tOSU Recruiting Discussion

[sparcboxbuck]

With the Smith commitment and us whiffing on Skipper and Hunt, things clear up quite a bit. Two of Wilson/Timmons/Clark (if we can land two that is) and Bell. No idea at this point but I think the most realistic finish is Wilson and call it a day. FANTASTIC class no matter what happens from here on out, with one caveat (see below).

Really disappointed we didn't add another tackle if I am to be honest. I'm just shocked after getting both on campus we weren't really even close to landing them. Something really went wrong with recruiting at tackle this year...Lisle is a stud but he was an OSU lock from the day he had an offer. Plus I'm not so sure Lisle isn't best suited for guard, although there is no choice now but to play him at tackle. Gardner only had offers from Big Ten bottom feeders and MAC schools, so we were the obvious choice after offering. Munger was the only real fight we had on our hands and only recently has been projected at OL, also at guard. Issue isn't so much this year but after Mewhort leaves, that leaves only Decker, Dodson (who knows how he recovers from that injury), and Lisle. And it isn't as if we didn't recognize the need for a tackle, nor that we didn't go after a ton of tackles:
Dorian Johnson (Pitt), Pocic (LSU), Tuley Tillman (scUM), Kugler (scUM), Fox (scUM), Bosch (scUM), Finley (MSU), Lacy (UCLA), Skipper (Arkansas), Hunt (?), Gray (Maryland), Tunsil (?), Vonashek (South Carolina), Lazzard (WVU), Montellus (ND), Bivin (ND), McGovern (ND), and Raulerson (Texas). That is 18 OT prospects we know of that were offered and went elsewhere. I'm just amazed we couldn't get one of these guys with Warriner as a hot name and good recruiter (was at ND anyways), plus the playing time we have to offer. Although 2014 looks really promising at tackle, we really needed another tackle THIS year because even if we clean up in 2014, there is a pretty high probability some '14 guys will have to play right away unless all of Lisle, Decker, and Dodson stay healthy (fingers crossed). I'd like to say we can move a guy over from guard but that never worked in the JT era and I know UFM doesn't want to try it again.

JUCO to fill the spot?

 

[ShowMeBuck]

I hope Dodson's shoulder is ok. I hope our O line gets by w/out major injuries next year. I hope either Price or Munger or both will transition well to the O Line. I hope the 2014 OL is a tremendous success.

We have a lot of W's in the next few years riding on positive answers to those questions. Considering our NC aspirations its a dicey situation to say the least. All the playmakers in the world won't mount to a hill of beans without a serviceable line. Look at this year. Our over achieving O Line. was the single biggest factor in our perfect season. I for one hate to keep testing our luck.

 

[Krenzelicious]

Opinions on why OL recruiting happened as it did this year?

Our offensive system? Is relationship-building more important for o-linemen for some reason (and the new staff simply hasn't had enough time to do this)? Casting too wide a net (spreading the attention that we give to individual recruits too thinly)?

I'm not complaining, and I could hardly be happier with the way we're recruiting; I'm simply interested in what you think about the reasons why we didn't land more blue chip OL? One would think that our depth chart would have them salivating...

 

[y0yoyoin]

I hope Dodson's shoulder is ok. I hope our O line gets by w/out major injuries next year. I hope either Price or Munger or both will transition well to the O Line. I hope the 2014 OL is a tremendous success.

We have a lot of W's in the next few years riding on positive answers to those questions. Considering our NC aspirations its a dicey situation to say the least. All the playmakers in the world won't mount to a hill of beans without a serviceable line. Look at this year. Our over achieving O Line. was the single biggest factor in our perfect season. I for one hate to keep testing our luck.

sounds like your more of a brady hoke type of man when it comes to recruiting

 

[maximumblitz]

Opinions on why OL recruiting happened as it did this year?

I see three reasons (all centered around momentum):
- it takes time for kids to spent their formative years (middle school, early high school) thinking that tOSU is the place to go for o-linemen. A resplendint turn around on our line beginning only in mid-season 2012 doesn't build dreams for lots of recruits.
- o-line recruits started going to tSUN and it built momentum - people were signing on the line just because other people were signing on the line
- there is not a promise of "immediate" playing time .... would have to wait one year

 

[maximumblitz]

Family Values

With so many people being related to other people at tOSU, we have a mathematically provable "family atmosphere". Imagine if UFM were to somehow flip Huereman and Smith from Notre Dame to tOSU? And pick up Bosa from Ft Lauderdale?

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

With so many people being related to other people at tOSU, we have a mathematically provable "family atmosphere". Imagine if UFM were to somehow flip Huereman and Smith from Notre Dame to tOSU? And pick up Bosa from Ft Lauderdale?

Wouldn't want to trade any of our current guys for anyone else.

 

[ShowMeBuck]

I'll venture 2 guesses to go along with the "lack of time to build relationships" thought.

1.) This is hard to say but we have followed the ND model of coaching DOWN highly rated recruits as it pertains to the position in the past. Still hounded by the Walrus here.

2.) The spread offense is schematic, not "traditional" win in the trenches type of football offensively speaking. Do you think of dominant O Lines when thinking about side line to side line, speedy offensive teams around college football? Not saying ALL spread teams have inferior talent but listen to Meyer and especially Herman talk about how they used it to help neutralize their lack of talent as they came up through the coaching ranks. David didn't slay Goliath standing toe to toe. He played the game to his strengths. So too have many spread teams. Again, not saying all but it is a great talent neutralizer for many.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

Opinions on why OL recruiting happened as it did this year?

Our offensive system? Is relationship-building more important for o-linemen for some reason (and the new staff simply hasn't had enough time to do this)? Casting too wide a net (spreading the attention that we give to individual recruits too thinly)?

I'm not complaining, and I could hardly be happier with the way we're recruiting; I'm simply interested in what you think about the reasons why we didn't land more blue chip OL? One would think that our depth chart would have them salivating...

I feel that there were a couple of guys early like Lazard and Montelus that they could've pushed for and gotten verbals from, but never pushed that hard. I think there's four promising tackles in the program in Decker, Farris, Dodson and Lisle, a Boren at center, and a few guard prospects that they brought in this class. We should be fine.

 

[ShowMeBuck]

sounds like your more of a brady hoke type of man when it comes to recruiting

What on earth does that mean? Yeah, I'm a Hoke fan.

I simply stated that we need to catch some breaks the next 2 years in order for our lack of depth not to hurt us on the O Line. Disagree with that?

 

[RB07OSU]

I think maximublitz and ShowMeBuck all raise valid points, most of which I was leaning to. ND and scUM got on a roll with commits in a short time frame and the momentum helped. It seems OL, unlike other positions, want to play alongside each other and with 5 positions to fill out they aren't so worried about the competition within the class. Not to mention an OL is built on chemistry, so OL flocking together makes logistical sense. All other positions have more limited starting spots and much heavier competition. That is about all the sense I can make of it. It would be awesome for depth purposes if Matt Patchan does decide to transfer to OSU.

Moving forward, Warriner and UFM have got an early start and have built solid relationships with 2014 recruits. Plus M. Jones really seems genuine in bringing others to OSU with him, so I think we are going to see a complete turnaround with OL recruiting next year. That being said, the 2013 class of Lisle, Gardner, and Munger still blows most Bollman years out of the water aside from the fact he will actually develop those players as well. Said this in another thread but I really think we have a good shot to bring in M. Jones and Mustipher at guard, plus Brown, Trout, and Prince/Jamarco Jones.

 

[jwinslow]

Wouldn't want to trade any of our current guys for anyone else.

There are only about five verbal I wouldn't trade I wouldn't trade for Jaylon, and that is due to need, not them being equal. He is a monster.

 

[maximumblitz]

Doug Lesmerises re-rehashes:

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2013/01/recapping_ohio_states_recruiti.html

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? A week away from National Signing Day, the Ohio State Buckeyes have 23 pledges for the Class of 2013; room for another recruit or two; a recent addition at receiver that will help; some defensive backs and linebackers that could get on the field right away on defense or special teams; some playmakers who could spark the offense in the fall; one or two possibilities remaining that could really stabilize this class; and one guy they really don't want to lose.
Scout.com has the Buckeyes' current group ranked at No. 2 in the country, behind only Michigan.
ESPN.com has Ohio State at No. 4 behind Florida, Alabama and Notre Dame, and just ahead of Michigan.
Rivals.com has Ohio State at No. 4, behind those same three teams, and 247sports.com also has the Buckeyes at No. 4, behind Alabama, Florida and Michigan.
?When you recruit at this level, it's more about what you do with them, not who you're getting,? said Scout.com national recruiting analyst Scott Kennedy. ?If it's top five or top 10, it doesn't matter where you are.?
That said, Kennedy believes the Buckeyes could wind up at No. 1, ahead of Michigan, in the final Scout ratings by grabbing one or two more players, and ?I don't think they're done at all,? Kennedy said.
For now, "the class they have is talented, it's balanced, there are players at every position," Kennedy said. "It's what you come to expect of a team like Ohio State and with the recruiting dynamics of someone like Urban Meyer.?

continued recap for every player on the board ....

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

That said, Kennedy believes the Buckeyes could wind up at No. 1, ahead of Michigan, in the final Scout ratings by grabbing one or two more players

Currently, Michigan has 5114 points on 27 commits...we have 4602 points on 23 commits. If we take two more pledges, we'll need to get 513 points between the two to pass Michigan. Vonn Bell is a 5-star and #2 safety on Scout, so under their system he'd be 299 points. That means our second commit would have to be worth 214 points, so he'd either have to be another 5-star, or more likely, a 4-star who is rated #7 or better at his position. And that's if Michigan doesn't take another commit...

 

[DaBuckeyes]

Currently, Michigan has 5114 points on 27 commits...we have 4602 points on 23 commits. If we take two more pledges, we'll need to get 513 points between the two to pass Michigan. Vonn Bell is a 5-star and #2 safety on Scout, so under their system he'd be 299 points. That means our second commit would have to be worth 214 points, so he'd either have to be another 5-star, or more likely, a 4-star who is rated #7 or better at his position. And that's if Michigan doesn't take another commit...

I believe they only count the top 25, so without looking at there recruits it would probably need to be 4* or better to have any effect.