2017 Prospect Amir Riep – Interview

February 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment

I recently had the chance to speak to four-star cornerback Amir Riep from Colerain HS out of Cincinnati, Ohio about his recruitment and where things currently stand.

Q: How does it feel to have exploded onto the scene lately with all of these big time offers?

Amir: It feels good to finally get the respect (offers) for the hard work I have been putting in.  Finally feels like it’s paying off.

Q: What are you looking for in a school?  Does closeness to home matter, or is it all about comfort and relationships?

Amir: Probably more comfort and relationships.  Distance is no problem.  Strength and conditioning coach plays a part and position coach will also.  They still need to coach me up so I can become the best athlete possible.

Q: Do you have a top 5 schools currently?  Do you have a decision date in mind?

Amir: No top 5 right now, just looking into all the interest at this time.  Decision will be made before the football season I think. That will give enough schools to show interest and give me time to look into them.

Q: Are you looking to enroll early when you pick a school or just normal enrollment in the summer?

Amir: I Will be enrolling early wherever I decide to attend and want to get it over with for me and the team so we can concentrate on state.

Q: Did you have a dream school growing up? Does living in Ohio bring any added pressure to attend Ohio State or Cincinnati?

Amir: I’m from Ohio so Ohio State has always been a school I cheered for along with Cincinnati.  Some pressure because they try to criticize Ohio State for not offering athletes in state, but sometimes when they do they leave, so pressure on that end.

Q: What coach is your main recruiter?

Amir: Coach Kerry Coombs

Q: Once you make a commitment will you still be visiting other schools or will your recruitment be shut down?

Amir: Once I commit, the recruitment is over and it will be all about that university and the program.  That is why I am taking my time now.

Q: Is there a pro or college athlete that you try and shape your game around?

Amir: Patrick Peterson

Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of football?

Amir: Spending time with family and friends.

 

I want to thank Amir Riep for the interview and wish him the best in his recruitment going forward.  Give him a follow @Riep_Amir on Twitter.

Filed Under: College Football, Ohio State Football Tagged With: ,

Ohio State Football Team Receives National Championship Rings

March 27, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Players and coaches on the Ohio State Buckeyes football team received their national championship rings today for their amazing victories over Oregon and Alabama this past season. Many of them took to Twitter show off their new hardware. Of course these rings look even more amazing than I imagined them to be.

Wide receiver coach Zach Smith:

Cornerbacks coach and special teams coach Kerry Coombs:

As he mentions in the tweet, they’ll also be getting their Big Ten Championship rings and Sugar Bowl rings. That’s a lot of bling!

Urban Meyer and tight end Jeff Heuerman take a ring selfie together:

Personally I think Ezekiel Elliott wins best ring picture:

On top of all this, Ohio State’s pistol team won the national championship today. It’s their second consecutive season they’ve won it all. This is just shortly after the men’s wrestling team captured a national title too.

So the national championship count for Ohio State in 2015 has reached three. It’s officially raining gold in Columbus, folks!

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MotSag Chat with 2016 TE Jake Hausmann

May 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Recruiting the tight end position has been difficult for Urban Meyer and staff.  They swung and missed with Geisicki, as we all know, who committed to Penn State.  They did land a recruit as part of the 2013 class in Marcus Baugh, but that has been, interesting?  One of the nation’s best tight ends for the class of 2016, is right in their own backyard, in Cincinnati, Moeller’s Jake Hausmann.  Holding offers from some of the strongest programs around the midwest and nation, including, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Louisville, and Kentucky, he has many options to choose from. Being from Ohio, and having both parents go to Ohio State, and currently having a sibling at OSU, it is easy to see why he was excited about the Buckeye offer. “The day before they offered, my coach told me they were coming to visit me at school and that they were gonna offer.  I was so excited, I couldn’t sleep the night before.  Coach Coombs came to my school and offered me a scholarship to Ohio State, I was so excited!” Hausmann talked about how close his relationship with coach Coombs is.  He talks to coach Coombs a lot and even talks to coach Meyer directly also.  In fact, the other day when I messaged Jake for this interview, he told me he had just gotten off the phone with coach Meyer and coach Coombs.  Not a bad day I guess.

As for why he loves Ohio State? “The coaches are just awesome, I love the relationship I have with them and they are recruiting me the hardest.  The tight end was not used that much last season, but I think that will change this season because they have some playmakers at that position.  Ohio State is also just everything I’m looking for in a school.”As for what is next on the Hausmann recruiting trail?  He is attending the Columbus NFTC on Sunday and then going to stay overnight and tour the campus, meet the coaches, and all the jazz.   He also wanted to say to buckeye fans, “Go Bucks!”

Jake Hausmann is already one of my favorite players to cover in the nation.  He is an amazing football player, but truly an even better person.  He was honest, sincere, and really just wanted to help with the interview.  I think that the buckeyes are in a good position for his recruitment, but he has no leaders.  But, with all that he has told me, I think it would be hard for him to turn down a chance to play for his favorite school, Ohio State.

 

You can follow Jake on Twitter: @Jake_Hausmann 

Check out his 247sports page as well as highlights from his sophomore season.

 

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, College Football Recruiting, High School Football, Ohio State Football Tagged With: ,

MotSaG Chat with John Kelly

May 28, 2014 by Leave a Comment

This is post number 3 from Michael Rockstedt A.K.A @Mike_Rockstedt . He is continuing the process of interviewing and again would appreciate any and all feedback on his style and content. If you are on Twitter give him a follow as well.

Although the two states are rivals, Ohio has been recruiting the state of Michigan as hard as almost any other state across the country. That has not changed with the recruitment of Oak Park, Michigan athlete John Kelly. Standing 5-10 and weighing 194 pounds, there are many positions that Kelly can play. With offers from the likes of Michigan State, Minnesota, Maryland, and Cincinnati, most of the schools that are recruiting him are recruiting him to play corner. Although he does not have an offer from Ohio State, he keeps in regular contact with Coach Kerry Coombs, who recruits Michigan, and said of his relationship with Coombs, “He has been recruiting me for a while and really wants me to play DB. He visits me often.” He is visiting this weekend for the NFTC in Columbus and is expecting an offer either there or very soon thereafter.

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“They want me to come to visit the school and meet the whole coaching staff and I should get offered then,” says Kelly. It is an offer that Kelly covets and he also said that they would be high on his list if they offered. He has been to Ohio State before but said that he did not get a chance to really talk to the coaches and tour the campus. He went down there just for a camp and said, “I got a chance to show off some of my skills.” This visit will be different because he will be able to tour the campus and talk to the coaches rather than just show off his skills. The coaches know what he can do on the field, but the coaches are hoping to impress him off the field as well.

When asked if there was anything he would like to say to buckeye nation, he said, “I would like to thank you guys for doing the interview with me and maybe I can become the next great buckeye. #GoBucks. Be on the lookout for my squad this year as well #SFC.” Without an offer, there is no way he becomes a Buckeye. But form talking to him it seems he is very excited about visiting Ohio State and could earn an offer from them this weekend. If they offer, I think the Buckeyes shoot right up the list, because of his strong relationship with Coach Coombs. Ohio State fans should follow him closely, especially if he earns an offer. You can follow John on twitter, @D1JohnKelly. Check out his 247sports page as well.

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, College Football Recruiting, High School Football, Ohio State Football Tagged With: ,

2014 OSU Spring Football – Questions To Answer (Part 2)

March 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Part one of this series dealt with questions and challenges that I perceive as important, but lower priority, for Ohio State to address this spring. On any college football team, there will always be issues with players unhappy about playing time. Any coach will want to see more production from any position group. Below are the top five pressing issues, as I see them, for Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer to focus upon between March 4th and the date of the April 12th Ohio State Spring Game.

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5. Placekicker – While Coach Meyer is always wanting touchdowns from his offense, it is sometimes required to have a placekicker on the roster who can come through with a clutch field goal at the end of the game. Reliable Drew Basil has exhausted his eligibility, opening the door for true freshman Sean Nuernberger to claim the position. Nuernberger enrolled early at Ohio State, allowing him the opportunity to seize the job this spring. Competition for the placekicker position may come from Kyle Clinton, a walk-on who saw game action during the 2012 season. This position could rise in importance by the conclusion of spring games, based upon Nuernberger’s performance this spring.

4. Backup Quarterback – Senior quarterback Braxton Miller made the decision to come back to Ohio State for his fourth and final year of eligibility, pleasing Ohio State coaches and fans alike. With Miller’s recent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, Ohio State will use the spring practices to determine who the primary backup quarterback is to Miller – Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett, or newly-signed Stephen Collier.

Based upon Ohio State Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Tom Herman’s comments, Jones will begin spring practice as the primary backup…

Jones played sparingly in 2013, appearing in three games. Most of Jones’ game appearances were as a result of both Miller and departing backup Kenny Guiton having Ohio State in front by a considerable margin; Jones usually would hand the ball off, or run himself. Throwing only three passes, it would be fair to say that Jones will certainly be given more opportunities as a passer this spring.

Barrett was the primary quarterback recruit targeted by Coach Herman for the 2013 recruiting class. Barrett redshirted in 2013, using the time to recover from a serious knee injury that wiped out most of Barrett’s senior high school season. Barrett’s leadership qualities have been raved about by the Ohio State coaching staff; will these qualities allow him to leapfrog Jones for the backup spot by the end of spring practice?

Lastly, Stephen Collier. The wild card of this group, Collier enrolled early and will participate in spring drills. Described by Coach Meyer as a “development guy”, Collier will battle for the backup position, but it would be highly surprising if Collier could overtake both Jones and Barrett for the primary backup quarterback spot.

Yes, Braxton Miller will/should be under center, when the season begins on the road at Navy on August 30th. As Ohio State fans have witnessed over the past two seasons, having a dependable backup quarterback behind Miller has often made all of the difference between winning and losing. This battle could also have repercussions for the 2015 season, after Miller has left Ohio State.

3. Linebacker – On National Letter Of Intent Day for 2014, Coach Meyer stated, “That’s far too many mistakes have been made in either lack of development or whatever and it’s just not where we need to be” in reference to the Ohio State linebackers. When that statement was made, this is how I interpreted it, along with many others…

Compounding the challenges for this position group are the losses of Ryan Shazier (to the NFL) and Mike Mitchell (transfer). With Curtis Grant and Josh Perry returning, Trey Johnson would seem likely to have an opportunity to claim Shazier’s starting spot. Based upon Grant’s concussion history, as well as Perry’s injuries, it is not improbable that Ohio State will have a completely overhauled linebacker corps for the season opener against Navy on August 30th. The biggest name for fans to be focused upon this spring? Incoming freshman Raekwon McMillan, who enrolled early. Others in the mix may be walk-on Joe Burger, Camren Williams, and redshirt freshman Darron Lee.

2. Defensive Back – After being torched through the air by Michigan State in The B1G Championship Game, then by Clemson in The 2014 Orange Bowl, changes were necessary for the Buckeyes across the board, both in coaching and in personnel. Coaching changes bring new Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach Chris Ash, to replace Everett Withers, who left for the head coaching position at James Madison. Kerry Coombs remains on staff, but Ohio State fans believe Coach Ash will be in charge of rebuilding the Ohio State secondary. From National Letter Of Intent Day 2014, Coach Meyer stated on Ash, “And then Chris Ash is charged with he’s got a serious responsibility. That’s to improve our pass defense. He’ll be in charge of the entire back end of our defense. He’s going to coach safety. He’s going to continue to coach corners. However we’re going to have one voice back there, it’s his responsibility to improve our pass defense… And obviously it’s more than just a secondary. It’s linebackers and everything. But you’re going to see some significant changes in the way we approach our business back there.”.

Personnel changes are needed not only due to poor performance, but also for players who have exhausted their eligibility, such as Bradley Roby (NFL Draft early departure), C.J. Barnett, Christian Bryant, and Corey “Pittsburgh” Brown. Doran Grant is the only returning starter, and after the 2013 season by the defensive backfield, Grant may not have a lock on a starting position. Armani Reeves, Eli Apple, Cam Burrows, Vonn Bell, Tyvis Powell, Gareon Conley, Christopher Worley, Jayme Thompson, and Ron Tanner will all be battling for starting positions and the prestige of their new position coach this spring.

1. Offensive Line – This was a close call, between the revamped secondary or the offensive line, for the most important area of concern for Ohio State to work upon this spring. While the secondary loses three starters, the offensive line loses four starters, plus flips starting right tackle Taylor Decker to the left side. Ohio State did very well with its recruiting class for offensive linemen, securing five players; two freshmen, Marcelys Jones and Kyle Trout, have already enrolled and will participate in spring practice.

If Decker can switch over from right tackle to left tackle with minimal issues, that will be very reassuring for the Ohio State coaching staff and fans. Jacoby Boren seems likely to have the inside track to the center position, as Boren filled in admirably for departing senior Corey Linsley. Likewise, Pat Elflein would seem to have a shot at the right guard position, after filling in for departing senior Marcus Hall. “Darryl Baldwin is penciled in at right tackle”, based on Coach Meyer’s comments from National Letter Of Intent Day 2014. Keeping my eyes and ears open for news about the performance of the offensive line will be paramount this spring, as this unit will largely determine the strength or the challenges of Ohio State’s offense for the 2014 season.

As always, looking forward to all of your commentary and critiques. Most of all, I am just happy to have football to focus upon, even if it is just from March 4th through April 12th.

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