O'Connor Makes 21
Just two days after news broke that Vandalia Butler OT Taylor Decker became the 20th member of the class of 2012 to commit to Ohio State, it appears the Buckeyes have roped in another offensive lineman.
Marc Givler and Kevin Noon of Buckeye Grove (Rivals) are reporting that Windsor (CO) OL Joey O'Connor has committed to Urban Meyer and Ohio State's coaching staff. O'Connor took an official visit to Columbus this past weekend despite not having an offer, but received one over the trip. It was assumed once that happened that a verbal pledge to the Buckeyes was imminent within the week, and word finally broke Tuesday afternoon that the commitment happened.
O'Connor stands at 6-4/295 and is slated to line up at either guard or center at Ohio State. He was once committed to Penn State, decommitting after the Sandusky scandal broke, and chose OSU over his other finalists of Iowa and California. He becomes the fourth offensive lineman to commit to the Buckeyes in the class of 2012, joining Ohioans Decker, Jacoby Boren, and Patrick Elflein. It is expected that Urban Meyer will land at least one, if not two more players at the position in the class, with the main targets being Kyle Dodson and Jordan Diamond.
This is a big pick up for the Buckeyes as they desperately needed depth on the offensive line. The class stands at 21 as of today and is expected to reach at least 25 when Signing Day rolls around in just a few weeks. Stay tuned for the latest news on recruiting and join us tomorrow for some more buzz in the 11W Recruiting Notebook.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Comments
Space is running out pretty quick.. 4 more recruits- Neal, Cam Williams, Reeves, and.. Dodson? Diamond?
Keep these lineman coming!!! No Walrus to make them worse.
Go Bucks!!!
Rivals currently has this recruiting class ranked at #3 in the nation. Now, let's get Williams, Reeves, Dodson, Diamond, and maybe Perkins to finish it off. Edit: Shoot, I forgot about Neal! Things will start to get interesting here.
Excellent. Even though we need OTs, why not take an excellent OG?
The way I see it:
IN
Dodson
Williams
Reeves
--------------------------------
MAYBE
Diamond
Bradley
Perkins
Marcus
Santos
Neal
--------------------------------
LONG SHOT
Fabian Moreau
Joseph Jackson
Brian Kimbrow
Will Redmond
-------------------------------------
OUT
Jameis Winston
Stefon Diggs
Keilin Rayner
Have we gone that cold on Diamond?
I swear he wasn't on the list a second ago! Did you edit it real fast?!
yes sir haha
Has your opinion on Neal being in the class has decreased a bit?
yes only because he's pushing back his decision....OSU still leads as of now
Hope we land this kid. Could use some O playmakers.
Maybe the problem isn't the players but the play caller?
Alex- Do you think Williams and Reeves commit sometime this week or wait til NSD?
O-H-I-O
Not sure when but I think they commit....obviously Urban wants to wrap it up this week and have them cancel the 1/27 PSU trip
My guess is that Urban will know ahead of time regardless of when they make it official.
smart man
I'm currently reading the chapter in "3 and Out" about RichRod's second-year NLOI Day, and this seems like a very valid point.
What do you think so far? I'm as far as them losing to Michigan State in his second year, which is just slightly over halfway thru the book.
We should strive to keep thy name, of fair repute and spotless fame...
(Also, I'm not a dude)
I'm excited about this guy. He looks like a freakin beast and it seems like he REALLY wants to be a buckeye.
O-H-I-O
As exciting as this seems, I think we should remember that these are only recruits. Let's see how Meyer makes men out of them
Lost Nut in Michigan
Thank you for the insight Ms. Downer.
Also to note, I think O'Connor redshirts next year....played in a run-heavy triple option in high school so an adjustment will be needed
okay, so 4 left. I would like Dodson, Williams, Reeves and Santos with some fries and a large Farva.
Could be more than 4 if we lose guys
so with my fries I could have Neal and maybe some Diamond?
does that look like spit to you?
I know there's a game saturday, and my ass will be there.
Annnndddddd we pass Michigan on the recruiting board on Rivals after the most tumultuous offseasons in OSU history and after hearing for the last few months how Brady Hoke is the best recruiter ever and sniping Ohio kids as he pleases, blah blah blah blah.
11W Recruiting Notebook tomorrow will be a good one :)
I know he'll have to redshirt to adjust to a brand new offense... but MAN does this kid finish a block... I can see him being absolutely lethal as a pulling guard off of a option read, just destroying a DE or LB and breaking the run into the second level... IMO a better pickup than the other Colorado OL Kozan... bravo UFM
Cause I couldn't go for three
makes sense now why Kozan is down to Iowa, Michigan, and Auburn.....OSU had him behind Decker, Diamond, Dodson, and O'Connor and it looks like OSU will get at least 3 of those 4
well... we already got Decker... I was hoping Dodson would flip shortly following his visit... the longer he waits the more I worry, even though at one point I was 100% sure it would happen... I'm now at 80%... I hope UFM kindly lets him know that there are 4-5 spots left and if he wants one, he better speak up... then again, that may have already happened and UFM is keeping it quiet to avoid the backlash from the Cheeseweasel fans if it were to happen before NLOID
Cause I couldn't go for three
Anyone know what song is in that video?
I would love to see Perkins in this class. I know he doesn't have an offer as of now but he seems like a guy who would absolutely love to be a Buckeye after his visit. It's a good problem to have when your last two spots can be filled with Diamond, Perkins, Neal, Santos, Marcus.
just read where he says he almost committed this weekend but wants to enjoy his visits before he commits. dude is sooooo ready to become a buckeye but he is playing the game. problem is time is running short and he may wait too long. If Santos and Williams sneak in and take spots, he will be tough luck.
Urban is the one slow playing Perkins not the other way around......read between the lines
^^ THIS
I personally would like to see us pick up Marcus and Williams... Perkins is a fine player, but Marcus is such potential and raw ability... I think Williams DEFINITELY finds a place in this class and UFM is waiting to see if Marcus is willing to leave the South and then it will be a race between Perkins and Santos as to who wants to jump aboard first (my money is on Perkins)
Cause I couldn't go for three
I would prefer Williams on the outside and Santos manning the middle. The reason why I would love santos is OSU is missing a true middle LB in the form of Hawk and Laurinaitis. I really think the LB core really missed a true middle man to read and lead. Shazier was working on pure talent and just wasn't ready to be that leader at the middle and i see long term future him being an OLB.
If Meyer would entertain it, a 3-4 might be a good base D for this team next year. 3 down linemen would be Simon, Hankins and Goebel. OLB would be Spence and Nate Williams. ILB would be Shazier and Sabino (although I really don't think either are true ILB, unless one of these pre-frosh come in hot). that would maximize the speed and make the D more unpredictable not to mention set up these players for what seems to be an increasing use of the 3-4 in the NFL. **just an idea!
We are thin at LB and stacked on the DL. A 3-4 doesn't make sense. It would provide less spots for your playmakers to be on the field.
that is why it might make sense to realocate the talent in the DL into the LB. Spence, Washington and Nate are big but very quick and would have good rush angles from all sorts of spots at the OLB position. take some of your strength and let them help the weakest spot. I think that would work better than doing a base 4-3 and using a STAR from the safety position to come up and help. in a 3-4 you can mix and match the front 7 and keep your 4 DBs free to play coverage.
Think of it this way:
possible 4-3: DL: Spence, Simon, Hankins, Williams. LB: Sabino, Shazier, Grant/CamWilliams?
possible 3-4: DL: Simon, Hankins, Goebel/Schutt. OLB: Spence, Williams ILB: Sabino, Shazier
with a 3-4 I see 5 DL on the field instead of 4 and only 2 LB. Also 3-4 tend to move players around alot more and rotate more. only 4-3 left in the NFL playoffs is the Giants and OSU doesn't not have the front 7 of them.
his proposed lineup puts 5 DL on the field... the 2 OLB he suggested were Nathan Williams and Noah Spence, guys we consider DE's in the 4-3 system.
Not saying that we should switch to a 3-4, but by doing so we could potentially get more "DL" on the field at one time (5 > 4)
and I am just saying perhaps this year, maybe even just early on. at least till the incoming LBs get caught up to speed. I really think Spence and Nate could be excellent OLBs. or even rotate Nate at the DE spot and have Washington and Spence on the outside. many things you can do than sit here and wonder who will start the 3 LB spots from the wreckage left behind.
Really my only concern is how well the guys like Williams/ Spence/ Washington etc would hold up in pass coverage, seeing as they wouldn't be rushing the QB on every play. They're certainly athletic enough to do it, but having never really done it before (with the exception of Williams, who was supposed to have played in coverage a bit this season before he got hurt), it may be difficult for them. Of course they probably can't be too much worse than the guys we'd have out there in the 4-3 anyway
I was about to say that, could they do any worst than Sabino and Klein. Grant would be just as fresh as any of them and unless Camren Williams, Josh Perry or Perkins comes in and learns fast, couldn't be worst than giving Nate and Noah a try.
I would assume 3-4 would be a base D for playing in the B1G and in obvious passing situations they would bring in a nickle back and maybe go to a more conventional 4-2-5.
and in a passing situation that is not a spread formation, I am confident with Williams or Spence covering a TE in zone. They are fast enough and should learn that skill if they want to move on. I love it when I remember Cam Heyward showing initial pass rush then dropping back into coverage and snagging an interception. Nate and Noah can be that type of player and may have better opportunity from an OLB spot.
Ooooh yeah
Extremely pleased to have another O line commit. Now, someone tell me what the numbers are for his squats when he does a legitimate repetition. Those looked like knee crunches.
I don't always take names when I kick ass but when I do, they most often belong to a Wolverine.
The Mick will fix that.
I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking that. Heh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfPg5LjGYz8
More than 4? You mean OMG OVERSIGNING!!!!!!!!! I know I know I know, it's ok if the scholarships are already open, and as long as you kick kids off the team for off the field stuff, and they transfer out before the new guys commit because they "don't fit the system" it makes how we're going to do it better than Alabama.
Anyway, mostly kidding, just waiting to hear how people justify the way Ohio State will end up oversigning, since they take such a moral stand against ALL oversigning as the practice in any form is just wrong.
On a different note, does Diamond even look that great to begin with? Isn't he rated considerably lower than Dodson and O'Conner? I know we need O-Line recruits, just wondering why everyone is so high on Diamond. I'll gladly take him, but given my choice I'll take Dodson first.
I don't have a problem with going over the 25 player limit, I do have a problem with going over the 85 player limit. Diamond is actually the highest rated of the tackle prospects.
Oh, where at on Scout? On Rivals I thought it had Decker, Dodson, and O'Connor ahead of him. Well to get more than 25 this season, well to get to 25 actually guys had to be let go, or go, or have medical hardships, so it isn't exactly like there were 27 schollies available to give out this year. That's all I'm saying.
Yeah Diamond is a 5 star on Scout, haven't looked at him on Rivals. I understand where you're coming from, and for the most part I've agreed with you about the oversigning argument. The medical hardships that we are getting this year though have long been expected, especially Fellows and McVey who can't stay healthy, along with possibly Hagan who has a heart condition? Also I'm not sold on Southward coming, and I've heard that Lewis may not qualify because of grades. I wouldn't say Meyer has forced anyone out, Clarke screwed up, Gambrell royally screwed up, Graham went somewhere he would actually play, and Cash left on his own accord.
Honestly, I was mostly joking around. I don't think anyone was foced out, althought I did make a comment they other day to go ahead and boot Clarke and others, and I didn't mind if guys left. I want Urban to put the personnel in place that he wants. If it means he had a sit down with a couple of guys and told them they may want to consider going elsewhere, I have no problem with that.
I agree with what you are saying, joking or not. The public perception will be Meyer doing what was done in the SEC and that OSU will be no different now so we can't complain. The problem I have with that logic is that SEC teams do it constantly year in and year out. I really see Meyer doing this this year to help bring in his players. I don't see him doing this every year. and I wouldn't mind if SEC teams oversign when they are changing like OSU is doing now, then limit their recruiting in the following years. When I see the last 4 years of Alabama, each over 30 recruits, I know something ain't right.
I think we already have an 82 total scholly limit. Sanctions took place on the new year.
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
false... sanctions officially take place as fall practice begins... this is still the 2011-2012 season until then
Cause I couldn't go for three
So what do they do...reach 85 and then take away 3 by fall practice ala SEC?
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
Hagan will probably transfer or be given a medical hardship (heart condition). Southward may end up at Florida. Lewis may not qualify academically, Jaamal Berry will likely be gone, and T.Y. Williams may transfer too. That's 5 more possible spots.
Sounds to me like we could get more defections before signing day. I think that's what Alex was referring to when he said there could be more than 4 more players added if more people leave the program.
yep. you can basically say the 3 lost schollies will be the departure of Cash, Gambrill and Clarke. he just doesn't need to fill those 3 spots and can have a full recruiting class.
Sanctions call for 9 scholarships over three years, not necessarily three scholarships per year. They can take them as they please according to what I've heard.
False.
Reduction of football scholarships from 85 to 82 over each of the next three seasons. Total scholarship reduction of nine.
“The teams that don’t respect their coaches and don’t trust their coaches are the teams that go .500"
~Zach Boren
We have a limit of 82 total. As for the 25, don't the 6 early enrollees count toward the previous class total?
Exactly. That's how we get around the 25, we can put however many we want onto last year's class and schollie numbers ( for instance, Cardale Jones counts as the replacement for TP)
I hope this is mostly sarcastic.... cause UFM didn't "trim the fat" when players transfered or had their scholarships revoked... Clarke could very well be a starting CB and Cash was in the two deep as a true soph at Safety... We all knew Graham would transfer because he is not only burried in the depth charts but as a pure pocket passer has no place in a UFM offense (much like Mallet leaving scUM)... sooooo, ya, don't see it here buddy
Cause I couldn't go for three
Just saying if the exact same situation happened in the SEC, that has happened as of late in Columbus, no matter how highly thought of the players were, or what the circumstance, people would be having a fit.
see the issue is that SEC does this with the bench warmers, or the scout team seniors... or they get a kid to early enroll then drop them... players breaking the law I have no problem... and you ALWAYS see a mass exodus of players from a program gettign a new coach with new offensive and defensive philosophies... wouldn't be surprised to see another group of transfers come spring practice...
Cause I couldn't go for three
If there is a problem with oversigning (debatable), it's not what BT fans perceive to be SEC oversigning practices, or vice versa. Perceptions are one thing, but . . .
If there is a problem in reality, it's a). that some kids are artificially forced-out of their scholarships (e.g., they're not really chronically injured, but are sent packing on a medical hardhship); b). it provides possible recruiting/personnel advantages.
It's not "oversigning" if a coach knows, prior to NLOI day, that a certain number of scholarship/roster spots will be immediately open.
I consider it very different. I don't have a problem with a brand new coach at any school or conference telling a current player, "In all honesty, I don't feel you fit my system. I don't expect for you to have a lot of PT going forward."
I think that's honest and allows the kid to explore his options for playing time elsewhere.
It was, however, mostly sarcastic.
I see where you are going with that and it has been a concern of mine. I just spoke about it not 20 minutes ago. So far I have no issues with the things that have taken place in recruiting. The off field issues have been legit (Gambrell unknown) I want to keep an eye on the Medical Hardships. Those are the things that I believe have been abused at Alabama. I would also be interested in hearing from the guys that are transferring, Cash and potentially Hagan, to see if it because they lost their position coach or if there wasn't something else going on. I for one am not a fan of oversigning, whether it be in the SEC or tOSU.
I don't always take names when I kick ass but when I do, they most often belong to a Wolverine.
Gambrell's issue was the worst, it was his second assault in the past year.
Wasn't the rumor that he was beating on his girlfriend too? I thought I read that somewhere. I have no problem showing a toolbag like that the door. If, of course, the speculation was true.
Yes, that's what I heard too. Also he tried to use his father's name the first time he was charged with assault..
Caldwell is out at the Indianapolis Colts. Queue the Tressel to Colts rumors starting in 3, 2, 1....
ZOMG Tressel is going to the Colts?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!11
“The teams that don’t respect their coaches and don’t trust their coaches are the teams that go .500"
~Zach Boren
What's this I heard about Tressel coaching the Colts.
I heard Tressel was going to be the new Colts coach just a few seconds ago!!! That is absolutely fantastic.
The best thing about Pastafarianism? It is not only acceptable, but advisable, to be heavily sauced
Another State Penn robbery by Urban? The man is throwing gasoline on that dumpster fire in State College and I couldnt.be.happier
If Denard Robinson isn't careful with spooning all that food into his mouth, he's going to end up lookin' like Whoopi Goldberg
Perkins nearly commits on visit
January, 16, 2012 Jan 1610:02PM ETEmail Print Comments By Jared ShankerFour-star athlete David Perkins (South Bend, Ind./Washington) has not named a leader since decommitting from Notre Dame in October. He jokes his leaderboard changes more than the weather.
It finally looks as if a program has swept Perkins off his feet, though.
Perkins, ranked third in the state of Indiana, officially visited Ohio State this weekend, and Perkins had to fight off the urge to commit.
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
So according to this chart, which is as up-to-date as possible, we have 80 players on scholarship: https://sites.google.com/site/scholarshipbreakdown/home
Does that mean that we have 5 players left that we can sign or only 2 because of the sanctions? Anyone have a definitive answer?
The NCAA mandated that we do 3 a year for the 9 scholly reductions. They won't allow us to adjust the amount to reduce per year. So we can only have a 82 a year for three years.
So Rivals has us #3, Scout has us at #4, and ESPN has us at #11. ESPN has some seriosuly skewed rankings.
ESPN doesn't update their rankings as often as the other two sites.
ESPN's recruiting coverage has always been weird. I quit looking at their rankings before they were known as EsecPN. They just have never close to the other 2 sites. Quite honestly, I've never really looked much at scout either, they used to seem like they were awfully liberal with giving out 5 star rankings to guys. May not be the same any longer, but I just have always went to rivals. They have always seemed to be pretty good overall in my opinion. Seems like they and Scout are pretty similar these days though.
Rivals is pretty stingy handing out five stars. Scout always has a count of 50 from what I've seen. Espin is skewed against tOSU in recruiting just like everything else.
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
Even outside of Ohio State though, ESPN has always just been bad with recruiting coverage. They always had significant differences in the top 100 than Rivals did. As I said, I'm talking like 7 or 8 years ago when all the recruting sites started getting popular.
Welcome to the S&G Joey O'Connor!
Keep Calm and Ignore the Trolls.
"We have a quarterback, obviously, that's kind of ridiculous running the ball." - Urban Meyer
Glad to see a Colorado kid going to the Bucks. Thanks Joey.
I have been known on occasion to howl at the moon. - Crash Davis
Does O'Conner cancel his remaining visits?
O'Connor cancelled his trip to Cal, according to local news in Colorado. O'Connor is happy to have found the right school because he was getting tired of recruiting hassles.
What is even greater about this commit - it puts on top of Ann Arbor Community College!!! Urban took the program to #3/#4 in about 4 - 5 weeks where Flounder Hoke had an entire year!!! GOD that has to be really pissing them off now!!!
The best thing about Pastafarianism? It is not only acceptable, but advisable, to be heavily sauced
I can't recall any former OSU players from the state of Colorado ... is this a first?
"You win with people." - Woody Hayes
Hahaha O'Connors video is hilarious. At 2:48-2:56, O'Connor pancakes the defender and then the defender sticks his hand up for Joe to help him up and he does I was cracking up. That camera work on that video was impressive. I haven't seen a OL video that good in terms of camera work
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog
Yeah, the pancake, followed by O'Connor helping the poor soul up was hilarious. In general, O'Connor seems to have nice little mean streak, which is encouraging. Maybe O'Connor and Jacoby Boren can push eachother to become the next Justin Boren.
I haven't seen a buckeye with that much raw anger since Boren #1. I love how the kid punches him in the nuts, but O'Conner keeps coming at him!
-Go Bucks!
Off topic but according to mgoblog darryl stonum has been released from michigans football team. lol.
That kid needs help and I hope he gets it. He should call Alex Boone
Obviously, the kid is troubled, but that's no reason for Michigan fans to throw stonums at the kid. Many of us went through our party phases in college, drinking and getting stonumed. Besides, if they turn over a few more rocks over at AACC, they really might not like what they discover.
i can't stop laughing at this
I see what you did there....
Well done sir
If Denard Robinson isn't careful with spooning all that food into his mouth, he's going to end up lookin' like Whoopi Goldberg
"Those that live in glass houses should not throw stonums."
Laughing my ass off.
"Here officer, hold my beer while I find my license."
O'Connor's playing reminds me of the movie "The Blind Side" with the way he doesn't quit until the play is finished. Poor #27 was running scared from tangling with the Big O in the highlight film. Great pick up for us!! I am sure he will put a hurting on those who he goes against.
I know I was thinking the same exact thing.
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog
He plays like that all the time against everybody. Just imagine him pumped up even more against TSUN in a home game at the Shoe!
It's a beautiful thing...
All the analysts keep saying Meyer is "poaching" prospects. He likely is just taking the type of guys OSU would have gotten without all this BS going on anyway. I know Tressel didn't really poach but I think it's more getting guys we lost back
Meyer hasn't been poaching - yet. As you suggest, the "poached" players were, for all intents and purposes, simply coming back home to where they belong and would have originally committed to without all the media-hyped faux "scandal." Several decomitted from PSU, or had second thoughts about a program after coaches left, etc.
In the 2013 class, it might be necessary for Meyer to do a little legitimate poaching of MSU and AACC so as to put those two little programs back in their cages.
If he approaches those kids, and they're interested, then they weren't 100% committed in the first place. In the future, he won't be scrambling at the last minute to salvage the recruiting class.
The tape doesn't lie. I'll take a guy that plays that hard and aggressive all day. Great get. Welcome aboard!
If Urban out recruits the other recruiters then so be it. No one is off limits IMO until they sign their LOI and I think Urban is just really good at selling OSU.
Jesus - I just watched a 10 minute video on this kid - he is f@#$ing mean, nasty, and plays with a big big attitude!!! Holy moly he is going to fit right in with the Buckeyes new spirit! Get this kid in the weight room with our new strength coach and he may kill somebody.
The best thing about Pastafarianism? It is not only acceptable, but advisable, to be heavily sauced
Yeah I might have a new favorite player!
go bucks
Jim Bollman had a bunch of great linemen recurited during his time. I sure hope the new staff knows how to develop them.
After watching this video, I have some bad, good & great news!
First...
The Bad - I noticed that Joey has a tendency to put his hand in the defender's face, not good! Ref's will call a penalty on that every time.
The Good - The kid is an ABSOLUTE BEAST! I love the tenaciousness in him. The hands to the face issue will be fixed by our coaching staff!
The Great - This was the first video i COMPLETELY made it all the way through, because, FINALLY... a recruiting video that didn't involve rap music! It was friggin awesome!
No
crap music? I guess maybe I'll watch it too.update: Holy crap! You could almost hear the opposing players begging their coach not to have them line up against Joey. I love the serious mean streak. But I also LOVE the fact that the kid plays with good sportsmanship, such as helping the opposing player up and not standing over and trash talking after he knocks them on their dupa.
"Here officer, hold my beer while I find my license."