Burn it With Fire or Sour Grapes?

Scary little guys

In spite of the recent recruiting success, our friend ProveIt has come to share some knowledge with the rest of us in form of a guest post. Be sure to tell him what you think of his article! 

You hear claims that the recruiting boards are biased, but never any details.  Are the boards truly biased and deserved to be cybernetically torched at every mention, or is this just sour grapes from fans in conferences with lower rankings?

A quick internet search of various analysis of their rankings show Scout and Rivals are notably more accurate than the others.  Rivals nominally edges out Scout in accuracy, but not enough to herald them king (usually only a couple of players a year differentiate the 2, and some criteria is questionable).

I don’t consider subjective as less accurate or more biased than objective.  An objective plus subjective analysis has the capacity to be much more accurate than a purely objective analysis.  An objective formula can be biased if the criteria are slanted.

Proving bias in a subjective analysis is difficult.  I looked at the objective rankings.

2013 Recruiting Profiles: WR Robert Foster

Foster has it all

Although the 2012 recruiting class has not yet been finished, with the recent hiring of Urban Meyer, 2013 has already perked some interest into Buckeye fans across the country. With that said, here are our efforts to give you the in-depth knowledge about who Ohio State's top targets are.

There's a reason that '13 wide receiver recruit Robert Foster starts off our 2013 recruiting profiles: He's simply the best of the best. The junior from Central Valley has already been offered from a multitude of schools, including our very own Buckeyes. Ohio State isn't the only one noticing the game-breaking receiver, as Foster currently holds offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State, West Virginia, Virginia, Rutgers, Pitt, and Purdue.

At 6'2'', 175 pounds, Foster could very well be one of those few players that you don't say no to. All-State in Class 3A as both a wide receiver and a punt returner during his sophomore season, he put up some serious numbers: 45 carries for 406 yards with 3 rushing touchdowns, and 25 receptions for 520 yards. As a junior, Foster did a little bit of everything in helping the Warriors finish 11-1. He caught 37 passes for 584 yards and five touchdowns, including a long of 99. He rushed another 36 times for 419 yards and two scores, including a long of 55.

Recap: Urban Meyer's First Month As Ohio State Head Coach

Never gets old

Urban Meyer is awesome. Sure he was public enemy #1 around these parts for the latter part of the past decade but I have a forgiving heart (especially when he is pulling the strings for your favorite football team). We are not even a month into this new regime but I think Urban has this team going in the right direction even before holding his first official practice.

With the NCAA’s blessing, Meyer has been able to hit the recruiting trail while is counterpart focuses on getting the Buckeyes ready for their showdown with the Gators. Even though this is a common practice among transitioning coaching staff’s in college football, some have expressed their displeasure with the arrangement. Well, “some” isn’t quite right. In reality the only person to speak up is Dave Brandon from Michigan. The fact that he is the only person to publicly complain about this makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

The recruits have been signing with the Buckeye’s at a furious pace since Meyer has taken over in Columbus. Some have been poached from other schools (thanks PSU and MSU), Brionte Dunn returned from the dark side and other top prospects are taking a closer look at the Scarlet and Gray. If I were a fan of another Big Ten team, these new developments would have me quite worried.

4 Star DT Tommy Schutt Commits To Ohio State

Schutt is Number 17

According to Allen Trieu, 4-star defensive tackle Tommy Schutt has switched his commitment from Penn State to Ohio State this evening. Schutt made his official visit to Ohio State over the weekend, and it did not take Schutt long to publicly announce he has committed to the Buckeyes.

Schutt becomes Urban Meyer’s first verbal commitment as head coach of the Bucks and commitment No. 17 for Ohio State’s 2012 recruiting class. The 6-foot-3 and 285-pound Schutt was a starter at defensive end in a 3-man front the past three seasons. He made 73 tackles including 14 sacks during his senior season as Glenbard West finished with a 10-1 record. Schutt had 27 tackles for loss as well on the season.

Tommy was recruited as a defensive tackle, and then committed to Penn State during the summer. At the time he picked the Nittany Lions over dozens of scholarship offers including Ohio State, Oregon, USC, Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, Duke and Boston College.

This is a huge get for Ohio State and especially Urban Meyer, who has gone wild on the recruiting trail, picking up a lot of interest in many top recruits across the country. Schutt will join 5-star defensive end Adolphus Washington on the defensive line, and both are hoping to hear good things from the Noah Spence camp very soon. The line of thinking is that Urban's first commitment will make the rest of the dominoes fall into place for the 2012 class, which could end up being one of the Top 10 in the country. 

Are Adolphus Washington And Dwayne Stanford Coming To Ohio State?

Washington looks ready to go

According to Cincinnati News, the seniors from Cincinnati Taft, Adolphus Washington (DE) and Dwayne Stanford (WR) are making their announcement of where they plan to go to their choice of schools on the same day at the same time, 10 a.m. on November 9th.

Washington's "Top 5" include:

- Ohio State, Michigan State, Alabama, Kentucky, and Oregon. All in no particular order.

Stanford's "Top 5" include:

- Ohio State, Oregon, Alabama, LSU, and Arizona State. All in no particular order

Washington had made an official visit to Michigan State when the Spartans hosted TTUN. That game, of course, resulted in a big upset for the Spartans after knocking off an undefeated, Denard Robinson-led team. After the visit it appears Washington was actually impressed with the way the defensive staff switched in many different defensive linemen in and out during the game, but luckily, as we all know, Ohio State does almost the same exact thing. I'd have to say that Washington is a lock, because it sounded like he was all Ohio State before the visit, and after the visit he's said that Ohio State is still #1 in his mind, and likely won't change.

As far as Dwayne Stanford goes, my guess is that with the recent "addition" of Michael Thomas, and the already committed Cardale Jones (currently at Fork Union to help grades, etc) Stanford will follow where Washington goes, and all signs point to Ohio State. Those 4 players right there are huge for the Buckeyes as the wide receiver spot is thin, and these guys are good. We'll find out on November 9th, where we hope to announce the addition of 2 new Buckeyes to Buckeye Nation.

Video highlights of both after the jump

Fickell And The Buckeyes Grab 2 More For 2012

Luke Fickell and Ohio State have picked up 2 more recruits for the 2012 season. Luke Roberts, a linebacker from Lancaster, and Patrick Elflein, an offensive lineman from Pickerington North, called coach Luke Fickell with the news that they want to be part of the 2012 class.


Elflein, 6 feet 3 and 285 pounds, reacted almost immediately after being offered a scholarship yesterday in the wake of Lakewood St. Edward lineman Kyle Kalis decommitting from OSU and pledging to Michigan last week. That gives Ohio State two offensive linemen in the 2012 class from Pickerington. Elflein, who was also courted by Purdue, Northwestern and Indiana, will be joined by Jacoby Boren of Pickerington Central.


Roberts, 6-2 and 225 pounds, was offered on Monday, discussed it with his parents and "prayed about it," he said, before making the call yesterday. Roberts, who has a 4.3 grade-point average, received offers from Purdue, Wake Forest, Cincinnati and six other schools. He said two factors swayed him.

Devan Bogard Is Number 9

Devan is ready for some action

After woes such as losing recruits to other schools, and more bad news for Ohio State keep on coming, it's nice to find some good news headed towards the Buckeye's way. Devan Bogard, a 2012 defensive back, has committed to Ohio State. The 6'1'', 185 lb DB becomes number 9 in a class that just might shape up to be one of the better ones in the future. Bogard runs a 4.67 40, and has great instincts on where to be and when. A hard hitter, some might compare him to Mike Doss, and that's always good news. The four-star safety will be counted upon to help lead Glenville this season, and might also be seeing some time on offense at quarterback for the Tarblooders. 


Here's what Devan had to say:


"I have committed to Ohio State," Bogard stated Saturday evening. "I was at camp today, but I didn't work out. When I returned home I decided to call (head coach) Luke Fickell and commit. Now I can just work on my grades and get better as a player without worrying about recruiting."

Are the Sanctions here Yet?

Can the Buckeyes be dominate?

Disclaimer: My tone for today’s column may be a little harsh. It has a lot to do with the upcoming kick in the balls the Buckeye’s are facing in August but also reflects my feelings on the 7 game lead that my beloved Indians choked away to the Tigers over the course of only two weeks. I knew the other shoe would eventually drop at some point this season but I wasn't prepared for that mammoth lead to evaporate in less than a fort night. 


I mean seriously, WTF is Carmona doing out there? Why can’t anybody hit the ball all of a sudden? How is Austin Kearns still earning a major league paycheck? All of these questions are enough to drive a man to the brink of insanity. I live and die with my teams and sometimes the line between them becomes a little fuzzy. Just thought I would throw that out there before today’s rant.

I am not sure how to feel about this upcoming season. Usually this time of year I am glued to the recruiting websites and lapping up any little piece of information about the Buckeye’s from any number of websites. As we all know, this year as been a lot different. It has been a living hell with the public flogging that Ohio St. has taken in the press and from opposing fan bases. It sure feels like the media blitz on OSU has been over the top and certainly worse than any other of our violating brethren faced (Alabama, Oregon, USC etc..). Does anybody else feel the same way? When the Trojans and Crimson Tide were being taken behind the woodshed, I remember reading numerous stories but don’t recall the scathing criticism and daily beat downs by reporters that our fan base has had to endure this summer.

Kyle Kalis De-commits From Ohio State

Another unexpected blow came to the 2012 recruiting class, as Kyle Kalis has told Luke Fickell that he has de-commited and re-opened his recruitment. There is a lot of upside to Kalis, for he is a tough, strong lineman who dominates consistently. He plays the game hard and is an excellent run blocker and drive blocker. He plays with good leverage and finishes his blocks strong. He shows the ability to pull and lead, and is coordinated and athletic in the open field. He has good feet all around, which is also evident in pass pro. If there's a knock, it's that he may not be long enough for left tackle. The 6'5'', 310 lineman could have been a huge addition to this team in a year or 2, and most likely would have started right from the get-go. Now it seems even more now, than ever, that Ohio State's recruiting is going to fall harder than I personally expected. With all this talent, they are sure to end up somewhere, and the Big Ten has already been feasting on Ohio State's recruits, trying to get them to come over to their schools.

Tyvis Powell Commits To Ohio State

Time for some good news amongst all the bad news:


Ohio State has landed verbal commitment No. 8 for the class of 2011 yesterday as defensive back Tyvis Powell has joined the program. At a press conference at his high school of Bedford, Ohio, the three-star safety prospect announced his verbal commitment to Ohio State eight days after landing a scholarship offer from his dream school. In the process, he becomes the eighth member of the class and the first one to join since head coach Jim Tressel resigned Monday morning.


Powell is a tall corner, 6'4'' 180 lbs, and has excellent coverage abilities. This is a defensive back coaches dream player as he comes in with a lot of excitement. This is also Luke Fickell's first recruit since the Tressel resigning. This is a great pick up for Fickell and the rest of Buckeye Nation because we can tell already that Powell fit in just right. A huge hump, as well, to get over the Tressel retiring because recruiting will now start to become a bit of an issue. Players might be thinking about stability of coaches, and how good the team can actually even be.


"I’m ready to be a Buckeye and won’t let you down. We’re going to have some fun and I’m going to give you your money’s worth! Get the popcorn ready."
- Tyvis Powell, 8th verbal in the 2012 class


After the jump, we have some eye candy of Mr. Powell.

Jim Tressel Resigns

We'll miss you, Coach

The start of the whole Ray Small, "everyone is doing it" quote with the Lantern, really had me concerned on how OSU would handle it. Coupled with the fact that an SI "investigative" journalist was coming out with a story on Tressel a day or two after, and the pressure must have been too much for the Vest. 


From Gordon Gee:

" I write to let you know that later this morning we will be announcing the resignation of Jim Tressel as head coach of the University's football program. As you all know, I appointed a special committee to analyze and provide advice to me regarding issues attendant to our football program. In consultation with the senior leadership of the University and the senior leadership of the Board, I have been actively reviewing the matter and have accepted Coach Tressel's resignation.

My public statement will include our common understanding that throughout all we do, we are One University with one set of standards and one overarching mission. The University's enduring public purposes and its tradition of excellence continue to guide our actions."

Blake Thomas Becomes #7 In 2012

He can catch, but especially block

After Ohio State signed two tight ends for the 2011 class, most thought that would be more than good enough for the next 2 years or so. The recruiting staff must think otherwise, as they grabbed a kid that was rumored to be ready to receive an explosion of offers from big name schools after he attended different football camps over the summer.


As of now, Blake Thomas comes in at 6-4/240, and seems to be the perfect fit as a tight end at OSU, thinking block first, catch second. I wouldn't be surprised to see him used much like Fragel was/is once he develops some more. Even for his size, he has deceptive speed that could help out on some toss plays or play action throws. He had offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Louisville, Indiana, Virginia, and others before deciding to don the Scarlet and Gray.


Thomas joins Frank Epitropoulos, Josh Perry, Warren Ball, Brionte Dunn, Jacoby Boren, and Kyle Kalis as members of the 2012 recruiting class. It's a good thing we are still getting recruits, showing that there is no confidence lost in our staff of recruiters. They are still able to go and get who they need to fill roles. While there is still plenty of time for the 2012 class to get in, we have some more spots to fill, and we should have about 12-13 more recruits to pick up in the future. Keep checking ITS out for more updates and news on recruits and everything else.

Signing Day Predictions Part 3

It's Signing Day! That means it's time for our final predictions for this class. This time around, we will only be looking at Keith Wells and Duron Carter. Both are former Buckeyes, leaving because of academics. 


Duron Carter, the son of Hall of Famer Cris Carter, has been playing at Coffeyville, and has done well. Now, it seems that OSU doesn't want him back, via his Twitter a month or so ago.


Keith Wells is an interesting story. He's got some talent, he's been able to make his grades rise, so there is a possibility to come back for him.


Let's delve into the projections:

Signing Day Predictions Part 2

Can Walker become elite?

In Part 2 of the 3 part series, I will be taking a look at and predicting where Aundrey Walker, Ejuan Price, and Cardale Jones will land. You can see Part 1 here.

These next 3 recruits are pretty important to grab. Ejuan Price committed to Ohio State, but could be having second thoughts after his visit with Pitt. It's possible to change his mind.

Aundrey Walker is down to his final three: USC, Ohio State, and Michigan State. This will come down to the last day, without a doubt in my mind.

Cardale Jones is like a lesser version of Braxton Miller. He would be a nice addition to the class, but this man is not a need as it stands.

On to the recruits, broken down:

Predictions For National Signing Day Part 1

Can Tressel reel in some more recruits?

Wednesday may mark a big day for Ohio State. As you know, 2 days from now, is the National Signing Day this year. This means all the big recruit names that haven't committed anywhere have to make their decision.


The Buckeye's have their eyes on a couple of star studded individuals that would really put the cherry on top for the 2011 Recruiting class. We've gone over a couple, including Doran Grant, Jajuan Story, Curtis Grant, and Ejuan Price. Here they are, and the rest of our predictions as to who is going to be a Buckeye in 2011.

Stan Drayton Is Hired

Welcome Coach Drayton!

As we reported earlier last week, Stan Drayton may be on his way to accepting the vacant WR coaching spot on the Buckeyes. The former Florida RB coach, the move was different, but welcome among fans. Not only can he teach the players, but recruiting is a big part of this. As of right now, Curtis Grant and Jajuan Story are picking between Florida and Ohio State. Signing Day is coming up, and this hire may just help the lean towards OSU.

This story was confirmed by the excellent writers at the Plain Dealer,  With his extensive ties to the Florida prep community, this hire could start to pay big dividends right away, especially if Story decides to follow Drayton to Columbus.

Recruiting Update: JaJuan Story

Fans, get to know this wide receiver. The #33 ranked WR in the '11 class, according to Scout, just finished his visit to Ohio State, and you may be wondering how it went for the Florida commit:

"2011 WR JaJuan Story says his #OhioState visit is "amazing" so far.#gators #Oregon"

via Laura McKeeman 

Ohio State still has a chance with the 6'4'' 192 receiver, and Buckeye fans can only hope for the announcement they are looking for. Laura also dropped the bomb that an update would be given, saying "Florida fans won't be too happy".

Story is one of the more physically imposing receivers in the country, and has all the tools to be a great receiver on the college level with excellent size and speed. He needs to work on honing his skills and the finer points of the position as his routes can be loose and he needs to recognize coverage better. His hands will get better with more experience as should the rest of his game.

New Bits Has More Recruiting, Stealing Coaches, And Losing A Player

Eleven Warriors posted a piece about why Kirk Herbstreit is a fake Buckeye. That was written by Bucknuts writer Ramzy and he did a hell of a job, too:

"That season marked the beginning of what has long since become the end of Herbstreit as a recipient of Most Favored Alumnus status. In case you didn’t hear, didn’t notice or have already forgotten, Herbstreit used his ballot to drop Ohio State three places in the final AP poll, from sixth to ninth. In case you didn’t hear, didn’t notice or have already forgotten, Ohio State finished the season by beating Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. Arkansas was the second-place team in an extremely strong SEC West with a top-ten ranking. Try and process that without giving yourself a migraine.

There is no precedent or history to support how Herbstreit treated his alma mater in his final ballot. He punished Ohio State for beating an SEC team that had, in his own words, the “best offensive line and quarterback the Buckeyes would see all year.” (Note: He was right.) Strangely, Herbstreit rewarded Oklahoma by moving them all the way up from 14th to seventh for beating UConn, a four-loss team that somehow managed to get schooled by Michigan this season. In terms of difficulty, beating UConn in 2010 ranked somewhere between boiling water and producing flatulence."

Hit the nail on the head.

Ejuan Price Commits To Ohio State

Ejuan Price has committed to Ohio State, as I thought he would. Earlier in the evening, Price had Tressel over at his house for a sit-in meeting. At that point, I thought it was a done deal, simply because he had the head coach of Ohio State over right before his announcement. The news came over Twitter, and Ohio State receives a Top 50 linebacker. On top of all this, they still have a legitimate shot with Curtis Grant and James Vaughters.

Price, a 6-0/235 middle linebacker from Woodland Hills High School in the Pittsburgh area, is listed as #10 at his position nationally by Scout.com and #11 at the slot by ESPN/Scout's Inc./ Price was targeted and offered very early and aggressively by the coaching staff, a good sign he is a player Jim Tressel views as a no-brainer, perfect fit for the program, both on and off the field. 

Recruiting Notes

Not easy to catch

The big name on the recruiting trail right now is Doran Grant. Grant, a defensive back and wide receiver, is one of the top recruits coming out of the state of Ohio. Grant excels on both sides of the ball, but is currently being recruited to play cornerback. He's 5'10'' and 175 pounds, and one of the fastest players that lives in the state. He is a track star at his school, giving him great speed in open field. I wouldn't be surprised to see him ending up as a kick returner/punt returner if he comes here. Doran made his official visit to Ohio State over the weekend, saying:

"It was nice, I enjoyed everything," Grant said. "My mom and dad enjoyed it too. They talked to coach [Jim] Tressel. It went good. I got a lot of questions answered like playing time, opportunities, and non-football stuff. They said I'd have the opportunity to compete for playing time and possibly start."

Grant has received offers from some of the best schools in the country including USC, Notre Dame, Miami (FL), Michigan, LSU, Penn State, and Michigan State. As of right now, he is decieding between Ohio State and Michigan State. MSU has a bit of a rope with him, because his dad played for them while he was there, so Michigan State is going to be holding on for the whole ride, but there is no doubt in my mind that OSU sits in the driver's seat.