Hale Keeps The Recruiting Train Rolling
Joel Hale became the 14th commitment for the Ohio State recruiting class of 2011 tonight. The 6-5/295 defensive lineman from Greenwood, Indiana pulled the trigger on a verbal commitment to Jim Tressel and Jim Heacock, becoming the fifth defensive lineman and third defensive tackle (Michael Bennett, Chase Farris) to do so.
Hale chose the Bucks over offers from Florida, Georgia Tech, Penn State, Wisconsin for others. He visited OSU a few times and with little space remaining in the OSU class, he decided the time was right for a commitment. In his junior year at Center Grove, Hale notched about 50 tackles (12 for loss), 4 sacks, and 1 interception. He says he runs about a 5.0 in the 40-yard dash, can bench 395 pounds, and has a 27-inch vertical leap.
This is a big addition to the future of the defensive line as Hale is highly regarded as one of the best in the country at tackle. I got the chance to see him in person at an OSU practice this spring and he certainly passed the looks test then. With 14 commitments already in the books, look for the Bucks to add around 8, possibly 10 more to this class which should be top 5 in the nation on NLOI Day 2011.
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Comments
As usual, I hear the news here first. Good job!
Opposing offenses are not prepared for the impending, "Hale Storm!"
Hale, Hale, the gang's all here?
Are there any recruits named Hearty?
Hale YES! Another top notch recruit for the Buckeyes!
Let us remember the past week of recruiting news! Because, in February, when Buckeye Nation has a melt-down because Tressel "couldn't close on the 3-star LB'er from Boise, ID" we recall that we still have it damn good.
lol, tha'ts hilarious. I was thinking while reading this, where are all the people who were bitching about the early recruits who had offers from MAC schools only. Silent because now we're landing guys that Florida, Bama, and everyone else have offered.
8-10 left? So the short list is: DB Doran Grant, LB Trey DePriest, TE Nick Vannett, S Ron Tanner, LB James Vaughters, WR JaJuan Story, OG Angelo Mangiro, OL Aundrey Walker, DB Dondi Kirby, S Wayne Lyons, DB Jabari Gorman, DL Kevin McReynolds.
If DePriest goes to Alabama, that would be 2 years in a row that a 5 star LB left Ohio. Not a good trend, but if we landed Vaughters, it would greatly soften the blow.
Biggest concern is left tackle. Walker might be a tackle, but likely would be a guard at OSU. Despite this being a position of need, the only tackle in the class is Tommy Brown. The staff recruits "bigs" and lets them develop into a line position, but maybe it's time to specifically recruit left tackles.
Stop and smell the Roses !
Let's celebrate another great get for the Buckeyes before finding some flaws.
aaannnnndddd...
he had an offer from State Penn
SAD PANDAS 4 LIIIIFFFEEE
if DePriest goes to Alabama he goes...so what...
I'm guessing 21 is the number & would be looking for a WR (Story), DE (Drew or Williams), OL (Walker), LB (Grant), TE (Vannett), and two very good CB prospects (Grant & ?). Game over, man. GAME OVER!
Losing any 5-star from Ohio stinks, but let's be real in saying that we grow LB's on trees around here. For every 5-star stud LB that pans out, there is a Mike D'Andrea. Losing an in-state LB'er should be the least of our concerns. Losing in-state RB's and QB's is what hurts.
I very recently talked to a woman who is VERY close to DePriest and she said, and I quote, "don't worry, Trey is going to be a Buckeye." I promised not to give her name, but it is a real story and an actual quote.
Oh? Go on...
And her name?!?
JK lol
I'll ask her tomorrow if I can spill the beans, and if so, I will post here promptly.
I heard doran grant is a lock too. This class is going to be #1. It has everything except a big time running back but the cupboard is full already.
Heard that about Grant as well. Fingers crossed.
I live In Indy and saw some of hale's games this past year. We got a good one. That's all I'm gonna say