| 12 October 2010
I was looking over the Bucknuts message board today. We still have some people insisting that we need to recruit two linebackers minimum in this class. I understand how that got started. I was in agreement for some time on the issue. That we need at least two linebackers is just not paying attention to what is going on on the field.
I just went over this. We are not playing three linebackers enough to warrant bringing in more linebackers. We have six returning players, Sabino, Sweat, Klein, Newsome, Bell and Whiting. That amounts to a three deep. Only one will be a senior next year. Even when we are in a 4-3 that is enough players when you consider how little we are in a 4-3 these days. How much have you seen Sweat on the field through six games? Has it been 25% of the plays? I have not bothered to count but I would not be surprised at all to find it less than
25%. Who has been on the field? The Star. That is the position we need to recruit. We are talking about a position that we have on the field the majority of the time. We cannot justify taking another linebacker but not recruiting a position that is on the field more. Yes, I would take an elite kid like Clint Turene or Anthony Wallace but those are the kinds of players you don't say no to.
We have Tyler Moeller. He is all but certain to get another year. We have Christian Bryant. He is looking like a potential star. After that we have uncertainty. We have Scott McVey with a very suspect shoulder. Then we have Nate Oliver with his even more suspect speed. He will be a senior next year anyway. We are not recruiting the position this year. I think we need to.
Chad Hagan is a player who could be either a linebacker or a Star but I think linebacker. That is not good enough. We need a player recruited for the position like with McVey.
A couple of players I have been very high on all year could not fit the Star position better. Trotwood Madison linebacker Nicholas Grigsby is the real deal. A little bigger and we would be lamenting the fact that his grades are a question mark. He is fast, instinctive and a hitter. He is also the brother of junior superstar Bam Bradley. What better way to make sure Bradley is coming this way than to bring in his brother. Again, I don't know about his grades.
I wonder about Winton Woods linebacker Antonio Pooles grades too. His offer list has Cincinnati, Bowling Green and Indiana. His talent is above that offer list.
The most underrated is Steubenvilles Shaquil Pettaway. Great looking player.
Here is one I have not mentioned before. Johnny Lowdermilk. I am pretty sure he is the son of former Buckeye offensive lineman Kirk Lowdermilk. Look at this video of him from ScoutingOhio.com. Who does he remind you of?
http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=1153&name=jmilk9%40yahoo.com
I don't think we are going to see an impact from not taking a linebacker or two this year. We have serious talent at the position and we are just not playing three linebackers. If we do not take at least one Star, I think that is where we will regret it sooner rather than later.
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