I am just as excited as any Buckeye fan about this team's future under Urban Meyer. The coaching staff has been upgraded, and the program has been on the upward swing ever since the hire of Coach Meyer. This recruiting class is solid, and the scary thing is that it doesn't even represent what Meyer is capable of. The 2013 class will show us what Meyer is capable of and then some, as the NCAA thought it was fair to let him prowl while other coaches are consumed with bowl games; but this 2012 class exceeded the expectations of just about anybody...and it's possibly not over yet.
This 2012 recruiting class hit on positions of need as the Buckeyes were thin at CB and OT, and they addressed both of those needs by grabbing some solid prospects; but the thing that's catching everyone's eye is the star power in the front seven on the defense. Many of the recruits will naturally work their way on the field from a lack of depth, but there are also guys that are just too good to keep off the field.
This is my review of each Buckeye commit. I wanted to talk about their game as well as how and when we could possibly see them playing for the Bucks. The numbers and ratings I use are from Rivals, Scout, and Bucknuts/247sports; and the highlights are all Youtube clips; so use the links I've posted to your advantage. Anything in red is a link, and feel free to explore these links to sites and highlight videos. I hope you enjoy my breakdown of The Ohio State University's 2012 football class.
QB:
Cardale Jones/6'5 217 lbs./***/(Cleveland, OH) - Glenville/Fork Union
The Board Breakdown- Jones is a tall QB who is looking to add some muscle to his frame. He has good arm strength, but his passing skills are somewhat unpolished. We will get to see new QB coach Tom Herman handle Jones' progression, but Jones definitely has the ability to be a solid QB down the road. Many of the flaws in Jones' play are prevalent in Braxton Miller's play as well, so Herman will be able to work with this whole group of QB's on similar aspects of their game. Reading defenses will be a key component, but throwing motion and release are also areas in need of approval.
RB:
Warren Ball/6'2 200 lbs./****/(Columbus, OH) - St. Francis Desales
The Board Breakdown- Ball is a solid RB for OSU to pick up, and he reminds me a little of Wisconsin's Montee Ball. His play should pair well with that of Bri'onte Dunn, but Ball has some work to put in to better his game. Ball isn't a small back by any means, but he's going to have to put on a little more muscle and work on his initial burst if he wants to be a big threat in college. He does a good job at reading blocks and breaking through arm tackles, but like Beanie Wells, he's going to have to utilize quick cuts and his fierce stiff-arm to keep defenders from popping him in the chest. If he puts in the work, he could be an excellent B1G back in Urban's offense.
Bri'onte Dunn/6'2 215 lbs./****/(Canton, OH) - Glenoak
The Board Breakdown- Dunn is the higher rated of the incoming RB's, and he is an elite power back. He has the patience and tackle-breaking ability to be vey effective in the power game, and even though his speed isn't elite, he knows how to use what he does have. Bri'onte was the center of another nasty recruiting battle between the Buckeyes and Wolverines, and his recruitment has added fuel to the fire that is this renewed rivalry. Coach Urban Meyer has said that the Buckeyes will run the spread, but the power game will be incorporated because it's a necessity to be successful in the B1G. Dunn will be called on when the Bucks want or need to get physical, and I don't expect Urban to shy away from using him.
TE:
Blake Thomas/6'4 240 lbs./***/(Westlake, OH) - St. Ignatius
The Board Breakdown- Thomas is a solid TE recruit to fit in as the H-back in Meyer's offense. He is definitely more of a receiving TE than a blocker, but he understands body position and how to seal the hole without having to get much push. He has been a terror in the middle of the field through high school, and he has good hands and understands how to find openings in the defense. Thomas will most likely redshirt next year, and he will have to make sure to work hard as there are some solid TE's in the 2013 class that have interest in the Buckeyes.
WR:
Frank Epitropoulos/6'3 195 lbs./***/(Upper Arlington, OH) - Upper Arlington
The Board Breakdown- Epitropoulos is a good down-field threat because he understands how to get behind the coverage. He is a guy whose play could be greatly improved from being apart of Mickey Marotti's strength and conditioning program because he has the frame to add to. Like all of the 2012 WR's, Epitropoulos could see time next season; and all three of these guys possess a different set of skills that can be utilized. I expect him to turn out much like Brian Robiskie by being a good possession receiver while having the capability of getting down field, but he has some work to do.
Ricquan Southward /6'2 190 lbs./***/(Lakeland, FL) - Lakeland
The Board Breakdown- Southward was commited to The U before flipping to the Bucks just days before the hiring of Urban Meyer. He would start a trend that many would follow, but many Buckeyes question if he's deserving of a scholarship under Meyer. Let me say, I believe he's better than a three-star talent. He is great with the ball in his hands. He can make defenders miss in the open field, and he also makes smart cuts. I think his play matches up well with Michael Thomas' in the short passing game. Southward will be the guy who might not have a ton of catches, but his yards after catch average will be greater than most. He is a good fit for our future offensive scheme under Meyer.
Michael Thomas/6'4 203 lbs./****/(Woodland Hills, CA) - Taft/Fork Union
The Board Breakdown- Thomas' play should benefit from his year at Fork Union where he played with incoming Buckeye QB, Cardale Jones. Thomas has a nice-sized frame, and I would expect him to add some more muscle in Mickey Marotti's strength and conditioning program. He could end up looking like a David Boston or Roy Hall, and his play should give the Bucks a solid possession WR who can go up and get the ball. The one big positive about Thomas is that he has excellent hands, so I would expect him to be a go-to guy as the Buckeye QB's will know that he can get the ball when they get it close to him. He could be an early contributor too because the Buckeye's most dependable WR, DeVier Posey, has graduated, and no other WR really stepped up. I would actually expect to see Thomas in the mix before the other two.
OL:
Taylor Decker/6'8 313 lbs./****/(Vandalia, OH) - Butler
The Board Breakdown- Decker was a great get for the Bucks. I think the 313 lbs. number might be a little high, but he's very tall and plays with great tenacity. When this guy gets into college shape (aka adds a little more muscle), he's going to be great. He fits the mold of a spread-style tackle by being very athletic but having the aggression to be effective in the run game. The Bucks moved TE Reid Fragel to OT to help with depth issues, and Decker might be thrust into action relatively quick. As long as he keeps his mean streak, he'll be fine; but his game is more polished than that of Kyle Dodson.
Kyle Dodson/6'6 310 lbs./****/(Cleveland, OH) - Cleveland Heights
The Board Breakdown - Dodson's announcement was very cool, and only Buckeyes can be happy with how it all played out; but Dodson invited his football team up on stage where he lead them in a chant. I suggest you watch it, and check out the comments under the video to see what's being said. It's always satisfying to steal a guy like this from Wisconsin since they've had so much success with their ground game...and because I hate Wisconsin. We needed another OT in this class, and Dodson gave us just that. He has a ton of potential, and nobody can blame him for not committing to Ohio State while Bollman was here. Coach Warriner has to be happy with this haul, and he has some serious potential. All of these lineman play with intensity, and Dodson is no different. He is dominant, and proper coaching will take his game to another level because he is still very raw. He's also quite mobile, so his play works well in the spread. This line has the ability to lineup and get after guys or spread out and hold their own. This could be a lethal combination in the B1G.
Joey O'Connor/6'4 295 lbs./****/(Windsor, CO) - Windsor
The Board Breakdown- O'Connor has played tackle in high school, and many project him to play inside at Ohio State. He, like Decker, is a high-motor guy who loves to drive opponents off the ball. He dreams of pancakes, and I'm not talking the kind that your mama makes in the morning. He is also pretty athletic, so he fits this spread-style OL very well. He is another recruit who has a solid frame, and I would look for him to be studly in the future. There's a lot of promise with O'Connor.
Jacoby Boren/6'3 273 lbs./***/(Pickerington, OH) - Pick. Central
The Board Breakdown- Yeah, another Boren will play football at Ohio State. I don't think Buckeyes are upset with this get because the Boren's have been spectacular in Columbus. Justin and Zach have been described as fierce and hard-working, and Jacoby will continue to carry on those traits with the Boren family name. Jacoby explodes off the ball which is why he's played well on the DL in high school. He will probably end up close to 300 lbs, and I would definitely expect to see him eventually be a solid starter for the Bucks at one of the G positions. He will more than likely redshirt this year, but keep your eyes open for him down the road. If Jacoby redshirts and plays 4 years, the Buckeyes will have had a Boren on the roster for eight straight seasons. If you don't know the story about their father, Mike, and his role in the design for the Eastmoor helmets; you should check that story out.
Pat Elflein/6'3 270 lbs./***/(Pickerington, OH) - Pick. North
The Board Breakdown- As a wrestling coach, I am thrilled to add another wrestler to the Buckeye football squad. Ohio is a tough state for wrestling, and Elflein is a top 5 heavy weight wrestler. Wrestlers tend to have good feel for positioning and understand how to gain leverage. They use their hands well and are usually very aggressive. The one issue with wrestling is that the max weight is 285 lbs., so the big guys either have to cut weight; or they can't wrestle. Elflein needs to add some size, and like Boren, he could end up at almost 300 lbs. He, like the other three OL recruits, is tenacious. He enjoys driving defenders to their backs, and he welcomes a challenge. This OL class will be excellent under Coach Ed Warriner because they play with an attitude and are willing to work hard. I look for big things from this group in the future.
DE:
Se'Von Pittman/6'5 245 lbs./****/(Canton, OH) - Canton McKinley
The Board Breakdown- Pittman is a big DE, and I would expect him to be a John Simon-type defender. He's quick but needs to work on shedding blocks. He's only going to get bigger and stronger. Pittman will be able to line up at DE on run downs and move inside on pass downs. The crazy thing is that he's overshadowed by two 5* DE's, but he would be a top DE recruit at most other schools. Do not overlook Pittman though because he will be a solid part of this great DL class. He will be a strong side DE along with Washington, and these guys will push each other to get better.
Noah Spence/6'4 245 lbs./*****/(Harrisburg, PA) - Bishop McDevitt
The Board Breakdown- If this DL class were the '96 Bulls, Noah would be Michael Jordan. Spence will be the true Leo DE, which is where Nathan Williams plays, and he has high expectations from Buckeye fans and coaches because of his talents. He is a top ten prospect nationally, and he could be an instant impact guy for Ohio State. Some of that will depend on Nathan Williams' health, but Spence is another great athlete for sure. Hopefully, Nathan Willams comes back healthy to allow Spence to get coached up before being thrust into action; but his overall athleticism could help make up for his lack of technique. He might be viewed as the DE version of Curtis Grant, a great athlete who can be dominant once they fully pick up the game. I look for this DL class to be one of the most dominant in OSU history when they are all starters, and Spence should lead the way.
Adolphus Washington/6'4 230 lbs./*****/(Cincinnati, OH) - Taft
The Board Breakdown- Washington is a lengthy guy who will add some serious muscle to that frame of his. Like Pittman, he will play the SDE; and I expect him to be another solid DE down the road. Like all of the other 2012 Buckeye DL, he has a great burst off the ball. He gets off blocks well and does a good job defending the run. He is a great basketball player, and he can get those paws up in the air and make it hard for QB's to throw over him. I would say he is the Scottie Pippen of this 2012 DL class because he will complement Spence (Jordan) very well on the other side of the DL. His play will elevate that of the other DL, but he will have his fair share of tackles and sacks.
DT:
Tommy Schutt/6'3 301 lbs./****/(Glen Ellyn, IL) - Glenbard West
The Board Breakdown- Schutt is a solid DT prospect. He is big and explosive which will cause problems for opposing OL. He needs to be coached up to improve technique, but that shouldn't be too much of an issue. He could step in behind Johnathan Hankins right away, and I think he will be one of the dominant B1G DT's in a few years. Naturally, Schutt has to be the Luc Longley of this class because he's going to hold it together in the middle while the others wreak havoc. Pittman has to get the Rodman role because he will be all over the place and do a little bit of everything. Schutt's another guy who plays with a high motor, and the combination of these DE's with Schutt and the LB's will be something special for Buckeye fans to dream about until it hits the field. They should cover the field and cause all kinds of problems for the opposition.
OLB:
Jamal Marcus/6'2 230lbs./***/(Durham, NC) - Hillside
The Board Breakdown - Marcus, like Dodson, was a National Signing Day commit for the Bucks. He has great pass-rushing skills, and he could be a candidate for the Leo spot that Nathan Williams has played. His highlight tape impressed Meyer very much. He plays with passion and attitude, and he will be a good one for the Bucks. Look for him on special teams right away, but he'll be a good one down the road for OSU. He has good speed for 230 lbs., and some project him as sharing time at the Leo spot.
David Perkins/6'2 225 lbs./****/(South Bend, IN) - Washington
The Board Breakdown- Perkins is speedy and another Buckeye fan favorite for his attitude and hate toward that yellow and blue school. He was a big get for the Bucks, and it says something about the recruiting efforts when a prospect like this was plucked straight out of South Bend, IN. He can cover ground quickly, and I mean quickly. At 225 lbs., he was timed in the low 4.4's in the 40. He's another guy that I would expect to see on special teams right away, but he will be a special one in the long run. Perkins could be used in a variety of ways in defensive schemes, but his speed and energy will certainly be utilized by the coaches.
Joshua Perry/6'4 228 lbs./****/(Galena, OH) - Olentangy
The Board Breakdown- Perry is another athletic OLB prospect for the Bucks. He played some WR in high school, if that tells you anything. He will be fast enough to run sideline-to-sideline and be able to get to the flats in the passing game. He's another player whose play will inprove when he adds some more strength because he struggles to disengage from blocks. The technique of Coach Fickell paired with the added strength will result in Perry being a solid OLB for the Buckeyes in the future. Some are saying that Perry ends up at one of the DE spots, but I think his athleticism can allow him to play either role effectively.
ILB:
Luke Roberts/6'2 230 lbs./***/(Lancaster, OH) - Lancaster
The Board Breakdown- Roberts was a Buckeye before Meyer was hired in, and it seems as if the LB's that have since joined will overshadow him coming in. Roberts can pack a punch and is good at getting to the ball. The thing he lacks, which all of the other LB's have, is top-notch speed and athleticism. Roberts isn't a slug by any means, but he's a big ILB and doesn't have that quick burst that the others have. He's a guy that could find his place in this defense on run downs or in goal line situations, and I think he needs to get up to about 245 lbs. or so if he's going to play that role. He should redshirt, but we'll see how all that works out once guys start practicing together.
Camren Williams/6'2 215 lbs./****/(West Roxbury, MA) - Catholic Memorial
The Board Breakdown- Camren, like many of the 2012 Silver Bullets, is very athletic for ILB. The Ohio State recruiting this year has set the Buckeyes up for a very strong future, and it all starts with the front seven. These guys will cover the field and give the defensive coordinators a lot to work with. Williams came from the same school as Armani Reeves, and these two will certainly see some early action whether it be special teams or being in the position rotation. Camren will add some weight to play the ILB spot, but he has the athletic ability to get on the field quickly. He fights off blocks well and has good awareness of the ball.
DB:
Tyvis Powell/6'4 185 lbs./***/(Bedford, OH) - Bedford
The Board Breakdown- Powell is a rangy guy who has played CB and S in high school, and recruiting sites have him pegged in at both positions. I think he'll begin playing at S for the Bucks, but the move to CB is possible depending on depth there. If he did move, it wouldn't be for long because the 2013 class is looking to bring in a few very talented CB's; and Powell's play at S will be needed down the road. This is another guy with a great frame, and the addition of strength could make a huge difference in his play. If you pay attention to blogs or Twitter then you already know that Powell is a Buckeye favorite. Like many of us, he has hatred for the blue and yellow school. Buckeye fans will enjoy his personality for years to come, and his play will make fans love him.
Armani Reeves/5'9 185 lbs/****/(West Roxbury, MA) - Catholic Memorial
The Board Breakdown- Reeves will help with the depth at CB right away and was another big grab for Coach Meyer and the Buckeyes. Like Dunn, his recruitment created some fun conversations between Wolverine and Buckeye fans that will surely carry into The Game for the next few years. Reeves is a guy that, if we weren't so short on CB's, could play some offense. Meyer has recruited quite a few athletes that are good with the ball in their hands, and Reeves is one of those guys. He could be used on returns if needed, but I would definitely expect to see Reeves play some CB this year. He is a speedy guy, so what he lacks in height, he makes up with athleticism.
De'Van Bogard/6'0 180 lbs./****/(Cleveland, OH) - Glenville
The Board Breakdown- Bogard is the one guy that will certainly play S for the Buckeyes. He was a LB in high school, and it should give the Bucks a sure-tackler at S once he learns the defense. He has good speed but needs to learn to play the S position. He won't be a Jermale Hines-type guy, but he won't be afraid to hit WR's; and his speed adds to this class' ability to fly all over the field. He has continued the tradition of Glenville stars turning Buckeye, but it appears as though that school up north is trying to move into enemy grounds. I'm going to talk about this more at the bottom of this article.
Najee Murray/5'11 172 lbs./****/(Stubenville, OH) - Stubenville
The Board Breakdown- Murray was a S in high school but will be moved to CB at OSU. The addition of Reeves will give him a little time to get comfortable with learning coverage schemes and techniques, but Murray is a great athlete. Like Reeves, Murray is athletic and good with the ball in his hands; but he plays very physical. His physical play could be similar to Antoine Winfield once he gets comfortable at CB because he's not scared to lay the wood, but his athleticism will aid in his coverage ability. Meyer is doing his best to get athletes in this class, and Murray will have to hit the ground running to avoid getting lost in the depth chart after the addition of the 2013 class. He's too good of an athlete to not eventually play.
Breakdown -
Positions States
QB - 1 Ohio - 16
RB - 2 Massachusetts - 2
WR - 3 California - 1
TE - 1 Colorado - 1
OL - 5 Florida - 1
DL - 4 Illinois - 1
LB - 5 Indiana - 1
DB - 4 North Carolina - 1
SP - 0 Pennsylvania - 1
The Buckeyes pulled in 25 commits in what could be one of the greatest recruiting turn-arounds in Ohio State history. Coach Urban Meyer has brought the magic back to Columbus, and he has a vision of dominance. He's selling this vision to the recruits, and they are getting the message loud and clear. This vision isn't welcomed by the rest of the B1G, especially when it involves many top recruits flipping their commitment to the Bucks. The Buckeyes grabbed nine commitments that were committed to another school at one time (Southward, O'Connor, Decker, Dodson, Pittman, Schutt, Perkins, Williams, and Reeves), and this caused issues with opposing coaches.
Coach Meyer has changed the face of the B1G whether you like it or not, and the other programs are going to be forced to ante up or get out of the way. Meyer has been given the green light to spend SEC-type money while recruiting, and he's already taking full advantage of this. The personal issues with Meyer's recruiting deal directly with OSU's biggest rivals; UM, MSU, and PSU.
As I stated above, the recruitment of guys like Camren Williams, Armani Reeves, and Bri'onte Dunn have created more tension in the OSU/UM rivalry as it moves on to a new phase. Could this be the start of an all-out war between the two programs? It seems as though the Big 2 are back in the B1G.
Before Meyer, UM fans wanted to shove their highly rated recruiting class in the face of Buckeye fans. This came after they finally beat OSU on the field for the first time in eight years. The Bucks had just fired one of the best coaches in OSU history, came off a seven loss season, and been issued NCAA penalties that included a bowl ban and a loss of scholarships; and they wanted to kick us while we were down. Then came Urban Meyer. The hiring of Meyer trumped it all.
Ohio State pulled through with a class that is ranked higher than the UM class based on every recruiting service out there. They did this all while addressing positions of need, and now UM fans will give us the "ranking" doesn't matter argument, when it was the very aspect they wanted to shove in our faces just weeks ago. They could even use the argument that one poster used on Bucknuts by saying the Buckeyes were just after highly rated players and not looking for positions of need.
This wasn't a situation where Meyer was grabbing the best guys possible, and I'm not sure this class could have turned out much better for what we needed. We got OL that are athletic enough to cover space but strong and aggressive enough to be effective in the run game. This means versatility on the offensive line, and Meyer will use that to run a variety of offensive sets. Meyer said systems don't win championships, players do. We are, obviously, still waiting to see where star athletes Stefon Diggs and Davonte Neal are going to play; but Meyer has already accomplished an incredible feat while only actually recruiting about half of this class.
The focus of this class seemed to be in the front seven on defense where the Buckeyes stole recruits from PSU and MSU. Meyer knew he had to get these guys to take Ohio State to the next level, and now the Buckeyes are on their way back to the top.
The highest number of flips the Buckeyes received were from PSU. That program is still in transition, and while the fans are very bitter toward the Bucks; the coaches have yet to really butt heads. It seems as though Mark Dantonio and Bert Bielema do have an issue with Meyer talking to committed players, but it didn't take Dantonio too long to change as he tried to get in Adolphus Washington's ear with about a week of recruiting left. We all hate Bielema, so I'm not even going to touch on his whining. However, this ruthless style of recruiting seems as if it will permanently change the B1G's recruiting strategies.
Back to this year's class. If you read through all of my player breakdowns, you'll notice many similarities. We got some excellent athletes. Some guys are really in need of more coaching, but the biggest thing that's going to have to happen is that players are going to have to get stronger. Many of these recruits have the frames to end up with great size, but they have to put the work in. I have a ton of trust in our new strength and conditioning program, and I have heard great things about what Mickey Marotti. I always felt that we weren't getting the production and development out of players under Tressel, and I think this is going to change under Meyer. Meyer brought in some great coaches, and that is definitely going to help these players improve; but a big unmeasurable characteristic of players is work ethic.
I believe the biggest over-looked aspect of recruits is work ethic. It can make a 5* player ride the bench, and it can make a 3* payer the Heisman Trophy winner. Willingness to work hard is huge in college football, and our coaches understand that. We're bringing in players that will work hard, and if they don't; then they won't make it in Meyer's system.
This class is a great one. I'm hoping that two more prospects will be added to this list. To those of you worried about scholarships, Meyer wouldn't offer these guys if he didn't have the scholarships; so be confident that everything will be fine even if we do get these last two recruits. Overall, there's nothing that we can really be upset about with this class. We have made the swing and are back heading in the direction of good things. Those good things include the 2013 recruiting class, but the on-field results of hiring Urban Meyer will begin April 21 at the Spring Game. Things are only getting better, and it's going to be a fun year for Buckeye fans.
I'm sure if you're reading this blog you know about the Facebook page, but I also blog on Bucknuts as "The Buckeye Board" and tweet as @BuckeyeBoard. I always appreciate feedback, and I do this strictly for enjoyment. I try to stay as unbiased and reasonable as possible, but in the end, I'm still a Buckeye. I hope everyone enjoyed the read! Go Buckeyes!!!
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