Recruiting Update

The recruiting board just got shook up with a couple of out of state verbals. Will Hagerup surprised everyone by verballing Michigan. Fre'Shad Hunter pledged North Carolina State. Hagerup was looking like a Buckeye and there was a need to add kickers in this class. I have mixed feelings about it. There are the Mike Nugents and the Ben Buchanans who are so special you are going to have to offer them to get them but I like getting kickers out of the walk-on program. This staff has done a good job with that. I don't have numbers but I would not be surprised if a third of the kickers and punters JT has had here were walk-ons. I am content to take the chance that the staff will find someone.

Hunter is another matter. He was a special player at a high need position. That he verballed North Carolina State considering his offer list tells the tale. He was not going to make it academically.

Speaking of academics, the last thing we heard from Latwan Anderson was he favored West Virginia. He has offers from Georgia and Miami, and supposedly from Ohio State, but he favors West Virginia? I don't know if he has an offer. If I was to talk to Latwan I would not ask him if he has a Buckeye offer. I would ask him if I could see a transcript and a copy of his test score. Being drowned out in the yes, he does have an offer/No, he doesn't have an offer argument is something I believe to be the truth. His offer is conditional. Get your grades and the offer is there. I am finding no consensus even with that. Some say he will make it. Others say he won't and that is why the offer was made. The Buckeye staff knows he won't make it so they made the offer to keep the pipeline running smoothly but not have to take a player that they don't see as a good fit.

A couple of players fans need to be aware of because the Buckeyes stay in contact. You know about Skyler Shofner. He has not verballed despite the impressive offer list. Chaz Green is off the board and the feedback on Linder is all over the place. My own contacts went from positive to optimistic to "let me get back to you" in a matter of about two weeks. I have always liked Shofner and hope we get in there and make the offer now. Wait on Henderson and hope things turn around with Matt James. Get two kids in here. I think we should take three but we have to get two.

The other name has been bouncing around out there for awhile but it looks like things have gotten a little warmer recently. Marion-Franklin quarterback Verlon Reed continues to hear from the Buckeyes. Mark Porter and I have talked about him for some time. Here is his video from Scouting Ohio: http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=1656&name=Verlon.Reed

Very quick release and a nice athlete. What I keep hearing that bothers me is the "athlete" talk. I don't see a player with the speed to play safety. I don't like out history with moving high school quarterbacks to safety. To my knowledge Reed does not play any defense. Johnson, Pentello and Damicone played quarterback on offense but they at least played defense in high school. Reed is very raw. The video you see might contain most of the passes he threw all of last year because of a run oriented offense. Upgrading the talent at quarterback is something I am always in favor of. First you have to have bodies. Keep in mind projecting quarterbacks is about as difficult as projecting offensive linemen. Giving this raw prospect an offer late in the process when it looks like we are not getting someone would be a shrewd offer in my mind.

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Comments (9) Add Comment

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written by RipsManifesto, September 28, 2009

The fact we are supposedly in on so many people already, yet suddenly we're seeing new names pop (or old returning), makes me worry that perhaps the staff isn't feeling as good about these prospects. This time last week we were wondering how to fit all these great players into this small class, and now we've got more names popping? Something is fishy.

Recruiting
written by dbuckeye44, September 28, 2009

I too was surprised and disappointed to learn of Hagerup's decision to attend tsun. Certainly their depth chart at the position is more favorable for him. About six weeks ago I read a bit about an Ohio punter that appears real good that we were staying in touch with. Forget his name but we may still get us a punter in this class. In regards to Reed if he is being considered a raw prospect as a QB I would think we would be better off with Faine. I think a late offer to Schofer would be okay but I think the staff feels good about Henderson and does not have a grasp exactly on where things stand with James. This is causing a hold on offering Schofner. Just hope we get Henderson and things soon become clear where we stand with James as it would be quite adviseable that we take 3 OLmen this year.

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written by Ron Krumm, September 28, 2009

Duane,
I have been saying for months, the faact that Hunter didn't have an offer from UNC spoke volumes about this kid. All the negative talk about Anderson's character also was sa big red flag. I said in a post a couple weeks aago, that you will be able to tell a lot about the school that takes this kid. Enough said. There are just some schools that will take anyone, despite their character flaws. Think Miami and FSU in the 80's and 90's. Now it's WVU, NC State,

-2

Response to dbuck44
written by mab, September 28, 2009

dbuck44,
I believe you are talking about John Lloyd from Cincinnati. He is the best punter in Ohio that I know of. I think he is averaging over 42 yards a punt...and that is as a HS kid. A lot of college punters would like that average. If OSU gives out a scholly to a punter, I hope it is this kid. I would rather like to see if we could develop a walk-on though.

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written by BOBBY HAINES, September 28, 2009

I think you need to slow way down on Shofner and Reed.
We dont need any more QBs.
We have plenty in the pipeline.
TP/Baus/Guiton/Graham, and probably Braxton/and or Stoudt.
Why would we offer Shofner after not offering four or five better ones than him?
We are redshirting four in front of him.

Now I am asking about you opinions on Baldwin's position.
Where are you projecting him to play now?
Are you still saying no on the SSDE?
Where is he playing?

Why are you getting nervous about numbers 5 months away?

-1

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written by Duane Long, September 28, 2009

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written by BOBBY HAINES, September 28, 2009
I think you need to slow way down on Shofner and Reed.
We dont need any more QBs.
We have plenty in the pipeline.
TP/Baus/Guiton/Graham, and probably Braxton/and or Stoudt.
Why would we offer Shofner after not offering four or five better ones than him?
We are redshirting four in front of him.

Now I am asking about you opinions on Baldwin's position.
Where are you projecting him to play now?
Are you still saying no on the SSDE?
Where is he playing?

Why are you getting nervous about numbers 5 months away?

I don't need to slow down on Shofner and Reed. You need to catch up. They have recent contact with the staff.

Name me 5 linemen better than Schofner who want to come here.

As far as quarterbacks are concerned you are counting players in the pipeline who are not even committed.

Baldwin does not have the mindset of a defensive player. He is not going to be an impact player on defense. He will be a tight end here. I DO NOT CARE where anyone else is projecting him. He is a great kid that will take coaching and always try to execute his assignment. We don't need a great pass catching tight end. We don't use them. Ask Jake Stoneburner. We need hard working kids that are good blockers and selfless players. Team first kids. That fits Baldwin to a T.
I am nervous about numbers??? When did I say that. I did not re-read this but I am pretty sure I did not even type the word "numbers" let alone say I am concerned about them.

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written by BOBBY HAINES, September 28, 2009

Duane, I can name quite a few others that the services have ranked higher. I have no personal experience as I dont know who is better or not. I thought all of these guys want to come here, but never really got a look. Donnal, Dennis, Rotheram, and others.
As far as TEs, Alex Smith looks the part, blocking wise and a good catching TE.

I asked Bill about Baldwin playing Offense, and he tells me the Staff hasn't even talked to him about playing Offense.

As much as I would love to see it, I would love for them to offer my Godson, Colton Caldwell a scholarship at TE here, as he maybe breaking Stoneburner TD reception record over at Coffman in his first year as a TE, and Stoneburner got that as a WR. Crabtree and Stoudt have big plans for him over there.

I never understood why we have the need for so many double TE sets. Why would we not be more effective with extra Tackles on the field. If they are just there to block, then why fool around with TE, bring in the bulk and bring tackles. These boys are young and agile. They are as fast as TE nowadays.

Have one center, two guards, the qb, the rb, SIX TACKLES on short yardage offense.

Besides dont we have Fragel there now and not even using him for that? We are using a NT now in Denlinger We are wasting Fragel's redshirt to setup extra points?

As far as the QBs go, I certainly would not go any where near the Reed issue, as I dont see him seeing the light of day here. What have we done with Pentello, Domicone and the other dozen QBs in the past here?

TP is a soph who is still developing.
I see him playing four years. His backup Joe hopefully stays the four with him.
Hopefully Guiton, who is one hell of an Athlete stays for five.
Graham a pro set has a great future of five that hasn't started yet.
That is before we start talking about a pipeline.
If Braxton doesn't come, I am sure Cole or Cordale would love to.
I think TP opened up a invitation only recruiting for us in the future here.

The comment I made about numbers is that up into five years ago, by October 1st, we were lucky to have 4 or 5 commits. Nowadays that all we have left. If not we could bank them. But I am sure that will never happen anyways as there is not enough to go around in the first place.

We have always had a priority in the Safety area and need to fill that first.
The LAST THING we need is a second QB in this class.
I believe Henderson IS ours, and I would pass on everyone else if James and Linder dont come here.
I think that IS exactly why they RS the FOUR they did.
They can continue to talk to Shofner and many others. I still dont believe they offer him a full ride.

We are so spoiled, that we are getting nervous. We shouldn't be as we all forget the SENIOR YEAR really is the TELL as to when the real talent comes out as in the case of my GODSON Colton Caldwell.
Someone is going to get a steal with him.
I have a feeling it is going to be MSU, Iowa, or Cincinnati.

-1

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written by Duane Long, September 29, 2009

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written by BOBBY HAINES, September 28, 2009
Duane, I can name quite a few others that the services have ranked higher. I have no personal experience as I dont know who is better or not. I thought all of these guys want to come here, but never really got a look. Donnal, Dennis, Rotheram, and others.
As far as TEs, Alex Smith looks the part, blocking wise and a good catching TE.

I asked Bill about Baldwin playing Offense, and he tells me the Staff hasn't even talked to him about playing Offense.

As far as the QBs go, I certainly would not go any where near the Reed issue, as I dont see him seeing the light of day here. What have we done with Pentello, Domicone and the other dozen QBs in the past here?

TP is a soph who is still developing.
I see him playing four years. His backup Joe hopefully stays the four with him.
Hopefully Guiton, who is one hell of an Athlete stays for five.
Graham a pro set has a great future of five that hasn't started yet.
That is before we start talking about a pipeline.
If Braxton doesn't come, I am sure Cole or Cordale would love to.
I think TP opened up a invitation only recruiting for us in the future here.

The comment I made about numbers is that up into five years ago, by October 1st, we were lucky to have 4 or 5 commits. Nowadays that all we have left. If not we could bank them. But I am sure that will never happen anyways as there is not enough to go around in the first place.

We have always had a priority in the Safety area and need to fill that first.
The LAST THING we need is a second QB in this class.
I believe Henderson IS ours, and I would pass on everyone else if James and Linder dont come here.
I think that IS exactly why they RS the FOUR they did.
They can continue to talk to Shofner and many others. I still dont believe they offer him a full ride.

I can name 10 players that I would rank higher than Schofner. They don't have the Buckeyes on their lists. The players you mention are committed and the Buckeyes are not in touch. I am sure they are not in touch with Donnal. If they were I would know. They are in touch with Schofner. Bill Kurelic recently had an update from him.

The Buckeyes have declined to offer Alex Smith.

Alot of players come to college and do not play the position they are projected at. I DO NOT CARE where someone else has him ranked at. Not Baldwin or any player for that matter. Most of these players are pretty easy to put in a spot if you know what you are doing so most who do this end up with 80% or more of the players in the same spots. I doubt any of the services have seen a full game of Baldwin because I haven't and I am right here. I have talked to four people who have seen him play. One is in this business. Nobody who has seen Baldwin play a full game projects him as a defensive player. He is not a high motor kid. He does not come off the ball every play and play to the whistle. He does not get after it like a defensive player needs to. Several Solon alum have contacted me privately and said I am dead-on with this assessment. A friend who is a Solon grad went to a game this year and said he was really surprised at how ineffective Baldwin was for long stretches of the game.

We are in a situation right now where we are looking at a walk-on in the two-deep on the offensive line with just one injury but you are content taking two in this class? The small classes has everything to do with the ineffective offensive line play in the Tressel era.

You can not want Reed all you want. You have a list of players that you want the Buckeyes to look at. The fact is, Reed is the one they are talking to. You can never have enough quarterbacks. One plays at a time. You see more quarterbacks transfer than any other position for that reason. We looked stocked a couple of years ago then Henton and Schoenhoft left. We ended up taking Guiton at the last minute to give us something to fall back on. I am not saying offer him now. As a player who would say yes on the spot after we miss on a few players in late January? I would not have a problem with that offer. If I thought at that time that I had a chance at Miller and Stoudt I would save it but if I was not sure of that scenario playing out I would do it.

Keep in mind that the staff is not keeping in touch with a lot of seniors right now. The ones that they are keeping in contact with are players fans need to remember because if things go south on us with some of our target recruits we could see offers to these players. In particular with Schofner. He is holding off on offers from Michigan, Boston College, Wisconsin, Maryland and North Carolina, amongst others. He has to be liking what he is hearing from the staff.

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written by OSUProf, September 29, 2009

I have to admit that the talk turns to recruiting and high school prospects are said to not have "the academics", I recall a few years ago and whenever that was mentioned, we saw 1000 posts castigating the OSU President. You may recall that her first name was Karen, apparently not masculine for some posters. Now that St. Gordon of Gee Whiz is the Prez, we hear nary a word of complaint.

Tell me Duane, how much has Gee loosened up academic standards? Or is it just a matter of sexism.

Note that I'm not talking about you Duane, just all those guys who screamed "Holbrook must go!!!!" whenever a potential recruit didn't make it academically. Now the silence is deafening. :-)

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