Now we get to the fun stuff. I have said about positions in the past that I only hope we see a class as good as the one we were talking about. Never have I hoped to see a class again like this defensive line class for 2011. This is something like we see coming out of south. This is a class that the state of Florida would be happy with. There are tackles as well as ends. The best thing about it is it is full of the kind of players that makes JT use the term "bigs". Versatile players who could project to a couple of different positions, and more importantly they could be plugged in at several different positions and not miss a beat. It starts with Kenny Hayes. I have to make him the number one lineman in the class because of that versatility. He can play either end position. Miller is arguably the better weak side end but he is not as big. I don't think he could play on the strong side. His coach is a man I have a great deal of respect for. He has coached at the college level. He says he does not think Miller has the frame to add the weight to play on the strong side. Both are elite athletes. They have the first step that makes them special. They have the motor that is so important to being a defensive player. The next player on my list is an unknown to most of you. He belongs in the discussion of the best in the state of Ohio. If Tony Davis gets his grades in order he is a national defensive line prospect. He is a little more athletic version of Chase Farris. I don't know about playing left tackle but he is certainly an elite big who could play on the strong side or play the three-technique. His future is up to him.

6 - Austin Traylor - Walnut Ridge - DE/OLB. What an athlete Traylor is. I have not heard anything about his grades and I think everyone wants to get him in to camp to see his body and get some times from him. His stock could go through the roof with a good athlete season.

7 - Robert Mincey - Fairfield - DL. Another versatile big who could project to strong side end but I think he ends up at DT. He is another who could see his stock soar with a good summer.

8 - Jesse Hayes - Moeller - DE. Long and lean with a great looking frame to add weight. Relentless in pursuit.

9 - Chris Rock - DeSales - DE/DT. Everyone is asking the same question. When do we see him become the football player that his measurables say he can be? Played in some high profile games late in the season when he was supposedly sick.

10 - Kyle Rose - Centerville - DL. The most underrated defensive lineman in Ohio. Probably a strong side end but could grow into a three-technique.

11 - Deonte Gibson - St Edward - DE/OLB. Measurables are not what the elites want but this kid brings it. 3-4 teams should get to St. Ed and introduce themselves to this relentless edge playmaker.

12 - Joel Heath - Mt Healthy - DE/DT. The rawest of raw players. Great body and outstanding growth potential. Ask me to pick one player off this list who we will hear some announcer say, how did Jim Tressel let this guy get out of Ohio, and I would pick Heath.

There are two players out there who could shake this list up. I have still not seen Jarett Grace. A couple of plays does not give a good enough glimpse. I have heard alot about him and seen his offer list but I cannot put him on this list of elite players based on that. The other is another kid from Wyoming who I have not seen junior film of. I was very impress with what I have seen from Brian Price but it was sophmore film. He is a long lean kid who is very athletic.

I looked at players I would like to see the Buckeyes offer. Here I want to take a look at some Ohio players that I cannot believe are not getting more attention from major programs.

1 - Cole Stoudt, QB, Dublin. Cincinnati, Arizona State, Ohio U, Toledo. Are you kidding me??? Those are the only schools who think he is worth an offer? He has arm strength, great mechanics, good size and moves very very well. His level of competition is top drawer. He is Big Four caliber. I understand Ohio State has its guys. I agree with that pecking order. Penn State is loaded. They may not take a quarterback at all in this class. He does not fit what Michigan is doing up there. Where is Notre Dame? They are way short of quarterbacks.

I don't get around to other boards.I go to Rivals because of the national film database. I have not been to their message board one time. I am on Bucknuts every day. I stop by Buckeye Planet now and again. The conversationat those sites is enough to leave me scratching my head.

Today I would like to be celebrating several more verbals and talking about those players, but the fallout from those verbals has prompted to to address what fans are talking about. Yes, I used the term "fallout." That seems to be the reaction. What has fans all worked up is the lack of "stars" for the committed players. I am not going to tell you they don't matter. I

Fans have been complaining about no commitments. Now we have two in the same day, including one kid so off the radar that not even Bill Kurelic was aware of what was going on.

Antonio Underwood is a DT/G from Shaker Heights that to my knowledge was offered and committed on the spot. He was not on anyones radar. His only offer was Toledo. I had not heard a thing about him. Mark Porter had not mentioned him to me. I don't know about people on other boards but I can say this one took me by surprise. I did get a look at him on film. He does not have measurables of Carter but he is very light on his feet and has long arms. Nasty attitude. I think guard but he could have enough to get a look at DT first. Anytime I get an athletic big like Underwood who could play DT, he gets a shot at playing DT first. DTs are special. Always highly sought after. Guards are guards. On the measurables I go with Carter but this kid may be the better player. Underwood has great feet. He comes off the snap very well and packs a punch. A little taller and I would surely stick him at tackle. He runs really well. I like both Carter and Underwood better than Walker.

I know there is some frustration that these are not the elite tackle types that we have been recruiting in this class. I am having a hard time disagreeing with the staff right now despite my

Looking around the state at this collection of talent makes this a lot of fun for guys like me and Mark Porter. Last year we really got bored. It was over so early. We did not see anyone but Verlon Reed and Dominique Woods come on during the year. We were on to 2011 and never looked back by about June. This year is so different. We continue to come across players ever at this relatively late date. i had not seen Gambrell until after he was offered. I can see this class pushing into the 30's before we start seeing three-star players.

I like to do this every year but last year did not affored me the opportunity because the class

A Duane Long Report fan sent me this by e-mail. Since the fan sent it privately I will leave the name out but I will address the issue:

Was curious if you could write about why OSU doesn't pull in state talent like Texas does? It seems each year that UT has a top 5 class of in state products locked up by the end of spring ball. Why can't the Bucks get a grip on our in state kids like Texas can?

I would say I am not sure if I have read you right. I think this staff has done a massive great job of not only building a wall around the state but also locking the gate and guarding it. I can count the number of players the staff has lost from the state of Ohio in the last five years on

I should have included tight end recruiting when I talked about the wide receivers. There is not a lot to say. I see it as a situation that is deteriorating and there is little the staff can do about it. You can't just say throw the ball to the tight end more. That means changing the offense. Most of the tight ends fans are getting excited about are the ones in offenses where the tight end is a primary target on some plays. That is just not what we do and I could not agree with the staff more. The tight end in our offense should be a great blocker and a chain moving receiver. The bad news is we are not going to get the elite athletic tight ends that so many fans want to see in the offense. The good news is we don't need one.

We do need a tight end. I see us regressing in the talent level at the position. I always had my

Something BeeseBuck and SMU104 mentioned on Bucknuts about Chase Hounshell is a thing fans should keep in mind as the recruiting year rolls on. There is a great deal of conversation about no offers to defensive tackles like Kris Harley and Kevin Williams, players who really stand out on film and who have impressive offer lists, but the Buckeyes bring in a player like Chase Hounshell for a visit despite his not as impressive offer list and not as impressive highlight film.

Both brought up the body. Hounshell is long. 6-5 or 6-6 and a long body with long arms. I have had opposing coaches mention Hounshell to me but as an offensive lineman. He has some athleticism and a real nasty streak. He always plays hard. I went back and looked at a more extensive film than is out there in public. I think it is way too early to offer a kid like

I have grown to trust Mark Porter when it comes to player evaluation. He has become very good at this. Imagine my surprise when he said he was impressed with this receiver class. We agree so much that when I saw that it was a real surprise.

I see Devin Smith and Shaq Washington as the players who should get Big Four offers in the state. Shane Wynn is not a pure receiver. His offer is as much about kick returns as it is being a receiver. I need to see a kid that size be effective as an every down receiver in a major college offense. I hope he can as the kid is electric with the ball in his hands.

I am not sure this is a really good class but taking the time to look around the state tells me the truth of the matter is somewhere between my thinking and Marks. Outside of Smith there