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We have had a few verbals since the last time I ranked the Buckeyes recruiting class. It is an impressive one. I don't know if the numbers are going to allow for a top ten class but when it is all said and done I would put the best ten in this class up against anyone.
1 - Rod Smith, RB - It is laughable that he is not the consensus #1 back in the country. That this is not looking like a banner year for backs. Solid but not great. That is what makes me shake my head that he is not #1. Who combines his size, speed, explosiveness, agility and balance better than Smith? About the only knock that is legit is the level of competition on Indiana.
2 - Andrew Norwell, RT - I am very disappointed that he is missing so much time after his injury. Offensive linemen need as many reps coming in as they can get. Because of Pony league weigh restrictions lineman don't get as much work as players at other positions. Norwell dominates the line of scrimmage. He is physical and the nastier it is in the there the
better he likes it. Bends his knees, moves his feet and plays to the whistle. We talked about Adams being the best left tackle prospect since Pace when he came out. I would say Norwell is the best right tackle prospect since Korey Stringer.
3 - Corey Brown, Ath - I am not going to list him as a receiver because Jordan Hall is a back here, and Brown is bigger. He reminds me of Percy Harvin. He could be that kind of old time wing back in our offense, catching passes and running the ball too.
4 - Taylor Graham, QB - No quarterback prospect was hotter than Graham coming out of the athlete season. He lit up the combines and camps. He missed so much of last year due to injury that he flew under the radar until late spring. We have been talking about Braxton Miller being the heir apparent to Pryor. This kid is good enough to have something to say about that.
5 - Tyrone Williams, WR - Like with Graham, Williams lost so much time due to injury that he has flown under the radar. He is a national top 10 receiver when healthy.
6 - James Louis, Ath - I am listing him as an athlete because he impresses me so much on both sides of the ball. I think where he lines up is going to depend on needs once he arrives. We have been annointing receiver recruits the next Santonio Holmes since he left the program. This kid bears and uncanny resemblance. More than any other receiver we have brought in. No sooner than I add him to my depth chart at receiver I run his defensive film and ask myself, how can we not play this kid on defense. I don't care where he lines up as long as he is wearing scarlet and gray.
7 - Scott McVey, Star - McVey is the most underrated player in the class. He can redefine the Star position because he is so strong. He is not going to be at such a disadvantage like most players at the position when teams run right at them because he is so strong.
8 - David Durham, WDE - How we got this kid out of Texas is beyond me. I saw his linebacker video before I saw his DE video. I was surprised that we offered him as a end. He is that good a Mike. After seeing his DE video it made perfect sense. He is explosive off the edge and relentless. Reminds me of Nate Williams. A little lighter but quicker. Great get.
9 - J.T. Moore, DL. I don't know where he ends up. I think strong side end but he could grow into a defensive tackle. I don't know where the talk about weak side end comes from. Not a fluid enough athlete to play out there on the edge and I don't see the explosive first step. His game is strength. He holds the point very well and gets off blocks very well. Because of need I think he gets a shot first at strong side end. We will see where his body takes him.
10 - Chad Hagan, S/LB. So little film out there on him. I like what I see. His injuries and this medical condition we are hearing about leave me wondering about Hagan. Like I said, I like what I see. I would like to see more and I am concerned about his health.
11 - Darryl Baldwin, Ath. Bladwin is a physical protoype for a strong side end but I have quite a bit of information about him from several sources. He does not have the mentality to play defense. He is not a high motor get after it to the whistle on every down kinda kid. I keep hearing the word "disappears" in relation to Baldwin. A friend, a Solon alum, went to a game a few weeks ago. Baldwin played by his estimation 60% of the snaps but had no real impact on the game. Take a quality kid like Baldwin who has a great frame. Move him over to tight end and let him play assignment football.
You will not see Drew Basil. I am not going to rank a kicker. Don't know enough about them. I am looking forward to adding Jamel Turner to this list but I think we see him in the next class, if he ever makes it.
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