DeVier Posey—Ten Buckeyes You Don't Know About Yet: Part VII

Written by HD Handshoe
Founder—BlockONation


Welcome to Part VII of this 10-part series.

As previously stated, I will continue to repost the opening few paragraphs from Part I in all ten segments in the event that a new reader who may have missed a previous segment begins to follow along so if you've been following from the beginning, please bear with me and thanks!

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First off, let me say this article is not for die-hard Ohio State fans. I suspect you will know the players I highlight.

Instead, I wrote this in response to my recent preview article about the OSU/USC football matchup in Columbus this fall. A lot has been made by non-OSU fans of how USC will be reloaded as usual, and thus, many of these people believe that Ohio State will have zero chance of beating the Trojans.

Pretty much everyone who isn't a Buckeye fan seems to believe this, but the problem is, they are overlooking the fact that USC lost far more than OSU and OSU reloads just as well as USC!

They are also making a generalization about how good or how not-so-good the Buckeyes will be based on Ohio State's big-stage losses, starting with Florida in the 2006 BCS title game and culminating with their lop-sided loss in Los Angeles last September.

They are also focusing on the players OSU is losing and aren't looking at the players who are here and ready to start, including a several key guys from the last two highly-regarded recruiting classes, and that's where I come in.

To help educate those doom-and-gloom prognosticators who make those type of general statements about the Buckeyes 2009 season outlook, I've decided to create a 10-part series to spotlight 10 players who will make a name for themselves nationally and step in for Ohio State to sufficiently fill the holes left by the likes of Beanie Wells, James Laurinaitus, Malcolm Jenkins, Marcus Freeman, Alex Boone, Brian Robiskie, etc.

Obviously, no Buckeye fan, player, or coach will deny that losing Beanie Wells is a big deal—but remember, Terrelle Pryor is an amazing dual-threat quarterback who will carry the load more often in 2009 if needed.

But he's not the only potential game-breaking playmaker that will see action for the Buckeyes. The Bucks have plenty of them on both sides of the ball and now, the series resumes.

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No. 4—DeVier Posey
WR (6-3, 190)

Coming out of high school in 2008, DeVier Posey was rated a 5-star recruit by Rivals.com.

He was listed as the No. 3 wide receiver (behind only Alabama's Julio Jones and Georgia's AJ Green) and the 21st overall prospect in the nation.

While starring at Cincinnati's La Salle HS, DeVier amassed over 2000 all-purpose yards combined and scored 16 touchdowns during is junior and senior seasons.

During his HS career, Posey was a jack-of-all-trades, playing quarterback, defensive back, punt and kick returner, but it was as a wide receiver that he truly made his mark.

He was named 1st team all-GCL-South, all-Cincinnati, all-Southwest Ohio, and all-Ohio.

Currently, Posey is listed as the No. 2 starting wide receiver for the Buckeyes along side Dane Sanzenbacher, although many consider Sanzenbacher more of a possession receiver and Posey more of a big-play threat.

In 2008 he caught 16 balls for 117 yards and one touchdown as the fourth or fifth man on the totum pole.

With the departure of Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline to the NFL, and with Ray Small in the OSU doghouse, Posey will be sure to garner much more attention from quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

He has enormous potential and is one of the fastest and biggest game-breaking threats that Ohio State will put on the field this season.

If he comes even close to the expectations many have of him based on his potential, Posey will be Pryor's go-to-guy and an 800-1000 yard season could be well within his sights.

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Previous installments in this series:

Sudden Impact Countdown Part I: Brandon Saine

Sudden Impact Countdown Part II: Boom Herron

Sudden Impact Countdown Part III: Justin Boren

Sudden Impact Countdown Part IV: Etienne Sabino

Sudden Impact Countdown Part V: Michael Brewster

Sudden Impact Countdown Part VI: Thaddeus Gibson


Part VIII: Coming soon!


CLICK HERE for more Buckeye articles from BlockONation


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Thaddeus Gibson—Ten Buckeyes You Don't Know About Yet: Part VI

by HD Handshoe
Founder
BlockONation.com


Welcome to Part VI of this 10-part series.

As previously stated, I will continue to repost the opening few paragraphs from Part I in all ten segments in the event that a new reader who may have missed a previous segment begins to follow along so if you've been following from the beginning, please bear with me and thanks!

---

First off, let me say this article is not for die-hard Ohio State fans. I suspect you will know the players I highlight.

Instead, I wrote this in response to my recent preview article about the OSU/USC football matchup in Columbus this fall. A lot has been made by non-OSU fans of how USC will be reloaded as usual, and thus, many of these people believe that Ohio State will have zero chance of beating the Trojans.

Pretty much everyone who isn't a Buckeye fan seems to believe this, but the problem is, they are overlooking the fact that USC lost far more than OSU and OSU reloads just as well as USC!

They are also making a generalization about how good or how not-so-good the Buckeyes will be based on Ohio State's big-stage losses, starting with Florida in the 2006 BCS title game and culminating with their lop-sided loss in Los Angeles last September.

They are also focusing on the players OSU is losing and aren't looking at the players who are here and ready to start, including a several key guys from the last two highly-regarded recruiting classes, and that's where I come in.

To help educate those doom-and-gloom prognosticators who make those type of general statements about the Buckeyes 2009 season outlook, I've decided to create a 10-part series to spotlight 10 players who will make a name for themselves nationally and step in for Ohio State to sufficiently fill the holes left by the likes of Beanie Wells, James Laurinaitus, Malcolm Jenkins, Marcus Freeman, Alex Boone, Brian Robiskie, etc.

Obviously, no Buckeye fan, player, or coach will deny that losing Beanie Wells is a big deal—but remember, Terrelle Pryor is an amazing dual-threat quarterback who will carry the load more often in 2009 if needed.

But he's not the only potential game-breaking playmaker that will see action for the Buckeyes. The Bucks have plenty of them on both sides of the ball and now, the series resumes.

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No. 5—Thaddeus Gibson
DE (6-3, 240)

While the 2009 Buckeye defense will be replacing two defensive backs and two linebackers (Malcolm Jenkins, Donald Washington, James Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman), the same can't be said of the defensive line.

Cameron Heyward, Lawrence Wilson, Doug Worthington, Dexter Larimore, Nate Williams, and Thaddeus Gibson all have seen live game action prior to this season.

Gibson will lead an experienced and interchangeable rotation of mean and massive man-movers and quarterback-assassins that will combine to comprise a front four that will undoubtedly be one of the very best in the nation.

Originally recruited as a linebacker, the converted defensive end from Euclid, Ohio took over for the departed Vernon Gholston in 2008 after being red-shirted in 2006 and mostly playing on special teams in 2007.

In his Euclid HS days, Gibson recorded 27 combined sacks in his junior and senior seasons. He was selected to play in the Big 33 Game, named as the Cleveland Touchdown Club’s 2005 Defensive Player of the Year, tabbed First Team All-Ohio twice, and was named to the Cleveland Plain Dealer “Best of the Best” all-star team.

In the 2009 Fiesta Bowl vs. No. 3 Texas, Gibson really began to garner attention when he not-so-politely "introduced" himself to Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy numerous times, including one sack and two roughing the passer penalties—one of which was at the very least highly questionable.

He's hard-nosed and has the desire to improve by spending hours and hours watching game film and working with the coaching staff to do everything he can do to become the best player he can be.

He certainly has the passion, will, and determination to improve individually and become a leader on the Buckeye defense. He also has a mean streak and killer instinct on the gridiron and seeks to destroy everything that moves that isn't Scarlet and Gray.

That kind of fiery attitude seems to have been missing in Columbus the past few seasons and I welcome it with open arms. Let's hope it's extremely contagious.

Heck, I'm fired up and all I did was write this article.

I cannot wait for November 5th.

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Previous installments in this series:

Sudden Impact Countdown: Part I

Sudden Impact Countdown: Part II

Sudden Impact Countdown: Part III

Sudden Impact Countdown: Part IV

Sudden Impact Countdown: Part V


Part VII: Coming soon!


CLICK HERE for more Buckeye articles from BlockONation


This article is also featured on

Michael Brewster—10 Buckeyes You Don't Know About Yet: Part V

by HD Handshoe
Founder
BlockONation.com


Welcome to Part V of this ten-part series.

As previously stated, I will continue to repost the opening few paragraphs from Part I in all ten segments in the event that a new reader who may have missed a previous segment begins to follow along so if you've been following from the beginning, please bear with me and thanks!

---

First off, let me say this article is not for die-hard Ohio State fans. I suspect you will know the players I highlight.

Instead, I wrote this in response to my recent preview article about the OSU/USC football matchup in Columbus this fall. A lot has been made by non-OSU fans of how USC will be reloaded as usual, and thus, many of these people believe that Ohio State will have zero chance of beating the Trojans.

Pretty much everyone who isn't a Buckeye fan seems to believe this, but the problem is, they are overlooking the fact that USC lost far more than OSU and OSU reloads just as well as USC!

They are also making a generalization about how good or how not-so-good the Buckeyes will be based on Ohio State's big-stage losses, starting with Florida in the 2006 BCS title game and culminating with their lop-sided loss in Los Angeles last September.

They are also focusing on the players OSU is losing and aren't looking at the players who are here and ready to start, including a several key guys from the last two highly-regarded recruiting classes, and that's where I come in!

To help educate those doom-and-gloom prognosticators who make those type of general statements about the Buckeyes 2009 season outlook, I've decided to create a 10-part series to spotlight 10 players who will make a name for themselves nationally and step in for Ohio State and sufficiently fill the holes left by the likes of Beanie Wells, James Laurinaitus, Malcolm Jenkins, Marcus Freeman, Alex Boone, Brian Robiskie, etc.

Obviously, no Buckeye fan, player, or coach will deny that losing Beanie Wells is beyond huge—but remember, Terrelle Pryor is an amazing dual-threat quarterback who will carry the load more often in 2009 if needed, but he's not the only potential game-breaking playmaker that will see action for the Buckeyes!

The Bucks have plenty of them on both sides of the ball!

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No. 6—Michael Brewster
C/OL (6-6, 290)

Brewster, a five-star top prospect, was recruited by Ohio State and joined the incoming class of 2008 after a standout career at Edgewater High in Orlando, Florida.

He was rated as the No. 4 o-lineman in the nation and was ranked in the overall top 100 (No. 12) by all the major recruiting sites including ESPN, Rivals, Scout, PrepStar and SuperPrep.

He was the top offensive line recruit from the state of Florida in 2008.

Brewster didn't play center in H.S. but since game four of the 2008 season vs Troy, he has been the Buckeye's starting center and anchor!

When future first-round NFL pick Nick Mangold played center as an OSU freshman in 2002, it didn't happen this quickly and he had played center in high school.

Brewster enrolled at Ohio State in January for winter quarter, but was forced to sit out spring practice while recovering from right shoulder surgery necessitated by an injury suffered in his last high school game.

He participated in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl and was a Parade and EA Sports All-American.

He was also tabbed All-USA by USA Today, named to the Orlando Sentinel Top 5, the Tampa Tribune Best of the South, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Super Southern 100!

He's a very good athlete, has a lot of quickness, and good size and all those things combined are what makes him so good.

The Buckeyes didn't just make a move to more athleticism at quarterback in 2008, but they've also did it other places on the field, and Brewster embodies that.

He's still not 100% polished, but he's big and fast and confident, and now he's also experienced.

Opposing defensive linemen—BEWARE!

Fans outside of Ohio may not know it yet, but the 2009 Buckeye offensive line could end up as one of the top o-lines in the entire nation and Brewster will be an important and key component of that unit.

Part III of this series focused on Justin Boren. Do not be surprised this season if Boren and Brewster are both All-Big-Ten first team selections as well as possibly named as All-Americans.

Recently, the Buckeye O-line has been considered by many fans and the national media as soft and has been accused of not being tough, mean, and nasty. Boren and Brewster are about to change that!

I don't think I'm overstating how good Mike Brewster could be two or three years from now when I say he could be the next Orlando Pace and at the very least, the next Nick Mangold.


As always, thanks for reading—Please post your thoughts!

Part VI: Coming soon!

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Etienne Sabino—10 Buckeyes You Don't Know About Yet: Part IV

Welcome to Part IV of this ten-part series.

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No. 7—Etienne Sabino
LB (6-3, 235)

Sabino, a five-star top prospect, was recruited by Ohio State and joined the incoming class of 2008 after a stellar career at Dr. Michael Krop H.S. in Miami, Florida.

He was rated as the No. 2 overall linebacker in the nation (No. 1 MLB) and was ranked in the overall top 100 by all the major recruiting sites including ESPN, Rivals, Scout, PrepStar and SuperPrep.

He was an All-Dade County and All-Florida first team selection in 2008 after posting 146 tackles, seven QB sacks, five forced fumbles and one interception.

He was named an EA Sports All-American and was invited to play in the 2008 US Army All-American game in 2008 as well.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution tabbed him in their Super Southern 100.

Sabino played in all thirteen games for the Buckeyes in 2008 on special teams.

Sabino has great size and athletic ability. He has the speed to play sideline-to-sideline and the strength to stuff the run.

He's very fluid and he flies to the football and punishes runners. Against the pass, he has shown solid athleticism and range. His ability to pressure the quarterback in blitz packages is nearly unmatched.

Sabino plays extremely well in traffic and his blitzing skills are incredibly impressive. He can find his way around or through blockers and bodies on the field as well as any linebacker in the nation, playing low and balanced in and around the big uglies.

Ohio State has consistently produced many great linebackers over the years and sent them on to NFL stardom.

With James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman continuing that tradition of moving on to the NFL after last season, look for Sabino to assume the role of the next great linebacker at Ohio State.

He certainly has big shoes to fill, but don't be shocked if and when you see him meet, and even exceed the expectations that are undoubtedly going to be placed upon his shoulders.

As always, thanks for reading—Please post your thoughts!

Part V: Coming soon!

This article is also featured on

CLICK HERE to return to the Blog.BlockONation.com Front Page