Twenty-Five Uncommitted Prospects for 2007
Currently, Ohio State has thirteen commitments for the class of 2007: Evan Blankenship, Monaca (Pennsylvania) Center Area (6' 3", 310 lbs); Eugene Clifford, Cincinnati Colerain (6' 0", 190 lbs, 4.49 forty); Donnie Evege, Huber Heights Wayne (5' 11", 185 lbs, 4.4 forty); Danny "Boom" Herron, Warren Harding (5' 10", 190 lbs, 4.52 forty); Nate Oliver, Lakewood St. Edward's (6' 0", 201 lbs, 4.55 forty); Brandon Saine, Piqua, Ohio (6' 1", 190 lbs, 4.34 forty); Dane Sanzenbacher, Toledo Central Catholic (5' 11", 174 lbs, 4.6 forty); Devon Torrence, Canton South (6' 0", 200 lbs, 4.4 forty); Taurian Washington, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 0", 200 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rocco Pentello, Westerville South (6' 0", 190 lbs, 4.45 forty); Brian Rolle, Immokalee, Florida (5' 10", 202 lbs, 4.47 forty); James Scott (Daytona Beach Seabreeze); and Solomon Thomas (West Chester Lakota).
After a bad start to 2007, only a few prospects remain in the mix, namely linebacker Jermale Hines from Cleveland Glenville; defensive back Major Wright from Florida; defensive back Dionte Allen from Michigan; defensive lineman Cameron Heyward from Georgia; and defensive lineman Devon Still from Delaware. A few other prospects such as Arkansas running back Broderick Green, Michigan cornerback Ronald Johnson, and Florida wide receiver Deonte Thompson remain longshots.
Speed
Ronald Johnson, Muskegon, Michigan (6' 0", 177 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (offered) trails Michigan (offered). Despite recovering from knee surgery, RoJo is probably the top cornerback prospect in the nation. Although he is rumored to be a strong Michigan lean, Ronald plans on making official visits to Ohio State, Southern Cal, and possibly Notre Dame; in addition, his younger brother has already committed to Michigan State, so Sparty may also be a player here. Academics could be an issue. Update 12/12 - It still appears that Michigan is the school to beat; Ohio State is now a long shot, at best. Update 01/15 - RoJo made an official visit to Ohio State last weekend, but he still seems to be a Michigan lean. With Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez leaving early for the NFL, the Buckeyes are now recruiting Johnson as a wide receiver.
Dionte Allen, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 0", 175 lbs, 4.4 forty); Florida State soft verbal. Dionte is a national top 10 cornerback prospect, and a top 5 player in the state of Michigan. Although Allen was originally thought to be a strong Michigan lean, he committed to Florida State (his childhood favorite) several weeks ago, but now appears to be looking around once again. With his teammate and friend Taurian Washington already committed to Ohio State, some speculate that Dionte may be checking out the Buckeyes as well. Update 12/12 - Still committed to FSU, still considering OSU. Dionte's official visit to Columbus went very well, and he has friends on the team, but the Seminoles were his childhood fave. Wait and see, but the Buckeyes still have a decent shot. Update 01/15 - Nothing new to report.
Major Wright, Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (6' 1", 200 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 3 (Florida, Southern Cal, both offered); Miami, Georgia, Notre Dame (all offered) in the mix. Wright is a "lights out" hitter who is one of the top safety prospects in the country. However, Ohio State has already received commitments from two talented safeties (Eugene Clifford and Nate Oliver), so Wright would be a luxury at this point. Major plans to make an official visit Ohio State (no date set, possibly for the Michigan game). Update 12/12 - Major did visit Ohio State for The Game, and left Columbus with the Buckeyes as his clear leader, with USC, Miami, and Florida still in the running. Grades may be an issue. Update 12/26 - Ohio State still appears to be the leader here. Update 01/15 - Even though Major visited Florida last weekend, the Buckeyes still lead; Wright will also make official visits to Notre Dame (1/19) and Miami (1/26).
Deonte Thompson, Belle Glades (Florida) Central (6' 0", 180 lbs, 4.28 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 5 (Miami, Florida, Southern Cal, LSU, all offered). Having posted a 10.38 time in the 100 meter dash, Thompson may be the fastest prospect in the class of 2007. Deonte is star wide receiver for Belle Glades Central - the same school that produced Buckeyes Santonio Holmes and Albert Dukes - but he is a bit more raw than his two predecessors. While Miami and Florida are reputed to be the leaders, Thompson had an excellent visit to Columbus for The Game, and the Holmes-Dukes connection may help Ohio State's cause. Update 01/15 - Deonte still mentions Ohio State, but Miami, Florida, and Southern Cal appear to be the front runners.
Darren Evans, Indianapolis Warren Central (6' 0", 205 lbs, 4.6 forty); Virginia Tech verbal. During the summer, Evans had Ohio State at the top of his list. However, when the Buckeye staff did not issue an early offer, Darren went with the sure thing and committed to Virginia Tech. Now that the Buckeyes are apparently losing out on their top two running back prospects (John Clay and Robert Hughes), Evans may be back in the mix. As a senior, Darren rushed for over 2,800 yards and scored a state record 61 touchdowns, which pushed his three-year totals to 7,200 yards and 127 TD's. Stats like those can open some eyes, which may help to explain OSU's burgeoning interest. Update 01/15 - Nothing new here - Evans appears to be solid to Virginia Tech, and has no present interest in OSU.
Big Speed
Ben Martin, Cincinnati Lasalle (6' 5", 220 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads (Notre Dame, Florida, both offered). Regardless of whether he is playing defensive end or linebacker, Martin is a true impact player. Currently, the Buckeyes lead for Ben's services, but Florida and Notre Dame might still get a look. Expect Martin to end up in scarlet and grey. Update 12/12 - It still looks like Ben will be a Buckeye, but Florida is not quite out of the running just yet. Update 12/26 - Most observers are still saying that Martin will end up in Columbus. Update 01/15 - In a move which surprised just about everyone, Martin committed to Tennessee over Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Florida.
Robert Hughes, Chicago Hubbard (5' 11", 227 lbs, 4.7 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 3 (Notre Dame, Michigan, both offered). Hughes is a top running back prospect who is friendly with fellow Chicagoland recruit Martez Wilson. Conventional wisdom has both Hughes and Wilson signing with Notre Dame, but the pair are scheduled to make official visits to Ohio State on December 8th. Update 12/12 - All indications point to Hughes committing to Illinois.
Rob Gronkowski, Pittsburgh Woodland Hills (6' 6", 232 lbs, 4.8 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix. After a last minute transfer (possibly resulting from a suspension from his former school), Rob's recruiting situation is somewhat up in the air. Since the transfer, the Buckeyes have seemed to lose interest in Gronkowski, but Syracuse (visit 9/30), Clemson, Arizona, and Maryland (his two brothers are Terps) are still actively pursuing this four-star tight end prospect. Update 12/12 - Ohio State and Clemson lead; Rob will make an official visit to Ohio State this week, and if all goes well he could be a Buckeye soon thereafter. Update 12/26 - Rob had a very good visit to Ohio State, and it appears that the Buckeyes now lead. Update 01/15 - In another shocker, Big Bad Gronk picked selected Arizona over Ohio State and Clemson, who were thought to be the front runners.
Jermale Hines, Cleveland Glenville (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.5 forty, 36" vertical); Ohio State leads. If Ohio State offers, then it is quite certain that Hines will be yet another Glenville product who will follow the pipeline to Columbus. However, Jermale's chances for an offer depend in large part upon his improving his academic situation; in addition, he could show a bit more consistency on the field. Maybe Hines will be a late offeree like fellow Tarblooders Troy Smith and Curtis Terry. Update 12/12 - Hines is still in a holding pattern, waiting for the Buckeyes to offer. Again, grades are an issue, but some question whether Hines is really an OSU-caliber recruit. Update 12/26 - Hines now claims an official offer from Ohio State; he is scheduled to make an official visit to Columbus in January, and could commit soon thereafter. Update 01/15 - Jermale made an official visit to Columbus last weekend, but did not commit to Ohio State. However, Hines will not take any more visits, and the Buckeyes appear to be the clear leader for his serrvices. Academics may still be an issue.
Broderick Green, Little Rock Pulaski Academy (6' 1", 230 lbs, 4.57 forty); Southern Cal soft verbal. Broderick is a classic "big back" who had 2,200 yards of total offense as a junior, and more than 2,000 as a senior. Green issued a verbal to Southern Cal back in April, but since then, he has reconsidered his early commitment, and is now looking at Ohio State, Penn State, and a few other schools. The Trojans may hold on here, but the Buckeyes have momentum on their side. With John Clay and Robert Hughes likely headed elsewhere, Green is Ohio State's number one target at running back. Broderick is scheduled to visit Ohio State on January 12th. Update 12/26 - Broderick made an official visit to Southern Cal and re-affirmed his commitment to the Trojans. However, he still wants to visit Ohio State in January.... Update 01/15 - Green will make official visits to Penn State (1/19) and Ohio State (1/26) before making a final decision.
Power
Anthony Davis, Piscataway, New Jersey (6' 6", 330 lbs); Ohio State (offered) tied with Southern Cal (offered); both lead Florida, Florida State, and Rutgers (all offered). With former leader Miami now out of the picture, Davis is looking most seriously at Southern Cal and Ohio State. Anthony is from the same high school as current Buckeye star Malcolm Jenkins, and that relationship may be enough to put the Buckeyes over the top. However, grades are a concern. Update 12/12 - Davis has narrowed the field to Ohio State and Rutgers. The Scarlet and Grey appear to be the leaders, but the Scarlet Knights have a lot to offer after posting a 10-win season and keeping head coach Greg Schiano on board despite openings at higher profile programs like Miami. Update 12/26 - Believe it or not, Rutgers is still in this race, and the Knights may be pulling into the lead. Still too close to call.... Update 01/15 - As we suggested in our last update, Anthony was becoming increasingly interested in Rutgers, and he committed to the Scarlet Knights during the Army All American game.
Devon Still, Wilmington (Delaware) Howard (6' 6", 251 lbs, 4.9 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads Penn State, Miami (both offered). Devon made an official visit to Ohio State for the Penn State game and came away very impressed, so impressed in fact that he immediately declared the Buckeyes to be his clear leader. Although Still has official visits set for Miami and Penn State, right now it appears that he will end up at Ohio State. Update 12/12 - Not so fast, my friend.... After his official visit to Penn State, the Nits suddenly pulled into the lead. This race is too close to call, but Happy Valley is much closer to home. Update 12/26 - Most people are now saying that Penn State has a solid lead. Update 01/15 - The Buckeyes are pulling closer, but Penn State still leads. Nittany Lions' head coach Joe Paterno will make an in-home visit this week, as will Buckeye assistant Darrell Hazell; Devon hopes to decide by January 19th.
Joseph Barksdale, Detroit Cass Tech (6' 4", 315 lbs, 4.9 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Notre Dame, LSU, USC, Tennessee, all offered). Back in January, Ohio State was Barksdale's leader. Then, it was Michigan. Next up, Notre Dame. A summertime trip to Austin nearly sealed the deal for Texas. A recent official visit to South Bend put the Domers back on top. The next stop on the Barksdale tour is LSU, then USC, maybe Tennessee or Miami, and finally on to OSU. If the "last visit = best visit" pattern continues, then the Buckeyes appear to be in good shape. Update 12/12 - Barksdale's finalists are LSU, MSU, and OSU ... at least this week. Quite frankly, we have no idea where Joseph will end up, as he has already "committed" to about a half-dozen schools. One thing in the Buckeyes' favor - while others have come and gone over the past year, Barksdale has consistently had Ohio State near the top of his list. Update 12/26 - OSU or LSU, that is the question. Could go either way (or some other way, who knows?) Update 01/15 - In a highly dramatic move worthy of a five-star talent, Joseph committed to "The University of LSU" on national television.
Cameron Heyward, Suwanee (Georgia) Peachtree Ridge (6' 5", 264 lbs, 5.17 forty, 4.88 shuttle); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, LSU, all offered). Cameron, a defensive line prospect, is the son of former Pitt and NFL running back Craig "Iron Head" Heyward. Although he wants to make an official visit to Ohio State, Heyward will probably stay down south, with Georgia being his likely destination. Update 12/12 - Heyward is very interested in Ohio State, but Georgia will be tough to beat. Update 12/26 - As the Buckeyes keep coming from ahead to lose DL prospects, Heyward may end up being Ohio State's guy. Then again, like most southern prospects, he might stay down south. Update 01/15 - Cameron visited LSU this past weekend, and is still scheduled to visit Florida (1/19), Georgia (1/26), and Ohio State (2/2). Ohio State has a decent shot, if Heyward doesn't commit somewhere else before his trip to Columbus....
Antonio Jeremiah, Hilliard Darby (6' 7", 295, 5.05 forty, 4.88 shuttle); OSU (not offered) leads. Jeremiah is high on the Buckeyes, and the Buckeyes are high on Jeremiah, but academics are a major concern. If Antonio can get his grades in order, then look for Ohio State to offer, and for that offer to be accepted quickly. If not, then Jeremiah has roughly twenty offers from which to select. Expect a late decision. Update 12/12 - Jeremiah got tired of waiting on the Buckeyes and committed to Michigan State. Update 01/15 - Some people still believe that Jeremiah could end at Ohio State if he can get his academics in order, but we think that he's solid to Michigan State.
Currently, Ohio State has thirteen commitments for the class of 2007: Evan Blankenship, Monaca (Pennsylvania) Center Area (6' 3", 310 lbs); Eugene Clifford, Cincinnati Colerain (6' 0", 190 lbs, 4.49 forty); Donnie Evege, Huber Heights Wayne (5' 11", 185 lbs, 4.4 forty); Danny "Boom" Herron, Warren Harding (5' 10", 190 lbs, 4.52 forty); Nate Oliver, Lakewood St. Edward's (6' 0", 201 lbs, 4.55 forty); Brandon Saine, Piqua, Ohio (6' 1", 190 lbs, 4.34 forty); Dane Sanzenbacher, Toledo Central Catholic (5' 11", 174 lbs, 4.6 forty); Devon Torrence, Canton South (6' 0", 200 lbs, 4.4 forty); Taurian Washington, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 0", 200 lbs, 4.6 forty); Rocco Pentello, Westerville South (6' 0", 190 lbs, 4.45 forty); Brian Rolle, Immokalee, Florida (5' 10", 202 lbs, 4.47 forty); James Scott (Daytona Beach Seabreeze); and Solomon Thomas (West Chester Lakota).
After a bad start to 2007, only a few prospects remain in the mix, namely linebacker Jermale Hines from Cleveland Glenville; defensive back Major Wright from Florida; defensive back Dionte Allen from Michigan; defensive lineman Cameron Heyward from Georgia; and defensive lineman Devon Still from Delaware. A few other prospects such as Arkansas running back Broderick Green, Michigan cornerback Ronald Johnson, and Florida wide receiver Deonte Thompson remain longshots.
Speed
Ronald Johnson, Muskegon, Michigan (6' 0", 177 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (offered) trails Michigan (offered). Despite recovering from knee surgery, RoJo is probably the top cornerback prospect in the nation. Although he is rumored to be a strong Michigan lean, Ronald plans on making official visits to Ohio State, Southern Cal, and possibly Notre Dame; in addition, his younger brother has already committed to Michigan State, so Sparty may also be a player here. Academics could be an issue. Update 12/12 - It still appears that Michigan is the school to beat; Ohio State is now a long shot, at best. Update 01/15 - RoJo made an official visit to Ohio State last weekend, but he still seems to be a Michigan lean. With Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez leaving early for the NFL, the Buckeyes are now recruiting Johnson as a wide receiver.
Dionte Allen, Orchard Lake (Michigan) St. Mary's (6' 0", 175 lbs, 4.4 forty); Florida State soft verbal. Dionte is a national top 10 cornerback prospect, and a top 5 player in the state of Michigan. Although Allen was originally thought to be a strong Michigan lean, he committed to Florida State (his childhood favorite) several weeks ago, but now appears to be looking around once again. With his teammate and friend Taurian Washington already committed to Ohio State, some speculate that Dionte may be checking out the Buckeyes as well. Update 12/12 - Still committed to FSU, still considering OSU. Dionte's official visit to Columbus went very well, and he has friends on the team, but the Seminoles were his childhood fave. Wait and see, but the Buckeyes still have a decent shot. Update 01/15 - Nothing new to report.
Major Wright, Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (6' 1", 200 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 3 (Florida, Southern Cal, both offered); Miami, Georgia, Notre Dame (all offered) in the mix. Wright is a "lights out" hitter who is one of the top safety prospects in the country. However, Ohio State has already received commitments from two talented safeties (Eugene Clifford and Nate Oliver), so Wright would be a luxury at this point. Major plans to make an official visit Ohio State (no date set, possibly for the Michigan game). Update 12/12 - Major did visit Ohio State for The Game, and left Columbus with the Buckeyes as his clear leader, with USC, Miami, and Florida still in the running. Grades may be an issue. Update 12/26 - Ohio State still appears to be the leader here. Update 01/15 - Even though Major visited Florida last weekend, the Buckeyes still lead; Wright will also make official visits to Notre Dame (1/19) and Miami (1/26).
Deonte Thompson, Belle Glades (Florida) Central (6' 0", 180 lbs, 4.28 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 5 (Miami, Florida, Southern Cal, LSU, all offered). Having posted a 10.38 time in the 100 meter dash, Thompson may be the fastest prospect in the class of 2007. Deonte is star wide receiver for Belle Glades Central - the same school that produced Buckeyes Santonio Holmes and Albert Dukes - but he is a bit more raw than his two predecessors. While Miami and Florida are reputed to be the leaders, Thompson had an excellent visit to Columbus for The Game, and the Holmes-Dukes connection may help Ohio State's cause. Update 01/15 - Deonte still mentions Ohio State, but Miami, Florida, and Southern Cal appear to be the front runners.
Big Speed
Robert Hughes, Chicago Hubbard (5' 11", 227 lbs, 4.7 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 3 (Notre Dame, Michigan, both offered). Hughes is a top running back prospect who is friendly with fellow Chicagoland recruit Martez Wilson. Conventional wisdom has both Hughes and Wilson signing with Notre Dame, but the pair are scheduled to make official visits to Ohio State on December 8th. Update 12/12 - All indications point to Hughes committing to Illinois.
Jermale Hines, Cleveland Glenville (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.5 forty, 36" vertical); Ohio State leads. If Ohio State offers, then it is quite certain that Hines will be yet another Glenville product who will follow the pipeline to Columbus. However, Jermale's chances for an offer depend in large part upon his improving his academic situation; in addition, he could show a bit more consistency on the field. Maybe Hines will be a late offeree like fellow Tarblooders Troy Smith and Curtis Terry. Update 12/12 - Hines is still in a holding pattern, waiting for the Buckeyes to offer. Again, grades are an issue, but some question whether Hines is really an OSU-caliber recruit. Update 12/26 - Hines now claims an official offer from Ohio State; he is scheduled to make an official visit to Columbus in January, and could commit soon thereafter. Update 01/15 - Jermale made an official visit to Columbus last weekend, but did not commit to Ohio State. However, Hines will not take any more visits, and the Buckeyes appear to be the clear leader for his serrvices. Academics may still be an issue.
Broderick Green, Little Rock Pulaski Academy (6' 1", 230 lbs, 4.57 forty); Southern Cal soft verbal. Broderick is a classic "big back" who had 2,200 yards of total offense as a junior, and more than 2,000 as a senior. Green issued a verbal to Southern Cal back in April, but since then, he has reconsidered his early commitment, and is now looking at Ohio State, Penn State, and a few other schools. The Trojans may hold on here, but the Buckeyes have momentum on their side. With John Clay and Robert Hughes likely headed elsewhere, Green is Ohio State's number one target at running back. Broderick is scheduled to visit Ohio State on January 12th. Update 12/26 - Broderick made an official visit to Southern Cal and re-affirmed his commitment to the Trojans. However, he still wants to visit Ohio State in January.... Update 01/15 - Green will make official visits to Penn State (1/19) and Ohio State (1/26) before making a final decision.
Power
Devon Still, Wilmington (Delaware) Howard (6' 6", 251 lbs, 4.9 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads Penn State, Miami (both offered). Devon made an official visit to Ohio State for the Penn State game and came away very impressed, so impressed in fact that he immediately declared the Buckeyes to be his clear leader. Although Still has official visits set for Miami and Penn State, right now it appears that he will end up at Ohio State. Update 12/12 - Not so fast, my friend.... After his official visit to Penn State, the Nits suddenly pulled into the lead. This race is too close to call, but Happy Valley is much closer to home. Update 12/26 - Most people are now saying that Penn State has a solid lead. Update 01/15 - The Buckeyes are pulling closer, but Penn State still leads. Nittany Lions' head coach Joe Paterno will make an in-home visit this week, as will Buckeye assistant Darrell Hazell; Devon hopes to decide by January 19th.
Cameron Heyward, Suwanee (Georgia) Peachtree Ridge (6' 5", 264 lbs, 5.17 forty, 4.88 shuttle); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, LSU, all offered). Cameron, a defensive line prospect, is the son of former Pitt and NFL running back Craig "Iron Head" Heyward. Although he wants to make an official visit to Ohio State, Heyward will probably stay down south, with Georgia being his likely destination. Update 12/12 - Heyward is very interested in Ohio State, but Georgia will be tough to beat. Update 12/26 - As the Buckeyes keep coming from ahead to lose DL prospects, Heyward may end up being Ohio State's guy. Then again, like most southern prospects, he might stay down south. Update 01/15 - Cameron visited LSU this past weekend, and is still scheduled to visit Florida (1/19), Georgia (1/26), and Ohio State (2/2). Ohio State has a decent shot, if Heyward doesn't commit somewhere else before his trip to Columbus....