Ok so with Williams we have 23 commits. My question is how many more spots do we have before we "oversign." I also know all of us OSU fans trash on the SEC for "oversigning" and I would prefer it if OSU and Meyer didnt do that. So how many more spots can we fill before we start getting ourselves in trouble.
Also with Neal being our top priority (hopefully) do we wait till after National Signing day to see if he even commits to us and risk losing a spot that somebody else could fill?
Thanks
It's a tricky thing to pin down. The things that ultimately matter are following Big Ten rules and getting the scholarship players at 82 before the season starts. They are sitting at 82 right now, but obviously that is not the end of things.
The coaching staff obviously has a handle on who might be gone before next season and therefore knows what the real number is right now. I am extremely uncomfortable with there being 86-87 players "on the team" after signing day, but I think that is likely to be the case.
Adam Griffin could be placed on walk-on status to free up a scholarship and there are question marks about David Durham, Jamaal Berry and Chad Hagan. So that is potentially 4 spots available through transfers, legal issues or medical issues.
6 early enrollees allows serious wiggle room with this year's class, but the percepetion will exist that Meyer/staff cut players if the number gets into the mid-upper 80's in the next few weeks.
vacuuming sucks
So were looking at about 4 more spots? any kids in trouble with grades that we shouldnt count? and finally do we think Urban and the staff wait for Neal?
muck fichigan
I have no idea about the grades situation. Alex has mentioned that there are some kids who may not qualify due to grade issues.
Oversigning has been a hot topic because the SEC West teams mostly (several Big XII teams too) have been doing it habitually. Sigining 20-30 more players over a 5 year period than teams from the Big Ten and Pac 12. It obviously provides a talent advantage on the field from a sheer numbers standpoint. The SECers will tell you they "have to" oversign because so many kids don't make grades etc.
Ohio State is not going to become a habitual oversigner because the Big Ten won't allow it by rule. With the changes in coaching staff this year and the NCAA punishment of being limited to 82 scholarship players OSU is in a unique situation with numbers and could be forced to be creative with scholarships to make the 82 number. That is not the same thing as signing 25+ players year in and year out on Signing Day.
Over the previous 5 seasons OSU has signed 98 players if I remember correctly. This class will bring the total to somewhere just north of 120 for the past 6 seasons. That's 20 kids per year on average. Not the same thing as what has gone on at schools like Arkansas, Ole Miss, LSU, Bama, Auburn, Miss State, South Carolina or Oklahoma State. Those programs are averaging 25-27 signees year after year after year.
vacuuming sucks
Kyle, last I heard, the staff said they'd leave a scholarship open for Neal.
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/Richardobert/153314