| 16 August 2011
The Buckeyes have added a few more players in recent months. Fans regularly ask, who is next?
I think we are alot more clear now about the number for the class. It is looking like the class will be about 20 strong. I highly doubt it is any bigger. Jim Tressel tried to keep the classes a nice balanced 20. I think that is a sound strategy. It fills the needs but keeps the option open for a great player or a need player later in the process. With 13 committed for next year, don't forget Cardale Jones, I will look forward at who I think are good shots to fill those 7 slots.
First, I want to address the class so far, and Luke Fickells job. This is going to be a very good class. It should not be. Luke Fickell is operating with an interim contract. Don't tell me the interim label is off. That is ridiculous. Any coach operating with a 2 year contract, especially a new coach, is an interim coach. Another thing about a first year coach. Nobody knows what
kind of coach he is. They don't know how good he is. We don't know what kind of scheme coach Fickell is going to run. We can make an educated guess but we really don't know. That coach Fickell has done this well under trying circumstances is impressive to me.
As far as the class is concerned, there are some players I am very happy about who are not national names so the class will take some shots from the national guys. Tyvis Powell, Najee Murray, Frank Epitropulous and Luke Roberts are going to surprise everyone. They are going to be fine football players here.
Now to the filling of those last 7 spots.
Jordan Diamond, OT, Illinois
Nick Davidson, OT, Minnesota
I am sure the biggest surprise here is that I do not include Alex Kozan. This program does not really need guards. I have been screaming to offer what appears to be a high end lineman by arguing that it is still an upgrade over what the Buckeyes currently have. When push comes to shove I have to fall back on my belief in recruiting tackles. We can make a guard out of tackle. We have seen all the evidence we need to see that guards can't play tackle. Diamond is in no hurry to make a decision and Michigan, his rumored favorite, is almost full. By the time he is ready to make a decision we will know what the sanctions will be and who the coach will be. We will also see where the two programs are. It is fun being a Michigan fan right now. Not so much when we hit the field here in a couple of weeks. Diamond has talked about wanting to win. That is going to take a few years for Michigan to turn it around. We could still see the Buckeyes land this most important recruit. Davidson can play tackle. I believe he can play left tackle. He is long and moves well. Maybe he can bring his dad along as OC. Talk about coup.
Adolphus Washington, DE, Cincinnati Taft
Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE/LB, Centerville
Dion Dawson, NT/3T, Cincinnati Western Hills
Yes, three more defensive linemen. I know the reports coming out of camp say the defensive line is looking do good it is a matter of finding reps for all that talent. You want to keep it that way. You win championships with defensive linemen and quarterbacks. That is why I am saying take these three elite players. I think the Buckeyes have a really great shot to land all three. Here is the best thing. As much as I have talked about taking all of these linemen in this class, you can only realistically add about 5 of them. Ending up with Washington, Odenigbo and Dawson would be three of the five I would pick if I was told I could pick any five. The others being Greg McMullen and Se'von Pittman, for those that want to know. I have not changed my opinion of Trae Clark. I just like Dawson better. He is a better athlete and I think he can play both the nose and the three-technique, whereas I see Clark as a nose only.
Bam Bradley, S/LB, Trotwood Madison
I have been a fan of this kid since the first time I saw his film. I think this is a great offer. It seems there was some question about whether he was a safety or would he grow into a linebacker. My argument was it does not matter. This is a big fast, instinctive hitting machine. I was watching his film right after he was offered and it dawned in me who he reminded me of. Mike Doss. A bigger, faster, more athletic version of Mike Doss.
Mike Thomas WR, Fork Union?
Maybe Frank Epitropulous is a wide receiver. Maybe he is a safety. We know Roger Lewis is. We are seeing Jordan Hall at receiver as much as he is at running back. Maybe more. We are seeing Jake Stoneburner lining up at receiver. Jamal Berry has been getting reps as a slot receiver. I like that we are getting some playmakers in position to make more plays. I would be very excited about that if not for the fact that we are still hearing so much about the receivers dropping balls. Make no mistake. That is what these wrinkles are about. With the current numbers we should not see the Buckeyes adding this many receivers. I had two receivers in this class rated above the others, Dwayne Stanford and Mike Thomas. Getting one of them is adding a big split end who can go up and make plays on the ball down the field.
I don't know which prep school Mike Thomas will arrive from but for now it looks like Fork Union. There is much chatter that Thomas is already a Buckeye. The fact is Mike Thomas is coming in this January so he does not count against the 20 for the class if coach Fickell has the room under the 85 rule. We will see how that plays out.
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