One trend that only seems to be accelerating in recent years is the early enrollment of recruits on campuses across the country. Guys that graduate high school early are eligible to get an head start on their college careers by taking classes and participating in strength and conditioning drills with their teams. Months ahead of their peers, they get an opportunity to immerse themselves in the playbook, impress coaches and more or less, get acclimated to college life.
Mewhort: Awesome in the Da Vinci CodeThe first high-profile Buckeye to enroll early, was none other than Big Mo, and while he may have turned in a stellar (albeit turbulent) rookie season, things didn't exactly work out for him after that first year. He's not alone -- for every Tim Tebow and Matthew Stafford, there is a Stephen Garcia. Still, getting that jump can be important.
Last season, Brewster and Shugarts were in school for January with Adams, Sweat, Stoneburner and Sabino joining them by March. It's little coincidence that half of them saw considerable playing time last season with Brewster even going on to win the starting center job.
The Buckeyes have four players enrolled early this season and because of depth situations at their respective positions, all four have a chance to see the field early this fall if things break their way.
The early enrollee seeing the most love right about now is lineman Jack Mewhort. Finding playing time with the first unit will be a challenge for him, but as much as Tressel and Bollman like rolling two lines in games, he has a great shot to crack the 2nd unit and possibly even push for a starting position by midseason.
Linebacker Storm Klein, besides rocking one of the coolest football names you'll see, is already endearing himself to Buckeye fans thanks to lines like this after he signed his LOI:
"I'm just blessed to be able to play a sport I love ... for free."
Good frame, good speed and smarts, he reminds me of Bobby Carpenter a little bit. Perhaps it's because I often lump Newark and Lancaster together when thinking of the towns that ring Columbus, but if he can grow into a Carpenter, we'll all be the better off for it. There are two open linebacker spots, so he could force his way onto the field on defense, but I see a year of special teams hell-raising before he gets in at backer.
The other two early enrollees both have the distinction of being younger brothers of other Buckeyes. Adam Homan and Zach Boren may not be coming in as all-American recruits, but each of them will get crack at the open fullback spot. And when I say open, I mean wide-open. Jermil Martin and Marcus Williams are lingering, but the fullback position has been perhaps the most undecided in each of the last two spring camps -- almost to the point of being an afterthought. And this season, expect to see fewer I-sets. Still, if one of these guys can destroy linebackers, he'll create playing time.
Comments
Sabino WILL be the next great LB for OSU. Storm Klein will see some significant playing time.
Sabino got some monster hits on special teams last year... he is a beast!!
I really think that Hines is gonna be the enforcer on the field next season. Dude lays the wood. Sabino will be great, but there is little mention of Homan. I think he is going to really step into the open MLB spot and shine.
Anybody know what number Storm will be wearing? Has to be the coolest name ever... And i want to get a jersey... Bring on the Storm!!!!
couldnt agree more about Sabino, he will not only be a legendary Buckeye, but an NFL star also. USC fought OSU all the way for his services.
Storm klein is a good enough RB to be the next Beanie, this kid might be the most freakish athlete on the team.
I think Zach Boren will win the FB spot, and Corey Brown will be a two way star.
Also Melvin Fellows Safari Planet, is most experts pick as the gem of the draft and he is hardly mentioned in our discussions.
Start clearin space on the mantle.
draft = recruiting class
Storm Klein? Sounds like a stripper I once knew.
Was he a good stripper? Ha Ha Ha!
Storm will be wearing number 32 in Columbus
Lesmerises had a conversation with Dick Tressel about the running backs:
http://www.cleveland.com/bucke...
Hell, check out the whole blog..lotta new stuff from the last couple of days.
http://www.cleveland.com/bucke...
Why recruiting isn't a hotter topic in the off season is beyond me. This is the soul lifeblood of the program. More interesting than the NFL draft if you ask me.
Not to take away from the 2009 commits, but Nick Montana is visiting this weekend. I heard from a friend (not that it's true) that Joe Montana actually called Tress and asked if he would take a look at Nick.
Oh, and Mewhort kinda looks like a 3-toed sloth in the pic above. Just sayin...
Isn't he pretty much a lock for the Domers though?
Not if pops has 0 confidence in the man in charge.
And also as was pointed out, Nick's older brother is a backup on Domers. Be sort of a douche move to go to ND and ensure that his older brother never saw the field for any appreciable amount of time.
I didn't know that. I assume the Montana kid is a big deal because The Worldwide Leader and recruiter/chief scumbag Tom Luginbill was saying he would be the feature player of next year's ESPN Under Armor game.
I wish someone would keep track of how often Luginbill's favorite players bust.
Unrelatedly, was watching some Melvin Fellows Safari Planet clips last night. Wow, it's suprising he's not coming in more hyped. Reminds of Quinn Pitcock more than a little bit.
Storm is a beast and a punishing runner.. I would like to see him rep at running back but who knows..
this clip is from his sophmore year!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Most outside services are saying Safari Planet is the gem of the class.
Why not have a four-headed running attack with Boom, Berry, Storm and Hyde??
Im sure someone would cry about carries but you would have fresh legs all day and it would be a chance to see what they all have.
Storm Klein deserves a shot at RB, I think injury concerns may be the only thing stopping him.
I'll believe it when I see it. I've been extremely disappointed in the output of our hyped defensive linemen recruits in the last few years. With the exception of V-Ghol, no one has exceeded expectations. Even Heyward took a step back last year. Everyone is excited about our new line, but I worry that the d-line will be a lot last year's highly experienced corps--lots of experience, but still the same limited athletes.
I'm not a fan of running back by committee. Egos get involved and that isn't helpful for Tressel ball. I think the smaller type backs--Boom and Berry--will do better in next year's spread offense. They need a fast first step, in the mold of Antonio Pittman, to hit the line hard and quick. It's the reason that T-Smith and Pitt were so effective. I don't think a big back like Beanie and Pryor's talents mesh well--Beanie would have earned more yards with a top flight drop back QB behind center that could open the field with his arm.
Anyway, I'd love to see Boom with the starting job, and give Berry a chance to push him. I'd like to see a lot of 4 wide sets, with Boom/Berry standing next to Pryor in the gun. Maybe Hyde for short yardage/goal line situations, but even then I'm convinced that smaller scat backs with powerful legs--like Boom--can get lower to the ground and beneath blocks and into the end-zone.
Ever hear of Nathan Williams and Thaddeus Gibson?
Tress always says, you have to do all things well. There will always come a time when you have to switch things up.
You cant be spread only and you cant be power only, you have to adjust your gameplan at half time to take advantage of the match-up.
This is why I dont think Rich Rod is a very good coach, hes married to the system.
Flashes of brilliance, but again I'll believe it when I see it. We said the same thing about Heyward coming into 2008 and he was largely silent. Ever heard of Will Smith or Vernon Gholston? To win championships, we need defensive linemen of their caliber. I hope Williams and Gibson can bring it in 2009, but it wasn't enough in 2008.