| 16 November 2010
Continuing the recruiting update, I look at the out of state players.
Outside of Doran Grant the really special players left on the Buckeyes want list are the out of state players. One stands out.
I bet you thought I was going to say Jadeveon Clowney. I am talking about Jabari Gorman. The need in the defensive backfield is so great that I don't know if you wait on the best defensive line prospect I have ever seen in Clowney if Gorman would lock up the final spot. He is that good and I think adding more defensive backs to this class is such that I would probably make that heart wrenching decision. We don't have anyone like Clowney. Then again nobody does. But we have special athletes coming in on the defensive line. We already have some here. I don't know who is going to play strong safety for us next year. The depth chart shows Zac Damicone and Chad Hagan. I have never believed in Damicone. I keep hearing that he is injured. Whatever the reason he is going into his fourth year and has made no impact. Hagan has been injured. I have heard that the heart condition he had is something that is career threatening. We will see how that plays out. Either way it leaves us with a huge question mark at strong safety. Maybe with a healthy Scott
McVey we will have a two-deep at the Star which will allow for Christian Bryant to move back to strong safety. Landing Gorman would go a long way toward alleviating my concerns. He is bigtime and we have a real shot to get him here. His family is fighting hard to keep him close to home. If we can find a way to overcome that hurdle we could land a big time player who could come in and help immediately.
Jadeveon Clowney is the best defensive lineman I have ever seen at the high school level. We do have a shot here. For as long as I can remember the consensus was he was not leaving the state. Then it was that he was not leaving the south. Now we see that one instate school, Clemson, does not even make his top five. The Buckeyes do. He is looking for a January visit. I love that we are getting him that late in the process. The closer to signing day the better. His highlight films show a most spectacular player but seeing him play an entire game early this year is when I was sure this is a unique player. He played like a man possessed the entire game. His motor is non-stop. That is something that is more often than not the bane of defensive linemen. If there ever has been a perfect recruit it is Clowney.
You know I am of the opinion that the need for linebackers in this class is overstated. It is even moreso now that Conner Crowell is a Buckeye. I want Anthony Wallace and Curtis Grant in this class because they are the kind of players you just don't say no to. The consensus is we are a strong number two for Grant but that still puts on the outside looking as Florida is his leader. You wait on this kind of athlete. I pointed out recently that Anthony Wallace is the one who called us. The talk is all about Oklahoma. I hear that. to those that are saying that, did you hear that he was the one who called us? I am not saying I think we lead. Wallace has played it to close to the vest that I think any speculation at this point about his future plans is just that. Lets see how this one plays out.
A name that we have not talked about alot is outstanding athlete Darius Jennings. Like with Curtis Grant, he has been so low key with his recruitment that we have not heard much about him. The Buckeyes have made his cutdown to a final 6. We recruited Stan White out of his his school, Baltimore Gilman, so it is not like he is completely unfamiliar with us and this is such a reach for the Buckeyes. He is a much underrated two-way player who could help us out at corner or wide receiver.
A name that may ring a bell is Cornelius "Tank" Carradine. He was a great looking defensive end prospect out of Cincinnati Taft a couple of years ago. He did not get an offer but that is looking like a matter of academics. He is back from the JUCO route and is ranked the number one JUCO defensive lineman. He now has an offer from the Buckeyes and signing day for JUCO players is December 15th. He is looking to take his last visit right before that date and it is looking like it could be to Ohio State. He will have 2 years of eligibility left. Alabama, USC, Florida State and Tennessee have also offered scholarships.
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