Ohio State Spring Football 2011: 5 Questions And 5 Answers On What to Watch For

Ohio State's annual spring game -- one of the last to be played among FBS schools -- takes place this Saturday afternoon at 1:30 PM in Ohio Stadium, and can be seen on the Big Ten Network if you can't make it to the stadium. This annual spring scrimmage is taking on a new format -- offense vs. defense -- instead of a split-squad scrimmage as is the norm.

And for fans and the media that have been hungry from some spring practice updates that we haven't gotten much of, this is a good chance to get an early look at the team we will see during the 2011 season.

But what exactly should Buckeye fans be watching for?

How Much Will The Weather Affect Play?

For the third time in the past four springs, rain is in the forecast, along with a flash flood watch for the Columbus area. The amount of rain can certainly have an effect on how Jim Tressel wants his offense to operate, as they may run the football more than throw it.

And in a situation where the battle for the starting job at QB, at least temporary, is the biggest question mark around the Buckeyes, this is the worst type of weather to have.

Wet weather affects the grip of the ball from everyone to the center to the QB throwing it, and the receivers that need to catch it.

It might not be a downpour, but consistent rainfall would certainly have an impact on the playcalling of the offensive coaches in the game.

Which Running Back(s) Will Get The Most Carries?

The starting job at RB may or may not be a lock for Dan Herron starting October 8 at Nebraska. The first five games, however, will have quite an interesting playing-time battle.

All eyes will be on the two young studs in the elusive Jordan Hall and lightning fast Jaamal Berry.

The two young backs anchored the No. 5 kickoff return average unit in the country, and saw plenty of carries as well last year.

Some conjecture that the starting job will come down to those two due to experience, but redshirt freshman Roderick Smith has drawn rave reviews from the coaches, his teammates, and other media members.

Whoever gets the most carries between Hall, Berry and Smith, and whomever takes the most advantage of those opportunities will certainly have the inside track to starting the season as the No. 1 back.

How Will The Running Backs Fit Into The Passing Game?

New WR coach Stan Drayton, formerly the running backs coach at Florida, was brought in to help make the passing game more explosive.

His biggest contribution to date would be something that Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid would be proud of -- the screen pass.

The OSU offense has rarely used screens, but the lack of depth at the WR position and the strength at the RB position makes this an intriguing addition to the passing game.

If Drayton has high hopes for any player in the screen attack, it's Hall, whom Drayton likens to a poor man's Percy Harvin, quite a high praise for the elusive back.

While Hall lacks the overall pure speed of Harvin, his elusiveness and burst do make him a formidable target out of the backfield. A la Brandon Saine last season, Hall may also line up on occasion in the slot.

Hall's versatility might mean that the OSU offense can have a back in the backfield and another out wide as a receiver. In year's past, the Buckeyes have been called predictable but these additional wrinkles in the offensive game plan will provide some much-needed punch to start off the 2011 season that will begin without Terrelle Pryor and three other offensive starters.

Who Will Emerge As The Seven New Defensive Starters?

The concern most Buckeye fans have pushed slightly aside due to the suspensions from Tattoogate is the fact that the defense must replace seven starters.

While most of the players vying for starting gigs have some experience on the field, some battles are still very much worth your attention.

The thing that should be noted most is who comes out with the first-team defense and who are the first players off the bench. Those players will be among the most likely to be inline for a starting role on the OSU defense this fall.

The new starters will have earned the job because of the tough competition. That competition is why most people say the OSU defense doesn't rebuild -- it reloads.

Be sure to keep a close eye on the LB and CB positions where four of five starting jobs are up for grabs.

Which QB (If Any) Shines In Pryor's Absence?

The biggest storyline of Saturday's spring scrimmage is which of the four QBs vying for the starting job -- Joe Bauserman, Kenny Guiton, Taylor Graham and Braxton Miller -- makes a statement?

By various accounts, the competition has been interesting to watch, as the early favorite to start (Bauserman), has been shaky at best -- throwing multiple interceptions in the spring practices.

In addition, Miller has reportedly turned out to be worth the praise given to a five-star recruit and has grown through every practice as he continues to grasp the offense.

But don't discount Guiton and Graham just yet as both have done pretty well at times for themselves. Guiton was strong in the spring game a year ago and Graham has quietly impressed the staff throughout the 2011 spring session.

While the depth chart at QB is expected to likely be Bauserman, Guiton, Graham, then Miller, any one of the four could be named the starter come the fall. With a strong showing on Saturday, Miller will have the fanbase buzzing more than they are already. Unfortunately for them, they don't get the final decision on who starts, or it would almost undoubtedly be Miller.


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Original article by Tim Beilik - BlockONation Featured Contributor

Ohio State Football: The Top Five Storylines of Fall Camp 2010

Tim Bielik—Featured Contributor / Storm the Field Founder


We are one week away from the joyous return of college football for the 2010 season.

And that means camps such as the one run by Jim Tressel at Ohio State are winding down to their final days.

With national championship expectations and QB Terrelle Pryor receiving plenty of Heisman hype entering his junior season, this camp has been looked at as one of the most competitive and entertaining camps in the last few seasons.

And in any camp, there are new players that break out, old ones that are reemerging, and sometimes the unexpected.

The Buckeyes will end camp soon before making final preparations for Ohio State's first home game of the season Thursday, September 2 against Marshall.

With camp coming to a close very soon, here is a look back at the top five storylines of 2010 camp in Columbus.


Number Five - The NCAA Clearinghouse vs. Roderick Smith

Of all the freshmen Ohio State brought in for the 2010 season, one notable absence has been Fort Wayne, IN product Roderick Smith.

Smith, who rushed for 6,620 yards in four seasons of high school, signed in February as possibly the most-hyped player of the recruiting class.

But questions about his grades surfaced, and he had to stay in Indiana to take summer classes.

And even after he seemed to gain eligibility, he was never given clearance to join his fellow teammates at fall practices.

At this point, whether or not Smith does come to Columbus this fall (which it seems like he will), it is all but a guarantee that the big freshman back will redshirt.

But odds were good that Smith would redshirt anyway, because of the depth at running back.

For whatever reason, the NCAA has not given a decision either way yet about Smith's eligibility, which is strange because it has been some time since Smith finished up summer classes and his grades should be out.

Hopefully, they can decide soon so the freshman back can learn whether or not he will get to practice with his future Buckeye teammates this season or wait another year to come to Columbus.


Number Four - Injuries, Transfers Leaving Sudden Question Marks

Keith Wells, Duron Carter, Jermil Martin: those are three of the players that have left the Buckeyes' program, although Wells and Carter could find their way back.

Wells and Carter were forced to leave due to academic issues, the latter of whom has had problems dating back to the Rose Bowl, where he was ruled ineligible because of poor grades after the fall quarter in 2009.

Martin has left the OSU program entirely due to the depth at the running back position and transferred to Ashland University.

Meanwhile, fall camp seems to have taken some of the starters from the OSU defense and put them on the sidelines due to injuries.

Most notable to miss time have been DE Nathan Williams, S Orhian Johnson, and both starting CBs Chimdi Chekwa and Devon Torrence.

While all four should be able to play in the season opener against Marshall, the trend of injuries is more concerning when combined with the sudden loss of key depth players on the Buckeye roster.

Tressel has said a few times that if it were a game, these guys would be playing.


Number Three - Corey "Philly" Brown, Johnny Hankins Shining as True Freshmen

Every season, there are some freshmen that step right into fall camp and have an immediate impact.

For the Buckeyes, in a class that wasn't ranked very high by most recruiting services, mostly due to a low amount of commits, it seems that they have found a pair of talented freshmen, one on each side of the ball.

Corey "Philly" Brown has been a great find in the offense and can see immediate playing time in special packages.

The coaches have been impressed with Brown's speed and play-making ability in the open field. He has also caught the eye of Terrelle Pryor, who said that Brown may be the next DeSean Jackson.

Even though the talent at WR for the Buckeyes is pretty deep and Brown may only be fifth or sixth on the depth chart, he has the type of athleticism and speed that makes it almost impossible to keep him off the field.

Defensively, one player that has had quite a big—literally—impact may be DT Jonathan Hankins, who came into fall camp weighing over 300 lbs.

Even though Hankins is working out some conditioning issues, due to his size, he is a guy that can simply eat up blockers and has surprising quickness for his size.

He may not start right away, but there is a very good chance Buckeye fans will get to see Big Hank sooner rather than later.


Number Two - Incorporating the Tight End Into the Offense

In recent years, the idea of the tight end being involved in the Ohio State passing game has not manifested itself.

But this year, Jake Stoneburner, a converted wideout, is looking to change that.

Stoneburner, a junior from nearby Dublin, OH, has moved to the tight end position, and reports out of camp say that he has been very effective.

His combination of his height at 6'6", and speed, a mid-4.5 40-yard time, makes him a giant mismatch from either the WR or the TE position.

The goal for offensive coordinators Jim Bollman and Darrell Hazell will be to find a way to use Stoneburner as a weapon in the middle of the field.

So far, their efforts to incorporate Stoneburner have been positive, which could add a dimension that Ohio State has not had in a long time: an impact TE.

But don't expect Stoneburner to be used solely as a TE.

The coaches like his versatility and may line him up outside to take advantage of his athleticism.

With what Ohio State has lacked in offensive production, they need all the weapons they can get. And based on the reports, Stoneburner can be a guy that can make things happen.


Number One - The Maturation and Growth of Terrelle Pryor

Much has been made of Terrelle Pryor, as a Heisman candidate, and an improving passer. But what has changed has been his personality.

Pryor, although he will not be one of the six captains on the Buckeyes in 2010, has taken on much more of a leadership role.

But it seems as if the young QB from western Pennsylvania has matured and been humbled after his first two seasons.

The growth, which has been dramatic since the eye black incident during the Navy game back in September of 2009, has caught the attention of Pryor's teammates who felt he was arrogant when he came to OSU as a freshman.

When he had been told for two years that he was the best player in the country, it would be hard to blame him.

But two years with Jim Tressel, who has been credited with being a coach that has molded his players into high-character people, has certainly helped Pryor.

Whether or not this necessarily translates into more success on the field is anybody's guess.

But if there is any question as to whether or not Pryor will be a better leader, he hopefully will answer it starting next week.


A Few Other Noteworthy Buckeye Bits

After suffering a season-ending knee injury, junior LB Andrew Sweat has reportedly won the final starting OLB job from junior Etienne Sabino, as reported by Brandon Castel of The O-Zone.

Sweat and Sabino, both highly-recruited LBs out of high school and ranked in the top 10 by most recruiting services, were contending for the third starting job alongside seniors Ross Homan and Brian Rolle.

But losing the starting job doesn't necessarily mean we won't see No. 6 in the defense.

The coaches like his athleticism and have tried to implement him at the LEO, or small DE position, and even at the STAR, which is essentially a combination of DB/LB in the traditional 4-3 set.

For Buckeye fans that have been long awaiting the debut of highly-touted redshirt freshman back Jaamal Berry, they may not have to wait long.

The coaches believe that Berry will have the opportunity to get multiple carries during the Marshall game.

In the recent jersey scrimmage, Berry rushed for 64 yards on 17 carries and had one reception for 10 yards.

The six captains (all seniors) were announced earlier Wednesday.

The 2010 football captains are DE Cameron Heyward, OL Bryant Browning, RB Brandon Saine, WR Dane Sanzenbacher, and LBs Brian Rolle, and Ross Homan.



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Ohio State Football: Jermil Martin and More Bad News Regarding Personnel

Yes, it is true.

Unfortunately, more bad news hit the Ohio State University football program today.

On the heels of the news that both WR Duron Carter and DE Keith Wells have withdrawn from the school, now the long-rumored transfer of RB/FB Jermil Martin appears to have come to fruition as well.

Although he is currently enrolled for the summer quarter at OSU, he could plan to withdraw soon, and the word on the street is that he's headed to Youngstown State—stay tuned.

At best, Martin was projected as the fourth or fifth option in the 2010 Buckeye backfield—behind co-starters Brandon Saine and Dan Herron, and he would have been jockeying for playing time with Jamaal Berry, Jordan Hall, and Carlos Hyde.

The other bit of bad news as of now is that RB Roderick Smith, one of the top recruits in the 2010 class, is the only player from his class not signed up for summer quarter classes, and has not been in contact with the team in regards to his status for the upcoming season.

Apparently, there are some academic concerns that may prevent him from enrolling in time for the 2010 season.

It won't set the Buckeye coaching staff into panic mode if Smith doesn't make it for the 2010 season (see Carlos Hyde, 2009), but if for some reason he doesn't ever make it on campus, that will be a potentially huge blow to the RB depth starting in 2011.

I will update this article as needed if I hear any further information on Smith.


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Ohio State Class of 2011 Recruiting Update

Here is the current, up-to-date list of recruits that have verbally committed to play for Ohio State starting in 2011.

The class size is expected to be right around 20, and with 15 recruits already on board, there are precious few spots left.

Coach Tressel and his staff have once again assembled a talented and highly-rated ensemble, headlined by top QB Braxton Miller (pictured at right), that should easily push this class into the nations' top five when the final rankings are released, after NSD arrives next February.





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Screen image of recruiting class via Scout.com

The Buckeye Stable: Ohio State Backfield Overflowing With Talent Heading Into 2010

Anyone not living in a cave that follows college football knows who Terrelle Pryor is.

For those who may have lived in a cave, he was the top recruit in the nation in 2008, and is the starting QB for THE Ohio State Buckeyes.

Clearly, he is the most known and recognizable player in the OSU backfield, but he's not the only guy who can carry the rock.

In years past, USC has had what some referred to as a "stable" of stud running backs. Most recently, notables include CJ Gable, Joe McKnight, and Stafon Johnson. Florida's Emmanuel Moody began his career at USC and was the Pac-10 freshmen of the year in 2006 before leaving SoCal for the Gators.

Before that, there was Reggie Bush and LenDale White who split time and both ended up in the NFL. But enough about USC.

The talent that Ohio State will field at RB this coming season will rival, and very well could/should surpass any stable Slippery Pete ever assembled in his tenure in LA (2001-2009) before he scrambled out of town, just before the NCAA likely slams the sanctions hammer down on the Trojans.

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SIX NAMES TO KNOW

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1—Brandon Saine

"Zoom" was finally healthy for the majority of a season in 2009 and he was able to show off the ability and speed that made him a two-sport star for Piqua (Ohio) High School in track and football.

According to Scout.com, he was a 4-star recruit as a member of Ohio State's 2007 recruiting class.

Even though he wasn't the full-time featured back in 2009, Zoom still scored six total touchdowns, and managed to gain over 950 total yards, while averaging over five yards per carry.

A healthy senior season with more time as the featured back for him just might help lead the Buckeyes back to another BCS title game. Also, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could end up calling Saine's name on day one of the pro draft come April, 2011 if he and the team, each have a big year.


2—Daniel Herron

Like Saine, "Boom" was also a 4-star recruit for the Buckeyes in 2007. However, he was redshirted his freshmen season.

In 2008, with Beanie Wells missing four games after he was injured in the opening game of the year vs. Youngstown State, and with Saine out almost the entire season due to injury as well, Boom got his chance to show Ohio State did well in recruiting him.

In those four games, and some other spot duty in place of Wells, Herron gained 439 yards on the ground with an average of 4.9 yards per carry, and scored six touchdowns.

In 2009, Herron was named the starter to begin the season. He himself missed some time due to injury which opened the door for the finally healthy Brandon Saine. Even so, Herron did rush for 600 yards and scored eight total touchdowns.

Dan should still be one of the main men for tOSU in 2010 seeing as how Coach Tressel tends to favor experienced upperclassmen, but we'll have to see just how much playing time the young guys might earn, and if that affects Boom in the coming months or not.


3—Jordan Hall

In a limited role for the Bucks last season, soon-to-be sophomore Jordan Hall showed some excellent potential heading into the future.

The 2009 3-star recruit played in six of the Buckeyes 13 games and although he didn't get a ton of carries, Terrelle Pryor's former high school teammate from Jeannette, PA made the most of his opportunities when both Boom and Zoom each were nursing injuries.

On 48 carries, Hall picked up 248 yards for a 5.2 ypc average, and scored one touchdown.

He's a bit on the small side height-wise, but he's also pretty fast and he hits the hole and gets through it when it opens. He could easily make a push for more playing time if there are injuries, if he impresses this Spring, or with plenty of hard work once Fall camp begins.


4—Jaamal Berry

Berry is somewhat of an unknown commodity at this point. He was considered the top prospect in the OSU 2009 recruiting class, but a leg injury forced him to redshirt and miss the entire season.

With Saine and Herron returning, and Hall impressing the coaches when he saw the field this past season, Berry, a four to 5-star rated prospect out of Miami (Florida) Palmetto HS may or may not have a shot to earn substantial playing time this coming season—if he can get, and remain 100% healthy that is.

This will be a classic wait-and-see situation, as far as how much Jaamal does or doesn't play in 2010.


5—Carlos Hyde

A year ago, Carlos just missed being eligible to enroll at Ohio State, literally by one point on his ACT.

So instead, the 4-star fullback out of Naples, Florida attended Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia before enrolling at tOSU this Winter. That particular route worked out quite well for another Buckeye RB back in the mid-1990's.

Eddie George attended Fork Union MA before coming to Columbus. Then he went on to win the 1995 Heisman Trophy, was named 1996 NFL Rookie of the Year, and played a total of nine seasons in the NFL (1996-2004).

Carlos (6-1, 225) is not quite as tall as George (6-3, 240), but he has been compared to him based on his build and ability.

As a senior for Naples in 2008, he gained 1653 yards on the ground and scored 16 touchdowns. He's one to watch if and when he gets a shot on the field.

He may be redshirted (if eligible), or that may happen to our last but not least player to watch, or it could even happen to both of them with this much depth.


6—Roderick Smith

Speaking of last but not least, and of a guy many have compared to Eddie George, Smith (6-3, 225) is that guy. He's also drawn comparisons to Beanie Wells. Those are some big footsteps to follow in, but not uncommon for a four to 5-star level player.

He is considered by many to be one of, if not the best DI football prospect ever to come out of Indiana, a state traditionally known for its' exploits on the hardwood rather than the gridiron.

As a four-year high school starter, Smith gained over 6,500 rushing yards and scored 66 career touchdowns—and to think, as of right now, he's No. 6 on the depth chart.

He's probably a year away with the others who are here and ahead of him in terms of knowing the system and playbook, but I for one cannot wait until he hits the field, whether it is 2010, or not until 2011.

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The talent, specifically at running back, that the Buckeyes have been able to assemble over these past four recruiting years is flat-out sick.

The way things are looking for Ohio State in the near future, we'll all need to do what the song says.

Some might say this over-abundance of talent could lead to dissension in the locker room, or transfers down the line.

I suppose there might be some truth to that, but to be honest, it is certainly a "problem" I don't mind having.

I'd be much more concerned if we had one guy who was golden, and a cupboard full of backups that aren't worth a grain of sand combined...


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National Signing Day—Ohio State 2010 Recruiting Report Card: Did The Buckeyes Make The Grade?

by Tim Bielik
BlockONation Analyst
Ohio State Featured Columnist


With all 18 recruits signed, Ohio State has put together a decent class, though nowhere near at the level of 2008 and 2009, classes both in the Top 5.

Though OSU did not land the type of recruits they were able to score the previous two classes, the Buckeyes do have a solid group of sleepers to work with.

By comparison to 2008 and 2009, OSU did not land that one true superstar that made the class special (Pryor in 2008, Jaamal Berry in 2009).

But with the pieces they have, solid football players with alot of heart, Ohio State has depth in place for the future.

Here's a look position by position at the recruits Ohio State have signed.



QB Taylor Graham, Verlon Reed; Grade: B-



Terrelle Pryor will be a junior in 2010, but the need for a backup QB was immediate so OSU could have someone ready in case Joe Bauserman isn't as solid as many hoped.

To fill the void, Tressel landed Illinois QB Taylor Graham, the son of former NFL QB Kent Graham.

Graham is ranked 14th on Rivals.com's pro-style QB list, ahead of Washington commit Nick Montana. At 6'4", 215 lbs, he has the prototypical frame of a tall pocket passer.

Graham missed the end of both his junior and senior season with injuries, which is somewhat of a concern to the coaching staff.

But he has the accuracy and arm strength to be a solid quarterback, though he must learn how to be a more cerebral passer.

The Buckeyes also landed athlete Verlon Reed late in the process as a sleeper out of local Marion-Franklin in Columbus.

He will be given a shot at QB, but might switch over to defense depending on 2011, which I will discuss in further detail later.


RB Carlos Hyde, Roderick Smith; Grade: A



One thing the Buckeyes did well was bolster what many already thought was a deep stable of running backs.

Big RB Carlos Hyde, held up in 2009 by grade issues, returns as the big power back that many felt the Buckeyes lacked in 2009.

Hyde spent the last season at Fork Union Military Academy, but has enrolled at Ohio State for the winter quarter and will play this spring.

The other RB in 2010 might remind a lot of Buckeye fans of legendary RB Eddie George.

Roderick Smith comes to Columbus at 6'3", 220 lbs with a pedigree as probably the best running back ever to come out of the state of Indiana.

Smith is one of the most physical runners in the country and push for playing time this coming season, or at least by 2011.


WR James Louis, Corey Brown, Tyrone Williams; Grade: A



Ohio State lately has been churning out a great quantity of talented WRs into the NFL, surprising for a school built on running the football.

And the trend continues as the Buckeyes picked up three talented receivers to add to their collection.

The most prized product in this class might be Florida product James Louis, who shocked many by picking Ohio State over Florida during the summer.

At 5'11", 180 lbs, and 4.4 40-yard speed, Louis has all the physical measurables of a dynamic playmaker in the receiver corps.

Louis has drawn comparisons to Santonio Holmes and Andre DeBose, both of whom should raise some eyebrows at Ohio State.

Another major prospect similar to Louis is Pennsylvania native Corey Brown, who has a near-exact build to Louis at 6'0", 186 lbs, and 4.45 speed.

Brown is a talented receiver who is great in space and an excellent kick returner, drawing comparisons to Percy Harvin.

The third of the new receivers is a big target in Cleveland's Tyrone Williams.

And by big, Williams comes in at a massive 6'7", 216 lbs frame, making him a big target in the red zone.

Williams could one day move to TE if his body outgrows the WR frame, but having that size could be a big mismatch in the passing game.


OL Andrew Norwell; Grade C+



The offensive line has been an Achilles heel of the Buckeyes for the last few years, but the Buckeyes landed a huge fish early in the process.

Top-rated offensive tackle Andrew Norwell of Cincinnati brings a tremendous nastiness and tenacity to the position.

Norwell will probably redshirt like most offensive linemen to build up their strength, but he could be a big-time linemen for the Buckeyes.

The reason for the low C+ grade is that Norwell is currently the only offensive lineman committed to the Buckeyes.

Obviously, the quality of the entire class would have skyrocketed had Seantrel Henderson committed, or if he still does since he has yet to sign a LOI with USC.

If not, 2011 will need to be a big year for O-line recruiting in Columbus.


DL J.T. Moore, David Durham, Darryl Baldwin, Johnathan Hankins; Grade: B+



The defensive line was the staple of the 2009 season, and OSU started off 2010's recruiting season with a defensive lineman.

Boardman's J.T. Moore was the first to commit on Sept. 12, 2008, and comes in at 6'3", but not quite as big as some defensive linemen out there.

Moore has great lateral quickness and gets off the line quickly as well.

David Durham left Texas to play his senior year in North Carolina, but stayed a Buckeye through the process.

Durham comes to Columbus somewhat slender, but at 4.7 40 speed, very quick for a defensive lineman.

He might be converted to OLB with his speed, and is more of a DE/OLB hybrid.

It will be very interesting to see where Durham ends up at, but he has the speed to wreak havoc on the defensive side of the ball.

Big Darryl Baldwin hails from Solon and has the size and speed to play either position on the defensive line.

Baldwin is 6'7", 265 lbs, and a 4.7 40 time, meaning that he can be either a power rusher outside or a disruptor in the middle with his speed.

Baldwin was also a TE, but has been projected at DE for the impending future.

The biggest (in size) recruit for 2010 is DT Johnathan Hankins from Michigan.

Hankins brings his big body in at 6'3", 310 lbs, prototypical size for a NT if OSU is considering a 3-4 as they had experimented with during 2009.

DT was a big need, especially after Sharrif Floyd went to Florida over the Buckeyes.

Having a dominant D-line as the Buckeyes did in 2009 is crucial, hence the direction most of the recruiting was put into.


LB Scott McVey, Jamel Turner; Grade: B



Linebacker has always been a position of strength in recruiting, especially in the last two years where the talent pool is as stacked as any school in America.

This year, Ohio State added two more talented prospects to this pool.

The most talented and most intriguing of the two could be Jamel Turner.

Turner is a lightning rod athlete at OLB, but saw his stock plummet when he transferred to Fork Union Military Academy for his senior season.

Turner says he has matured and is ready for the Buckeyes.

The other man in the LB corps is St. Ignatius product Scott McVey.

McVey is Scout.com's third ranked MLB, and presents special types of instincts that you need at the MLB position.

McVey is compact at 6'1", 217 lbs, and has a 4.55 40 time, but he is also known as a great hitter and aggressive playmaker.


DB Christian Bryant, Bradley Roby, Chad Hagan; Grade: B



Defensive backs are another position Ohio State produces well when it comes to the NFL, and 2010 added a few more names to a potential legacy.

The big face in the secondary for 2010 is Glenville product Christian Bryant.

Bryant was a U.S. Army All-American and had a tremendous camp, shutting down many of the top receivers through the week of practices.

A Top 10 corner, Bryant is a very instinctive with great awareness despite his lack of size and supreme speed.

The speed belongs to Bradley Roby, who was a surprise pickup from the same school as superstar DT Cameron Heyward (Peachtree Ridge in Georgia).

Roby was originally a commit to Vanderbilt but switched to OSU after an outstanding visit.

And the staff was no doubt intrigued by Roby's frame at 6'1", 171 lbs, and 4.34 speed, something Ohio State will really enjoy.

Roby is a talented corner, but his specialty is his speed, which could also allow him to possibly play WR or be a returner for the Buckeyes.

The wildcard of this recruiting class might be S/LB Chad Hagan, who has a freakish athlete frame at 6' plus and over 200 lbs with speed in the 4.4 neighborhood.

Hagan might need a year to learn defense, and for his body to fully mature, but he could very well end up being a steal for the Buckeyes.

However, he has a heart condition that might be a worry for the coaches—but they have shown faith in Hagan by staying true to their scholarship.

K Drew Basil from Chillicothe, Ohio is the 18th and final commit of the 2010 recruiting class.




Looking to 2011: A Top Class in OSU's Future?

While OSU had limited scholarships to work with in 2010, 2011 could end up being a very different story.

Having a near-full complement of 25 scholarships, plus a loaded amount of top prospects in Ohio, OSU could have a class very similar to what they had in 2008 and 2009.

They've already gotten their 2011 class off to a great start, landing potential four-star DE Kenny Hayes from Toledo Whitmer, and four/five-star DE Steve Miller from Canton McKinley.

The top Buckeye targets from Ohio in 2011 are Wayne QB Braxton Miller, cousin of former Buckeye Dee Miler, and Springfield LB Trey DePriest.



Both superstar products (pictured above) have offers from everywhere, but OSU has a shot to land both as a package deal to Columbus.

No one has an indication as to when Miller might commit, although most indications are that he will eventually be a Buckeye—but Alabama has emerged as the main competition for DePriest's services, so that will be a wait-and-see situation.

On a positive note, Ohio State has a solid track record with singing in-state talent, so DePriest could definitely end up a Buckeye, and another super recruiting class in 2011 could easily be in the works!


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As the 2009 Season Nears, 2010 Recruiting Class Filling Up Fast

by HD Handshoe
Founder
BlockONation.com

As of today, the Buckeyes now have 11 recruits who have given OSU their verbal commitments to play football in Columbus. That means that only seven or eight more recruits will be allowed to join the Buckeyes 2010 class.

While this class may lack in quantity, it will make up for it in quality.

Some of the big names OSU has offered that are still undecided include No. 1 overall recruit Seantrel Henderson (OL), No. 14 overall, Lamarcus Joyner (DB), and No. 18 overall, Jordan Hicks (LB).

Several of these top recruits will most likely wait until after the Ohio State/USC game on September 12th before verbally committing to a program, as OSU and USC are both teams that some of them are interested in.

That means, there won't likely be any additions to the current OSU commited list until then.

Here is the current list of players who are committed to the OSU 2010 class:

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5-Star OT Andrew Norwell (6-6, 255)
Anderson HS (Cincinnati, OH)


5-Star OLB Jamel Turner (6-2, 205)
Ursuline HS (Youngstown, OH)


4-Star RB Roderick Smith (6-2, 215)
Harding HS (Fort Wayne, IN)


4-Star MLB Scott McVey (6-1, 215)
St. Ignatius HS (Cleveland, OH)


4-Star WR James Louis (5-11, 180)
Atlantic HS (Delray Beach, FL)


4-Star DE J.T. Moore (6-2, 215)
Boardman HS (Youngstown, OH)


4-Star QB Taylor Graham (6-4, 210)
Wheaton North HS (Wheaton, IL)


3-Star DE/LB David Durham (6-3, 225)
Charlotte Christian (Charlotte, NC)


3-Star DE Darryl Baldwin (6-6, 250)
Solon HS (Solon, OH)


3-Star K Drew Basil (6-0, 180)
Chillicothe HS (Chillicothe, OH)


(NR) S Chad Hagan (6-2, 230)
McMillan HS (Canonsburg, PA)

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Hagan, the most recent commit, mainly plays running back for his HS but the Buckeyes have recruited him as a safety.

Because of this, he currently has no rating at that position. He is however ranked as the 31st overall prospect in the state of Pennsylvania by Rivals.

We'll keep our ears to the ground, so check back with BlockONation in the future for any Ohio State recruiting updates.


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Buckeye Banter: Tressel Quietly Assembles Yet Another Monster Recruiting Class

by Kristofer Green
BlockONation Columnist



The recruiting talk in the Big Ten has centered primarily around Joe Paterno and the impressive group of 13 verbal commitments he and his staff have assembled.

The talk then usually turns to Rich Rodriguez who also has one of the top recruiting classes in the Big Ten.

But don't forget about Jim Tressel and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The past two seasons Tressel has signed the top recruiting class in the Big Ten and those classes have ranked in the top five nationally.

This season the man with the sweater vest is quietly on his way toward signing another very talented class.

First came commitments from ESPNU 150 Watch List offensive tackle Andrew Norwell (Cincinnati) and ESPNU 150 Watch List linebacker Jamel Turner (Youngstown, Ohio).

Then in recent weeks, Tressel and Ohio State have landed oral commitments from one of the Midwest's top running backs—Roderick Smith (Ft. Wayne, Ind.), the top kicker in the state of Ohio—Drew Basil (Chillicothe), and a talented quarterback in Taylor Graham (Wheaton, Ill.).

Last week, Tressel added a commitment from ESPNU 150 Watch List defensive end Darryl Baldwin (Solon, Ohio). Penn State, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Michigan, and many others were also in the mix for Baldwin.

Tressel now has nine verbal commitments, including five ESPNU 150 Watch List prospects and four of the top six prospects in the state of Ohio.

The Buckeyes are still in the mix and could still land several outstanding uncommitted prospects from the state of Ohio, including Under Armour All-American linebacker Jordan Hicks (West Chester) and ESPNU 150 Watch List offensive lineman Matt James (Cincinnati).

The Buckeyes are also locked in on the nation's top prospect—offensive lineman Seantrel Henderson (St. Paul, Minn.) as well as a number of other top uncommitted prospects from outside the state of Ohio.

Tressel is assembling another outstanding class for Ohio State—one that could potentially be another top 10 class nationally.

7/29/09 UPDATE:

Florida WR James Louis has decommited from the University of Florida and has made a verbal commitment to play for Ohio State.

Louis (5-11, 178) is the No. 31-ranked receiver in the country according to Rivals.com and is the 12th-ranked player in the Orlando Sentinel's Florida Top 100.

This brings Ohio State's 2010 commit list to ten players thus far.

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