The Buckeyes' Top Prospects for 2008 - July Edition

[LordJeffBuck]

The Buckeyes' Top Prospects for 2008

July Edition

Ohio State has recently gone through a tough stretch in recruiting, having lost in-state stars linebacker Mike Zordich (Penn State, his parents' school), safety Dan McCarthy (Notre Dame, his brother's school), and tight end Kevin Koger (Michigan, his father's school) in the past two months. However, during that same time, the Buckeyes picked up a verbal commitment from Pennsylvania linebacker Andrew Sweat, and solidified their positions with offensive lineman Josh Jenkins (Parkersburg, West Virginia); quarterback Terrelle Pryor (Jeannette, Pennsylvania); defensive tackle Garrett Goebel (Lombard, Illinois); defensive tackle Willie Mobley (Eden Prairie, Minnesota); wide receiver Lamaar Thomas (Fort Washington, Maryland); and cornerback D.J. Woods (Strongsville, Ohio).

Speed

1. Mike Floyd, St. Paul Cretin-Derham Hall (6' 3", 195 lbs, 4.55 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 4 (Notre Dame, Florida, Michigan, all offered. Some people consider Floyd to be the best wide receiver prospect in the country for the class of 2008. As a junior, Mike caught 63 passes for 1,240 yards and 16 touchdowns en route to being named the AP Player of the Year for the state of Minnesota. Floyd was long considered to be a strong Notre Dame lean, but the Buckeyes have recently pulled into a tie with the Domers. Update 03/30 - Nothing new to report here - Floyd is still very interested in Notre Dame and Ohio State, but he will check out several other schools (Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Florida to name a few) before deciding. Update 05/05 - This summer, Mike will make unofficial visits to Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Florida, Miami, and Wisconsin. Update 07/19 - Notre Dame seems to be the favorite, although Ohio State and Florida are both still in the running.

2. DeVier Posey, Cincinnati Lasalle (6' 3", 190 lbs, 4.5 forty); committed to Ohio State. Last season, Posey was named first team All Ohio at wide receiver after he caught 35 passes for 750 yards and 7 touchdowns. DeVier has massive potential and could flourish with the coaching that he will receive at the next level. Posey is a pure athlete with exceptional foot quickness (despite his rather long, loping stride), fluid directional change, and soft hands. In addition to being a stand out on the gridiron, DeVier also excels in the classroom, where he sports a 4.0 GPA. Update 03/13 - Shortly after receiving his Buckeye offer, DeVier committed to Ohio State!

3. Cordale Scott, Cleveland Glenville (6' 5", 181 lbs, 4.46 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads. Scott is yet another in the long line of athletes who will matriculate to a Division I program from Glenville High. Cordale has excellent size for a wide receiver, and he should be a featured member of the Tarblooders' offense. Like most Glenville kids, Scott currently favors Ohio State; if the Buckeyes don't offer, then Cordale will have several other options, including Wisconsin, Bowling Green, and Akron (all offered). Update 03/30 - The Buckeyes have now offered, and everyone assumes (with reason) that Cordale will follow the Glenville pipeline to Columbus. That being said, don't expect an early commitment, as Coach Ginn requests that his players announce late in the process. Update 05/03 - Cordale was named the MVP of the NHSASC Combine.

4. Ben Buchanan, Westerville Central (5' 10", 175 lbs); committed to Ohio State. In four years of profiling prospects for Buckeye Planet, Ben Buchanan is the first kicking specialist to make our list. Ben is the top kicking and punting prospect in Ohio for the class of 2008, but he is also an all-around athlete who plays wide receiver, quarterback, and various positions for Central's baseball team. Although kickers are often expected to walk on and earn a scholarship, Buchanan is the rare talent who should receive some serious full-ride offers. Ben favors Ohio State. Update 03/02 - Only three days after receiving his offer from the Buckeyes, Ben committed to Ohio State!

5. Lamaar Thomas, Fort Washington (Maryland) Friendly (5' 10", 166 lbs, 4.36 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 6 (Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, all offered). Thomas is a versatile athlete who could play running back, wide receiver, or defensive back at the college level. As a junior, Lamaar accounted for 800 yards from scrimmage, scored 14 touchdowns (7 rushing, 5 receiving, 2 on kick-off returns), and made two interceptions. Thomas claims written offers from his six favorites, and he plans to make an unofficial visit Ohio State some time this summer. Update 05/05 - Lamaar has dropped Ohio State from his top five. The Buckeyes no longer need help at running back or receiver, and they are looking closer to home for a cornerback, so the parting of ways is probably mutual. Update 07/19 - Not so fast my friends.... Lamaar visited Ohio State on June 22, and came away so impressed with the school's facilities that he named the Buckeyes his new favorite, surpassing Illinois and Maryland. Still on Thomas's list of schools to see this summer are Tennessee and Florida. Lamaar plans to take a few official visits in September, and then to decide shortly thereafter. By the way, Ohio State receivers coach Darrell Hazel loves Lamaar's speed (10.55 in the 100m dash), agility, and overall athleticism (21' 6" long jump), and thinks that he would make an excellent slot receiver for the Buckeyes.

6. Jeffrey Fuller, McKinley (Texas) Boyd (6' 4", 200 lbs, 4.55 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Texas A+M, Oklahoma, LSU, all offered; Southern Cal). Jeffrey's father, also named Jeffrey, played defensive back at Texas A+M before becoming a stand-out on the great San Francisco Forty-Niner teams of the 1980's. On film, the younger Fuller looks like a man amongst boys. His frame is obvious (long arms, big hands, sleek build), and he utilizes those advantages well. He shows an adequate burst, good straight-line speed, excellent hands and body control, and decent open field ability after making the catch. Jeffrey is definitely a top-tier athlete whose stock is on the rise after a tremendous showing at the recent Rivals combine in Fort Worth, Texas. While his father's alma mater will be tough to beat, Jeffrey also has serious interest in major programs like Oklahoma, LSU, USC, and Ohio State. Update 07/19 - Jeffrey is still interested in Ohio State, and he wants to make an official visit to Columbus. Several other schools are still in the mix (Texas A+M, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, and Michigan to name a few).

7. Martin Bayless, Chula Vista (California) Castle Park (6' 3", 190 lbs, 4.53 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Cal, Southern Cal, UCLA, Stanford, Texas, Texas A+M, Florida, Michigan, none offered). Martin's father (also named Martin) has been involved with the NFL for the past 23 years (14 seasons as a defensive back, 3 in the front office, 6 as a coach). So far, the younger Bayless is following in his father's footsteps, as he has had a successful high school career as a safety, wide receiver, and special teams performer. This summer, the Bayless family are moving from California to Texas, but Martin's father also has strong ties to Ohio (grew up in Dayton, attended Bowling Green). Right now, Martin's recruitment is just starting to take off, but expect Ohio State to be in the mix for a while.

8. D.J. Woods, Strongsville, Ohio (6' 0", 169 lbs, 4.35 forty); Ohio State (offered) leads. As a junior, D.J. caught 35 passes for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns; made 49 tackles and 3 interceptions; and returned 4 kicks for touchdowns. Woods began the year as a sleeper, but emerged as a legitimate Big Ten prospect at the recent NHSASC Combine, where he posted a 4.35 forty time and displayed outstanding skills at both wide receiver and cornerback. Shortly after the Combine, Woods received offers from Iowa, Indiana, Pitt, Kentucky, and a few MAC schools. At the present time, Ohio State has ranked D.J. as the number one cornerback prospect in Ohio, but the Buckeye coaching staff wants to see him perform at summer camp before extending an offer. If Ohio State should offer, then Woods would most like become a Buckeye. Update 07/19 - Woods received his Buckeye offer last night, and could pull the trigger in the near future. Some other schools still in contention are Auburn, Penn State, and West Virginia (all offered), as well as Alabama and Florida, where he is scheduled to visit this weekend.

Big Speed

1. Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette, Pennsylvania (6' 6", 220 lbs, 4.4 forty); Ohio State (offered) in top 5 (Pitt, Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame, all offered). Pryor is one of the top recruits in the country, regardless of position. As the quarterback for his high school squad, Terrelle completed 92 of 163 attempts (56.4%) for 1,732 yards and 15 touchdowns, and rushed 197 times for 1,676 yards (8.7 average) and 28 touchdowns; he also had a TD receiving. Although he is already being compared to Vince Young, Pryor is also one of the nation's top basketball recruits (he originally committed to Pitt for basketball), and he is the rare athlete who might get a chance to play both sports in college. Location will definitely be a factor in Terrelle's recruitment, as he does not want to be more than a six-hour drive from home. Ohio State is currently in good shape here, but it is a long way till Signing Day. Update 03/30 - Not much new here - Ohio State is still near the top of Pryor's list, with Penn State, Pitt and others also in hot pursuit. Update 05/01 - Ohio State and Penn State still seem to be the favorites, but all of the powerhouse programs (Florida, Texas, Southern Cal, Notre Dame, Michigan, etc.) are still trying to get into the mix for one of the nation's top overall prospects. Don't expect an early decision here. Update 07/19 - Terrelle attended Ohio State's senior camp, and came away impressed with the school, the coaches, and the Buckeye verbals who were also in attendance. It is safe to say that Ohio State currently leads, but that every major school in the country will continue to pursue Pryor to the bitter end (and maybe even after that).

2. Jake Stoneburner, Dublin Coffman (6' 6", 223 lbs, 4.54 forty, 4.37 shuttle); committed to Ohio State. During his junior season, Stoneburner emerged as one of the top receiver prospects in the state of Ohio, as he made 63 receptions for 948 yards and 8 touchdowns. Although Jake might grow into a tight end some day, he is currently being recruited as a wide out, where he is able to use his excellent combination of size and speed to create serious mismatches for the defense. Stoneburner is a teammate of top offensive line prospect Mike Adams, and both players are big Buckeye fans; if Ohio State does not offer, then Notre Dame (offered) will be tough to beat. Update 03/26 - At 6-foot-6, 223 pounds, with 4.54 speed, Stoneburner has rapidly emerged as one of the top prospects in the nation, regardless of position. Jake has always favored the Buckeyes, and today he committed to Ohio State!

3. Andrew Sweat, Washington (Pennsylvania) Trinity (6' 2", 225 lbs, 4.55 forty); committed to Ohio State. After posting 165 tackles, 13 TFL's, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions as a junior, Sweat quickly gained notoriety on the recruiting scene. Although Andrew's father played football for Syracuse, the Orange currently trail Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and Pitt, each of whom is seriously pursuing this first team All State selection. Sweat attends the same high school as current Buckeye tight end Andy Miller, and that connection should help Ohio State's chances. Update 03/30 - Ohio State leads, although Florida has recently made a strong push. Update 04/23 - Andrew made an unofficial visit to Ohio State to watch the Spring Game, and he left Columbus with the Buckeyes as his leader; Penn State and Notre Dame are the other finalists for his services. Andrew plans to decide on May 14th, so Buckeye fans will have to "sweat" it out for another three weeks. (Hey, if Rivals and Scout can make bad puns on players' names, then so can we!) Update 05/31 - Andrew has long favored the Buckeyes, and today he committed to Ohio State! Andrew becomes the ninth prospect to commit to Ohio State for the class of 2008.

4. Devoe Torrence, Massillon Washington (6' 2", 220 lbs, 4.4 forty); committed to Ohio State. Devoe is the younger brother of 2007 Buckeye signee Devon Torrence. As a junior, Devoe logged 981 yards rushing, 645 yards receiving, and 17 total TD's, to go along with 127 tackles, 6 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, and an interception on defense. At the college level, Devoe could play either running back or linebacker, although he would prefer to line up on the offensive side of the ball. Once thought to be an Ohio State lock because of his brother, Devoe is now looking around a bit, and he might take some official visits before reaching a final decision. Update 03/20 - Devoe ended what little suspense remained, and formally committed to Ohio State!

5. Shayne Hale, Pittsburgh Gateway (6' 4", 218 lbs, 4.5 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Michigan, Penn State, Pitt, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, all offered). Hale is on track to be one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2008 recruiting class; as a junior, he was named first team All State after recording 105 tackles, 13 TFL's, 5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles while playing against premier competition. Shayne admits to being a fan of the Buckeyes, but Gateway's coach Terry Smith played at Penn State, and former Gateway star Justin King (who happens to be Coach Smith's step-son) is currently playing for Penn State, and those connections should keep the Nittany Lions near the forefront. Update 03/30 - Ohio State currently leads, but several other major programs (Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, etc.) are still in the hunt. This recruiting battle probably won't be decided for a while. Update 05/05 - Hale's top two programs are Ohio State and Florida (both offered), with Texas and Southern Cal (both not offered) also near the top of his list. In any event, Shayne currently plans to leave the state, so Pitt and Penn State appear to be out of the running. Update 07/19 - Hale's final four are Ohio State, Michigan, Virginia, and West Virginia. However, Shayne's teammate and cousin, Cameron Saddler, keeps insisting that the two of them will definitely be attending the same school, and Saddler doesn't have a Buckeye offer (although he does have offers from the other three of Hale's finalists). Where this puts Ohio State is anyone's guess at this point, but Hale has never fully endorsed the notion of a "package deal" with Saddler.

6. Keith Wells, Gainesville, Georgia (6' 5", 225 lbs, 4.8 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Georgia Tech, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Miami, North Carolina, South Carolina, all offered; Georgia, not offered). Wells is a new Buckeye offeree, but he already seems to have some serious interest in Ohio State as he plans on heading north to Columbus to attend Ohio State's summer camp. In high school, Wells plays defensive end, but he might be destined to play more of a DE/OLB combo at the college level. Although Ohio State is a school of interest, all of the southern powerhouses are in the mix, and it will be difficult for the Buckeye coaching staff to convince him to leave SEC country. Wells was a teammate of 2007 Georgia Tech signee Nick Claytor. Update 07/19 - Wells originally favored Florida, but now he seems to be even more enamored with Florida State. The good news for Buckeye fans is that Ohio State rounds out Keith's top three, and he hasn't even visited Columbus yet. If Wells can refrain from committing somewhere else before taking an official visit to Ohio State, then the Buckeyes should have at least a decent chance to win this battle.

7. Steven Filer, Chicago Mount Carmel (6' 4", 220 lbs, 4.65 forty); Ohio State (offered) tied with Notre Dame (offered). After racking up 87 tackles and 8 sacks as a junior, Filer gained a reputation as one of the premier linebacker prospects in the country. For months we felt that Steven was all Notre Dame, but recently he stated that the Buckeyes and the Domers were tied at the top of his list, with the Michigan Wolverines running in third place. We still think that the Irish will eventually win out, but the Buckeye staff will make this one interesting.

8. Quinton Coples, Kinston, North Carolina (6' 7", 235 lbs, 4.8 forty); Ohio State (offered) in the mix (Clemson, North Carolina, North Carolina State, East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, all offered). At 6-foot-7 with good speed and agility, Coples makes an intriguing defensive end prospect, even if he is a bit un-polished. Last season, Quinton made only 63 tackles and 7 sacks in a "read-and-react" defense, but he has shown enough athleticism and big play ability to have attracted offers from major programs around the country. Currently, Ohio State leads, despite the fact that Coples has never been to Columbus. However, never count the southern schools out, especially on their home turf. In addition, academics will be an issue (2.3 core GPA, no test score) that might cause the Buckeyes to cool somewhat.

Power

1. Mike Adams, Dublin Coffman (6' 7", 308 lbs); committed to Ohio State. Adams is clearly the top o-line prospect in Ohio for the class of 2008, and he will be one of the most highly-ranked linemen in the nation. People are already comparing Adams (a tackle prospect) to past greats such as Alex Boone, Korey Stringer, and even Orlando Pace. Moreover, Mike is the leader of the "Block O", the group of highly-touted offensive linemen who are all considering Ohio State; the next three (or four) entries on our list are also part of the crew. Adams is a "must get" local prospect who clearly favors Ohio State, but who nonetheless intends to look around before making an official commitment to the Buckeyes. Update 03/10 - After being a heavy Buckeye lean for months, Adams finally committed to Ohio State!

2. Michael Brewster, Orlando Edgewater (6' 6", 305 lbs, 4.63 shuttle); committed to Ohio State. Brewster is one of the top offensive line prospects in the entire country (he projects as an interior lineman in college), and he plays for one of Florida's top high school programs. Currently, Ohio State leads for this "five star" recruit who made unofficial visits to Columbus last season for games against Penn State and Michigan. Brewster and Mike Adams (who are reputed to be close friends) could be the cornerstones for a phenomenal Buckeye recruiting class in 2008. The University of Florida is currently making a huge push, and the Gators should be considered legitimate competition for this Sunshine State superstar. Update 03/30 - Brewster still favors Ohio State, but he might want to take some official visits to other programs (LSU, Florida, Alabama, USC) before making his decision final. Update 04/23 - Long rumored to be a strong Buckeye lean, as well as an unofficial recruiter for Ohio State, Michael finally pulled the trigger and committed to Ohio State!

3. J.B. Shugarts, Klein, Texas (6' 7", 299 lbs, 4.69 shuttle); committed to Ohio State. Shugarts is yet another "blue chip" offensive line prospect who is seriously interested in Ohio State. J.B. attends the same high school as former Buckeye cornerback Ashton Youboty and current Michigan OL Mark Ortmann, and both Big Ten powerhouses are finalists for this top Lone Star recruit. However, other major programs like Florida and Oklahoma are in hot pursuit and will be in the running until the end. Update 03/30 - Ohio State is still near the top of Shugart's list, along with Oklahoma, LSU, Florida, and a few other schools. J.B. is scheduled to visit Columbus for the Buckeyes' Spring Game, and that experience could seal the deal for Ohio State. Update 04/24 - Only three days after watching the Buckeyes' Spring Game, Shugarts committed to Ohio State!, thus becoming the third member of "Block O". J.B is already actively recruiting other blue chippers to Ohio State.

4. Josh Jenkins, Parkersburg (West Virginia) Vienna (6' 3", 282 lbs, 4.62 shuttle); Ohio State (offered) trails West Virginia (soft verbal). Jenkins, a two-way lineman, is clearly the top player in the state of West Virginia, and one of the most highly-ranked prospects nationally. Although Josh will likely play on the offensive line in college, he has posted some impressive numbers on defense: 82 tackles, 10 TFL's, and 4 sacks, which earned him All-State honors as a sophomore. Jenkins made an early commitment to the home state school, but due to some coaching changes, he has recently re-opened his recruitment; since then, many major programs (including Ohio State) have been quick to send offers. While West Virginia should still be considered the favorite, Ohio State cannot be counted out just yet. Update 03/30 - Not much new to report - Jenkins should be considered a "soft verbal" to West Virginia with legitimate interest in Ohio State. Despite the early verbal to WVU, don't count Josh out of the "Block O" just yet. Update 04/24 - Jenkins visited Ohio State for the Spring Game, and came away very impressed with the Buckeyes. At this point, we think that Josh will eventually de-commit from West Virginia and issue a verbal commitment to Ohio State. However, Jenkins will get a lot of pressure from the locals to stick with the home town school, so it may be quite some time (if ever) before he makes the switch. In the mean time, Adams, Brewster, and Shugarts will keep the heat on Jenkins to become a member of the "Block O". Update 07/19 - Josh and his mother are visiting Ohio State this weekend, and if everything goes well, then the Buckeyes might emerge as his leader. Florida State has also gotten involved in the action recently.

5. Garrett Goebel, Lombard (Illinois) Montini Catholic (6' 5", 270 lbs); Ohio State (offered) leads Michigan (offered). Like 2006 Buckeye signee Dexter Larimore, Goebel is a both a top-notch defensive tackle and a state-champion wrestler. Although Garrett would be a college star in either sport, he plans to play football exclusively at the next level. Ohio State has shown a lot of early interest, which has been reciprocated by Goebel. Garrett will make an unofficial visit to Ohio State this weekend, and if all goes well, we have a feeling that he will leave Columbus with the Buckeyes as his clear leader. Update 05/05 - As we predicted, Garrett loved his visit to Columbus, and Ohio State is his clear leader, despite some rumblings that Notre Dame is a strong contender. Update 07/19 - Garrett and his parents will visit Michigan this weekend, and then he will decide between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines some time in August. Ohio State has the clear edge at this point, but Michigan is not completely out of the picture just yet.

6. Nathan Williams, Washington Court House Miami Trace (6' 5", 245 lbs, 4.67 forty); committed to Ohio State. Williams is currently a running back and inside linebacker for Miami Trace, but he will certainly outgrow those positions at the next level; most colleges are already recruiting Nathan as a defensive end. Although Williams spent some time in California, he is originally from Ohio and he returned to the Buckeye State prior to his sophomore season. Nate quickly established himself as one of the top players in Ohio by being selected to the All-State team in 2005, a recognition which he repeated after the 2006 season in which he recorded 149 tackles including 24 for losses. Despite spending some time on the Left Coast, Nathan is considering primarily at Midwestern schools, although Southern Cal might also get a look. Update 03/30 - Williams does not have an Ohio State offer, but could earn one at summer camp if he can prove that he is not a "tweener". Some think that Nathan might have the frame to grow into a defensive tackle, where his 4.67 speed would be quite an asset. Update 04/24 - On this date, Buckeye head coach Jim Tressel called Williams and offered him a scholarship. Before JT could hang up, Nathan had already committed to Ohio State!

7. Willie Mobley, Eden Prairie, Minnesota (6' 2", 264 lbs); Ohio State (offered) in top 4 (Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, all offered). Mobley, a defensive tackle prospect, is a relatively new offeree who is starting to generate a lot of interest amongst the top programs in the midwest. Last season, Willie led his team to a 14-0 record and a Class 5A state championship. The Golden Gophers will put on a full court press to keep Mobley at home, but the top prospects from Minnesota often end up leaving the state (there are many examples, including James Laurinaitis, who signed with Ohio State in 2005). Update 03/30 - The Buckeyes are still near the top of Mobley's list, and he is scheduled to visit Ohio State for the Spring Game. Update 05/05 - Willie now favors Minnesota slightly over Ohio State. Update 07/19 - Willie now seems to favor Ohio State, but academics are suddenly a concern.

8. Justin Thompson, El Camino Community College (6' 5", 290 lbs); Ohio State (offered) in top 3 (Miami, LSU, bot offered). Justin originally made a verbal commitment to Miami back in April but he has since re-opened his recruitment. Although Thompson is still considered to be a Hurricane "soft verbal", he has already scheduled official visits to OSU and LSU for this October. Although Ohio State doesn't generally sign JUCO players, Justin is reportedly at the top of the Buckeye coaches' wish list.



The article was originally posted on BuckeyePlanet