College Sports Arena

by **furls** » Wed Dec 07, 2011 9:45 pm

So I am going to update this top post with the most current information I have (and with the aid of some of the posters around here) to keep all the new big names Urban Meyer is chasing to close out the 2012 class. Made a hot list and cold list from the names JCoz provided. Players listed in order of my opinion of likelihood of coming to tOSU.

Updated numbers.... Updated my guess for total numbers to 24-25 based on impending transfers of Jeremy Cash and Gambrell. Counting recent commit by Camren Williams, tOSU's 2012 now stands at 23, leaving 4 spots available for the class. The guys with numbers are the ones that I think are most likely to commit.

Updated as of 1/20/12

Hotlist:
1. Brionte Dunn (5* RB): Official visit 12/9. Committed.
2. Tommy Schutt (4* DT): Official visit 12/9. Committed.
3. Se'Von Pittman (4* WDE/OLB): Official Visit 12/9. Committed.
4. Noah Spence (5* WDE): Official visit 12/17. Committed.
5. Taylor Decker (4* OT): Official visit 1/13. Committed.
6. Camren Williams (4* LB): Surprise Offical 12/12. Committed.
7. David Perkins (4* OLB): Official visit 1/13. Committed.
8. Joey O'Connor (4* G/OT): Official visit 1/13. Committed
9. Armani Reeves (4* CB): Williams teammate and fellow PSU commit. Committed 1/30.
10. Jamal Marcus (underrated 3* LB): Official 1/20, Down to tOSU and ECU.
11. Kyle Dodson (4* OT): Official visit 12/9. Rumors of silent verbal.
12. DaVonte Neal (4* ATH): Official visit 1/13. Wants to meet Dick Rod at 'Zona.
13. Stefon Diggs (5* WR): Official visit 1/28. Visit went well.

Cold List

Davonte Harris (4* CB): Committed to aTm.
Dalton Santos (4* ILB): Committed to Texas.
Alex Kozan (4* OG): Meyer still has not offered. tOSU has stepped way back.
Jordan Diamond (4* OT): Official visit 12/9. Rumors of scUM silent verbal. scUMmers think he is their's to lose. Additional rumors that tOSU staff has not been in contact since the official visit.
Jameis Winston (5* QB): Scheduling an official, date TBD. FSU commit. Long shot.
Bam Bradley (4* SS): Not much news since his official. Pitt or Stanford.
Joel Caleb (4* WR): Official visit complete. Went VERY well. Between tOSU and VaTech. Not much news since his OV. Not looking great.

by **JCoz** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 11:13 am

by **JCoz** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 5:23 pm

Add in Jamaal Marcus for a Jan. Official, furls.

by **furls** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 7:38 pm

updated 5:30 on 12/8

by **JCoz** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 7:51 pm

Read a rumor on the boards that if Winston Vists it will be with his fellow 5* FSU commit Mario Edwards.... grain of salt: that is absolute rumor board whispers and has less meat to it perhaps then anything I've ever posted here RE: Recruiting.

by **bucknutz94** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:01 pm

God I hope they land Davonte Neal. That kids freshman highlights are some of the best I've ever seen. Here he is at the 2009 Army combine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh_ZBHjA5h4

by **JCoz** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 10:52 pm

He's an Ohio Kid with OSU fans in the immediate family. From what I hear he'd already be a buckeye if not for tatgate and the ensuing scandal and tressel ouster.

by **furls** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 11:11 pm

I like Neal, but they are chasing some better prospects at that position. Diggs and Agholor. I might like Cyrus Jones better too.

by **danwismar** » Fri Dec 09, 2011 2:49 pm

Bam Bradley taking an official at OSU next weekend...per Greene.

by **furls** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 10:20 am

Updated Jamal Marcus, tOSU in his final two.

by **furls** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:42 pm

BN reporting that Camren Williams (4* LB from MA) literally, just got in his car (out of nowhere) and is now on his way to tOSU on an official to start tomorrow. Williams is a PSU commit, that I am completely unfamiliar with. I hope he is better than Jamal Marcus because it sounds like Williams may commit and take up one of those precious few remaining 2012 scholarships.

by **furls** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:48 pm

Big weekend for official visits. Here is the rundown as I have read it online.

Kyle Dodson had a great time and I think we may have flipped him. He hasn't decommitted from Wisco... yet, but I think it is coming.

Tommy Schutt, 5* DT is rumored to have committed to tOSU. Looking for clarification.

Jordan Diamond, 4* Official visit went great his post visit comments and tweets make it sound like he will announce for tOSU on signing day. Holding his final announcement until then.

by **neoleo** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:41 am

furls wrote:Big weekend for official visits. Here is the rundown as I have read it online.

Kyle Dodson had a great time and I think we may have flipped him. He hasn't decommitted from Wisco... yet, but I think it is coming.

Tommy Schutt, 5* DT is rumored to have committed to tOSU. Looking for clarification.

Jordan Diamond, 4* Official visit went great his post visit comments and tweets make it sound like he will announce for tOSU on signing day. Holding his final announcement until then.

Great summary Furls. Nothing official yet on Schutt but lots of smoke. BN had quotes from other commitments that visited this weekend saying that Schutt told them he was a Buckeye. Also reading that Dunn had a great time and may or may not take his visit up north. Whether or not he takes the visit tells the whole story imo.

by **neoleo** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:44 am

furls wrote:BN reporting that Camren Williams (4* LB from MA) literally, just got in his car (out of nowhere) and is now on his way to tOSU on an official to start tomorrow. Williams is a PSU commit, that I am completely unfamiliar with. I hope he is better than Jamal Marcus because it sounds like Williams may commit and take up one of those precious few remaining 2012 scholarships.

This is crazy. A guy packs up his bags on a Sunday evening and drives three states away out of nowhere? Have to expect a commit out of this.

Urban's draw is unbelievalbe. If here were still in the SEC I'd be throwing out payment accusations...

And I'm not quite sure we don't have room for both Williams and Marcus. There were two glaring needs on this year's team, LB and OT, and Urban is going heavy after both. If he can get them, I think he takes 3 OT and 2 LB and fits everybody else in however he can. I love the WR talent that we're after, but I doubt we get all of them (or even two), plus there's already a lot of young receivers on this roster with loads of potential (Philly will be a Jr, and Reed, Spencer, Smith and TY will all be sophomores).

Also, I just read that Luke Roberts plans to enroll early, which of course means he can count towards last year's class. Also read over the weekend that Taylor Graham is transferring. I'm sure there will be more news like this to open up a few more spots.

by **JCoz** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:33 am

The Fork union guys will also count towards last years class, but that wont matter, because we are backed up against the 85, not the 25.

We need 6 people to transfer,get med hardships, or be dismissed just to get this class to 22.

Taylor graham was officially #1 of those. Berry, Fellows, and McVey are expected to join that group. Still need 2 more just to get the planned # of commits into this class.

So we are a ways off from being able to exceed the 22 that most expect, and this ignores the impending NCAA ruling. We could lose another couple ships still.

by **neoleo** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:41 am

JCoz wrote:The Fork union guys will also count towards last years class, but that wont matter, because we are backed up against the 85, not the 25.

We need 6 people to transfer,get med hardships, or be dismissed just to get this class to 22.

Taylor graham was officially #1 of those. Berry, Fellows, and McVey are expected to join that group. Still need 2 more just to get the planned # of commits into this class.

So we are a ways off from being able to exceed the 22 that most expect, and this ignores the impending NCAA ruling. We could lose another couple ships still.

I'm just not as worried about the numbers as others seem to be. I can easily see 5-6 guys (other than the ones you mention) that see the writing on the wall and leave this off-season. We have a cluster of DE's and none of them can get to the QB. I'm sure at least one of those guys will leave once Spence and/or some other highly rated DE comes in. Same at WR. TY Williams was unhappy all year and he's already 5th or 6th on the depth chart before any freshman report. Also a lot of DB's on the roster with more coming in and being recruited.

I'm not so sure Urban "runs guys off", but I'm sure he'll have some very frank conversations with some fringe guys on the roster. I think he gets the guys he wants this recruiting season knowing full well that the numbers will be taken care of later.

Edit to add that I doubt the pending NCAA ruling has anything to do with this class. If it stays at the penalties that we self imposed, we can easily absorb those in the next two years. If the NCAA adds on to the penalties, it will most likely start with next year's recruiting class.

by **JCoz** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:12 pm

I'm not "worried" about the numbers, they are what they are. Remember that OSU is already self imposing 1 scholly this season and 2 the next two years, so its already affecting the numbers.

The 6 I mentioned does NOT account even for that 1, let alone any additional that the NCAA imposes themselves.

And I disagree as regarding schollarships, we should be hearing from the NCAA in the next week or two, and I absolutely believe they can increase the scholly loss for this year above the 1 we've already offered to dock ourselves.

I don't think at this point a bowl ban would affect this season, but they definitely could dock the scholly numbers further.

The numbers will work out one way or another, all I'm saying is that nobody should expect more than 23 in this class, and we are a long ways away from being able to even fit that.

by **neoleo** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:16 pm

JCoz wrote:I'm not "worried" about the numbers, they are what they are. Remember that OSU is already self imposing 1 scholly this season and 2 the next two years, so its already affecting the numbers.

The 6 I mentioned does NOT account even for that 1, let alone any additional that the NCAA imposes themselves.

And I disagree as regarding schollarships, we should be hearing from the NCAA in the next week or two, and I absolutely believe they can increase the scholly loss for this year above the 1 we've already offered to dock ourselves.

I don't think at this point a bowl ban would affect this season, but they definitely could dock the scholly numbers further.

The numbers will work out one way or another, all I'm saying is that nobody should expect more than 23 in this class, and we are a long ways away from being able to even fit that.

I must have missed where OSU was docking itself of one scholarship this year, I just knew about the five total over three years. That could have been five in one year, as long as it was taken care of within a three year period. Not saying you're wrong on this, I honestly could have missed it.

As for adding on penalties this year: The NCAA is by no means fair, but I can't see them handing down additional scholarship reductions a month before signing day. Are we supposed to pull scholarships from commited kids at that point if they add on more penalties for this year? I just don't see it. If they add on, and that's still an if at this point, I think they would handle it the same way as a potential bowl-ban, it would be for next year.

All in all, we agree on this. Lots of talent coming in this year and Urban will find a way to get them in. We just probably don't get all of the talent.

by **e0y2e3** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:28 pm

Dodson on Meyer: "He is planning to take over the NCAA and win big. He loves linemen that can move."

by **e0y2e3** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:42 pm

Schutt is a Buckeye.

by **furls** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:19 pm

Schutt updated up top.

by **peeker643** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:40 am

Se'Von Pittman in as well per 11Warriors.

Eleven Warriors @elevenwarriors 12 mins Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
New 11W: Se'Von Pittman Makes 18 11w.rs/t0dRBv

by **peeker643** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:43 am

Rittenberg/Bennett @ESPN_BigTen 21 mins Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Urban Meyer sending message to the Big Ten today: if you think your recruits are committed, better check again.

Ramzy Nasrallah @ramzyn 8 mins Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Urban Meyer is doing the equivalent of moving to a new neighborhood & immediately dating everyone's wives. In a classy, understated way.
Retweeted by Eleven Warriors

by **furls** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:59 am

Updated first post. Spots are getting tight. I am sort of rooting for Dunn to decommit and go somewhere else (hopefully not scUM).

by **furls** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:27 am

I am guessing that the Buckeyes finish with Dodson, Diamond and Spence.

Then I think they probably finish the class with a LB out of this group listed in order of likelihood (Marcus, Williams or Bradely).

The wildcard is the "athlete" position. You can see Meyer wants one, if he can add one he will and it will be out of this group list in order of likelihood: Jones, Caleb, Neal, Diggs.

by **dmiles** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:31 am

furls wrote:Updated first post. Spots are getting tight. I am sort of rooting for Dunn to decommit and go somewhere else (hopefully not scUM).

Well here's to hoping he doesn't develop into a Tyrone Wheatley or Tim Biakabatuka or whatever it was.

by **furls** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:04 am

Yep, I hope not. I don't think he is going anywhere. Frankly tOSU has bigger needs than RB. For all the recruiting success Meyer has had since taking over a couple weeks ago, tOSU still needs two tackles in this class and a LB in this class. He also has Noah Spence, a top 5 player, on the verge of committing at a position of sort of need (WDE). No one says no to Noah Spence, no way.

I am really regretting some of the early tOSU offers now, Roger Lewis, Jacoby Boren, Pat Elflein, Luke Roberts and Tyvis Powell. Some of those guys could hit, but tOSU is going to have to turn away some very good players this year.

by **JCoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:25 am

You are spending too much time on those Furls, whats done is done. Let it go. Dont think that UF never got 3* types, because they absolutely did. One thing to note is that I think most of those kids were camp offers, and the OSU staff has done pretty well with recruits they have seen and offered in person.

Here is some senior footage of Elflien

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTbuPpYRAzg

And FWIW, I have a feeling we aren't going to regret a scholly given to a Boren.

by **JCoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:08 am

RE: Dunn, I just want to make one comment

Remember the mantra when we lost out on DePreist and Hicks? I do. It was "if there is one place we can afford to lose a guy its LBer, we are stacked!"

Sounds awfully damn familiar right now with regards to Dunn. Only this time we will be lining up against him every year for the next 4.

We need to keep him if we can.

by **neoleo** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:14 pm

JCoz wrote:RE: Dunn, I just want to make one comment

Remember the mantra when we lost out on DePreist and Hicks? I do. It was "if there is one place we can afford to lose a guy its LBer, we are stacked!"

Sounds awfully damn familiar right now with regards to Dunn. Only this time we will be lining up against him every year for the next 4.

We need to keep him if we can.

Completely agree with both of your last two posts, JCoz.

And to Furls' point about the early offers, I like those guys if for nothing else being loyal to the program. During the summer and the season we had, we needed guys to stay strong and commit.

by **danwismar** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:32 pm

Furls is right that in a normal year those five guys don't sniff offers from OSU. And in hindsight maybe it would have been better to wait, but the 2012 recruiting effort was absolutely hemorrhaging a few months ago, and they couldn't have known what they know now.

Considering how the underinformed national media were talking last summer about how OSU would be entering a sustained "down" period, and how no established coach would go near the program, and recruits would shun the school, and blah, blah, blah....this minor step back on the recruiting scene is going to be a blip on the radar.

Even at the crying area of need...OT...Meyer will bring in some bodies...hopefully quality ones like Dodson and/or Diamond, and then next year all the top tackles in Ohio are already Buckeye leans. Fragel has officially switched to OT for 2012 as well. They'll be OK, if thin, with Norwell, Mewhort, Hall, Fragel, Brown, Underwood (and some good freshmen, we hope.)

by **JCoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:15 pm

danwismar wrote:Furls is right that in a normal year those five guys don't sniff offers from OSU. And in hindsight maybe it would have been better to wait, but the 2012 recruiting effort was absolutely hemorrhaging a few months ago, and they couldn't have known what they know now.

Considering how the underinformed national media were talking last summer about how OSU would be entering a sustained "down" period, and how no established coach would go near the program, and recruits would shun the school, and blah, blah, blah....this minor step back on the recruiting scene is going to be a blip on the radar.

Even at the crying area of need...OT...Meyer will bring in some bodies...hopefully quality ones like Dodson and/or Diamond, and then next year all the top tackles in Ohio are already Buckeye leans. Fragel has officially switched to OT for 2012 as well. They'll be OK, if thin, with Norwell, Mewhort, Hall, Fragel, Brown, Underwood (and some good freshmen, we hope.)

Dan, I think I could easily come up with a list of guys that OSU got in just about every recruiting year that were at least similair to these guys.

I'm not saying thats always worked out well, far more misses than hits, but I'm just saying a group like this has been included in just about every class in the last 10 seasons.

by **danwismar** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:23 pm

Point made....and not to split hairs with you Coz, but I think in most years you could find a couple of questionable offers, but usually not five or six of them.

by **Cerebral_DownTime** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:46 pm

Why the hell would anyone want to Dunn to go elsewhere?

by **JCoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:51 pm

Cerebral_DownTime wrote:Why the hell would anyone want to Dunn to go elsewhere?

There is actually a really large contingent of fans that either are taking offense to Dunn's flirting with the enemy while committed (like attending THE game as a guest of UM) or hoping he flips to UM so that Meyer has a shot at one more big prospect this season at a different position.

by **noles1** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:55 pm

Cerebral_DownTime wrote:Why the hell would anyone want to Dunn to go elsewhere?

Personally I think he is a headcase and after watching him multiple times over the last couple years, I'm just not sure he's all that good. I saw Beanie, Clarett, Sutton, RInger in HS and I just don't see it with Dunn. I bigger and slightly better Erick Howard (Narth Canton Hoover), IMO.

I hope I'm wrong if he's a Buckeye but I just am "meh" when I have seen him play. Also, friends and those around the Glenoak program and area haven't exactly raved about the kid. Have to take that for what it's worth but it is a data point at least.

by **Cerebral_DownTime** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:01 pm

JCoz wrote:
Cerebral_DownTime wrote:Why the hell would anyone want to Dunn to go elsewhere?

There is actually a really large contingent of fans that either are taking offense to Dunn's flirting with the enemy while committed (like attending THE game as a guest of UM) or hoping he flips to UM so that Meyer has a shot at one more big prospect this season at a different position.

I didn't know he did that. You get the kindling and i'll get the stake.

by **JCoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:10 pm

noles1 wrote:
Cerebral_DownTime wrote:Why the hell would anyone want to Dunn to go elsewhere?

Personally I think he is a headcase and after watching him multiple times over the last couple years, I'm just not sure he's all that good. I saw Beanie, Clarett, Sutton, RInger in HS and I just don't see it with Dunn. I bigger and slightly better Erick Howard (Narth Canton Hoover), IMO.

I hope I'm wrong if he's a Buckeye but I just am "meh" when I have seen him play. Also, friends and those around the Glenoak program and area haven't exactly raved about the kid. Have to take that for what it's worth but it is a data point at least.

I hear you and have read things like that. While I dont think this is Beanie or Mo C, I think he's actually a very, very good back. JMO though.

This just in:

Go Blue (scout) is reporting now that Dunn will not be visiting UM this weekend as planned.

Stay tuned........

by **JCoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:13 pm

Saying he postponed it till Jan.

In home visit is either today or Thursday of this week....I gott believe Meyer puts the screws to him on this one.

AFAIC, if he makes that OV to UM he's gone.

by **e0y2e3** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:57 pm

Dunn just reconfirmed (for good) per Greene.

by **furls** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:07 pm

Ohio State has offered 2013 scUM commit (and Dunn's cousin) Dymonte Thomas. Thomas basically told Ohio State to go fuck themselves, but I find the timing interesting.

by **JCoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:08 pm

lol, fulrs.

by **e0y2e3** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:23 pm

"I am officially 150% a Buckeye," Dunn stated Tuesday evening. "My family and I met with Coach Meyer and Coach (Stan) Drayton tonight and I told them both I wanted to end my recruitment and be a Buckeye. I couldn't be happier, and I feel so great tonight. We had such a cool time tonight, and we sat around and talked and watched film. It was just a great, great night for all of us."

.....

"My honest thoughts on Coach Meyer would be that he is just the exact type of man I want to be around," he continued. "He is a regular person in so many ways, but he is also one of the greatest football coaches in the country. I liked his personality, and my grandmother just loved him, which meant a lot to me. Every member of my family was impressed with Coach Meyer, and all of us were in agreement that with him at Ohio State, I was going to Ohio State."

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=145&f=1079&t=8434362

by **JCoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:27 pm

Really glad Meyer locked him up.

I guess we will see but I think he would have been really, really good for Hoke and UM.

by **e0y2e3** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:29 pm

Once Meyer gets in a kids house it's pretty much a wrap best I can tell.

by **e0y2e3** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:34 pm

Also, a lot of smoke starting that a few of the big kids in Ohio's class for next year (hi Jalin Marshall!!!) will be locking in pretty shortly after signing day.

by **JCoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:40 pm

Well I fully expected him to be a buckeye, but hell yah I'll take a commit from him in Feb...

He was a buckeye LOCK no matter what, but Urban Meyers offense just makes so goddamn much sense for him it isn't funny. Now go lock up Zaire too, lol.

by **e0y2e3** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:48 pm

Also, if Southward really is taking this official to Florida don't be surprised if he gets dropped from the class according to Greene.

by **e0y2e3** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:01 am

Nick Davidson is taking four officials in January (including OSU) and deciding just after. Been waiting for his dad to finish coaching to go on visits.

by **furls** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:31 am

Let me be very clear on Dunn.... in some of the responses above I think some folks misinterpreted my stance on him.

I think he is good, not amazing back. He is not a top shelf guy from what I can tell. He is a brute at the HS level and that is how he makes the majority of his headway. He doesn't have the quick feet of an elite back, nor the top gear that Chris Wells had. I have heard lots of questionable things about his character. That was the bad.

The good: He is better than any back on scUMs roster and he is better than any other back they could bring in for 2012. Depriving scUM of his services is huge, he meant much more to them than he did to us. He is very tough, he is literally a 30-35 carry per game back and he always falls forward. I think he is a tougher version of Carlos Hyde with maybe a little less speed. I don't think he will be a back that we tell stories about in 10 years, but he will contribute.

I never had an issue with him per se, the issue was more with what else could we get with the scholarship, when they are so tight this year. I think we are going to have to tell some very talented guys at positions of greater need that we are full. Definitely not a wasted scholarship.

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