Next!!!

Written by Duane Long | 26 June 2011

The odds are very much against the Buckeyes in the fight for the signatures of the best of the best defensive linemen in the class. Greg McMullen made it official. He committed to Nebraska. That is two of my top five in less than a week. We have accepted that another, Chris Wormley is headed to Michigan. It is just a matter of time.  There are no positive signs with Adolphus Washington. In fact, I recently had someone tell me he has family ties to the state of Alabama. I have not been able to confirm that yet but it would explain his long time interest in Alabama. That and the fact that most of the top NFL linemen come out of the south. I never believed Ifeadi Odenigbo was as much a sure thing as the accepted wisdom seemed to suggest. He is a Centerville kid, a pipeline program for the Buckeyes. He is a high academic/high character kid. Very down to earth young man. He was surely going to be a Buckeye. What is being left out is that this kid is doing it the right way. Academics will be just as important as football in his college decision. Maybe more important. I have been told that both his parents are doctors but I have never confirmed that. Other than Wormley he was the one I thought most likely to not end up a Buckeye. I don't know what is going to happen with Odenigbo. We will see. This is the best class of linemen by far that we have ever seen in the state. The bad news is the best are leaving. The good news is there are still some kids in the state of Ohio that need a hard look.

First, I want to say that this weeks senior camp produced another elite defensive line prospect. You already know the name. He is a Buckeye verbal. Josh Perry lit up the camp. He came in to the camp a filled out 6-4 or 6-5 and about 240. Someone holding a stopwatch told me he ran a 4.58. Someone else had 4.56. Put that athlete showing in with his outstanding junior film and you have a kid that moved into the same conversation with McMullen Odenigbo, Washington, Pittman and Wormley. Perry is getting better every time we see him.

Dion Dawson. I spoke about in my most recent blog. I expect an offer for him when he gets his grades in order. Definitely a Big Five scholarship kid. I include Trae Clark with Dawson. We are talking alot about the kids who could be three-technique players. Dawson and Clark are tackles. There is no growing involved. I think they are both so good that even if McMullen, Washington, Pittman, Odenigbo and Wormley were still on the board you take verbals from these outstanding wide bodies. We saw the impact of a really big tackle last year with Jon Hankins. This is an area where the Buckeyes have had problems in the past, playing undersized guys or trying to grow tackles. You take big tackles when you can find them.

Myles Hilliard, 6-6, 250. I look at his body and think about what he could be. He is so long, almost gangly at 250. He has not played much on defense and he is good enough to have offers from the likes of Michigan State, Syracuse, West Virgina and Pitt, who he is committed to. We already have his teammate committed Tyvis Powell. Go back after him. This thing about the Buckeye not going back after committed players is confused. There is plenty of evidence of Ohio State going after other schools committed players. The staff under Jim Tressel would go back after players but would not pursue them if they were rebuffed. Some staffs not just Ohio State, back off when a player says no, I am committed. Others don't. Go back and ask. He says no, then wish him luck. Something else to think about. He is a long kid who has played mostly offensive tackle. He is going to add alot of weight on that frame. If nothing else he is a nice athletic fit at tackle.


DeShawn Dowdy, Akron North. This is a kid with so much untapped athletic potential. He looks so good on film as a receiver. He is a big athletic kid who can go up and make plays on the ball in the air. He returns kicks and does it very well. He did not put in a time that is going to get you excited about him as a receiver but it is a very impressive time for a linebacker who could be a defensive end in time. He is a big framed long armed kid. He is just as impressive on film as a linebacker. He is a diamond in the rough who needs time to focus on one position. Someone is going to get a gem. Bring him in as a linebacker and let his body decide what position he will fit best.

Terrelle Jackson, DT, Marion Franklin. You may recall I was excited about this kid last year. I loved what I saw on tape but a source told me he was not his listed 260. Now his junior film is out there and it is even more impressive. He comes off the ball as well as any player in the class. He is explosive off the snap. He finds the ball. He makes plays. He reminds me of former Wayne tackle Jerel Worthy. I don't recall all the details about his recruitment. I thought the staff decided not to offer but I am hearing it was grade related. Whatever the case, Worthy has a preseason 1st round NFL projection. Jackson reminds me alot of him. His coach says he is 255-260 and he will get bigger.

Arlington McClinton from Midview. There are only two possible things for his lack of offers. He is not his listed 6-6 220-230. He looks every bit of 6-4 at the very least. It has to be academic. No way does a player with that kind of length and athleticism only rate an offer from Toledo. He has no idea how to use his hands yet. Can he ever run.

I have been talking about LaKeith Walls for some time. He is starting to see the offers that back-up my opinion of him with Northwestern, Pitt, Syracuse and Louisville coming in on him. This kid could be a a great linebacker but I am not going to be surprised if he grows all the way to defensive end. He is listed as 6-4 and looks to be all of that 6-4.

One player to watch for this fall. Glenvilles Kevin Kinds. 6-6 explosive and can he ever run. You will only see a little film out there of him. you have to wait your turn in the Glenville lineup. He did not play alot. He could shake up the defensive line rankings bigtime if he becomes the player I think he could be.

We can only cry over spilled milk for so long. You get up, dust yourself off and get back to it. There is still plenty to get excited about out there. The opportunity to have a great class, even on the defensive line, is still very much a possibility.