| 16 January 2011
We hear so much about the defensive line in the class of 2012. I use the expression that I only hope to see a class like whatever position I am talking about. With the defensive line class for 2012 I would say I would not dare to dream we see another like it. It is a class of a lifetime. The class of 2011 is the next best in my time but is not even close to 2012. The back class is one of the two or three best I have seen. So many names out there from both position groups. One that is not being talked about is the wide receiver group.
The Buckeyes just came in with an offer to the best in the class and sure five-star national receiver in Cincinnati Taft's Dwayne Stafford. The best in my time as a talent evaluator in Ohio have been Devier Posey, Mario Manningham and T.Y. Williams. Stafford is right there with them and is only a junior. I think he will be the best receiver we have seen come out of Ohio since Chris Carter. Maybe the best ever. He is 6-4 or 6-5 and can leap out of the building. Outstanding body control and great hands. He is very aggressive on the ball. He does not wait on it to come to him. He goes and gets it. He is a game changer after the catch. You want to hear the best part? He is a sure qualifier and a clear Buckeye lean despite early offers from Alabama, Tennessee, Florida State and Georgia.
Here is the other piece of good news. There are several others who could see Buckeye offers. I love Dublin Jerome's Cameron Wilson. He jumped on the radar early during his sophmore year but has his stock go down when he did not have a great camp at Ohio State. He is back up there on my board after watching his impressive junior film. This is a big split end who plays big. He is strong and knows how to use his body. One on one he is nearly impossible for a high school defensive back to cover. He attacks the ball at its highest point and shows the hands to come down with it. After the catch he is a danger to take it to the house. Very elusive open field runner. He is fearless. He shows no hesitation in going over the middle or going up to make catches in traffic. I love that he is a physical runner. Too often bigger receivers go down on the first solid contact. Not Wilson. Catching up with him is only half the job. Getting him on the ground is a chore. He has an early offer from Boston College. The athlete season will be important to him. If he shows speed he will have his pick of schools.
Moeller's Montanez Madaris is about the same size as Wilson, 6-2 and 190, but has a little different game. He does not possess the strength of Wilson, that is where I give Wilson the edge, but I think he is going to be the one more likely to put up a speed number that is going to push his offer list over the top. He is as good an open field runner as Wilson, doing a great deal of damage with slip screens and long hand-offs.
Madaris and Wilson are the receivers I feel the most confident of seeing Big Five offers but there are a couple of others who I think are likely to join them with good athlete seasons.
I am a big fan of Zack Edwards from Middletown. That program has been known for its basketball tradition but right now it is producing football talent at an impressive rate under coach Jason Krause. 2013 superstar Jalin Marshall is soaking up so much of the spotlight that a talent like Edwards is getting overlooked. He is an outstanding receiver. Catches everything he can reach. Great after the catch. He reminds me of a combination of former Buckeyes Anthony Gonzalez and Dane Sanzenbacher. He is heady like those two former greats and has that uncanny ability to come out with the football in tight spaces and when there is a defender all over him. He is bigger and more athletic like Sanzenbacher but has better speed. Whether that speed is good enough for the big boys to come in remains to be seen. He needs to get with the track coach and listen to him. He needs to get out to camps and combines to show that he has the speed of an elite skill position player at this level. Notice I say skill position player, not receiver. Edwards is a fine defensive back. He is a willing tackler and at 6-1 with an impressive wingspan he is going to get looks at safety and maybe for corner.
Maybe you have heard of Edwards but I doubt you have heard of Delaware Hayes Matthew Bingaya. http://www.scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=6434&name=jordan9
He is a 6-4, 200 lb high school quarterback that could be the biggest surprise in the class. He is a very athletic kid with size. Those are things you can't teach. If he gets out this athlete season (the athlete season is track season plus camps and combines) as a receiver we could see his stock soar into that of a Big Five athlete. Mark Porter did a great job of finding this kid.
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