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Five-Star Birthday Present January 31, 2012 Source: The recruiting roll continues for Ohio State under Urban Meyer, and the Buckeyes added another five-star athlete Monday. Middletown junior Jalin Marshall committed to Ohio State, becoming the second pledge for the 2013 recruiting class. Marshall discussed his decision with Scout.com.
"I have committed to Ohio State," Marshall announced Monday evening. "I've known for a while I was going to be a Buckeye, but I waited until now because it's my dad's birthday, and I wanted to honor him with my commitment. I didn't want to do anything fancy, and I just want to spend time with my family, because this is just as much about them as it is about me."
"My family means everything to me, and my dad is so important to me," he added. "My dad has always been there for me, and he has impacted my life in such a positive way, that I wanted to pay him back for all he means to me. I owe the fact that I'm headed to play college football to my dad, and everything he's done for me."...
"Ohio State was just the right place for me, and it was home for me," he explained. "It's important to me to help recruit other great players to Ohio State, and I talked that over with (Buckeye commit) Cameron Burrows. When he committed, I already had it in mind to commit too, so he and I have talked about putting together the top recruiting class in America for next year. We are going to be recruiting other great players to Ohio State."...
"Coach Meyer means a lot to me and I'm thrilled to be able to play for him," he noted. "We talked about all the players he's put into the NFL, and that meant a lot to me. This is a great opportunity for me to learn from such a great coach. I'm excited to play for Urban Meyer."
Even though Marshall is a record-setting quarterback at Middletown, and he has put up video game numbers the past two years, it's not a certainty he plays that position for Meyer. "He and I talked about that, and I am going in there as a quarterback, but that's not that important to me," Marshall said. "Wherever they put me at is fine with me. Coach Meyer is going to watch me throw this spring, and then we will decide what's best from there. I just want to get out on the field and help my team win championships, and that means more to me than my stats or where I play. I'm going to do what Coach Meyer wants me to do."...
Ohio State football team lands Trotwood-Madison junior cornerback Cameron Burrows January 20, 2012 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - High school junior Cameron Burrows, ranked as the No. 1 football player in the state of Ohio by Rivals.com, announced his oral commitment to Ohio State at his high school, Trotwood-Madison, on Jan. 19, 2012...Seated in Urban Meyer's office last Sunday, cornerback Cameron Burrows, ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 1 junior in Ohio in recruiting's Class of 2013, had an announcement to make. And he was the only one who knew it was coming....
The last Trotwood player to go to Ohio State was safety Will Allen in the Class of 2000, who received his offer while he was a junior at Trotwood before transferring to Huber Heights Wayne for his senior year of high school. Before that, tight end John Lumpkin had been in the 1994 class. But while Michigan and other Big Ten schools pulled players from Trotwood, there was what current Trotwood Athletic Director Guy Fogle called a "glass ceiling" when it came to Ohio State.
Now with a first-team All-Ohio high school player, who Fogle also said ranks No. 7 in the junior class with a 3.5 grade-point average, that could be ready to change. Meyer and OSU defensive coordinator Luke Fickell visited Trotwood in tandem about two weeks ago. Trotwood coach Maurice Douglass, a former NFL player, said he expects both Ohio State and Michigan, with Dayton native Brady Hoke in charge, to regularly walk his hallways for years to come.
And that's why getting a player such as Burrows, out of a school such as Trotwood, more than a year before he will be able to officially sign with the Buckeyes in February 2013, was big for the Buckeyes. "It's going to be a great relationship," Douglass said of Meyer. "He already stated that he wants to make this a hot spot for him and his coaching staff."...
"I have a picture of Woody Hayes on my bedroom wall & Urban Meyer is a great man, a great coach. He is everything you want in a coach. We want to go win national championships. " - Cameron Burrows Source: Columbus Dispatch
Five-star start January 19, 2012 Source: BuckeyeGrove.com - The recruiting roll continues for Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer. Fresh off three major commitments in the 2012 class earlier in the week, Meyer and company started the 2013 class with a bang on Thursday afternoon as they landed five-star defensive back Cameron Burrows out of Trotwood (Ohio) Madison High School. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound prospect is the No. 1 ranked junior in Ohio by BuckeyeGrove.com and is one of just 10 early five-star prospects by Rivals.com. Burrows is the first member of Ohio State's junior class, giving the Buckeyes a five-star start in 2013. "It's a great college with a great coach," said Burrows of Ohio State. "(Urban Meyer) is the best coach in the nation."...
Burrows Gives Bucks a Strong Start for 2013 January 19, 2012 Source: BuckeyeGrove.com - The 6-2/195 defensive back from Trotwood-Madison selected the home-state school over a list of finalists including Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Tennessee, Stanford, and Wisconsin. The caliber of offers speak for themselves, but in case you were wondering, Burrows is ranked very highly across the board by all recruiting services. Already a US Army All-American for next year, Scout ranks him as a 4-star corner back, Rivals has him as a 5-star corner back, 247 give him 4 stars and ranks him 30th overall and 2nd at corner back, and ESPN/Scout's Inc. has Burrows listed as a Top 150 recruit. This is a huge pick up for the Buckeyes, as it gives Urban Meyer his first pledge for the 2013 class, as well as opens up the pipeline to a talent rich Trotwood-Madison program...
M-E-Y-E-R is often the first name in recruiting January 13, 2012 Source: Buckeye Grove - In mid-December, weeks after Urban Meyer was introduced as Ohio State's head coach, Meyer and assistants Luke Fickell and Mike Vrabel traveled to Hershey for a state championship game involving defensive end Noah Spence of Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt. A nice gesture, but a grandiose one considering Spence would be on Ohio State's campus the following day for an official visit. Spence committed by the end of that visit. That's the kind of recruiting edge Ohio State wanted when it hired Meyer in late November..."[Meyer] likes the thought of winning, and every recruiting battle is like another game," said Temple defensive coordinator Chuck Heater, who has served on coaching staffs with Meyer since the mid-1980s at Ohio State. "You win or you lose; you have strategy and effort. If you win you feel tremendous, and if you lose you feel lousy. Every recruiting battle was the same way."...
Conditioning program starts early January 13, 2012 Source: Columbus Dispatch - The Ohio State football team’s offseason conditioning program was supposed to start next week. But with a new coaching staff eager to get things rolling, the Buckeyes decided to begin early. So before dawn on Tuesday, the first workouts of the Urban Meyer regime kicked off. So far, it has just been conditioning. The players start hitting the weights this morning. "We’re all champing at the bit to go watch what we’ve got, to open that Christmas present and see what you’ve got," Meyer said of his decision to start conditioning early.
His early impressions? "Some positions, you kind of smile," he said. "Other positions, you don’t. After I saw some of our physiques, the way I’d say it is that we need to get in that weight room rather quickly and get some guys going."
The workouts begin at 5a.m. and last as long as 90 minutes, said Mickey Marotti, whose title of assistant athletic director for football sports performance speaks of the importance Meyer places on his strength coach. Marotti was vague about what kind of drills they have done, describing it as "attention training," as in something that "got their attention." Asked to be more specific, Marotti demurred. "We did physical activity," he said. Marotti said it’s too early to judge the players’ strength and conditioning but said they have improved each day.
Ohio State strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti, the Buckeyes' new strength coach who holds an assistant athletic director title, on what he expects from the OSU players. Speaking on Jan. 12, 2012. Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Marotti Introducing Buckeyes to "Black January?" January 12, 2012 Source: The Ozone - In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, with the sun still making its way towards the horizon, Ohio State football players stood face to face with the man who will make their lives miserable for the next month. His face will become all too familiar to the Buckeyes, who began their annual winter conditioning this week under anything but usual circumstances. That’s because Mickey Marotti is anything but usual. Ohio State’s new strength and conditioning coach even has an unusual title - assistant athletic director for football sports performance - under first-year head coach Urban Meyer. "He is the most important hire in an athletic department," said Meyer, who managed to bring Marotti with him from Florida. "I don’t want to say that I couldn’t do this job without him, but it would be hard." From the end of bowl season to the start of spring practice, no one, not even Meyer and his nine assistant coaches, will spend more time around Ohio State’s players than Marotti...
"I just want to say thank you for all the support and welcoming me to the family. I am really excited to be a Buckeye and play under Coach Urban Meyer and my position coach, Luke Fickell. I am going to give you all my best both academically and on the field. We're going to do big things here and I hope to bring you all a national championship by the time I leave Ohio State." What do you want to say to Buckeye Nation? - Camren Williams Source: Eleven Warriors' Catching Up with Cam Williams: Committed
Reeves Commits To Buckeyes January 29, 2012 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - BREAKING NEWS: Ohio State picked up a commitment Sunday night from West Roxbury (MA) four-star cornerback Armani Reeves, the player's god-father Brent Williams confirmed. Scout.com will have more, including quotes from the player, later...
As a junior, Reeves had 1701 total yards and 16 touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, he registered 37 tackles and intercepted four passes. He had two punt return touchdowns as well. Reeves first cousin is NBA HOF player Charles Barkley and he is originally from Leeds, Alabama. Source: BuckeyeSports.com
Ohio State beats Michigan to cornerback January 30, 2012 Source: Columbus Dispatch - With national signing day approaching on Wednesday, Ohio State continued its recruiting hot streak last night when cornerback Armani Reeves committed to the Buckeyes. The fight for Reeves came down to Ohio State and Michigan. Coaches from each school visited with Reeves, of West Roxbury, Mass., in recent days.
Reeves announced his decision on Twitter. “I’m going...... #BuckeyeNation #SilverBullets #GoBucks !!!!!! God led me here (a)n(d) in god I trust !! Lets go #BuckeyeNation !!!!” he tweeted.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Reeves is the sixth-ranked cornerback by Scout.com and 17th by Rivals.com. He will join Catholic Memorial High School teammate Camren Williams at OSU. Williams, rated the eighth-best linebacker by Rivals.com, committed last week...
With national signing day approaching, Doug Lesmerises takes a look at Ohio State's football roster and how the incoming recruits will fit in January 28, 2012 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - He has been recruiting so much, Urban Meyer said two weeks ago that when it comes to the current Ohio State roster, he still has a lost of questions to answer. "I really don't know our players," Meyer said. "I'm still trying to learn these guys." While he's putting together the Class of 2012, which currently stands at 23 pledges, with between two and five additions possible before National Signing Day on Wednesday, let's examine the 59-player roster that the Buckeye boss is working with, and how the new guys might fit in.
Projected starters, In the mix, Recruiting class, Breakdown: Quarterback...Offensive line...Tight end...Receiver...Running back...Fullback...Special teams...Defensive line...Linebackers...Cornerbacks...Safeties...
Marotti Pushing Buckeyes to Reshape Bodies and Minds January 26, 2012 Source: The Ozone - Winter conditioning is under way, and according to the guy who is running it, the level of difficulty is about to take a jump upward...
Urban Meyer may have wished he set up trash cans for Ohio State’s first day of winter conditioning, if not for the players, than at least for himself.
The Buckeyes’ first-year head coach was so excited to get going in his return to coaching after a one-year hiatus, that he moved off-season conditioning up an entire week just to get an early head-start.
He found himself regretting that decision almost immediately after getting a look at the players he was going to be working with.
“The first day, you kind of had a sick feeling in your stomach like, ‘What was that I just watched,’ ” Meyer said earlier this month.
By day three, Meyer was already feeling better about the conditioning level of his team, but he had another “run for the trash cans” moment when the players removed their shirts so Meyer and his staff could get a look at their builds.
“After I saw some of our physiques, the way I’d say it is that we need to get in that weight room rather quickly and get some guys going,” Meyer said with a grimace...
Warinner Part of Ohio State’s Culture Change on Offense January 24, 2012 Source: The Ozone - While the Buckeyes did produce some effective offenses over the last decade, their success on that side of the ball was almost always predicated on having a few supreme athletes at the most critical skill positions. Ohio State’s new offense will also look to have supreme athletes at those key positions, but it will certainly not stop there.
“Conventional football was you want to run power and you’ve got eight or nine offensive guys near the football. So they’re going to have nine or 10 defensive guys around the football. So it just becomes a lot of bodies,” Warinner said. “Spreading them out kind of identifies how many guys you have around the box, how many people you have around the football. It makes it a little bit easier to identify who you’re blocking and where different defensive stunts and adjustments are coming. So spread is very varied and it doesn’t mean you’re going to be a finesse or throwing team. It just means that you’re spacing the field horizontally.”
That has been the key to Meyer’s success since he began formulating his plan for the spread offense during his final days as the wide receivers coach at Notre Dame...
Tom Herman's 'To Do' List for the Buckeye Quarterbacks January 24, 2012 Source: The Ozone - So with that in mind, we've gathered a 'To Do' list of items that offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tom Herman might have compiled for his quarterbacks to follow in hopes of starting Spring football ahead of schedule...1. Make sure that Braxton Miller knows what is expected of him as the starting quarterback at The Ohio State University: "The things that he needs to do that are not related to Xs and Os, they're not related to mechanics, they're related to being the starting quarterback at Ohio State University.
"He's been tremendously receptive, he's been tremendously respectful and eager to learn, and be able to immerse himself in what we're trying to accomplish here....
2. Give his quarterbacks a lesson in philosophy...3. Break out some DVDs of the greatest hits...4. Make reading fundamental...5. Find Braxton Miller's baseline...
Ohio State QB Braxton Miller sits in with EndZones Extra's Nicki Meyer and Sam Pennington to talk about his time at Ohio State and excitement that is building up in Columbus under new head coach Urban Meyer.
Ohio State Football Recruiting Update: Urban Renewal in Columbus January 25, 2012 Source: isportsweb - There was a time in 2011 when the immediate future didn’t look so hot for Ohio State football. The program needed a long-term solution at the head coaching position, and fans waited on Luke Fickell’s fate. The incoming recruits, while solid, didn’t provide the star power that the Buckeyes were searching for. Or needed.
Fast forward a few months and everything has changed. Urban Meyer’s hiring shook up the recruiting landscape as some of the nation’s best high school players turned their eyes back toward Columbus. OSU began to draw plenty of blue-chip interest, swiped a couple of would-be Penn State commits in the wake of the Sandusky scandal, and before we knew it, Meyer had put together a stellar class of 2012.
Class Rankings: Thanks to their recent triumphs, the Buckeyes have leapt up the national rankings. Rivals has OSU ranked third in the country, as do Scout.com and 24/7 Sports. ESPN.com ranks the Buckeyes eighth. Meyer’s presence has had a profound impact on 2012, and 2013 is already shaping up to be another Top 10 recruiting class. While the Buckeyes will miss a bowl game next year, that fact doesn’t seem to be deterring the top-tier talent...
National Signing Day: Five key questions January 25, 2012 Source: Sporting News - 1. Considering his prowess as a recruiter, how quickly can Urban Meyer turn things around at Ohio State?
As quickly as this fall. Seriously. If there’s one thing Meyer can do, it’s persuade four- and five-star recruits to join him in changing the world. Meyer’s goal is to make Ohio State an SEC-caliber team, and that begins with a destructive defensive line. He’s off to a good start: In less than a month on the job, Meyer got elite ends Noah Spence and Se’Von Pittman to commit to the Buckeyes. The one-year bowl ban and loss of nine scholarships over three years will be a distraction, but it won’t be enough to keep Meyer from raising the Buckeyes to the top of the Big Ten again.
2. Will Meyer’s work at Ohio State slow down Michigan’s momentum? The only thing that slows Michigan’s momentum is losing. There was the three-year hiccup that was the Rich Rodriguez experiment, but right now, Brady Hoke has the Wolverines cleaning up in the Midwest once again, as well as plucking key recruits nationally. The Michigan brand—like the Ohio State brand—perseveres, as long as the right coach is on board. The Wolverines are working on a top five class, and the Hoke-vs.-Meyer battles will be as entertaining in recruiting as they are on the field...
Ohio State Recruiting Update: Decision Time January 25, 2012 Source: The Buckeye Battle Cry - With NLOID on February 1st fast approaching, the 2012 class is really starting to wind down. The number of recruits with the Buckeyes at the top of their list has narrowed, and most players will announce their decisions in the coming days. Here is a final rundown of potential additions to Ohio State’s 2012 class...
Linebacker prospect flips from Penn State to Ohio State January 20, 2012 Source: Columbus Dispatch - Ohio State gained a commitment from prized linebacker prospect Camren Williams this afternoon, and the news was disseminated by Twitter. “It's official, I'm a Buckeye!” Williams tweeted just after 3:30 p.m. “#GoBucks #BuckeyeNation.” It also means that Williams, from West Roxbury (Memorial Catholic), Mass., is no longer a Penn State pledge. Whether his high-school teammate, cornerback Armani Reeves, also a Penn State commitment, will follow him to OSU remains to be seen. Both were on campus at Ohio State this week for a visit. Williams, 6 feet 2, 215 pounds, became the third former Penn State-bound prospect to change to the Buckeyes in the past several weeks. Offensive lineman Joey O’Connor of Windsor, Colo., did so earlier this week. Defensive lineman Tommy Schutt of Glenn Ellyn (Glenbard West), Ill., did it in December...
Ohio State is an Easy Sell for New Assistants
January 18, 2012 Source: The Ozone - The Ohio State coaches are hitting the recruiting trails for one last push before National Signing Day, and for Urban Meyer's assistant coaches, selling The Ohio State University is something that comes quite easily. In fact, for most of his new assistants, it's also something that comes quite naturally. Of the five assistants that Meyer has snatched away from other programs, four of them have significant ties to the Buckeye state, and they understand the allure that Ohio State brings with it.
Offensive coordinator Tom Herman was born in Cincinnati and most of his family still resides there. Co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Ed Warinner is from Strasburg, Ohio and has a bachelor's degree from Mount Union where he played football and baseball. Tim Hinton, the tight ends and fullbacks coach, is from Amanda, Ohio and was a graduate assistant at Ohio State under Earle Bruce. He even helped screen Urban Meyer's resume, who was applying to be a graduate assistant himself under Bruce.
But while Meyer and Hinton have ties to Earle Bruce, neither of them can touch the ties that new wide receivers coach Zach Smith has with him. Smith is, of course, Bruce's grandson and knows every selling point that Ohio State has to offer, because he's heard the sales pitch his entire life...
Ohio State Football Recruiting: Moving on Up January 17, 2012 Source: The Bleacher Report - It was November 20, 2011. Ohio State had been marred in a recruiting "crisis of confidence." The once-prominent B1G team, who had a fence around Ohio, was lacking in star power from their home state, let alone nationally. Bill Kurelic believed Ohio State was not in the top 20 nationally. But things have changed and have changed in a hurry. The number one player in the state of Ohio, Adolphus Washington, committed to play for Ohio State and mentioned he would like to play for Urban Meyer, which happened a week later.
What has happened in less than two months? Ohio State has been “moving on up, to the top.” Scout.com currently lists Ohio State as the No. 4 recruiting class behind Alabama, Texas and Michigan. Look for Ohio State to move up to at least No. 3 in Scout within the next two weeks and maybe No. 2.
247Sports also has Ohio State at No. 4 behind the same three teams. Again, look for Ohio State to move into the top 3 within the next two weeks.
ESPN has Ohio State the lowest of any list I have survey. Currently, Ohio State is at No. 11 and many of their recruiting experts felt it would be difficult for OSU to crack their top 10, so there was an existing bias in their reporting. They also only list 19 commits as of January 17, 2012 so they have not factored in Taylor Decker or Joey O’Connor’s commitment.
Rivals.com, which many regard as the best and most accurate recruiting service, lists Ohio State at No. 3 behind Alabama and Texas and ahead of Florida at No. 4 and Michigan at No. 5. It is possible that Ohio State can move ahead of Texas on this list. Florida, however, could move ahead of OSU if they finish strong...
It looks like there will be four to six spots left—four definitely, with maybe a few more given attrition. Ohio State is still actively pursuing at least one more OL, one or two LBs, one of two DBs and one speedster/playmaker...
Ohio State Football Recruiting: Breaking Down the Buckeye's Latest Commitments January 18, 2012 Source: The Bleacher Report - Taylor Decker - 6'8" 313 pounds OL Decker is a giant that projects as a solid collegiate offensive tackle. Decker had originally committed to Notre Dame, but he was snatched from the Irish by the aggressive Urban Meyer. Meyer had already grabbed a couple Irish assistant coaches earlier in the week, now a four-star recruit. These are the things that rivalries are made of. Decker is touted for his huge frame that he has added over 50 pounds to, his athleticism and his nasty nature. It's exactly what you want from a Big Ten lineman...
Joey O'Connor - 6'4" 295 pounds - OL O'Connor was another high-profile pickup by Meyer, who swooped in to claim the prize from Windsor, CO. O'Connor made headlines when he was the first recruit to decommit from Penn State after news of the sex scandal rocked Happy Valley. He played tackle in high school, but he doesn't have the size to play outside at Ohio State. He'll likely be a guard or center, and another cog in an impressive young offensive line. O'Connor is a beast of a young man in the weight room. He benched 390 pounds and squatted 615 pounds. That is great strength to key a power running game. (Video highlights below)
David Perkins - 6'2" 225 pounds - ATH Perkins excelled on both sides of the ball in high school, but he projects as the type of speed linebacker Urban Meyer covets for his system. He will need to add some bulk, but he certainly has the athleticism to be molded. He ran a 4.4 40-yard dash and has a 36-inch vertical leap. He's a great addition and fills a need the Buckeyes had at linebacker.
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O'Connor Makes 21 January 17, 2012 Source: Eleven Warriors - Marc Givler and Kevin Noon of Buckeye Grove (Rivals) are reporting that Windsor (CO) OL Joey O'Connor has committed to Urban Meyer and Ohio State's coaching staff. O'Connor took an official visit to Columbus this past weekend despite not having an offer, but received one over the trip. It was assumed once that happened that a verbal pledge to the Buckeyes was imminent within the week, and word finally broke Tuesday afternoon that the commitment happened. O'Connor stands at 6-4/295 and is slated to line up at either guard or center at Ohio State. He was once committed to Penn State, decommitting after the Sandusky scandal broke, and chose OSU over his other finalists of Iowa and California. He becomes the fourth offensive lineman to commit to the Buckeyes in the class of 2012, joining Ohioans Decker, Jacoby Boren, and Patrick Elflein. It is expected that Urban Meyer will land at least one, if not two more players at the position in the class, with the main targets being Kyle Dodson and Jordan Diamond. This is a big pick up for the Buckeyes as they desperately needed depth on the offensive line. The class stands at 21 as of today and is expected to reach at least 25 when Signing Day rolls around in just a few weeks. Stay tuned for the latest news on recruiting and join us tomorrow for some more buzz in the 11W Recruiting Notebook...
Meyer relies on Marotti for tougher Buckeyes January 17, 2012 Source: Columbus Dispatch - “And finally, the most important hire I made on this coaching staff…” Meyer began. With that, Mickey Marotti walked toward the most necessary person — Meyer — shook his hand and took his place in the lineup of assistant coaches on the court. One might conclude that the value of Marotti, the newly named assistant athletic director for sports performance, would rank below offensive coordinator Tom Herman. The Buckeyes were noticeably weak this past season in play-calling, not strength training. That conclusion would be correct if Marotti concerned himself only with monitoring the Buckeyes’ weight-lifting sessions. But more than building muscle, Marotti’s mission is to build minds. Beginning last week, and intensifying through the summer, Ohio State players will be wrung like a wet towel and tossed over a chair to dry. For several hours each day, they will wish they never had been born. The physical pain will be incredible. The mental strain will match it...
Vandalia offensive tackle verbally commits to Ohio State January 16, 2012 Source: Dayton Daily News - Those Irish eyes aren’t smiling at Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer today. After adding a pair of Notre Dame coaches to his staff last week, Meyer received a verbal commitment from Vandalia’s Taylor Decker after a weekend visit to Columbus. Decker, a 6-foot-8, 300-pound offensive tackle, gave Notre Dame a verbal commitment in March 2011...Taylor could not be reached for comment. Butler Aviators coach Greg Bush said he did not want to speak for Decker and confirm the decision, which was reported by numerous online sites...BlueandGold.com, which follows Notre Dame recruiting, reported Decker replied with a text message when asked if Notre Dame was still in play, saying, “Probably not, which is not to be rude at all. I just have figured everything out.” Last week, Ohio State officially added Notre Dame offensive line coach Ed Warinner and running backs coach Tim Hinton, who also recruited Decker to Notre Dame. “I can tell you once Tim Hinton came to Ohio State, he did not actively recruit him,” Bush said. “That did not happen.”...
Ohio State Recruiting Update: Still Going Strong January 16, 2012 Source: The Buckeye Battle Cry - After this weekend’s recruiting visits, Urban Meyer isn’t slowing down even a little bit on the recruiting trail. Obviously the biggest news over the weekend was the commitment of offensive tackle Taylor Decker. Securing a tackle was priority number one for this class, and Decker fills the need with flying colors. Greedily, I’d like to see more movement along the offensive line in the near future, and chances are I will get my wish. Here is a recap of the weekend and a look forward. Offensive Line...Linebackers...Cornerbacks...Offensive Weapons...
Ohio State football loses one assistant coach, two players January 15, 2012 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - Cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson, who also did much of the Cleveland-area recruiting for the Buckeyes, left the staff to become the linebackers coach and assistant head coach at Arkansas...Ohio State announced that two players have been dismissed from the team. Redshirt sophomore cornerback Dominic Clarke and freshman defensive back DerJuan Gambrell were released from their scholarships for what a team spokesman called violations of team rules. Clarke was a backup who started the first two games of the season after Travis Howard was suspended, while Gambrell redshirted this season and did not play...
11W Recruiting Notebook January 12, 2012 Source: Eleven Warriors - Today, we take a look at some new names on the recruiting scene, what visits are lined up for the rest of the month, and what 2013 prospects are the latest to be offered from the Urbinator himself. Join us after the jump to get the latest buzz in the recruiting world with the 11W Recruiting Notebook....New Names Emerging: While the majority of the Ohio State recruiting board has remained the same since Urban Meyer took over in late November, there have been some new names emerging of late, as the 2012 staff tries to put their stamp on this class. Per Jason's tidbit yesterday, which we still cannot discuss further, the new buzz and list of offers finally makes a little bit of sense. Maybe the most realistic possibility on this list of new names would be West Roxbury (MA) Catholic Memorial DB Armani Reeves...Visit tracker...2013: This upcoming weekend (1/13), the Buckeyes are expecting three official visitors and two unofficial visitors. South Bend (IN) Washington LB/RB David Perkins, Scottsdale (AZ) Chaparral ATH Davonte' Neal, and Windsor (CO) OL Joey O'Connor all members of the 2012 class and are all expected to be on campus for their official visits this weekend. All but O'Connor have offers and it wouldn't surprise me to see him walk away with one after this weekend...In addition to these four stand outs, 2013 stars in Woodbridge (VA) LB EJ Levenberry and Peioria (IL) Mauel OL Logan Tuley-Tillman are expected to attend the Ohio State-Indiana basketball game on Sunday and speak with Urban Meyer...Offers Starting To Sprout: You've heard plenty about the Jalin Marshall's, Cam Burrows', Eli Woodard's, and other 2013 prospects that have been on Ohio State's board for a while now. Today, we bring you news of four new players who were offered by Urban Meyer and his staff this past week.
The Buckeye Board: Six-Shooting January 10, 2012 Source: Eleven Warriors - how we at Eleven Warriors see this class of 2012 winding up...This weekend will mark the start of the next round of the recruiting race, so we'll once again push "Around The Oval" to the side and spend this Tuesday afternoon discussing how we at Eleven Warriors see this class of 2012 winding up...Ohio State will look to retain the recruiting momentum that Urban created starting this weekend, when the Buckeyes play host to a quartet of big time prospects. Colorado OL Joey O'Connor, previously a Penn State commitment, ATH Davonte' Neal from Scottsdale, Arizona, DB Demetrious Cox from Jeanneatte, Pennsylvania and LB David Perkins from South Bend, Indiana will all be spending their weekend in the shadow of the 'shoe...What's The Story On These Fellas?...& Who Will Round Out The 2012 Buckeye Recruiting Class?...
New Offers Shape Ohio State’s 2012 Class Down the Homestretch January 10, 2012 Source: The Buckeye Battle Cry - February 1st is fast approaching and I think most people in Buckeye Nation can already feel that the last couple weeks of recruiting will be totally different under Meyer than Tressel. Not because we didn’t recruit well previously but because there will be more movement in January under Meyer. Tressel got most of the recruiting done by all-star game time. Just in the past week there has been a lot of movement in the 2012 class. We will cover each player in the 2012 class in depth after signing day with film breakdowns and recaps of their seasons and all-star games, but for now it will be a daily grind just keeping up with everything going on with the last few spots in this class. On top of everything else, the floodgates on an outstanding 2013 class are about to burst open as well, so we can all look forward to that. Stay tuned to tBBC for coverage of all that and more, but for now let’s focus on the 2012 class. We will ignore the scholarship numbers for the most part and just focus on what we are seeing. Offensive line and linebacker recruiting are both really heating up and there is plenty of chatter about an athlete or two for good measure...
OSU dishes out big bucks for Meyer’s reign January 9, 2012 Source: The Lantern - With a $4 million per year salary, new Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer is the highest paid coach in the Big Ten conference, but OSU is spending millions on Meyer's assistants as well. The combined salaries for the assistant coaches Meyer has hired is just under $3.5 million, and some positions have yet to be filled. During Meyer's introductory press conference Nov. 28, he said assembling a top-quality staff was a priority. "In 2005 … I think (Florida) put together the best coaching staff maybe in college football history," Meyer said. "I know that's a profound statement. But what those guys did, the recruits they brought in and the run that team went on, with the great players, the style of offense, defense and kicking game … my goal is to find that kind of group of coaches again. "I think Ohio State deserves the best group of assistant coaches in America." It appears OSU is helping Meyer pursue just that and is willing to shell out more cash than the university is accustomed to in the process. According to information released by the OSU athletic department, the school is spending significantly more money on its football coaches in 2012 under Meyer than under former coaches Luke Fickell in 2011 and Jim Tressel...
Ohio State football: Sizing up Meyer’s first team January 8, 2012 Source: Columbus Dispatch - Ohio State’s gantlet of a 2011 season ended in predictable fashion. The brief Luke Fickell era plopped at the finish with a rather uninspiring 24-17 loss to Florida in the Gator Bowl. It was the Buckeyes’ fourth straight loss, their first losing streak that long in 68 years. It capped their record at 6-7, their first losing season since they went 4-6-1 in 1988. And considering the yearlong NCAA investigation, the suspensions and the stunning — at least to OSU officials — postseason ban for 2012 levied by the NCAA, it has been quite the 13 months since improper benefits from a tattoo-parlor owner stained the Buckeyes. But enough of that. A new sheriff is in town, Urban Meyer...He met with the Buckeyes early in the morning after they returned from Florida, and it’s safe to assume he didn’t greet them with a congratulatory pat on the back. Next season will not end with a championship, but it will include plenty of intrigue as Meyer settles in. OSU beat reporters Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz look briefly at the Gator Bowl and then gaze ahead to the beginning of the Meyer era...
Meyer's 2012 Buckeyes show promise January 4, 2012 Source: Fox Sports Ohio - A new era for Ohio State football officially started Tuesday morning as Urban Meyer met with his new team. Spring practice is still almost three months away, but the excitement surrounding both Meyer's arrival and Ohio State's chance to move past a tumultous 6-7 season means it's never too early to start looking ahead. The thought of Braxton Miller returning as a sophomore in Meyer's spread offense is an exciting one, to say the least. The Buckeyes defense lost no top-line talent and should return seven of its top eight tacklers. John Simon and Johnathan Hankins could be even better in 2012 than they were in the trenches in 2011, and that could cause opposing offensive coordinators a whole lot of headaches. There will be no bowl game for the 2012 Buckeyes, but there will be very high expectations. RETURNING PERSONNEL - OFFENSE...RETURNING PERSONNEL - DEFENSE...SHOES TO FILL...BOTTOM LINE...
Fragel Embraces Move to Tackle
January 4, 2012 Source: The Ozone - When Reid Fragel went to bed Monday night, he was still a tight end trying to piece together his final thoughts from Ohio State’s 24-17 loss to Florida in the Gator Bowl. When he awoke Tuesday morning for the team’s 7 a.m. meeting with new head coach Urban Meyer and his staff, Fragel felt like something else entirely. An offensive tackle...“His future, if you look at the NFL, the tight ends are 4.5 guys (in the 40-yard dash),” said Barton, a former starter on the offensive line who will be retained for another year as a grad assistant under Meyer. “Reid is a super athlete for a tackle, but he’s an average athlete for an NFL tight end. If you’re looking at long term, Eric Winston did it and he’s almost a Pro Bowler...
College Football 2012: Three Teams on the Rise January 4, 2012 Source: Athlon Sports - Ohio State – After a disappointing 6-6 regular season record in 2011, expect the Buckeyes to jump back into 10-win territory in 2012. Most importantly, Ohio State is not expected to have any suspensions impact the offense like it did this season. However, the Buckeyes were hit with a one-year bowl ban, so this team will be ineligible to compete for the Big Ten title. Quarterback Braxton Miller should shine in new coach Urban Meyer’s spread offense, especially with a group of young receivers getting better next year. The Buckeyes will have three key losses on the offensive line – tackles Mike Adams and J.B. Shugarts, along with center Mike Brewster – but Miller’s mobility should help ease the concerns about this group. Ohio State had an uncharacteristic season on defense, finishing sixth in total and scoring in the Big Ten. Defensive lineman John Simon could enter the NFL Draft, and the secondary will lose Tyler Moeller, but the rest of the defense is expected to return intact. With a lot of new faces seeing time this year, Ohio State’s defense should finish near the top of the Big Ten in 2012. Meyer is a proven winner and is putting together a terrific recruiting class in a short amount of time. With Wisconsin losing quarterback Russell Wilson and the ongoing uncertainty at Penn State, expect Ohio State to begin the year as the favorites in the Big Ten Leaders Division - without a chance to play in the conference title game.
2012 Gator Bowl: 5 Things Ohio State Needs to Improve on in 2012 January 4, 2012 Source: The Bleacher Report - 5. Braxton Miller's Passing Ability...4. Rushing the Passer...3. How They Start Games...2. Special Teams...1. Utilizing Their Talent...This entire season, Stoneburner was completely ignored, despite that half of his receptions were touchdowns. Hall is an excellent receiver out of the backfield but finished the season with only nine receptions. Hyde is a big back who hits the hole hard, but was never used in short-yardage situations and Braxton Miller was rarely put in a position to succeed. Meyer's expertise is utilizing the talent he possesses and maximizing it, which is exactly what they need in Columbus. The talent is there, someone just needs to use it...
A Lesson in Twitter Reality January 4, 2012 Source: The Ozone - On Tuesday, a number of media members re-Tweeted Tweets by Ohio State football players saying they would no longer be allowed to use Twitter under new head coach Urban Meyer. Those Tweets were then re-Tweeted by more followers, who passed on the information to more followers, who promptly re-Tweeted the ‘breaking news’ to even more followers. That is the way Twitter is designed to work, but it also demonstrates the pitfalls of using a social network, like Twitter, as a method for breaking news. As it turns out there, there is no Twitter ban at Ohio State, at least not according to the latest round of Tweets from OSU players. Sports information director Jerry Emig also confirmed that he is not aware of any Twitter restriction implemented by Meyer and his staff, but the players certainly seemed convinced after their 7 a.m. meeting with Meyer Tuesday. “New staff new rules. No more twitter, not a big deal and probably for the better. Love our fans, love this place,” junior Reid Fragel posted on his Twitter account at 1 p.m. ET Tuesday. Fragel’s post was followed by a number of others, including Jake Stoneburner, Carlos Hyde and Evan Spencer, who announced that Tuesday would be their last day on Twitter because of the new rules at Ohio State. Only there are no new rules prohibiting players from being on Twitter, or at least we don’t think there are. “Just now finding out the whole twitter thing wasn't exactly true,” Fragel Tweeted around 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday. That didn’t stop USA Today from writing a story about Urban Meyer’s Twitter ban earlier in the day. We also wrote one, as did others, using the original Tweets from Fragel and Stoneburner as quotes to back our story...
Changes already underway for Buckeyes January 2, 2012 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - Reid Fragel said it was his idea, but Urban Meyer readily agreed. The junior tight end in 2012 will be a senior offensive tackle. "I'm looking forward to it, I'm not upset about it," Fragel said of the move. "I talked to Urban and he's all for it, so if he's on board, I am, too." The move for Fragel, a 6-foot-8, 280-pounder, has been a theory mentioned by some since he arrived on campus. The switch is far from a shock, but watching how players move around or change in the shift from the Jim Tressel/Luke Fickell style to the Urban Meyer way should make for an interesting off-season...
OSU Insider January 4, 2012 Source: Columbus Dispatch
What's hot? The anticipation is that under Meyer and new offensive coordinator Tom Herman, the Buckeyes are going to come out running and gunning. Meyer and Herman believe they have the ideal quarterback in Braxton Miller to make the transition to a spread offense, and the backfield will be loaded with potential with Jordan Hall, Carlos Hyde and 2012 recruits Warren Ball and Brionte Dunn. But …
What's not hot? The Ohio State receiving corps needs a booster shot. Either it was the system or the lack of urgency, but on several of the six sacks of Miller in the Gator Bowl, there were plays when no one was looking back or, at least, no one was open. Freshmen Devin Smith and Evan Spencer showed promise all year but often became afterthoughts. The tight ends — Jake Stoneburner, Reid Fragel, Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett — won’t be simply emergency targets in Meyer’s scheme.
What went right? The defense played well enough to win most games. About the only big play for Florida was its 17-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Otherwise, the Buckeyes kept things in front of them. Of course, that often meant giving up, say, 6 yards on third-and-5. But allowing just one touchdown and a field goal is not a bad day for the defense.
Back to the Drawing board Kickoff coverage. If Meyer didn’t bring it up in his first meeting with the team yesterday, it’s probably because he wanted to keep his blood pressure under control. The 99-yard kickoff return by Florida, a Gator Bowl record, was a major blow. Then came the blocked punt and return for a touchdown in the third quarter. Only super teams recover from such gaffes, and the 2011 Buckeyes were far from that.
Catch that? The John Simon bull rush in the first half that for a moment appeared to knock two Gators from the game. In his zeal to get to quarterback John Brantley, their collision also toppled a Florida offensive lineman. Brantley got up soon enough, but the lineman had to be helped from the field. It was Simon doing his best Howie Long impression.
Meyer’s challenge Appeasing the masses. Fans believe the Buckeyes have underachieved offensively for a decade or more. Meyer brings the promise of wide-open football, of making the other team have to keep up instead of taking a lead and sitting on it. With no Big Ten championship or bowl game possible in 2012, he must work the regular season like a crescendo toward The Game with Michigan. But know this: The way he and his staff are recruiting, the Hundred Yard War already has been rejoined...
"I have a picture of Woody Hayes on my bedroom wall & Urban Meyer is a great man, a great coach. He is everything you want in a coach. We want to go win national championships. " - Cameron Burrows 
