ohio State!

3. Grant Schwartz, Dana Point (California) Dana Hills (6' 0", 201 lbs, 4.5 forty); committed to Ohio State!

4. Ryan Hill, Tallahassee Rickards (6' 0", 178 lbs, 4.53 forty); Miami (offered) leads OSU, Michigan, Florida State, Alabama (all offered). Hill is another late edition to our top prospect list. Although Ryan is a strong Miami lean, he is planning to visit Ohio State on December 9th. As a senior, Hill had 43 tackles, five blocked field goals, three forced fumbles, three interceptions, and eight total touchdowns, which led to him being named the #2 cornerback prospect in the south by Scout. Even if Ryan follows through on his official visit to Columbus, we fee that the Buckeyes are an extreme long shot, and that Hill will eventually be a Hurricane. Update 11/30 - Ryan will visit Ohio State over the weekend of December 2nd; he still favors Miami, but wants to see what some other schools have to offer.

5. Elijah "Scoot" Fields, Duquesne, Pennsylvania (6' 1", 198 lbs, 4.55 forty); OSU (not offered) in top 5 (Pitt, West Virginia, UConn, all offered; Penn State, not offered). Fields is a two-way prospect who could play either wide receiver or safety at the next level; Scout.com has rated Elijah as a "four star" saftey prospect and the 12th best safety in the nation, and it seems that most school like him on the defensive side of the ball. As a junior, Scoot caught 26 passes for 591 yards (for an average of 22.7) and 14 touchdowns. Elijah will visit Happy Valley on October 8th for the Penn State - Ohio State game; although he has offers from several schools, it appears that Fields is still willing to wait on the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions. Update 11/11 - Scoot has not yet received an offer from Ohio State, but he remains interested in the Buckeyes. In a recent contest, he scored in five different ways: 65-yard run; 46-yard catch; 52-yard fumble return; 35-yard interception return; 2-point conversion rush. Update 11/30 - Scoot is currently leading his team on a tremendous playoff run, during which he has scored 12 TD's in four games. On the season, Fields has 39 receptions for 1,040 yards and 16 TD's from his wide out position, and 10 interceptions as a safety; he has scored 26 total touchdowns in 6 different ways: receiving, rushing, punt return, kickoff return, interception, and fumble recovery. Scoot claims that he recently received an offer from Ohio State; if true, look for the Buckeyes to be near the top of his list.

6. Chris Duvalt, Lakeland (Florida) Lake Gibson (5' 10", 159 lbs, 4.38 forty, 38" vertical); OSU (not offered) in top 5 (South Florida, Southern Miss, Maryland, Indiana, all offered). To state it simply, Chris Duvalt is an enigma - according to Rivals, he is the 24th best prospect in the talent-rich state of Florida and the 18th best cornerback prospect nationally, yet he has no major offers to date. Chris is most interested in Florida State (his childhood favorite), but he is also looking at Florida, South Florida, Georgia, Ohio State, Maryland, and Wake Forest; he has received offers from Indiana, Marshall, and Eastern Kentucky. It could be that the top programs are scared off by Duvalt's size (he was measured at 5' 10", 159 pounds at a Nike combine this summer). Despite his lack of size, Duvalt's talent is unquestioned - last season, he had 52 tackles, 7 interceptions, and 11 pass break-ups. Chris has excellent speed and leaping ability to go along with good coverage skills and sound instincts; after a pick (or returning punts), he has tremendous maneuverability and cutting ability, and once he gets his hands on the ball, he has the moves to take it to the house. Chris's academic status is unknown, as neither his GPA nor his test score has been published. Chris has mentioned making an official visit to Ohio State, but nothing has been scheduled to date. Update 10/20 - Chris has scheduled an official visit to South Florida for the weekend of January 21st; Ohio State is still in his top five.

Committed Elsewhere

Justin Boren, OL, Pickerington (Ohio) North (6' 3", 319 lbs, 5.2 forty); committed to Michigan.

Steve Brown, ATH, Columbus (Indiana) East (6' 1", 200 lbs, 4.39 forty); committed to Michigan.

Cobrani "Cobra" Mixon, LB, Cincinnati Colerain (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.6 forty). Committed to Michigan.

Tom McEowen, DL, Feasterville (Pennsylvania) Neshaminy (6' 4", 279 lbs, 5.1 forty); committed to Penn State.

Aaron Maybin, DL, Ellicott City (Maryland) Mt. Hebron (6' 3", 220 lbs, 4.64 forty); committed to Penn State.

Isiah "Juice" Williams, Chicago Vocational (6' 1", 210 lbs, 4.77 forty, 4.19 shuttle); "soft" verbal to Illinois.

Chris James, WR, Chicago Morgan Park (6' 0", 169 lbs, 4.55 forty); committed to Illinois.

Ryan Palmer, Canton Glen Oak (6' 7", 280 lbs, 5.1 forty); committed to Illinois.

Jake Miller, Zoarville (Ohio) Tuscarawas Valley (6' 6", 321 lbs, 5.3 forty); committed to Illinois.

A.J. Edds, Greenwood, Indiana (6' 4", 215 lbs, 4.7 forty); committed to Iowa.

Jovani Chappel, DB, Trotwood (Ohio) Madison (5' 8", 169 lbs, 4.53 forty); committed to Purdue.

Royce Adams, Cleveland Glenville (5' 11", 165 lbs, 4.68 forty); committed to Purdue.

Adam Weber, QB, Shoreview (Minnesota) Mounds View (6' 3", 205 lbs, 4.65 forty); committed to Minnesota.

Raeshon McNeil, DB, Mocksville (North Carolina) Davie County (6' 0", 175 lbs, 4.40 forty); committed to Notre Dame.

Demetrius Jones, Chicago Morgan Park (6' 3", 192 lbs, 4.5 forty); committed to Notre Dame.

Darrin Walls, Pittsburgh Woodland Hills (6' 1", 175 lbs, 4.4 forty); committed to Notre Dame.

Nate Byham, TE, Franklin, Pennsylvania (6' 4", 220 lbs, 4.65 forty); committed to Pitt.

Dorin Dickerson, ATH, Imperial (Pennsylvania) West Allegheny (6' 3", 205 lbs, 4.51 forty); committed to Pitt.

Jason Pinkston, DL, Pittsburgh Baldwin (6' 5", 273 lbs, 4.9 forty); committed to Pitt.

Greg Webster, LB, Pittsburgh Woodland Hills (6' 2", 225 lbs, 4.7 forty); committed to Pitt.

Chris Fox, Westwood (Massachusetts) Xaverian Brothers (5' 11", 191 lbs, 4.47 forty); committed to Boston College.

Terron Sanders, DL, Bradenton (Florida) Southeast (6' 2", 298 lbs, 5.1 forty); committed to Florida.

Jamar Hornsby, Jacksonville Sandalwood (6' 4", 195 lbs, 4.45 forty); committed to Florida.

Brandon Warren, ATH, Alcoa, Tennessee (6' 3", 230 lbs, 4.6 forty); committed to Florida State.

D'Vontrey Richardson, ATH, Leesburg (Georgia) Lee County (6' 1", 205, 4.45); committed to Florida State.

Akeem Hebron, Damascus (Maryland) Good Counsel (6' 2", 193 lbs, 4.45 forty); committed to Georgia.

Asher Allen, Tucker, Georgia (5' 10", 187 lbs, 4.39 forty); committed to Georgia.

Bani Gbadyu, Gaithersburg (Maryland) Quince Orchard (6' 1", 205 lbs, 4.52 forty); committed to LSU.

Chris Slaughter, Fort Valley (Georgia) Peach County (6' 3", 170 lbs, 4.55 forty); committed to Auburn.

Lee Tilley, OL, Springfield (Ohio) South (6' 7", 300 lbs, 5.0 forty); committed to Auburn.

Antwine Perez, Camden (New Jersey) Woodrow Wilson (6' 2", 197 lbs, 4.53 forty). Committed to Southern Cal.

Chane Moline, FB, Mission Viejo, California (6' 1", 235 lbs, 4.7 forty). Committed to UCLA.

Troy Pascley, WR, Alliance (6' 2", 180 lbs, 4.39 forty). Committed to Louisville.

Micah Johnson, DL, Ft. Campbell (Kentucky) West Potomac (6' 2", 267, 4.7 forty); committed to Kentucky.

Joe Torchia, North Arlington (New Jersey) Queen of Peace (6' 3", 231 lbs, 4.8 forty); committed to Virginia.

Keith Payne, RB, Vienna (Virginia) Oakton (6' 2", 220, 4.4 forty); committed to Virginia.

Clark Crum, OL, Dublin Scioto (6' 7", 255 lbs, 5.15 forty); committed to Virginia Tech.

Aaron Brown, Cincinnati Princeton (6' 6", 270 lbs, 5.1 forty);

Darius Smith, DL, Euclid, Ohio (6' 3", 195 lbs, 4.6 forty); committed to Bowling Green.

Peris Edwards, Toledo Rogers (6' 1", 175 lbs, 4.43 forty); committed to Miami of Ohio.

Bob Gulley, Berea, Ohio (6' 4", 274 lbs, 5.2 forty); committed to Miami of Ohio.

Jacob Ramsey, Columbus Independence (6' 0", 205, 4.5 forty); committed to Cincinnati.

Taylor Price, ATH, Hilliard Darby (6' 2", 195 lbs, 4.25 forty); committed to Akron.

Looking Elsewhere

Tim Tebow, QB, Jacksonville (Florida) Nease (6' 3", 225 lbs, 4.6 forty); Alabama, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Southern Cal.
Arvell Nelson, QB, Cleveland Glenville (6' 5", 180 lbs, 4.75 forty); Iowa leads Michigan State, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
Michael Hartline, QB, Canton Glen Oak (6' 5", 175 lbs, 4.8 forty); Illinois, Kentucky.
Nate Davis, QB, Bellaire (6' 3", 215 lbs, 4.85 forty); Toledo, Cincinnati, Ball State.
Josh Adams, Cary, North Carolina (5' 11", 171 lbs, 4.58 forty); North Carolina; NC State; Clemson; Tennessee; Georgia; LSU; Maryland; Virginia.
Carlos Brown, Heard County, Georgia (6' 0", 195 lbs, 4.57 forty); Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Auburn, Tennessee, Michigan.
Xylon Purkiss, FB, Ravenna, Ohio (5' 10", 255 lbs, 4.85 forty); no offers.
Devven Sutton, Elizabeth City (North Carolina) Northeastern (6' 0", 239 lbs, 4.60 forty, 4.20 shuttle); Virginia Tech leads.
Vidal Hazelton, WR, Staten Island (New York) Moore Catholic (6' 3", 192 lbs, 4.5 forty); Florida, Georgia, Miami, Southern Cal, VPI.
Andrey Baskin, Camden (New Jersey) Woodrow Wilson (6' 4", 192 lbs, 4.45 forty); Tennessee leads.
Damon McDaniel, Virginia Beach Landstown (6' 0", 192 lbs, 4.51 forty); Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, VPI.
Jeff Cumberland, Columbus Brookhaven (6' 6", 220 lbs, 4.55 forty); possible JUCO.
Markeith Summers, WR, Olive Branch, Mississippi (6' 4", 190 lbs, 4.5 forty); Alabama, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss.
Ray Fisher, WR, Cleveland Glenville (5' 10", 170 lbs, 4.4 forty); Indiana, Illinois, Maryland.
Crawford Kilpatrick, Suwanee (Georgia) North Gwinnett (6' 5", 197, 4.52 forty; 4.25 shuttle; 33" vertical); Duke leads.
Konrad Reuland, Mission Viejo, California (6' 6", 235 lbs, 4.75 forty); Southern Cal, UCLA, Notre Dame.
J.B. Walton, Indian Head (Maryland) Lackey (6' 3", 270 lbs, 5.1 forty); Nebraska, Penn State.
Mark Jackson, OL, Columbus Brookhaven (6' 6", 300 lbs, 5.4 forty); Minnesota, Michigan State.
Chris Hanna, Pittsburgh Gateway (6' 4", 292 lbs, 5.0 forty); Illinois; Rutgers, Kent State.
Phillip Taylor, DL, Clinton (Maryland) Gwynn Park (6' 3", 346 lbs, 5.1 forty); Maryland, Penn State, VPI, Florida, Tennessee.
Brian Whitmore, Chesapeake (Virginia) Oscar F. Smith (6' 3", 240 lbs, 4.65 forty); Miami leads.
Alex Dekle, Statesboro, Georgia (6' 2", 273 lbs, 4.82 forty); possible JUCO.
Drew Gloster, DL, Damascus (Maryland) Good Counsel (6' 4", 215 lbs, 4.57 forty); VPI leads Miami, Florida, Georgia, Maryland.
Lamar Mapp, DL, Springfield (Ohio) South (6' 3", 234 lbs, 4.65 forty); Akron, Cincinnati, Ohio, Toledo.
Jeremiha Hunter, Manheim (Pennsylvania) Central (6' 2", 210 lbs, 4.5 forty); UConn; Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Penn State, Iowa.
Kevin Green, Jr., LB, North Chicago, Illinois (6' 2", 213 lbs, 4.55 forty); Purdue, Iowa, Boston College.
Tommy Becker, Plymouth (Minnesota) Wayzata (6' 2", 230 lbs, 4.77 forty); Minnesota, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Kansas.
Marcus Ball, Stone Mountain (Georgia) Stephenson (6' 0", 200 lbs, 4.49 forty); Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, Tennessee, VPI.
Reshad Jones, DB, Atlanta Booker T. Washington (6' 2", 177 lbs, 4.5 forty); Miami, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan.
Mister Alexander, Aldine (Texas) Eisenhower (6' 3", 200 lbs); waiting on Florida State.
Cody Blevins, DB, Miamisburg, Ohio (6' 2", 200 lbs, 4.6 forty); no offers.
Robert Williams, DB, Cincinnati Withrow (5' 11", 179 lbs, 4.5 forty); Minnesota leads.
Devin Parrish, ATH, Miramar (Florida) Parkway Academy (6' 0", 155 lbs, 4.46 forty); waiting for offers.