Welcome back to another recruiting update. Ohio State hasn’t slowed down in terms of new verbal offers for players, which leaves us with plenty to talk about after the jump. Before we get to that, however, I’d like to address one of the emerging story lines of this recruiting class: Michigan carpet bombing the state of Ohio with offers.
Jim Tressel and his staff pride themselves on being selective with their offers and landing a high percentage of players that they target. In contrast, Hoke and his staff have been pretty blatant about throwing offers out to seemingly every Ohio prospect possible.
In a way, this is the perfect strategy for them. It is a fact that the clowns from Ann Arbor would be nothing without Ohio players and coaches saving them from their own mediocrity. Brady Hoke, being the true Michigan man that he is, understands that he is worthless without Ohio. So what better way to turn the program around than raiding an unbelievably talented 2012 crop of Buckeyes?
We have talked before about how there is no way Ohio State will keep all of the in-state talent in this recruiting class. The fence around the state will be knocked over big time and other schools will reap the benefits… at least for one year.
Ohio State has offered approximately 34 players in the 2012 class thus far. In contrast, Michigan has thrown out at least twice as many offers, including hitting Ohio hard. It may be a good strategy for them, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying. The worst part will be when they pull an Ohio player or ten, which is inevitable. They will claim a “victory” over Ohio State and brag about it in their typical arrogant manner.
It will be dreadfully annoying.
That being said, Ohio State and the coaches can only take care of their recruiting business, whatever happens at other schools is largely up to us fans to deal with… so prepare yourselves accordingly.
The most important thing to remember is that when you throw out 100 offers, which Michigan is well on their way to hitting, you are only expecting to land about 25% of those offers. That’s a pretty embarrassing admission of your lack of appeal, and something that Ron Zook is infamous for at Illinois. So congratulations Michigan, you have turned into the recruiting equivalent of the Illini.
Read on for new offers and some general recruiting “buzz” since our last update. And as always, remember to check out our 2012 Big Board, which is continuously updated.
New Offers
Ifeadi Odenigbo (LB/DE)
6’4″ 210 lbs.
Centerville (OH) HS
Many fans were hoping that Odenigbu would get an offer, and they didn’t have to wait long for their wish to come true. Ifeadi has unbelievable athleticism for his size, and his future is extremely bright, particularly considering he got a “late start” in football because his parents were worried about injuries. He projects as a LEO at Ohio State, and he has the potential to be a great one.
Devan Bogard (DB)
5’11” 172 lbs.
Cleveland (OH) Glenville AC
The Glenville pipeline rides again, and hopefully it works out a bit better this time around. Bogard is the first Ohio DB to get an offer and is clearly one of the best in the state. Ohio State is the early favorite as usual, but I will hold off on throwing around the lock status this time around.
Sevon Pittman (DL)
6’5″ 245 lbs.
Canton (OH) McKinley
Pittman is just another one of the outstanding defensive line prospects in the state of Ohio for 2012. With the offer, Ohio State jumps out to the front of the pack. The Buckeyes will have an outstanding defensive line class in 2012.
James Ross (LB)
6’0″ 203 lbs.
Orchard Lake (MI) Saint Mary’s
One of the top linebacker prospects in the Midwest for 2012, Ross is being heavily pursued by regional and national teams including Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Purdue, and Arizona State to name a few. It would be great fun to pull one of the top players out of that state up north, and some poetic justice considering how much Michigan is trying to raid Ohio State’s home turf.
Aaron Burbridge (WR)
6’0″ 175 lbs.
Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison HS
Another Michigan prospect with heavy interest from across the Midwest, including teams like Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Illinois. His high school perennially fields one of the best football teams in the state and has a history of sending players to D1, so you know he will be ready to go at the next level. Michigan State is the early favorite.
MacGarrett Kings (ATH)
5’11” 178 lbs.
Fort Lauderdale (FL) University School
Another early offer to a Florida athlete, broken record here, but time will tell if the interest is mutual.
Laith Harlow (TE)
6’5″ 240 lbs.
Tallahassee (FL) Godby HS
One of the top TE’s from the state of Florida but like everyone else from the sunshine state, we will have to wait and see if he has legitimate interest in even leaving the south, which would obviously improve Ohio State’s chances.
Geno Smith (DB)
6’0″ 165 lbs.
Atlanta (GA) St. Pius X School
Another southern DB. Throw him in with the rest of them as “wait and see”.
Buzz
Tommy Schutt (DL)
6’3″ 301 lbs.
Glen Ellyn (IL) Glenbard West HS
He is making a trip($) to Columbus for Junior Day instead of South Bend, which is pretty good news for one school, not so much for the other.
Alton Howard (ATH)
5’10” 175 lbs.
Orlando (FL) Edgewater HS
Things are looking great($) for the Buckeyes here. He wants to decide “as soon as possible” so stay tuned.
Pharaoh Brown (DL)
6’6″ 220 lbs.
Lyndhurst (OH) Bush
Another big time defensive line prospect from Ohio. It has been said over and over, but the in-state talent is off the charts in 2012. He is the rare QB/DE combo for his high school team.
Best Guess
Like the last time I put together a best guess list, already committed players are in red, “locks” are in black, and everyone else is in gray. This list gives the Buckeyes 20 for 2012, and I think that will be right around the number in the class. We shall see.
Ohio State’s Junior day is coming up at the end of the month, and hopefully there will be some commitments or new offers around that time, clearing up the recruiting picture even further.
But for now, here it is.
| QB | Cardale Jones |
| RB | Warren Ball |
| RB | Brionte Dunn |
| WR | Dwayne Stanford |
| WR | Alton Howard |
| OL | Kyle Kalis |
| OL | Jacoby Boren |
| OL | Jonah Pirsig |
| OL | Kyle Dodson |
| DL | LaTroy Lewis |
| DL | Greg McMullen |
| DL | Tommy Schutt |
| DL | Sevon Pittman |
| DE/LB | Adolphus Washington |
| DE/LB | Ifeadi Odenigbo |
| LB/TE | Josh Perry |
| LB | James Ross |
| LB | Deaysean Rippy |
| DB | Devan Bogard |
| DB | Florida DB |
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