Ohio State To Host North-South Classic, 3 OSU Recruits Will Be Playing

Ball will try to showcase his skills

The 67th annual OHSFCA North-South Classic will be held Friday at 4 p.m. at Ohio Stadium. 

The game will feature three future Buckeyes in Columbus DeSales RB Warren Ball and Steubenville DB Najee Murray on the South team and Cleveland Glenville DB Devan Bogard on the North team. (OSU signee OL Taylor Decker was selected to the game, but is ineligible since he subsequently enrolled early at OSU.)

Tickets will be available at the gate for $5 each. The game will be shown on a tape delayed basis on Sports Time Ohio at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Ohio North-South Classic is the nation’s longest continuously running high school football all-star game. This year’s game features no less than 26 players who signed to play at BCS schools. The North squad has 11 BCS signees with seven ticketed for Big Ten schools. The South has 15 BCS signees with seven headed to Big Ten schools.

The North owns a 38-25-3 lead in the all-time series. The South holds a 6-5 lead since the Classic returned to Columbus in 2001.

For Ball, it is a chance to play in a prestigious all-star game in his hometown as well as his future college stadium.  Bogard has played at Ohio Stadium previously for Glenville. He said he has big goals for his freshman career.

This is a pretty good warm up for tomorrow's Spring Game, so don't miss out!

Class of 2012: Recruiting Breakdown

Dunn leads the way in 2012

The nightmare might finally be over. Currently, the Buckeyes sit with 11 commitments, and only lost one that had been previously committed. It seems it is not the doom and gloom it's made out to be right? The Buckeyes are loading up on in-state prospects, some of the sleeper variety, but all of the "football player" variety. A smart move. This class started off with flash and through the summer, they added some toughness and intangibles. 


Perhaps the most important get in this class is Brionte Dunn, at tailback. To get one of the state's best was significant. Since then, there have been rumors aplenty that he may look elsewhere, and he did, in fact, visit rival Michigan. Through it all, the Buckeyes have solidified their position with him and he continues to reaffirm his commitment. The "get" was big, the "hold" has been even bigger. The only real loss in this class was Kyle Kalis, which in my opinion is a gigantic loss. Ohio State hasn't done the best with recruiting offensive linemen, and the recruiting staff had finally landed one with some serious skill and strength. When he de-committed and headed to Michigan, his legacy was sealed, and now he has had to take the backlash for his choice to head to Ann Arbor.


With Dunn and four-star Warren Ball, the Buckeyes have two stud tailbacks. The concern with Ball has been injuries and that he may not be a 25 carry a game back. That's just fine, because Dunn is, and I think they'll complement each other perfectly. Ball has great athleticism, balance, and good speed for a bigger guy. Dunn is a pounder with good lateral agility for a battering ram type.

Fickell Grabs Murray, Makes 9

Murray makes Fickell's first verbal

Luke Fickell may have a tough job this summer being a new head coach and all, but he has certainly taken over the reins of recruiting with ease thus far. Najee Murray, a defensive back out of Steubenville, Ohio, has great "SEC"-like speed and can just about cover anyone, anywhere.


Murray stands at 5'11", at 180 pounds and mainly plays Free Safety. He had offers from Kent State, Toledo, Bowling Green, Ohio, Miami of Ohio, Akron, Buffalo, Indiana, Ohio State. He runs a 4.41 40, can bench 300 pounds, and squat 450. Murray is also on the honor roll, which shows Fickell is on the right track for athletes looking to get in to Ohio State.


After Tyvis Powell committed just about a week or two ago, Fickell needs to keep the train rolling, and I think that he will with about 11 spots left in the 2013 recruiting class. While most recruiting will have to wait until August, (for obvious reasons), Fickell has shown he can get the job done and also to make sure to grab good, smart kids to have around the school.


We have some more video of Murray, for your viewing pleasure, after the jump.