Final Recap: Recruiting 2010 Part 1 of 2.

Part 1

As we look back on the recruiting trips Jim Tressel and his staff took this year, we see they brought in some good talent. I think the closest comparison to this class would be the 2005 class, where everyone thought that guys like Jenkins, Laurinatitus, Hartline, etc, were all labled as scrubs. Buckeye fans were wrong execpt on one note: Anderson Russell. (Sorry, had to stick it in there). We will recap the recruits we missed and hit, while giving them grades, and a rundown of their future as well as where ITS said they would go.

Seantrel Henderson - OL - 6'8"/330 - LOI - None - ITS said USC

As everyone knows, because we keep telling you over and over again, Seantrel Henderson has not totally decided where he wants to go to school at yet. On National Signing Day, he annouced he would attend the university of SC, but never signed his LOI. Many rumors flowed soon after, and Seantrel would proceed to say he wants to wait and see what the NCAA decides to do with the allegations involving USC. What this basically means is that he didn't have enough time to truly think about it, and wanted more descion time, but he said USC because CBS paid for the rights to televise it. (Which, in all honesty, is complete bull, since they didn't televise it on the CBS around the nation). It came so close that Seantrel sent a text message to his former high school coach with the word Miami. Not good news for Buckeye fans. Overall the staff seemed to go after him hard, but Tressel didn't want to spend all his time there, so he risked it and it eventually lead to this. Grade: D - (until further notice)

Jordan Hicks - LB - 6'2''/220 - LOI - Texas - ITS said Ohio State

Jordan Hicks was the lone "star" recruit in the nation to announce on Friday afternoon. Buckeye fans thought  he was either a Gator or a Buckeye. They were wrong. Hicks announced in front of his school that Friday to announce he would be playing for Mack Brown. Hicks shocked some Buckeyes and that's when the Henderson recruit became even bigger for the Buckeyes to pick. Many thought if we didn't get Hicks, we had to get Henderson, and we didn't (yet). Jordan is an outstanding linebacker, who has good speed and a good nose for where the ball is at all times. ITS posted some exclusive video of him a couple of months back. Jim Tressel and his staff recruited him fairly well, and in this case, there was nothing they could really do. Grade: B

Roderick Smith - RB - 6'3''/220 - LOI - Ohio State - Ohio State - ITS said Ohio State

Rod Smith is a very good running back that Ohio State was recruiting fairly hard, and was, most fans think, the lone gem in a heap. Smith has outstanding size and has rare athleticism for a kid with his frame. He is a great cutter, even when going full blown speed. He's known for his break out plays, which will help the Buckeyes with big play capability. We know he can block, and scouts had him down that he can catch fairly well. His weak point, would be his inside running, although that can be easily fixed by weight gain and good coaching, which we know Dick Tressel is reliable in that category. I think Rod can start his sophomore/junior year. There is so much talent at running back right now, that we have a stable similar to what USC used aganist us the past two years. Herron, Saine, Berry (Our favorite since recruited, love the kid) Hyde, Hall, Martin, and now Smith. Grade: A-

Come back tommorow for part 2, when we wrap up the last of the big name recruits.

Seantrel Henderson chooses USC..

Well, after the hour of panic, Henderson decided to attend the USC school out west. It's hard to turn down an offer from a school that has sky rocketed players into the first round of the NFL. Especially linemen. If you look at tOSU's track record on linemen to the NFL, you see this:

2009 – 0 (Alex Boone undrafted)

                                                        2008 – 7th round (Kirk Barton)

                                                        2007 – 6th round (Dough Datish)

                                                        2006 – 1st round (Nick Mangold)

                                                                    4th round (Rob Sims)
  
                                                        2005 – 0

                                                        2004 – 4th round (Alex Stepanovich)

                                                                    7th round (Adrien Clarke)

                                                        2003 – 0

                                                        2002 – 2nd round (LeCharles Bentley)

                                                                    6th round (Tyson Walter)
 

Not excatly what you want as a coach recruiting smart linemen. Ohio State still got a stable of running backs with this class which includes Rod Smith (this year) Carlos Hyde (last year) Jaamal Berry (Our favorite-last year) Jordan Hall (last year) Boom Herron and Zoom Saine. We also have Terrelle Pryor at QB, something that was a big deal two years ago, when HE was the number 1 recruit. All in all, Buckeye fans shouldn't fret TOO much, although we did manage to lose Floyd, Henderson, Anderson (Still decieding, although a verbal to WVU), Mount Moses, James, Hicks, Joyner, and Shaw. Don't forget, next year is shaping up to be a top 5 recruiting class, and hey, we basically have the same team as the Rose Bowl and we should be able to move on to the MNC. So let's keep rolling along Buckeye Fans. We got this.

Hicks to Texas.

Well, I did think it would be Texas if not Ohio State. He has a great realtionship with their defensive CO. Will Muschamp. He did say that he went on a fact that he plans to be the next head coach at Texas, but I would be surprised if Mack Brown retired in the next four years. Either way, Buckeye fans really shouldn't fret. (Ignore the Inside The Shoe News post that says FML.) There is still a chance to get one of the best linemen, and a couple of great talents. All joking aside, this recruiting class can still be a pretty decent one, but a big part of that success will come next Wedensday when Seantrel Henderson and so many other big Buckeye named recruits make their decsion. Let me add one more thing. If you have to look hard to find something about Jordan Hicks on ESPN.com, then it's not such as a big deal then most Buckeyes think. All in all, keep your chins up, and punch smile first.

Jordan Hicks to announce today at 12:30

Today at 12:30 PM est, Stud LB Jordan Hicks will announce where he is going to school. It is down to Texas, Florida, and Ohio State. Texas is the current favorite to win over the recruit, but many analysts have said he will attend tOSU. It will be a great thing to watch if your bored, unfortuantly for me, I'm in school at this moment and shouldn't be writing this post. School Rules be damned. I'm a Buckeye. Inside The Shoe will try the best possible to cover this, AFTER it has happend. Unitl then, keep it here!

Almost Here..

National Signing day is just a couple of days away, but Jordan Hicks said he will announce where he will go on Friday at his school. Meanwhile, other recruits in Seantrel Henderson etc. are probably going to wait until the very end. Either way, stay tuned, and next Wedensday, we will recap all that has happend that day. Stay here for more Buckeye news.

Basketball: Chris and Yogi have seemed to take a little break, so I will just say Ohio State basketball in a sentence. Upset Purdue, lost to WVU, playing Iowa, pretty good chance in my eyes to win the B10, IF they can upset MSU.

More Recruiting..

With only one week left until National Signing Day, Ohio State looks to close some deals with some big names. As we talk about frequently here, Seantrel Henderson yets to tell anyone what he is thinking. Although, rumors swirl that because of the USC/Lane Kiffin debacle, he is now leaning towards Ohio State. This, although old news by now, is good. Jordan Hicks looks like he will not be a Buckeye, most likely heading to Florida, where he and Urban can have dreams toghether. I'm totally kidding, I would love to have him, as you see in the post below, he sounds like a smart kid, and plays smart as well. I do believe that the class would be a bit of a let down if we did not get Seantrel, but then our good friends at 11W always keep us optimistic with new recruits that have just as much potiental. I would personally love to have both Henderson AND Cody, but if Florida loses the bet with Henderson, they will most likely end up with Cody, and vice versa.

Recruiting is a tough thing to follow, especially if you don't have a ton of time to research it. It takes a combination of following people on twitter, facebook, reading other Buckeye blogs, scout.com, and rivals. Lots of effort. We try. Sometimes, we fail. Others, we do decent. All in all, I would say that recruiting IS, in fact, important to blogging for a sports team..so I am not giving up the fight. I still intend to make this one of the top blogs. Hey, we can try, right?

Exclusive Video: Jordan Hicks

Looking good, would like to seem him in a Buckeye uniform..