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Recruiting Update - 12/8/2009
Written by Duane Long   
Tuesday, 08 December 2009 16:13

This has been as turbulent a recruiting season as I can remember. The board has changed so many time. The way it looks right now any Buckeye fan has to be looking forward to National Signing Day.

Who we have already qualifies as a top 15 class. I don't care where anybody else ranks us. I don't think several players are getting their proper respect like David Durham. I don't know how anyone can watch his film and not see a four-star player. How we finish this class should push us into the top ten for sure and I think there is an argument for top five should this class break like it very easily could.

The news is all good with Seantrell Henderson, Sharif Floyd and LaMarcus Joyner. Christian Bryant is for all intents and purposes a Buckeye. Latwan Anderson just needs a test score. I am saying the Buckeyes are the team to beat on all those national top 100 players. If adding five top 100 players does not dramatically impact the rankings then we need to change the system.

We could see an even more impressive class but nobody knows where Jordan Hicks and Matt James are. I don't know anyone who is sure of where James is. I think the Notre Dame situation makes it all the more complicated. James has UC in there because his dad is an alum and because of where Kelly has the program going. If he leaves that has to make it a more difficult choice, especially if no coach is in place when he is ready to make his decision. Hicks seems to be in a similar situation. The only difference is when you ask people about Hicks you get a different answer, Ohio State, Texas, Florida. They seem to be interchangable. If one or both choose the Buckeyes I put this class up against anyones.

There has been a new offer. Verlon Reed, the athlete from Marion-Franklin, has been offered. He will likely be a Buckeye. Where he plays is the only thing that remains to be decided. He is a fine athlete and has the prototype body for a safety but some will argue that all he needs is more time under center. I wonder if the decision to offer has anything to do with the injury history with Taylor Graham. Quarterback is the most difficult position in all of sports to master. He has missed the bulk of the last two years. I wonder if the staff is looking at Reed as insurance for Graham. At least until they are comfortable that he is coming along. I have concerns about him as a safety. This staff has a very suspect history of going off the board with safety recruits. I think with Bryant and Anderson, and it looks like Joyner, that there are enough safeties coming in. This offer is about a very raw quarterback recruit who fits the mold of the kind of quarterback Jim Tressel wants.


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Comments (8)Add Comment
Reed Offer
written by Pula, December 08, 2009
I'm fine with the Reed offer if it's at QB as insurance because I don't think we have enough QBs on the roster, but if it's at safety I see another wasted space. There's 4-5 dead weight safety offers on the roster right now. It is one thing to miss on a couple of prospects, but safety recruiting needs to change dramatically.
...
written by Hilltopbass, December 08, 2009
I agree the offer to Reed might be an insurance policy, however the kid has upside and could be a nice surprise down the road. I don't like the idea that if he isn't used at QB we move him to safety, we have missed on to many to start looking to fill in with athetes out of position. Let's get real live safety recruits not safety as an option.
Big game hunting
written by Tibor04, December 08, 2009
I am skeptical that Coach Tressel can sign any of them due to recent history. Historically, if the big catches are not in the fold by now, OSU does not land 'em. Keith Wells was the last December-January-February recruiting surprise that I can recall, but he was not as highly sought as these fellas. Heyward's late commitment was a shock to this recruitnik, but Heyward was not as nationally regarded as Sharrif, Henderson, Joyner, and Hicks, and was more of late offer, if I recall.

That being said, I will remain excited until the names go elsewhere. At this point, I predict Henderson will select USC or Notre Dame, Joyner will select FSU, Hicks will select Texas. I am optimistic that Sharrif will sign with OSU.

Lastly, I can't recall a Jim Tressel coached OSU team being in the hunt for this number of 5-star prospects this late in the year. Maybe you can correct me?
...
written by rwkosu72, December 08, 2009
I have to question your comments on Durham. If you live in Charlotte, and are any good at all, you either play for Butler or Independence. These 2 schools have probably produced more D-1 talent in the last 5 years than the rest of the city combined. I understand the family is religious, but he probably looked good playing against inferior competition. Check to see if he played the above 2 schools, or Arbrey Kell, Myers Park, East Mecklenburg, South Meck. If he didn't, his tape is useless for someone who wants to play for Ohio State
my rationale for my predictions
written by Tibor04, December 08, 2009
Following on my comment above:
Henderson to USC or Notre Dame because...the nationally sought Minnesota high school players seem to end up at Notre Dame (distance to Notre Dame is shorter than distance to OSU, perhaps). By the time signing day comes around, the new Notre Dame coach (assuming it is Kelly) should have converted his hiring into major signings, a la Lane Kiffin last year. USC because they've been the common factor throughout his visits, clearly.

Joyner to FSU because...See the reference to Lane Kiffin's success last year with national recruits. We've already seen the new FSU coach nab some impressive recruits in his first few days on the job.

Hicks to Texas because...they were first name out of his lips months ago. Have not seen evidence of any major shifts since. (But I could be wrong)
...
written by Duane Long, December 09, 2009
...
written by rwkosu72, December 08, 2009
I have to question your comments on Durham. If you live in Charlotte, and are any good at all, you either play for Butler or Independence. These 2 schools have probably produced more D-1 talent in the last 5 years than the rest of the city combined. I understand the family is religious, but he probably looked good playing against inferior competition. Check to see if he played the above 2 schools, or Arbrey Kell, Myers Park, East Mecklenburg, South Meck. If he didn't, his tape is useless for someone who wants to play for Ohio State



I have not seen him play one down in the state of North Carolina. I saw his film from when he was in Texas.
...
written by HoyaBuckeye, December 09, 2009
Duane,

Thanks for the update! I really like the film I saw of Verlon Reed in playoffs. He has a lot of ability and potential, only played quarterback for two years.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Verlon-Reed-highlights-1-57627

I was wondering if you could do a 'Redshirt Report' or something like that... I am really curious to know if Jaamal Berry will breakthrough the depth chart when healthy and have a Lamichael James type season, or Dorian Bell, Adam Bellamy, and some other the other redshirts have looked and what the impressions of the staff have been. Thanks!!!!
...
written by Eltoasto, December 09, 2009
Joyner to FSU. Why do i get the feeling this is all going to be very disappointing.

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