Lawrence Marshall decommitts

February 14, 2013 by 1 Comment

Frankly a lot of recruiting gurus were predicting this the moment that Lawrence Marshall announced he had committed to OSU. I always prefer to give the benefit of the doubt. While this isn’t the most surprising move ever happening so soon probably is. Below you can see a brief but detailed timeline for this whole thing….

February 10th– He commits to Ohio State and becomes the 4th member of the 2014 class

February 11th– He tells the guys at 11W in an interview the following….

“@Derek11W- Q: Is your process completely over? Do you plan on taking any more visits?

Lawrence Marshall- A: I do not plan on taking any more visits. Ohio State is the pick.”

February 12th– Visits MSU and attends the MSU vs. TTUN basketball game sitting with MSU FB players.

February 13th– Visits TTUN.

February 13th– Tweets out the following…..

Clearly these past few days have been a roller coaster ride for a young man who is impulsive to say the least. Decommitments happen and who knows where he will end up at the end of this process but if history repeats itself you will never see him in an OSU jersey on the field. Most of the time they never recommit especially for Urban Meyer.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Breaking Down the 2013 Ohio State Draft Class

February 13, 2013 by 3 Comments

Ohio State has a long-standing tradition of producing quality NFL talent. Since 2000, the program has produced more NFL draft picks than any other school, as 83 Buckeyes have had their names called by NFL teams since the new millennium. Though the program is not graduating any players who will be drafted in the top ten, a number of Buckeyes might be receiving phone calls before the name of Mr. Irrelevant is called on Saturday, April 27.

Below is a rundown of the ten Buckeyes who have a legitimate shot to be drafted or signed as a free agent soon after. Each player saw significant playing time at Ohio State, and has a chance to make an impact, to varying degrees, in the NFL.

Jonathan Hankins: Leading this year’s Ohio State draft class is Jonathan Hankins. The defensive tackle decided in December that the grass was greener in the NFL and bypassed his senior year for a chance to play in the pros. According to Dane Bugler of CBSSports.com, Hankins is a lineman with a “rare combination” of size, foot speed and strength. Hankins had a stellar junior year. In his second year as a starter, Hankins racked up 55 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack. Big Hank was versatile at the position, demonstrating that he can fit into either a 3-4 or a 4-3 scheme in the NFL. He defends the run well and possesses good awareness and instincts. He will most likely be picked towards the end of the first round or at the start of the second. Hankins is not the best defensive tackle in this year’s draft class, but will make a nice prize for the team that chooses him.

John Simon: Few fans of the Scarlet and Gray can forget John Simon. The dedicated Buckeye who plays with passion and drive, Simon made a reputation for himself in Columbus. He was a consistent playmaker at OSU who could be relied upon for energy and big plays. Despite all of Simon’s positive qualities, he faces a challenge in the NFL. Too small to play defensive line and too big to play linebacker, he has already been deemed a “tweener.” In spite of this, Simon is an intriguing prospect for NFL scouts. Simply looking at his stats during his senior season could give a quarterback a case of the jitters. Simon totaled 44 tackles, nine sacks (first in the Big Ten), and 14.5 tackles for loss. He garnered the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year awards for his efforts. The intense lineman also earned All-Big Ten and 3rd team AP All-American honors. Over the course of his career, he started 37 consecutive games over three seasons before suffering a minor knee injury in the week prior to the Michigan game.
Known for his non-stop motor, Simon is a great tackler with “excellent recognition skills.” A relentless player, Simon is dedicated on and off the football field. Head coach Urban Meyer compared the talented athlete’s work ethic to that of the coach’s well-known quarterback at Florida– Tim Tebow. But as stated before, Simon is too small to play defensive line as he did as a Buckeye. This will hurt his draft stock. He will get used to sitting back in coverage and running one-on-one with backs and tight ends. This will be a major adjustment. In Pro Bowl practice, he looked like a “fish out of water,” according to Bugler. Simon doesn’t yet have the footwork needed to succeed at linebacker. He will need coaching to become a mainstay at the position. Regardless, Simon’s remarkable work ethic and motor will likely earn him a spot on an NFL roster. He is currently projected as a third rounder.

Etienne Sabino– Many thought when Sabino chose the Bucks that he would join a long line of great Ohio State linebackers. But the five star recruit out of high school never seemed to put it all together in college. Not to say that Sabino didn’t have a solid career, but he didn’t become the all-star he was projected to be. He also missed much of his senior year with a broken fibula. Sabino did manage 45 tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and two interceptions in eight games, though. There are many NFL greats who didn’t shine in college. Sabino has the raw athletic ability to succeed in the pros. The linebacker “flies all over the field” and blitzes well downhill. Though he has to improve at processing information and taking good angles, Sabino will likely be taken around the fifth round.

Reid Fragel– The most memorable characteristic of Reid Fragel is his height. Standing at 6’8 and 310 pounds, Fragel is an imposing figure. A converted tight end, the Grosse Point Farms (MI) native played offensive tackle during Meyer’s inaugural season at Ohio State. Fragel recognized that tight ends don’t usually play a large role in Meyer’s offensive scheme, so Fragel made the transition to offensive tackle. He added 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason, bulking up while keeping his quickness. The switch was ultimately successful, as he provided a solid senior presence on the offensive line. Fragel performed well this season, never relenting his starting role. But going into the NFL, he is at a bit of a disadvantage. As one would imagine, his technique at the offensive tackle position is not refined to a professional level. But with time, Fragel can develop into a solid offensive tackle. One potential worry is an undisclosed injury that held him out of the Senior Bowl, but Fragel probabaly will still go off the board around the fifth or sixth round.

Zach Boren– Another player who flip-flopped positions his senior year, Zach Boren established himself as a leader at linebacker as the season wore on. Originally a fullback, Boren transitioned to linebacker early in the 2012 campaign, as Meyer’s offense doesn’t typically call for a bruising back. Since Boren played linebacker in high school, he soon readjusted to the position. He became a mainstay of OSU’s talented defense, growing into a fearless inside linebacker. Boren showed good awareness and agility at the position, posting impressive stats. He racked up 50 tackles, a sack and five tackles for loss en route to being named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year. Due to his late switch, it is unlikely that Boren will be drafted until the later rounds. At the very least, Boren should get a chance with an NFL squad as a special teams player, thanks to his tenacity and drive.

Jake Stoneburner– Though he did flirt with other positions, Jake Stoneburner was mostly used as a tight end at OSU. A tall, athletic player talented at catching and blocking, Stoneburner saw time as a tight end, H-back, fullback and wide receiver at Ohio State. While he didn’t rack up monumental stats his senior year (16 catches for 269 yards and four touchdowns), Stoneburner displayed a number of good qualities, such as “smooth” footwork, “tenacity” as a blocker and “excellent” body control. He had a good enough career as a Buckeye to at least earn a chance with an NFL team as a late-round flier. But repeated holding penalties and limited stats will hinder his draft stock. Right now, he is projected as a sixth to seventh round pick.

Travis Howard– A cornerback with some definite talent but some significant shortcomings, Travis Howard is a player who has the talent to play in the NFL but needs some work. Howard enjoyed a solid career with the Bucks, especially during his senior season. He recorded 40 tackles, six passes defensed and a Big Ten best four interceptions, earning him Honorable All-Big Ten honors. As he displayed in 2012, Howard has good ball skills and foot quickness. Though a bit lean for a cornerback at 6’1 and 198 pounds, Howard makes good reads and is aggressive in run support. But the playmaker has to work on his timing, positioning and discipline. He has the potential to be a contributor in the NFL, but must fix these areas of his game. Howard looks to be a third day pick, as he will likely go in the seventh round.

Nathan Williams– A defensive line/linebacker hybrid, Nathan Williams is, in a way, a lesser-known version John Simon. Williams is a physical tackler who plays with a lot of energy just like Simon, though Williams struggled with a knee injury during his time at Ohio State. He missed the 2011 season because of his knee, but worked his way back into the lineup in 2012. By the end of his senior campaign, Williams looked fully healthy. He certainly played like it, notching 40 tackles, two sacks and four tackles for loss on the year. Scouts may doubt about his ability to stay healthy, but Williams could improve his draft stock with a good Combine. As of now, he is projected to either be picked in the seventh round or go undrafted.

Orhian Johnson– A versatile safety who had to fight for playing time at Ohio State, Orhian Johnson is an intriguing prospect. During his career as a Buckeye, he not only played both safety positions, but also spent time at outside linebacker and cornerback. Though he often had to battle for playing time with higher-ranked recruits, Johnson always found a way onto the field. His size and athleticism certainly had something to do with that. With the talent he displayed at OSU, he could be a solid special teams player in the pros. But Johnson has some obstacles to overcome if he expects to play on defense. He needs to add some muscle, eliminate the “dumb” penalties he has been known to incur and also take better angles in run support. Still, Johnson should earn a spot on an NFL roster, whether he is taken very late in the draft or signed as an undrafted free agent.
Garrett Goebel– As a defensive tackle for the Bucks, Garrett Goebel posted impressive stats. During his senior season, he compiled 86 tackles, two sacks, 12 tackles for loss, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery. Goebel flew under the radar, though, as he was not well-known as a Buckeye. He has not been noticed too much by scouts, either. Though he started every game of his junior and senior seasons, Goebel will most likely not be drafted. He still has a shot to be picked up by a team via free agency, though. Goebel will have to establish himself on special teams or on the practice squad before he gets a major opportunity with an NFL team.

Information from CBSSports.com, OhioStateBuckeyes.com and NFL.com was used in this article. Phrases in quotation marks are words used by Dan Bugler of CBSSports.com.

Filed Under: NFL, NFL Draft, Ohio State Football, Pro Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A look back at the 2013 recruiting class: S/LB Hybrids

February 13, 2013 by 2 Comments

Darron Lee and Christopher Worley are both in-state, talented players but it is unknown where defensive coordinator Luke Fickell will play them. Both are athletic, heavy hitters that played safety (Lee) and outside linebacker (Worley) in high school and have the attributes to play either position for the Buckeyes.

Darron Lee

Darron Lee

Darron Lee played high school football in New Albany, Ohio and dreamed of becoming a Buckeye. He was an under the radar recruit with offers from some mid-level BCS schools (Arizona St., Boston College, Kentucky, Toledo, etc.) but no powerhouses. Lee attended the Ohio State summer camp and actually outplayed Vonn Bell throughout the camp. After impressing the coaching staff, he earned a scholarship offer and the rest is history. Lee is a 6’2″ 200 lb athlete who could see time at either safety or outside linebacker. Personally, I see him as more of a strong safety type because of his mixture of sure tackling, closing speed and ball hawking ability. If he is not at a strong safety, he could line up at Meyer’s STAR position behind Christian Bryant. He is really impressive on tape and although I do not think we will be seeing him much this year on defense due to returning secondary talent, he may work his way onto special teams. Lee could be one of the steals of this class as he possesses excellent ball kills that are hard to find at any level. He also has great size and played well in run support which is why some say he could play linebacker for Coach Fickell. Rivals, ESPN, and 247 all had Lee as a three star recruit, while Scout had him ranked as a four star recruit.

Christopher Worley

worley

Christopher Worley is a 6’3″ 190 lb outside linebacker who played at the Ohio State football factory, Glenville. I see him in the same situation as Lee but with more of a lean to outside linebacker than safety. Worley punishes the ball carrier on almost every hit he delivers and is a great open field tackler. I project him as an outside linebacker especially with more voids to fill at that position but Coach Fickell could put him at strong safety/ STAR as he covered a lot of running backs and slot receivers at Glenville. He constantly lined up in the slot and made most of his plays outside of the tackle box, either blowing up screens or runs to the outside. Worley could play close to the line of scrimmage for run support and covered the flats pretty well which is why he will most likely play outside linebacker. Like Lee, Worley has the size and ability to play special teams right away and Coach Fickell will ultimately decide where to play him on defense as he gets older. Rivals, ESPN and Scout all ranked Worley as a three star recruit, while 247 ranked him as a four star outside linebacker.

Conclusion

Darron Lee and Christopher Worley could line up at various positions in their Buckeye tenure and their versatility sets them apart from others. They were both under the radar recruits that caught Meyer’s eye and he felt that they both deserved offers. They played good competition in high school and I think Meyer came across two gems that should have had more scholarship offers, especially Lee. Both could either redshirt or play on special teams and neither option would surprise me. The more big, versatile athletes that Coach Fickell has to plug into his defense, the better. They are both quality football players and both will eventually be making plays at either strong safety, STAR or outside linebacker for the Buckeyes.

 

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

A look back at the 2013 recruiting class: Linebackers

February 13, 2013 by 7 Comments

Mike Mitchell

Mike MitchellMike Mitchell is one of the most special players in the 2013 recruiting class. Mitchell is a 5 star 6’4″ 216 lb outside linebacker from Plano, Texas. He was named a US Army All- American and Rivals ranked him as the number one player in the entire state of Texas. At the Nike Sparq combine, he was clocked at a blazing 4.39 40 yard dash and recorded a 40 inch vertical jump. He blew away the entire field at the combine, including the skill position players. Mitchell is not just a combine freak though, he is a classic, throwback linebacker.

Mitchell has a motor that does not stop and it stands out in his film. Nicknamed “The Abusement Park”, Mitchell  brings a nastiness to the defense and he is the type of player that will get significant playing time from day one. Expect him to start off as a special teams ace on kick off with his speed and tackling ability. He will be competing with under performing Curtis Grant for one of the starting OLB positions and if Grant can not put it all together, expect Mitchell to eventually start. Mitchell has an uncanny ability to get after the passer as an edge rusher and get stops in the backfield. His vision and play recognition are second to none. Mitchell recorded 151 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and 11 sacks his junior year. His supreme athleticism and motor will remind fans of AJ Hawk and his nastiness and violence reminds me of ex- Florida Gator and current New England Patriots linebacker, Brandon Spikes. Rivals ranks Mitchell as a five star and the 26th best player in the nation. ESPN ranks him as a four star and the 128th best player in the nation. 247 ranks Mitchell as a four star and the 95th best player in the country. Scout ranks him as a five star and the number two best linebacker in the country.

Trey Johnson

Trey Johnson

Four star inside linebacker Trey Johnson completes the Buckeyes two man linebacker recruiting class and fills an immediate hole for Defensive Coordinator Luke Fickell. Johnson is a 6’1″, 222 lb inside linebacker hailing from Lawrenceville, Georgia. The Buckeyes beat out Florida and Tennessee after Johnson de-committed from Auburn. Fickell is getting a southern linebacker who has the tools to start right away for the silver bullets. Coaches have raved about Johnson’s football smarts and his understanding of X’s and O’s. He may not have the crazy combine results like Mitchell but he will put himself in the right place to make the play and he will rarely make a mental mistake.

Johnson averaged 18 tackles a game as a Junior, finishing with 164 total tackles. He reads his keys quickly and makes numerous plays in the backfield. Like Mitchell, expect Johnson to get playing time in year one and possibly start or be a part of the linebacker rotation. Rivals ranked him as a four star and the third best inside linebacker in the country.  ESPN ranked Johnson as a four star and the 48th best player in the country. 247 ranked him as a four star recruit and the third best linebacker in the country. Scout ranked Johnson as a four star and the 16th best linebacker in the country.

In Conclusion

Like the offensive line, there were only two recruits for this position. Except, in my opinion, these are two “can’t miss” prospects. Other than Ryan Shazier, no one else is guaranteed a starting spot at linebacker and these two freshman could step up and make an immediate impact. Mitchell is the type of athlete and person that will not accept a seat on the bench. I expect him to have a heavy special teams role from day one and eventually take over a starting job at outside linebacker or even be used as a pass rusher off the edge in passing situations. Trey Johnson has the smarts, instincts and athleticism to start right away next to Shazier. After reading up on Johnson, it seems that he will rapidly comprehend Meyer’s defensive scheme, which will put him in place to either start or be put into a rotation at inside linebacker.

Although there is not a lot of depth in this class at linebacker, these two players have what it takes to make an immediate impact in 2013. I would give this position an A+ and I do not see either of these prospects not living up to the lofty expectations that have been placed upon them.

 

 

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

A look back at the 2013 recruiting class- OL

February 12, 2013 by 3 Comments

OSU FootballOver the next week or so myself and Chris (@Cjason112) will take a look back at the 2013 recruiting class via a positional recap. We have decided to break things down in groups and will post once a day a post on each of the following OL, WRs & TE, RB & QB, on offense. On Defense it will be DL, LB, and DBs. There were no ST members in the class. We will be utilizing their personal commitment post and updating their final rankings with the 4 recruiting services and where we think they will play at OSU and how they will be utilized. We will also discuss if they should or will redshirt. Hopefully we will be able to get the info so many of our readers are craving but if you have questions or thoughts we would love for you to share them with us in the comments section. To start things off I will take a closer look at the OL.

Evan Lisle

Evan Lisle is a 6’6″ 265 lbs 4 star OT from Centerville, Ohio. Evan Lisle is a huge OT recruit and Evan fills a need at position we lack depth at and has the size and agility to play either right or left tackle. He needs to put on a little more weight but he has the athletic and lean look Coach Meyer wants from his OLmen. He will have every chance to play early and often. He excelled at the HS all star game and raised his recruiting rankings tremendously. My guess is he will not Redshirt and will be a backup early in the season. His final rankings are impressive to say the least. ESPN ranks him a 4 star and the 106th best recruit in the nation. 247sports ranks him a 4 star and the 89th best recruit in the country. Scout ranks him a 4 star and the 5th best OT in the country. Rivals ranks him a 4 star and the 90th best recruit in the country. You can see his highlight video below.

Tim Gardner

Tim Gardner is a 6’5″ 310 lbs 4 star OLman from Indianapolis, Indiana. When OSU first started recruiting Tim they asked him to lose some weight and he put in a lot of hard work and earned his spot in the class. OSU coaches have raved about how willing he is to do what they ask from him and how determined he is to get better and become a part of OSUs class. In the end though I think he will move from OT to OG and will redshirt his freshman year. He is the kind of recruit who will have to fight and work extra hard to keep his body in shape and also to ever have a chance to play at OSU over higher ranked recruits. He has the ability but will always have an uphill battle. He does seem to have the heart and determination he needs to succeed so we will have to wait and see as time goes on. he isn’t nearly as highly ranked as his fellow OT Evan Lisle. ESPN ranks him a 3 star and the 11th best player in Ohio. 247sports ranks him a 4 star and the 24th best OT in the country. Scout ranks him a 3 star and the 31st best OG recruit in the country. Rivals ranks him a 3 star and the 17th best prospect in Ohio. Sadly I couldn’t find a highlight reel for him.

In Conclusion

This wasn’t a huge class for OLmen for OSU mostly because they missed out on so many they were chasing due to a numbers crunch. I can see Evan Lisle getting playing time early as a backup and if injuries occur it could be a lot of playing time. Tim Gardner is more of a project OLman who under Coach Warinner’s watch he can develop into a great OLman. In the end I would rank this OL class a B+ with a chance in 4 years to be a A+ or a F because it is so small there is very little wiggle room.

Don’t forget to comeback tomorrow and every day this week and next week for the rest of the recruiting class positional recaps.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Speed, Speed, and more Speed for 2014

February 11, 2013 by 5 Comments

OSU FootballSo this will be the last new commit from this past weekends big haul but I have no doubt in my mind that some of the guys who were here and didnt commit will soon enough. Urban wants OSU to be fast and to be football fast and with each recruit he lands you can see a real change in philosophy of the kind of players he wants compared to what Jim Tressel always recruited. Not saying either way is right or wrong but they are completely different and time will tell if this new philosophy will pay off over the long haul. With this 3rd and last commit of the weekend comes from a super fast RB/athlete.

PARRIS CAMPBELL JR.

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Parris Campbell Jr. is a 6’0″ 180 lbs RB/Athlete from Akron, Ohio. Parris is a 2 time state champion sprinter and a state champion FB player from the high school that brought the world LeBron James St. Vincents/St. Marys in Akron. Obviously he is a speed guy who at his size will project to WR at OSU but if he gets bigger could play the RB spot as well but will for sure be used in the role of the Percy Harvin type back Urban is ALWAYS seeking. None of the 4 recruiting services have ranked him yet. Will update once they do. Watch his highlight reel below.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Urban Meyer invades enemy territory for DE

February 11, 2013 by 1 Comment

OSU FootballEvery year it seems to be the same story for some Ohio State fans always screaming about Ohio kids going to to TTUN and how the OSU head coach isnt doing enough to keep the in state kids. Here is the problem with that statement though every year Ohio produces over 100 division 1 prospects and on a good year OSU can take 25 kids total. You can do the math and see it is impossible to take every Ohio kid. So every year a number of disgruntled Ohio kids upset over not being offered by OSU defects to TTUN and many other schools. Most of the time though those kids arent what OSU needed or just werent good enough to get an OSU offer. Now take what is happening in this years class TSUN produces FAR less division 1 talent and what they have pales in comparison to what Ohio produces and then you insert Urban Meyer sending Coach Coombs up north to plant a flag and all of a sudden you have 2 of the best TSUN recruits picking OSU over home state schools TTUN and MSU and their fan bases are flipping out big time. TSUN cant afford to lose any in state talent to OSU when there are so few to get to begin with but now OSU already has 2 of the top 4 and is in striking distance of the other 2. Ohio State already landed Damon Webb from TTUN pipeline school Cass Tech in Detroit who spurned Brady Hoke and now you have another recruit who was heavily recruited by TTUN and MSU picking OSU yesterday in…..

LAWRENCE MARSHALL

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Lawrence Marshall is a 6’4″ 225 lbs 4 star DE from Southfield, TSUN. Lawrence comes from the heart of TTUN recruiting base and was thought to be a TTUN or MSU lean and OSU was a distant 3rd heading into the weekend. Lawrence brings a ton of speed and athleticism to the DE position that Urban wants and seeks. He will need to bulk up some but I have a feeling the OSU S&C coach will handle that nicely. 247sports ranks him a 4 star and the no 246 best recruit in the country. None of the other big 4 recruiting sites have ranked him yet but when they do I will update this post. In the meantime enjoy some of his JR year highlights below.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

Ohio State reels is a big OT

February 11, 2013 by 2 Comments

OSU FootballLets not forget we arent even a week removed from the NSD for the 2013 class. As I told you all last Friday this weekend would be a big one for the 2014 class as some of the biggest and best JRs from across the nation were in town to take in the Buckeye Nation experience. I had a feeling there would be at least one commit come out of the weekend but by the end of Sunday there were multiple commits but each one of them is special and deserves their own post so that is what you will get today. So without further adieu here is the info on commit no. 1 from this past weekend…..

KYLE TROUT

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Kyle Trout is a 6’6″ 285 lbs 4 star OT from Lancaster, Ohio. Kyle is one of those local kids that Buckeye fans love to get behind. With OL being such an important part of the 2014 class OSU will prob take 4-6 OLmen in the class and already has 2 top notch kids committed. Kyle fills a large need as he projects to be a Left Tackle and will protect the blind side of Braxton and his fellow QBs. The Giant Ginger as you can tell from the picture above continues Urban Meyers ideal OLman body style of tall and LEAN and athletic guys who can move. No longer will OSU just look for big and fat uglies to take up space. 247sports ranks him a 4 star and the 130th best prospect in the country. Rivals ranks him a 4 star and doesnt have rankings for 2014 yet. Scout ranks him a 4 star and the 16th best OT in the country. ESPN ranks him a 4 star and on their ESPN 150 Watch List. Below you can see his JR year highlights.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

In Case You Missed It

February 11, 2013 by 1 Comment

OSU LogoIn case you missed it is Men of the Scarlet and Gray’s semi-weekly look at items that would interest the casual and hard-core Ohio State fan, be they news items, interesting blog posts or funny memes you probably saw on Reddit last week. It’s all here and it’s all for you. Have a tip that should be included in the next ICYMI? Send it our way!

DECISION FROM THE HEAD, NOT FROM THE HEART. This is a great story about the work that Urban Meyer and his staff put in to landing top safety Vonn Bell, who clearly has his head on straight and has a couple of parents raising him the right way:

“I’m old school and I told Vonn to look at this process like he would getting married,” Vincent said. “You go through the dating process, then you pick the one you want to be with and you stick to it. You don’t commit and then flirt with another program like some recruits do. You make a decision and then it’s over. That’s what a commitment means.”

It also highlights the lengths that this coaching staff is willing to go to show their commitment to a player they want on their sideline. Fans of other teams can moan about Urban Meyer’s “ultra competitiveness” and his drive to “win at any cost” but those poor fans and their teams are being left in the dust. This isn’t just about winning at any cost. This is about setting the bar high, aiming for the best and working as hard as you can to achieve it. This isn’t about some “honor code” or something about “doing it the right way.” Urban Meyer and his staff have evaluated the talent available and have worked hard to attract that level of talent. The rest of the Big Ten had better get on board and set their own sights higher or it’s getting left behind.

THE VILLAIN WITH A HEART OF GOLD. Evan Turner, all-time Buckeye Hero made an appearance at New Albany High School’s senior night for the varsity basketball team to surprise his friend Devon Pitts. It’s not much, but it’s little things like that that make cheering for guys like Evan Turner a little easier.

SPEAKING OF A GUY WHO’S EASY TO CHEER FOR. Aaron Craft is a finalist for the The Bob Cousy Award, which is given to the top collegiate male basketball point guard. MotSaG readers have made their voice heard as to who the best Point Guard in the Big Ten is, with Aaron Craft garnering over 64% of the votes in a head-to-head competition against Trey Burke. Craft has shown in both games against Burke that he can hang with the best and Craft has shown throughout the season that he isn’t going to be outworked by anyone he’s matched up against.

THE REAL JOHNNY FOOTBALL. We’ve mentioned this before, but now John Simon himself makes the case: Vote him and the Buckeyes as the cover athlete:

Filed Under: Ohio State Basketball, Ohio State Football

Big Day for OSU recruiting

February 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Sorry I wasn’t able to get in a post for each new member of the 2014 Ohio State Football recruiting class today. I porise I will make it up tomorrow with a post for each guy. There were 3 new guys added to the class today Kyle Trout an OT from Lancaster, Ohio and Lawrence Marshall a DE from Detroit, TSUN and Parris Campbell Jr. a RB/Ath from Akron, Ohio. All 3 of these guys fill a position of need in the class and shores up the local midwestern elite guys. Below you can get a head start on what these guys bring to the table with highlight films on each one. Tomorrow I will go in depth with more details and info.

Kyle Trout

Lawrence Marshall

Parris Campbell Jr.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football
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