Raise your hand if you thought the recruitment of the nation's top prep player would still be alive well into July?
Oh. I've noticed that a lot of you have your hands up. Considering the drama and suspense that led up to Seantrel Henderson's announcement for the Trojans and the subsequent delay in making things official, I shouldn't be so surprised. Let's recap the bizarre timeline:
- Feb. 3rd 5:30pm On national signing day, Henderson dons a Trojan cap live on Tom Lemming's CBS college football recruiting show and pledges his services to Lane Kiffin. When asked, Henderson said Ohio State was his second choice, but his high school coach said the tackle had informed him via text that he was headed to Miami the night before. The New York Times publishes a behind-the-scenes article in which the player's father, Sean, was quoted as saying Tressel's pitch regarding Seantrel's first year of college was "pretty long winded" and "boring".
- Feb. 3rd 11:37pm Henderson's father informs the New York Times that his son will not sign a letter of intent until after the Trojans appear before the NCAA infractions committee Feb. 19-21.
- Mar. 15th Sean Henderson replies to an inquiry from the Dispatch stating via text message: "Seantrel's ACT scores came in Friday. He is now academically eligible, and will be signing with USC this week."
- Mar. 21st After postponing Seantrel's signing because of "scheduling logistics", Sean Henderson reaffirms his son's commitment to USC: “It is USC. There’s no doubts. A hundred thousand, trillion percent, it’s U.S.C. It’s 100 percent.”
- Mar. 23rd Apparently satisfied with USC's closed-door presentations to the NCAA, Henderson finally makes it official by faxing in his letter of intent to the Trojans. The decision to sign before the NCAA reported back on USC will puzzle thinking men for days.
- June 10th Amid conference expansion chaos, the NCAA hands down their long-awaited findings on USC. The carnage is very real: The football team receives four years of probation, a two-year postseason ban, a loss of 30 scholarships over the course of three years, and other penalties. Nascent rap careers come to a screeching halt.
- June 21st After Henderson doesn't report to orientation, Lane Kiffin and three assistants flew to Minneapolis to make the sure the tackle still plans to attend USC.
- June 22nd Reached the following day, Sean Henderson had no comment on his son's status.
- June 30th The Pioneer Press reports Henderson may be balking on his USC commitment and is eyeing Miami, even if it does mean having to sit out a transfer year.
- July 1st The LA Times confirms Lane Kiffin has now made two visits to Henderson at home in Minnesota and quoted the coach as saying "Sometimes I think I know his main concern and then it seems to change the next day." Henderson has kept himself busy playing AAU basketball, while he and his father continue to avoid the press.
- July 3rd Henderson was reported to be in Miami over the holiday weekend, lending further credence to the rumor that he was looking at the Hurricanes as an exit plan.
Wow, that was exhausting.
So, where does that leave us, Buckeye fans?
I think at this time, it's safe to say Henderson will not be a Trojan. Kiffin's quotes in the LA Times article reeked of both frustration and desperation, but the one about his main concerns changing from day-to-day was very telling. If the kid (and his father) are coming up with new concerns on a daily basis, they're just looking for a reason to make you go away, Lane. As for Kiffin's continued pursuit, I can't really say I blame him, but at this point in time, is attending USC really in Seantrel's best interests?
If Henderson does enroll elsewhere, he may have a shot at getting a release from his letter of intent with USC. Though you could argue it was done in a preemptive manner to spare the football team, USC did release three freshmen from LOIs in basketball last season. Further, the Hendersons might have an argument that they were not receiving proper information from USC during the process and since Lane Kiffin is involved, I'm inclined to side with the Henderson family on that one.
The Buckeyes are in the picture, even if Miami does appear to have the lead. As long as we can keep Doc Tressel from critiquing rap performances, we have a shot. Whenever you're in the final two (again), you have to like your odds.
What I don't understand is the vocal group of OSU fans that don't want Henderson anywhere near Columbus. Yes, he could be the next Derek Morris, and yes, his father is more than just a sideshow. But with his talent, I'm willing to take that risk, even if it means he wouldn't see the field until 2011.
Comments
"Nascent rap careers come to a screeching halt"
Awesome.
I'd take the kid. I wonder if we are in contact though.
It seems pops would want him in Miami, but I hope this time around Seantrel has the you-know-whats to tell dad that it's not up to a father to tell a son where to go. We also don't know if JT and the staff are still open-armed for Seantrel or if things have soured a bit since NLOID and all the drama
*yawn*
Only thing I'm interested in is if scumbag Kiffin will let him go free to Miami. Time to kind of hide who you really are here by letting a kid who hasn't stepped foot in a classroom go where he wants.
Miami can have him...he seems like he'd fit in perfectly there.
my 2cents: if you think tressel is at times "boring" than i'd have to say that's probably true. however, you'd also have to say tressel is "one of the top 3 coaches in college football" and is an "outstanding coach and even better person." however, if you aren't excited to be a buckeye then don't come. miami has better weather, more rap opportunities for his dad, and a lot less academic expectations. if that sounds more intriguing then by all means go enjoy yourself. just don't get too "bored" in january while the buckeyes are playing meaningful football and you, well...aren't.
Who cares.
Kids dad is bad news for any program.
+ 1
Awesome post bro!
Until this entitled punk and his father show some genuine interest in OSU and what we have to offer (great education, role model coach, BCS games, ect....) I could care less about him. He obviously has some talent but lets face it, we have a pretty good OL that already resides in C-Bus. Nobody should get this much attention before stepping one foot on to a college football field.
If you're a fan of the Buckeyes being great, how can you not care? He's no lock to pan out, but the odds are in his favor.
While I get tired of the drama and it's not sweet that we weren't his first choice, I'd take him in a minute as would every other school/fanbase.
I agree with you, the amount of attention is a bit much at times. I'd still be more than happy to see him suit up for OSU.
Well said!
No doubt I would love to see him come to his senses and put the scarlet and gray on. I think he could be a tremendous asset to this football team. I just think that his dad is BIG trouble. OSU has come out of the Clarett days fairly well and I don't want this scumbag dragging us back down. I just don't know if the talent outweighs the risk. Just one blue collar dudes opinion I guess. The kid is talented for sure though. I just don't know if he is going to have it between the ears.
My Bad. Didn't mean to start another thread. That was meant to reply to you Jason.
Finally! Someone that agrees with me.
OT, but the Villian is kinda ripped now huh?
Seantrel Henderson, Erick Howard, and Rod Smith in the same class, damn.
Take your trash pain in the butt, trouble & living-through parent behind the woodshed. Until then, stay away from tOSU.
I don't get this whole rap thing. As if rap artists can't make it in columbus!
I see nothing wrong with a little of this if Mr. Henderson feels his rap career needs a boost:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
First, has the kids dad ever caused any trouble? What can anyone show to say Dad did anything but want a rap career? Second, not one person on this site knows if the kid is a punk or trouble, or anything else.
Everyone is hacked off that he chose another school, and that his dad called Tressel boring etc. Well, I can't tell you how many times on this very site, I have defended Tressel to Ohio State fans who say his style is boring, he sucks, too conservative, rather have Urban Meyer etc.
This kid is unbelievably talented, has never been busted with pot, thrown out of school, shot in Youngstown, and whatever other kind of transgressions that other recruits have had, that most of us are willing to forget. I say get over the bruised ego, I know it's hard to believe but some kids just want to go somewhere else, and welcome this kid with open arms. He would be a tremendous addition to the team.
Maybe Tressel needs to send in Jim Brown to campaign for the Buckeyes.
Obviously, you cared enough to post. ;) And, good one Olentangy!
dont want him dont need him.
Was with you until you mentioned that UM has less academic expectations. That may be true of their football players, but overall is better institution than OSU. UM sort has a 'laissez-faire' stance with the football team, cause they bring in all that revenue for the Athletic Dept.
He does get an awful lot of attention for a kid who hasn't stepped foot on a college football field, but I'd still take him. If I remember correctly, a couple years ago there was a young man who got a lot more attention than Henderson coming out of high school... his name was Terrelle Pryor. The attention didn't stop anybody from wanting him and I wouldn't trade him away for anybody.
I don't think that his dad would really be any more trouble for Ohio State than Ray Small's dad was. The only difference is that I think this kid could contribute a lot more than Small ever did.
Erick Howard was never offered a scholarship by tOSU. He signed his LOI with Akron.
TRUTH.
Henderson will never opt for the Buckeyes. Any articles that mention anything about his academic qualifications clearly imply that he is a borderline kid who is struggling to qualify for any school. The D Carter situation was probably enough to scare SH away from Columbus. If a player like Carter, who supposedly qualified academically for any school, struggled with classes I can only imagine that Seantrel does not want to risk academic ineligibility and possible loss of playing time. There are plenty of other schools, including UM, that will keep him eligible just the way he is.
Would I like ro see him in an OSU uni? Sure, but I just don't think it could ever happen. If he and his Dad found JT boring just imagine him staying awake in or being motivated to go to a boring class. Ain't gonna happen.
-1 soul for Youngstown comment.
I saw a dude wearing a #5 white buckeye jersey in the mall in pecs, hungary.... gave him the OH, didnt get the IO in return but gave me a thumbs up.... GO BUCKS
I think Dad has pain in the ass potential, but I'd still take him. He opted for a location with warm weather, beaches, & glitz the first time, I think he will again. Kid's Miami bound.
I didn't mean it to be in poor taste. The first time the kid was shot, people kept saying they hoped he may still be able to find a way back to Columbus. I just amazed at how people will forget stuff some guys do, but call another kid a punk and say they don't want him anywhere near OSU. My belief is people are just pissed off because he didn't chose Ohio State first.
checkwa? Twash?
If the kid wants to get ready for the NFL and get a good education he can't do better than the Buckeyes and going to Miami would be doing worse. Now if his parent(s) wishes are the main factor (warm weather, rap career) then he shouldn't be at tOSU. He needs to step up and make the decision that is best for him and him alone.
if he has to sit out next season anyway...he doesn't have to pick a school until after this season.
maybe he sees our O-Line push around miami and our D line light up jacory, and he picks OSU?
playing time wise-he has to think he is competing for the 5th spot on the line with some 4 stars a year or 2 older than he is. assuming shugarts, brewster, adams, hall are the "locked" spots next year...5th going to norwell, linsley, mewhort, etc if not henderson
He is simply not worth the the trouble his Dad (and I'm guessing Seantrel's own entitlement) would bring. We've won a lot of games with Jim Cordle and Bryant Browning at the tackle positions....we can win a lot of games without Seantrel.
lettuce be reality, cordle's nickname is revolving door, and browning is as inconsistent as it gets.
Plus Browning is now a guard. It's Cordle and Adams/Miller.
That is kinda my point....we won with a revolving door at LT. IT will not take a kid like Seantrel Henderson to improve our line. If we won with Cordle, we will undoubtedly with with a 4-Star LT. Getting that "extra star" with Henderson won't be worth the effort it will take. This just reaks of an OJ Mayo situation where the family thinks their kid is bigger than the program.
yeah, just don't forget purdue harbor last year...or that the O line's lack of raw athleticism to keep up with elite D-Lines was the main reason for us loosing a lot of the big games (USC, the 2 NC games)
Cordle is/was a revolving door, Browning played OOP. When he moved to guard last year, it was apparent. BB will be playing on Sundays.
Scuba, remind me what we won with Cordle at tackle? He was getting his doors blown off by Indiana players. National Titles homie, thats all that matters. Check the gravatar, we aint won shit since '02. Peace.
Who on this site is actually qualified to say what kind of kid Seantrel is or what kind of trouble his dad would be. None of us can prove the only reason he went to LA was so that his dad's rap career could take off. I mean it may have been one reason they used, but c'mon guys, USC has been landing big recruits from across the US of quite a while. I don't care if we are second choice, just come on in. It has never been speculated that this kid is trouble, that he's immature, and that he would be a bad team mate. His dad may be kind of a side show, but none of use really know the context that this supposed rap career rumor came out of. We all know how so called journalists twist a comment into a story. His coach in high school though very highly of him. A lot of the recruiting gurus, talked about his matuity, and the kid has never been in trouble with the law. I'm willing to take a chance on him.
I'll agree with that. There is just something that doesn't sit right with me about this guy.
It was Michael Wiley
Good point BWells. Bottom line is I am for anything that makes the Bucks better.
Count me as one that would like to see him and his circus go elsewhere. As someone above said, Miami would be a good fit, although I think USC is an even better fit, so I wish he'd just stay there.
On what basis do you figure that Miami, FL is an "overall better institution than OSU"? For what they're worth, the U.S. News rankings have Miami 50th and Ohio State 53rd, but those tend to be undergrad-oriented. Ohio State's graduate programs blow away Miami's. Also, some private schools seem to be given special deference by mere virtue of being private. For example, U.S. News has Notre Damer 20th, which is a joke.
Jason, I'm all for Henderson coming to Ohio State, if he wants to. On the other hand, I'm not sure if I would like for the coaching staff to grovel at the dad's feet, which is probably what it would take. Basically, if Seantrel decides to come to Ohio State after the coaching staff spent ZERO effort on him since he pulled out the U$C cap, that would be a great outcome.
A few articles I read state that he has ballooned to 350#. Rival had him listed as 301# coming out of high school.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/f...
He's officially been released as of 1:30 pm yesterday.
Your assertion that the "U" is a better academic institution is both patently false and completely misleading. While it's true that Miami is smaller (more access to teachers) and has church money behind its administration, OSU is a nationally recognized research giant in many areas, including education and lesser known liberal arts concentrations. The "U" is buoyed by its conference affiliation and its locale, but a better instituion than OSU? You're blinded by all the tanning!