Ohio State Hosting Four Top Prospects · during the 2011 season. Ohio State Hosting Four Top...
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visit schedules, but each figures to be a real possibility for the Buckeyes to sign. Ohio State was supposed to also have Jeannette (Pa.) four-star safety Demetrious Cox in for a visit this week- end, but the prospect was told the pro- gram prefers to have smaller numbers during recruiting visits. Ohio State’s decision to not allow Cox to visit could mean several things. Meyer could indeed enjoy having smaller groups of recruits in town dur- ing any given weekend so he can focus on recruiting each player on a more per- sonal level. Then, of course, there’s the possibility that Cox is no longer a priority for the Buckeyes in the 2012 class given that remaining spots in the group are becom- ing precious. And some speculate that Cox is no longer a need in this year’s class because Ohio State’s coaching staff is expecting good news from three-star safety Bam Bradley out of Trotwood (Ohio) Madison. Cox, who recently released a narrowed- down list of six schools that includes Ohio State, will instead visit Penn State this weekend. Perkins, a four-star prospect ranked the No. 22 outside linebacker in the country, has yet to secure an offer from the Buckeyes. However, Ohio State could follow suit with the more than 20 other elite programs that have already given the linebacker the opportunity to play for them. The recruitment of the 6-1, 210-pound- er remains unclear, though, given that the Buckeyes have scholarship offers out to two other linebackers – Camren Williams of West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial and Dalton Santos of Van, Texas. Williams and Santos are currently commit- ted to other programs – Penn State and Tennessee, respec- tively – but remain very inter- ested in OSU. “It’s easy to see why Ohio State is pursuing Perkins because the need at linebacker is glaring,” Greene said. “He might be able to step in and contribute early like (current Ohio State linebacker) Ryan Shazier in 2011, and Perkins is actually bigger.” O’Connor is a three-star prospect who also has yet to secure an offer from Ohio State. Though the 6-3½, 285-pound guard has roughly 10 offers – including ones from Penn State and Iowa – the Buckeyes have decided to wait before giving O’Connor that option, particularly because sources figure he would be an instant commit if OSU gave him that opportunity. Finally there’s Decker, a 6-8, 300-pound offensive tackle who is currently commit- ted to Notre Dame. Though the four- star prospect remains committed to the Irish, Ohio State has recently hired two assistants away from Notre Dame – tight ends and fullbacks coach Tim Hinton and offensive line coach Ed Warriner – which could be the reason for Decker’s new- found interest in the Buckeyes. As with Perkins at linebacker, Ohio State has offers to other offensive linemen in this class, including tackles prospects – Kyle Dodson of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and Jordan Diamond of Chicago Simeon. Dodson remains committed to Wisconsin, and both prospects have full By Ari Wasserman With only a few remaining slots in Ohio State’s 2012 recruiting class, head coach Urban Meyer is hoping to finish off the group with a bang. Four top prospects will visit the Buckeyes this weekend, and Meyer could have a chance to add to what has already been an immense amount of success on the recruiting trail. The four prospects expected to be in Columbus this weekend are Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral speedster Davonte Neal, offensive linemen Taylor Decker of Vandalia (Ohio) Butler and Joey O’Connor of Windsor, Colo., and South Bend (Ind.) Washington linebacker David Perkins. Perhaps the flashiest recruit of the four is Neal, a four-star player who sports game-chang- ing speed and the ability to play both sides of the ball. Though he is listed as a cornerback, Ohio State could be recruiting him as an offensive threat. Meyer is trying to get Ohio State into the game late for Neal, who has scholar- ship offers from over 15 of the nation’s top programs. The Buckeyes have issued an offer, and this weekend’s trip could go a long way in the recruitment of the 5-9, 175-pound burner. Ranked the No. 5 cornerback in the nation by Scout.com, Neal said his recruitment remains wide open and he’s not sure when he’ll make his final deci- sion. BuckeyeSports.com analyst Bill Greene said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Buckeyes play themselves into great position with Neal before the recruiting weekend is over. “Ohio State has offered and would take his commitment in a heartbeat,” Greene said. “Can Urban Meyer work his magic this weekend and secure a commitment from Neal? If anything, I wouldn’t bet against it.” Perhaps the most pivotal player com- ing to Columbus this weekend is Perkins, particularly because Ohio State demon- strated a need at the linebacker position during the 2011 season. Ohio State Hosting Four Top Prospects Recruiting Update • Jan. 13, 2012 Recruiting Update • Jan. 13, 2012 Davonte Neal Scout.com 2012 Big Ten Rankings Rk. School Commits 3 Michigan 24 7 Ohio State 19 38 Northwestern 20 39 Wisconsin 12 42 Penn State 14 43 Michigan State 14 44 Purdue 25 46 Iowa 18 48 Indiana 22 57 Nebraska 11 63 Minnesota 23 73 Illinois 13
Transcript of Ohio State Hosting Four Top Prospects · during the 2011 season. Ohio State Hosting Four Top...
visit schedules, but each figures to be a real possibility for the Buckeyes to sign.
Ohio State was supposed to also have Jeannette (Pa.) four-star safety Demetrious Cox in for a visit this week-end, but the prospect was told the pro-gram prefers to have smaller numbers during recruiting visits.
Ohio State’s decision to not allow Cox to visit could mean several things.
Meyer could indeed enjoy having smaller groups of recruits in town dur-ing any given weekend so he can focus on recruiting each player on a more per-sonal level.
Then, of course, there’s the possibility that Cox is no longer a priority for the Buckeyes in the 2012 class given that remaining spots in the group are becom-ing precious. And some speculate that Cox is no longer a need in this year’s class because Ohio State’s coaching staff is expecting good news from three-star safety Bam Bradley out of Trotwood (Ohio) Madison.
Cox, who recently released a narrowed-down list of six schools that includes Ohio State, will instead visit Penn State this weekend.
Perkins, a four-star prospect ranked the No. 22 outside linebacker in the country, has yet to secure an offer from the Buckeyes. However, Ohio State could follow suit with the more than 20 other elite programs that have already given the linebacker the opportunity to play for them.
The recruitment of the 6-1, 210-pound-er remains unclear, though, given that the Buckeyes have scholarship offers out to two other linebackers – Camren Williams of West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial and Dalton Santos
of Van, Texas. Williams and Santos are currently commit-ted to other programs – Penn State and Tennessee, respec-tively – but remain very inter-ested in OSU.
“It’s easy to see why Ohio State is pursuing Perkins because the need at linebacker is glaring,” Greene said. “He might be able to step in and contribute early like (current
Ohio State linebacker) Ryan Shazier in 2011, and Perkins is actually bigger.”
O’Connor is a three-star prospect who also has yet to secure an offer from Ohio State. Though the 6-3½, 285-pound guard has roughly 10 offers – including ones from Penn State and Iowa – the Buckeyes have decided to wait before giving O’Connor that option, particularly because sources figure he would be an instant commit if OSU gave him that opportunity.
Finally there’s Decker, a 6-8, 300-pound offensive tackle who is currently commit-ted to Notre Dame. Though the four-star prospect remains committed to the Irish, Ohio State has recently hired two assistants away from Notre Dame – tight ends and fullbacks coach Tim Hinton and offensive line coach Ed Warriner – which could be the reason for Decker’s new-found interest in the Buckeyes.
As with Perkins at linebacker, Ohio State has offers to other offensive linemen in this class, including tackles prospects – Kyle Dodson of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and Jordan Diamond of Chicago Simeon. Dodson remains committed to Wisconsin, and both prospects have full
By Ari Wasserman
With only a few remaining slots in Ohio State’s 2012 recruiting class, head coach Urban Meyer is hoping to finish off the group with a bang. Four top prospects will visit the Buckeyes this weekend, and Meyer could have a chance to add to what has already been an immense amount of success on the recruiting trail.
The four prospects expected to be in Columbus this weekend are Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral speedster Davonte Neal, offensive linemen Taylor Decker of Vandalia (Ohio) Butler and Joey O’Connor of Windsor, Colo., and South Bend (Ind.) Washington linebacker David Perkins.
Perhaps the flashiest recruit of the four is Neal, a four-star player who sports game-chang-ing speed and the ability to play both sides of the ball. Though he is listed as a cornerback, Ohio State could be recruiting him as an offensive threat.
Meyer is trying to get Ohio State into the game late for Neal, who has scholar-ship offers from over 15 of the nation’s top programs. The Buckeyes have issued an offer, and this weekend’s trip could go a long way in the recruitment of the 5-9, 175-pound burner.
Ranked the No. 5 cornerback in the nation by Scout.com, Neal said his recruitment remains wide open and he’s not sure when he’ll make his final deci-sion.
BuckeyeSports.com analyst Bill Greene said he wouldn’t be surprised if the Buckeyes play themselves into great position with Neal before the recruiting weekend is over.
“Ohio State has offered and would take his commitment in a heartbeat,” Greene said. “Can Urban Meyer work his magic this weekend and secure a commitment from Neal? If anything, I wouldn’t bet against it.”
Perhaps the most pivotal player com-ing to Columbus this weekend is Perkins, particularly because Ohio State demon-strated a need at the linebacker position during the 2011 season.
Ohio State Hosting Four Top ProspectsRecruiting Update • Jan. 13, 2012Recruiting Update • Jan. 13, 2012
Davonte Neal
Scout.com 2012 Big Ten Rankings
Rk. School Commits3 Michigan 247 Ohio State 1938 Northwestern 2039 Wisconsin 1242 Penn State 1443 Michigan State 1444 Purdue 2546 Iowa 1848 Indiana 2257 Nebraska 1163 Minnesota 2373 Illinois 13
Players in the class of 2012 who have issued verbal commitments to play football at Ohio State.
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Stars High SchoolWarren Ball RB 6-2 215 Columbus DeSalesDe’Van Bogard S 6-1 175 Cleveland GlenvilleJacoby Boren OG 6-2 273 Pickerington (Ohio) CentralBri’onte Dunn RB 6-1 220 Canton (Ohio) GlenOakPatrick Elflein OG 6-3 270 Pickerington (Ohio) NorthFrank Epitropoulos WR 6-3 195 Upper Arlington, OhioCardale Jones QB 6-5 217 Fork Union (Va.) Military AcademyRoger Lewis WR 6-1 190 Pickerington (Ohio) CentralNajee Murray DB 5-11 172 Steubenville, OhioJoshua Perry OLB 6-3 225 Lewis Center (Ohio) OlentangySe’Von Pittman DE 6-4 260 Canton (Ohio) McKinleyTyvis Powell S 6-3 180 Bedford, OhioLuke Roberts MLB 6-2 225 Lancaster, OhioTommy Schutt DT 6-3 290 Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard WestRicquan Southward WR 6-1 190 Lakeland, Fla.Noah Spence DE 6-3 240 Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevittBlake Thomas TE 6-4 240 Cleveland St. IgnatiusMike Thomas WR 6-4 205 Fork Union (Va.) Military AcademyAdolphus Washington DE 6-6 240 Cincinnati Taft
Players in the class of 2012 who have been offered a scholarship by Ohio State and have not committed elsewhere, according to Scout.com.
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Stars High School
Bam Bradley S 6-1 195 Trotwood (Ohio) MadisonJoel Caleb WR 6-2 200 Midlothian (Va.) Clover HillDemetrious Cox S 6-1 185 Jeannette, Pa.Derek David MLB 6-4 228 Rockdale, TexasJordan Diamond OT 6-6 290 Chicago SimeonGuito Ervilus DE 6-3 230 Orlando (Fla.) Oak RidgeDorial Green-Beckham WR 6-6 220 Springfield (Mo.) HillcrestDe’Vante Harris CB 5-11 160 Mesquite (Texas) HornAlex Kozan OG 6-4 295 Highlands Ranch (Colo.) Valor ChristianA.J. Leggett CB 5-11 175 Miami South MiamiJamal Marcus DE 6-3 245 Durham (N.C.) HillsideJordan Moore WR 6-2 195 Lithonia (Ga.) KingDavonte’ Neal CB 5-9 175 Scottsdale (Ariz.) ChaparralDavid Perkins WR 6-2 210 South Bend (Ind.) Washington
Ohio State Verbals & OffersOhio State Verbals & Offers
