Video: US Army All-American Bowl Interviews with James Quick, Eli Apple, Evan Lisle & Johnny Townsend
Kyle Rowland interviews commits and prospect James Quick, on the front page if you haven't seen it yet
Mike Mitchell analysis
- @BillBankGreene Cameron Hunt will be taking officials to Cal. Michigan. Oregon. But don't count out a visit to Ohio State the very last weekend.
- @BillBankGreene Trey Johnson WILL be announcing tomorrow as planned. And I think I know where he's going. Scratch that. It's Ohio State.
- @JShankerESPN Dontre Wilson said he is solid to #Oregon even if Chip Kelly leaves. Has offers from #OhioState and #NotreDame http://es.pn/ZXHJpT #Ducks
- @GregBiggins #OhioState is the latest offer for SoCal OL Cameron Hunt
- @KyleRowland Eli Apple looks very good in one-on-one coverage. Solid in not allowing the WR to get any separation. Shutting down Tyler Boyd.
- @KyleRowland Shelton Gibson is quick and has exhibited great hands. What he lacks in size he definitely makes up for with other intangibles.
- @MChungOzone Sebastian LaRue, recent USC decommit said he is open to OSU if they call. OSU has not been in contact since Nov when his visit was cancelled
- @KyleRowland Talked to several solid sources in San Antonio regarding LB Mike Mitchell. Urban Meyer, Luke Fickell and Co. will be happy on Saturday.
- @alex11w Hearing good things regarding Vonn Bell and #OhioState but visit next week will be key
- @GerdOzone Buckeye commits Jalin Marshall, Gareon Conley, Joey Bosa earn starting spots in tomorrow's #UAGame. LB Trey Johnson will also start.
Scout$--Johnson To Announce This Friday '13 GA LB Trey Johnson
- Trey will decide between tOSU, Florida, and Tennessee. He has a great feeling about tOSU and has his parents blessing to be so far away.
Scout $ - UA Game Notes: Ohio State
- By The Bank...Bosa, Burrows and Marshall improving...Baugh has been impressive throughout...Conley struggling a bit...Johnson and Bell look good.
Ohio State recruiting: State Secrets, 1/3
It's getting harder and harder to ignore the smoke that maybe, just maybe, the Buckeyes will make out like bandits this weekend and add WR James Quick, LB Mike Mitchell, and LB Trey Johnson to an already extremely talented class.
There has been message board rumors all week citing everything from Louisville staff sources, Ohio State staff sources, and "sources" in general, but the more murmurs that keep making their way to the forefront, the harder and harder it gets to ignore the general scuttlebutt about James Quick potentially heading to Ohio State.
While we won't know for sure where 4-star Louisville, Kentucky product wide receiver Quick will be playing his college football until he announces this Saturday at the 2013 US Army All-American Bowl, it's becoming more far more difficult to stick to the conventional wisdom that Quick won't be able to zone out the pressures from home to stay in the 'Ville.
But even still, we've heard since basically day one, Quick was preordained for Louisville. Ohio State's being in Quick's ear is well and good and all, but the Cardinals were supposed to be just too tough for even expert recruiters like the Buckeyes' staff to overcome. Even Urban Meyer's taking over of his recruiting personally wasn't thought to be enough. Maybe we were wrong:
Heard from one college coaching staff not connected to either Ohio State or Louisville. They "KNOW" James Quick is committing to OSU
— Bill Greene (@BillBankGreene) January 2, 2013
Of course that was before Louisville came out and produced the biggest Vegas point spread (14-point underdogs) upset in BCS bowl history, defeating Florida, 33-23.
Quick wasted no time reacting to what he was seeing:
Really..... This could get interesting
— James Quick (@Uno1Siete7) January 3, 2013
Now, a reasonable man could state that it's likely Quick's already made up his mind and a single one off exhibition game shouldn't play any role in swaying what amounts to a major life decision. Then again, a reasonable man probably never covered college football recruiting. Sports fans have short memories; 18 year old sports fans have incredibly short memories.
We're certainly not saying that the biggest win in a school's history is enough to make one young man forget about months of personal conversations and visits. But it might be enough to give a young man genuinely torn some extra reason for pause.
If that wasn't enough, it increasingly sounds like Mike Mitchell will follow through with what the experts have long been projecting and choose Ohio State over Texas A&M this weekend. Mitchell's said to several this week that the size of A&M's staff and the number of linebackers in it would play a role in where he ultimately ends up. He's also said he plans to recruit his brother to wherever he ultimately ends up. The 6-7 Mickey Mitchell, a 4-star small forward in the class of 2015, was already said to be considering Ohio State.
But if you think merely landing two 4-stars was enough for Meyer and his staff, think again. The rich may wind up getting, well, really rich, if they ultimately are able to pull 4-star former Auburn commit Trey Johnson as well. By all accounts it also sounds good, and the likes of Tom Luginbill have lobbed high praise on Johnson this week saying he was even better than advertised. What a weekend it could be for Mark Pantoni and co.
Staying in Orlando, Joey Bosa's also getting his fair share of humbling accolades. Some have said he compares favorably to former Buckeye captain John Simon, and Bosa's looked the part so far in Under Armour All-America Game practices. Reportedly he really put it on Dorian Johnson (a Pitt commit and former Buckeye target), and also gave Michigan verbal Patrick Kugler all they could handle in practice Wednesday.
Finally, during Wednesday's Under Armour All-America Game skills comptition, Ohio State tight end commit Marcus Baugh somehow snuck into the OL/DL competition and naturally ran away with it:
Shouting myself out on national tevision has to be he smartest thing I've ever done
— Marcus Baugh (@MarcusBeeezy) January 3, 2013
Race Tightens For Gibson
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – As Shelton Gibson nears his college decision, it appears that West Virginia has made things interesting at the top of the U.S. Army All-American receiver’s list.
Gibson has already taken officials to West Virginia and Kentucky. He'll take officials to Ohio State and Tennessee before deciding.
Out of Cleveland (Ohio) Heights, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Gibson has had Ohio State as his favorite since the start of the recruiting process. However, on his official visit to Morgantown, Gibson saw a potential fit at West Virginia.
“West Virginia is right under (Ohio State), super close, if not tied,” Gibson said following practice on Tuesday. Kentucky and Tennessee also remain in the mix.
Gibson enjoyed West Virginia’s victory over Kansas.
“I learned that the fans love you,” he said. “The academics are real good and the stats, they throw the ball a lot and they have a lot of receivers that are leaving right now.”
Ranked as the nation’s No. 17 receiver according to the 247Composite, Gibson was one of Urban Meyer’s first offers in the 2013 class. He’ll take his official to Ohio State the weekend of Jan. 11.
“The thing that is standing out is that Coach Meyer came into that program and they were alright last year, and he changed the whole program,” Gibson said. “I’m not trying to say that’s not his guys and his type of people, but that’s not the people he recruited. Him recruiting his guys and people now, next year they’re going to be awesome.”
Following his official visit to Ohio State, Gibson will travel to Tennessee for an official. Then he’ll decide.
“It helped that they got Coach (Tommy) Thigpen from Auburn and Coach (Butch Jones) from Cincinnati,” Gibson said of the new Vols staff. He had previous relationships with both. Gibson is also excited about the offense Jones ran at Cincinnati. “I heard a lot from (Cincinnati receivers) Travis Kelce and Jeremy Graves and they’re like my big brothers.”
Gibson took an official visit to Kentucky the weekend of Dec. 14.
“I saw that they throw the ball a lot and I’d be in the best conference,” Gibson said. “Me catching a lot of balls in the SEC sounds good.”
Ohio State Football: 16 Buckeye Recruits to Watch High School All-American Games
cont...
Finals Thoughts from Army Bowl in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO — It has been a jam-packed few days here in the Lone Star State and Ohio State’s 2013 class is really starting to take shape. The people running the all-star game do a top-notch job and it is no longer a secret why they are the best.
I, for one, am happy to see the Army All American Game is still the standard-bearer for high school all star games. These guys are not only concerned with giving the kids a good time but also teaching them service and introducing them to real American heroes. Seeing all the soldiers walking around the hotel and hearing their stories reminds us all that a real hero is more than someone who can run a sub 4.5 40, but rather someone who is willing to put their life on the line for a cause higher than themselves.
Football will always move the needle in this country, but talking to the soldiers who have returned from active duty has been the biggest blessing of this trip. With my diatribe out of the way, here are some final thoughts from San Antonio:
cont...
Jalin Marshall (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown) has it. That’s why his high school coach Troy Everhart has no fear the ESPN 150 athlete will see his star pupil’s game translate to college football quite well.
A former recruiting coordinator, Everhart knew about Marshall long before Marshall knew about him.
So when he heard that Ohio State was going to change the triple-threat quarterback to a slot receiver, Everhart wasn’t worried.
If Vonn Bell doesn’t know how Ohio State commits feel about the Buckeyes by the end of the week, the ESPN 150 safety simply wasn’t listening.
It started with Cam Burrows bending his ear and is continuing with Jalin Marshall speaking scarlet and gray to Bell. Marshall is also all over ESPN 150 linebacker Trey Johnson as he prepares for Friday’s Under Armour All-America Game as one of five Ohio State commits to play in the sixth annual contest.
Incidentally, Marshall will be in Bell’s ear again Jan. 11 when the two take an official visit to Ohio State as well.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Oregon coach Chip Kelly is rumored to be high on the list for several NFL coaching jobs, but ESPN 150 athlete commit Dontre Wilson (DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto) said he remains a solid commitment to the Ducks.
The 5-foot-10, 174-pound prospect said his relationship with Oregon running backs coach Gary Campbell is key to his not considering other options.
"I've heard that if Coach Kelly leaves, then Coach Helfrich, the offensive coordinator, would be the new coach," Wilson said. "So it really doesn't bother me at all. I have a strong relationship with Coach Campbell, and I don't think he's going anywhere. I'm still a solid commit to Oregon. Coach Campbell and I have always been close, he was a big reason I chose Oregon."
Quick to UL (I think - but not because of last night's game - I think he just wants to be there). I think last night's game only set his decision in stone. Think he genuinely wants to be a Cardinal and you can't blame him for that. He will do great anywhere, imo!
Looks like Johnson is definitely a Buck, which is awesome news! Hope Mitchell, Worley, Gibson, Bell, and Wilson follow suit. Should be interesting but the first domino falls tomorrow night.
Thanks Gene, as usual, for all of the updates. Good stuff!
Champions Bleed Scarlet & Gray
I don't think Wilson coming here is going to happen. He's a good fit for Oregon, and he's said he's staying no matter what. But crazy things have happened.
FWIW according to 247 Sports's Boarding House he's very seriously considering coming to OSU once Kelly leaves. And that was straight from his mouth.
I bet he doesn't even know what he will do at this point
I think 247 information came out yesterday and this tweet is from today? Could be wrong though..
Champions Bleed Scarlet & Gray
Tweet is from today yes
Probably just telling both sides what they want to hear...Ducks want to hear he is solid, Bucks want to hear he's open if/when Kelly leaves. I hope we get him, but I won't hold my breath
Champions Bleed Scarlet & Gray
Me thinks Mitchell/Johnson > Anzalone/Lewis.
I could be just a homer tho. LOL!
Don't forget the other Mitchell quite possibly...
Go Bucks!
I think everyone would agree with you there!
I agree with that, but not with Mitchell/Johnson > Anzalone/Jaylon Smith. NDs LB haul is amazing this year and two guys I think the staff would have taken over Mitchell and Johnson.
No, I think you are right. I think you have one big time LB (Anvalone) and one potentially solid one (Lewis) verses one with unlimited ceiling (Mitchell) and one good-very good LB (Johnson). I predict Mitchell and Johnson start, make a big difference, while Anzalone will be very good and Lewis will play a role. I think I'd rather have two solid starters with a high ceiling, we need the depth.
Do you mean Anzalone/Neal? I think Mitchell and Anzalone are comparable, but Lewis Neal would've played the viper so you have to compare him to Tyquan Lewis, in which case I think Tyquan is better.
Crap....no Wilson even if Kelly leaves? All the wind has left my sails...he would be dynamite at tOSU.
EDIT: Saw your reply above, kinda sucks. I actually thought that scenario had some legs to it.
Champions Bleed Scarlet & Gray
The Bosa-constrictor is probably scaring away potential Buckeye linemen because they don't want to lineup across from that guy in practice every day. LOL. Bosa epitomises BEAST mode.
If he's solid now cant wait till he goes through the Mariotti experience.
Nothing like dancing on the field in 02...
I am so stoked for these commitments to start coming in. Its like getting late Christmas presents.
quick to louisville? gibson to a school other than TOSU? who is left to commit? timmons been waiting all this time, maybe him? timmons the one who has been waiting faithfully for an offer? this could get interesting. wonder if timmons, if he got an offer, would just up and commit to uk, where he will be an instant star?
news of Wilson remaining solid to Oregon is a bit disconcerting as I think Quick is 50/50, regardless of the projections of him to OSU...hope we can have a big weekend here and have this 2013 class pretty much figured out by monday
Not if your name is one WAYCRACKEN, this just inches Timmons that much closer...
Supposedly Elder is higher on the list than Timmons... Might not happen for Timmons anyway if Elder decides to pull the trigger on his visit.
I think if Quick selects Louisville, Gibson commits on his official visit on the 11th (provided he is academically GTG). He won't get on that plane to Tennessee if Urban gives him the green light.
To me, that tweet from Quick basically said he was 100% Buckeyes but seeing that game is making him think a little bit. I still think he is a Buckeye but who could blame him wanting to be in that offense with Bridgewater?
Could OSU get both? I'd be alright with that too. LOL!
Now, I read the tweet as a reaction to the game. Really(? UL is winning early. )This (game) could get interesting. (I'm still a Buckeye.)
( ) my inferences
I took the tweet to be about the game, not his recruitment.
Its def enticing but no one expects Teddy to be around for his senior year at this point. Also a good chance Braxton may not either. Which begs the question does he want to play with Kyle Bolin or JT Barrett? IMO Bridgewater masks alot of the talent gaps UL has and will greatly show when hes gone.
If Wilson is hearing that the OC of Oregon will become the new head coach if Kelly leaves, then they are blowing smoke up his ass. Oregon will most certainly interview big name coaches, starting with Chris Peterson, who I"ve heard would go there if offered.
FWIW- When Bellotti left, they only interviewed the then OC Chip Kelly.
I've heard Peterson would be interested in Oregon, but who would want that job with sanctions coming? Kelly is doing the same thing Pete Carroll did 3 years ago. If Wilson is smart he will open his recruitment back up to see what happens with Oregon and the NCAA.
Article about what Oregon may do if/when Kelly leaves. OC Helfrich has been the coach in waiting for at least a year.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/eye-on-college-football/21...
I understand that... I'm just saying you end up in the same situation at USC with sanctions... I don't know why anyone would want that... I believe Oregon's o-coordinator could land a job where sanctions won't affect him or the program.
With the latest reports out of USC no one will want to touch that.
Marcus Baugh(who I think is a little undervalued) is slowly becoming one of my favorites.
"YOLO" = I'm about to do something extremely ignorant/stupid & I need an excuse to do it.
Bummer...the Army Bowl is going to conflict with the BasketBucks on Saturday.
/Warming up surfing finger.
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
Damn I can't wait to see Bosa in a Buckeye uniform... dude is going to be so nasty! Throw in Spence and Washington and everyone else we got... good luck to the opposing linemen.
Totally off topic, but did anyone else see this dunk from Victor Dukes a class of '15 prospect..
Pretty nastyyyyy.
Wow that's just Clowney ( yes I just turned that into a figure of speech )
if the defender would have planted he could have gotten a charge called because he used him as a step ;) haha.
I think that might still be a travel haha
Just a random thought on Gibson.
I have to wonder if he is some what embarrassed by his grade situation since it has been the topic of discussion for so long now. Reporters ask him about it, tweeters, etc. He posted his grades at one point as if to get people to stop talking about it.
I am far removed from being a 17 year old but I know I would be embarrassed. I guess I am just wondering if that's why he has WV high on his list now too? Maybe he feels he would have a bit more anonymity grade wise at a smaller school?
More anonymity at a smaller school? Don't think that's how it works.
Anonymity grade wise. In other words I think because he is a hometown boy and OSU is such a storied and huge fan base maybe they are put under a microscope here more often than say a smaller school would.
I would think because he is from Ohio and has friends, family school mates etc that there is more information floating around than an out of state kid with more access to his information as well. Be it rumor or true.
I think his grades are fine... People have been reporting it might be his ACT scores.
Maybe he feels as though he would be an intellectual giant at W VA
I'm cool with gibson mentor\teacher Gibson will be a buckeye and his grades have improved fwiw..... talked with him today
Hardly home but always reppin
if we close out with gibson, quick, mitchell and johnson should be #1 class got the most top end talent.
USC, Michigan, Alabama, Notre Dame and Florida will keep it close.
Hunt got his offer today
I saw the topic and thought it was another topic about Quick
“The teams that don’t respect their coaches and don’t trust their coaches are the teams that go .500"
~Zach Boren
Quick is now saying that UL has made up some ground, but OSU is still in the lead, per Steve W.
So here comes Captain Obvious to the rescue...someone get me a cape
My obvious question: was Cameron Hunt offered today because we really want an OL or the staff knows they've struck out on another target? (i.e. Bell, Quick, or Gibson)
Champions Bleed Scarlet & Gray
I hope that it is because they really want another OL in this class, but so does everyone else if those are the two options!
I think it may just be a "no stone unturned" idea, and IF we could get him in for a very late visit after some have made their choices, then we could fill a position we wanted to use somewhere else with a position of need for depth. Then it works out to our benefit.
Just my two cents...
Wonder if the staff would be interested in talking to and or taking LaRue in this class since there isn't much room left. You gotta make room for a guy like that right?
I'm glad you brought it up - LaRue wants to visit. If we don't get Quick do you prioritize LaRue ahead of Elder and Timmons to be "next man up" with Gibson? Also, does anyone know why we cancelled his OV to The Game?
Also Quick is talking to both coaches tonight
later tonight early morning-ish things should be hopefully getting clearer on this recruitment.
im sure im in the minority here, but i like larue. would really like to see the staff give him more attention,but who am i to even question the masters who have setup the most exciting HS all american weekend in ohio state history
Man this is fun! Last season's november signing was the best we've had.. After that, I gotta go with this All American weekend..