| 06 January 2011
The Buckeyes have received two outstanding verbals from 2011 prospects that I have not commented on.
Recently the Buckeyes have benefited from the resignation of Urban Meyer by swooping in and getting a verbal from national top 100 linebacker prospect Ryan Shazier. I am cautiously optimistic about Shazier. Why I say that is because he played as a rush linebacker in high school but he does not bring the size that is necessary to play as a Leo let alone as a hand on the ground 4-3 defensive end. He passed an important test the past few days by looking very natural as linebacker in the Under Armor All-Star game which was played last night and the practices leading up to the game. He has natural instincts. He finds the ball easily and is an outstanding tackler. There seems to be some dispute out there about his speed. I want to see a good forty time but game speed is the trump card. I have seen him run sideline to sideline and catch people. His read-react-run is elite caliber. He does not have a defensive linemans body but he certainly has a great looking linebacker body. Great get for the Buckeyes.
Last night on national television cornerback Doran Grant made the worst kept secret you will ever get whispered in your ear official. He committed to the Buckeyes. He has been the one player I thought put a ribbon on this class. Getting an elite corner was crucial for this class. Grant is that elite corner. He needs some technique work and his tackling must improve before he hits the field but this is an elite athlete at the corner position. He is a kid known to have that drive to be a champion. With his athleticism and the work ethic that walks hand in hand with driven people, I suspect Grant will be in the two-deep this fall. The Buckeyes lack depth and experience at corner. An elite player like Grant can expect to get a hard look.
A couple of other notes about 2011. There are some big names still on the board. Fans are getting very excited about the likes of Curtis Grant, the elite linebacker prospect from Virginia, and national top ten wide receiver Ja'Juan Story from Florida. Grant was supposed to be a solid Florida lean and Story was verballed to Florida. Grant was also high on Ohio State. Now with the decision by Urban Meyer to step down there is much buzz that Ohio State might be the team to beat for Grant. He is a signing day announcement so we are going to have to wait. Story has taken a visit to Oregon since Meyers resignation. He is scheduled to visit Ohio State. An under the radar talent, Darius Jennings from Maryland, still has Wake Forest to visit but the smart money is on Ohio State or Virginia.
The above players can push this class into the argument for best class in the country. I do think we have a shot but I want to caution fans not to get too excited until we hear something more definitive. All you are doing is setting yourself up for disappointment.
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