| 28 July 2011
Chris Gamble, Troy Smith, Kirk Barton, Donald Washington, Austin Spitler, Brian Robiskie, James Laurinaitis, Chimdi Chekwa. What do they all have in common? They were players offered late in the recruiting process. None had an impressive offer list. Stuff happens in recruiting. Sometimes players fall in love with another school or family gets the best of a player and he decides to stay close to home. Maybe the academic office says no. For any number of reasons every school in the country ends up scrambling in December and January after a player they were counting on ends up elsewhere. I think the above list shows the Buckeye staff has been better at it than most.
I think the 2001-2002 Ohio class is the only one that compares to this one. There are still so many talented players available who just do not have the kind of attention they rate. If they are
still on the board later in the process, here are some players I think could be steals for the Buckeyes.
First, I have to mention the kid who has been number one on this potential late class steal list is off the board. I think Akron landing Arlington McClinton could be seen as the steal of the class four years from now, that is, if he gets his grades up.
The other player who stands out to me is Akron North's DeShawn Dowdy. That his best offer is West Virginia leaves me shaking my head. I see a Big Five athlete. He is a great looking wide receiver prospect but his forty might be scaring some people off. He is a big kid. He is likely going to outgrow receiver anyway. His 4.67 is plenty fast for a linebacker. He could even grow into a defensive end. If he is still there in January I would love to see the Buckeyes take a chance on him. Look at this film from Scouting.Ohio.com:
http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=7696&name=Dowdy11
The plays with the ball in his hands show what kind of athlete he is. Look at the defensive plays. The best player, the best athlete, in the class of 2012 that nobody is talking about.
LaKeith Walls, Ath, Cleveland Rhodes
Walls has a decent offer list with Northwestern, Syracuse and Pitt but this is another Big Five talent. He is a high school running back, and a very good one, but he is tall and long. He is going to get much bigger. He is a very good linebacker. Finding high school linebackers who are comfortable in coverage is very important these days. Walls does not have to take a backseat to anyone in the state as far as that is concerned.
http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=2907
Kevin Kinds, DE, Glenville. This is a kid to watch. He has all the tools to be a Big Five player once he is on the field every down. Kinds was not a starter but still put together enough video for a little highlight film. http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=7171
Kinds does have an offer from Syracuse already. If he develops like I think he can, some of those other elite defensive ends being off the board will not be such a big deal. I am that high on Kinds. He has the potential to be an elite defensive end in a class full of elite defensive ends.
Terrell Jackson, DT, Marion Franklin.
Look at Jackson film http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=4881 and look at Patrick Elfleins film. If Elflein is big enough and good enough to be a Buckeye then so is Jackson. It is that simple. No offers outside the MAC. That is amazing to me.
Myles Hilliard, Ath, Bedford
The more I watch him the better I like him. He has played so little defense. If nothing else he can be an offensive tackle prospect. I list him even though he is committed to Pitt because the buzz is he would consider a Buckeye offer. He is good friends with Buckeye commitment Tyvis Powell.
Azarie Battle, DL, North Royalton.
I will never understand the lack of offers. All indications are his academics are in order. He may grow into a tackle. I know I see a kid with a great body and a great motor.
Dalton Chapman, OL, Grove City.
I have been asked repeatedly if there any unknown out there in the state who could be a Buckeye caliber tackle. I say no but if you put a gun to my head and said pick someone I would be tempted to pick Carlutorbantu Zaramo from Brush but the kid I would pick would be Chapman. He is a better defensive lineman right now but shows what kind of athleticism he has. He is long in body, 6-7, and in limb. He played last year at 265. Look at the still photo at the beginning of his ScoutingOhio.com promo: http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=6287&name=daltonchapman
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