Six Buckeyes Named to Maxwell, Bednarik Award Watch Lists June 30, 2008 Source: OSU Official Site - "Awards honor the top offensive and defensive players in the nation - Six different Buckeyes were chosen among the top offensive and defensive players to watch this season in college football when Ron Jaworski, Maxwell Football Club president, Monday announced the 2008 Watch Lists for the 72nd Maxwell Award and the 14th Chuck Bednarik Award..."
Glenville's Newsome Commits to the Buckeyes Cleveland Glenivlle's Jonathan Newsome today (June 24) became OSU's 23rd commit for the Class of 2009. Newsome said: "I'm 100% a Buckeye. I love Ohio; I love Ohio State football. I just didn't see any reason not to commit." He added: "Now I'm going to work on Marcus," referring to Glenville tackle Marcus Hall who the Buckeyes are also recruiting. The 6'2" 229 lb Newsome, who played linebacker as well as defensive end and offensive line for Glenville, is projected to be a defensive end. He made 60 tackles including 13 sacks during his junior season. Newsome had more than 22 schlarship offers including ones from Illinois, West Virginia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State, Pittburgh, Vanderbilt and Louisville. Welcome aboard, Jonathan!
Linebacker makes 23 recruits for '09 June 25, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "'Newsome... -- he's a player with great potential who could end up playing that linebacker-rush defensive end they've been using there for a while. He's one the coaches didn't want to see get away.'..."
Glenville High School DE Jonathan Newsome orally commits to Ohio State University June 25, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "Glenville defensive end Jonathan Newsome orally committed to Ohio State on Tuesday. Newsome, recruited as a defensive end and outside linebacker, is ranked among the top-60 defensive ends in the country..."
Captain's Corner: Beware Of The Spartans? June 25, 2008 Source: Bucknuts.com - "We've heard all the talk about the road games at USC, Wisconsin, and Illinois, as well as the annual rivalry against Michigan. But is there another game on this year's Ohio State schedule that could be a potential buzzsaw? If there is, it could be the one on October 18 in East Lansing, Michigan. Jerry Rudzinski explains why people should not overlook the Spartans..."
Henton makes transfer official June 24, 2008 Source: Dayton Daily News - "Quarterback Antonio Henton transferred from OSU and enrolled in classes at Georgia Southern on Monday. He'll have three years of eligibility left. The Eagles, who are coming off a 7-4 season, play in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) and are looking for a starting QB after the departure of Jayson Foster, who won the Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in that division as a senior last season."
Former Peach County star Henton officially a Georgia Southern Eagle June 23, 2008 Source: macon.com - "The last football game Antonio Henton played in Georgia was a state championship game. The next football game Henton is likely to play in his home state will be against a national championship favorite. The former Peach County standout quarterback spent this morning enrolling at Georgia Southern, making his transfer from Ohio State official and complete. 'All I know,' Eagles head coach Chris Hatcher said just before lunchtime, 'is that he's in school here right now and he's a Georgia Southern Eagle.'..."
PA Star Corey Brown Commits to the Buckeyes Corey Brown, a national top-100 prospect, rated as the fifth-best "athlete" nationally, and one of the top 10 overall prospects in the state of Pennsylvania, today (June 23) committed to the Buckeyes' Class of 2009. "I picked Ohio State really because of everything you can think of," Brown said by phone. "The academics, the coaches, the facilities, the tradition, the great players they've got now, the way they keep playing for championships --- they've got everything you want up there." The 6'2" 180lb Brown, who runs a 4.58 40, attends Gateway HS in Monroeville PA, where he has started at both cornerback and wide receiver since his sophomore year. He made over 40 tackles and intercepted four passes during his junior season while also catching 23 passes for 500 yards and three touchdowns. Brown, who is very physical and is tough to gain seperation on and very sound in run support, will likely play in the secondary for the Buckeyes. "It could be cornerback or wide receiver, but I think cornerback," Brown said. "But maybe I'll be like Ted Ginn and go there and play cornerback for a couple days, then get moved to wide receiver." He held dozens of scholarship offers from all across the nation, which included offers from Notre Dame, Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, Penn State, Miami, North Carolina, N.C. State, Virginia, Boston College, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Syracuse. Welcome aboard, Corey!
Gateway's Brown picks Ohio St. June 24, 2008 Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - "...'When you go up there, you can't come back without saying you don't want to commit,' Brown said of Ohio State...'It's the perfect place,' Brown said. 'I used to like North Carolina and Michigan until I visited Ohio State a few years ago.'..."
Dublin's Bradley McDougald has committed to Ohio State Dublin (OH) Scioto star Bradley McDougald, one of the top athletes in central Ohio, committed to Ohio State today (June 23). "I just committed to Ohio State a few minutes ago," McDougald said. "It just felt like the right place to be." Living in the Columbus suburb of Dublin, many thought McDougald's choice would be simple. It was not initially. For McDougald, the just completed Ohio State ’s Senior advanced camp helped him decide. "The camp definitely did. At first I didn't know exactly where I stood, but I competed against other good players, and I just knew that Ohio State is where I wanted to go." The 6'1' 187 lb all around athlete, who runs a 4.5 40, is projected to be a safety for the Buckeyes. McDougald rushed for close to 400 yards during his sophomore season and gained 1045 yards and scored 13 times during his junior season and accounted for over 1600 yards. He held scholarship offers from Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Boston College, West Virginia, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Akron, Kent State, Miami (OH) and Ball State among others. Welcome aboard, Bradley!
OSU gets commitments from Dublin Scioto safety June 24, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "..McDougald said he has seen that firsthand most of his life. 'Growing up here, being around it 24/7, it's always been a dream to play for the Buckeyes,' McDougald said. 'Going down to the Ohio State camp (for rising high school seniors) on Friday, I think the coaches were impressed with me and I was impressed with the coaches.' Bill Kurelic, a recruiting analyst for Bucknuts.com, said, 'He's one of the top athletes in central Ohio, and he's the tall kind of safety they're looking for these days'..."
Buckeye Recruiting ’08-'09: New Strategy or Aberration? June 23, 2008 Source: the silver bullet - "The summer of 2008 has only just begun, and already the Buckeyes have 22 verbal commitments for the class of ’09 (not to mention a transfer in Justin Boren). In the annals of football recruiting we’ve never seen anything like it. Yes, Texas has pulled in a lot of verbals each spring for the past few years, but never has so much talent been assembled so quickly as what we witnessed this year from Tressel and his staff. All of which begs the question – is this the product of a new recruiting strategy or simply good fortune?..."
Undefeated attitude June 23, 2008 Source: Yahoo! Sports - Terry Bowden writes: "Coaches must stress to their players the importance of graduating, just as they stress the importance of winning. ...Without the penalties for poor academic performance, most coaches, and schools for that matter, don’t have enough incentive to make graduation high on their list of requirements, or expectations, for their players. Let’s look at this honestly – coaches do not get fired for not graduating their players..."
Justin Green Commits to the Buckeyes Justin Green, the younger brother of former Ohio State defensive tackle Marcus Green, became the 20th member of the Class of 2009 when he committed today (June 22) to play at Ohio State. Justin said: "I have actually been following the Buckeyes since my brother has been there. I have seen what things are like there. It is an honor to get to play for Ohio State. Coach Tressel likes me at cornerback and so does coach Taver Johnson. They think that I can play both sides of the ball so I really don't know what the future holds or what position I am going to play. More than likely it will be at cornerback." The Rivals100 cornerback , who is from Louisville (KY) Male, is a 5-11, 181lb wide receiver/defensive back with 4.41 speed in the 40. He had offers from Alabama, Miami (FL), Tennessee, Illinois, West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, Northwestern, Wake Forest and Louisville, in addition to interest from many other schools. Welcome aboard, Justin!
Male star Green will play football at Ohio St. June 23, 2008 Source: Louisville Courier Journal - "..'When I sat down and talked to the coaches, that was the deciding factor,' said Green, who will be a senior. 'I wanted to sit down and get to know them, hear what they had in mind for me. I just wanted to talk to them, and that did it for me.'...Green, who won four Class 3-A track titles this month, will follow in his brother's footsteps to Ohio State. Marcus Green played there and lives in Columbus for most of the year..."
Carlos Hyde is a Buckeye Naples' (FL) Carlos Hyde committed to the Buckeyes today (June 22) and became the 19th member of the Class of 2009. "I always liked Ohio State and I always wanted to be a Buckeye. When I went there for my visit, everything was perfect. I felt like it was the right place for me," Hyde stated. Although he lives with his grandmother and uncle in FL, Carlos grew up in Cincinnati, where his family still lives including his mother, father, grandfather, brother and sister. He rushed for 943 yards and scored 13 times during his junior season. Rated the # 2 FB in the nation by Rivals, he will be carrying the ball as a TB for the Buckeyes and is the big back the coaches were seeking. Hyde, who is 6'1" 236lb and runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds, has the ability to run through you or around you. The Naples HS star had offers and interest from more than twelve schools including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Clemson, West Virginia, Miami-FL, Wisconsin, Florida State and South Florida. Welcome aboard, Carlos!
Buckeyes land running back from Florida June 22, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "...his mother Dermidra Hyde confirmed the news. 'He is very excited about this, and he's really looking forward to playing for Ohio State,' she said. 'All he could talk about was how nice and pretty the campus is and how he can't wait to be a Buckeye.' Hyde is a power back along the lines of current Buckeye Chris "Beanie" Wells, and recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic believes Hyde could slide into the void nicely should Wells opt to head for the NFL after his upcoming junior season..."
Pryor's visit may have impacted other recruits June 22, 2008 Source: Dayton Daily News - "Ohio State has had no shortage of recruiting enticements down through the years, but its biggest drawing card these days may be its newest addition to the program. Ballyhooed quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who is enrolled for summer classes at OSU, visited the campus while the Buckeyes were hosting dozens of recruits during their spring game in April, and his appearance created a buzz among the program's other guests. 'I know people who were at the spring game (with recruits), and when Pryor made an entrance, you just felt it,' said..."
Preview 2008: Projected Big Ten Starting Lineups June 1, 2008 Source: CollegeFootballNews.com - "Who has the edge on a starting job going into the summer? What's the key position to watch out for and what needs to be addressed before the season starts? Here are the prjected starting lineups for every team..."
Duron Carter Says Yes to the Buckeyes Ft. Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver Duron Carter, the son of former Ohio State and NFL great Cris Carter, committed to the Buckeyes today (June 20). "I actually committed to head coach Jim Tressel right after the camp. I just told him I really like the Ohio State system. I couldn't be more excited with my decision to play the next four years at Ohio State." Carter went on to say, "I never thought about oh he's my dad and he went to Ohio State, but more as this program was just perfect for me. I can tell you without a doubt that my father would have been happy no matter which school I chose. After I told him, he agreed that Ohio State fit me really well both academically and athletically. " He did go on to say, "Ohio State has a history of having great receivers and I know I definitely want to be one there as well." Carter added that it will be neat to play college football at his dad's alma mater and in a state where he has so many family members. Duron, OSU's 18th verbal commitment for 2009, finished the 2007 regular season with 22 catches for 361 yards and 8 touchdowns and was by far the leading receiver in the Class 5A state championship game as well. The 6'3' 185 lb Carter had offers and interest from LSU, Florida, Michigan, Auburn, West Virginia, South Carolina and South Florida among others. Welcome aboard, Duron!
Cris Carter's son commits to Buckeyes' 2009 class June 21, 2008 Source: Dayton Daily News - "Duron Carter, son of Middletown native and former Ohio State receiver Cris Carter, accepted a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes on Friday, June 20, giving the team 18 verbal commitments among seniors-to-be. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound receiver from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is the 73rd-ranked wideout nationally. He picked OSU over Auburn, Wisconsin, West Virginia and LSU..."
Look ahead to 08-09 Football: whats ahead for the Big Ten teams Source: Big Ten Network
Henton To Pursue Transfer To Georgia Southern June 19, 2008 Source: Bucknuts - "According to various sources and a published report in Georgia, quarterback Antonio Henton has decided to transfer from Ohio State. The third-year sophomore quarterback from Fort Valley, Ga., was expected to be buried on the depth chart this season behind senior Todd Boeckman, highly touted incoming freshman Terrelle Pryor and possibly even redshirt freshman Joe Bauserman. Therefore, sources indicated that Henton will transfer to Division I-AA Georgia Southern University, where his former high school head coach (Rance Gillespie) is the offensive coordinator. An OSU spokesperson did not confirm the transfer report, noting only that Henton was still enrolled in summer quarter classes at the university. However, sources told Bucknuts.com that Henton had informed his teammates as well as OSU coach Jim Tressel earlier this week that he planned to transfer. The Statesboro (Ga.) Herald reported Wednesday that Henton would pursue a transfer to Georgia Southern. The newspaper cited an unnamed “ESPN writer,” who apparently provided that tip..."
Buckeyes are under the microscope June 17, 2008 Source: Willoughby News-Herald - "OSU medical center study aimed at preventing inuries..."
Terrelle Pryor lights up Columbus June 14, 2008 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - "It looked like Ohio State was turning Terrelle Pryor into a video game. The Buckeyes were actually trying to keep the real Pryor on the field. Using motion capture technology driven in large part by the video game industry, Ohio State put Pryor and seven other incoming football freshman through several tests..."
Buckeyes on the Cutting Edge of Football Injury Prevention June 15, 2008 Source: The Ozone - "You know all those video games you've been playing and all those really cool movie effects they can do nowadays? They have finally impacted your college football team as well. Dr. Ajit (think "dodge it") Choudhari (chow-dree) is the Director of Biomedical Research at the Ohio State Sports Medicine Center (and his) domain is the motion capture lab where the same technology that is used to make those cool video games and movie effects is now being put to use to measure incoming OSU athletes in the hopes of preventing injury in their careers. 'The development of this technology over the last 15 years was really driven by video games and movies,' said Choudhari. 'I study how injuries happen, who is likely to get them, and how we can help them and treat them better. In this lab we actually measure how people move including the angles of their joints, the forces on their joints, the torques on their joints..."
Linebacker Dorian Bell is one of 10 ESPN 150 Watch List prospects committed to Ohio State Source: ESPN
"Yes, the Buckeyes have 16 commitments and this class is very strong, but we cannot put Ohio State ahead of LSU and Georgia until these prospects prove their worth on the field. Outside linebacker Dorian Bell (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) is a special talent and will fill needed depth once he arrives. Center Jack Mewhort (Toledo, Ohio/St. John) is very underrated and talented. Defensive front help is a need and DE Melvin Fellows (Garfield Heights, Ohio) and DT John Simon (Youngstown, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney) are both excellent additions. Wide receiver Chris Fields (Painesville, Ohio/Thomas W. Harvey) can run and has return abilities as well.
'It's not just about winning games' June 15, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Gene Smith, starting his fourth year as athletic director at Ohio State, recently received one of his profession's higher honors, the John Toner Award, from the National Football Foundation...But Smith, along with OSU President E. Gordon Gee, wants to push the athletic director position beyond simply athletics. It's one reason Smith expressed no interest when the position opened two weeks ago at Notre Dame, his alma mater. Smith recently sat down with The Dispatch's Tim May to discuss recent developments and strategies..."
Pryor joins the Buckeyes looking ripped and ready June 15, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "...Pryor certainly looks ready. Stripped down to a pair of shorts for the testing, he was a physical specimen -- measuring 6 feet 3 1/2 , 225 pounds, with a "six-pack" that might make magazine models envious. He is off-limits to the media, per NCAA rules, until fall practice begins Aug. 4...His high school quarterbacks coach, Roy Hall, estimated Pryor had gained 15 pounds of muscle since basketball season ended in March. 'I was talking to (Ohio State coach) Jim Tressel the other day,' Hall said. 'I joked with him, I said, 'Coach, you haven't seen him for a couple of months. I'm worried he might be getting too big. He might have to play defensive end.'..."
Ohio State takes over as Tuscaloosa News' No. 1 college football team June 14, 2008 Source: Tuscaloosanews.com - "For the past three years, the Tuscaloosa News’ Best College Football Rankings have attempted to measure the nation’s top programs in every way imaginable, from attendance to the number of players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Using an elaborate formula, with half of the categories based on the previous season and the other half all-time, these rankings have annually attempted to answer the sport’s ultimate question: 'Which school really has the best program in the country?' or 'Who’s No. 1?'..."
2008 Commit Garrett Goebel Named Chicago Tribune/WGN High School Athlete of the Year June 13, 2008 Source: Chicago Tribune - "...Goebel—a kid who hated to finish second even to a classmate in the weight room—would transform himself in just four years from a football rookie to a Tribune first team All-State offensive lineman. A two-way player, he also became one of the most sought-after high school defensive tackles in the country, with a Rivals.com national ranking of No. 6 at his position and a commitment to play for Ohio State..."
For what it's worth, the magazines love Ohio State June 13, 2008 Source: Canton Repository - "On paper, the thin kind that's easily ripped, crumpled and thrown away, the 2008 football season shapes up to be another history maker in Columbus. Of course if magazine predictions hold true, the rest of the country will be tired of seeing Ohio State play in the national title game..."
Defensive lineman Adam Bellamy is a Buckeye Aurora (OH) defensive lineman Adam Bellamy landed the offer he wanted when Jim Tressel offered him a scholarship. He gave Tressel the good news Tuesday and became Ohio State's 17th commitment for 2009. "I just got off the phone with head coach Tressel and I gave him a verbal commitment. He said it's a great day for the Buckeyes and he's glad to have me on board." The 6'4" 275 pound Bellamy, who runs a 4.8 forty, plays both the OL and DL, but said: "I'm pretty sure I'll be an interior defensive lineman for the Buckeyes. But wherever they want me is fine." The Buckeyes see him as a run-stopping defensive tackle who can plug the trenches. Bellamy, ranked the #23 offensive guard in the country by Scout, already had offers from Boston College, Michigan State, Vanderbilt, Indiana, Cincinnati, Northwestern, Akron and Miami-OH. Welcome aboard, Adam!
OSU picks up D-line prospect June 11, 2008 Source: Columbus Dispatch - "Adam Bellamy was putting some young football players through their paces, urging them to give their all during a youth camp Monday in Aurora, Ohio, when his high school coached beckoned him. Bellamy, a senior-to-be defensive lineman for Aurora, had just given his all the day before at Ohio State's summer camp. Aurora coach Bob Mihalik said OSU coach Jim Tressel wanted Bellamy to call him..."
Trev Alberts discusses Ohio State vs. Michigan. Can Rich Rodriguez turn things around, or will the Buckeyes continue their dominance?
DB from Maryland 16th Commitment for 2009 Dominic Clarke, from Frederick, Md. Tuscarora HS, committed to the Buckeyes today. "I love Ohio State's tradition," he said. "I want to win and Ohio State wins." The 5-foot-11, 181-pound cornerback was named MVP at the National Freshman/Sophomore Combine in Virginia and was also named the 2007 top sophomore at the Maryland Coaches Association Combine. He has been timed at 4.41 in the 40-yard dash and has a 36-inch vertical leap. Clarke had interest and offers from Virginia Tech, Boston College, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Stanford, North Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Navy and Connecticut . Welcome aboard, Dominic!
Buckeye view for Clarke June 10, 2008 Source: Fredericknewspost.com - "Dominic Clarke has one more year to play football at Tuscarora High School, but when he's done there, a bigger stage awaits him -- at Ohio State University..."
Maryland's Clarke Becomes OSU's 16th Verbal June 8, 2008 Source: Bucknuts.com - "Ohio State hosted one of its two senior advanced camps on Sunday. But there was big news even before the camp as the OSU staff got a verbal from visiting cornerback Dominic Clarke of Frederick (Md.) Tuscarora. The 5-11, 180-pound Clarke becomes OSU's 16th commitment for 2009..."
Athlon Ranks Buckeyes Second June 3, 2008 Source: OSU Official Site - "Athlon Sports, publisher of the No. 1-selling college football magazine, continues the release of its preseason Top-25 poll at www.athlonsports.com. No. 2 is being released today. Jim Tressel's Ohio State Buckeyes hold the No. 2 position with 11 players selected as All-Big Ten performers. Athlon Sports predicts Ohio State to win the Big Ten Conference. In 2007, Athlon Sports led all other preseason football magazines in prediction accuracy..."
