All this recruiting news has kept me glued to my computer waiting for the next update. Hopefully with the addition of Spence, our D-line could be dominant for the next four years. I think we all could agree that O-line is the next priority and hopefully we land both Diamond and Dodson, but I think closely behind O-line, an explosive athlete on either side of the ball is a huge priority. I know we are currently looking at Diggs, Jones, Neal, and Caleb; has anyone heard any news of any of them potentially committing? And who do you think would be the best picl-up for the Bucks? I would rank them in order of importance
1. Diggs
2. Jones
3. Neal
4. Caleb
Seems Jones' top 5 are Alabama, Auburn, VA Tech, OSU, and possibly Virginia.
I can't tell who Diggs favors.
Caleb's faves appear to be OSU, VA Tech, Georgia, and WV.
Neal is reportedly "looking at Ohio State", but it doesn't seem like he has narrowed down his list much.
Who would I prefer? Whoever wants to be a Buckeye the most, but it appears Jones, Diggs, and Neal may have an edge as far as speed.
Haven't really hear of any of them nor have I seen them play. I just want good character guys that work their ass off and stay out of trouble. Could really care less what a guy is ranked or how much hype he has.
The 09 class is a good "humbling" way to not take recruiting to serious. It was a top 5 class with these guys as the most hyped
LB-Dorian.Bell 5 star
OT-Marcus Hall 4 star
RB-Jamaal Berry 4 star
CB-Corey Brown 4-5 star
DE-Melvin Fellows 4-5 star
Tell me who out of that group turned out to be a stud for us..or even established himself as a solid starter? None. All the good players from that class were the less hyped/rated players: Simon, Boren, Fragel, Bellamy, etc.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
@BUCKEYEJASON
Way to be a buzz kill. Haha...If you can't get hyped about hype...then what can you get hyped about?
"Anything less than flagrant is just playing grab ass!"
Simon was highly ranked in that class, and Melvin Fellows as well as Corey Brown have been plagued by injuries while Marcus Hall has been starting, or in the 2-deep. The two disappointments have been Berry, and Bell.
@BuckeyeJason: as long as a coaching staff is not relying on recruting services as a primary means of evaluating talent (i.e., the tail wagging the dog), I'll take my chances with a class studded with 4 and 5 star guys, thank you. Over the long run, those players will tend to perform at higher levels.
As for the 2009 class, it's too early to pass judgments on M. Hall and Corey Brown and it's not out of the realm of possibility that J Berry will still become a player. But even if it turns out that four or five of those highly rated players, taken from one small sample, turn out to be busts, that snapshot would still be a long way from being statistically significant.
If we expect roughly three out five 4/5 star guys to "pan out," that wouldn't be the case for every class. Randomly distributed, sometimes zero or one out 5 might end being studs; other times, all five will be studs. Over time, it'll average out.
I agree, it's fun to follow the recruiting of all these four and five star guys, follow the storylines ect. But in reality who's to say a three star guy who's hungry and bleeds scarlet can't come in and dominate? (Dane Sanzenbacher MVP)
Buckeyejason is right on, no one is a sure thing. It's a tight race between raw talent and raw guts/determination. Given it's track record and winning ways I'd say the edge goes to the latter.
Now I know, I know, you cant hit home runs without swinging - but you cant expect every hit to clear the fence.
I know there's a game saturday, and my ass will be there.
Yeah when Simon initially signed very early on, he was considered a 5 star. Then he dropped, but finished up being a pretty big commit. Guys who sign early on always end up dropping in the rankings some. Rivals, Scout, and ESPN don't make money off people wanting to read about guys who committed 10 months before signing day.
Yes, find me a team that has won a national championship this past decade that didn't have recruiting classes that ranked in the top 10-15 year in and out. I agree that it's not the be-all-end-all, but rankings are fairly tried and true in predicting which programs will be good-great.
vacuuming sucks
Recruiting is fun to follow, but rather than overall star ratings I like to look at where the guys are rated in their position and also what their offer list looks like. I said it the other day if Bama, Ohio State, and LSU have offered a kid, I don't give a damn how many stars he has, the kid can play.
Look at Hankins. The guy was comparable to other guys who had 5 stars next to their name, he was just a little bit more in the rough I guess. He had size, speed for that size, and it was a pretty good bet he'd be a great recruit. Just because some guy from Rivals watched him play and decided because maybe he was too fat as a senior in high school he should be a 3 star instead of 4 or 5.
Sanzenbacher had talent. He had speed, and would've succeeded anywhere he went. Was it that he had guts and overachieved or was it that the Rivals didn't give him a look? Sure heart plays into it, but when these kids come to Ohio State and play and shock the world, they still have great ability. Troy was tremedously athletic, wound up being a great QB. Hawk was a Full Back, move him to LB and the rest is history. Maybe these guys weren't highly rated, but they had great athletic ability. It's impossible for these recruiting services to witness every kid who has a lot of talent in America up close and personally.
They've come a long way. I remember when the Rivals 100 was about 1/2 3 star players. With the camps they run and just popularity of recruiting their reach is pretty far now. They still, only have so many people who can go out and evaluate kids. That means they have to pick certain states, or certain divisions within a state. I highly doubt they'll come to Kentucky and watch 1A, 90 student Beechwood play, despite their dominance, but they'll definitely come to see Highlands or Louisville Trinity play.
The biggest problem I have with the rankings is that each service has a different set of rankings. ESPN/Rivals/Scout all have different star ratings. Sometimes 1 guy can be a 3 star in one, 4 in one, and 5 in the other. I'm definitely not saying that rankings don't matter, I'm just saying that if a guy is a 5 star or 3 star I don't care. If he's one of the top 5 in his position That's what I want to see. If he's the number 5 DE and ends up a 3 star so be it.
Another thing about the recruiting services is, they value the total number of commits a team has. So if Ohio State signs 20, but Texas ends up with 25, Ohio State could have a higher average star rating but Texas' class is ranked higher.
If you end up with a bunch of guys who are top 5 in their positions, no matter what stars they are, you'll end up with a class in the top 10-15. As for 4 and 5 stars not panning out and guys like Hawk being awesome, that stuff happens sometimes. It is fluid, sometimes a g uy is a 5 star because he's peaked in high school, or he's dominated against weak competition. Another guy could be a 3 star because he's not the star on the team or he is one of many great players on a team like St.X or Colerain. Sometimes he doesn't get credit because he plays in a lower division with lesser competition etc.
I think its safe to say the recruiting rankings don't mean anything.
You basically proved the point in your comment above. Its not a science, its hit or miss pretty much.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
I don't think they are completely useless is what I'm trying to say. It's no mistake that typically LSU, Texas, Bama, Florida, Ohio State, and USC are in the top 10 in recruiting and mostly have great teams. Now does it matter if a team is number 1 or number 10? Not really.
Right. Ratings matter in the sense that you don't want to go out and get a bunch of 1 and 2-star recruits.
If there was no "star" system on recruits and no player rankings, how would we know who is a five star and who is a 1 star type of player? Most of these rankings come from guys having good summer camps etc.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
I think we are going to see less "busts" now, especially on the OL. Don't get me wrong Tress was a great coach and won tons of games, but did he really coach up the players? How many 4-5 star linemen left here as 2-3 star guys. I think Urban is going to make these players better just by having competent assistants.
I don't think that Urban meyer or Jim Tressel went on to Rivals to see what they had these guys listed either. They don't care about their star rating. That's why I'm saying I pay more attention to their list of offers than the stars. There are a lot of guys paid very good money on the coaching staff to evaluate the talent. I trust them more than a website who may have seen the guy play up close or may have just viewed some video clips.
The stars and all that business are for the fans who pay to follow recruiting. Sometimes I don't think the difference between 3 and 5 stars is that much. Hankins probably could've just as easily been a 5 as he was a 3 or 4 whatever he was rated.
Again at the end of the day it's a pretty concentrated group who always seem to be in the top of the rankings and it's no shock that those schools always seem to be competing for BCS births, National titles, and Conference championships. The services are just trying to creat buzz to get web hits and people paying for their premium coverage.
I heard a rumor that Jones decided not to visit this weekend. I'm not sure if there is any truth to that and I sure hope it's false. Has anyone else heard anything about that?
Cyrus Jones won't be a Buckeye. He committed (per Scout) to a team down South, who's fans like toilet paper and laundry detergent
Haven't seen that Cyrus Jones has commited to anybody yet. Where are you reading that? Pretty sure visit is still on for this weekend.
If you ain't a Silver Bullet, you're a target
Someone posted it on the OSU scout board, however there has yet to be any confirmation from anyone but said poster.
How are we doing in the Recruiting Class ratings now? We crack the top 10 yet? Last time I heard we were @ 13th.
------------------------------------------------------------
"The height of human desire is what wins, whether it's on Normandy Beach or in Ohio Stadium." ~Woody Hayes~
Scout- 8th
247- 10th
Rivals- 13th
ESPN- 15th
I'm serious...you guys need to go to detnews.com and check out what the "Meat-Chicken" fans are saying!!
------------------------------------------------------------
"The height of human desire is what wins, whether it's on Normandy Beach or in Ohio Stadium." ~Woody Hayes~
Thanks!!
------------------------------------------------------------
"The height of human desire is what wins, whether it's on Normandy Beach or in Ohio Stadium." ~Woody Hayes~
I checked Scouts.com and they didnt say anything about Cyrus Jones not visiting this weekend. Probably just someone trying to start a rumor. I also checked on Diggs and Neal and according to Scout.com they currently do have OSU listed as a top choice. That doesnt mean Urban can't work his magic and change their minds, but I hope he does whatever he can to land at least one (preferably 2) of these guys.
Alex (@alex11w) just tweeted that Jones has narrowed his list to Alabama and Virginia Tech. If he is tweeting it, it is more than just someone trying to start a rumor.
Very surprising and disapppointing if Jones doesn't at least visit. I am sure the program will survive of course.
http://alabama.247sports.com/Article/Jones-hosts-Saban-53064
Yea, looks like its just Alabama and V-tech. Thats alright though. There are other great athletes out there, and even if we dont land one of the top name athletes, we're OSU...we will be just fine.
It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out but we can't forget the Golden Rule: Urban gets what Urban wants.
If you ain't a Silver Bullet, you're a target
Do you think Urban stops slow-playing Caleb to ensure at least 1 of these guys? I'm still hoping and praying for Diggs, but ensuring a solid player like Caleb could be huge even without another one of these guys.
According to 247 Sports, Virginia Tech is Caleb's top choice right now. Hopefully that changes.
What, no new commits last night? Urbz must be sleeping. Careful rest of the B1G, do not awaken the sleepng Urbz.
AJ Hawk was a three star recuit.
Taquitos.
I watched Diggs' highlight tape last night, and holy $%#@ can that kid fly. He was just doing stupid moves on kids like it wasn't even fun for him. The only (possible) problem is that he definitely knows he is good and wasn't afraid to show it. I understand Urban will straighten these guys out, but after the "Entitled 5" I don't really want some cocky class coming in and ruining more Buckeye Football.
Don't give up... Don't ever give up.
Seem to remember Urban "straightening out" LB Brandon Spikes for 2 quarters of the next game against over-matched Kentucky, after Spikes was caught on camera intentionally eye-gouging a Georgia running back on the bottom of a post play pile...... just sayin.
He got suspended for 2 quarters for trying to blind someone. Seems fair given that Tress only suspended a guy for a game for attempting to murder someone on the field.
Yeah lets not jump on Urban about Brandon Spikes when Tressel essentially patted Reynolds on the back after he nearly killed Sorgi.
jump on Urban? well, mr. sensative, I merely recalled an event.
Not being sensitive, just saying before we try and say something about a coach and his situation with a rule-breaking player, remember that OSU has experienced the very same thing. Those glass houses and rocks yeah know?
wasn't throwing rocks...both penalties: for the choke and the eye gouge were pathetic, IMO. I really dodn't agree with everything Meyer has ever done as a head coach, and I don't expect to agree with everything he will do at OSU. I will say that I won't agree with everything he does at OSU, just because he is the coach at OSU.
I am very pleased that he accepted the job, and I hope for a bright Buckeye football future.
Kind of off topic but has anyone heard how Spence's team did last night in their state championship game?
wrong thread
I saw on another site that Davonte Neal has set up an official visit for January 13. Neal is a heck of an athlete and would be a huge pick up. Neal was born in Akron and has been a Buckeye fan his whole life. Pair that with Urban's ability to close, and I like our chances.
I agree about Neal. To me, his video was just as impressive as that of Stefan Diggs. Of course, I'd take either one. Or both! LOL
Getting both would be incredible, not sure how much Diggs is considering but landing Neal may help sway Diggs to at least visit. If we somehow did get both, would you put both on offense or keep Neal on offense and put Diggs at DB? I felt that most of Diggs best highlights were on the defensive side of the ball.