Sitting Down With 2014 4-Star Offensive Tackle Demetrius Knox

Knox has the Buckeyes on his mind

One of the elite offensive lineman in the country for 2014 is Demetrius Knox (Ft. Worth/Texas). Knox is a 4-star (1 point away from a 5-star) in the class of '14. He is currently the 28th best prospect in the whole country, the 4th best out of Texas and the 5th best offensive tackles overall.

Knox stands 6'5" and weighs 300-pounds, fantastic measurables for an offensive tackle. The Buckeyes know one of their weak points has been on the offensive line, especially the tackle spot. Knox would be a perfect fit for Urban Meyer and Ed Warriner.

For a school that has produced some top lineman including Orlando Pace, Nick Mangold, LeCharles Bentley to name a few, should have no problem attracting some of the top talent in the country at the offensive line position.

Now with Meyer starting his recruiting trail early in 2014, Knox is one of the prospects that Ohio State has at the top of their list.

Join us after the jump to read the interview with Demetrius Knox.

2013 4-Star Quarterback J.T. Barrett Set Out To Prove Ability In Elite 11

Barrett is out to prove his ability

2013 Ohio State commit QB J.T. Barrett attended ESPN's Elite 11 camp in Dallas over the weekend. ESPN has video of Barrett talking about his skills as a QB as well as some of the Elite 11 coaches telling us what they think of the Texan quarterback.

When Barrett talked about himself, he mentioned that he wants people to recognize him as a quarterback because he can throw the ball. Most people that put him down as a dual-threat mostly believe that he's just a running threat, but Barrett disagrees. 

He also makes mention of how he didn't get recruited by Texas and how that has motivated him to do even better in college.

See for yourself about Barrett's playing style and the accuracy he can show when launching a football to receivers. This kid can be a pretty good player once he joins the college ranks. 

Video after the jump.

4-Star RB Dontre Wilson Down To Ohio State And Oregon

Wilson has 4.4 speed

DeSoto all-purpose back Dontre Wilson, the 2013 speedster from the Texas high school powerhouse, has come out of nowhere in the recruiting world of Ohio State. Wilson is a 5'10", 165-pound running back from DeSoto, TX. He is ranked No. 107 in the country by 247Sports.

Wilson is the No. 15 recruit in Texas (TX) and is the No. 10 Running Back in the nation.

Having the 2013 class mainly focus on Derrick Green, a fellow 4-star, Wilson seems to be more of a speed back in the mold of LaMichael James or DeAnthony Thomas for Oregon. It makes sense, then that the Ducks are in his final 2 selections of schools.

Originally slated to make a decision between Texas and Oregon at the Eagle spring game in late May, Wilson told the Ohio State Rivals site that he is down to the Buckeyes and Ducks ($), making no mention of the Longhorns, who were supposed to be where the Buckeyes are now: In the top 2 finalists in a report published on Wednesday. 

There had been some talk in recent weeks that Urban Meyer's squad was in the running for the 5-10, 175-pounder, but no one really paid attention, as we mentioned before it seemed the '13 class was focused on Green. This has seemingly come out of nowhere.

Here's the quote from Wilson via BuckeyeGrove.com:

"It's just Oregon and Ohio State, that's my top two. I'm not looking at any other schools right now, just those two."

Texas A&M Vying For SEC, Gets Turned Down

Not going to happen. For now.

Thursday evening, Aggieyell.com reported that Texas A&M is on its way to the SEC, pending approval by Board of Regents at an August 15th meeting and final SEC approval by league presidents. Obviously, it did not go through like A&M expected. University of Florida president Bernie Machen, the chairman of the league's presidents and chancellors committee, said the group met Sunday and reaffirmed the satisfaction of the present 12 institutional alignment. Machen also said no action was taken regarding Texas A&M or any other schools. He didn't, however, close the door on change. 

Two weeks ago, Slive and SEC lawyers met with A&M officials, when the league requested that the school work out the possible legal ramifications surrounding its contract with the Big 12, the report said. The Board of Directors for the Big 12 held a conference call Saturday to discuss Texas A&M's plans.

Wow. Just Wow.

If this is true, then Mizzou, KU, KSU, Baylor and Iowa State are the biggest chumps of all time. These schools are like a crazy woman begging you not to leave her. Except that the crazy woman usually moves in to your apartment and you're trying to get them to leave. I guess it's like a reverse analogy.

Super Monday.

We've got a lot of topics to cover today, as big news has hit from a couple of sides on the sports world.

First off, the expansion of conferences is heating up once more, as the Big Ten Council met in Park Ridge to discuss. The Dispatch also reports and prints emails from Gordon Gee to and from Jim Delany, and a big key to this is Delany saying that they are fast tracking the expansion. This most likely is due to the fact that the Pac 10, over the weekend, dropped the bomb inviting Texas, and many more Big 12 schools. This is huge, and could lead the Big Ten to making some tough decisions in the future. Nebraska and Missouri have been given an ultimatum, the Big 12 saying, by Friday, you either need to pack your things or get comfy.

Is this the future Lebron??

Lebron James is said to be favoring the Chicago Bulls, but Gilbert is leaning hard on hiring Michigan State coach Tom Izzo for the job, and he hopes that will sway LBJ's choice towards the Cavs. I'm not sure this is a good thing, because it's giving Lebron too much power. If he wants Calipari, then the Cavs will get him. I don't like it, and neither does anyone else. If it does get Lebron to stay, he better stay his entire career, because he is basically managing the Cavs.

Celtics tie the series at 1, and will head to Boston for what should be a good home stretch. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers have to be feeling some heat right now, as they were expected to be 2-0 in the series at this point.

The Reds battled back yesterday to take the game into extra innings, and then finally closing it out. They look good, and are tied for first as the Cards lost in extra innings to the Brewers. Bronson Arroyo didn't get the win, but the Reds still got it done.

Big Ten Expansion heating up.

A story has broken out about the Big Ten speeding up the process of looking for a 12th (or more) member(s). This is very intriguing in the fact that just a couple of months ago, we heard Jim Delany say that the process would most likely take up to 12-18 months. Some other known facts are that if this was to happen before the meetings of the BCS, Delany would contact the Big East commish, letting him know they would be looking at Rutgers, Pitt, and Syracuse. That would allow the Big Ten more than a month to negotiate with schools before conference presidents and chancellors meet in Chicago during the first weekend in June. Then there was this little nugget of glory.

"I don't think 16 is scaring anyone off, as long as you can find (five) that are a good enough fit," said one source who has been consulted during the exploratory phase. "They're looking long-term, across the horizon. What gives them the best shot at keeping value at a high level?"

This may surprise you, but I am actually against having so many teams in the conference. Yes, it would probably be more exciting as a whole, but it seems a bit too much to me. I think adding 1 or 3 schools at most would be alright, but 16 is a couple too many. Here is my wish list for the Big Ten for teams to be added

1. Texas
2. Notre Dame
3. Nebraska
4. Cincinnati (just so we can shut the fans up every year)

More on the Notre Dame, comes in the Chicago Tribune:

By joining the Big Ten, Notre Dame could increase its annual television revenue from roughly $15 million to $22 million, get a national TV platform (the Big Ten Network) for its top-notch Olympic sports and decrease travel costs for its teams.

Sounds like a good deal to me. I know they have the contract with NBC, but they would also get more respect as a whole, and the whole shebang! I really don't understand why they have held out so long. It's just sad to think we could have had Notre Dame added a long time ago..and they just didn't want to. Oh well.
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Big Ten starting to make some moves.

It has been reported throughout the day that the current Big 12 school, Texas, is currently having "preliminary exchanges" with the Big Ten and it's need for expansion. Most Buckeye fans, including other Big Ten schools, like this idea, or so we think. Personally, I would love the idea, because it seems every so often, Texas and Ohio State duke it out for the top spot. So this automatically makes the conference THAT much tougher on us, and we can continue to do better in bowl games. In this case, it would not only help the Big Ten, but also help Texas. The past year has led to a nice little downfall for Big 12 fans, and this would seem like a good time to get out. Unlike last time, this story HAS a source, and may in fact, become true.

Texas vs. Alabama National Championship Live Game Thread.

The end is here, and now we will crown our national champion. Let's start the thread.

Final Bowl Week

The final destination

Well folks, we've reached it. It is the last week of predictions. We started here way back in October, and have done fairly well until the bowl games. Now that they have come to pass, our bowl game record stands at 28-21. The end is now here, with the national championship holding all the glory for either Texas or Alabama. Before we get to that though, there is still a tale of two cinderellas, a rushing attack vs. a run defense, and a small bowl game. Let's get started.

Today

Fiesta Bowl: Boise State vs. TCU – 8:00 p.m. (FOX)

Otherwise known as the cop-out bowl by the BCS. I am a supporter of the playoff system, and honestly, this really is a cop-out. Now, that being said, it will still be a fun game to watch. Heisman canididate Kellen Moore threw for over 3,000 yards this season, and expect him to put a run in the Heisman next year. Meanwhile, TCU comes in bringing in a top 5 offense and defense, and I have to say, they look like they could have beaten anyone this season, and I believe they should have had a shot at the MNC. TCU proves a point, 35-21.

Tommorow

Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Iowa – 8:00 p.m. (FOX)

With Iowa's run defense vs. Georgia Tech's flexbone package coupled with QB Josh Nesbitt, makes for a long, long, long game. Iowa likes to run the ball usually, but with Shonn Greene taking the NFL, they have thrown for quite a bit this year. Their only losses came due to the fact that their QB Ricki Stanzi went down in the Northwestern game, and that Ohio State was, well, Ohio State. This game will be dragged along, but look for the Big Ten to go 4-3 in bowl games this year as Iowa wins a close one, 24-20

Wednesday

GMAC Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Troy – 7:00 p.m. (ESPN)

Even with the fact that Central Michigan's head coach Butch Davis is packing his bags to head to Cincy, Dan LeFevour will lead his high powered offensive unit to victory as the Troy Trojans fail to stop them when it matters most. 31-14

Thursday

Citi BCS National Championship Game - No. 1 Alabama vs No. 2 Texas - 8:00 p.m. - ABC

The BCS National Championship game features to high powered offenses led by their quarterbacks Colt Mccoy, and Greg McElroy. On defense, Mount Cody represents the Crimson Tide. Jordan Shipley looks to help Colt with the load of taking down the Bama defense. Of course, you can't forget Heisman winner Mark Ingram either. Although Suh should have won it, Mark Ingram put up great numbers as a sophmore, and now will try and accomplish what Tebow could not. It all starts here for him, and for a Heisman running for others. Although I'm going aganist the Heisman curse, (hey, Matt Leinart did it..) Inside The Shoe gives you the Alabama Crimson Tide as your 2010 BCS National Champions. Even though we have no control over what happens. Good luck to both teams.

Heisman Winner

This is very late, but congratsto Mark Ingram on winning the Heisman Trophy. I have to say, i was very surprised that Gerhart or Suh didn't win it. Suh had our vote, if we had one, but it looked like the nation felt strongly about the powerful runner down in Bama. This is Alabama's first heisman trophy winner.

BCS Bowl Breakdown by Inside The Shoe.

Rose Bowl Presented by Citi - No. 7 Oregon vs No. 8 Ohio State

This is one of the BCS Bowl match-ups that almost everyone is looking forward to. It is sort of intresting in the plot. Here we have Oregon, looking to prove that the Pac-10 is not a one man team, and is trying to earn national respect. Ohio State, on the other hand, is trying to convince the nation that they still belong in that national spotlight. Oregon has a small defense, but will be facing a talented, big, but a very inconsistent offense, headed by sophomore Terrelle Pryor. On the offensive side of the ball, Oregon has one of the top 10 rushing games and faces the 5th ranked rushing defense in the Buckeyes. All very intresting. With all of this going on, Oregon is a 3 point favorite.

Allstate Sugar Bowl - No. 3 Cincinnati vs No. 5 Florida

In what many people view as a pretty big mismatch, the Big East champions look to take down the defending national champions. Florida comes in looking very strong on D, and a little blustered on offense. Alabama pounded them to the point it seemed like they didn't really want to seem to play anymore. On the other side, Cincy comes off a huge win over Big East rival, Pitt. After a long TD special, the Bearcats won by an extra point, showing they once again, have almost no defense. Giving Illinois 36 points is quite an amazing feat.

Tostitos Feista Bowl - No. 4 TCU vs No. 6 Boise State

I have to say, I am one of many that agree that the BCS voted for a cop-out. Instead of trying to prove a point that these confrences deserve BCS bids, and that they should have national respect, they will just be beating each other up in the face. The big key to this game is TCU's amazing defense aganist the best scoring offense, Boise State, in the NCAA. I would look out though, TCU has a pretty darn good offense.

FedEx Orange Bowl - No. 9 Georgia Tech vs No. 10 Iowa

Iowa got the 2nd BCS bowl for the Big Ten and Georgia Tech is feeling confident as they just won a close game aganist Spiller and the Tigers. GT's bread and butter is the triple option, though unfortunatly for them, Iowa's inside linmen are built for stopping the run. Just ask Ohio State. Right? Right?

CITI BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - No. 1 Alabama vs No. 2 Texas

People are already wanting to give the crystal, when Texas had to use every second they had to beat the good defense of Nebraska. After Alabama crushed the defending national and SEC champs, who would argue? I think it was read into to much about the Big 12 champ game, but I would defintaly say it's never to early to start watching film.

National CFB Games This Weekend.

It's time again for the weekly games to come. This is really the last regular season week, and to look back on it, this has been the fastest year of college football of my life.We the Buckeyes have had our ups, (Penn St. Iowa) and our downs (USC, Purdue). Overall though, most Buckeye fans realized that we would be headed to the Rose Bowl, due to losing to Penn St. and USC, just like last year. Well, USC came and went, but we lost to Purdue, but won out. So really, expectations were met this year. Now for the rest of the BCS, it really counts tonight and this weekend. After last week, we at Inside The Shoe are now 10-4. So! Let's get to it.

National Games

Today – #14 Oregon State at #7 Oregon – 9:00 p.m. (ESPN)

This match-up will deciede who Ohio State faces in the Rose Bowl. Oregon comes in off a double overtime win @ Arizona, with QB Jermiah Massoli, and running back(s) LeMichal James and LeGarette Blount(?). Oregon State will look to win the Civil war, although most Buckeye fans agree Oregon would be the "sexier" opponet. I think that Oregon faces trouble ahead, but will eventually come up victorious 37-21.

Saturday - #5 Cincinnati at #13 Pittsburgh – 12:00 p.m. (ABC)

After last week's debacle aganist WVU, I lost a lot of faith in Pitt. They don't seem to be very consistent, and Brian Kelly and Co. won't have any of it as UC will take this one, and try to head to the BCS, 28-13

SEC Championship Game: #1 Florida vs. #2 Alabama – 4:00 p.m. (CBS)

This one is being dubbed as the defacto BCS Championsip game. That's terrible. I honestly believe that Florida is overrated, and Alabama is a national title contender this year. As long as the Defense holds up for Bama, then they will win this thing fairly easily, 24-10.

ACC Championship Game: #10 Georgia Tech vs. #25 Clemson – 8:00 p.m. (ESPN)

Georgia Tech's triple option is one of the best I have seen in a long time, but i have to go with Clemson and my man, C.J. Spiller, 17-6.

Big XII Championship Game: #3 Texas vs. #23 Nebraska – 8:00 p.m. (ABC)

All i have to really say about this game is, Welcome to the NC since 2005 Texas, 35-14.

Thanksgiving Weekend CFB Games.

It's Thanksgiving, and i can't think of a better way to spend it then with family, friends, and football. There is a lot to be thankful for, especially if your an OSU fan. You get to watch college football without worrying about who your playing this week, and they beat the hated rival, AND, they get a trip to the Rose Bowl to either face Oregon or Oregon State. We here at Inside The Shoe are now 8-2, those darn Bears, even without Jahvid Best, made the win come to them with a late INT giving them the win.

National Games

Thursday – #2 Texas @ Texas A&M – 8:00 p.m. (ESPN)

I looked at this, and i thought, really? Along with having a pretty decent defense, and a stud Heisman running QB, Texas comes in aganist a rival that, well, has been frefalling into the depths of the college football landscape. I honestly don't even expect a very large crowd. Texas will win this one, despite suspicions about it, 35-10.

Friday – #8 Pittsburgh at West Virginia – 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

In my opinion, i will clearly tell you this is the game of the week. Note that i said week, not weekend. This is really Déjà vu because in the 2007 season, West Virgina was ranked 2nd in the nation, and they came into the Backyard Brawl and got upset by Pitt. Now, it's flipped, only Pitt is just trying to keep their BCS dreams alive.This is going to be real high energy game, and i have to say it's the toughest game I've had to decide in awhile. I'm going Pitt 21-17.

Friday – Illinois at #5 Cincinnati – 12:00 p.m. (ABC)

This is one of those games that probably end up being the game you watch and realized you shouldn't have. Illinois goes to the Queen City, trying to get Juice Williams his final win in a topsy turvy season. This is the first time this season the Bearcats will play a Big Ten team, and they should be able to handle it with the Two-Headed Monster that's Pike/Collaras. UC will face Pitt next, but for this, it will be 33-7

#18 Clemson at South Carolina – 12:00 p.m. (ESPN)

The Clemson Tigers are on a roll thanks to running maniac C.J. Spiller. South Carolina will give them a good game, but Clemson will take over late, 28-21.

Well, that's all that we have for you, we could have added FSU-FU, but didn't feel the need to smooch all over the Gators, although upset could happen easily. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at Inside The Shoe.