The Recruiting Class of 2004 Revisited
Upon first impressions, the Buckeyes' 2004 recruiting class seemed to be similar to their epic class of 2002, as the 2004 haul was both large (25 signees) and talented (ranked 9th by Rivals, 11th by Scout). However, time has not been kind to the class of 2004, and in retrospect that class seems more like a larger version of the roundly criticized class of 2003. Although the class of 2004 did produce a few genuine stars (Ted Ginn, Antonio Pittman, Vernon Gholston), it has also generated far too many busts, several of whom have already left the program prior to exhausting their eligibility.
Unlike 2003, the Buckeye staff did well both in the state of Ohio - the only significant loss was tight end Fred Davis to Southern Cal - and out of state. In fact, nine of the twenty-five signees were from outside of Ohio, including four from Pennsylvania (a state in which the Buckeyes had been completely shut out for nearly a decade prior to 2004), two from Florida, and one each from Michigan, Missouri, and Louisiana. The problem with the class of 2004 wasn't bringing the talent in, but rather developing that talent and keeping it healthy and in good standing.
This article takes a look back at Ohio State's recruiting class of 2004, and analyzes how each recruit has turned out so far. Note: The players' recruiting class rankings come from Rivals, but their college performance rankings are our own.
Quarterback
Although he graduated from high school in 2003, Todd Boeckman (St. Henry; 3*, #19 pro-style QB) took a "grey-shirt" offer from Ohio State and signed with the Buckeyes as part of their class of 2004. After red-shirting in 2004 and seeing mop-up action in 2005 and 2006 behind Troy Smith, Boeckman became the starting quarterback for Ohio State prior to the 2007 season. As a junior, Boeckman had a largely successful season, as he threw for 2,379 yards and 25 touchdowns in leading the Buckeyes to an 11-2 record and a berth in the BCS title game. Despite the solid overall numbers, Todd played poorly down the stretch, and he committed some major mistakes, both physical and mental, which were significant factors in the losses to Illinois and LSU. After a career performance in a night game at Penn State (19/26, 253 yards, 3 TD's), there was some speculation that Boeckman might be a Heisman candidate during his senior campaign, but his late-season regression has left many wondering whether he will even be able to hold on to his starting job in 2008, especially if high school phenom Terrelle Pryor signs with the Buckeyes.
Ohio State received a commitment from one other quarterback in 2004. However, Joe Bauserman (Tallahassee Lincoln; 3*, #22 pro-style QB) never signed a Letter of Intent with Ohio State and he instead opted to pursue a career in professional baseball as a pitcher. Joe played in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization for three seasons, gave up on baseball after experiencing some injuries, and enrolled at Ohio State for the summer quarter of 2007. Last season, Bauserman walked on to the Buckeye football squad and took a red-shirt; at this point, it seems unlikely that he will ever see any meaningful playing time for Ohio State.
Initial rankings: Group (3-1/2*); Boeckman (3-1/2*); Bauserman (N/R)
With depth being a real issue, the Buckeyes signed a trio of tailbacks as part of the class of 2004. Antonio Pittman (Akron Buchtel; 4*, #13 RB) was the most highly-regarded of the three, and as things turned out he was the only one to have any success in the scarlet and grey. In his three seasons as a Buckeye, Pittman rushed for 2,945 yards (8th best in OSU history), for an average of 84.1 yards per game (5th best in OSU history). Antonio declared for the NFL draft after his junior season, and he was a fourth-round selection of the New Orleans Saints, who cut him during training camp. After signing on with the St. Louis Rams, Pittman saw action in eleven games, rushing 38 times for 139 yards and no touchdowns. Erik Haw (Columbus Independence; 3*, #23 RB) earned a surprising offer from the Buckeyes after posting several sub-4.4 forties at Ohio State's 2003 summer camp. Although Haw never lit up the competition (red-shirt in 2004; 14 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown in 2005), he did light up a joint, in public, on campus, and that was enough to earn him a quick ticket out of Columbus. Erik transferred to Jackson State, where he had some success (982 yards rushing and 16 TD's in two seasons) before declaring for the 2008 NFL draft. The final member of the trio was Dennis Kennedy (Ft. Lauderdale Stranahan; 2*, NR), a "sleeper" prospect who received a late offer from the Buckeye staff. Although he signed a Letter of Intent with the Buckeyes, Kennedy failed to pass through admissions, and he never enrolled at Ohio State. Dennis subsequently signed with Akron, where he has posted some decent numbers through his first three seasons (1,201 yards rushing, 431 yards receiving, 11 total touchdowns).
Initial rankings: Group (1-1/2*); Pittman (4*); Haw (0*); Kennedy (0)
The Buckeyes don't often go after fullback prospects, but they made an exception in 2004 when they signed Dionte Johnson (Columbus Eastmoor; 2*, NR), the son of Thomas "Pepper" Johnson, the former Buckeye All American linebacker. At the time, many fans thought that the younger Johnson received an offer merely because he was a legacy recruit. Despite the claims of nepotism, Dionte proved himself on the field, playing as a true freshman and earning four letters during his Ohio State career. But the critics were also partially correct, as Dionte often seemed a bit overmatched against top competition, and he was generally outplayed last season by former walk-on Tyler "Tank" Whaley.
Initial rankings: Group (2-1/2*); Johnson (2-1/2*)
In the 2007 NFL draft, the Buckeyes had two wide receivers selected in the first round, Anthony Gonzalez (Indianapolis Colts, pick #32) and Ted Ginn (Miami Dolphins, pick #9); ironically, both entered Ohio State as highly-ranked cornerback prospects (Gonzo in 2003, Ginn in 2004). Theodore Ginn, Jr. (Cleveland Glenville; 5*, #1 CB, #2 overall) was never a first team All American selection, and he made the All Big Ten first team only one time, yet he will go down in history as the most exciting player ever to wear the scarlet and grey and one of the true legends of Buckeye football. Despite his immense potential, Ginn's career had a very slow start - through his first four games as a Buckeye, Teddy had just 3 receptions for 9 yards, and most fans thought that a return to cornerback was imminent. Over the next four weeks, however, Ginn began to exhibit some of his amazing talent, returning two punts for scores (65 yards vs. Wisconsin, 67 yards vs. Penn State), while also hitting pay dirt against Indiana on a 59-yard strike from newly-appointed starting quarterback Troy Smith. But Ginn really made a name for himself during the final third of his freshman campaign, as he scored three touchdowns against Michigan State in week nine (a 17-yard run, a 60-yard punt return, and a 58-yard reception to seal the victory); had 87 yards receiving and an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown in an upset win over Michigan; and racked up 118 yards of total offense and a touchdown against Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl. Even though he was a non-factor for the first third of the season, Teddy was still second on the team with 896 all-purpose yards, and he tied for the team lead with 8 touchdowns.
Given the high expectations after his rookie season, Ginn experienced somewhat of a "sophomore slump" in 2005. Although he led the team with 1,668 all-purpose yards and scored 7 touchdowns, opposing defenses were more focused on TGII and thus he had fewer big plays to his credit. That is, at least until the Fiesta Bowl, when Ginn scorched Notre Dame for 240 yards of total offense and scored on a 56-yard pass and a beautiful 68-yard run on a reverse. As a junior, Teddy once again led the team with 1,504 all-purpose yards, and he scored 11 times (and also threw for a touchdown); but he became a more complete receiver, as evidenced by his team-high 59 receptions and 9 touchdown catches. For his three-year Ohio State career, Ted Ginn amassed 4,068 all-purpose yards, and he was responsible for 27 touchdowns (15 receiving, 3 rushing, 6 punt returns, 2 kick-off returns, and 1 passing), most of which were memorable:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TApPxbmGzP4&feature=related"]YouTube - Ted Ginn Jr Highlight Reel[/ame]
The other two receivers whom the Buckeyes signed in 2004 were ranked nearly as high as Ted Ginn coming out of high school, but both were essentially busts during their time at Ohio State. Albert Dukes (Belle Glades (Florida) Central; 4*, #14 WR), hailed form the same high school as Buckeye great Santonio Holmes, and according to the recruiting buzz, Dukes was an even more talented receiver than his accomplished predecessor. However, Albert got into some off-the-field trouble early in his career, and he never really seemed to find his niche in Columbus; in three seasons, Dukes had 4 receptions for 39 yards. Devon Lyons (Pittsburgh Woodland Hills; 4*, #5 safety) played as a true freshman in 2004, but chronic injuries (he missed the entire 2005 season with an ankle problem) and position switches (from wide receiver to safety and back again) killed his once-promising career, and he leaves Ohio State with just 2 receptions for 15 yards. Both Dukes and Lyons have graduated from Ohio State, and each has one year of eligibility remaining, but neither is expected to be with the squad next season.
Initial rankings: Group (2-1/2*); Ginn (5*); Dukes (1*); Lyons (1*)
The Buckeyes signed the best tight end class in the country in 2004, landing two of the top four prospects at that position. After seeing significant playing time as a true freshman in 2004, Rory Nicol (Beaver, Pennsylvania; 4*, #4 TE) missed the entire 2005 season with a foot injury. After returning to action in 2006, Nicol has been the Buckeyes' starting tight end, and he should once again be the starter as a senior next year. Granted, the tight end is under-utilized in Ohio State's offensive scheme, but Nicol's career numbers are still somewhat disappointing (32 receptions, 269 yards, 4 TD's), especially for a kid who isn't known as a devasting blocker. The other tight end signee from the class of 2004 was Chad Hoobler (Carrollton; 4*, #3 TE). After two position switches - first to linebacker, then to defensive end - Chad abruptly left the program during 2006 fall practice and transferred to Ashland, where he suffered career-ending knee injuries. Hoobler is now performing in an amateur mixed martial arts program. Brandon Smith (Euclid; 2*, NR) signed as a linebacker, but quickly switched to tight end, where he has been no better than a third-stringer; for his Ohio State career (three seasons plus a red-shirt in 2004), Smith has 8 receptions for 60 yards, mostly in mop-up duty.
Initial rankings: Group (2*); Nicol (3*); Smith (1-1/2*); Hoobler (1*)
The Buckeyes' offensive line haul was supposed to be the cornerstone of the 2004 class, but to date that group has been disappointing. The prize recruit from the quartet of signees was Kyle Mitchum (Erie, Pennsylvania; 4*, #6 OT, #56 overall), but Mitchum has seen little playing time during his four years on campus, and he doesn't figure to be in the mix as a red-shirt senior. Ben Person (Xenia; 4*, #10 OG) was another highly-regarded prospect from the class of 2004. Although Person developed rather slowly, he earned a starting job in 2007 (right guard), and he should be an anchor on the Buckeyes' offensive line in 2008. Weighing in at well over 300 pounds as a high school senior, Steve Rehring (Lakota West; 3*, #29 OT) didn't really fit Ohio State's mold of quick, athletic offensive linemen, but Steve was actually the first member of the 2004 OL class to see the field, and he even earned a letter as a true freshman. An illness sidelined Rehring for most of the 2005 season (he ended up taking a red-shirt that year), but he returned to earn a starting role in 2006 (left guard). Despite entering his senior campaign as a two-year starter, Rehring has been an inconsistent performer, primarily due to weight and conditioning issues. The Buckeye staff took a chance on Jon Skinner (Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania; 3*, #39 OG), who suffered a major knee injury in high school. Skinner has remained injury-prone at Ohio State, although he logged some quality time as a back-up in 2005 and 2006.
Final rankings: Group (2*); Person (3*); Rehring (3*); Skinner (1-1/2*); Mitchum (1-1/2*)
At six-foot-four, 264 pounds, defensive end Vernon Gholston (Detroit Cass Tech; 4*, #11 WDE) might hold the distinction for being the must "cut" player ever to wear the scarlet and grey. However, Big Vern was no mere body builder in shoulder pads, as he was one of the most productive defensive ends in Ohio State history. After seeing limited action as a true freshman, Gholston lost the entire 2005 season due to a broken hand, and he took a red-shirt that year. Fully recovered in 2006, Vernon started all 13 games for the Buckeyes, registering 49 tackles, 15 TFL's, and 8.5 sacks en route to being named a second team All Big Ten performer by both the coaches and the media. Gholston continued his progress in 2007, as he was named an All American (first team: Pro Football Writers; second team: AP; Walter Camp; Rivals; Sports Illustrated) after racking up 37 tackles, 15.5 TFL's, 14 sacks, and a touchdown on a fumble recovery. His career total of 22.5 sacks puts Gholston in fifth place on the Buckeyes' list of sack leaders (Mike Vrabel heads the list with 36.0 sacks). Despite having one year of eligibility remaining, Gholston decided to enter the 2008 NFL draft, where he is expected to be a top-ten selection. Here are some pictures of Gholston in action:
[ame="http://youtube.com/watch?v=Yot9ClPvZDg"]YouTube - Vernon Gholston[/ame]
When you sign one Vernon Gholston, you've already had a successful defensive line class, regardless of what your other signees end up doing. And in the case of the Buckeyes' class of 2004, the other two defensive line prospects haven't done much at all during their tenures in Columbus. Nader Abdallah (Metairie, Louisiana; 3*, #30 DT) took a red shirt in 2004, then saw action in only eight games over the next two seasons, logging just a single tackle during that time. However, as a junior last year, Nader played in all thirteen games and he was an integral member of the Buckeyes' defensive tackle rotation; on the season, he recorded 19 tackles, 3 TFL's, and 1 sack. It remains to be seen whether Abdallah will stay in the rotation next year or be bypassed by younger, more athletic players such as Dexter Larimore and Garrett Goebel. Alex Barrow (Dublin Coffman; 3*, #31 DT) showed more early promise than Nader Abdallah, but he saw his playing time steadily decrease while the Buckeyes gradually improved their depth along the defensive line. As a red-shirt junior last year, Barrow earned most of his minutes on special teams. At the end of the 2007 season, Alex announced that he would not return to the team for his senior campaign, but would instead pursue a career in advertising or public relations after graduating this spring with a degree in communications. For his Ohio State career, Barrow registered 16 tackles and 1 sack in 32 games played.
Initial rankings: Group (3*); Gholston (4-1/2*); Abdallah (2-1/2*); Barrow (2*)
One of the stars of the class of 2004 was linebacker Marcus Freeman (Huber Heights Wayne; 4*, #4 MLB, #31 overall). After seeing action in every game as a true freshman (4 tackles), Freeman missed the entire 2005 campaign with a knee injury. Marcus rebounded nicely in 2006, as he was second on the team with 71 tackles (2.5 were for loss, including 1 sack); he also had 2 interceptions and broke up 6 passes. But despite the solid numbers, many people questioned Freeman's toughness and his ability to stop the run. In 2007, Freeman once again finished in second place with 109 tackles (including 9.5 TFL's and 1.5 sacks), and he also played well in pass coverage (5 pass break-ups). However, Freeman's season was somewhat inconsistent, as he had huge performances against Minnesota (11 tackles, 1 TFL), Penn State (14 tackles, 2 TFL's), Illinois (18 tackles, 1 TFL), Michigan (9 tackles), and LSU (14 tackles), but in other games he seemed to play "soft" and disappear at times. Although there were rumors that Marcus would enter the 2008 NFL draft, he decided to return to Ohio State for his senior season, where he will have one final opportunity to live up to his lofty recruiting class ranking.
The other linebacker who signed with Ohio State in 2004 was Curtis Terry (Cleveland Glenville; 2*, NR). Although Curtis was a late addition to the class, he quickly made a name for himself on special teams, and he earned letters in both 2004 and 2005 for his participation on the punt, punt return, kick-off, and kick-off return squads. In 2006, Terry worked his way into linebacker rotation, where he recorded 17 tackles and 3.5 TFL's primarily in a back-up role. Curtis seemed poised to have a break-out year in 2007, but an ankle injury kept him on the sidelines for the entire season; he will return in 2008 and will battle for a starting spot alongside James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman.
Initial rankings: Group (3*); Freeman (3-1/2*); Terry (2-1/2*)
The Buckeyes signed six defensive backs in 2004, but two of them - Ted Ginn and Devon Lyons - were quickly moved to wide receiver. Of the four who remained in the defensive backfield, only two are still with the team, and neither of them has progressed beyond the role of career back-up. Like fullback Dionte Johnson, Shaun Lane (Hubbard; 3*, #14 CB) was another legacy recruit in the class of 2004, his father being former Buckeye great Garcia Lane (cornerback, 1980-1983). Shaun red-shirted in 2004, and has seen only limited action since then, mostly on special teams. To date, Lane has recorded 23 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. The Buckeye career of Nick Patterson (St. Louis, Missouri; 3*, #30 ATH) has been similar to that of Shaun Lane: red-shirt in 2004, then sporadic playing time over the next three seasons (although Nick did start the 2006 season opener at free safety). Through his junior year, Patterson has 17 tackles and 1 interception to his credit. With the Buckeyes' entire defensive backfield returning intact, neither Lane nor Patterson appears to be a serious contender for a starting position in 2008.
As a true freshman, Sirjo Welch (Columbus Beechcroft; 3*, #17 safety) earned the reputation as a special teams demon, as he recorded 15 tackles and earned a letter for his efforts. Sirjo's production tailed off in 2005, and he logged only 5 tackles in 9 games while spending some time in the coaches' doghouse due to poor academics. Apparently Welch's grades went from bad to worse, as he became academically ineligible after the 2005 season, dropped out of Ohio State, and enrolled at Cincinnati ... where he failed to qualify. Sirjo's current whereabouts are unknown. Another academic casualty for the class of 2004 was cornerback Brandon Underwood (Hamilton; 3*, #16 CB), who left the program after the 2006 season with just 3 tackles to his credit. Underwood also transferred to Cincinnati, and he will be eligible to play in 2008 ... if his grades are in order.
Initial rankings: Group (1*); Lane (1-1/2*); Patterson (1-1/2*); Welch (1*); Underwood (0*)
Punter A.J. Trapasso (Pickerington; 2*, #25 PK) was a rare special teams signee, and he has certainly earned his scholarship. After sitting out the 2004 season as a red-shirt, Trapasso won the punting job in 2005, and he will likely be a four-year "starter" at that position. A.J. has been solid but not spectacular through his first three seasons, averaging 41 yards per punt.
Initial rankings: Group (3*); Trapasso (3*)
To date, the class of 2004 has produced only three legitimate stars (Ted Ginn, Vernon Gholston, and Antonio Pittman), and all of them are currently in the NFL. At the other end of the spectrum, five players left the program early due to academics (Brandon Underwood, Sirjo Welch, Dennis Kennedy), legal matters (Erik Haw), or lack of playing time (Chad Hoobler), while three others (Alex Barrow, Devon Lyons, and Albert Dukes) will graduate and "pursue other options" in 2008.
With Dionte Johnson having used up his eligibility on schedule, that still leaves thirteen players from the class of 2004 who will be fifth-year seniors next season. However, only five of those players will enter fall camp as starters, and most of them have question marks beside their names for various reasons such as inconsistency (Ben Person), conditioning (Steve Rehring), toughness (Marcus Freeman), or simply talent (Rory Nicol); it would not be a shock to see any (or all) of the aforementioned being passed on the depth chart by younger players. Only starting quarterback Todd Boeckman seems to be relatively secure, but even he could be challenged by sophomore Antonio Henton or true freshman Terrelle Pryor (if he eventually signs with Ohio State). A.J. Trapasso has been average at best, and he is the punter by default at this point. Of the remaining fifth-year seniors, linebacker Curtis Terry is the most likely to push for serious playing time next fall, if he is fully recovered from his injuries and can bring the same disruptive energy that he exhibited at times during the 2006 season; the rest of the bunch (Brandon Smith, Kyle Mitchum, Jon Skinner, Nader Abdallah, Nick Patterson, Shaun Lane) will struggle to find a place in the two-deep.
So, it's one of those "good news, bad news" situations: the bad news is that the class of 2004 has been clearly disappointing through their first four years, but the good news is that the Buckeyes are still in position to be a top-five team next season despite the lack of production from that class. If Boeckman and Freeman can take their games to the next level (and each certainly has the talent to do so), and if Person, Rehring, Nicol, Adballah, and Terry can at least make solid contributions, then the 2008 Ohio State squad will compete for another national title. But then again, the Buckeyes might make a championship run next year regardless of how well the fifth-year seniors perform, as they have stockpiled an incredible wealth of talent from each of the succeeding recruiting classes.
Initial overall class ranking: (2*). For a group that is going for their fifth pair of gold pants in 2008, the class of 2004 hasn't really accomplished much on the field so far. In terms of producing bona fide star players, the class of 2004 is actually behind the much-maligned class of 2003. However, the class of 2004 has produced more depth and fewer outright busts than their predecessor; in addition, the character of this class has been much improved over the previous group. While Boeckman and Freeman (and possibly Person) could still have break-out seasons in 2008, the rest of the class is pretty much playing out the string ... and hoping not to take a step back in the depth chart.
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