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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Recruiting updates as Signing Day approaches
Some recruiting ramblings with just a week to go before Signing Day …
Ohio State always welcomes decisions from NFL-caliber juniors to come back for their senior seasons, which is why there was rejoicing in Buckeye Land when James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins and Alex Boone all spurned the pros for one last hurrah as collegians.
But there is a down side when a third-year player makes an unexpected decision to return: That’s one fewer scholarship to give to an incoming recruit.
Coach Jim Tressel and his staff had to be counting on more defections than just the one by defensive end Vernon Gholston — because they’re getting dangerously close to being over the scholarship limit in the 2008 class.
Two full rides opened up this week when Massillon running back Devoe Torrence was dropped because of academic and off-field issues, and seldom-used fourth-year junior defensive lineman Alex Barrow, a classy kid, decided to move on with his life after earning his degree.
The loss of Torrence hurts the Buckeyes because he’s a top-100 prospect nationally, and he reportedly was told by OSU coaches that they wouldn’t recruit any other running backs if he came aboard, which will leave the team thin at that position if star Chris Wells turns pro after the 2008 season.
But even without Barrow and Torrence, OSU’s ‘08 recruiting class wasn’t expected to exceed 19, and the Buckeyes already have 17 commitments and still hope to land at least four more stars: quarterback Terrelle Pryor of Pennsylvania, offensive lineman Josh Jenkins of West Virginia, defensive end Keith Wells of Georgia and cornerback Brandon Harris of Florida. And the Buckeyes have realistic shots at all four.
How could they manage to fit them all in? It makes me think Tressel knows of more current players who won’t be back or incoming recruits who might not make the cut academically.
But rest assured: If all four players want to be Buckeyes, Tressel will find room.
On another note, the Buckeyes had better hope their gamble on passing up Northmont offensive lineman Zebrie Sanders doesn’t come back to haunt them. Sanders recently committed to Florida State and had offers from virtually every big-time program — except Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have had an unbelievable windfall in offensive linemen among seniors, getting three of the top seven in the nation. They also have been targeting Jenkins, and they felt they couldn’t spare a scholarship for Sanders.
In most years, offering a highly touted Dayton-area kid would be a no-brainer for OSU. But this hasn’t been an ordinary year.
Lastly, I’m asked often about Terrelle Pryor and his college choice. I don’t think the kid even knows yet where he’s signing, but he dropped LSU from his list and said he won’t have time to visit Oregon, which would seem to limit his choices to either Ohio State, Penn State or Michigan.
His high-school quarterback coach told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he thinks Pryor is leaning toward Ohio State. But a lot can change in the final week.
The nation’s No. 1 recruit will announce his choice on ESPNU at around noon Wednesday, and in my eight years covering the team, I can’t remember a more anxiously awaited decision than this one.
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Pryor eliminates LSU
We’re one week from Signing Day and there’s nothing concrete yet on coveted prep QB Terrelle Pryor, unless you count this: The hot shot QB from Jeannette, Pa., took LSU off his list this week. A small victory for Ohio State over the Tigers, I guess. It now looks like most Novembers: A showdown between OSU and Michigan.
Penn State’s Joe Paterno was scheduled to visit Pryor today in Jeannette, Pa., but Pryor — who has been compared to Vince Young — is expected to leave the state to play college football.
Both OSU’s Jim Tressel and new Michigan man Rich Rodriguez are expected to attend Pryor’s basketball game Saturday night. Pryor’s QB coach, Roy Hall, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he thinks Pryor is heading to Columbus.
Pryor is schedule to make his announcement next Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. ESPNU will be at his school to televise the festivities.
Other recruiting tidbits:
— Ohio State is down to 17 verbal commitments after backing off Massillon’s DeVoe Torrence, who has had his share of off-field issues.
— Rivals.com says that Trotwood-Madison linebacker Doug Rippy, who originally committed to Nebraska, has changed gears and is going to Colorado.
