"This goes against the recent trend with the last few classes being all but over by the end of June. "

If by last few you mean last year, then yeah. But every other class has gone well into winter.

It's about to be Miller Time and I can't wait....Steve and Braxton, game changers!

You could turn out to be right but I think it is just a bit early to judge this year's class. I agree that we offered the best of the best early in hopes of landing one or two which we still may. I am a bit hesitate to take up with you regarding the O-line because we have had ample offers out but just have only landed one to this point. I think we will get two of the five current OL offers that we have out and three would put us in pretty good shape. I give way to the staff's judgement but I too would like to see Donnal get an offer. I think the staff is on a wait and see pattern right now. If they can get the quality they want then they will sign the full 18-20 however, toward the end if it is not panning out they will not make any leaps of faith and just save the schollies for 2011. However, they do have some needs this year (QB, OL, DL and Secondary) that they need to fill.

If this is strategic, I have no problem with it after the quality and numbers of the last two classes. A good year on the field and the numbers with the class of 2011 bode well for the future.

Duane, Mich on the other hand is offering everyone under the sun and continues to get commits albeit from a lot of fringe guys.

They offered Courtney Avery from Lex OH today who previously verballed to Stanford. My question is do you consider that a reach for a program of Mich calibur but in complete rebuild mode? Also, do you think players like Avery or Swigert from Louisville should garner some love from OSU in a down talent pool? Smart kids, winners, athletic just not 6'2 4.4 guys?

I NEED TO CHALLENGE YOUR THEORY HERE. I went back to Scout.com to see the dates that our recruits committed to us. There seems to be a problem w/ accuracy there, but in 04/05, of 18 recruits, only 5 committed by this time in June.
In 05/06, of 18 recruits 7 committed by this time in June.
In 06/07, of the class of 15 commits, only 3 committed by June.
In 07/08, of the class of 20, there were 8 that committed by June.
Only was it Last Year that we had an early year of early commitments, and it seemed like we gave alot of OHIO boys scholarships that we later regretted that we lost out on National Blue Chippers.
So this year JT didnt make the same mistake, he knew this was not as good a year in OHIO, and he wanted to extend the National offers early, and told the OHIO boys to wait and see what the National boys would do. I personally think this could be one of his masterfully best done recruiting years by the time it is over with. I think he gets exactly all of what he needs.
Gohlston is a little bit of a diappointment, but Montana isnt. I think Hankins is a bigger get than Gohlston.

Duane I have got to disagree that the staff is on any sort of track. I just don't see it with many positions. I don't understand the strategy at QB to only offer one guy. I cannot understand the interest in Swigert at WR and Scheider at TE. OSU has pretty solid depth at both positions. We can afford to be picky about the players we bring in this year. If we are not bringing in a game change, I would much rather use the scholarships for OL, DT or 2011. The late offer to Gholston really perplexed me. OSU had a chance to get in early on Gholston. I understand that Turner's troubles may have 'forced' OSU's hand, but why would you not offer? I just do not see another prospect of Gholston's caliber available. I would like to see OSU take Donnal and Schofner to add depth on the OL and I wouldn't mind the staff taking more safety prospects with the recent failures. Bryant, Hagan, and Anderson would make an excellent class. I also like the DT prospects with Garrison Smith, Hankins, Black, and Talbott.

I NEED TO CHALLENGE YOUR THEORY HERE. I went back to Scout.com to see the dates that our recruits committed to us. There seems to be a problem w/ accuracy there, but in 04/05, of 18 recruits, only 5 committed by this time in June.
In 05/06, of 18 recruits 7 committed by this time in June.
In 06/07, of the class of 15 commits, only 3 committed by June.
In 07/08, of the class of 20, there were 8 that committed by June.
Only was it Last Year that we had an early year of early commitments, and it seemed like we gave alot of OHIO boys scholarships that we later regretted that we lost out on National Blue Chippers.
So this year JT didnt make the same mistake, he knew this was not as good a year in OHIO, and he wanted to extend the National offers early, and told the OHIO boys to wait and see what the National boys would do. I personally think this could be one of his masterfully best done recruiting years by the time it is over with. I think he gets exactly all of what he needs.
Gohlston is a little bit of a diappointment, but Montana isnt. I think Hankins is a bigger get than Gohlston.

I said I would not be surprised to find that we had double digit verbals by this time the last few years. In '06 we had 7 and in '08 we have 8. Sounds awfully close to double digits to me.

Why do you say we are going to get what we need? What are you seeing that says we are going to land some of these big fish?

Duane I have got to disagree that the staff is on any sort of track. I just don't see it with many positions. I don't understand the strategy at QB to only offer one guy. I cannot understand the interest in Swigert at WR and Scheider at TE. OSU has pretty solid depth at both positions. We can afford to be picky about the players we bring in this year. If we are not bringing in a game change, I would much rather use the scholarships for OL, DT or 2011. The late offer to Gholston really perplexed me. OSU had a chance to get in early on Gholston. I understand that Turner's troubles may have 'forced' OSU's hand, but why would you not offer? I just do not see another prospect of Gholston's caliber available. I would like to see OSU take Donnal and Schofner to add depth on the OL and I wouldn't mind the staff taking more safety prospects with the recent failures. Bryant, Hagan, and Anderson would make an excellent class. I also like the DT prospects with Garrison Smith, Hankins, Black, and Talbott.

You are actually in agreement with me about what brought me to this theory. So many more questions this year than in previous years about offers. Why did we offer this guy and why have we not offered that one. There are always going to be disagreements about some players but this year has more question marks than in previous years.

"This goes against the recent trend with the last few classes being all but over by the end of June. "

If by last few you mean last year, then yeah. But every other class has gone well into winter.

The classes were done in spirit. Absolutely they were. Bobby Haines shows 8 verbals by June. Goebel committed on July. So did Nic Dilillo. When was Shawntell Rowell not a Buckeye? All he needed was an offer. It could not come until he was qualified so he did not see an offer until December. Lamaar Thomas and Willie Mobley were always Buckeye leans. When these guys made their verbals is semantics. The staff had made decisions and had the bulk of these kids as mere formalities at a similar stage in their recruitment.

Duane, Mich on the other hand is offering everyone under the sun and continues to get commits albeit from a lot of fringe guys.

They offered Courtney Avery from Lex OH today who previously verballed to Stanford. My question is do you consider that a reach for a program of Mich calibur but in complete rebuild mode? Also, do you think players like Avery or Swigert from Louisville should garner some love from OSU in a down talent pool? Smart kids, winners, athletic just not 6'2 4.4 guys?

I think it is a great offer. I think Avery is a borderline Buckeye caliber recruit. Swigert is a reach for both schools.

Duane, it's nice and convenient to group 'by class', but as you know, JT does NOT recruit by class. He applies a continuing matrix to his program needs and prioritized recruits mutually interested.

So, 'not as many stars' in one class in OH is not a rationale for 'less offers earlier'. Nor is tossing out a few of our fav sayings in place of info, or what our coaches are currently thinking.

What IS interesting is the number of "great gets"...that a year after arrival here, get the "he doesn't get it" routine from insiders. How does a staff that prides itself on 'character' as its recruiting relational foundation...get uncharactered ? THIS would be a QC issue of priority commensurate with the priority of...character.

"Everybody does it"...and the legions of excuses and 'lifestyles' and 'troubles'...yea...they're a form of 'character'. Maybe it would be smarter to...discrimminate about this 'having character' thing.... aac.

/// Also, do you think players like Avery or Swigert from Louisville should garner some love from OSU in a down talent pool? Smart kids, winners, athletic just not 6'2 4.4 guys?

Gabby, would you please explain how "garner some love" matches JT's recruiting criteria and 'relationship building'?

I also don't understand this fixation with the 'talent pool', however deep or shallow, or whatever the size of the fish in it. I'd sure appreciate it if you could explain how these fav phrases
fit into how JT recruits.

As for the many feelings about recruiting, who cares besides The First Feeler? ;-{)}

TIA

You are actually in agreement with me about what brought me to this theory. So many more questions this year than in previous years about offers. Why did we offer this guy and why have we not offered that one. There are always going to be disagreements about some players but this year has more question marks than in previous years.

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