Eleven Warriors

ECU gives Marcus a better shot at playing, also. With the LB's we already have signed for this year, Shazier and Grant already on the roster, and possibly Smith coming  next year, it will be tough to crack the starting lineup at OSU for the foreseeable future.

So we'll most likely never see Roger donning scarlet & gray?

It's been mentioned that Diamond wanted perks from the OSU staff (either cash, or favors for family, IIRC). Does anyone have any information that other teams are offering? Or is it just speculation, and assumed to be happening? 

From this article, and of course his rivals page, Marcus had offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Ga Tech, South Carolina, ND, USC, as well as several others - yet its coming down to OSU and ECU ($, info in header).  That has to tell you something - looking at his offer sheet, I can't help but think this is a kid that wants to stay close to home.  Keep in mind East Carolina has a staff that plucked the #6 safety in the country from Miami (FL) and South Carolina - and this kid was from Florida.  While the Pirates are by no means a Linebacker U, they have sent LB's to the NFL before, and with the playing time available and his GF deciding to attend school there, I really see the odds stacked against us for this kid, in my humble opinion.  I'm honestly amazed (as with Diggs) that Urban was even able to keep us in the ball game.  Having an ECU degree to go with the OSU one I will be getting in a few months, I'm not tooooo sad about it ha but I wouldn't discount ECU at all.  

Marcus aside, I am stretching to think of who we might pick up aside from Dodson on signing day.  I thought Bam loved Stanford and they had worked something out to get him in?  From the message boards, it sounds like Pitt wants him at LB, and he wants to play safety, something OSU and Stanford were on the same page with.  Apparently he also has some family in the area, and now will have a HS team member joining him in Columbus next year.  He might be a pleasant surprise on signing day?

Joel Caleb and Diamond I think OSU has bowed out on, by putting our eggs in the Diggs/Neal and Dodson baskets.  While Caleb seems like a good kid, I agree Diggs/Neal are worth waiting on, and we have some amazing options coming in next year.  Diamond reminds me a lot of Henderson for some reason (from an attitude standpoint), and I wish him well wherever he goes and hope he proves me wrong.  If Roger goes to OU, that has to signal that he's never going to be a Buckeye.  I won't speculate too much, but if he really wanted to come to Ohio State, you would think he would do a prep year and go from there.  So either he isn't feelin' it, or the staff has made it clear that there will not likely be a spot for him in next year's class.  Either way, him becoming a Bobcat ends any aspirations of his becoming a Buckeye.  And will likely totally mess with the Mgoblog fan base to no end, as they end up confusing the two schools and accuse OSU of oversigning by like 30 (but dude, we got the best player in Nebraska!!)

The FIRST 2 are the ones on that list I care about most at the moment. As long as we get everyone signed thats suppose to sign & ink Kyle Dodson & Jamal Marcus.....signing day will be a HUGE SUCCESS. Come on you 2, come be apart of OSU's next National Championship team.

Yes, he has confirmed his commitment to tOSU and that his grades are in order.

http://theozone.net/recruiting/2011_12/SouthwardReaffirms.html

That kinda works out then. If we lose Lewis, we at least keep Southward. I won't be too bummed about Marcus regardless of whoever else we sign. We NEED Dodson though and if we get Neal/Diggs that would just be icing on the cake.

Cool Alex, did the source mention Marcus?

Jamal Marcus has 4* on ESPN and on 247.

Fair enough Alex, thanks for the insight.