2007 Preseason Numerical Roster (103)
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Elig. Cl. Exp. Hometown (Previous School)
2 Diego Oquendo CB 5-9 175 Jr. Jr. 1L Staten Island, N.Y. (Tottenville)
2 Matt Haughey K 5-9 176 Jr. Jr. 1L Bridgman, Mich. (Bridgman)
3 Nehemiah Warrick S 6-1 208 Sr. Sr. 1L Bradenton, Fla. (Hutchinson Community College)
4 Carl Grimes WR 5-9 175 Jr. Sr. 2L Detroit, Mich. (St. Martin De Porres)
4 Ed Wagner P 6-5 225 Fr. So. RS Barto, Pa. (The Peddie School)
5 Devin Thomas WR 6-2 218 Jr. Jr. 1L Ann Arbor, Mich. (Coffeyville Community College)
6 Mark Dell WR 6-2 185 Fr. Fr. HS Farmington Hills, Mich. (Harrison)
7 Brian Hoyer QB 6-2 212 Jr. Sr. 2L North Olmsted, Ohio (St. Ignatius)
8 Kirk Cousins QB 6-3 181 Fr. Fr. HS Holland, Mich. (Holland Christian)
9 Jeremy Ware CB 5-10 191 So. Jr. TR Fort Myers, Fla. (South Carolina)
10 Connor Dixon QB 6-4 199 Fr. So. RS South Park, Pa. (South Park)
11 Marcus Hyde S 6-0 200 Fr. So. RS Fostoria, Ohio (Fostoria)
12 Clay Charles QB 6-1 202 So. Jr. SQ McCall, Idaho (McCall-Donnelly)
13 Travis Key S 5-10 185 Sr. Sr. 3L Three Rivers, Mich. (Three Rivers)
13 Brad Sonntag WR 5-8 170 Fr. Fr. HS Saginaw, Mich. (Nouvel Catholic Central)
14 Brett Swenson K 5-8 160 So. So. 1L Pompano Beach, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas)
14 Cole Malatinsky S 6-0 198 Sr. Sr.-5 1L Holt, Mich. (Holt)
15 Todd Boleski K 6-6 212 Jr. Sr. 2L Dearborn Heights, Mich. (Divine Child)
16 Chris D. Rucker WR 5-10 172 Fr. Fr. HS Detroit, Mich. (Detroit Country Day)
16 John Van Dam QB 6-3 225 Sr. Sr.-5 1L East Lansing, Mich. (Okemos)
17 Nick Foles QB 6-5 235 Fr. Fr. HS Austin, Texas (Westlake)
18 Aaron Bates P 6-0 190 Fr. Fr. HS New Concord, Ohio (John Glenn)
19 David Williams WR 5-9 180 Fr. So. RS Monroeville, Pa. (Gateway)
20 A.J. Jimmerson RB 5-10 202 So. Jr. 1L St. Louis, Mo. (Hazelwood Central)
21 Otis Wiley S 6-2 214 Jr. Jr. 2L Flint, Mich. (Carman-Ainsworth)
22 Enrique Shaw CB 6-1 187 Fr. So. RS Lexington, Ky. (Lafayette)
22 Mike Parrelly RB 5-7 196 So. So. SQ Dearborn, Mich. (Detroit Catholic Central)
23 Javon Ringer RB 5-9 200 Jr. Jr. 2L Dayton, Ohio (Chaminade-Julienne)
24 Brett Kahn RB 5-9 173 Sr. Sr.-5 2L Trenton, Mich. (Northwood University)
25 Blair White WR 6-2 198 So. Jr. 1L Saginaw, Mich. (Nouvel Catholic Central)
25 Jesse Johnson S 5-10 180 Fr. So. RS Durand, Mich. (Durand Area)
27 SirDarean Adams LB 6-0 230 Sr. Sr. 3L Bradenton, Fla. (Bayshore)
28 Andre Anderson RB 5-9 182 Fr. Fr. HS Barrington, Ill. (Barrington)
28 Mike Bell CB 5-11 175 Jr. Sr. 2L Shaker Heights, Ohio (Shaker Heights)
29 Chris L. Rucker DB 6-2 185 Fr. Fr. HS Warren, Ohio (Warren G. Harding)
30 Jehuu Caulcrick RB 6-0 255 Sr. Sr.-5 3L Findley Lake, N.Y. (Clymer)
30 Brandon Denson S 5-11 215 So. Jr. 1L Willow Run, Mich. (Willow Run)
31 Ashton Henderson CB 5-11 177 So. So. 1L Tallahassee, Fla. (Lincoln)
32 Ashton Leggett RB 5-11 223 Fr. Fr. HS Muskegon, Mich. (Muskegon)
32 Mike Cordell CB 5-9 185 Jr. Sr. SQ Detroit, Mich. (Mackenzie)
33 Dan Fortener S 6-1 197 So. Jr. 1L Kettering, Ohio (Archbishop Alter)
34 Jelani Nantambu CB 5-9 189 Jr. Jr. 2L Southfield, Mich. (Notre Dame)
35 Jeff McPherson FB 6-1 245 Jr. Sr. 1L Lowell, Mich. (Lowell)
36 Jon Misch LB 6-2 200 Fr. So. RS Waterford, Mich. (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s)
37 Ross Weaver CB 6-1 202 So. Jr. 1L Southfield, Mich. (Southfield)
38 Kendell Davis-Clark CB 5-11 199 Jr. Jr. 1L Alliance, Ohio (Alliance)
39 Devin Pritchett FB 6-2 245 Sr. Sr.-5 2L Alpharetta, Ga. (Centennial)
40 Roderick Jenrette S 6-1 192 So. So. 1L Tampa, Fla. (Chamberlain)
41 Kaleb Thornhill LB 6-1 242 Sr. Sr.-5 3L Lansing, Mich. (Eastern)
42 Rob Tabatchnick LB 5-11 215 Sr. Sr. 3L Livingston, N.J. (Livingston)
43 Eric Gordon LB 6-0 220 Fr. So. RS Traverse City, Mich. (Traverse City West)
44 Josh Rouse LB 6-3 232 So. So. 1L Newtown, Conn. (Valley Forge Military Academy)
45 Andrew Hawken FB 6-2 240 So. Jr. 1L Wyoming, Mich. (Grandville)
47 Adam Setterbo FB 6-3 241 Fr. Fr. HS Spring Lake, Mich. (Spring Lake Senior)
47 Brandon Long DE 6-4 245 Jr. Jr. 2L Canton, Ohio (GlenOak)
48 Eric Andino TE 6-4 242 Sr. Sr. 3L Arlington Heights, Ill. (Buffalo Grove)
49 Dwayne Holmes TE 6-0 279 Jr. Sr. 2L Detroit, Mich. (Henry Ford)
50 Michael Linger SN 6-2 220 Fr. Fr. HS West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West)
51 Ervin Baldwin DE 6-2 270 Sr. Sr. 1L Oglethorpe, Ga. (Reedley College)
52 Andrew Pendy LB 6-1 227 So. Jr. SQ Shelby Township, Mich. (Utica Eisenhower)
53 Greg Jones LB 6-1 220 Fr. Fr. HS Cincinnati, Ohio (Archbishop Moeller)
54 John Masters C 6-4 288 Sr. Sr.-5 2L Carmel, Ind. (Carmel)
54 Todd Anderson LB 6-2 220 Fr. Fr. HS Jackson, Mich. (Napoleon)
55 Adam Decker LB 6-2 234 So. Jr. 1L Rochester Hills, Mich. (Brother Rice)
56 Alex Shackleton SN 6-2 250 Fr. So. RS Breckenridge, Colo. (Summit)
56 Kyle Smith LB 6-2 230 Jr. Sr. SQ Novi, Mich. (Detroit Catholic Central)
57 Rocco Cironi OT 6-6 306 So. Jr. 1L Warren, Ohio (Warren G. Harding)
58 Reggie Graham DE 6-4 215 So. Jr. SQ Homewood, Ala. (Homewood)
59 Ryan Wheat DL 6-5 308 Fr. Fr. HS Flint, Mich. (Carman-Ainsworth)
60 Mike Bacon OL 6-4 298 Jr. Sr. SQ Lansing, Mich. (Lansing Catholic Central)
61 Tramonte Pointer DT 5-10 292 Sr. Sr.-5 1L Flint, Mich. (Northern)
62 Abre Leggins OG 6-3 301 Fr. So. RS Orlando, Fla. (Maynard Evans)
64 Brendon Moss OT 6-6 287 So. Jr. 1L Bay Village, Ohio (Fork Union Military Academy)
64 Chris Smith NT 6-3 288 Sr. Sr.-5 SQ Brookville, Ind. (St. Joseph’s College)
65 Joel Nitchman OL 6-3 295 So. Jr. SQ Kalamazoo, Mich. (Hackett Catholic Central)
66 Mike Gyetvai OT 6-7 310 Sr. Sr.-5 3L Old Castle, Ontario (Sandwich Secondary)
67 Joel Foreman OL 6-3 295 Fr. Fr. HS Highland, Mich. (Milford)
68 Brian Johnson DL 6-1 255 Fr. Fr. HS Santa Ana, Calif. (Mater Dei)
70 Oren Wilson DL 6-3 290 Fr. Fr. HS Teaneck, N.J. (Harmony Community)
71 Kenny Shane OG 6-5 325 Sr. Sr.-5 1L Indianapolis, Ind. (Pima Community College)
73 Roland Martin OG 6-5 328 Jr. Sr. 2L Chicago, Ill. (Harper)
74 Jared McGaha OL 6-6 293 Fr. Fr. HS Powell, Tenn. (Powell)
75 Pete Clifford OG 6-7 312 Sr. Sr.-5 3L Salem, N.H. (Bridgton Academy)
76 Mike Schmeding OT 6-8 315 So. Jr. SQ Rutherford, N.J. (St. Mary’s)
77 J’Michael Deane OT 6-5 286 Fr. So. RS Toronto, Ontario (Newtonbrook Secondary School)
79 Jesse Miller OT 6-6 312 Jr. Sr. 2L Somerville, N.J. (Somerville)
80 Kellen Davis TE 6-6 246 Sr. Sr. 3L Adrian, Mich. (Adrian)
81 David Duran TE 6-5 226 Fr. Fr. HS Marietta, Ga. (Kell)
82 Ryan Allison WR 6-3 210 Jr. Jr. 2L Lake Orion, Mich. (Lake Orion)
83 Charlie Gantt TE 6-4 245 Fr. So. RS Farmington Hills, Mich. (Brother Rice)
84 Deon Curry WR 6-1 208 Jr. Sr. 2L Oakland Township, Mich. (Detroit Country Day)
85 Garrett Celek TE 6-5 233 Fr. Fr. HS Cincinnati, Ohio (LaSalle)
86 B.J. Cunningham WR 6-2 200 Fr. Fr. HS Westerville, Ohio (Westerville South)
87 Kevin Pickelman DE 6-3 250 Fr. Fr. HS Marshall, Mich. (Marshall)
88 John Stipek DT 6-5 270 So. So. 1L Macomb Township, Mich. (Dakota)
89 Colin Neely DE 6-1 244 Fr. So. RS Bethlehem, Pa. (Freedom)
89 Cam Martin WR 6-3 187 Fr. Fr. HS Tampa, Fla. (H.B. Plant)
93 Antonio Jeremiah DL 6-5 322 Fr. Fr. HS Hilliard, Ohio (Hilliard Darby)
94 Jonal Saint-Dic DE 6-1 255 Sr. Sr.-5 1L Elizabeth, N.J. (Hudson Valley Community College)
96 Patrick Rigan NT 6-5 254 Fr. So. RS Traverse City, Mich. (St. Francis)
97 Justin Kershaw DT 6-5 258 Jr. Sr. 2L Columbus, Ohio (Reynoldsburg)
98 Michael Jordan DL 6-5 295 So. So. JC Lansing, Mich. (Eastern Arizona College)
99 Ogemdi Nwagbuo NT 6-4 290 Sr. Sr. 1L San Diego, Calif. (Southwestern College)
Monday, August 13, 2007
Thursday, August 2, 2007
2009 Michigan Football Prospects
Courtesy of Scout as of 8/2/07
1 Larry Caper RB
Battle Creek Central
5'11 210
Still our top guy, Caper has something to prove after being injured last season and only playing in four games. But with his size and speed, he should have a big year.
2 James Jackson CB/WR
Grand Ledge
5'11 170
No one is faster and Jackson is proving that he isn't just a track star playing football. He can go up and get the ball and is also a willing blocker.
3 Hersey Jackson RB/FB
Allendale
6'1 215
There are some mixed opinions on Hersey and yes, he may have to be in the right system in college to succeed at tailback, but he is a big, strong kid who runs hard and has impressive breakaway speed considering his size.
4 Dion Sims WR/TE
Orchard Lake St. Mary's
6'5 230
This class' top two-way star, Sims could be big time in both football and basketball at the next level. Is he a WR or a TE? He is starting to outgrow wideout, but we'll see how he performs this season as a split.
5 William Campbell DT/OT
Detroit Cass Tech
6'5 320
Big Will has all the tools to top this list. He was raw when we saw him last season, and improving when we saw him again this summer, if that trend continues this season, he'll continue to rise.
6 Mike Schaaf QB
Saginaw Arthur Hill
6'7 220
7 Ricky Clemons OT
Flint Carman-Ainsworth
6'5 315
8 Chris Norman ILB
Detroit Renaissance
6'2 220
Another big riser, remember this name...Norman is already getting mail from schools on both coasts and after seeing him run down ball carriers from sideline to sideline, we're on board!
9 Cameron Gordon WR
Melvindale
6'3 190
10 Reid Fragel TE/DE
Grosse Pointe South
6'7 235
11 Teric Jones RB
Detroit Cass Tech
5'10 181
12 Aaron McCord G/DE
Detroit Crockett
6'3 245
13 Andrew Maxwell QB
Midland
6'3 175
14 Raynell Brown DE
Detroit Douglass
6'4 240
15 Shamari Benton S/LB
Birmingham Brother Rice
6'0 180
16 Brock Reynolds CB/FS
Battle Creek Central
5'11 175
17 Undra Peterson RB
Adrian
5'11 175
18 Khyran Major RB
Detroit Crockett
5'10 165
19 Christian Brandt OT/DT
Orchard Lake St. Mary's
6'5 250
20 Torsten Boss DB/WR
Lowell
6'0 170
He'll be the quarterback this year, although his college position is likely at WR or DB. However, football might not even be in his future as he is also a top baseball prospect.
21 Dennis Martin QB
Detroit Mumford
6'2 185
22 Isaiah Grimes QB
South Haven
6'6 210
23 Leo Wilson SS
Farmington Hills Harrison
5'11 191
A tackling machine from his OLB spot, Wilson is a tweener right now, but with his toughness and hitting ability, he'll have a home at the next level.
24
Zak Wasserman QB
Stevensville Lakeshore
6'4 215
25 Tevin Conrad OT
Detroit Pershing
6'6 310
26 Omari Humes WR/DB
Saginaw Arthur Hill
6'3 175
27 Adrian Bouyer SS
Battle Creek Lakeview
6'2 180
28 Donald SpencerWR
Ypsilanti
6'2 175
Big and strong, Spencer has to refine his game, but he has a lot of ability.
29 Gabe Helmuth QB/LB
Saline
6'1 185
30 Donnell Davis LB/SS
Farmington Hills Harrison
5'11 190
31 Delano Collins CB
Detroit Renaissance
5'10 182
32 Kenny McDaniels LB/DE
Muskegon Heights
6'2 255
A big backer who can run, McDaniels is going to play some defensive end this year and that will probably be his spot at the next level as he continues to grow.
33 Stephen Todd G/DT
Detroit Denby
6'0 290
34 Bruce Watson TE/OT
Detroit Southeastern
6'7 320
35 Ian Thomas QB
Highland Park
6'0 180
36 Thomas Gordon QB/S
Detroit Cass Tech
5'11 185
37 Jariel Wilson RB
Saginaw Arthur Hill
6'0 190
38 Antwan Dixon FB/LB
Detroit Southeastern
6'3 230
39 Dana Dixon FS
Detroit Renaissance
6'2 175
40 Anquan Clemmons CB
Grand Blanc
5'10 150
A great cover corner, Clemmons would rate higher if he were bigger, but if he can continue to get stronger, he'll develop into a fine college prospect.
41 Jason Pratt QB
Merrill
6'6 170
42 Casey Blackport QB
Hudsonville
6'3 185
43 James Johnson DT
Inkster
6'1 280
44 Bruce Watson OT
Detroit Southeastern
6'7 320
45 Martine Stevenson RB
Detroit Southeastern
5'6 155
46 Ayinde Ashford QB
Saginaw
5'11 185
47 Jariel Wilson RB
Saginaw
6'0 190
48 Zach Matthias OT
Hemlock
6'6 290
49 Steve Fegel G
Rockford
6'2 265
50 Dimeko Price RB
Battle Creek Lakeview
5'9 170
51 Donte Cherry RB
Detroit Osborn
5'10 207
A big back with a strong, compact build, Cherry is a real sleeper right now, but once he hits more camps and combines next spring/summer, that should change.
52
Darius Davis CB
Farmington Hills Harrison
5'11 170
53 Lance Atterberry DT
Southfield
6'2 275
54 Maurice Wirrick OT
Saginaw
6'5 250
55 Jordan Jonker RB/S
Hudsonville
5'10 180
56 Eric Alamat C/DT
Detroit Catholic Central
6'2 300
57 Charles Wolf C
Detroit Finney
6'0 270
58 Robert Howard DT
Detroit Mumford
6'0 298
59 Carlos Love CB
Gibraltar Carlson
5'9 165
60 Michael Booker RB
Grand Rapids Christian
5'5 168
61 Ali Alaboody RB
Dearborn Fordson
5'9 165
62 Jason Hannett OLB/RB
Muskegon
5'9 175
63 Theophilus Amaechi K
Detroit Mumford
5'10 170
1 Larry Caper RB
Battle Creek Central
5'11 210
Still our top guy, Caper has something to prove after being injured last season and only playing in four games. But with his size and speed, he should have a big year.
2 James Jackson CB/WR
Grand Ledge
5'11 170
No one is faster and Jackson is proving that he isn't just a track star playing football. He can go up and get the ball and is also a willing blocker.
3 Hersey Jackson RB/FB
Allendale
6'1 215
There are some mixed opinions on Hersey and yes, he may have to be in the right system in college to succeed at tailback, but he is a big, strong kid who runs hard and has impressive breakaway speed considering his size.
4 Dion Sims WR/TE
Orchard Lake St. Mary's
6'5 230
This class' top two-way star, Sims could be big time in both football and basketball at the next level. Is he a WR or a TE? He is starting to outgrow wideout, but we'll see how he performs this season as a split.
5 William Campbell DT/OT
Detroit Cass Tech
6'5 320
Big Will has all the tools to top this list. He was raw when we saw him last season, and improving when we saw him again this summer, if that trend continues this season, he'll continue to rise.
6 Mike Schaaf QB
Saginaw Arthur Hill
6'7 220
7 Ricky Clemons OT
Flint Carman-Ainsworth
6'5 315
8 Chris Norman ILB
Detroit Renaissance
6'2 220
Another big riser, remember this name...Norman is already getting mail from schools on both coasts and after seeing him run down ball carriers from sideline to sideline, we're on board!
9 Cameron Gordon WR
Melvindale
6'3 190
10 Reid Fragel TE/DE
Grosse Pointe South
6'7 235
11 Teric Jones RB
Detroit Cass Tech
5'10 181
12 Aaron McCord G/DE
Detroit Crockett
6'3 245
13 Andrew Maxwell QB
Midland
6'3 175
14 Raynell Brown DE
Detroit Douglass
6'4 240
15 Shamari Benton S/LB
Birmingham Brother Rice
6'0 180
16 Brock Reynolds CB/FS
Battle Creek Central
5'11 175
17 Undra Peterson RB
Adrian
5'11 175
18 Khyran Major RB
Detroit Crockett
5'10 165
19 Christian Brandt OT/DT
Orchard Lake St. Mary's
6'5 250
20 Torsten Boss DB/WR
Lowell
6'0 170
He'll be the quarterback this year, although his college position is likely at WR or DB. However, football might not even be in his future as he is also a top baseball prospect.
21 Dennis Martin QB
Detroit Mumford
6'2 185
22 Isaiah Grimes QB
South Haven
6'6 210
23 Leo Wilson SS
Farmington Hills Harrison
5'11 191
A tackling machine from his OLB spot, Wilson is a tweener right now, but with his toughness and hitting ability, he'll have a home at the next level.
24
Zak Wasserman QB
Stevensville Lakeshore
6'4 215
25 Tevin Conrad OT
Detroit Pershing
6'6 310
26 Omari Humes WR/DB
Saginaw Arthur Hill
6'3 175
27 Adrian Bouyer SS
Battle Creek Lakeview
6'2 180
28 Donald SpencerWR
Ypsilanti
6'2 175
Big and strong, Spencer has to refine his game, but he has a lot of ability.
29 Gabe Helmuth QB/LB
Saline
6'1 185
30 Donnell Davis LB/SS
Farmington Hills Harrison
5'11 190
31 Delano Collins CB
Detroit Renaissance
5'10 182
32 Kenny McDaniels LB/DE
Muskegon Heights
6'2 255
A big backer who can run, McDaniels is going to play some defensive end this year and that will probably be his spot at the next level as he continues to grow.
33 Stephen Todd G/DT
Detroit Denby
6'0 290
34 Bruce Watson TE/OT
Detroit Southeastern
6'7 320
35 Ian Thomas QB
Highland Park
6'0 180
36 Thomas Gordon QB/S
Detroit Cass Tech
5'11 185
37 Jariel Wilson RB
Saginaw Arthur Hill
6'0 190
38 Antwan Dixon FB/LB
Detroit Southeastern
6'3 230
39 Dana Dixon FS
Detroit Renaissance
6'2 175
40 Anquan Clemmons CB
Grand Blanc
5'10 150
A great cover corner, Clemmons would rate higher if he were bigger, but if he can continue to get stronger, he'll develop into a fine college prospect.
41 Jason Pratt QB
Merrill
6'6 170
42 Casey Blackport QB
Hudsonville
6'3 185
43 James Johnson DT
Inkster
6'1 280
44 Bruce Watson OT
Detroit Southeastern
6'7 320
45 Martine Stevenson RB
Detroit Southeastern
5'6 155
46 Ayinde Ashford QB
Saginaw
5'11 185
47 Jariel Wilson RB
Saginaw
6'0 190
48 Zach Matthias OT
Hemlock
6'6 290
49 Steve Fegel G
Rockford
6'2 265
50 Dimeko Price RB
Battle Creek Lakeview
5'9 170
51 Donte Cherry RB
Detroit Osborn
5'10 207
A big back with a strong, compact build, Cherry is a real sleeper right now, but once he hits more camps and combines next spring/summer, that should change.
52
Darius Davis CB
Farmington Hills Harrison
5'11 170
53 Lance Atterberry DT
Southfield
6'2 275
54 Maurice Wirrick OT
Saginaw
6'5 250
55 Jordan Jonker RB/S
Hudsonville
5'10 180
56 Eric Alamat C/DT
Detroit Catholic Central
6'2 300
57 Charles Wolf C
Detroit Finney
6'0 270
58 Robert Howard DT
Detroit Mumford
6'0 298
59 Carlos Love CB
Gibraltar Carlson
5'9 165
60 Michael Booker RB
Grand Rapids Christian
5'5 168
61 Ali Alaboody RB
Dearborn Fordson
5'9 165
62 Jason Hannett OLB/RB
Muskegon
5'9 175
63 Theophilus Amaechi K
Detroit Mumford
5'10 170
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
MSU Basketball Future Rosters
2008-2009
1. Tom Herzog So
2. Idong Ibok Sr
3. Marquise Gray Sr
4. Goran Suton Sr
5. Delvon Roe Fr
6. Raymar Morgan Jr
7. Draymond Green Fr
8. Isaiah Dahlman Jr
9. Durrell Summers So
10. Chris Allen So
11. Korie Lucious Fr
12. Kalin Lucas So
13. Travis Walton Sr
14. Austin Thornton So
2009-2010
1. Tom Herzog Jr
2. Delvon Roe So
3. Raymar Morgan Sr
4. Draymond Green So
5. Isaiah Dahlman Sr
6. Durrell Summers Jr
7. Chris Allen Jr
8. Korie Lucious So
9. Kalin Lucas Jr
10. Austin Thornton Jr
11. Garrick Sherman Fr
12. Derrick Nix Fr
13. Donovan Kirk (possible) Fr
Other targets - 2009
Jamil Wilson (A)
Ari Stewart (A)
Royce White (A-)
James Still (A-)
Glenn Bryant (A-)
Dion Sims (A-)
Richard Howell (B)
Ben Simons (B)
1. Tom Herzog So
2. Idong Ibok Sr
3. Marquise Gray Sr
4. Goran Suton Sr
5. Delvon Roe Fr
6. Raymar Morgan Jr
7. Draymond Green Fr
8. Isaiah Dahlman Jr
9. Durrell Summers So
10. Chris Allen So
11. Korie Lucious Fr
12. Kalin Lucas So
13. Travis Walton Sr
14. Austin Thornton So
2009-2010
1. Tom Herzog Jr
2. Delvon Roe So
3. Raymar Morgan Sr
4. Draymond Green So
5. Isaiah Dahlman Sr
6. Durrell Summers Jr
7. Chris Allen Jr
8. Korie Lucious So
9. Kalin Lucas Jr
10. Austin Thornton Jr
11. Garrick Sherman Fr
12. Derrick Nix Fr
13. Donovan Kirk (possible) Fr
Other targets - 2009
Jamil Wilson (A)
Ari Stewart (A)
Royce White (A-)
James Still (A-)
Glenn Bryant (A-)
Dion Sims (A-)
Richard Howell (B)
Ben Simons (B)
2010 Basketball Recruits
Snapshot of rankings of Sam Hosey as of July 2007
1. Keith Appling 6-0 G, Detroit Pershing
2. Trey Zeigler 6-3 G, Mt. Pleasant
3. Jonathon Horford 6-6 PF, Grand Ledge
4. Mohammed Conde 6-7 WF, Belleville
5. Sultan Muhammad 6-2 G, GR Catholic Central.
6.Maurice Cooper-Jones 5-5 PG, Saginaw Arthur Hill
7. Alex Gauna 6-7 PF, Eaton Rapids
8. D. Bellamy 6-5 PF, Cass Tech
9. Jerrell Pratt 6-8 PF/C, Detroit Northwestern
10. Michael Talley Jr. 5-8 PG, Melvindale Business & Tech
11. Matthew Hunter 6-4 WF, Detroit Consortium
12. DeAndre Buckley 6-3 WG, Romulus
13. Jaylen Larry 6-5 PF, Flint Carmen-Ainsworth
14. Taron Boose 6-2 W, Flint Beecher
15. Lanier Brown 6-2 WG, Detroit
16. Dee Champman 6-6 PF, Flint Carmen-Ainsworth
17. Kevonte Martin 6-0 G, Brother Rice
18. Devonte "Dedo" Jackson 5-6 PG, Saginaw
19. Josh Herbeck 6-2 WG, Gabriel Richard
20. Brandon Crane 6-9 PF, Midland
21. Shannon Williams 6-5 PF, Detroit
1. Keith Appling 6-0 G, Detroit Pershing
2. Trey Zeigler 6-3 G, Mt. Pleasant
3. Jonathon Horford 6-6 PF, Grand Ledge
4. Mohammed Conde 6-7 WF, Belleville
5. Sultan Muhammad 6-2 G, GR Catholic Central.
6.Maurice Cooper-Jones 5-5 PG, Saginaw Arthur Hill
7. Alex Gauna 6-7 PF, Eaton Rapids
8. D. Bellamy 6-5 PF, Cass Tech
9. Jerrell Pratt 6-8 PF/C, Detroit Northwestern
10. Michael Talley Jr. 5-8 PG, Melvindale Business & Tech
11. Matthew Hunter 6-4 WF, Detroit Consortium
12. DeAndre Buckley 6-3 WG, Romulus
13. Jaylen Larry 6-5 PF, Flint Carmen-Ainsworth
14. Taron Boose 6-2 W, Flint Beecher
15. Lanier Brown 6-2 WG, Detroit
16. Dee Champman 6-6 PF, Flint Carmen-Ainsworth
17. Kevonte Martin 6-0 G, Brother Rice
18. Devonte "Dedo" Jackson 5-6 PG, Saginaw
19. Josh Herbeck 6-2 WG, Gabriel Richard
20. Brandon Crane 6-9 PF, Midland
21. Shannon Williams 6-5 PF, Detroit
2009 Basketball Rankings
snapshot from Sam Hosey as of July 2007
1. DaShonte Riley 6-10, Country Day
2. Donovan Kirk 6-7, Country Day
3. Dion Sims 6-5, Orchard Lake
4. James Still 6-9, Detroit Community
5. Glenn Bryant 6-6 1/2, Macomb Dakota
6. Derrick Nix 6-10, Detroit
7. Keenan Coleman 6-3, Flint Central
8. Ben Simons 6-7, Cadillac
9. Jordan Morgan 6-7, UD Jesuit
10. John Hoskins Jr. 6-8, Warren Connor Creek West
11. Drew Valentine 6-5, Lansing Sexton
12. Demetrius Ford 5-10, Detroit
13. Matt Balkema 6-8, Warren Cousino
14. Karriem Baker 6-6, Detroit Ford (?)
15. Kamarri Boyton 6-1, Detroit U Prep
16. Shane Moreland 6-2, Flint Powers
17. Nick Jobe 6-4, Ida
18. Doug Anderson 6-5, Kalamazoo Central
19. Eso Akunne 6-4, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard
20. Delano Collins 5-10, Detroit Renaissance
1. DaShonte Riley 6-10, Country Day
2. Donovan Kirk 6-7, Country Day
3. Dion Sims 6-5, Orchard Lake
4. James Still 6-9, Detroit Community
5. Glenn Bryant 6-6 1/2, Macomb Dakota
6. Derrick Nix 6-10, Detroit
7. Keenan Coleman 6-3, Flint Central
8. Ben Simons 6-7, Cadillac
9. Jordan Morgan 6-7, UD Jesuit
10. John Hoskins Jr. 6-8, Warren Connor Creek West
11. Drew Valentine 6-5, Lansing Sexton
12. Demetrius Ford 5-10, Detroit
13. Matt Balkema 6-8, Warren Cousino
14. Karriem Baker 6-6, Detroit Ford (?)
15. Kamarri Boyton 6-1, Detroit U Prep
16. Shane Moreland 6-2, Flint Powers
17. Nick Jobe 6-4, Ida
18. Doug Anderson 6-5, Kalamazoo Central
19. Eso Akunne 6-4, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard
20. Delano Collins 5-10, Detroit Renaissance
May 2007 - Duane Long Top 2008 Ohio Prospects
Courtesy of Ohio High and Recruiting editor Duane Long http://www.scoutingohio.com/Class_of_2008_Top_Players.htm
1. ***** Mike Adams 6-8 305 OL Dublin Coffmanhttp://scoutingoh.com/Mike_Adams_Dublin_Coffman.htmThe word franchise gets tossed around a lot when it comes to athletes these days. All it takes is one glimpse of Mike Adams to see he is one player that the tag fits. My associate Steve Helwagen saw a tape of Adams. Steve is not one to get involved in trying to evaluate players. He said, “We looked at about five plays. That was all it took. We saw he was the real deal.” When Steve bothers to throw his two cents in on evaluations, that speaks volumes. About five plays is all you need to see of Adams. He has a body that is perfect for a left tackle. He is a massive kid but you are not going to find a better conditioned big athlete. He has a V-shaped body at better than 300 lbs. He has the long arms and is long bodied, something that stands out to me with the great left tackles I have seen. He is already an advanced pass blocker. He sits down and moves his feet, none of this reaching stuff that so many young offensive lineman do. He gets out of his stance and finds his man quickly. So much of what he does are things I do not expect out of a player this young. I was already convinced that he was the number one prospect in this class when I saw the Coffman playoff game versus Gahanna Lincoln who came into the game with an outstanding senior defensive lineman in John Hughes, a Michigan State commitment. Adams stoned him. Hughes is an explosive and determined player. Adams dominated the match-up to such a degree that Hughes stopped trying to rush the passer. I don’t know if it was his decision or the coaching staffs to quit on the futile attempt to rush the passer and try to knock down passes at the line of scrimmage but it sent the message home loud and clear. Getting by Mike Adams was futile. This is a national top 100 player and a top 10 national lineman. He is the best offensive lineman in this state since Orlando Pace. Adams gave the Buckeyes an a verbal in March.
2. ***** DeVoe Torrance 6-2 215 LB/RB Canton Southhttp://scoutingoh.com/Devoetorrencevideo1.htm
Every year there are several names that end up at the top of this list who could have been number one. Last year it was Ben Martin but I also considered Eugene Clifford. Never have I had a tougher time, or thought about it longer, than I did this year with Mike Adams and Devoe Torrence. We talk about players being the best player on the field. Devoe Torrence was that in every game despite the presence of his older brother Devon, an Ohio State commitment. He took it to another level. Torrence was the best player on the field at every position he played. He was always the best linebacker on the field but he played running back and he played wide receiver. He even played a little quarterback. When he was at running back he was the best running back on the field and when he was at wide receiver he was the best wide receiver on the field. I don’t see Torrence as a wide receiver in college but there is a lot to like about him as a running back. He rushed for nearly 1000 yards despite splitting time between running back, wide receiver and some at quarterback. I wonder what kind of back he could be if he spent all his time on offense learning the position. In fact, I will go so far as to say despite not being primarily a back, Devoe Torrence is the best back in Ohio. There is no question he is the best linebacker in Ohio. He had over 130 tackles and 6 sacks. I don’t have a forty time for Devoe but his game speed is something. He stands 8 to 10 yards off the ball and still makes plays in the backfield. He has such instincts and has that motor that is so important to defensive players. He plays the middle in high school but he is too good a football player to be a middle linebacker in college. I would put him on the weak side and let him make plays. Torrence got it over with making a surprise verbal to Ohio State in March.
3.***** Cordale Scott 6-5 200 ATH Cleveland Glenvillehttp://scoutingoh.com/Cordale_Scott_Glenville.htm
All Ted Ginn Sr needs to do is get the first half of the Glenville-Warren Harding game out to colleges. Scott dominated the game. He had a touchdown catch, he had two interceptions, one went for a touchdown and the other he carried down to the three yard line, and he had a hit that forced the receiver to drop the ball. A quarter and a half is closer to the time frame it took for Scott to do all of this. He is an impact player on both sides of the ball. The two interceptions show a player that did not simply use his athleticism. He read the play and broke on the ball both times. On the first he was in a better position to make the play. On the second it was pure Cordale Scott. He reads to deep out and gets there before the receiver. Scott first came on the radar as a receiver. Right now I would recruit him as a safety. He has great hands and the size advantage as a receiver but he has a 4.78 forty and his frame shows a player that is going to get a lot bigger. I say safety but I list him as an athlete. That is because what I really think when I see Cordale Scott is the size, the athleticism and the aggressiveness. A few years ago Ohio State had a player with a a very similar build name Tim Cheatwood. He came in as a receiver, moved to safety then to linebacker. By the time he earned playing time he was a defensive end. Javon Kearse had an almost identical body and came out of high school as a receiver. Gaines Adams is going to be the first or second defensive end taken in the 2007 draft. He was this size and came to college as a receiver. I think Scott is highly likely to follow the same path. I see him as a safety and possibly a linebacker but I am not going to be surprised to see him wind up as a defensive end.
4. ***** Kyle Rudolph 6-7 220 TE Cincinnati Elderhttp://scoutingoh.com/kyle_rudolph_cincinnati_elder.htm
One question I get asked all the time by fans is why college coaching staffs are always asking for more tape. Many think it is a stalling tactic and in some cases that may be true but for the most part it is about wanting to get as good an assessment on a player as possible. Case in point is Ohio States Tony Gonzalez. I had him rated down my list a bit. Ted Ginn Sr. told me I had him too low. Another Clevelander whose opinion I respect told me the same thing. I had seen two games and he did not really leap out at me as an elite player. Now he is looking at an NFL career. The same thing almost happened with Kyle Rudolph. What I saw from him early on had me scratching my head about the top twenty programs that offered him so early. Late in my evaluation process I saw more of Rudolph and could not have been more impressed. He has a complete game. He makes the classic tight end plays with the short stuff over the middle, the button hooks and quick outs but he also can go down the field like a big receiver. He creates the classic miss matches that everyone is looking for in a tight end. He is too fast and athletic for a linebacker to cover and is just too big for a safety. He has great hands and I can see why he is such a good basketball player. He is an explosive leaper. What completes his game is the blocking. I think the top tight ends in this class are all excellent athletes and receivers but Rudolph is such a great blocker. He has offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Miami of Florida, Virginia, Boston College and any number of others. He is likely to wait to make a decision but most think it will come down to Ohio State and Notre Dame, with the smart money on the Fightin’ Irish. Last year Rudolph caught 32 passes for 400 yards and seven touchdowns.
5. ***** Brandon Moore 6-6 230 TE Trotwood-Madisonhttp://scoutingoh.com/BrandonMooreTrotwood_2008.htm
I remember the first play I ever saw of Brandon Moore. He was running a wheel route up the sidelines. The quarterback threw the ball. I thought there was no way a player the size of Moore had a shot at the catch. He went up over the linebacker covering him and made the play on the ball at its highest point. It was not luck. It was not really a great catch but for the fact that this was a sophomore tight end making it, and he made it look simple. He made it look routine. I only needed to see a few more plays by Moore to see that this was a special talent. I only hoped to see a better tight end prospect than former Youngstown Ursuline tight end Louis Irizarry. I have now seen that player. Moore is bigger but just as athletic. In fact, he is so athletic that he played wide receiver this past season under new Trotwood offensive coordinator Jeremy Beckham. I have spoken to people that think that was a waste. I could not disagree more. Brandon Moore is going to have to learn more about running pass routes to be effective as a college player. He is not your basic inline blocking tight end who will catch a pass on occasion. This is the kind of talent that you can build a passing attack around. He is going to be asked to run routes that most tight ends will never be asked to run. Moore can be one of those players that only spends three years in the college ranks before going on to the NFL. He is also a very good track athlete, throwing the shot over 50 feet and the discus over 140 feet. The wrapper on the package is a 4.28 gpa in honors classes and a 22 ACT.
6. ***** Dan McCarthy 6-1 190 S Youngstown Cardinal Mooneyhttp://scoutingoh.com/DanMcCarthy_2006.htm
I had not seen Dan McCarthy since his sophomore year when I was told about offers from Ohio State and Notre Dame about midseason. Surprised was a better word than shocked. Not that he was offered but that he was offered this early by two of the Midwest’s Big Four. I think about dominating players when I think about early offers. I saw McCarthy for the first time as a junior a few weeks later. I can see why these powers came in with offers. He went from a possible Big Four player to a bonafide national level player. He was really something. He is bigger and can he ever move. He reads the game well and attacks with abandon. He runs like a back and hits like a linebacker. Fans like to get a comparison out of me with a player they are more familiar with. I could not come up with a name until I saw him on offense. He is a left handed quarterback on offense. Watching him play there is what gave me a name. He bears a great resemblance to former Buckeye quarterback Steve Bellisari, who would have been an NFL safety if he had been to make the move. Unlike Bellisari, Dan sees himself as a safety at the next level. Because his brother is at Notre Dame and his Catholic school background everyone assumes he will accept the Notre Dame offer but there is a lot of buzz that this McCarthy may choose to make his own mark and that Ohio State is the school to beat. Wherever he chooses to go, that school will be getting one of the nations top safety prospects.
7. ***** Nathan Williams 6-4 235 DE/LB Miami Tracehttp://scoutingoh.com/nathan_williams_miami_trace.htm
This is the best player in Ohio that nobody knows about. I know that Williams was an invitee to Ohio State games as a sophomore. I had not seen him until right before his junior year. The first thing that jumped out at me was the fact that he was always listed as a defensive end but he plays middle linebacker in high school. The next thing that occurred to me was why anyone would move this dominating middle linebacker to defensive end. He may grow into a defensive end but I can’t believe anyone would move him before giving him a shot first at showing he can be a middle linebacker. He reminds me of a combination of recent top Ohio linebackers, Matt Wilhelm and Ross Homan, both Buckeye players. He reminds me of Wilhelm because he is a big kid that everyone thinks is a foregone conclusion he will play defensive end. He reminds me of Homan in the fact that he plays small school football but he is one of the rare ones that rises so far above his level of competition that you have to discount it. He is not a big fish in a small pond. He is Moby Dick in a goldfish bowl. Like Homan he needs to be taken off the field to make the game fair. He has had two straight 100+ tackle seasons. As a sophomore he had 12 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. I don’t know if I have ever seen a Mike linebacker with double digit sacks. He rushed for over 1000 yards as a fullback as a sophomore and averaged better than ten yards a carry this year. It is defense where he really stands out. He has run 4.67 in the forty at 235-240. He reads the game so well. When he finds the runner he brings it. No drag down tackles here. Nathan Williams is a knock down tackler. Fans might not know much about him but college coaches do. Ohio State and Notre Dame are both in hot pursuit with the Buckeyes holding the edge. This is an athlete that should be on someone’s national top 100 list.
8. ***** DeVier Posey 6-3 180 WR Cincinnati LaSallehttp://scoutingoh.com/devier_posey_Cincinnati_lasalle.htm
Posey quietly went about being one of the most athletic and dynamic players in the state last year. He is a very athletic receiver. I am not saying he is a very athletic receiver for his size. He is as athletic as any player in the state period. He returns kickoffs. Only the best of the best at this size are elusive enough to return kicks. He has the ability to change direction and stop and start like a much smaller player. He is special after the catch. He runs like a back once he has the ball in his hands, something LaSalle head coach Tom Grippa tried to do every way he could. He used him on reverses and lined him up at quarterback just to get the ball in his hands. Something that really impressed me about Posey was how he works the middle of the field. He is utterly fearless. Time and time again he ran slants and posts knowing what awaited him and I never saw any hesitation. The best plays I saw from him were those where he ended up in the middle of the field then made great open field runs after the catch. Posey has an impressive frame. Just looking at him you would guess 200 lbs. That he is this good after his first year of football speaks volumes about his upside. 1,371 all-purpose yards, including 750 receiving yards, as a junior on 33 catches and scored 9 times. Those are good numbers when you consider that La Salle lost its starting quarterback for the year before the season ever started. Ohio State, Virginia, Michigan State, California, Indiana, Northwestern, Cincinnati, and Ohio have offered. With Tennessee, Nebraska and Minnesota likely to have come in with offers by the time you read this. He took a visit to Ohio State in the middle of March and committed to the Buckeyes soon after.
9. ***** Brandon Beachum 6-1 220 LB/RB Youngstown Cardinal Mooneyhttp://scoutingoh.com/BrandonBeachum_Junior_2006_Highlights.htm
All you need to see is the state division four championship game to understand what all the fuss is about with Beachum. You want impact players. Players that make things happen whenever they are on the field. That is Brandon Beachum. He plays both ways. He was the leading rusher in the game on offense and scored a touchdown. He had a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a sack and an interception. It seemed like every time there was a big play you saw number three involved. He had twelve offers at last count. Most of the offers are as a linebacker but some are as an athlete because he is that good a running back. He is a big back who shows good instincts and has excellent vision. What makes him a possible running back is he has a good burst and he has quick feet. That ia what usually kills the chances for a back this size to stay at running back. Size will say a lot about where he ends up in college. I think he is a bit better as a linebacker. He reads very well, runs well and strikes hard. He is a solid tackler, something that is missing from the game of so many young players that are this much better than the vast majority of people they are playing against. They do too much running onto and not enough wrapping up. I think he is getting excellent coaching under P.J. Fecko. When I watch Mooney the one thing that stands out is how well organized and sharp the team is. Beachum is already a full qualifier.
10. ***** Jamiihr Williams 6-2 1/2 230 LB Trotwood-Madisonhttp://scoutingoh.com/Jamiihr_Williams_Lima_2008.htm
Williams is just now starting to be a name that fans are familiar with. In Ohio the recruiting trail is what is know as the “3-C highway”, Cleveland to Columbus to Cincinnati. Williams was at Lima. That is off the beaten path. He has been a standout on the combine circuit. His tapes did not appear until after his sophomore year. He is just as impressive on the football field as he is in drills. As a sophomore he registered double digit sacks as a stand-up defensive end then moved to a true linebacker spot as a junior. He was on his way to a 150 tackle year when a high ankle sprain took about half his junior year away. He went to the national junior combine after the injury healed and picked up where he left off. He will be with Maurice Douglas outstanding Trotwood Madison program this fall. He is outstanding at the line of scrimmage but size might dictate that he stay at linebacker. He has all the tools to make the transition as his performance before the injury forced him to the sidelines. Williams has showed that he has the crucial ability to find the ball and the burst to do something about it once he finds it. He has the top end speed to get to the ball carrier anywhere on the field and the motor to stay in every play until the whistle blows. Ohio State, Michigan, Florida State, Michigan State, Iowa and West Virginia are all showing early interest. Williams went to two Michigan games last fall. Has Ohio State, Michigan and Florida State at the top of his list. He is already fully qualified. I think he is a strong side linebacker but he could easily grow into a middle linebacker.
11. ***** Shawntel Rowell 6-4 330 DT Cleveland Glenvillehttp://scoutingoh.com/Shauntel_Rowell_Glenville.htmThe word coming out of Texas at the national junior combine which is held the same weekend as the national all-star game is this is going to be a great year for offensive linemen nationally, and a good number of them were at the combine. Shawntel Rowell was there for the combine and was a nightmare for any lineman he came up against. What makes it more impressive is Rowell did not play much defense for Glenville this past year, if he played any. He had let his weight get out of hand, reportedly 370 at one point last summer. Ted Ginn is not going to have someone that big on his defense. The fact is that even when he was closer to 400 lbs than 300 he was still the most athletic big man out there every time he stepped on the football field. I think this all comes down to his weight. If he is in shape, which for me is 320 or less, he is a defensive tackle and a five star national player and he is top five in this instate class. With his weight up he is a three star player. For a couple of years he was at the top of this class. The only reason that changed was because of the weight. In shape this kid is a Big Daddy Wilkinson clone. He has a first step and a punch that leaves most linemen trying to figure out which way is up. Once a player the size of Rowell gets a blocker off balance it is over. His future is up to him. From the look of things he has taken his conditioning seriously. He has no offers right now but that will surely change as word gets around that the football version of “Shaq” is back.
12. ***** Zebrie Sanders 6-6 265 OL Clayton Northmonthttp://scoutingoh.com/zebrie_sanders_clayton_northmont.htm
Any other year Zebrie Sanders would be the first name out of anyones mouth who follows recruiting in Ohio when asked about the best offensive lineman in the state. Mike Adams has been soaking up all the talk. Sanders is at least an all-region lineman and should be a name on the national scene. With schools like USC and Florida showing some interest that national exposure could come to fruition. Sanders has the body you look for in a tackle. He is long and lean with the wingspan of a jumbo jet. The Clayton Northmont system is going to give any offensive lineman a leg-up going into college because the ball is in the air so much. He does a good job of pass blocking. He gets out of stance and into his pass pro quickly. He has great feet. He moves like a player eighty lbs lighter. He has a great body to add weight. He will be in the 310-320 range by the time he is finished growing. He needs to work on his intensity. Linemen, in particular offensive lineman, come along slower than skill position players. Sanders has a tremendous upside and is a high character kid. He is benching 300 lbs which is a bit of a surprise. These long arms kids have a tough time in the weightroom. That tells me he is working hard in there. The list of interested schools is a long one. In addition to USC and Florida, Miami of Florida, Notre Dame, Michigan, Wisconsin and Louisville have been in contact. He has been to Ohio State twice.
13. ***** Jake Stoneburner 6-5 215 TE/WR Dublin Coffman http://scoutingoh.com/Jake_Stoneburner_Dublin_Coffman.htm
The only problem with Jake Stoneburner is where to play him. He reminds me a lot of a player from the class of 2006, Lakewood St. Edward’s Kyle Hubbard. Both players are tremendously athletic kids for their size. They both have great hands and are strong leapers. They both catch the ball with their hands. The downside is also the same. Where do you project that at? Schools were all over the place with Hubbard. Some thought big wide receiver. Most thought tight end. Stoneburner made the decision easier because he ran a 4.53 forty at the national junior combine. I would imagine he will be brought in and given a look first as a wide receiver with no worry about whether he grows into a tight end. He has shown the ability to get down the field and make catches. What I really like about him is his ability to make something happen after the catch. He isn’t just looking to get as much yardage as he can until he gets tackled. He is looking to take it to the house. He is used to deadly effect on wide receiver screens because he is so elusive. At the same time he uses his size to great effect. He seems to understand that he is bigger than the defensive backs out there and has a yards after contact number that any back would be proud of. He breaks a lot of tackles. His ball skills are superb. He attacks the ball at its highest point and uses his excellent hands to make catches. He has offers already from Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Iowa, Clemson, West Virginia, Maryland and Nebraska. In mid-March Stoneburner gave his commitment to the Buckeyes.
14. ***** Justin Staples 6-3 220 LB Lakewood St. Edwardhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/justin_staples_St_eds.htm
I had more people telling me about Justin Staples than any player on the loaded Lakewood St. Edward roster. Once I got film it did not take long to notice him. He lived up to all the hype I had thrown at me. There is no fudging on the size. He is legitimately 6-3, and I would add at least to that number. If I were building a high school linebacker prospect he would look like Justin Staples. He is long and lean with a great to fill out some more. He could end up being big enough to be a middle linebacker and maybe even move back to defensive end. He moved to linebacker from defensive end where he played as a sophomore. Right now I see a very athletic outside linebacker who brings plenty of speed to the game. He needs to work on his reads but that is not a concern. He was playing linebacker for the first time as a junior. He is raw but the physical tools are something to get excited about. I saw him early in the year and then again late in the year. There is no question he became a better player. He is strong enough to play at the line of scrimmage but athletic enough to be used in coverage, not just against tight ends and backs but the coaching staff has enough confidence to let him play against wide receivers. Considering the level of competition St. Edward played against that is a real testament to what kind of talent Staples is. He says Ohio State and Michigan are his top two schools. He has been to Ohio State for the Minnesota game. He also lists Florida State, Notre Dame, Virginia and Georgia Tech.
15. **** Nic DiLillo 6-5 220 TE Mansfield Madisonhttp://scoutingoh.com/Nic_DiLillo_Madison.htmI recently watched Nic Dilillo’s junior tape. I was impressed with him as a receiver. He catches anything he can reach. He has a long lean body, perfect for packing on the right kind of weight. He is bigger than last year. Not just heavier but he looks taller. I see him blossoming as an athlete. He is the one of the four tight ends we are talking about that is most football ready to play. He is right at home working the middle of the field like a classic tight end. He runs the routes that you need a tight end to run. The short underneath stuff, the button hooks and such that are the meat and potatoes of the tight end position. He plays physical. He seems to relish that part of the game. He knows what to do with it after the catch. He gets north and south quickly. We started talking about alot of juniors early. There are a number of names out there but the ones that are not getting the attention they deserve are Nathan Williams, Justin Staples and Nic Dilillo. The coaching staffs have noticed him. Dilillo has been a guest of Ohio State, Michigan and Pitt. If he runs great at combines this summer his stock will soar. That is something he is aware of and working hard on. Dilillo will have no problem qualifying.
16. **** Isaiah Pead 5-11 175 Ath Eastmoor Academyhttp://scoutingoh.com/Isiah_Pead_Eastmoor_Academy.htm
If they kept a statistic for most defensive players ankles broken by an offensive player Isaiah Pead would certain be a threat to break the season and career records. The very first play on his film his makes nine defensive players miss. Yes, I said nine. He is a human highlight film. More importantly he is a human highlight film with pretty good size. I am not one to get excited about small backs. I maintain weight is not really a good indicator of size. Pead has a good frame. He can add weight. Even if he doesn’t, he shows the hands and athleticism to move out to wide receiver. He plays safety on defense. I think with work he has the feet and hips to play corner. In the end if I were making the decision I would leave him at running back. He is so elusive. He reminds me of former Chaminade-Julienne and current Michigan State star Javon Ringer in the fact that is tight spaces he still manages to create space to avoid tacklers and like Ringer once cornered that does not mean the play is over. He spins and uses a stiff arm to avoid being tackled. He breaks a lot of tackles. In ten regular season games Pead ran for 1696 yards and 19 touchdowns, on 158 carries which is a 10.7 per carry average. He was division four Co-Player of the Year. He has a 4.4 forty and made the state finals in the 200 meters and 400 meters as a both a freshman and a sophomore. Pead offers a strong argument for being the top skill player in the class.
17. **** Johnny Adams 5-11 170 CB/WR Akron Buchtelhttp://scoutingoh.com/JohnAdams2008.htm
The first time I spoke to long time Buchtel coach Claude Browne about Johnny Adams he spoke the magic words, “the next Ted Ginn.” That is always going to get any talent evaluators attention. I could not wait to get the tape. Is Adams the nest Ted Ginn? He at least belongs in the discussion. In the open field he is something to see. A fan asked me once about recruiting just for special teams. I said that doesn’t happen but when you see a kick returner of the caliber of Johnny Adams you rethink that. He put up some amazing numbers. He could make a highlight reel just of kick returns, both kick-offs and punts. Coach Brown sees him as a college cornerback but that takes me back to the Ted Ginn reference. I lost count of the number of key strokes I made back when Ted Ginn was being recruited on the Bucknuts.com site about Ginn playing wide receiver. If a cornerback touches the ball twenty times in a season he is likely going to be an All-American. As a wide receiver Ginn could touch the ball that many times in two games. I say the same thing about Adams. You have to want him to touch the ball as much as possible. I don’t know if Adams has Ginns pure speed but there is no doubt he is right there with him in elusiveness. The kid is a big play machine. He only had 11 receptions last year on offense but turned those catches into four touchdowns. He had six interceptions taking two back for touchdowns. He had three return touchdowns to his resume, two on punts and one kickoff return. An offer from Ohio State ends his recruitment.
18. **** Kevin Koger 6-4 235 Ath Toledo Whitmer http://www.scoutingohio.com/kevin_koger_toledo_whitmer.htm In the state of Ohio the recruiting trail has long been established. It is the what long time residents call the “3 C highway” which runs from Cleveland through Columbus and down to Cincinnati with stops in between at places along the road like Canton and Akron in the north and Dayton in the south. The northwest of the state has always been highly regarded as a basketball region. The way things are going these days I am going to have to cultivate more contacts in the area. Dane Sanzenbacher earned an offer from Ohio State last year and this big kid is the next in line to receive offers from two of the Big Four as Michigan came in with an offer right before Ohio State. I first glimpsed Koger in a film from Massillon. He is a very athletic big kid. He moves well and is a tenacious blocker. He needs work on his technique but he has the tools to be a fine blocker. Whether that is at tight end or on the offensive line remains to be seen. That he could end up on the defensive line is not out of the realm of possibilities. Whitmer coach Joe Palka is seeing him every day in practice and thinks tight end. There is never such a thing as too many big athletes. Koger competes in the long jump, where he has a 22 foot jump to his credit, and runs the sprint relays, the 200 and the 400. Coach Palka thinks he is can carry 265 easy. I think he can get even bigger and in the end he will be an offensive lineman. I love his frame, his feet and his tenacity. Ohio State and Michigan were the schools he wanted offers from so it is likely he will choose from one of those schools. Kogers father is originally from Detroit.
19. **** Taylor Hill 6-2 215 DE/LB Youngstown Cardinal Mooneyhttp://scoutingoh.com/TaylorHill_2006_video.htmFor the last couple of years there has been an endless supply of names coming out of Cardinal Mooney. It is not different this year. The upside is players get to be part of something special, a state championship. The downside is it is crowded in the spotlight. Sometimes players get pushed out. Taylor Hill is a prime example. This is a big time football player. He makes plays all over the field. He runs great and has the motor that is so important to defensive players. He is explosive. I have seen him punch linemen in front of him and send them reeling. Everyone of them had a good deal of weight on Hill. He makes running down plays from behind seem routine. That is how often he does that. He has long arms. Where those long arms are going to suit him best remains to be seen. He is a defensive end in high school. He has a good frame but I think he would be best as a 3-4 outside linebacker/defensive end or at linebacker in a 4-3. He has the instincts, the speed and the motor to make the transition. He plays smart football. One of the best plays I saw out of him was staying on the quarterback until he forced a pitch then having the speed to get over to the back and make a tackle for loss. In the end one thing stands out about Taylor the most, his uncanny ability to avoid blockers. I don’t recall a play where he did not have a blocker in front of him. He run through or around every single one of them. Many of my associates went to see one or another of the Mooney stable but came away talking about Taylor Hill. If he were just a little bigger, where he would surely be a defensive end, I would have him in the top ten.
20. **** Michael Zordich 6-1 210 LB Youngstown Cardinal Mooneyhttp://scoutingoh.com/MichaelZordich_2006videos_part1.htmI was watching a Cardinal Mooney tape of star safety Dan McCarthy. He was making a great run around the left side. A defender was trying to angle him to the sidelines. All of a sudden he got bent in half by a block. Before I could find the remote and rewind to see who made the block there came another. When I got the remote and reviewed both plays I saw it was the same blocker. Michael Zordich is a tremendous blocker. He plays fullback in addition to linebacker. He is a throwback to the days when fullbacks were more than another offensive lineman in the backfield. He runs the belly plays and can catch the ball out of the backfield. He knows what to do with it after he catches it. Brian Leonard is getting a lot of press this year coming out of Rutgers and could end up in the first day of the NFL draft. Michael Zordich could be the same kind of player. He can block and he can hurt a defense when he has the ball in his hands. I will never understand why the fullback position has morphed into the waste that it is these days. That is why Zordich will be a linebacker. He is too talented to be wasted like that. He is a good middle linebacker with top notch instincts, and he runs well enough to take advantage of those good instincts. Penn State, Notre Dame and Ohio State are all showing interest. His father played at Penn State and later in the NFL.
21. **** Dominique Britt 6-5 190 QB Trotwood-Madison http://scoutingoh.com/DomonickBrittTrotwood_2008.htmLast year at this time I was looking at film of Dominique Britt and thinking what a great athlete. Now I am looking at him and saying what a quarterback he is becoming. There was never any question in my mind that Britt would be a division one football player. The first time I saw him I thought he would come in as an athlete, maybe get a shot at playing quarterback but eventually take all that athletic ability to wide receiver. He has come along so much that I think he is odds on to be a quarterback in college. He credits the improvement in his quarterback skills to offensive coordinator Jeremy Beckham who doubled as the quarterback coach. Britt passed for 2889 yards and 21 touchdowns on 165 completions in 303 attempts. He added 1039 rushing yards on only 139 carries. He was invited up to practice at Ohio State with teammate Brandon Moore and really enjoyed himself. He has really good arm strength. On one play of his film he is running to his left and lays a ball out 50 yards throwing against his body. He has an odd motion but that is a work in progress. He is coming along. He could still end up moving to wide receiver but I am calling him a quarterback. He is a pass first play maker that could develop into one of the countries most sought after quarterbacks. If he makes another step up in his quarterback skills from his junior year to his senior year like he did from his sophomore year to his junior year, he will have his pick of schools. He will surely hit Kent State and Ohio State for camps. Others will be added based on interest.
22. **** Elliott Mealer 6-6 280 OL Waseonhttp://scoutingoh.com/elliot_mealer_wauseon.htmThis is a really outstanding year for offensive linemen in Ohio. In any other year this high school tight end would be the number one offensive lineman in Ohio. He has tight end hands but has an offensive linemans body. On one play down near the goal line he does a quick out. The ball is thrown away from him but he manages to stretch out and make the catch, keep his feet and get into the end zone. It was a great play but I don’t think anyone sees him doing any more of that beyond the high school level. Mealer is a great blocker. Wauseon head coach Mark Emans uses him a lot as a lead blocker. He runs behind him and he pulls him like a guard from the backside of the formation. Whether it is pulling or inline blocking he is devastating. Pancakes are the order of the day. He has outstanding feet and is lean for a 280 lb player. He will likely be over 300 lbs by the time he leaves high school. He has as good a frame as Mike Adams and Zebrie Sanders. Mealer is likely to need to work on his pass blocking. Wauseon did not throw the ball much and he was not kept in to block when they did. I see a tackle. He has the wingspan you want in a tackle and great feet. He plays end on defense and is a three year starter on the basketball team. He will camp at Ohio State and Michigan. Most of the Big Ten is paying attention as is Boston College and Notre Dame. I think he leaves the camp season as one of the hottest prospects in Ohio.
23. **** Will Fleming 6-4 205 Ath Akron Hobanhttp://scoutingoh.com/Will_Fleming_Hoban2007.htm
Talk about an introduction. On Flemings tape the very first play is a pass. The quarterback throws the ball with enough air under it to get it over the defender, who is actually in good position. The receiver leaps to make a great catch. He is coming down with the ball and there is a flash of gold. Suddenly the receiver is horizontal in the air. The tape goes on to show play after play of Will Fleming coming up from his safety position and making hit after hit. He is like a heat seeking missle. He is a good enough receiver to be a scholarship level player at that position but where he really stand out is on defense. He shows his 4.6 speed on the tape running down a ball carrier that has broken through the line of scrimmage. The angle is negligible. He just runs him down. With his body I think he is likely to move at least to linebacker, and like Cordale Stewart, he could add enough weigh to that long lean body to eventually find himself at defensive end. He has the speed and ball skills to stay at safety but I just don’t think his body is going to allow that. The way he plays the game I think he would be happier closer to the line of scrimmage where there is more hitting. Fleming really brings it. This kid is not going to stay the best kept secret in Ohio for long.
24. **** Salvador Battles 5-11 205 Ath Youngstown Rayenhttp://scoutingoh.com/SalvadoreBattles_Junior_2006.htmThe first time I saw Salvador Battles it only took me a few plays to see that he was a great athlete playing quarterback because he had a strong arm and it allowed the Rayen staff to maximize the talent on the field with underrated running back Gary Thornton manning that position. Battles always had a big arm, arguably the strongest in the class but he was not an accurate passer and seemed to want to run first. Battles has matured as a passer to the extent that I think he gets tried first as a quarterback. He is staying in there and showing patience waiting on receivers to come open. He is showing touch on his passes and he is showing a comfort level with the position. He is still a work in progress but one that with some patience could earn long term benefits. Everyone is looking for quarterbacks who can make plays with their feet. There is no question Battles can do that. If he is not a fit at quarterback he is certainly a fit at running back. He has a great body for a back, powerfully built but not so much that he has lost his speed and agility. He is explosive to the hole and runs with the power of a much bigger back. He has vision and good speed. He is a back that can take it outside as well as he takes it between the tackles. There is an argument he is the top back in the class.
25(tie). **** Kenny Stafford 6-3 175 WR Columbus DeSaleshttp://scoutingoh.com/Kenneth_Stafford_St_Francis_Desales.htmI have had ties before but never a three way tie. I just cannot decide between these three outstanding receivers. Each brings something different enough that it comes down to picking what you like. Bussey is big, strong and very athletic. Roundtree, though they all have hands, has the best hands and is so difficult to corral after the catch. Stafford is big and the fastest of the lot. You were not going to see the ball in the air a lot under former DeSales head coach Bob Jacoby. What weapons he had a receiver with Stafford and tight end Justin Thompson. Thompson is likely the fastest tight end in an outstanding class. Stafford is likely the fastest receiver in this impressive class of receivers. On one play he is downfield throwing a block for one of the DeSales backs that has legitimate 4.4 speed. Stafford actually pulls ahead of him at one point. He shows hands, making catches on badly thrown balls and diving to make other catches. Bussey is a fine blocker. Stafford is even better. Long runs are the result of receivers blocking. No team had more long runs than DeSales. I am always happy to see receivers who bother to block but what stands out about Stafford is when he catches a ball in stride and explodes by every player on the field. I don’t have a forty time on him but his football speed is something special. Stafford has some outstanding genetics. He is the nephew of former Buckeye great Chris Carter.
25 (tie). **** Bakari Bussey 6-3 190 WR Lakota Westhttp://scoutingoh.com/bakari_bussey_Lakota_west.htmEveryone is looking for big receivers. Here is a prototype. Bussey is big and he plays the big receivers game. He knows he is the biggest guy on the field away from the line of scrimmage. He is physical with defensive backs. Get him one on one and throw the ball up. He has the leaping ability to go up and make a play, the hands and the strength to take the ball from any defender and the balance to keep his feet and make a play after the catch. He works the middle of the field like a big receiver needs to. Lakota West head coach Larry Cox has found an effective way to use him running quick outs. He knows Bussey is going to make the catch then he makes cornerbacks try to tackle him. It is a chore. On the first play on his video he catches an out, stiff arms the corner and takes it to the house. On another he drops his shoulder on the corner, who was laying off him to keep Bussey from running by him, and gains an extra five yards. I did not see a play where he was stopped in his tracks. Coach Cox says he has the biggest hands he has ever seen. Bodywise Bussey reminds me of former Buckeye David Boston and current Buckeye Brian Robiskie. Bengal fans will remember his father Dexter Bussey.Bussey caught 21 balls for 358 yards and 4 touchdowns, averaging 17 yards a catch. He has been hearing from schools as far away as Oklahoma State. If he runs well this summer he will have his pick of schools.
25 (tie). **** Roy Roundtree 6-2 170 WR Trotwood-Madisonhttp://scoutingoh.com/roy_roundtree_trotwood_madison.htmRoundtree is a long lean receiver with all the attributes to be a Big Ten player. He shows outstanding hands. He uses his hands to catch the ball not his body. He shows excellent concentration. I noticed how many balls he caught with hands in his face. He adjusts to the ball extremely well. He does a great job of checking his stride so he can run through catches for more yardage. Trotwood head coach Maurice Douglas calls him “TG3”, meaning he is the next Ted Ginn but who Roundtree reminds me of is Cincinnati Bengal receiver Chad Johnson is body and in style. He has that long lean body with wide shoulders and a thin lower body. He plays more of a big receivers game. He can go over the top of defenders. Ginn uses speed to create separation. Like Johnson, Roundtree is more of a north-south runner after the catch. He is not looking to make any sideline to sideline runs like Ginn where he gives up 10 yards before gaining 50. Roundtree is just a brutally effective receiver who is a threat to take it to the house on every touch. Get the ball and get upfield as quickly as possible. He is surprisingly strong. He breaks tackles and uses a stiff arm. In general he is not as easy to get off his feet as you would think a receiver his size would be. He is mostly a split end but he lines up in the slot and shows no hesitation about running over the middle. This will be his second year under Trotwood offensive coordinator Jeremy Beckham, one of the best offensive minds in the state. It should be interesting to watch him take it to another level. If he runs well at camps and combines this spring and over the summer Roy Roundtree will have an argument to be the number one receiver in the class.
28. *** Justin Thompson 6-2 1/2 225 TE Columbus DeSaleshttp://scoutingoh.com/Justin_Thompson_St_Francis_Desales.htmIf this kid was 6-5 we would be talking about who was the best tight end in Ohio, Kyle Rudolph or Justin Thompson. I know that is a big statement but all you need to do is see the tape. He is explosive off the line of scrimmage. He shows great hand-eye coordination, catching balls thrown all over the place. He digs them out of the ground and he reaches behind to make catches. DeSales was a run first team under former coach Bob Jacoby so a good arm was not high on the list of attributes for a DeSales quarterback. Once he gets the ball, that is when the fun starts. Thompson is like a good open field wide receiver after the catch. He is cutting and looking for blocks, not just running until he gets tackled like most tight ends. He is elusive enough and fast enough that DeSales used him on tight end around plays. They split him out as a wide receiver at times. Where he did so much damage was little quick passes over the line of scrimmage. On several he split the safeties and outran them for scores. He is a load to bring down. Over 500 yards receiving on only 21 catches and turned those 21 catches in 9 touchdowns. He has a 4.6 forty and I have no doubts about that number. He was running away from much smaller players regularly on his highlight tape. 3.2 gpa.
29. **** Joe Pachuta 6-7 285 OL New Concorde John Glennhttp://scoutingoh.com/Joe_Pachulta_John_Glenn.htmOhio is just chock full of outstanding athletes in the small school ranks. Joe Pachuta is one of the best. He is all of his listed 6-7 and carries his 285 very well. He is built a lot like current Ohio State left tackle Alex Boone was as a high school player. He moves very well. John Glenn head coach John Kelley has him getting into the second level to make blocks and he handles it well. Overall he is very raw but you just don’t see players this size that are this athletic. He needs to be as big as he is to carry that nasty streak. He has the attitude of a defensive lineman. On one play he is riding his man so far they end up out of bounds where someone on the opposing sidelines grabs Pachuta to make sure he does not finish the block out of bounds. I love that kind of nasty and tenacity. He finishes every block and does a great job in pass protection with his outstanding reach and the fact that he just will not quit. Once he learns technique he is going to be a hard man to beat. He plays tackle and guard for coach Kelley but mostly at tackle. I think he could be a left tackle but that nasty he brings to the table would better serve him at right tackle. I think he could be a camp star.
30. *** Zac Dysert 6-4 190 QB Adahttp://scoutingoh.com/zac_dysert_ada.htmAda is not the acronym for something. It is a place here in Ohio. Recruiters will need to find it. Every year there are players that I see in the top 100 that I peg as players that could move the most by signing day of their senior year. Zac Dysert tops that list this year. About the only question I can see with Dysert is the level of competition. He has all the tools. He is 6-4 which seems to be the minimum requirement for most of the big schools, and he may be closer to 6-5. He has a really good arm. I saw him make every throw that you would want. He can throw the long ball and he can throw the deep out with velocity. I was very impressed with his coolness under fire. We talk about a quarterback being a field general. This kid looks the part. There is a Peyton Manning quality about him. He is mechanically very sound. He sets his feet and delivers the ball over the top. His numbers were spectacular. He hit 293 of his 448 passes for a 65% completion percentage. 3835 yards and 31 touchdown passes. He had 8 rushing touchdowns. He is a good enough athlete that he also plays defense. One thing he is going to have to work on is avoiding collisions. No coach is going to happy about his quarterback taking on tacklers like Dysert does when he runs. If he gets to camps and combines I think Zac Dyserts will be one of the most talked about recruits in Ohio next summer.
31. *** Darius Reeves 5-11 185 CB Gahanna Lincolnhttp://scoutingoh.com/darius_reeves_gahanna.htmOne of the most gifted athletes in the class of 2008. Reeves is a tremendously skilled runner. I would say Isaiah Pead is the only runner in this class with skills to match Reeves. Both have the same problem. Are they going to be big enough to be backs at the next level. Reeves can stop and cut on a dime then get back to top speed before anyone knows which direction he went. On some runs Reeves looks like he is running obstacle courses which is a credit to his vision and elusiveness. He has explosive speed. That is one thing that will make him a good corner. That recovery speed is crucial to a cornerback. Reeves does play corner in high school and is quite a good one. Those same quick feet that allow him to change direction at speed are going to serve him well as a cornerback. Something that really stands out about Reeves as a corner is his tenacity. He stays with it, digging and scratching when others would have given up. He is a good leaper and with solid size, listed at 6-1 but looking more like 5-11, he can match-up with the big receivers we are seeing in todays game. Another big plus for him is he is a willing and solid tackler. Reeves has excellent genes as his father was a safety for Michigan under Bo Schembechler. As good as he is as a cornerback if he were a little bigger I am sure the schools recruiting him, Michigan, Michigan State, West Virginia, LSU, Boston College and all the MAC schools would be looking at him as a running back. He had 1700 yards and 16 touchdowns. Like with Pead I would look at him as a receiver. Reeves is such a tremendously gifted athlete with the ball in his hands I would want to have him on offense.
32. *** D.J. Woods 6-0 175 WR Strongsvillehttp://scoutingoh.com/dj_woods_strongsville.htmI first heard about Woods last year from coach Jacques. He was not ready to put that kind of pressure on a kid as young as Woods who was starting into his junior year at the time. He mentioned that he had a receiver that he thought was going to be special. He just wanted to let him grow into the role. Last summer Woods took that step with a breakout performance at the Cleveland combine. There were any number of top receivers at that combine but Woods was the one everyone came away talking about. He impressed everyone present with his combination of speed, hands and route running. You don’t see that very often. You will see a receiver with two of those attributes sometimes but you don’t often find a player with all three. He is an explosive leaper. He is right around 6-0 and well put together. I have quite a bit of film of him. I have yet to see him shy away from contact. He is an excellent kick returner, both punts and kickoffs. On the season he averaged 28.6 on his punt returns and took three back for scores, and two kickoffs. He had 35 catches on the year for an amazing 25.4 yards per catch and turned those 35 catches into 8 touchdowns. He had a fine season on defense tacking up 48 tackles playing cornerback. He has recently returned from a combine in Florida where he ran a set of three forties. He got off to a bad start with a 4.43. Well, it was a bad start when you consider he followed up with a 4.35, then finished the set off with a 4.37. He has been a guest of Notre Dame and has been to Michigan.
33. *** Michael Shaw 5-11 185 ATH Trotwood Madisonhttp://scoutingoh.com/michael_shaw_trotwood_madison.htmAnother player that rose to the occasion in the state championship game. Shaw almost lead Kettering Alter to an upset win over the mighty Big Red of Steubenville, a team that is on an undefeated run for the ages. He took a swing pass and outran the entire defense. He had another run on a pitch out that left him looking like he was hemmed in but he weaved his way into the endzone, breaking a couple of tackles along the way. He was an impact player then entire game. This is a kid with an entirely different level of speed. He can run with Brandon Saine. His 10.6 100 meters was recorded in a track meet. He will be the fastest football player in Ohio next year. He is a running back in a wishbone/flexbone offense in high school but I think he moves out into space at the college level. He has some skills as a running back and is well put together despite not having ideal running back size, but his success has more to do with him being the best athlete on the field than it does with having top drawer runner skills. I think he would be better off outside or at corner to take better advantage of that extra gear he has. He does not play defense but he does not shy away from contact. I think he has the feet and hips to make the transition. Shaw has made the decision to transfer to Trotwood Madison. I am sure no matter where he lines up offensive coordinator Jeremy Beckham will find a way to get him the ball. He is a game changer.
34. *** Justin Brown 6-4 230 DE Youngstown Ursulinehttp://scoutingoh.com/JustinBrownUrsuline2008.htmEarly on Brown was looking like he was going to be one of the better defensive ends in Ohio. He is still playing as a defensive end but he has a game better suited to play defensive tackle. I think he has the frame to add the weight to be a defensive tackle and seems more at home in the trenches than he does as an edge rusher. When I first saw his junior year tape it was apparent he was at his best at the point of attack. He is an excellent and tenacious blocker as a tight end. I don’t think he gets recruited as a tight end. His receiving skills are not what schools are looking for but I could see him recruited as an offensive lineman. He moves really well. He is as adept at moving people as an offensive player as he is at not being moved as a defensive player. He will fill out to 280 or so by the time he is ready to step on the football field. We are seeing more defensive coordinators using the 3-4 and other schemes that ask for three down linemen. That may be where Brown fits in best.
35. *** Jordan Bright 6-6 225 DE Cincinnati Wyominghttp://scoutingoh.com/jordan_bright_wyoming.htmNobody is higher on my list of players to keep an eye on than Jordan Bright. The first word that comes to my mind when I think about Bright is rangy. He looks taller than his listed 6-6 and has the wingspan of a small airplane and can he ever run. I don’t have a forty time but his game speed is excellent. He uses those long arms well, getting his hands up and knocking down passes regularly. I think we are not hearing so much about him because everyone will want to get him in camp and see how he is going to handle a move down. He plays a stand up defensive end in a 5-man front. I don't know how he is going to make the transition to playing with his hand in the dirt. His frame says he is going to add some weight. Uses his hands very well to keep blockers off his body. He bears an uncanny resemblance to future Hall of Famer Jason Taylor in build and in his game. If he has a good summer this is my pick for the fastest rising prospect in Ohio for next year.
36. *** Evan Klepac 6-4 245 DE Youngstown Boardmanhttp://scoutingoh.com/Evan_Klepec_Boardman.htmNot only one of the most impressive defensive ends I have seen this year. Klepac is one of the most impressive players I have seen in this class. Klepac is big. I try to get fans to understand that weight is not a good indicator of size. This kid has a big frame and long arms. I do not have any weightroom totals on him but there are several plays where he blows up blockers and pulls down runners with one hand. He plays the weakside in high school but I see a strong side defensive end in Klepac. He is an excellent pass rusher but he excels versus the run too. You want a defensive end this size and one that is this strong to be lined up on the strong side where most teams run. He is so strong at thepoint of attack and has such a great body I could see someone taking Evan Klepac and moving him to defensive tackle. He missed half the season with an undisclosed injury. That is the only reason I can see why he is just now appearing on my radar screen. If he goes to camp and shows he has put the injury behind him this could be one of the fastest rising prospects in the state come this summer.
37. *** Bruce Parker 6-3 230 DE/OLB Sanduskyhttp://scoutingoh.com/Bruce_Parker_Sandusky.htmThe best edge player in the class of 2008. There are other players in the class that are going to have better measurables but none of them play the position better. When I say edge player I mean as a pass rusher and as a run defender. So many players at this age are headed to the quarterback on every play. Bruce Parker takes care of his run responsibilities too. He is going to check down and not let runners get wide of him. He is a savvy player. He rushes inside as well as outside and uses a rip move, something so few high school players capable of. He is a thinking mans football player. Parker has the motor that I want to see in a defensive player. He chases plays all over the field and plays to the whistle. He is so quick off the snap that he beats many tackles before they get into their pass pro. He has outstanding closing speed. That leads me to believe that he could get a look as a linebacker. In my opinion his best position would be as a stand-up defensive end in a 4-3. He is an ideal fit for that position. 13 sacks and 65 tackles on the year.
38. *** Phillip Barnett 6-2 180 WR Middletownhttp://scoutingoh.com/phillip_barnett_middletown.htmI regularly mention that I think a player is going to be someone to watch. If I was to make a separate list for them the name at the top of this year’s list would be Phillip Barnett. This is the D-Flawless diamond in the rough is Phillip Barnett. He has been a basketball player all through his high school career. He came out for football for the first time as junior. Middletown coach Ron Johnson is one of the most dedicated coaches in Ohio getting information out on his players. He did not have him in his information package last year. That is how little was known about Barnett as a football player. He is so raw that even being such a tremendous athlete, he is getting attention from the mid-majors on the hardwood as a point guard, he did not make it into the starting lineup until the seventh game of the season. Did he ever make an impression. His athleticism and his hands were put on display on the first play that I saw from Barnett. He makes a leaping twisting catch of a pass thrown a little too high. The next play I see Middletowns underrated senior quarterback from last year, Skyler Jones, gun one right at Barnetts face. There was a bit too much on the ball and Barnett had little time to react but he made the catch look easy. He has a reported 4.56 forty. I think once he decides to concentrate on football he will get that down. It is a good time but I think he has a great time in him. I have seen it many times when a basketball player gives up the sport to concentrate on football. He has not decided what he is going to do yet. He has been to Ohio State for the Indiana game. Tremendous upside for this kid.
39. *** Jake Current 6-3 270 OL Troyhttp://scoutingoh.com/jake_current_troy.htmIt is easy for an offensive lineman to get overlooked in this class. That is the only reason Jake Current is not a name that is being passed around a lot. This is a two time winner of the best lineman award at the Ohio State camp. Keep in mind that this is a junior we are talking about so one of the awards he earned as a sophomore. When you add in the number of players that attend those camps it makes it all the more impressive. He is a high school tackle that projects as a guard in college. I think he has the potential to be one of the better offensive linemen in the Midwest. He just needs a little more publicity. He is equally adept at going straight ahead and at pulling. This kid can really run. He is technically sounder than any lineman in Ohio. He stays low and fires out when going straight ahead and gets good leverage on his blocks. Where he stands out is any play where he is pulling. He has the ability to get out in front of a back like no lineman in Ohio. He is not asked to pass block a lot but handles it well Troy throws the ball. He has such great feet and athleticism. He has been to Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa and Duke. If there is a Big Ten school that is not recruiting him I am not aware of it. Boston College and Georgia Tech are both showing early interest. He will camp at Ohio State again and at Michigan.
40. *** Tito Toles 6-0 180 SS/RB Youngstown Rayenhttp://scoutingoh.com/TitoToles_2005.htmA well done tape gets your attention right off the bat. The first few plays should have me wanting to watch the entire thing. I can’t remember a tape from anyone this year where the first play caught my attention more. Toles is lined up on the weak side of the formation right at the line of scrimmage like a defensive end. At the snap he is off like a shot and blows up the back that comes to pick him up, then grabs the quarterback with one hand and reaches around to strip him with the other. The next play he is reads the quarterbacks eyes and steps in front of a pass for an interception. On offense he has a go ‘til you hit something reckless running style, but I don’t see him as an offensive player. He has a defensive players mindset. I don’t have a forty time on Toles but his football speed is excellent. This is one of the best tacklers in Ohio and a hard hitter. The word that comes to mind when I watch Tito Toles play football is dynamic. An expression we see used a lot these days is, he brings it. Tito Toles is the epitome of that expression.
41. *** Steve Yoak 6-2 210 LB Akron Hobanhttp://scoutingoh.com/Steven_Yoak_Hoban2007.htmThis is a name that is not yet familiar to Ohio high school football recruiting fans but he will be. Yoak was coming off a fine camp season last summer where he ran a 4.47 at Akron and impressed someone whose opinion I have a lot of respect for at the Ohio State camp. He ran under 4.6 at another camp. Everything was set for him to have a breakout season. Yoak was off to a good start but had the misfortune of breaking his leg in the second game of the year. He had a great first game with 173 total yards, 126 rushing and 46 receiving. He is playing running back in high school but projects as a linebacker at the next level. He has a body to add thirty more lbs with no impact on his speed and athleticism. He has received game tickets to go to see eight different schools and was able to attend five games. Steve is hearing from Akron, Boston College, Cincinnati, Colorado, Duke, Florida State, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern and Notre Dame. He has a shuttle of 4.3. He had 1688 yards on 332 carries scored 21 touchdowns as a sophomore. He looks to have the injury behind him. I think he could be one of the camp stars and will only need to show in a couple of games next year that he really has completely healed, then the offers will start coming in and he will move up this list.
42. *** Jerel Worthy 6-3 285 DT Huber Heights Waynehttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Jerel_Worthy_Huber_Heights_Wayne.htmOne of those players I saw late in the process who shook up my list. He is a real force in the middle of the line. He does a good job of playing with his pads low but he is so well balanced. Moving Worthy is a real chore. He takes on blockers very well and gets off of them consistently. He has the build of a nose tackle but has the game of a three-technique tackle. He is tough at the point of attack and could play the nose but I think he is at his best attacking. He comes off the ball like a shot and shows good speed once through the line of scrimmage. On one sack he was on the quarterback so fast, even though the passer had made it into his drop, that he could nothing but make sure he did not fumble the ball. He impressed me later with his football smarts diagnosing a screen pass early enough to make the tackle in the backfield. Most high school lineman are not going to recognize that play until the ball is gone. Serious motor on Jerel Worthy. If he were a little bigger he would be another twenty spots higher on this list. Great player.
43. *** Walt Stewart 6-5 210 DE Teays Valleyhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/walt_stewart_teays_valley.htmI remember seeing the first couple of plays Walt Stewart made on the tape I received from Teays Valley coach Steve Evans. Stewart flashed through the screen form out of nowhere. I wanted to know where he came from. As I was hitting the rewind button it occurred to me that coach Evans has him playing safety for him. Yes, this kid is that athletic that at 6-5 and in the 205-210 range he can play safety. He was a camp star last year at Ohio State. He plays safety now but will be at least a linebacker but I think he grows into a defensive end. He has the body to end up in the 255 range once he is eating like an athlete should and lifting in a college program. Both his sacks on the year are on the tape. The lineman in front of him did not have a chance. Neither did the quarterback. He has a 4.7 forty and with that body he will carry that speed as he moves down. I spoke to both coach Evans and his former coach at Franklin Heights Eric Gillespie. Both spoke of Stewart in glowing terms as far as work ethic and attitude are concerned. The current coach you can expect that from but the former coach saying the same thing resonates with me. This is not an immediate impact player. He will need time to add strength and size and find his way to his college position. 4.47 shuttle time. 81 tackles on the year. One of the players that has the biggest upside in the class of 2008.
44. *** T.J. White 6-3 240 ATH Troyhttp://scoutingoh.com/tj_white_troy.htmWhite is one of the better football players in Ohio. He is as good a blocker as a tight end as you will ever see. He has great feet and uses leverage well. He moves great. If he were a little bigger he would be right up there with the other tight ends in this class for the ages but as his size I have to rate him as an offensive player as a lineman, despite the fact that he shows good hands when the ball is thrown his way. Where I think he is at his best is as a defensive tackle. He is going to get a good deal bigger. I suspect he will be able to carry 280 or so with little impact on his impressive athleticism and his 4.82 forty time. He shows the ability to get off blocks and to find the ball. He shows the motor that is such a key to top defensive players. He chases plays down the line but is also strong enough to make plays that come right at him. I am sure he will see offers as a tight end but I think he will see a more impressive collection of offers as a defensive tackle. With his blocking ability I am sure someone will come offering as an offensive lineman.
45. *** Tim Kamczyc 6-5 190 QB Strongsvillehttp://scoutingoh.com/tim_kamcznyc_strongsville.htmAs is often the case where you see a good receiver you see a good quarterback, and vice versa. I was watching outstanding receiver D.J. Woods when one play caught my eye. It was a ball that was in the air for 65 yards. I went back to my notes and sure enough coach Jacques had mentioned his quarterback to me. He can make all the throws. He can get it downfield, there were several other throws of fifty yards or better, and he can throw the deep out with velocity. He throws really well on the run, going both left and right. One throw that kept me rewinding the tape was a skinny post. It was a forty yard frozen rope thrown so accurately that the defensive back was forced to interfere to keep from giving up a touchdown. He is nifty in the pocket and shows really good pocket presence. One thing I absolutely loved about him is he looks like your classic pocket passer but he is a threat to run. He is agile in avoiding the rush and once it breaks down he can hurt a defense with his feet. The great thing about it is he makes good decisions on when to run and when to hang in there and take a shot to deliver the ball. Kamczyc is going to be better prepared coming out of coach Jacques diversified attack. One play he is operating out of the I-formation. The next he is a five wide. Level of competition is not a question. Iowa has hit Ohio hard in recent years, snatching up quarterbacks. They are showing a lot of interest in this underrated signal caller.
46. *** Bill Dugan 6-5 280 G Poland Seminaryhttp://scoutingoh.com/bill_dugan_poland.htmPlays both guard and tackle for Poland. I think he will be a college guard. He has fine feet and the experience at tackle will give him a better feel for pass protection than most high school guards. Poland is a little off the beaten path for recruiters but that should change this year. Dugan has a great looking body. He could add another twenty to thirty pounds with no impact on his athleticism. I was very much impressed with his technique. So often at the high school level the division one caliber linemen just use their superior size and athleticism to push around their opponents. Dugan gets his hips down, and his face into his man and drives. He runs very well. He could be an ideal pick for a team that likes to pull their guards a lot. He is athletic enough to get into the second level and make blocks. He does not have the publicity of some of the other linemen in this class but he does not have to take a backseat to any of them. His level of competition should not be a question. In that part of the state there are no Fridays off. His team did not throw the ball much but he looks solid in pass protection. The only reason I can think that Dugan is not seeing offers come his way is that recruiters did not know about him. Since I just found out about him recently myself.
47. *** Gary Thornton 5-9 200 RB Youngstown Rayenhttp://scoutingoh.com/GaryThornton_junior_2006.htmLong time readers know I am not a fan of small backs. Lets be clear from the start. Gary Thornton is not a small back. Gary Thornton is a short back. He has thick legs and a thick lower body. He might be the strongest football player in the state pound for pound, with a 350 bench press and squatting in excess of 500 lbs. He has the quickest feet of any back in the state of Ohio. His ability to change direction at speed is remarkable. I sometimes give players nicknames. I am going to call Thornton “Freeze Frame.” As I watch his tape there are so many moments where he leaves defenders frozen as they try to change direction with him. He is such a natural runner. He is explosive to the hole, and fearless. He is as good, if not better, between the tackles as he is going wide. Getting him off his feet with that low center of gravity and his strength is a chore. Thornton is such a tough kid that he is getting some attention from schools as a linebacker. We are seeing Brian Westbrook with the Philadelphia Eagles and Maurice Jones-Drew with the Jacksonville Jaguars have some success at the highest level. Gary Thornton is the same kind of back. In addition, this is one of the classiest and most likable young men I have come in contact over the years. He will be the first one in the weightroom and the film room, and the last to leave. Whether he is a starter or never leaves the bench, you can bet Gary Thornton will be the first to congratulate a teammate for a good play and the first to console someone that made a bad one.
48. *** James Howard 6-0 170 WR Warren JFKhttp://scoutingoh.com/james_howard_jfk.htmAll the fuss at JFK is about super sophomore Desmar Jackson. The accolades are deserved. He is a special athlete but James Howard is not getting the attention he deserves. This is an outstanding receiver in his own right. He is not a big receiver but nobody is going to call him small. I think that height is legitimate. He is a slot receiver in the JFK offense and really knows who to play the position. He shows great hands and knows what to do with the ball after the catch. He is elusive but what I love about Howard is he is always making yardage. He is not going to give ground in hopes of making more yardage. He is such a smart football player. He always seems to do the smart thing. He is more comfortable working the underneath routes but he shows no hesitation in going over the middle. There is a Marvin Harrison quality to his game. With Desmar Jackson on the other side of the field there is not going to be a shortage of coaches in the stands at JFK games so Howard will have the opportunity to show his skills this fall. If he runs well this summer they will not be there just to see Jackson.
49. *** Nate Gaynard 6-1 220 LB Niles McKinleyhttp://scoutingoh.com/NateGaynardNiles2008.htmIf you follow high school football in Ohio you may have heard of Nate Gaynard. What may surprise you is that I have him listed as a linebacker. He has been a record breaking back for Niles McKinley. If fullback was still a skill position Gaynard would be a much sought after player at that position. Gaynard has not been a regular defensive player but has been a dominant offensive player so that is where all the talk is about him. He is a good enough runner that he would likely get offers as a back but he has a real shot at being a Big Ten player as a linebacker. He looks so much like current Ohio State linebacker Ross Homan that it is uncanny. He even has the same build. Homan was a good high school back but he was not as good as Gaynard, and Gaynard has played against a higher level of competition in the northeast part of the state where there are no Friday nights off. If he goes to camps as a linebacker I think he could be one of the surprises of summer. He has good size, is very physical, and I think he will surprise with his spee
50. *** B.J. Machen 6-1 210 LB Hilliard Darbyhttp://scoutingoh.com/BJ_Machen_Hilliard_Darby.htmOne of the best kept secrets in Ohio for the class of 2008. Most of the top prospects in this linebackers class for the ages are best on the outside. This is one that is an inside player. He is so physical and he handles traffic really well. He does a great job of getting off blocks, and he does it without slowing down. Don’t let the weight fool you. He is a big 6-1. He has a great frame. I just don’t see him as a safety. I think he is going to be a college sized linebacker by the time he is ready to step in a football field at the next level. He shows outstanding speed so if he does not fill out he could step back into the secondary. I just don’t see it. This is a sideline to sideline defender with a serious motor. Machen is a tough minded kid. He had a bad shoulder but never took a series off. He is doing cleans with 245 for 5 reps. He has the work ethic, he is a team leader and he has the grades.
51. *** Demicus Brown 6-5 315 OL Hamiltonhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/demicus_brown_hamilton.htmI was a little surprised to see the film of this kid and see him lined up on defense at his size. That was before the ball was snapped. This kid came off the ball doing his best Big Daddy Wilkinson impression. Coach Place told me he could run but I was more than a little surprised to see him run like this. He also plays right tackle and that is where he is likely to end up playing his college ball. I have to say if any college coach saw this film they have to be very intrigued by the prospect of at least giving him a look on defense. Big kids that can move like this one are a high value target in recruiting. He was a very disruptive force as a defensive tackle. From the way he played I would say Brown would be very excited about the possibility of playing on defense. He is athletic enough to play basketball on the Hamilton basketball team, one of the legendary programs in Ohio. Coach Place says he is a hard worker with a great attitude. He needs to work on his grades but he should be a qualifier. Coach Place says of Brown, “He has unlimited potential.” I would agree. This is one I will be watching closely as we get into the combine and camp part of the evaluation process.
52. *** Troy Gilmer 6-1 200 RB Huber Heights Waynehttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Troy_Gilmer_Huber_Heights_Wayne.htmI love big backs. This is one of the better ones in the state of Ohio in this class. He has not received as much publicity as some of the others in this class. He did not play running back exclusively last year, he played as much if not more at quarterback, and had reps as a receiver too. That shows what kind of athlete Gilmer is. He rushed for better than 800 yards and caught better than 30 passes. He totaled 11 touchdowns. He camped at Ohio State last year. He has a reported 4.5 forty. If he runs that kind of time again at camps he is going to start seeing the offers come in. That kind of measurables line, 6-1, 200 with a 4.5, puts him in the category of athlete. He could be used at any number of positions with numbers like that. His receiving numbers show he could be a wide receiver and those measurables are ideal for a safety. I think his film shows he could be a big time back if he just concentrated on being a back. He is a powerful and determined runner. He shows some elusiveness for a big kid, enough that he was used on punt returns. I think when this kid gets to do just one thing he could be a great player.
53. *** Juandez Brown 6-3 190 QB Cincinnati Withrowhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Jaundez_Brown_Cincinnati_withrow.htmWithrow head coach Doc Gamble set this tape up perfectly. The first few plays it is plain as day that this kid may have the best arm of any of the quarterbacks in this class. He can cut it loose. He can make all the throws that define a next level arm. He throws the deep out with velocity. He is very accurate and throws balls where a coach wants to see the ball thrown. He throws out to outside not allowing the defender to make a break on the ball. Come back routes he throws low only giving his receiver a shot at the ball. He is a fine athlete but is a throw first quarterback. I saw him with opportunities to run but he showed patience, waiting on a receiver to come open and delivered the ball. When he does run he is very effective. Browns best is in front of him. He had some time under center last year, enough to put together a nice video package on him, but he was only a part time starter last year. He handled himself very well for a part time starter with his decision making. He has some good receivers to throw to next year so I am very much looking forward to next season. This could be one of the breakout stars in Ohio. He is one player I suspect will make a big leap up the rankings by seasons end.
54. *** Lamonte Lattimore 5-11 190 CB Cincinnati Winton Woodshttp://www.scoutingohio.com/lamonte_lattimore_cincinnati_winton_woods.htmCoach Tory Everhart calls Lattimore one of the best he has ever had. The film speaks for itself. He plays the slot on offense but he does a little of everything and does it all well. He runs the ball. He catches the ball. He blocks. On defense he is a corner and this is where he will play his college ball. He is fearless in run support and a great open field tackler. He is as good a tackler as you are going to see in any defensive back in Ohio. He shows great leaping ability going up with bigger receivers and making a play on the ball. The one thing that stands out more than anything with Lattimore is speed. Coach Everhart put a number of plays on his film where he runs down ball carriers from behind with no angle. Bottom line is Lattimore is a tough physical kid with football smarts and speed.
55. *** Jake Stoller 6-4 250 DT University Schoolhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/jake_stoller_university_school.htmThis is a small academic school in Cleveland that is putting out good football prospects on a regular basis these days. This is the third year in a row that University school has put a player in the Ohio High top 100. This is a kid with great size. He is a big wide body that is athletic enough to be a high school defensive end. He will move down to tackle to play his college ball. He runs so well. He chases plays all over the field. You are not going to see a lineman making more tackles down the field than Jake Stoller. There is no such thing as too many big kids that can run. His level of competition is going to be the only question mark so it will be important for him to get to camps. Coming from this school academics will not be a problem. Previous players from University school put a strong emphasis on academics when choosing a school. I have not spoken to Stoller but I assume it will be the same with him.
56. *** Kenny Veal 5-11 175 CB Hamiltonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/kenny_veal_hamilton.htmThis is one of the toughest kids in this class. Pound for pound he is right up there with Lamonte Lattimore from Winton Woods. He made one play on the tape I received from coach Place where he takes on the blocker, beats him, hits the quarterback who pitched the ball, then got up and made a tackle for loss on the runner. He has a linebackers game in a cornerback. He has the feet and hips to be a corner. Everyone wants tough run defenders these days on a cornerback. This one is as tough as nails and an excellent tackler. Coach Place did not have numbers on passes defended but based on the film I received Veal is going to be in the double digits. He got his hands on a lot of balls. 707 yards in only five games as a running back but he will be a defensive player in college. He has a defensive players mindset. He really gets after it. If he runs well this summer his stock will soar.
57. *** Trey Fairchild 5-11 175 WR Dublin Coffmanhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/trey_fairchild_dublin_coffman.htmOne of the names to watch going into the combine/camp circuit. He has both explosive speed and top end speed. He has run 4.36 at one of the early combines. He added an impressive 9-1 broad jump and an outstanding 36 inch vertical. You can see on tape that he carries those numbers over to the football field. He looks like he is running while everyone else on the field is walking. He is late to the radar because he is playing his natural receiver position for the first time. He was a quarterback and still plays there a little. He showed hands and a fearlessness in his first stint as a receiver. He caught 45 passes for 725 yards and 6 touchdowns. He added 229 yards on 21 carries and 3 touchdowns. He took a pair of kicks back for touchdowns. Fairchild is outstanding after the catch. He does not just count on his speed. He can cut on a dime and does not go down easily. He is tough, competitive and has great feet. I would not be surprised to see him get a shot at cornerback but I would want this kind of explosiveness on offense.
58. *** Chip Robinson 6-7 340 OL Middletownhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/chip_robinson_middletown.htmThe one thing that immediately gets your attention with Robinson is just how big he is. In football we have gotten used to seeing really big players at a very young age. Robinson is one that is so big it gets your attention. At one time he was even bigger. He is working hard on getting his weight down even more. I don’t know if he will ever get below about 320. He is moving so much better now. He is never going to raise any eyebrows with his forty time but I have come to the point where I don’t put much stock in forty times with offensive linemen. He comes off the ball better than most kids this size, and he packs a punch. His first three steps are impressive. Middletown’s fine head coach, Ron Johnson, was a former college coach. That shows in the play of his twin towers at offensive tackle. Robinson and his fellow D-1 teammate at the other tackle, Blaec Walker, are showing clearly better technique than most high school offensive linemen. He is a high school tackle but before you move him inside to guard you need to see the footwork, and he has the reach. All anyone needs to see is how Robinson played against Ohio State recruit Solomon Thomas. He was one on one with him a good percentage of the night and not only held his own, he won the battle. Robinson already has an offer from Illinois. Good camp showings could see his stock soar.
59. *** Josh Newman 6-2 215 LB Clayton Northmonthttp://www.scoutingohio.com/josh_newman_clayton_northmont.htmYou see some really amazing tackle numbers put up by high school linebackers. What separates Josh Newman from the pack is he makes the tackles at the line of scrimmage not 5 yards downfield. That and the fact that he has a great frame and a 4.64 forty. He looks like he can add another twenty to twenty five lbs with little impact on his speed and agility. Newman reads the game so well he is running free way too often for the good of any offense. I don’t know if he is doing that much film study or he is that instinctive but Newman seems to be moving toward the hole before the snap a good deal of the time. It is probably a good deal of both. When an opposing lineman does get to him he sheds the block quickly and he does it without losing speed. He is good in pass coverage so he can be a three down linebacker. 4.47 shuttle. 3.0 gpa. 8-10 broad jump. This kid is one of the best kept secrets in Ohio. He is so smooth he looks like he is not even trying hard. This is one to keep an eye on.
60. *** Blaec Walker 6-4 290 OL Middletownhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/blaec_walker_middletown.htmPlays tackle on the left side of the massive Middletown offensive line. Walker has an offer from Illinois like his line mate Chip Robinson. He has the wingspan of a 747 and is very good in small spaces. He has learned to use his weight and leverage well. Despite the left tackle reach I think his college position will be guard. Walker is an excellent student. Middletown head coach Ron Johnson calls him, “the complete student-athlete package.” He needs to dedicate himself in the weightroom and get his intensity level up. Long limbed kids always have a tough time in the weightroom when they are young, and most college coaches could not care less about strength as they know they can make any player stronger. He is a raw prospect with a lot of upside. A program like Illinois that is looking to rebuild its talent base is making a wise decision in coming in early on a raw prospect like Walker. He is a wrestler which always helps lineman. There is no sport where leverage is more important than wrestling, especially with heavyweights. Walker will learn more about leverage in one month of wrestling practice than he would a year of football practice.
61. *** Mike Spooner 6-1 220 LB Lakewood St. Edward http://www.scoutingoh.com/mike_spooner_St_eds.htmSpooner had a breakout season. If not for the misfortune of another player we may not have seen him until this year. Senior captain Ken Lamedola broke his foot before the season started. That thrust Spooner into the starting lineup sooner than expected. He was ready for it. His mate at inside linebacker was Jeff Lucas, a division one recruit in his own right, but Spooner was the better player. In fact, a long time St. Ed watcher whose opinion I respect thinks Spooner was the best defender on an outstanding defense, one that boasted the likes of Ohio State recruit Nate Oliver, Iowa signee Diauntae Morrow and top ten 2008 prospect Justin Staples. Early last season I had the opportunity to see St. Edward. He definitely got my attention. He is a tough inside linebacker with top drawer instincts and football smarts. He is pretty athletic and plays faster than he will run on any track. I am looking forward to seeing his shuttle time. That will tell us a lot about where this outstanding linebacker ends up playing.
62. *** Adam Bice 6-4 255 OL/DT Tri-Valleyhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/adam_bice_tri_valley.htmCollege recruiters need to find Tri-Valley on the map. Adam Bice is one of the more athletic big athletes that can be found in Ohio in 2008. He is a defensive end on defense and shows a lot of the things you want in a defensive end, tenacity, the ability to keep blockers off his body, he is relentless in pursuit, he has the wingspan to go with his listed 6-5 ½, but I think he outgrows the position. He shows the toughness to be a defensive tackle and the frame to get a lot bigger. He plays center on offense and plays it well but I see a player with all the tools to move outside to tackle. Outside of the great frame the one thing that stands out to me is the relentlessness. He chases plays from sideline to sideline as well as down the field on defense and he stays with blocks until his man is down or until the whistle blows. Level of competition is going to be a question so he has to get to camps.
63. *** Phillip Manley 6-4 305 OL Hamiltonhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Phillip_Manley_Hamilton.htmHamilton coach Jim Place says, “He has dominated games inside.” Never have truer words been spoken. This kid is a real powerhouse. We use the expression “road grader.” Manley is the epitome of the expression. He locks defenders up, jeeps his feet moving and moves them. He is athletic enough that coach Place had his at right tackle at times and moves well enough to be a really good good pulling guard. The time at tackle has made him a better pass blocker. He is a wide body that is not carrying extra weight. He is also very young for his class. He is not 17 years old yet. He is solid in the classroom and coach Place could not be more impressed with his work ethic in the weightroom and in the classroom. This is a raw kid, and a young one, with an impressive upside.
64. *** D.J. Brown 6-1 175 DB Fremont Rosshttp://www.scoutingohio.com/dj_brown_freemont_ross.htmBrown is like a heat seeking missle coming up from his safety spot. Unlike last year when you couldn’t throw a rock without hitting a top defensive back, this is not such a strong class. This is one that stands out. He runs very well and hits like a linebacker. He is so sound in his tackling. Low hard tackles and wraps up, just like a coach wants to see. He looks bigger than his listed 6-1 175. He has a long lean body, but not one I think will fill out into a linebacker. In fact, I think he could possibly play corner in a zone scheme that looks for physical corners. He has very long arms. The northwest part of the state has not been a traditional recruiting ground. Last year and again this year we are seeing a better crop of talent. Players like D.J. Brown are going to change that.
65. *** Isaac Washington 6-2 240 LB/DE Trotwood-Madisonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/ikewashingtontrotwood_2008.htmThere are some things I always look for in a middle linebacker. I want a big body. He has no help like a 3-4 inside linebacker. He is going to have to take on blockers to get to the ball carrier. A lot of large bodies are going to be thrown at him. He has to have that knack for finding the ball carrier. I want to see a player that has the ability to get off blocks. Chunks of yardage comes from taking a 4-3 middle linebacker out of the play. He has to be a sure tackler. With no help beside him he can’t miss. A big hitter is extra but sure tackler is a must. I see all those things in Isaac Washington. I see very smart and sound football out of Washington. He blitzes great. Speed is extra on a blitz. If a blitzer times it right he is going to get there anyway. I see so many players going for the big hits up high in the chest, and too often missing. You see Isaac Washington down into the runners legs making sure the play is over. I mention him as a possible defensive end. He is a big kid and could outgrow linebacker. I would like to see him take off about 10 lbs by the time the camp and combine season arrives. I think college coaches being able to look at him and say he is a middle linebacker would help him get more offers. This is just a good football player.
66. *** Jared Emerson 6-5 275 OL Youngstown Cardinal Mooneyhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/jarrodemersonmooney.htmOn a team full of stars sometimes players get overlooked, especially linemen. Emerson played on the same line with lineman of the year Ishmailly Kitchen and Miami of Ohio recruit Mike Madsen, not to mention the array of stars at the skill positions. He is a guard that I can see getting a look at tackle. He has a long body and pretty long arms, things that I think are important in a tackle. He has great feet and comes off the ball well. He can get a little high sometimes but the thing that stands out is he consistently wins one on one battles. He has tenacity to spare. He plays to the whistle and once he wins a battle he is on to the next target. Emerson is in great shape. There is no question he will carry 300 lbs relatively easily. He is flying under the radar right now but every school in the country is going to be in to Mooney with its galaxy of Big Four stars so it is just a matter of time before that changes.
67. *** Douglas Rippy 6-2 215 OLB/DE Columbus Linden-McKinleyVideo Needed This is the best year for Columbus City League talent in a few years. Douglas Rippy is one of the reasons why. He played linebacker and defensive end, where he broke the school record with 148 tackles last year, and had 9 sacks to go 22 tackles for loss. On offense he played tight end, running back and wide receiver. Some are recruiting him as an athlete but most will be looking at him as a defensive end or a linebacker. He is carrying a 3.2 gpa but has not taken the test. He is getting a lot of interest from some major schools. Boston College has been showing a good deal of interest for some time. Ohio State recently came in and invited Rippy to spring practices. Other Big Ten teams have also been in contact, Michigan State, Illinois and Indiana. Duke has also been in contact. I suspect that interest will turn into offers once Rippy has a test score they can send to their respective admissions offices.
68. *** Darius Ashley 5-9 170 TB Cincinnati St. Xavierhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Darius_Ashley_St_Xavier.htmEvery year there seems to be a back in Ohio that has everything but size. Tyrell Sutton was that player a couple of years ago. Last year it was Jordan Mabin. This year it is Darius Ashley. He has quick feet and is explosive. He has outstanding vision. He finds the holes and hits them quickly. He is pretty tough between the tackles. He does not go down as easy as so many backs his size. I have seen him carry potential tacklers. He shows that he can be effective catching the ball out of the backfield. In the right offense he can be a highly effective back. I don’t have a forty time on him but his football speed looks to be exceptional. Like Sutton and Mabin before him I end up saying that if he is three inches taller and 20 lbs heavier he is at least a four-star player. If I were to speak to Darius I would tell him to ask to drill in camps and combines at cornerback and receiver. That could be his ticket to more and better offers. This is one of the most skilled players in Ohio.
69. *** Joshua Smith 6-2 170 Ath Cincinnati Withrowhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/joshua_smith_cincinnati_withrow.htmThis defensive back class has really come around as I sit down and look at the film of the class of 2008. Maybe it was the distraction of last years class but at first blush I did not think that this would be a good class. So many of the players that made an early impression, few that they were, are now not at the top of the class may have something to do with it. Joshua Smith is one of those that just came to my notice. This is one fine football player. Something that seems to be unique about this class is the versatility of the safeties. Smith is no exception. Ask me to place him at one safety spot and I would say get back to me. He shows the instincts, the ball skills and the range to be a free safety but he is some kind of hitter. A very physical kid. He is making sacks and plays behind the line of scrimmage like a linebacker. Speaking of linebacker that could be in Smith’s future. He is such a long lean kid I could see him adding a good deal of weight and making someone a fine weak side linebacker.
70. *** Ben Buchanan 6-0 197 K Westerville Central http://www.scoutingohio.com/Ben_Buchanan_Westerville_Central.htmI don’t know if I have ever had a kicker in my top 100. Maybe former Buckeyes and current New York Jet Mike Nugent was in here. I don’t recall off the top of my head. This is a unique kicker. He has a leg that you have to see to believe. He has a 54 yard field goal to credit, the longest field goal for a junior off grass in Ohio high school history. The kick would have been good from 60 at least. He has kicked 60 yards in camps and has successfully kicked 65 yards in practice. He was the best punter at that elite camp run by Dan Stultz, the former Ohio State kicker, which brought in kickers from all over the midwest. Buchanan’s goal is to be a complete kicker. He fully expects to be the place kicker as well as the punter for Ohio State as he made his commitment to the Buckeyes in early March. His offer list was as impressive as any player in the state. That is especially impressive when you consider how many kickers are initially walk-ons. This kid is just a fine athlete. He is a starting receiver for Westerville Central and a good baseball player.
71. *** Jason Albertini 6-3 200 QB Vandalia Butlerhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Jason_Albertini_2008.htmOne of the early quarterbacks to step up in this class. Albertini has filled out. He even looks taller. He is obviously stronger. He is a technically sound quarterback. He has a picture perfect motion. He might want to work on getting rid of it quicker but that is nit picking. He shows great feet. He gets his feet under him and throws over the top. He shows coolness under pressure. Albertini seems supremely confident back there. He moves well enough not only to get himself out of trouble but to make plays with his feet. He shows good arm strength. He can throw the deep out and he has great touch on his long ball. One of the best throws I saw on his tape was a deep post. Albertini threw it with enough velocity that the back could not make a break on the ball and with such perfect touch the receiver never had to check his run. He throws great on the run. I think his junior year performance is all the more impressive because he is in a pro-style offense. The spread offenses are all the rage in Ohio High school football. I am of the opinion they do not prepare a quarterback well for the next level. This is a player I will be watching when the camp circuit starts up.
72. *** Brandon Williams 5-10 175 CB Lakewood St. Edwardhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/brandon_williams_St_eds.htmA few years ago Williams would have been twenty spots higher on this list but with the big freaky athletes we are seeing coming into the college ranks these days at wide receiver, most schools are looking for big freaky players to cover them. Williams has exceptional speed and the feet and hips to change direction quickly, a crucial skill for a cornerback. He has good instincts and will come up and play the run despite his stature. Lakewood St. Edward has had a run of super athletes recently but Williams cracked the starting lineup as a sophomore. He is an excellent returner, both kickoff and punts. He is an explosive and electric player. Someone might get the idea to move him over and give him a shot at receiver. Level of competition has been second to none. He intercepted four passes last year. He played wide receiver too. I think he would be smart to ask to workout at wide receiver in camps over the summer. He is hearing from the Big Ten, Ohio State and Michigan at the top of the list, Virginia, Syracuse and most of the MAC schools. Virginia and Ohio State top his list. He has been to Ohio State several times.
73. *** Jamil Sims 6-4 255 DT Marion Hardinghttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Jamil_Sims_Marion_Harding.htmSims is a really good high school end that could be a great college tackle. That he can play end at his size speaks volumes about what kind of athlete he is. He has a reports 5.2 forty time but he plays faster than that. For a guy his size a 4.89 shuttle is pretty impressive. He does a great job of getting off blocks. Shawtell Rowell is the only lineman in the class that does as good a job. He actually plays defensive end quite well. He has the wingspan of a defensive end. He is just too big for the position. He has a great body for a defensive tackle. He can carry 300 lbs easily. The most important thing for the big boys is the motor. He has that. For so many playing hard every down is what separates the good linemen from the great ones. He has been flying under the radar until now but getting to camps could make him one of the players that everybody talks about this summer.
74. *** Dawawn Whitner 6-2 245 DT Cleveland Glenvillehttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Dawawn_Whitner_Glenville.htmThe theme for this year seems to be, if he were only a little bigger. I have typed that so many times this year that I have worn the letters off the keys. No player in the class exemplifies that theme more than Dawawn Whitner. He comes off the snap like he is shot out a cannon. He has the motor that makes or breaks all great linemen, going full bore until the whistle. He sheds blockers with ease. He has that same nasty disposition that helped make his older brother, former Buckeye Donte Whitner, become a first round draft choice. Donte was so aggressive that his natural cornerback skills took a backseat and forced him to safety. There is so much to like about Whitner’s game but the one thing that stands out is the speed. One time I saw was 4.75. It would not surprise me if that time is accurate based on what he does on the field. His closing speed is something to see. Coach Ginn uses him in a zone blitz, dropping him back like a spy. There are plays where he runs quarterbacks down from that position. If Dawawn had size he would be a sure top 40 player in this class.
75. *** Nate Wilburn-Ogletree 6-2 180 WR Clayton Northmonthttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Nate_Wilburn_Ogletree_Clayton_Northmont.htmWilburn-Ogletree caught 46 balls for 744 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. He was the primary target for Northmonts outstanding senior quarterback Clay Belton. He was receiver Belton looked for to get him out of jams and to make the big plays for Northmont. He is a sure handed receiver and a big target. I like to see a receiver that will not hesitate to go over the middle. You especially want the big receivers to be willing to go in there where the other big people are. Wilburn-Ogletree does not hesitate. He is hearing from Michigan,Wisconsin, E. Michigan and Connecticut but has been to junior day at Cincinnati and liked what they had to say. He might decide to camp this summer but I would not be surprised to see him take up the Bearcats on an offer if one should come before then. He has a 4.53, a 4.33 shuttle to go with a 33 inch vertical and an 8-10 vertical.
76. *** Luther Nicholas 6-0 200 RB Columbus IndependenceFilm Needed It does this old Columbus City League grads heart good to see a nice group of talent coming out in this years class. Nicholas is seeing the spotlight on Isaiah Pead but he does not need to take a back seat to anyone. He rushed for 1,918 yard on 304 carries & scored 14 touchdowns. Some are going to question the level of competition in the Columbus City League but Nicholas ran for better than 100 yards on the Hilliard Davidson defense which stuffed everyone on its way to their first state championship last year. He also had a100 yard rushing effort against another OCC defense in Upper Arlington. He has a 4.5 forty. If he shows that time at camp this summer he will really boost his stock as his measurables line will get the attention of college coaches. With a 6-0, 200, 4.5 forty measurables line he could play running back, wide receiver, safety and even grow into a linebacker. That kind of versatility is something highly valued in this era of limited scholarships.
77. *** Travis Kelce 6-5 230 QB/Ath Cleveland Heightshttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Travis_Kelce_Cleveland_Heights.htmNew Cleveland Heights coach Jeff Rotsky could not be more excited about the upside for Travis Kelce. He thinks he will be the most heavily recruited quarterback in Ohio come seasons end. I have had several other coaches talk about him. He is a physical specimen and a great athlete. Coach Rotsky thinks he will end up at about 245. At that size all it does is expand his possibilities. He is a quarterback now but at 6-5 and 245 with his athleticism schools will start thinking about tight end should he not pan out as a quarterback, which will make him all the more attractive. He is being recruited as a basketball player too and has not decided which sport he will play in college. The list of schools looking at him for basketball includes Florida, Wisconsin and just about all the MAC schools. Kelce has been down to Ohio State for a couple of games as a guest of the Buckeyes. North Carolina, Syracuse, Pitt and Indiana are showing interest in football. He just moved into the starting lineup for the first time as a junior. He is very raw but has all the tools that every major school looks for in a quarterback prospect. Jeff Rotsky has done some impressive work preparing athletes for the next level. This is one player I will be tracking closely. If he develops like coach Rotsky thinks he will, Kelce will completely shake up this top100.
78. *** David Fleming 5-11 200 DB Centervillehttp://www.scoutingohio.com/David_Fleming_Centerville.htmOne of the best athletes in Ohio. He was forced into service as a quarterback for coach Ullery’s Elks, and showed what kind of athlete he is and, what kind of competitor. He broke his hand but only missed two games. He played five others with a soft cast. I was impressed with his command of the offense. For someone that is not a natural quarterback he sure carried himself like one. He had over 600 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in nine games. He added 567 yard passing completing 23 of 45 passes. Eight of those 23 completions went for touchdowns. Most important was his eight touchdowns to three interceptions. That shows this is a heady guy. He is a hard nosed smart football player with athleticism, good speed, 4.55 forty, and has good size.
79. *** Marvin Stewart 6-1 205 QB/Ath Columbus Beechcrofthttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Marvin_Stewart_Beechcroft.htmWhen I first looked at Marvin Stewarts film I saw an athlete. I always watch films several times. I really took my time and watched him the second time. I was far more impressed with him as a quarterback the second time around. On the front end of the tape he is making a lot of athletic plays with the ball. He is doing whatever he can to get the ball to someone. But on the back side of the tape when he sat down on his throws and delivered the ball he showed me that he could be an athletic quarterback. He has some bad habits that he needs to break like tossing the ball instead of throwing it and throwing off his back foot when he really wants to get rid of it in a hurry but he has a good up when he sets up and throws it. I am very partial to athletic quarterbacks. Stewart is one of the best athletes at quarterback in the state this year. He can definitely pull it down and hurt a defense but his passing skills are what will keep him at quarterback. He is not a player that will come in and play right away. In time he could be an excellent quarterback and he is athlete enough to move elsewhere if he is not.
80. *** Matt Mihalik 6-7 270 OT Gilmour AcademyFilm NeededThis is likely a player that nobody is aware of. He is coming out of a small elite academic school in Cleveland and he committed very early in his junior year when Virginia made him an offer. He did not take long to accept. He has heard from the likes of Ohio State and West Virginina since but has not wavered in his commitment. He is a highly athletic kid and has the feet and frame everyone is looking for in a tackle prospect. He is a three sport kid, also playing basketball and baseball. There is a lot of controversy about whether that is a help or a hindrance in the development of an athlete. He is going to need a lot of work in the weightroom as he is an awfully lean kid, and the level of competition is going to be questioned despite the fact that Gilmour played and beat some larger schools, but in time and with hard work this could be one of the real steals in the class of 2008. Great job by Al Groh and the Virginia staff.
81. ** Brad Bednar 6-5 230 OL Mentorhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Brad_Bednar_Mentor.htmThis is a player I expect to see getting a lot of attention once he starts hitting the combines in spring and the camps this summer. The best thing about Bednar is he has the film to back it up. He has quietly played at a high level against quality competition. Don’t let the weight fool you. He is going to fill out nicely. I expect a 280 lb player in the next couple of years. I suspect that by his second year of college he is going to be in the mix wherever he ends up playing his college ball. He moves very well and has better technique than most high school players. That he is playing against good defensive ends and is lighter than most at his position I think has played a role in his more advanced technique. The fact that in practice every day he was going against scholarship level players has helped him greatly. One of the real sleepers in the class of 2008.
82. ** Brandon Williams 6-1 185 WR Cincinnati Withrowhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Brandon_Williams_Cincinnati_Winthrow.htmWhat a turnaround with this program under Doc Gamble. I remember the first time I heard the name Withrow. I was so unfamiliar with the school I asked if there wasn’t a mistake. Did you really mean Winton Woods. Every year now we are seeing top 100 players out of Withrow with receivers coming out in abundance. This year the programs top receiver is Brandon Williams. He could be the best of them. He has good size, every bit the 6-1 he is listed at, and has a solid build. I think he can add 10-15 lbs with no impact on his speed and athleticism. He has great hands and more importantly the competitiveness to make those hands all the more valuable because he will not give up on a pass. I have seen him go into the dirt to pull badly thrown balls, go up and sacrifice his body to make a play on a high ball and tiptoe the sidelines to make plays on balls that the coaching staff would have had to make plays on if any other receiver would have been out there. If he runs well this summer this ranking is way too low for Williams.
83. ** Antoine Rucker 6-0 170 CB/WR Warren Hardinghttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Antione_Rucker_2008.htmLightning in a bottle. This kid just seems to explode. He comes off the line like shot out a cannon. He is quick in and out of his cuts. Once he makes a catch he gets to another gear quicker than anyone on the field. He shows a fearlessness in going over the middle and going up to make a play on the ball in the air. He shows good instincts as a cornerback and has great feet and hips. I like what I see of him as an offensive player but he is tall and long armed to go with those good feet and great hips so I think the odds are good Rucker ends up on the defensive side of the ball in college. He is a very aggressive player on the ball on either side of the line. Explosive leaper.
84. ** Nate Schuler 6-1 208 Ath Springfield Localhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Nate_Schuler_Springfield_Local.htmI get asked all the time who is the fastest? Who is the biggest? Who is the strongest? The one question I get asked the most though is who is the hardest hitter. For the class of 2008 Nate Shuler would get my vote. I don’t know if I can come up with ten great hits for anyone in the class. For Shuler I would have to pick ten. He brings it like nobody else. He is also a very good high school quarterback but he is going to make his mark as a defensive player. Where, is the question. I have no forty time on him but his game speed is excellent. It is a matter of where his body takes him. He could be a strong safety or he could grow into an outside linebacker at the next level. He really needs to get to camps. There is still a very real bias away from these small school players. Springfield Local is a division five school.
85. ** Andrew Strauss 6-1 190 S West Chester Lakota Westhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/andrew_strauss_Lakota_west.htmWhile this is not a deep defensive back class, especially compared to last years benchmark class, I am seeing a few very versatile safety prospects. Andrew Strauss is one of them. He is best playing as a free safety but shows the toughness to play up in the box and has the size. He looks every bit of 6-1 and is a lean 190. Coach Cox thinks he could grow into a speed linebacker. Speaking of speed Strauss has a 4.62 forty and plays at that speed. You can see any number of plays where he runs down backs and receivers and how he gets back to make plays on balls. He is a sure tackler and a very smart football player. In boxing the term “busy” is used in reference to a fighter that is very active. I would use the term with Strauss, who always seems to be around the ball. He has a very impressive 4.06 shuttle time. Excellent ball skills and is good leaper.
86. ** Dominique Chandler 6-2 210 Ath Columbus Franklin HeightsFilm Needed Talk about a diamond in the rough. No player epitomizes that expression more than Dominique Chandler. He is just now really starting to play sports. He has been a good running back but last year was his first year on defense. He is 6-2, 210 with a 4.5. He ran 50.5 in the 400 meters in his first year running track. He was a wrestler as a soph, but played basketball as a freshman and as a junior. He has a 280 bench press and a 400 squat. As a running back he is a slasher with good size. He really started to come on as the year went along. He is the kind of player that is going to go to camps and combines and raise a lot of eyebrows with his speed to size ratio and earn some offers. He is so raw and has his best football in front of him. He has been an all-around athlete. Once he starts to focus on one sport we will see the best come out of him. He prefers running back, and I think he could possibly be a safety but I think he is going to be a linebacker at the next level by the time he is ready to step on the football field. Level of competition is not in question.
87. ** Eric Stoyanoff 5-11 195 RB Strongsvillehttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Eric_Stoyanoff_Strongsville.htmWeight loss has had a great impact on this runners future. He was in the 210 range and not as explosive as he had been as a sophomore where he ran for over 1700 yards. By the end of the season he as back down to 195 and running in the 4.5 range. There was never any question about his running skills. He has rushed for 3200 yards on 400 carries so far in his career. Coach Jacques says he has not put the ball on the ground once in those 400 carries. When he was down at 195 he still ran with the power of back that was in the 220 range. He has good vision and is a decisive runner. He is going to find the hole quickly and not mess around back there. A back needs to do learn that. Most don’t until college. This is a back reading plays down the field. He sees where the daylight is after the the initial hole. Stoyanoff is a very tough physical runner. Coach Jacques says 1500 of his 3200 yards came after first contact. I could see him becoming a fullback in time. He is already a very good blocker. He is hearing from a who’s who of college football right now with junior days scheduled at Ohio State, Notre Dame and Iowa with mail coming from Miami of Florida, North Carolina and Boston College.
88. ** Andrew Phalen 6-5 270 OL Lakota Westhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/andrew_Phalen_Lakota_west.htmThere were two things that immediately got my attention when I first saw Phalen. This is a really big kid. He played at about 250 last year, is up to about 270 now but still looks like he needs a sandwich. The other thing was he has that nasty streak that I like to see in an offensive lineman. As plays were going if anyone was within reach he was going to hit him. Standing around the pile with Andrew Phalen around was just asking to get hit. He played both tackle spots and some at right guard. He projects as a guard in college. He is raw but he has a great frame and the right mindset. A lot of schools have taken notice. He was a bowl practice invitee to Ohio State. He attended junior days at Michigan and Cincinnati and was invited to Tennessee, Illinois and Pitt.
89. ** Eric Magnacca 5-10 172 WR Massillon Perryhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Eric_Magnacca_Massillon_Perry.htmIt boils down to one thing with Eric Magnacca. Speed. This kid has another level of speed. He has a 4.3 forty and the best thing about it is he has explosive speed. He does not need to get cranked up. He is at top speed in a couple of steps. Because of his size the thinking is he will be a cornerback at the next level but his coach, John Miller, thinks he will be an offensive player. I do too. He is a high school running back but he shows really good hands catching balls out of the backfield. I think he could make a good college receiver. Magnacca is getting mail from Ohio State, Florida State, Penn State, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana,Akron and Ball State. He attended several junior days. He was an invitee to the Ohio State-Michigan and Florida State-Florida games last season. He rushed for 1,332 yard on 197 carries, that is 6.6 yards a carry, and scored 15 touchdowns. More importantly he averaged 10 yards per catch out of the backfield and 24.5 yard per return on kickoffs. Those are the numbers that are going to be most important to his college options.
90. ** Doug Reynolds 6-2 190 S/QB Cincinnati Colerainhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Doug_Reynolds_Cincinnati_Colerain.htmI first noticed Doug Reynolds in the Kirk Herbstreit Challenge. I was not used to a Colerain quarterback being this effective as a passer. He did not throw a lot but he showed a good arm and was effective when he threw the ball. I think Reynolds is such a fine athlete that he is going to be a safety at the next level. He has excellent size for a safety. There are some that disagree with me. They think he has what it takes to be a quarterback in college. With a summer to prepare in camps and combines, and another football season to hone his skills he could very well end up as a college quarterback. Coach Combs has moved on to the college ranks. I have not heard about a replacement as yet but another coach could come in and decide to open up the offense. Reynolds could be the beneficiary.
91. ** Marc Stevens 6-6 295 OL Lexingtonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Marc_Stevens_Lexington.htmBuckeye legend Woody Hayes was a firm believer in big. He said he could do a lot of things to make them better but he could not make them bigger. He would have loved Marc Stevens. It seems we are seeing more really big kids that are not carrying excess weight every year. Stevens is one of those kids. There is not going to be any dieting in the future of this 300 lb kid. I see a raw prospect that will only get better as he gets in the weightroom. He plays hard all the time and he works hard. He plays both guard and tackle at the high school level but I see a guard in college. He has an offer from Akron. He was a bowl game practice invitee to Ohio State. He was in attendance for the Ohio State-Bowling Green game by invitation. Michigan has been showing interest. He is also getting strong interest from Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Louisville and Vanderbilt. He has been down to Lousiville for a game and to Vanderbilt for a junior day.
92. ** Chris Crockett 5-10 185 RB Columbus Academyhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Chris_Crockett_Columbus_Academy.htmOne of the best all-around athletes in the state of Ohio. Crockett has been a football starter since he was a freshman. Last year as a junior he racked up over 2900 yards rushing, averaging an eye popping 10 yards a carry, with 37 touchdowns. He had 60 tackles and 3 interceptions as a defensive back. He is averaging over 20 points a game in basketball and had a 44 point effort in a game late in the season. While he prefers basketball he is getting more attention for football with Notre Dame, Penn State and Iowa showing solid early interest. If he runs well this spring and summer the interest level is going to pick up even more. This is a back with great vision and very quick feet. If he were a little bigger he would be another twenty spots higher in this ranking. If he plays football in college his size might dictate a move to cornerback.
93. ** Nathan Cope 5-11 185 S/RB Warren Howlandhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Nathan_Cope_Howland.htmCope is a good high school running back with quick feet and an explosive reckless and physical style of running but I think that he will be a fine safety at the college level. He has some impressive measurables with a 4.56 forty at the Penn State camp last May. He had a 4.21 shuttle at that same camp, and added a 33” vertical. On the season he had 93 carries for 536 yards. He showed he can be effective catching the ball out of the backfield with ten receptions. He scored six times. On defense he had ten passes defended and racked up three interceptions. Cope showed good coverage skills and was aggressive at coming up and playing the run, and he is an excellent tackler. I think when he is focused on playing just one position he will become that much better a player.
94. ** Tyler Amendola 5-11 185 RB Youngstown Boardmanhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Tyler_Amendola_Boardman.htmIf only he was a little bigger. We hear that so often in recruiting. If Amendola were just a little bigger we would see the top schools in the region coming after him. He is not small but he does not have the size most are looking for in a back.He has one of the more impressive films I have seen this year. Some of his runs look like he is doing a slalom course in skiing. He is like a boxer in his ability to avoid contact in small spaces. He can change direction at speed and explodes into holes with reckless abandon. I do not have a forty time for him but his football speed cannot be questioned. This is a very athletic kid but I am not aware of him playing defense and I did not see the ball thrown to him but he would do himself a service by camping this summer wherever he can and getting in the defensive backfield group or with the receivers. I did not see him on defense at all and there were only a couple of clips of him catching the football. He seemed comfortable. Football is first and foremost about speed. This kid can really run.
95. ** Jeremy Ebert 6-0 170 Ath Hilliard Darbyhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Jeremy_Ebert_Hilliard_Darby.htmI like this Ohio quarterback class. There are several underrated players that I think could help themselves with good summers throwing the ball. There are also a number of high school quarterbacks that will set themselves up with good summers showing as athletes. Jeremy Ebert is one of them. He could end up being a good defensive back but I like him as an offensive player. He is very elusive with the ball in his hands and can get to top speed in just a couple of steps. Darby head coach Paul Jenne says Ebert will run a 4.4. At least one major conference school sees him as a quarterback. There are several throws on his film where he puts the ball 60 yards down the field. He passed for more than 1100 yards and seven touchdowns, and rushed for better than 1000 yards and seven more touchdowns. He was invited to a couple of Ohio State games. Northwestern, Indiana and Miami of Ohio are also showing interest.
96. ** Justin Hemm 6-0 180 Ath Piquahttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Justin_Hemm_Piqua.htmI had a number of opportunities to watch Piqua last year. It was a star studded lineup. Brandon Saine and Phil Collier gave defenses fits. While everyone was keying on them this smart athletic kid was left with room to run and he took advantage of it. Hemm was the starting quarterback. I don’t know if he has the arm to be a college quarterback but he has the athleticism to be a college player either at wide receiver or in the defensive backfield. The first thing you think about with an athletic quarterback is defensive back but this kid is wicked quick and highly elusive. I think I would want him to have the ball in his hands as much as possible. If he goes to camps and drill as a receiver or defensive back I think he will be the next player coming out of the Bill Nees Piqua program who will be having a press conference on national signing day.
97. ** Duran Robinson 6-2 195 SS/LB Fremont Rosshttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Duran_Robinson_Freemont_Ross.htmRobinson is a high school linebacker but I think the jury is still out on whether he will be a linebacker or a safety at the next level. We are seeing the evolution of the strong safety position as more college and pro teams want a safety that is big enough to play at the line of scrimmage but has good enough cover skills. A college coach told me this about coverage recently, “There are four types of cover guys at both LB and DB, and this rings very true for teams that like to employ mostly zone coverages. You have route jumpers, route squeezers, backfield watchers, and grass killers. The first two, route jumpers and squeezers, make plays and win you championships. The second group, backfield watchers and grass killers, get you exposed. Backfield watchers and grass killers tend to more or less cover air, never looking up routes or understanding anticipation or zone reads.” Robinson shows he is a route jumper/route squeezer, stepping in and making interceptions and knocking down passes. He seems so comfortable in zone. He runs great and is highly athletic. Great blitzer. Robinson is a running back on offense but will be a defensive player in college. He is another reason for college recruiters to get up to northwest Ohio a bit more.
98. ** Craig Brooks 6-2 215 DE/LB Girardhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Craig_Brooks_Girard.htmRelentless is the one word that best describes Craig Brooks. He has a motor that just won’t quit. I wonder how many tackles he has made in his career simply because he would not give up on a play. He plays defensive end in high school. 6-2 215 is more linebacker sized but I was surprised to see those numbers. He is a big 6-2 215. I thought he would be bigger just looking at him out there on the field. He has long arms. He does a really good job of getting off blocks and has an uncanny ability to beat double teams. How he runs this summer is going to say a lot about who is going to come in on him. If he shows linebacker speed there will be a completely different offer list for Craig Brooks.
99. ** Jordan Graham 6-1 250 DL/OL Canfieldhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/JordanGraham_2008.htmI can give it to you in one line with Jordan Graham. He is an explosive, athletic, disruptive force that the big boys will not come in on because he lacks size. Graham is an excellent offensive lineman. He comes off the ball with a punch, always knocking back his assigned target and he has more pancake blocks pound for pound than anyone. Now that I have built him up as an offensive lineman I will say that I think he is a defensive player. He is off the ball with such quickness that he is often by the offensive linemen before they know the ball is snapped. He is very disruptive. It is not simply a matter of disrupting the play. Graham can run. He regularly runs down backs once he is in the backfield. A couple of inches taller and I think Graham would be getting Big Ten offers.
100. ** Keith Herring 5-11 200 TB Massillon Washingtonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/KJ_Herring_Massillon.htmHerring is the Rodney Dangerfield of the class of 2008. He can’t get any respect. Mostly that comes from having so much talent around him. Last year he had top Ten athlete Brian Gamble in front of him to share carries with and top Ten junior to be Justin Turner behind him. He just never got enough carries and to really step into the spotlight. Herring rushed for 546 yards and seven touchdowns despite the crowded backfield. That is better than 7 yards a carry. He has the best speed of the talented trio of backs at Massillon last year with a sub 4.4 forty. He is a well put together kid. He is effective between the tackles and in space. He is a brutally efficient runner. There is no wasted movement. He gets in the hole and out of the hole. Once he sees daylight he has the speed to take it the distance. I suspect his speed and solid size are going to boost his stock this summer at camp but having the chance at more carries next fall is what is going to fill his mailbox with offers.
101. ** Andrew Radakoivich 6-5 275 OL Steubenvillehttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Andrew_Radakovich_Steubenville.htmZack Collaros was one of the most effective football players in Ohio high school football history. No skill player is going to have the career he had without some help up front. The junior video of Radakoivich is not going to present an accurate picture. He shows really good feet and good form along with some tenacity but what is not on there is the size and the genetics. He has grown about 3 inches since the season ended. His dad is 6-6 and was a college basketball player. Upside is one of the words you always hear when recruiting is the subject. There is plenty of upside here. In the Steubenville system he will have had excellent coaching and he has some experience as a pass blocker. He is likely going to need to show that new body and what he can do with on the field next season before the offers start coming in but come next January this is a name that I think everyone will be hearing and he will be much higher on this list. One thing that stood out to me is he never stopped running. Not on one play on the entire film.
102. ** Steve Schott 6-1 165 K Massillon Washingtonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Steve_Schott_Massillion.htmI have never had a top 100 kicker. Not that I can remember at least. Now this year I have two. Both have been so good it is hard to ignore. Look at these numbers. Steve Schott is 23 of 34 on field goals in his first three years. He is 133 of 140 on PATs. He has accounted for 202 total points, 44 from the state record with a year to go. Last year he was 3 for 3 on FG's over 40 yards with his longest in a game being 47 yards. His longest in practice is 60 yards. I know that is practice but kickers just don’t often get opportunities to try kicks from that distance. It shows he has the leg to get it there. He has been contacted by over 50 D-1 schools so far including UCLA, Ohio St., Penn St., Notre Dame, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Boston Coll., LSU, Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, Duke, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Washington State and Duke, which he visited recently.He has had unofficial visits to Ohio State, Pittsburgh, and Duke so far. Steve will be doing kicking camps at Ball State, Ohio State, Kentucky,Bowling Green, Penn State and Pittsburgh. One thing that I really like is he has a 4.8 forty. When the kicker is the last line of defense it is nice to have someone back there that at least has a shot ay making the tackle.
103. ** Marquis Powell 6-5 185 WR Hamiltonhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/marquis_powell_hamilton.htmThis is one of the real diamonds in the rough for the class of 2008. Last season was his first as a football player. He had been a basketball player before. That he was hurt in week six so he does not have a years worth of development under his belt. He showed hands and a feel for the game. So many basketball player first kids that come over to play football show the hands. He naturally catches the ball with his hands not his body. Coach Place says he is back, committed to football and running very well. Powell is an outstanding blocker. He plays physical in general. He takes on defenders after the catch and never seems to go down on first contact. He has a very tight end style of game. In fact, I think he likely makes his mark as a tight end. He has the frame to grow into one.
104. ** Joe Madsen 6-4 270 OL Chardonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Joe_Madsen_Chardon.htmWhat a powerhouse Madsen is. He has impressive weightroom numbers with a 365 bench press, a 405 parallel squat and a 275 power clean but I really did not need to see those numbers to come to that conclusion. Hall of Fame basketball player Bill Russell said basketball was a contact sport, while football was a collision sport. Joe Madsen brings that point home. He is like a human bowling pin knocking defensive players all over the field. I saw him score two pancake blocks on one play. On another he shows the nasty streak I want to see in a lineman. He knocks a defender down who gets right back up. The whistle hasn’t blown so he knocks him down again. He is quick enough to get into the second level to make blocks. He does not look the part but has a 4.9 forty. Madsen is also a very disruptive defensive tackle. He has a non-stop motor. He had 5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. Chardon coach Bob Francis drops him back in zone coverage. This is not a body beautiful athlete but he is one good looking football player. Likely a guard at the next level.
105. ** Matt Greiser 6-5 305 OL Columbus Wattersonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Matt_Grieser_Bishop_Watterson.htmGreiser is a big framed kid that is just now coming into his own. He stepped into the starting lineup for the first time as a junior. I have seen him up close. The size is legitimate. He is a high school tackle but I think he projects as a guard at the next level. The camp and combine circuit could be a revelation for him. If he does well there I am sure that there are going to be plenty of eyes on him early next season. That he is just now getting into the starting lineup says he is still raw but he played well enough to catch my eye. Michigan and Michigan State took notice. He has been to games at Michigan and attended Ohio State camp last summer. Someone that has a good situation on the offensive line could do themselves a favor taking a late bloomer like Greiser and letting him mature a bit.
106. ** Nick Scott 6-5 265 OL BedfordFilm NeededFeet and frame are the bedrock things that you look at when evaluating offensive linemen. You want a big frame to add weight on and they need to be agile. I hear from fans all the time about a local boy that is big and strong. Every college coach in America knows they can make anybody bigger and stronger. They want a frame to hang the weight on and the feet to carry it well. Nick Scott gets high marks in both categories. He looks like an athlete with his V-shaped body at 265 lbs and recently ran a 4.8 shuttle. He is a late bloomer just breaking into the starting lineup as a junior. He is athletic enough to get spot duty as a defensive end. He impressed at his first combine this year at the National High School All-Star Combine in Cleveland. He was an invitee to two Ohio State games last year and is a cousin of Buckeye defensive end Jay Richardson.
107. ** Sean McCarthy 6-3 265 OL Toledo St. Francis DeSaleshttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Sean_McCarthy_St_Francis_DeSale.htmMcCarthy is one of the more effective offensive linemen in Ohio, and one of the most versatile. He played all over the offensive line for DeSales. Mostly he played right tackle. I think he will be a guard at the next level. He has good feet and once he locks a defender up he is out of the play. He shows good athleticism as long time coach Dick Cromwell has no qualms about sending him out to make second level blocks. He was in attendance at two Ohio State games by invitation of the Buckeye staff, including the Michigan game. He was not a camp attendee at any of the big camps last year due to other commitments but will camp this year. Size is going to be a factor. He needs to add weight. He has the frame and it is always my thinking that it is better to have a player that needs to add weight than it is one who needs to lose weight.
108. ** Zach Brown 6-2 285 OG Canal WinchesterNO FILM - INJURED in 2006I think everyone has a wait and see attitude about Zach Brown. It all depends on how well Zack Brown comes back from a season ending knee injury. He was showing well at camps and combines before the injury. He is tough physical kid that is going to get looks at defensive tackle as well as guard. I think he is a little better on defense right now but his size may push him to the offensive side of the ball. The injury may force him to prove it is sound with a few solid games next season before he sees the offers come rolling in. He is still hearing from a who’s who of college football with Notre Dame, Iowa, Purdue, Wisconsin, Duke, Florida State, Boston College, Connecticut and Akron leading the way.
109. **** Harold Coats 6-3 315 OL Youngstown Ursulinehttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Harold_Coats_Ursuline.htmTalk about coming out of nowhere. I had never heard the name Harold Coats until January. He was nowhere on the radar. Lineman come along slowly. Harold Coats is the proof. He is playing left tackle in high school. That height seems to dictate a move to guard but he has the wingspan of a much taller player. He has the feet to play tackle. No lineman in Ohio comes off the ball like Coats. He really brings it. His punch is something to see. He takes his man out of the play right away in most instances simple by blowing them back off the snap. He has good technique and really stays with it. He plays the game with the kind of nasty that is often the difference between a really good lineman and a really great one. He is just now coming into his own so you have to be excited about his upside. He has his weight under control. This is a 290 lb kid that is supposed to weigh 290 lbs. Ursuline is loaded so this under the radar talent will not stay under the radar for long. Where he ends up in college is going to depend on the needs of the schools he chooses. It is not often that I find myself not being able to project a lineman as an inside player or a tackle but Coats has tools that make him a potential player anywhere along the offensive line. Grades are going to be the issue here. With his academics in order Coats is a top 20 player and he would have a who’s who of college football powerhouses on his offer list.
110. *** Chaz King 6-1 205 LB Cincinnati Winton Woodshttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Chaz_King_Cincinnati_Winton_Woods.htmIf you are a coach reading this write the name down. If you are a fan and go to high school games, write the name down. I have been talking about this linebacker class for some time. The names for long time subscribers are now etched in your memory. This is another one to add to that list. This is the best linebacker nobody has been talking about. He hits like a player fifty pounds heavier. He can run and he has a nose for the ball that is second to none. He does not have to take a back seat to any linebacker in this class. He is a lot like Dewey Elliott from last year. He is athletic enough to be an outside linebacker and physical enough to play inside. I think he is in inside player. He is one of those kids that will add plenty of weight in time. It is up to Chaz whether he is a college player or not. He needs to get his nose in the books. He still has a shot at making it. He is fifty or sixty spots higher if he were a sure qualifier.
111. **** Anthony Oden 6-8 280 Ath Dayton Dunbarhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Anthony_Oden_Dayton_Dunbar.htmOhio High is about the best college prospects not the best high school players. They are not one in the same. Most great college prospects are great high school players but recruiting, the focus of this magazine, is about what they are going to be not what they are now. Part of being a great college prospect is about grades so we do consider that element. That is why you see Anthony Oden at this spot in the top 100. If he had his academics in order he would be a top 30 player at the very least. He is an exceptional big athlete. At 6-8 280 he is so athletic that he plays tight end on offense. He looks like former Steeler tight end Eric Green. He is that big and that athletic. Where he plays in college will be determined later. I know one high school coach that thinks he could be a defensive end. I think he will be a defensive tackle or move over and be an offensive tackle. He is the brother of Buckeye superstar basketball center Greg Oden.
112. **** Darren Youngberg 6-2 190 S Clayton Nothmonthttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Darren_Youngberg_Clayton_Northmont.htmI remember coach Schneider telling me right after Kurt Coleman committed to Ohio State that he had another that would be the same kind of athlete. After seeing Colemans video I wrote that off as a coach that just loves his kids. Coleman was the real deal. Now that I have seen Youngberg it is obvious that coach was not just being the biggest fan of all his kids. Youngberg is special. Dan McCarthy is the only defensive back in the class that is better than Youngberg. They are both about the same size and offer versatility because they are both comfortable at the line of scrimmage but have top drawer cover skills so they can play either strong safety or free safety. Youngberg has such range. On one play he is up close to the line of scrimmage facing a tight formation with only one wide receiver. The offense uses play action to draw everyone up that much more. Youngberg sees it and has the speed to get back and knock the ball down. When the ball is in the air he attacks it like it is being thrown to him. He is probably going to have to go the prep school route but this is one of the best athletes in the state of Ohio. I have to have him in the top 100. If he were sure to play college football next year he would be in the top 25.
1. ***** Mike Adams 6-8 305 OL Dublin Coffmanhttp://scoutingoh.com/Mike_Adams_Dublin_Coffman.htmThe word franchise gets tossed around a lot when it comes to athletes these days. All it takes is one glimpse of Mike Adams to see he is one player that the tag fits. My associate Steve Helwagen saw a tape of Adams. Steve is not one to get involved in trying to evaluate players. He said, “We looked at about five plays. That was all it took. We saw he was the real deal.” When Steve bothers to throw his two cents in on evaluations, that speaks volumes. About five plays is all you need to see of Adams. He has a body that is perfect for a left tackle. He is a massive kid but you are not going to find a better conditioned big athlete. He has a V-shaped body at better than 300 lbs. He has the long arms and is long bodied, something that stands out to me with the great left tackles I have seen. He is already an advanced pass blocker. He sits down and moves his feet, none of this reaching stuff that so many young offensive lineman do. He gets out of his stance and finds his man quickly. So much of what he does are things I do not expect out of a player this young. I was already convinced that he was the number one prospect in this class when I saw the Coffman playoff game versus Gahanna Lincoln who came into the game with an outstanding senior defensive lineman in John Hughes, a Michigan State commitment. Adams stoned him. Hughes is an explosive and determined player. Adams dominated the match-up to such a degree that Hughes stopped trying to rush the passer. I don’t know if it was his decision or the coaching staffs to quit on the futile attempt to rush the passer and try to knock down passes at the line of scrimmage but it sent the message home loud and clear. Getting by Mike Adams was futile. This is a national top 100 player and a top 10 national lineman. He is the best offensive lineman in this state since Orlando Pace. Adams gave the Buckeyes an a verbal in March.
2. ***** DeVoe Torrance 6-2 215 LB/RB Canton Southhttp://scoutingoh.com/Devoetorrencevideo1.htm
Every year there are several names that end up at the top of this list who could have been number one. Last year it was Ben Martin but I also considered Eugene Clifford. Never have I had a tougher time, or thought about it longer, than I did this year with Mike Adams and Devoe Torrence. We talk about players being the best player on the field. Devoe Torrence was that in every game despite the presence of his older brother Devon, an Ohio State commitment. He took it to another level. Torrence was the best player on the field at every position he played. He was always the best linebacker on the field but he played running back and he played wide receiver. He even played a little quarterback. When he was at running back he was the best running back on the field and when he was at wide receiver he was the best wide receiver on the field. I don’t see Torrence as a wide receiver in college but there is a lot to like about him as a running back. He rushed for nearly 1000 yards despite splitting time between running back, wide receiver and some at quarterback. I wonder what kind of back he could be if he spent all his time on offense learning the position. In fact, I will go so far as to say despite not being primarily a back, Devoe Torrence is the best back in Ohio. There is no question he is the best linebacker in Ohio. He had over 130 tackles and 6 sacks. I don’t have a forty time for Devoe but his game speed is something. He stands 8 to 10 yards off the ball and still makes plays in the backfield. He has such instincts and has that motor that is so important to defensive players. He plays the middle in high school but he is too good a football player to be a middle linebacker in college. I would put him on the weak side and let him make plays. Torrence got it over with making a surprise verbal to Ohio State in March.
3.***** Cordale Scott 6-5 200 ATH Cleveland Glenvillehttp://scoutingoh.com/Cordale_Scott_Glenville.htm
All Ted Ginn Sr needs to do is get the first half of the Glenville-Warren Harding game out to colleges. Scott dominated the game. He had a touchdown catch, he had two interceptions, one went for a touchdown and the other he carried down to the three yard line, and he had a hit that forced the receiver to drop the ball. A quarter and a half is closer to the time frame it took for Scott to do all of this. He is an impact player on both sides of the ball. The two interceptions show a player that did not simply use his athleticism. He read the play and broke on the ball both times. On the first he was in a better position to make the play. On the second it was pure Cordale Scott. He reads to deep out and gets there before the receiver. Scott first came on the radar as a receiver. Right now I would recruit him as a safety. He has great hands and the size advantage as a receiver but he has a 4.78 forty and his frame shows a player that is going to get a lot bigger. I say safety but I list him as an athlete. That is because what I really think when I see Cordale Scott is the size, the athleticism and the aggressiveness. A few years ago Ohio State had a player with a a very similar build name Tim Cheatwood. He came in as a receiver, moved to safety then to linebacker. By the time he earned playing time he was a defensive end. Javon Kearse had an almost identical body and came out of high school as a receiver. Gaines Adams is going to be the first or second defensive end taken in the 2007 draft. He was this size and came to college as a receiver. I think Scott is highly likely to follow the same path. I see him as a safety and possibly a linebacker but I am not going to be surprised to see him wind up as a defensive end.
4. ***** Kyle Rudolph 6-7 220 TE Cincinnati Elderhttp://scoutingoh.com/kyle_rudolph_cincinnati_elder.htm
One question I get asked all the time by fans is why college coaching staffs are always asking for more tape. Many think it is a stalling tactic and in some cases that may be true but for the most part it is about wanting to get as good an assessment on a player as possible. Case in point is Ohio States Tony Gonzalez. I had him rated down my list a bit. Ted Ginn Sr. told me I had him too low. Another Clevelander whose opinion I respect told me the same thing. I had seen two games and he did not really leap out at me as an elite player. Now he is looking at an NFL career. The same thing almost happened with Kyle Rudolph. What I saw from him early on had me scratching my head about the top twenty programs that offered him so early. Late in my evaluation process I saw more of Rudolph and could not have been more impressed. He has a complete game. He makes the classic tight end plays with the short stuff over the middle, the button hooks and quick outs but he also can go down the field like a big receiver. He creates the classic miss matches that everyone is looking for in a tight end. He is too fast and athletic for a linebacker to cover and is just too big for a safety. He has great hands and I can see why he is such a good basketball player. He is an explosive leaper. What completes his game is the blocking. I think the top tight ends in this class are all excellent athletes and receivers but Rudolph is such a great blocker. He has offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Miami of Florida, Virginia, Boston College and any number of others. He is likely to wait to make a decision but most think it will come down to Ohio State and Notre Dame, with the smart money on the Fightin’ Irish. Last year Rudolph caught 32 passes for 400 yards and seven touchdowns.
5. ***** Brandon Moore 6-6 230 TE Trotwood-Madisonhttp://scoutingoh.com/BrandonMooreTrotwood_2008.htm
I remember the first play I ever saw of Brandon Moore. He was running a wheel route up the sidelines. The quarterback threw the ball. I thought there was no way a player the size of Moore had a shot at the catch. He went up over the linebacker covering him and made the play on the ball at its highest point. It was not luck. It was not really a great catch but for the fact that this was a sophomore tight end making it, and he made it look simple. He made it look routine. I only needed to see a few more plays by Moore to see that this was a special talent. I only hoped to see a better tight end prospect than former Youngstown Ursuline tight end Louis Irizarry. I have now seen that player. Moore is bigger but just as athletic. In fact, he is so athletic that he played wide receiver this past season under new Trotwood offensive coordinator Jeremy Beckham. I have spoken to people that think that was a waste. I could not disagree more. Brandon Moore is going to have to learn more about running pass routes to be effective as a college player. He is not your basic inline blocking tight end who will catch a pass on occasion. This is the kind of talent that you can build a passing attack around. He is going to be asked to run routes that most tight ends will never be asked to run. Moore can be one of those players that only spends three years in the college ranks before going on to the NFL. He is also a very good track athlete, throwing the shot over 50 feet and the discus over 140 feet. The wrapper on the package is a 4.28 gpa in honors classes and a 22 ACT.
6. ***** Dan McCarthy 6-1 190 S Youngstown Cardinal Mooneyhttp://scoutingoh.com/DanMcCarthy_2006.htm
I had not seen Dan McCarthy since his sophomore year when I was told about offers from Ohio State and Notre Dame about midseason. Surprised was a better word than shocked. Not that he was offered but that he was offered this early by two of the Midwest’s Big Four. I think about dominating players when I think about early offers. I saw McCarthy for the first time as a junior a few weeks later. I can see why these powers came in with offers. He went from a possible Big Four player to a bonafide national level player. He was really something. He is bigger and can he ever move. He reads the game well and attacks with abandon. He runs like a back and hits like a linebacker. Fans like to get a comparison out of me with a player they are more familiar with. I could not come up with a name until I saw him on offense. He is a left handed quarterback on offense. Watching him play there is what gave me a name. He bears a great resemblance to former Buckeye quarterback Steve Bellisari, who would have been an NFL safety if he had been to make the move. Unlike Bellisari, Dan sees himself as a safety at the next level. Because his brother is at Notre Dame and his Catholic school background everyone assumes he will accept the Notre Dame offer but there is a lot of buzz that this McCarthy may choose to make his own mark and that Ohio State is the school to beat. Wherever he chooses to go, that school will be getting one of the nations top safety prospects.
7. ***** Nathan Williams 6-4 235 DE/LB Miami Tracehttp://scoutingoh.com/nathan_williams_miami_trace.htm
This is the best player in Ohio that nobody knows about. I know that Williams was an invitee to Ohio State games as a sophomore. I had not seen him until right before his junior year. The first thing that jumped out at me was the fact that he was always listed as a defensive end but he plays middle linebacker in high school. The next thing that occurred to me was why anyone would move this dominating middle linebacker to defensive end. He may grow into a defensive end but I can’t believe anyone would move him before giving him a shot first at showing he can be a middle linebacker. He reminds me of a combination of recent top Ohio linebackers, Matt Wilhelm and Ross Homan, both Buckeye players. He reminds me of Wilhelm because he is a big kid that everyone thinks is a foregone conclusion he will play defensive end. He reminds me of Homan in the fact that he plays small school football but he is one of the rare ones that rises so far above his level of competition that you have to discount it. He is not a big fish in a small pond. He is Moby Dick in a goldfish bowl. Like Homan he needs to be taken off the field to make the game fair. He has had two straight 100+ tackle seasons. As a sophomore he had 12 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. I don’t know if I have ever seen a Mike linebacker with double digit sacks. He rushed for over 1000 yards as a fullback as a sophomore and averaged better than ten yards a carry this year. It is defense where he really stands out. He has run 4.67 in the forty at 235-240. He reads the game so well. When he finds the runner he brings it. No drag down tackles here. Nathan Williams is a knock down tackler. Fans might not know much about him but college coaches do. Ohio State and Notre Dame are both in hot pursuit with the Buckeyes holding the edge. This is an athlete that should be on someone’s national top 100 list.
8. ***** DeVier Posey 6-3 180 WR Cincinnati LaSallehttp://scoutingoh.com/devier_posey_Cincinnati_lasalle.htm
Posey quietly went about being one of the most athletic and dynamic players in the state last year. He is a very athletic receiver. I am not saying he is a very athletic receiver for his size. He is as athletic as any player in the state period. He returns kickoffs. Only the best of the best at this size are elusive enough to return kicks. He has the ability to change direction and stop and start like a much smaller player. He is special after the catch. He runs like a back once he has the ball in his hands, something LaSalle head coach Tom Grippa tried to do every way he could. He used him on reverses and lined him up at quarterback just to get the ball in his hands. Something that really impressed me about Posey was how he works the middle of the field. He is utterly fearless. Time and time again he ran slants and posts knowing what awaited him and I never saw any hesitation. The best plays I saw from him were those where he ended up in the middle of the field then made great open field runs after the catch. Posey has an impressive frame. Just looking at him you would guess 200 lbs. That he is this good after his first year of football speaks volumes about his upside. 1,371 all-purpose yards, including 750 receiving yards, as a junior on 33 catches and scored 9 times. Those are good numbers when you consider that La Salle lost its starting quarterback for the year before the season ever started. Ohio State, Virginia, Michigan State, California, Indiana, Northwestern, Cincinnati, and Ohio have offered. With Tennessee, Nebraska and Minnesota likely to have come in with offers by the time you read this. He took a visit to Ohio State in the middle of March and committed to the Buckeyes soon after.
9. ***** Brandon Beachum 6-1 220 LB/RB Youngstown Cardinal Mooneyhttp://scoutingoh.com/BrandonBeachum_Junior_2006_Highlights.htm
All you need to see is the state division four championship game to understand what all the fuss is about with Beachum. You want impact players. Players that make things happen whenever they are on the field. That is Brandon Beachum. He plays both ways. He was the leading rusher in the game on offense and scored a touchdown. He had a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a sack and an interception. It seemed like every time there was a big play you saw number three involved. He had twelve offers at last count. Most of the offers are as a linebacker but some are as an athlete because he is that good a running back. He is a big back who shows good instincts and has excellent vision. What makes him a possible running back is he has a good burst and he has quick feet. That ia what usually kills the chances for a back this size to stay at running back. Size will say a lot about where he ends up in college. I think he is a bit better as a linebacker. He reads very well, runs well and strikes hard. He is a solid tackler, something that is missing from the game of so many young players that are this much better than the vast majority of people they are playing against. They do too much running onto and not enough wrapping up. I think he is getting excellent coaching under P.J. Fecko. When I watch Mooney the one thing that stands out is how well organized and sharp the team is. Beachum is already a full qualifier.
10. ***** Jamiihr Williams 6-2 1/2 230 LB Trotwood-Madisonhttp://scoutingoh.com/Jamiihr_Williams_Lima_2008.htm
Williams is just now starting to be a name that fans are familiar with. In Ohio the recruiting trail is what is know as the “3-C highway”, Cleveland to Columbus to Cincinnati. Williams was at Lima. That is off the beaten path. He has been a standout on the combine circuit. His tapes did not appear until after his sophomore year. He is just as impressive on the football field as he is in drills. As a sophomore he registered double digit sacks as a stand-up defensive end then moved to a true linebacker spot as a junior. He was on his way to a 150 tackle year when a high ankle sprain took about half his junior year away. He went to the national junior combine after the injury healed and picked up where he left off. He will be with Maurice Douglas outstanding Trotwood Madison program this fall. He is outstanding at the line of scrimmage but size might dictate that he stay at linebacker. He has all the tools to make the transition as his performance before the injury forced him to the sidelines. Williams has showed that he has the crucial ability to find the ball and the burst to do something about it once he finds it. He has the top end speed to get to the ball carrier anywhere on the field and the motor to stay in every play until the whistle blows. Ohio State, Michigan, Florida State, Michigan State, Iowa and West Virginia are all showing early interest. Williams went to two Michigan games last fall. Has Ohio State, Michigan and Florida State at the top of his list. He is already fully qualified. I think he is a strong side linebacker but he could easily grow into a middle linebacker.
11. ***** Shawntel Rowell 6-4 330 DT Cleveland Glenvillehttp://scoutingoh.com/Shauntel_Rowell_Glenville.htmThe word coming out of Texas at the national junior combine which is held the same weekend as the national all-star game is this is going to be a great year for offensive linemen nationally, and a good number of them were at the combine. Shawntel Rowell was there for the combine and was a nightmare for any lineman he came up against. What makes it more impressive is Rowell did not play much defense for Glenville this past year, if he played any. He had let his weight get out of hand, reportedly 370 at one point last summer. Ted Ginn is not going to have someone that big on his defense. The fact is that even when he was closer to 400 lbs than 300 he was still the most athletic big man out there every time he stepped on the football field. I think this all comes down to his weight. If he is in shape, which for me is 320 or less, he is a defensive tackle and a five star national player and he is top five in this instate class. With his weight up he is a three star player. For a couple of years he was at the top of this class. The only reason that changed was because of the weight. In shape this kid is a Big Daddy Wilkinson clone. He has a first step and a punch that leaves most linemen trying to figure out which way is up. Once a player the size of Rowell gets a blocker off balance it is over. His future is up to him. From the look of things he has taken his conditioning seriously. He has no offers right now but that will surely change as word gets around that the football version of “Shaq” is back.
12. ***** Zebrie Sanders 6-6 265 OL Clayton Northmonthttp://scoutingoh.com/zebrie_sanders_clayton_northmont.htm
Any other year Zebrie Sanders would be the first name out of anyones mouth who follows recruiting in Ohio when asked about the best offensive lineman in the state. Mike Adams has been soaking up all the talk. Sanders is at least an all-region lineman and should be a name on the national scene. With schools like USC and Florida showing some interest that national exposure could come to fruition. Sanders has the body you look for in a tackle. He is long and lean with the wingspan of a jumbo jet. The Clayton Northmont system is going to give any offensive lineman a leg-up going into college because the ball is in the air so much. He does a good job of pass blocking. He gets out of stance and into his pass pro quickly. He has great feet. He moves like a player eighty lbs lighter. He has a great body to add weight. He will be in the 310-320 range by the time he is finished growing. He needs to work on his intensity. Linemen, in particular offensive lineman, come along slower than skill position players. Sanders has a tremendous upside and is a high character kid. He is benching 300 lbs which is a bit of a surprise. These long arms kids have a tough time in the weightroom. That tells me he is working hard in there. The list of interested schools is a long one. In addition to USC and Florida, Miami of Florida, Notre Dame, Michigan, Wisconsin and Louisville have been in contact. He has been to Ohio State twice.
13. ***** Jake Stoneburner 6-5 215 TE/WR Dublin Coffman http://scoutingoh.com/Jake_Stoneburner_Dublin_Coffman.htm
The only problem with Jake Stoneburner is where to play him. He reminds me a lot of a player from the class of 2006, Lakewood St. Edward’s Kyle Hubbard. Both players are tremendously athletic kids for their size. They both have great hands and are strong leapers. They both catch the ball with their hands. The downside is also the same. Where do you project that at? Schools were all over the place with Hubbard. Some thought big wide receiver. Most thought tight end. Stoneburner made the decision easier because he ran a 4.53 forty at the national junior combine. I would imagine he will be brought in and given a look first as a wide receiver with no worry about whether he grows into a tight end. He has shown the ability to get down the field and make catches. What I really like about him is his ability to make something happen after the catch. He isn’t just looking to get as much yardage as he can until he gets tackled. He is looking to take it to the house. He is used to deadly effect on wide receiver screens because he is so elusive. At the same time he uses his size to great effect. He seems to understand that he is bigger than the defensive backs out there and has a yards after contact number that any back would be proud of. He breaks a lot of tackles. His ball skills are superb. He attacks the ball at its highest point and uses his excellent hands to make catches. He has offers already from Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Iowa, Clemson, West Virginia, Maryland and Nebraska. In mid-March Stoneburner gave his commitment to the Buckeyes.
14. ***** Justin Staples 6-3 220 LB Lakewood St. Edwardhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/justin_staples_St_eds.htm
I had more people telling me about Justin Staples than any player on the loaded Lakewood St. Edward roster. Once I got film it did not take long to notice him. He lived up to all the hype I had thrown at me. There is no fudging on the size. He is legitimately 6-3, and I would add at least to that number. If I were building a high school linebacker prospect he would look like Justin Staples. He is long and lean with a great to fill out some more. He could end up being big enough to be a middle linebacker and maybe even move back to defensive end. He moved to linebacker from defensive end where he played as a sophomore. Right now I see a very athletic outside linebacker who brings plenty of speed to the game. He needs to work on his reads but that is not a concern. He was playing linebacker for the first time as a junior. He is raw but the physical tools are something to get excited about. I saw him early in the year and then again late in the year. There is no question he became a better player. He is strong enough to play at the line of scrimmage but athletic enough to be used in coverage, not just against tight ends and backs but the coaching staff has enough confidence to let him play against wide receivers. Considering the level of competition St. Edward played against that is a real testament to what kind of talent Staples is. He says Ohio State and Michigan are his top two schools. He has been to Ohio State for the Minnesota game. He also lists Florida State, Notre Dame, Virginia and Georgia Tech.
15. **** Nic DiLillo 6-5 220 TE Mansfield Madisonhttp://scoutingoh.com/Nic_DiLillo_Madison.htmI recently watched Nic Dilillo’s junior tape. I was impressed with him as a receiver. He catches anything he can reach. He has a long lean body, perfect for packing on the right kind of weight. He is bigger than last year. Not just heavier but he looks taller. I see him blossoming as an athlete. He is the one of the four tight ends we are talking about that is most football ready to play. He is right at home working the middle of the field like a classic tight end. He runs the routes that you need a tight end to run. The short underneath stuff, the button hooks and such that are the meat and potatoes of the tight end position. He plays physical. He seems to relish that part of the game. He knows what to do with it after the catch. He gets north and south quickly. We started talking about alot of juniors early. There are a number of names out there but the ones that are not getting the attention they deserve are Nathan Williams, Justin Staples and Nic Dilillo. The coaching staffs have noticed him. Dilillo has been a guest of Ohio State, Michigan and Pitt. If he runs great at combines this summer his stock will soar. That is something he is aware of and working hard on. Dilillo will have no problem qualifying.
16. **** Isaiah Pead 5-11 175 Ath Eastmoor Academyhttp://scoutingoh.com/Isiah_Pead_Eastmoor_Academy.htm
If they kept a statistic for most defensive players ankles broken by an offensive player Isaiah Pead would certain be a threat to break the season and career records. The very first play on his film his makes nine defensive players miss. Yes, I said nine. He is a human highlight film. More importantly he is a human highlight film with pretty good size. I am not one to get excited about small backs. I maintain weight is not really a good indicator of size. Pead has a good frame. He can add weight. Even if he doesn’t, he shows the hands and athleticism to move out to wide receiver. He plays safety on defense. I think with work he has the feet and hips to play corner. In the end if I were making the decision I would leave him at running back. He is so elusive. He reminds me of former Chaminade-Julienne and current Michigan State star Javon Ringer in the fact that is tight spaces he still manages to create space to avoid tacklers and like Ringer once cornered that does not mean the play is over. He spins and uses a stiff arm to avoid being tackled. He breaks a lot of tackles. In ten regular season games Pead ran for 1696 yards and 19 touchdowns, on 158 carries which is a 10.7 per carry average. He was division four Co-Player of the Year. He has a 4.4 forty and made the state finals in the 200 meters and 400 meters as a both a freshman and a sophomore. Pead offers a strong argument for being the top skill player in the class.
17. **** Johnny Adams 5-11 170 CB/WR Akron Buchtelhttp://scoutingoh.com/JohnAdams2008.htm
The first time I spoke to long time Buchtel coach Claude Browne about Johnny Adams he spoke the magic words, “the next Ted Ginn.” That is always going to get any talent evaluators attention. I could not wait to get the tape. Is Adams the nest Ted Ginn? He at least belongs in the discussion. In the open field he is something to see. A fan asked me once about recruiting just for special teams. I said that doesn’t happen but when you see a kick returner of the caliber of Johnny Adams you rethink that. He put up some amazing numbers. He could make a highlight reel just of kick returns, both kick-offs and punts. Coach Brown sees him as a college cornerback but that takes me back to the Ted Ginn reference. I lost count of the number of key strokes I made back when Ted Ginn was being recruited on the Bucknuts.com site about Ginn playing wide receiver. If a cornerback touches the ball twenty times in a season he is likely going to be an All-American. As a wide receiver Ginn could touch the ball that many times in two games. I say the same thing about Adams. You have to want him to touch the ball as much as possible. I don’t know if Adams has Ginns pure speed but there is no doubt he is right there with him in elusiveness. The kid is a big play machine. He only had 11 receptions last year on offense but turned those catches into four touchdowns. He had six interceptions taking two back for touchdowns. He had three return touchdowns to his resume, two on punts and one kickoff return. An offer from Ohio State ends his recruitment.
18. **** Kevin Koger 6-4 235 Ath Toledo Whitmer http://www.scoutingohio.com/kevin_koger_toledo_whitmer.htm In the state of Ohio the recruiting trail has long been established. It is the what long time residents call the “3 C highway” which runs from Cleveland through Columbus and down to Cincinnati with stops in between at places along the road like Canton and Akron in the north and Dayton in the south. The northwest of the state has always been highly regarded as a basketball region. The way things are going these days I am going to have to cultivate more contacts in the area. Dane Sanzenbacher earned an offer from Ohio State last year and this big kid is the next in line to receive offers from two of the Big Four as Michigan came in with an offer right before Ohio State. I first glimpsed Koger in a film from Massillon. He is a very athletic big kid. He moves well and is a tenacious blocker. He needs work on his technique but he has the tools to be a fine blocker. Whether that is at tight end or on the offensive line remains to be seen. That he could end up on the defensive line is not out of the realm of possibilities. Whitmer coach Joe Palka is seeing him every day in practice and thinks tight end. There is never such a thing as too many big athletes. Koger competes in the long jump, where he has a 22 foot jump to his credit, and runs the sprint relays, the 200 and the 400. Coach Palka thinks he is can carry 265 easy. I think he can get even bigger and in the end he will be an offensive lineman. I love his frame, his feet and his tenacity. Ohio State and Michigan were the schools he wanted offers from so it is likely he will choose from one of those schools. Kogers father is originally from Detroit.
19. **** Taylor Hill 6-2 215 DE/LB Youngstown Cardinal Mooneyhttp://scoutingoh.com/TaylorHill_2006_video.htmFor the last couple of years there has been an endless supply of names coming out of Cardinal Mooney. It is not different this year. The upside is players get to be part of something special, a state championship. The downside is it is crowded in the spotlight. Sometimes players get pushed out. Taylor Hill is a prime example. This is a big time football player. He makes plays all over the field. He runs great and has the motor that is so important to defensive players. He is explosive. I have seen him punch linemen in front of him and send them reeling. Everyone of them had a good deal of weight on Hill. He makes running down plays from behind seem routine. That is how often he does that. He has long arms. Where those long arms are going to suit him best remains to be seen. He is a defensive end in high school. He has a good frame but I think he would be best as a 3-4 outside linebacker/defensive end or at linebacker in a 4-3. He has the instincts, the speed and the motor to make the transition. He plays smart football. One of the best plays I saw out of him was staying on the quarterback until he forced a pitch then having the speed to get over to the back and make a tackle for loss. In the end one thing stands out about Taylor the most, his uncanny ability to avoid blockers. I don’t recall a play where he did not have a blocker in front of him. He run through or around every single one of them. Many of my associates went to see one or another of the Mooney stable but came away talking about Taylor Hill. If he were just a little bigger, where he would surely be a defensive end, I would have him in the top ten.
20. **** Michael Zordich 6-1 210 LB Youngstown Cardinal Mooneyhttp://scoutingoh.com/MichaelZordich_2006videos_part1.htmI was watching a Cardinal Mooney tape of star safety Dan McCarthy. He was making a great run around the left side. A defender was trying to angle him to the sidelines. All of a sudden he got bent in half by a block. Before I could find the remote and rewind to see who made the block there came another. When I got the remote and reviewed both plays I saw it was the same blocker. Michael Zordich is a tremendous blocker. He plays fullback in addition to linebacker. He is a throwback to the days when fullbacks were more than another offensive lineman in the backfield. He runs the belly plays and can catch the ball out of the backfield. He knows what to do with it after he catches it. Brian Leonard is getting a lot of press this year coming out of Rutgers and could end up in the first day of the NFL draft. Michael Zordich could be the same kind of player. He can block and he can hurt a defense when he has the ball in his hands. I will never understand why the fullback position has morphed into the waste that it is these days. That is why Zordich will be a linebacker. He is too talented to be wasted like that. He is a good middle linebacker with top notch instincts, and he runs well enough to take advantage of those good instincts. Penn State, Notre Dame and Ohio State are all showing interest. His father played at Penn State and later in the NFL.
21. **** Dominique Britt 6-5 190 QB Trotwood-Madison http://scoutingoh.com/DomonickBrittTrotwood_2008.htmLast year at this time I was looking at film of Dominique Britt and thinking what a great athlete. Now I am looking at him and saying what a quarterback he is becoming. There was never any question in my mind that Britt would be a division one football player. The first time I saw him I thought he would come in as an athlete, maybe get a shot at playing quarterback but eventually take all that athletic ability to wide receiver. He has come along so much that I think he is odds on to be a quarterback in college. He credits the improvement in his quarterback skills to offensive coordinator Jeremy Beckham who doubled as the quarterback coach. Britt passed for 2889 yards and 21 touchdowns on 165 completions in 303 attempts. He added 1039 rushing yards on only 139 carries. He was invited up to practice at Ohio State with teammate Brandon Moore and really enjoyed himself. He has really good arm strength. On one play of his film he is running to his left and lays a ball out 50 yards throwing against his body. He has an odd motion but that is a work in progress. He is coming along. He could still end up moving to wide receiver but I am calling him a quarterback. He is a pass first play maker that could develop into one of the countries most sought after quarterbacks. If he makes another step up in his quarterback skills from his junior year to his senior year like he did from his sophomore year to his junior year, he will have his pick of schools. He will surely hit Kent State and Ohio State for camps. Others will be added based on interest.
22. **** Elliott Mealer 6-6 280 OL Waseonhttp://scoutingoh.com/elliot_mealer_wauseon.htmThis is a really outstanding year for offensive linemen in Ohio. In any other year this high school tight end would be the number one offensive lineman in Ohio. He has tight end hands but has an offensive linemans body. On one play down near the goal line he does a quick out. The ball is thrown away from him but he manages to stretch out and make the catch, keep his feet and get into the end zone. It was a great play but I don’t think anyone sees him doing any more of that beyond the high school level. Mealer is a great blocker. Wauseon head coach Mark Emans uses him a lot as a lead blocker. He runs behind him and he pulls him like a guard from the backside of the formation. Whether it is pulling or inline blocking he is devastating. Pancakes are the order of the day. He has outstanding feet and is lean for a 280 lb player. He will likely be over 300 lbs by the time he leaves high school. He has as good a frame as Mike Adams and Zebrie Sanders. Mealer is likely to need to work on his pass blocking. Wauseon did not throw the ball much and he was not kept in to block when they did. I see a tackle. He has the wingspan you want in a tackle and great feet. He plays end on defense and is a three year starter on the basketball team. He will camp at Ohio State and Michigan. Most of the Big Ten is paying attention as is Boston College and Notre Dame. I think he leaves the camp season as one of the hottest prospects in Ohio.
23. **** Will Fleming 6-4 205 Ath Akron Hobanhttp://scoutingoh.com/Will_Fleming_Hoban2007.htm
Talk about an introduction. On Flemings tape the very first play is a pass. The quarterback throws the ball with enough air under it to get it over the defender, who is actually in good position. The receiver leaps to make a great catch. He is coming down with the ball and there is a flash of gold. Suddenly the receiver is horizontal in the air. The tape goes on to show play after play of Will Fleming coming up from his safety position and making hit after hit. He is like a heat seeking missle. He is a good enough receiver to be a scholarship level player at that position but where he really stand out is on defense. He shows his 4.6 speed on the tape running down a ball carrier that has broken through the line of scrimmage. The angle is negligible. He just runs him down. With his body I think he is likely to move at least to linebacker, and like Cordale Stewart, he could add enough weigh to that long lean body to eventually find himself at defensive end. He has the speed and ball skills to stay at safety but I just don’t think his body is going to allow that. The way he plays the game I think he would be happier closer to the line of scrimmage where there is more hitting. Fleming really brings it. This kid is not going to stay the best kept secret in Ohio for long.
24. **** Salvador Battles 5-11 205 Ath Youngstown Rayenhttp://scoutingoh.com/SalvadoreBattles_Junior_2006.htmThe first time I saw Salvador Battles it only took me a few plays to see that he was a great athlete playing quarterback because he had a strong arm and it allowed the Rayen staff to maximize the talent on the field with underrated running back Gary Thornton manning that position. Battles always had a big arm, arguably the strongest in the class but he was not an accurate passer and seemed to want to run first. Battles has matured as a passer to the extent that I think he gets tried first as a quarterback. He is staying in there and showing patience waiting on receivers to come open. He is showing touch on his passes and he is showing a comfort level with the position. He is still a work in progress but one that with some patience could earn long term benefits. Everyone is looking for quarterbacks who can make plays with their feet. There is no question Battles can do that. If he is not a fit at quarterback he is certainly a fit at running back. He has a great body for a back, powerfully built but not so much that he has lost his speed and agility. He is explosive to the hole and runs with the power of a much bigger back. He has vision and good speed. He is a back that can take it outside as well as he takes it between the tackles. There is an argument he is the top back in the class.
25(tie). **** Kenny Stafford 6-3 175 WR Columbus DeSaleshttp://scoutingoh.com/Kenneth_Stafford_St_Francis_Desales.htmI have had ties before but never a three way tie. I just cannot decide between these three outstanding receivers. Each brings something different enough that it comes down to picking what you like. Bussey is big, strong and very athletic. Roundtree, though they all have hands, has the best hands and is so difficult to corral after the catch. Stafford is big and the fastest of the lot. You were not going to see the ball in the air a lot under former DeSales head coach Bob Jacoby. What weapons he had a receiver with Stafford and tight end Justin Thompson. Thompson is likely the fastest tight end in an outstanding class. Stafford is likely the fastest receiver in this impressive class of receivers. On one play he is downfield throwing a block for one of the DeSales backs that has legitimate 4.4 speed. Stafford actually pulls ahead of him at one point. He shows hands, making catches on badly thrown balls and diving to make other catches. Bussey is a fine blocker. Stafford is even better. Long runs are the result of receivers blocking. No team had more long runs than DeSales. I am always happy to see receivers who bother to block but what stands out about Stafford is when he catches a ball in stride and explodes by every player on the field. I don’t have a forty time on him but his football speed is something special. Stafford has some outstanding genetics. He is the nephew of former Buckeye great Chris Carter.
25 (tie). **** Bakari Bussey 6-3 190 WR Lakota Westhttp://scoutingoh.com/bakari_bussey_Lakota_west.htmEveryone is looking for big receivers. Here is a prototype. Bussey is big and he plays the big receivers game. He knows he is the biggest guy on the field away from the line of scrimmage. He is physical with defensive backs. Get him one on one and throw the ball up. He has the leaping ability to go up and make a play, the hands and the strength to take the ball from any defender and the balance to keep his feet and make a play after the catch. He works the middle of the field like a big receiver needs to. Lakota West head coach Larry Cox has found an effective way to use him running quick outs. He knows Bussey is going to make the catch then he makes cornerbacks try to tackle him. It is a chore. On the first play on his video he catches an out, stiff arms the corner and takes it to the house. On another he drops his shoulder on the corner, who was laying off him to keep Bussey from running by him, and gains an extra five yards. I did not see a play where he was stopped in his tracks. Coach Cox says he has the biggest hands he has ever seen. Bodywise Bussey reminds me of former Buckeye David Boston and current Buckeye Brian Robiskie. Bengal fans will remember his father Dexter Bussey.Bussey caught 21 balls for 358 yards and 4 touchdowns, averaging 17 yards a catch. He has been hearing from schools as far away as Oklahoma State. If he runs well this summer he will have his pick of schools.
25 (tie). **** Roy Roundtree 6-2 170 WR Trotwood-Madisonhttp://scoutingoh.com/roy_roundtree_trotwood_madison.htmRoundtree is a long lean receiver with all the attributes to be a Big Ten player. He shows outstanding hands. He uses his hands to catch the ball not his body. He shows excellent concentration. I noticed how many balls he caught with hands in his face. He adjusts to the ball extremely well. He does a great job of checking his stride so he can run through catches for more yardage. Trotwood head coach Maurice Douglas calls him “TG3”, meaning he is the next Ted Ginn but who Roundtree reminds me of is Cincinnati Bengal receiver Chad Johnson is body and in style. He has that long lean body with wide shoulders and a thin lower body. He plays more of a big receivers game. He can go over the top of defenders. Ginn uses speed to create separation. Like Johnson, Roundtree is more of a north-south runner after the catch. He is not looking to make any sideline to sideline runs like Ginn where he gives up 10 yards before gaining 50. Roundtree is just a brutally effective receiver who is a threat to take it to the house on every touch. Get the ball and get upfield as quickly as possible. He is surprisingly strong. He breaks tackles and uses a stiff arm. In general he is not as easy to get off his feet as you would think a receiver his size would be. He is mostly a split end but he lines up in the slot and shows no hesitation about running over the middle. This will be his second year under Trotwood offensive coordinator Jeremy Beckham, one of the best offensive minds in the state. It should be interesting to watch him take it to another level. If he runs well at camps and combines this spring and over the summer Roy Roundtree will have an argument to be the number one receiver in the class.
28. *** Justin Thompson 6-2 1/2 225 TE Columbus DeSaleshttp://scoutingoh.com/Justin_Thompson_St_Francis_Desales.htmIf this kid was 6-5 we would be talking about who was the best tight end in Ohio, Kyle Rudolph or Justin Thompson. I know that is a big statement but all you need to do is see the tape. He is explosive off the line of scrimmage. He shows great hand-eye coordination, catching balls thrown all over the place. He digs them out of the ground and he reaches behind to make catches. DeSales was a run first team under former coach Bob Jacoby so a good arm was not high on the list of attributes for a DeSales quarterback. Once he gets the ball, that is when the fun starts. Thompson is like a good open field wide receiver after the catch. He is cutting and looking for blocks, not just running until he gets tackled like most tight ends. He is elusive enough and fast enough that DeSales used him on tight end around plays. They split him out as a wide receiver at times. Where he did so much damage was little quick passes over the line of scrimmage. On several he split the safeties and outran them for scores. He is a load to bring down. Over 500 yards receiving on only 21 catches and turned those 21 catches in 9 touchdowns. He has a 4.6 forty and I have no doubts about that number. He was running away from much smaller players regularly on his highlight tape. 3.2 gpa.
29. **** Joe Pachuta 6-7 285 OL New Concorde John Glennhttp://scoutingoh.com/Joe_Pachulta_John_Glenn.htmOhio is just chock full of outstanding athletes in the small school ranks. Joe Pachuta is one of the best. He is all of his listed 6-7 and carries his 285 very well. He is built a lot like current Ohio State left tackle Alex Boone was as a high school player. He moves very well. John Glenn head coach John Kelley has him getting into the second level to make blocks and he handles it well. Overall he is very raw but you just don’t see players this size that are this athletic. He needs to be as big as he is to carry that nasty streak. He has the attitude of a defensive lineman. On one play he is riding his man so far they end up out of bounds where someone on the opposing sidelines grabs Pachuta to make sure he does not finish the block out of bounds. I love that kind of nasty and tenacity. He finishes every block and does a great job in pass protection with his outstanding reach and the fact that he just will not quit. Once he learns technique he is going to be a hard man to beat. He plays tackle and guard for coach Kelley but mostly at tackle. I think he could be a left tackle but that nasty he brings to the table would better serve him at right tackle. I think he could be a camp star.
30. *** Zac Dysert 6-4 190 QB Adahttp://scoutingoh.com/zac_dysert_ada.htmAda is not the acronym for something. It is a place here in Ohio. Recruiters will need to find it. Every year there are players that I see in the top 100 that I peg as players that could move the most by signing day of their senior year. Zac Dysert tops that list this year. About the only question I can see with Dysert is the level of competition. He has all the tools. He is 6-4 which seems to be the minimum requirement for most of the big schools, and he may be closer to 6-5. He has a really good arm. I saw him make every throw that you would want. He can throw the long ball and he can throw the deep out with velocity. I was very impressed with his coolness under fire. We talk about a quarterback being a field general. This kid looks the part. There is a Peyton Manning quality about him. He is mechanically very sound. He sets his feet and delivers the ball over the top. His numbers were spectacular. He hit 293 of his 448 passes for a 65% completion percentage. 3835 yards and 31 touchdown passes. He had 8 rushing touchdowns. He is a good enough athlete that he also plays defense. One thing he is going to have to work on is avoiding collisions. No coach is going to happy about his quarterback taking on tacklers like Dysert does when he runs. If he gets to camps and combines I think Zac Dyserts will be one of the most talked about recruits in Ohio next summer.
31. *** Darius Reeves 5-11 185 CB Gahanna Lincolnhttp://scoutingoh.com/darius_reeves_gahanna.htmOne of the most gifted athletes in the class of 2008. Reeves is a tremendously skilled runner. I would say Isaiah Pead is the only runner in this class with skills to match Reeves. Both have the same problem. Are they going to be big enough to be backs at the next level. Reeves can stop and cut on a dime then get back to top speed before anyone knows which direction he went. On some runs Reeves looks like he is running obstacle courses which is a credit to his vision and elusiveness. He has explosive speed. That is one thing that will make him a good corner. That recovery speed is crucial to a cornerback. Reeves does play corner in high school and is quite a good one. Those same quick feet that allow him to change direction at speed are going to serve him well as a cornerback. Something that really stands out about Reeves as a corner is his tenacity. He stays with it, digging and scratching when others would have given up. He is a good leaper and with solid size, listed at 6-1 but looking more like 5-11, he can match-up with the big receivers we are seeing in todays game. Another big plus for him is he is a willing and solid tackler. Reeves has excellent genes as his father was a safety for Michigan under Bo Schembechler. As good as he is as a cornerback if he were a little bigger I am sure the schools recruiting him, Michigan, Michigan State, West Virginia, LSU, Boston College and all the MAC schools would be looking at him as a running back. He had 1700 yards and 16 touchdowns. Like with Pead I would look at him as a receiver. Reeves is such a tremendously gifted athlete with the ball in his hands I would want to have him on offense.
32. *** D.J. Woods 6-0 175 WR Strongsvillehttp://scoutingoh.com/dj_woods_strongsville.htmI first heard about Woods last year from coach Jacques. He was not ready to put that kind of pressure on a kid as young as Woods who was starting into his junior year at the time. He mentioned that he had a receiver that he thought was going to be special. He just wanted to let him grow into the role. Last summer Woods took that step with a breakout performance at the Cleveland combine. There were any number of top receivers at that combine but Woods was the one everyone came away talking about. He impressed everyone present with his combination of speed, hands and route running. You don’t see that very often. You will see a receiver with two of those attributes sometimes but you don’t often find a player with all three. He is an explosive leaper. He is right around 6-0 and well put together. I have quite a bit of film of him. I have yet to see him shy away from contact. He is an excellent kick returner, both punts and kickoffs. On the season he averaged 28.6 on his punt returns and took three back for scores, and two kickoffs. He had 35 catches on the year for an amazing 25.4 yards per catch and turned those 35 catches into 8 touchdowns. He had a fine season on defense tacking up 48 tackles playing cornerback. He has recently returned from a combine in Florida where he ran a set of three forties. He got off to a bad start with a 4.43. Well, it was a bad start when you consider he followed up with a 4.35, then finished the set off with a 4.37. He has been a guest of Notre Dame and has been to Michigan.
33. *** Michael Shaw 5-11 185 ATH Trotwood Madisonhttp://scoutingoh.com/michael_shaw_trotwood_madison.htmAnother player that rose to the occasion in the state championship game. Shaw almost lead Kettering Alter to an upset win over the mighty Big Red of Steubenville, a team that is on an undefeated run for the ages. He took a swing pass and outran the entire defense. He had another run on a pitch out that left him looking like he was hemmed in but he weaved his way into the endzone, breaking a couple of tackles along the way. He was an impact player then entire game. This is a kid with an entirely different level of speed. He can run with Brandon Saine. His 10.6 100 meters was recorded in a track meet. He will be the fastest football player in Ohio next year. He is a running back in a wishbone/flexbone offense in high school but I think he moves out into space at the college level. He has some skills as a running back and is well put together despite not having ideal running back size, but his success has more to do with him being the best athlete on the field than it does with having top drawer runner skills. I think he would be better off outside or at corner to take better advantage of that extra gear he has. He does not play defense but he does not shy away from contact. I think he has the feet and hips to make the transition. Shaw has made the decision to transfer to Trotwood Madison. I am sure no matter where he lines up offensive coordinator Jeremy Beckham will find a way to get him the ball. He is a game changer.
34. *** Justin Brown 6-4 230 DE Youngstown Ursulinehttp://scoutingoh.com/JustinBrownUrsuline2008.htmEarly on Brown was looking like he was going to be one of the better defensive ends in Ohio. He is still playing as a defensive end but he has a game better suited to play defensive tackle. I think he has the frame to add the weight to be a defensive tackle and seems more at home in the trenches than he does as an edge rusher. When I first saw his junior year tape it was apparent he was at his best at the point of attack. He is an excellent and tenacious blocker as a tight end. I don’t think he gets recruited as a tight end. His receiving skills are not what schools are looking for but I could see him recruited as an offensive lineman. He moves really well. He is as adept at moving people as an offensive player as he is at not being moved as a defensive player. He will fill out to 280 or so by the time he is ready to step on the football field. We are seeing more defensive coordinators using the 3-4 and other schemes that ask for three down linemen. That may be where Brown fits in best.
35. *** Jordan Bright 6-6 225 DE Cincinnati Wyominghttp://scoutingoh.com/jordan_bright_wyoming.htmNobody is higher on my list of players to keep an eye on than Jordan Bright. The first word that comes to my mind when I think about Bright is rangy. He looks taller than his listed 6-6 and has the wingspan of a small airplane and can he ever run. I don’t have a forty time but his game speed is excellent. He uses those long arms well, getting his hands up and knocking down passes regularly. I think we are not hearing so much about him because everyone will want to get him in camp and see how he is going to handle a move down. He plays a stand up defensive end in a 5-man front. I don't know how he is going to make the transition to playing with his hand in the dirt. His frame says he is going to add some weight. Uses his hands very well to keep blockers off his body. He bears an uncanny resemblance to future Hall of Famer Jason Taylor in build and in his game. If he has a good summer this is my pick for the fastest rising prospect in Ohio for next year.
36. *** Evan Klepac 6-4 245 DE Youngstown Boardmanhttp://scoutingoh.com/Evan_Klepec_Boardman.htmNot only one of the most impressive defensive ends I have seen this year. Klepac is one of the most impressive players I have seen in this class. Klepac is big. I try to get fans to understand that weight is not a good indicator of size. This kid has a big frame and long arms. I do not have any weightroom totals on him but there are several plays where he blows up blockers and pulls down runners with one hand. He plays the weakside in high school but I see a strong side defensive end in Klepac. He is an excellent pass rusher but he excels versus the run too. You want a defensive end this size and one that is this strong to be lined up on the strong side where most teams run. He is so strong at thepoint of attack and has such a great body I could see someone taking Evan Klepac and moving him to defensive tackle. He missed half the season with an undisclosed injury. That is the only reason I can see why he is just now appearing on my radar screen. If he goes to camp and shows he has put the injury behind him this could be one of the fastest rising prospects in the state come this summer.
37. *** Bruce Parker 6-3 230 DE/OLB Sanduskyhttp://scoutingoh.com/Bruce_Parker_Sandusky.htmThe best edge player in the class of 2008. There are other players in the class that are going to have better measurables but none of them play the position better. When I say edge player I mean as a pass rusher and as a run defender. So many players at this age are headed to the quarterback on every play. Bruce Parker takes care of his run responsibilities too. He is going to check down and not let runners get wide of him. He is a savvy player. He rushes inside as well as outside and uses a rip move, something so few high school players capable of. He is a thinking mans football player. Parker has the motor that I want to see in a defensive player. He chases plays all over the field and plays to the whistle. He is so quick off the snap that he beats many tackles before they get into their pass pro. He has outstanding closing speed. That leads me to believe that he could get a look as a linebacker. In my opinion his best position would be as a stand-up defensive end in a 4-3. He is an ideal fit for that position. 13 sacks and 65 tackles on the year.
38. *** Phillip Barnett 6-2 180 WR Middletownhttp://scoutingoh.com/phillip_barnett_middletown.htmI regularly mention that I think a player is going to be someone to watch. If I was to make a separate list for them the name at the top of this year’s list would be Phillip Barnett. This is the D-Flawless diamond in the rough is Phillip Barnett. He has been a basketball player all through his high school career. He came out for football for the first time as junior. Middletown coach Ron Johnson is one of the most dedicated coaches in Ohio getting information out on his players. He did not have him in his information package last year. That is how little was known about Barnett as a football player. He is so raw that even being such a tremendous athlete, he is getting attention from the mid-majors on the hardwood as a point guard, he did not make it into the starting lineup until the seventh game of the season. Did he ever make an impression. His athleticism and his hands were put on display on the first play that I saw from Barnett. He makes a leaping twisting catch of a pass thrown a little too high. The next play I see Middletowns underrated senior quarterback from last year, Skyler Jones, gun one right at Barnetts face. There was a bit too much on the ball and Barnett had little time to react but he made the catch look easy. He has a reported 4.56 forty. I think once he decides to concentrate on football he will get that down. It is a good time but I think he has a great time in him. I have seen it many times when a basketball player gives up the sport to concentrate on football. He has not decided what he is going to do yet. He has been to Ohio State for the Indiana game. Tremendous upside for this kid.
39. *** Jake Current 6-3 270 OL Troyhttp://scoutingoh.com/jake_current_troy.htmIt is easy for an offensive lineman to get overlooked in this class. That is the only reason Jake Current is not a name that is being passed around a lot. This is a two time winner of the best lineman award at the Ohio State camp. Keep in mind that this is a junior we are talking about so one of the awards he earned as a sophomore. When you add in the number of players that attend those camps it makes it all the more impressive. He is a high school tackle that projects as a guard in college. I think he has the potential to be one of the better offensive linemen in the Midwest. He just needs a little more publicity. He is equally adept at going straight ahead and at pulling. This kid can really run. He is technically sounder than any lineman in Ohio. He stays low and fires out when going straight ahead and gets good leverage on his blocks. Where he stands out is any play where he is pulling. He has the ability to get out in front of a back like no lineman in Ohio. He is not asked to pass block a lot but handles it well Troy throws the ball. He has such great feet and athleticism. He has been to Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa and Duke. If there is a Big Ten school that is not recruiting him I am not aware of it. Boston College and Georgia Tech are both showing early interest. He will camp at Ohio State again and at Michigan.
40. *** Tito Toles 6-0 180 SS/RB Youngstown Rayenhttp://scoutingoh.com/TitoToles_2005.htmA well done tape gets your attention right off the bat. The first few plays should have me wanting to watch the entire thing. I can’t remember a tape from anyone this year where the first play caught my attention more. Toles is lined up on the weak side of the formation right at the line of scrimmage like a defensive end. At the snap he is off like a shot and blows up the back that comes to pick him up, then grabs the quarterback with one hand and reaches around to strip him with the other. The next play he is reads the quarterbacks eyes and steps in front of a pass for an interception. On offense he has a go ‘til you hit something reckless running style, but I don’t see him as an offensive player. He has a defensive players mindset. I don’t have a forty time on Toles but his football speed is excellent. This is one of the best tacklers in Ohio and a hard hitter. The word that comes to mind when I watch Tito Toles play football is dynamic. An expression we see used a lot these days is, he brings it. Tito Toles is the epitome of that expression.
41. *** Steve Yoak 6-2 210 LB Akron Hobanhttp://scoutingoh.com/Steven_Yoak_Hoban2007.htmThis is a name that is not yet familiar to Ohio high school football recruiting fans but he will be. Yoak was coming off a fine camp season last summer where he ran a 4.47 at Akron and impressed someone whose opinion I have a lot of respect for at the Ohio State camp. He ran under 4.6 at another camp. Everything was set for him to have a breakout season. Yoak was off to a good start but had the misfortune of breaking his leg in the second game of the year. He had a great first game with 173 total yards, 126 rushing and 46 receiving. He is playing running back in high school but projects as a linebacker at the next level. He has a body to add thirty more lbs with no impact on his speed and athleticism. He has received game tickets to go to see eight different schools and was able to attend five games. Steve is hearing from Akron, Boston College, Cincinnati, Colorado, Duke, Florida State, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern and Notre Dame. He has a shuttle of 4.3. He had 1688 yards on 332 carries scored 21 touchdowns as a sophomore. He looks to have the injury behind him. I think he could be one of the camp stars and will only need to show in a couple of games next year that he really has completely healed, then the offers will start coming in and he will move up this list.
42. *** Jerel Worthy 6-3 285 DT Huber Heights Waynehttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Jerel_Worthy_Huber_Heights_Wayne.htmOne of those players I saw late in the process who shook up my list. He is a real force in the middle of the line. He does a good job of playing with his pads low but he is so well balanced. Moving Worthy is a real chore. He takes on blockers very well and gets off of them consistently. He has the build of a nose tackle but has the game of a three-technique tackle. He is tough at the point of attack and could play the nose but I think he is at his best attacking. He comes off the ball like a shot and shows good speed once through the line of scrimmage. On one sack he was on the quarterback so fast, even though the passer had made it into his drop, that he could nothing but make sure he did not fumble the ball. He impressed me later with his football smarts diagnosing a screen pass early enough to make the tackle in the backfield. Most high school lineman are not going to recognize that play until the ball is gone. Serious motor on Jerel Worthy. If he were a little bigger he would be another twenty spots higher on this list. Great player.
43. *** Walt Stewart 6-5 210 DE Teays Valleyhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/walt_stewart_teays_valley.htmI remember seeing the first couple of plays Walt Stewart made on the tape I received from Teays Valley coach Steve Evans. Stewart flashed through the screen form out of nowhere. I wanted to know where he came from. As I was hitting the rewind button it occurred to me that coach Evans has him playing safety for him. Yes, this kid is that athletic that at 6-5 and in the 205-210 range he can play safety. He was a camp star last year at Ohio State. He plays safety now but will be at least a linebacker but I think he grows into a defensive end. He has the body to end up in the 255 range once he is eating like an athlete should and lifting in a college program. Both his sacks on the year are on the tape. The lineman in front of him did not have a chance. Neither did the quarterback. He has a 4.7 forty and with that body he will carry that speed as he moves down. I spoke to both coach Evans and his former coach at Franklin Heights Eric Gillespie. Both spoke of Stewart in glowing terms as far as work ethic and attitude are concerned. The current coach you can expect that from but the former coach saying the same thing resonates with me. This is not an immediate impact player. He will need time to add strength and size and find his way to his college position. 4.47 shuttle time. 81 tackles on the year. One of the players that has the biggest upside in the class of 2008.
44. *** T.J. White 6-3 240 ATH Troyhttp://scoutingoh.com/tj_white_troy.htmWhite is one of the better football players in Ohio. He is as good a blocker as a tight end as you will ever see. He has great feet and uses leverage well. He moves great. If he were a little bigger he would be right up there with the other tight ends in this class for the ages but as his size I have to rate him as an offensive player as a lineman, despite the fact that he shows good hands when the ball is thrown his way. Where I think he is at his best is as a defensive tackle. He is going to get a good deal bigger. I suspect he will be able to carry 280 or so with little impact on his impressive athleticism and his 4.82 forty time. He shows the ability to get off blocks and to find the ball. He shows the motor that is such a key to top defensive players. He chases plays down the line but is also strong enough to make plays that come right at him. I am sure he will see offers as a tight end but I think he will see a more impressive collection of offers as a defensive tackle. With his blocking ability I am sure someone will come offering as an offensive lineman.
45. *** Tim Kamczyc 6-5 190 QB Strongsvillehttp://scoutingoh.com/tim_kamcznyc_strongsville.htmAs is often the case where you see a good receiver you see a good quarterback, and vice versa. I was watching outstanding receiver D.J. Woods when one play caught my eye. It was a ball that was in the air for 65 yards. I went back to my notes and sure enough coach Jacques had mentioned his quarterback to me. He can make all the throws. He can get it downfield, there were several other throws of fifty yards or better, and he can throw the deep out with velocity. He throws really well on the run, going both left and right. One throw that kept me rewinding the tape was a skinny post. It was a forty yard frozen rope thrown so accurately that the defensive back was forced to interfere to keep from giving up a touchdown. He is nifty in the pocket and shows really good pocket presence. One thing I absolutely loved about him is he looks like your classic pocket passer but he is a threat to run. He is agile in avoiding the rush and once it breaks down he can hurt a defense with his feet. The great thing about it is he makes good decisions on when to run and when to hang in there and take a shot to deliver the ball. Kamczyc is going to be better prepared coming out of coach Jacques diversified attack. One play he is operating out of the I-formation. The next he is a five wide. Level of competition is not a question. Iowa has hit Ohio hard in recent years, snatching up quarterbacks. They are showing a lot of interest in this underrated signal caller.
46. *** Bill Dugan 6-5 280 G Poland Seminaryhttp://scoutingoh.com/bill_dugan_poland.htmPlays both guard and tackle for Poland. I think he will be a college guard. He has fine feet and the experience at tackle will give him a better feel for pass protection than most high school guards. Poland is a little off the beaten path for recruiters but that should change this year. Dugan has a great looking body. He could add another twenty to thirty pounds with no impact on his athleticism. I was very much impressed with his technique. So often at the high school level the division one caliber linemen just use their superior size and athleticism to push around their opponents. Dugan gets his hips down, and his face into his man and drives. He runs very well. He could be an ideal pick for a team that likes to pull their guards a lot. He is athletic enough to get into the second level and make blocks. He does not have the publicity of some of the other linemen in this class but he does not have to take a backseat to any of them. His level of competition should not be a question. In that part of the state there are no Fridays off. His team did not throw the ball much but he looks solid in pass protection. The only reason I can think that Dugan is not seeing offers come his way is that recruiters did not know about him. Since I just found out about him recently myself.
47. *** Gary Thornton 5-9 200 RB Youngstown Rayenhttp://scoutingoh.com/GaryThornton_junior_2006.htmLong time readers know I am not a fan of small backs. Lets be clear from the start. Gary Thornton is not a small back. Gary Thornton is a short back. He has thick legs and a thick lower body. He might be the strongest football player in the state pound for pound, with a 350 bench press and squatting in excess of 500 lbs. He has the quickest feet of any back in the state of Ohio. His ability to change direction at speed is remarkable. I sometimes give players nicknames. I am going to call Thornton “Freeze Frame.” As I watch his tape there are so many moments where he leaves defenders frozen as they try to change direction with him. He is such a natural runner. He is explosive to the hole, and fearless. He is as good, if not better, between the tackles as he is going wide. Getting him off his feet with that low center of gravity and his strength is a chore. Thornton is such a tough kid that he is getting some attention from schools as a linebacker. We are seeing Brian Westbrook with the Philadelphia Eagles and Maurice Jones-Drew with the Jacksonville Jaguars have some success at the highest level. Gary Thornton is the same kind of back. In addition, this is one of the classiest and most likable young men I have come in contact over the years. He will be the first one in the weightroom and the film room, and the last to leave. Whether he is a starter or never leaves the bench, you can bet Gary Thornton will be the first to congratulate a teammate for a good play and the first to console someone that made a bad one.
48. *** James Howard 6-0 170 WR Warren JFKhttp://scoutingoh.com/james_howard_jfk.htmAll the fuss at JFK is about super sophomore Desmar Jackson. The accolades are deserved. He is a special athlete but James Howard is not getting the attention he deserves. This is an outstanding receiver in his own right. He is not a big receiver but nobody is going to call him small. I think that height is legitimate. He is a slot receiver in the JFK offense and really knows who to play the position. He shows great hands and knows what to do with the ball after the catch. He is elusive but what I love about Howard is he is always making yardage. He is not going to give ground in hopes of making more yardage. He is such a smart football player. He always seems to do the smart thing. He is more comfortable working the underneath routes but he shows no hesitation in going over the middle. There is a Marvin Harrison quality to his game. With Desmar Jackson on the other side of the field there is not going to be a shortage of coaches in the stands at JFK games so Howard will have the opportunity to show his skills this fall. If he runs well this summer they will not be there just to see Jackson.
49. *** Nate Gaynard 6-1 220 LB Niles McKinleyhttp://scoutingoh.com/NateGaynardNiles2008.htmIf you follow high school football in Ohio you may have heard of Nate Gaynard. What may surprise you is that I have him listed as a linebacker. He has been a record breaking back for Niles McKinley. If fullback was still a skill position Gaynard would be a much sought after player at that position. Gaynard has not been a regular defensive player but has been a dominant offensive player so that is where all the talk is about him. He is a good enough runner that he would likely get offers as a back but he has a real shot at being a Big Ten player as a linebacker. He looks so much like current Ohio State linebacker Ross Homan that it is uncanny. He even has the same build. Homan was a good high school back but he was not as good as Gaynard, and Gaynard has played against a higher level of competition in the northeast part of the state where there are no Friday nights off. If he goes to camps as a linebacker I think he could be one of the surprises of summer. He has good size, is very physical, and I think he will surprise with his spee
50. *** B.J. Machen 6-1 210 LB Hilliard Darbyhttp://scoutingoh.com/BJ_Machen_Hilliard_Darby.htmOne of the best kept secrets in Ohio for the class of 2008. Most of the top prospects in this linebackers class for the ages are best on the outside. This is one that is an inside player. He is so physical and he handles traffic really well. He does a great job of getting off blocks, and he does it without slowing down. Don’t let the weight fool you. He is a big 6-1. He has a great frame. I just don’t see him as a safety. I think he is going to be a college sized linebacker by the time he is ready to step in a football field at the next level. He shows outstanding speed so if he does not fill out he could step back into the secondary. I just don’t see it. This is a sideline to sideline defender with a serious motor. Machen is a tough minded kid. He had a bad shoulder but never took a series off. He is doing cleans with 245 for 5 reps. He has the work ethic, he is a team leader and he has the grades.
51. *** Demicus Brown 6-5 315 OL Hamiltonhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/demicus_brown_hamilton.htmI was a little surprised to see the film of this kid and see him lined up on defense at his size. That was before the ball was snapped. This kid came off the ball doing his best Big Daddy Wilkinson impression. Coach Place told me he could run but I was more than a little surprised to see him run like this. He also plays right tackle and that is where he is likely to end up playing his college ball. I have to say if any college coach saw this film they have to be very intrigued by the prospect of at least giving him a look on defense. Big kids that can move like this one are a high value target in recruiting. He was a very disruptive force as a defensive tackle. From the way he played I would say Brown would be very excited about the possibility of playing on defense. He is athletic enough to play basketball on the Hamilton basketball team, one of the legendary programs in Ohio. Coach Place says he is a hard worker with a great attitude. He needs to work on his grades but he should be a qualifier. Coach Place says of Brown, “He has unlimited potential.” I would agree. This is one I will be watching closely as we get into the combine and camp part of the evaluation process.
52. *** Troy Gilmer 6-1 200 RB Huber Heights Waynehttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Troy_Gilmer_Huber_Heights_Wayne.htmI love big backs. This is one of the better ones in the state of Ohio in this class. He has not received as much publicity as some of the others in this class. He did not play running back exclusively last year, he played as much if not more at quarterback, and had reps as a receiver too. That shows what kind of athlete Gilmer is. He rushed for better than 800 yards and caught better than 30 passes. He totaled 11 touchdowns. He camped at Ohio State last year. He has a reported 4.5 forty. If he runs that kind of time again at camps he is going to start seeing the offers come in. That kind of measurables line, 6-1, 200 with a 4.5, puts him in the category of athlete. He could be used at any number of positions with numbers like that. His receiving numbers show he could be a wide receiver and those measurables are ideal for a safety. I think his film shows he could be a big time back if he just concentrated on being a back. He is a powerful and determined runner. He shows some elusiveness for a big kid, enough that he was used on punt returns. I think when this kid gets to do just one thing he could be a great player.
53. *** Juandez Brown 6-3 190 QB Cincinnati Withrowhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Jaundez_Brown_Cincinnati_withrow.htmWithrow head coach Doc Gamble set this tape up perfectly. The first few plays it is plain as day that this kid may have the best arm of any of the quarterbacks in this class. He can cut it loose. He can make all the throws that define a next level arm. He throws the deep out with velocity. He is very accurate and throws balls where a coach wants to see the ball thrown. He throws out to outside not allowing the defender to make a break on the ball. Come back routes he throws low only giving his receiver a shot at the ball. He is a fine athlete but is a throw first quarterback. I saw him with opportunities to run but he showed patience, waiting on a receiver to come open and delivered the ball. When he does run he is very effective. Browns best is in front of him. He had some time under center last year, enough to put together a nice video package on him, but he was only a part time starter last year. He handled himself very well for a part time starter with his decision making. He has some good receivers to throw to next year so I am very much looking forward to next season. This could be one of the breakout stars in Ohio. He is one player I suspect will make a big leap up the rankings by seasons end.
54. *** Lamonte Lattimore 5-11 190 CB Cincinnati Winton Woodshttp://www.scoutingohio.com/lamonte_lattimore_cincinnati_winton_woods.htmCoach Tory Everhart calls Lattimore one of the best he has ever had. The film speaks for itself. He plays the slot on offense but he does a little of everything and does it all well. He runs the ball. He catches the ball. He blocks. On defense he is a corner and this is where he will play his college ball. He is fearless in run support and a great open field tackler. He is as good a tackler as you are going to see in any defensive back in Ohio. He shows great leaping ability going up with bigger receivers and making a play on the ball. The one thing that stands out more than anything with Lattimore is speed. Coach Everhart put a number of plays on his film where he runs down ball carriers from behind with no angle. Bottom line is Lattimore is a tough physical kid with football smarts and speed.
55. *** Jake Stoller 6-4 250 DT University Schoolhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/jake_stoller_university_school.htmThis is a small academic school in Cleveland that is putting out good football prospects on a regular basis these days. This is the third year in a row that University school has put a player in the Ohio High top 100. This is a kid with great size. He is a big wide body that is athletic enough to be a high school defensive end. He will move down to tackle to play his college ball. He runs so well. He chases plays all over the field. You are not going to see a lineman making more tackles down the field than Jake Stoller. There is no such thing as too many big kids that can run. His level of competition is going to be the only question mark so it will be important for him to get to camps. Coming from this school academics will not be a problem. Previous players from University school put a strong emphasis on academics when choosing a school. I have not spoken to Stoller but I assume it will be the same with him.
56. *** Kenny Veal 5-11 175 CB Hamiltonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/kenny_veal_hamilton.htmThis is one of the toughest kids in this class. Pound for pound he is right up there with Lamonte Lattimore from Winton Woods. He made one play on the tape I received from coach Place where he takes on the blocker, beats him, hits the quarterback who pitched the ball, then got up and made a tackle for loss on the runner. He has a linebackers game in a cornerback. He has the feet and hips to be a corner. Everyone wants tough run defenders these days on a cornerback. This one is as tough as nails and an excellent tackler. Coach Place did not have numbers on passes defended but based on the film I received Veal is going to be in the double digits. He got his hands on a lot of balls. 707 yards in only five games as a running back but he will be a defensive player in college. He has a defensive players mindset. He really gets after it. If he runs well this summer his stock will soar.
57. *** Trey Fairchild 5-11 175 WR Dublin Coffmanhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/trey_fairchild_dublin_coffman.htmOne of the names to watch going into the combine/camp circuit. He has both explosive speed and top end speed. He has run 4.36 at one of the early combines. He added an impressive 9-1 broad jump and an outstanding 36 inch vertical. You can see on tape that he carries those numbers over to the football field. He looks like he is running while everyone else on the field is walking. He is late to the radar because he is playing his natural receiver position for the first time. He was a quarterback and still plays there a little. He showed hands and a fearlessness in his first stint as a receiver. He caught 45 passes for 725 yards and 6 touchdowns. He added 229 yards on 21 carries and 3 touchdowns. He took a pair of kicks back for touchdowns. Fairchild is outstanding after the catch. He does not just count on his speed. He can cut on a dime and does not go down easily. He is tough, competitive and has great feet. I would not be surprised to see him get a shot at cornerback but I would want this kind of explosiveness on offense.
58. *** Chip Robinson 6-7 340 OL Middletownhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/chip_robinson_middletown.htmThe one thing that immediately gets your attention with Robinson is just how big he is. In football we have gotten used to seeing really big players at a very young age. Robinson is one that is so big it gets your attention. At one time he was even bigger. He is working hard on getting his weight down even more. I don’t know if he will ever get below about 320. He is moving so much better now. He is never going to raise any eyebrows with his forty time but I have come to the point where I don’t put much stock in forty times with offensive linemen. He comes off the ball better than most kids this size, and he packs a punch. His first three steps are impressive. Middletown’s fine head coach, Ron Johnson, was a former college coach. That shows in the play of his twin towers at offensive tackle. Robinson and his fellow D-1 teammate at the other tackle, Blaec Walker, are showing clearly better technique than most high school offensive linemen. He is a high school tackle but before you move him inside to guard you need to see the footwork, and he has the reach. All anyone needs to see is how Robinson played against Ohio State recruit Solomon Thomas. He was one on one with him a good percentage of the night and not only held his own, he won the battle. Robinson already has an offer from Illinois. Good camp showings could see his stock soar.
59. *** Josh Newman 6-2 215 LB Clayton Northmonthttp://www.scoutingohio.com/josh_newman_clayton_northmont.htmYou see some really amazing tackle numbers put up by high school linebackers. What separates Josh Newman from the pack is he makes the tackles at the line of scrimmage not 5 yards downfield. That and the fact that he has a great frame and a 4.64 forty. He looks like he can add another twenty to twenty five lbs with little impact on his speed and agility. Newman reads the game so well he is running free way too often for the good of any offense. I don’t know if he is doing that much film study or he is that instinctive but Newman seems to be moving toward the hole before the snap a good deal of the time. It is probably a good deal of both. When an opposing lineman does get to him he sheds the block quickly and he does it without losing speed. He is good in pass coverage so he can be a three down linebacker. 4.47 shuttle. 3.0 gpa. 8-10 broad jump. This kid is one of the best kept secrets in Ohio. He is so smooth he looks like he is not even trying hard. This is one to keep an eye on.
60. *** Blaec Walker 6-4 290 OL Middletownhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/blaec_walker_middletown.htmPlays tackle on the left side of the massive Middletown offensive line. Walker has an offer from Illinois like his line mate Chip Robinson. He has the wingspan of a 747 and is very good in small spaces. He has learned to use his weight and leverage well. Despite the left tackle reach I think his college position will be guard. Walker is an excellent student. Middletown head coach Ron Johnson calls him, “the complete student-athlete package.” He needs to dedicate himself in the weightroom and get his intensity level up. Long limbed kids always have a tough time in the weightroom when they are young, and most college coaches could not care less about strength as they know they can make any player stronger. He is a raw prospect with a lot of upside. A program like Illinois that is looking to rebuild its talent base is making a wise decision in coming in early on a raw prospect like Walker. He is a wrestler which always helps lineman. There is no sport where leverage is more important than wrestling, especially with heavyweights. Walker will learn more about leverage in one month of wrestling practice than he would a year of football practice.
61. *** Mike Spooner 6-1 220 LB Lakewood St. Edward http://www.scoutingoh.com/mike_spooner_St_eds.htmSpooner had a breakout season. If not for the misfortune of another player we may not have seen him until this year. Senior captain Ken Lamedola broke his foot before the season started. That thrust Spooner into the starting lineup sooner than expected. He was ready for it. His mate at inside linebacker was Jeff Lucas, a division one recruit in his own right, but Spooner was the better player. In fact, a long time St. Ed watcher whose opinion I respect thinks Spooner was the best defender on an outstanding defense, one that boasted the likes of Ohio State recruit Nate Oliver, Iowa signee Diauntae Morrow and top ten 2008 prospect Justin Staples. Early last season I had the opportunity to see St. Edward. He definitely got my attention. He is a tough inside linebacker with top drawer instincts and football smarts. He is pretty athletic and plays faster than he will run on any track. I am looking forward to seeing his shuttle time. That will tell us a lot about where this outstanding linebacker ends up playing.
62. *** Adam Bice 6-4 255 OL/DT Tri-Valleyhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/adam_bice_tri_valley.htmCollege recruiters need to find Tri-Valley on the map. Adam Bice is one of the more athletic big athletes that can be found in Ohio in 2008. He is a defensive end on defense and shows a lot of the things you want in a defensive end, tenacity, the ability to keep blockers off his body, he is relentless in pursuit, he has the wingspan to go with his listed 6-5 ½, but I think he outgrows the position. He shows the toughness to be a defensive tackle and the frame to get a lot bigger. He plays center on offense and plays it well but I see a player with all the tools to move outside to tackle. Outside of the great frame the one thing that stands out to me is the relentlessness. He chases plays from sideline to sideline as well as down the field on defense and he stays with blocks until his man is down or until the whistle blows. Level of competition is going to be a question so he has to get to camps.
63. *** Phillip Manley 6-4 305 OL Hamiltonhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Phillip_Manley_Hamilton.htmHamilton coach Jim Place says, “He has dominated games inside.” Never have truer words been spoken. This kid is a real powerhouse. We use the expression “road grader.” Manley is the epitome of the expression. He locks defenders up, jeeps his feet moving and moves them. He is athletic enough that coach Place had his at right tackle at times and moves well enough to be a really good good pulling guard. The time at tackle has made him a better pass blocker. He is a wide body that is not carrying extra weight. He is also very young for his class. He is not 17 years old yet. He is solid in the classroom and coach Place could not be more impressed with his work ethic in the weightroom and in the classroom. This is a raw kid, and a young one, with an impressive upside.
64. *** D.J. Brown 6-1 175 DB Fremont Rosshttp://www.scoutingohio.com/dj_brown_freemont_ross.htmBrown is like a heat seeking missle coming up from his safety spot. Unlike last year when you couldn’t throw a rock without hitting a top defensive back, this is not such a strong class. This is one that stands out. He runs very well and hits like a linebacker. He is so sound in his tackling. Low hard tackles and wraps up, just like a coach wants to see. He looks bigger than his listed 6-1 175. He has a long lean body, but not one I think will fill out into a linebacker. In fact, I think he could possibly play corner in a zone scheme that looks for physical corners. He has very long arms. The northwest part of the state has not been a traditional recruiting ground. Last year and again this year we are seeing a better crop of talent. Players like D.J. Brown are going to change that.
65. *** Isaac Washington 6-2 240 LB/DE Trotwood-Madisonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/ikewashingtontrotwood_2008.htmThere are some things I always look for in a middle linebacker. I want a big body. He has no help like a 3-4 inside linebacker. He is going to have to take on blockers to get to the ball carrier. A lot of large bodies are going to be thrown at him. He has to have that knack for finding the ball carrier. I want to see a player that has the ability to get off blocks. Chunks of yardage comes from taking a 4-3 middle linebacker out of the play. He has to be a sure tackler. With no help beside him he can’t miss. A big hitter is extra but sure tackler is a must. I see all those things in Isaac Washington. I see very smart and sound football out of Washington. He blitzes great. Speed is extra on a blitz. If a blitzer times it right he is going to get there anyway. I see so many players going for the big hits up high in the chest, and too often missing. You see Isaac Washington down into the runners legs making sure the play is over. I mention him as a possible defensive end. He is a big kid and could outgrow linebacker. I would like to see him take off about 10 lbs by the time the camp and combine season arrives. I think college coaches being able to look at him and say he is a middle linebacker would help him get more offers. This is just a good football player.
66. *** Jared Emerson 6-5 275 OL Youngstown Cardinal Mooneyhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/jarrodemersonmooney.htmOn a team full of stars sometimes players get overlooked, especially linemen. Emerson played on the same line with lineman of the year Ishmailly Kitchen and Miami of Ohio recruit Mike Madsen, not to mention the array of stars at the skill positions. He is a guard that I can see getting a look at tackle. He has a long body and pretty long arms, things that I think are important in a tackle. He has great feet and comes off the ball well. He can get a little high sometimes but the thing that stands out is he consistently wins one on one battles. He has tenacity to spare. He plays to the whistle and once he wins a battle he is on to the next target. Emerson is in great shape. There is no question he will carry 300 lbs relatively easily. He is flying under the radar right now but every school in the country is going to be in to Mooney with its galaxy of Big Four stars so it is just a matter of time before that changes.
67. *** Douglas Rippy 6-2 215 OLB/DE Columbus Linden-McKinleyVideo Needed This is the best year for Columbus City League talent in a few years. Douglas Rippy is one of the reasons why. He played linebacker and defensive end, where he broke the school record with 148 tackles last year, and had 9 sacks to go 22 tackles for loss. On offense he played tight end, running back and wide receiver. Some are recruiting him as an athlete but most will be looking at him as a defensive end or a linebacker. He is carrying a 3.2 gpa but has not taken the test. He is getting a lot of interest from some major schools. Boston College has been showing a good deal of interest for some time. Ohio State recently came in and invited Rippy to spring practices. Other Big Ten teams have also been in contact, Michigan State, Illinois and Indiana. Duke has also been in contact. I suspect that interest will turn into offers once Rippy has a test score they can send to their respective admissions offices.
68. *** Darius Ashley 5-9 170 TB Cincinnati St. Xavierhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Darius_Ashley_St_Xavier.htmEvery year there seems to be a back in Ohio that has everything but size. Tyrell Sutton was that player a couple of years ago. Last year it was Jordan Mabin. This year it is Darius Ashley. He has quick feet and is explosive. He has outstanding vision. He finds the holes and hits them quickly. He is pretty tough between the tackles. He does not go down as easy as so many backs his size. I have seen him carry potential tacklers. He shows that he can be effective catching the ball out of the backfield. In the right offense he can be a highly effective back. I don’t have a forty time on him but his football speed looks to be exceptional. Like Sutton and Mabin before him I end up saying that if he is three inches taller and 20 lbs heavier he is at least a four-star player. If I were to speak to Darius I would tell him to ask to drill in camps and combines at cornerback and receiver. That could be his ticket to more and better offers. This is one of the most skilled players in Ohio.
69. *** Joshua Smith 6-2 170 Ath Cincinnati Withrowhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/joshua_smith_cincinnati_withrow.htmThis defensive back class has really come around as I sit down and look at the film of the class of 2008. Maybe it was the distraction of last years class but at first blush I did not think that this would be a good class. So many of the players that made an early impression, few that they were, are now not at the top of the class may have something to do with it. Joshua Smith is one of those that just came to my notice. This is one fine football player. Something that seems to be unique about this class is the versatility of the safeties. Smith is no exception. Ask me to place him at one safety spot and I would say get back to me. He shows the instincts, the ball skills and the range to be a free safety but he is some kind of hitter. A very physical kid. He is making sacks and plays behind the line of scrimmage like a linebacker. Speaking of linebacker that could be in Smith’s future. He is such a long lean kid I could see him adding a good deal of weight and making someone a fine weak side linebacker.
70. *** Ben Buchanan 6-0 197 K Westerville Central http://www.scoutingohio.com/Ben_Buchanan_Westerville_Central.htmI don’t know if I have ever had a kicker in my top 100. Maybe former Buckeyes and current New York Jet Mike Nugent was in here. I don’t recall off the top of my head. This is a unique kicker. He has a leg that you have to see to believe. He has a 54 yard field goal to credit, the longest field goal for a junior off grass in Ohio high school history. The kick would have been good from 60 at least. He has kicked 60 yards in camps and has successfully kicked 65 yards in practice. He was the best punter at that elite camp run by Dan Stultz, the former Ohio State kicker, which brought in kickers from all over the midwest. Buchanan’s goal is to be a complete kicker. He fully expects to be the place kicker as well as the punter for Ohio State as he made his commitment to the Buckeyes in early March. His offer list was as impressive as any player in the state. That is especially impressive when you consider how many kickers are initially walk-ons. This kid is just a fine athlete. He is a starting receiver for Westerville Central and a good baseball player.
71. *** Jason Albertini 6-3 200 QB Vandalia Butlerhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Jason_Albertini_2008.htmOne of the early quarterbacks to step up in this class. Albertini has filled out. He even looks taller. He is obviously stronger. He is a technically sound quarterback. He has a picture perfect motion. He might want to work on getting rid of it quicker but that is nit picking. He shows great feet. He gets his feet under him and throws over the top. He shows coolness under pressure. Albertini seems supremely confident back there. He moves well enough not only to get himself out of trouble but to make plays with his feet. He shows good arm strength. He can throw the deep out and he has great touch on his long ball. One of the best throws I saw on his tape was a deep post. Albertini threw it with enough velocity that the back could not make a break on the ball and with such perfect touch the receiver never had to check his run. He throws great on the run. I think his junior year performance is all the more impressive because he is in a pro-style offense. The spread offenses are all the rage in Ohio High school football. I am of the opinion they do not prepare a quarterback well for the next level. This is a player I will be watching when the camp circuit starts up.
72. *** Brandon Williams 5-10 175 CB Lakewood St. Edwardhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/brandon_williams_St_eds.htmA few years ago Williams would have been twenty spots higher on this list but with the big freaky athletes we are seeing coming into the college ranks these days at wide receiver, most schools are looking for big freaky players to cover them. Williams has exceptional speed and the feet and hips to change direction quickly, a crucial skill for a cornerback. He has good instincts and will come up and play the run despite his stature. Lakewood St. Edward has had a run of super athletes recently but Williams cracked the starting lineup as a sophomore. He is an excellent returner, both kickoff and punts. He is an explosive and electric player. Someone might get the idea to move him over and give him a shot at receiver. Level of competition has been second to none. He intercepted four passes last year. He played wide receiver too. I think he would be smart to ask to workout at wide receiver in camps over the summer. He is hearing from the Big Ten, Ohio State and Michigan at the top of the list, Virginia, Syracuse and most of the MAC schools. Virginia and Ohio State top his list. He has been to Ohio State several times.
73. *** Jamil Sims 6-4 255 DT Marion Hardinghttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Jamil_Sims_Marion_Harding.htmSims is a really good high school end that could be a great college tackle. That he can play end at his size speaks volumes about what kind of athlete he is. He has a reports 5.2 forty time but he plays faster than that. For a guy his size a 4.89 shuttle is pretty impressive. He does a great job of getting off blocks. Shawtell Rowell is the only lineman in the class that does as good a job. He actually plays defensive end quite well. He has the wingspan of a defensive end. He is just too big for the position. He has a great body for a defensive tackle. He can carry 300 lbs easily. The most important thing for the big boys is the motor. He has that. For so many playing hard every down is what separates the good linemen from the great ones. He has been flying under the radar until now but getting to camps could make him one of the players that everybody talks about this summer.
74. *** Dawawn Whitner 6-2 245 DT Cleveland Glenvillehttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Dawawn_Whitner_Glenville.htmThe theme for this year seems to be, if he were only a little bigger. I have typed that so many times this year that I have worn the letters off the keys. No player in the class exemplifies that theme more than Dawawn Whitner. He comes off the snap like he is shot out a cannon. He has the motor that makes or breaks all great linemen, going full bore until the whistle. He sheds blockers with ease. He has that same nasty disposition that helped make his older brother, former Buckeye Donte Whitner, become a first round draft choice. Donte was so aggressive that his natural cornerback skills took a backseat and forced him to safety. There is so much to like about Whitner’s game but the one thing that stands out is the speed. One time I saw was 4.75. It would not surprise me if that time is accurate based on what he does on the field. His closing speed is something to see. Coach Ginn uses him in a zone blitz, dropping him back like a spy. There are plays where he runs quarterbacks down from that position. If Dawawn had size he would be a sure top 40 player in this class.
75. *** Nate Wilburn-Ogletree 6-2 180 WR Clayton Northmonthttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Nate_Wilburn_Ogletree_Clayton_Northmont.htmWilburn-Ogletree caught 46 balls for 744 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. He was the primary target for Northmonts outstanding senior quarterback Clay Belton. He was receiver Belton looked for to get him out of jams and to make the big plays for Northmont. He is a sure handed receiver and a big target. I like to see a receiver that will not hesitate to go over the middle. You especially want the big receivers to be willing to go in there where the other big people are. Wilburn-Ogletree does not hesitate. He is hearing from Michigan,Wisconsin, E. Michigan and Connecticut but has been to junior day at Cincinnati and liked what they had to say. He might decide to camp this summer but I would not be surprised to see him take up the Bearcats on an offer if one should come before then. He has a 4.53, a 4.33 shuttle to go with a 33 inch vertical and an 8-10 vertical.
76. *** Luther Nicholas 6-0 200 RB Columbus IndependenceFilm Needed It does this old Columbus City League grads heart good to see a nice group of talent coming out in this years class. Nicholas is seeing the spotlight on Isaiah Pead but he does not need to take a back seat to anyone. He rushed for 1,918 yard on 304 carries & scored 14 touchdowns. Some are going to question the level of competition in the Columbus City League but Nicholas ran for better than 100 yards on the Hilliard Davidson defense which stuffed everyone on its way to their first state championship last year. He also had a100 yard rushing effort against another OCC defense in Upper Arlington. He has a 4.5 forty. If he shows that time at camp this summer he will really boost his stock as his measurables line will get the attention of college coaches. With a 6-0, 200, 4.5 forty measurables line he could play running back, wide receiver, safety and even grow into a linebacker. That kind of versatility is something highly valued in this era of limited scholarships.
77. *** Travis Kelce 6-5 230 QB/Ath Cleveland Heightshttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Travis_Kelce_Cleveland_Heights.htmNew Cleveland Heights coach Jeff Rotsky could not be more excited about the upside for Travis Kelce. He thinks he will be the most heavily recruited quarterback in Ohio come seasons end. I have had several other coaches talk about him. He is a physical specimen and a great athlete. Coach Rotsky thinks he will end up at about 245. At that size all it does is expand his possibilities. He is a quarterback now but at 6-5 and 245 with his athleticism schools will start thinking about tight end should he not pan out as a quarterback, which will make him all the more attractive. He is being recruited as a basketball player too and has not decided which sport he will play in college. The list of schools looking at him for basketball includes Florida, Wisconsin and just about all the MAC schools. Kelce has been down to Ohio State for a couple of games as a guest of the Buckeyes. North Carolina, Syracuse, Pitt and Indiana are showing interest in football. He just moved into the starting lineup for the first time as a junior. He is very raw but has all the tools that every major school looks for in a quarterback prospect. Jeff Rotsky has done some impressive work preparing athletes for the next level. This is one player I will be tracking closely. If he develops like coach Rotsky thinks he will, Kelce will completely shake up this top100.
78. *** David Fleming 5-11 200 DB Centervillehttp://www.scoutingohio.com/David_Fleming_Centerville.htmOne of the best athletes in Ohio. He was forced into service as a quarterback for coach Ullery’s Elks, and showed what kind of athlete he is and, what kind of competitor. He broke his hand but only missed two games. He played five others with a soft cast. I was impressed with his command of the offense. For someone that is not a natural quarterback he sure carried himself like one. He had over 600 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in nine games. He added 567 yard passing completing 23 of 45 passes. Eight of those 23 completions went for touchdowns. Most important was his eight touchdowns to three interceptions. That shows this is a heady guy. He is a hard nosed smart football player with athleticism, good speed, 4.55 forty, and has good size.
79. *** Marvin Stewart 6-1 205 QB/Ath Columbus Beechcrofthttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Marvin_Stewart_Beechcroft.htmWhen I first looked at Marvin Stewarts film I saw an athlete. I always watch films several times. I really took my time and watched him the second time. I was far more impressed with him as a quarterback the second time around. On the front end of the tape he is making a lot of athletic plays with the ball. He is doing whatever he can to get the ball to someone. But on the back side of the tape when he sat down on his throws and delivered the ball he showed me that he could be an athletic quarterback. He has some bad habits that he needs to break like tossing the ball instead of throwing it and throwing off his back foot when he really wants to get rid of it in a hurry but he has a good up when he sets up and throws it. I am very partial to athletic quarterbacks. Stewart is one of the best athletes at quarterback in the state this year. He can definitely pull it down and hurt a defense but his passing skills are what will keep him at quarterback. He is not a player that will come in and play right away. In time he could be an excellent quarterback and he is athlete enough to move elsewhere if he is not.
80. *** Matt Mihalik 6-7 270 OT Gilmour AcademyFilm NeededThis is likely a player that nobody is aware of. He is coming out of a small elite academic school in Cleveland and he committed very early in his junior year when Virginia made him an offer. He did not take long to accept. He has heard from the likes of Ohio State and West Virginina since but has not wavered in his commitment. He is a highly athletic kid and has the feet and frame everyone is looking for in a tackle prospect. He is a three sport kid, also playing basketball and baseball. There is a lot of controversy about whether that is a help or a hindrance in the development of an athlete. He is going to need a lot of work in the weightroom as he is an awfully lean kid, and the level of competition is going to be questioned despite the fact that Gilmour played and beat some larger schools, but in time and with hard work this could be one of the real steals in the class of 2008. Great job by Al Groh and the Virginia staff.
81. ** Brad Bednar 6-5 230 OL Mentorhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Brad_Bednar_Mentor.htmThis is a player I expect to see getting a lot of attention once he starts hitting the combines in spring and the camps this summer. The best thing about Bednar is he has the film to back it up. He has quietly played at a high level against quality competition. Don’t let the weight fool you. He is going to fill out nicely. I expect a 280 lb player in the next couple of years. I suspect that by his second year of college he is going to be in the mix wherever he ends up playing his college ball. He moves very well and has better technique than most high school players. That he is playing against good defensive ends and is lighter than most at his position I think has played a role in his more advanced technique. The fact that in practice every day he was going against scholarship level players has helped him greatly. One of the real sleepers in the class of 2008.
82. ** Brandon Williams 6-1 185 WR Cincinnati Withrowhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Brandon_Williams_Cincinnati_Winthrow.htmWhat a turnaround with this program under Doc Gamble. I remember the first time I heard the name Withrow. I was so unfamiliar with the school I asked if there wasn’t a mistake. Did you really mean Winton Woods. Every year now we are seeing top 100 players out of Withrow with receivers coming out in abundance. This year the programs top receiver is Brandon Williams. He could be the best of them. He has good size, every bit the 6-1 he is listed at, and has a solid build. I think he can add 10-15 lbs with no impact on his speed and athleticism. He has great hands and more importantly the competitiveness to make those hands all the more valuable because he will not give up on a pass. I have seen him go into the dirt to pull badly thrown balls, go up and sacrifice his body to make a play on a high ball and tiptoe the sidelines to make plays on balls that the coaching staff would have had to make plays on if any other receiver would have been out there. If he runs well this summer this ranking is way too low for Williams.
83. ** Antoine Rucker 6-0 170 CB/WR Warren Hardinghttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Antione_Rucker_2008.htmLightning in a bottle. This kid just seems to explode. He comes off the line like shot out a cannon. He is quick in and out of his cuts. Once he makes a catch he gets to another gear quicker than anyone on the field. He shows a fearlessness in going over the middle and going up to make a play on the ball in the air. He shows good instincts as a cornerback and has great feet and hips. I like what I see of him as an offensive player but he is tall and long armed to go with those good feet and great hips so I think the odds are good Rucker ends up on the defensive side of the ball in college. He is a very aggressive player on the ball on either side of the line. Explosive leaper.
84. ** Nate Schuler 6-1 208 Ath Springfield Localhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Nate_Schuler_Springfield_Local.htmI get asked all the time who is the fastest? Who is the biggest? Who is the strongest? The one question I get asked the most though is who is the hardest hitter. For the class of 2008 Nate Shuler would get my vote. I don’t know if I can come up with ten great hits for anyone in the class. For Shuler I would have to pick ten. He brings it like nobody else. He is also a very good high school quarterback but he is going to make his mark as a defensive player. Where, is the question. I have no forty time on him but his game speed is excellent. It is a matter of where his body takes him. He could be a strong safety or he could grow into an outside linebacker at the next level. He really needs to get to camps. There is still a very real bias away from these small school players. Springfield Local is a division five school.
85. ** Andrew Strauss 6-1 190 S West Chester Lakota Westhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/andrew_strauss_Lakota_west.htmWhile this is not a deep defensive back class, especially compared to last years benchmark class, I am seeing a few very versatile safety prospects. Andrew Strauss is one of them. He is best playing as a free safety but shows the toughness to play up in the box and has the size. He looks every bit of 6-1 and is a lean 190. Coach Cox thinks he could grow into a speed linebacker. Speaking of speed Strauss has a 4.62 forty and plays at that speed. You can see any number of plays where he runs down backs and receivers and how he gets back to make plays on balls. He is a sure tackler and a very smart football player. In boxing the term “busy” is used in reference to a fighter that is very active. I would use the term with Strauss, who always seems to be around the ball. He has a very impressive 4.06 shuttle time. Excellent ball skills and is good leaper.
86. ** Dominique Chandler 6-2 210 Ath Columbus Franklin HeightsFilm Needed Talk about a diamond in the rough. No player epitomizes that expression more than Dominique Chandler. He is just now really starting to play sports. He has been a good running back but last year was his first year on defense. He is 6-2, 210 with a 4.5. He ran 50.5 in the 400 meters in his first year running track. He was a wrestler as a soph, but played basketball as a freshman and as a junior. He has a 280 bench press and a 400 squat. As a running back he is a slasher with good size. He really started to come on as the year went along. He is the kind of player that is going to go to camps and combines and raise a lot of eyebrows with his speed to size ratio and earn some offers. He is so raw and has his best football in front of him. He has been an all-around athlete. Once he starts to focus on one sport we will see the best come out of him. He prefers running back, and I think he could possibly be a safety but I think he is going to be a linebacker at the next level by the time he is ready to step on the football field. Level of competition is not in question.
87. ** Eric Stoyanoff 5-11 195 RB Strongsvillehttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Eric_Stoyanoff_Strongsville.htmWeight loss has had a great impact on this runners future. He was in the 210 range and not as explosive as he had been as a sophomore where he ran for over 1700 yards. By the end of the season he as back down to 195 and running in the 4.5 range. There was never any question about his running skills. He has rushed for 3200 yards on 400 carries so far in his career. Coach Jacques says he has not put the ball on the ground once in those 400 carries. When he was down at 195 he still ran with the power of back that was in the 220 range. He has good vision and is a decisive runner. He is going to find the hole quickly and not mess around back there. A back needs to do learn that. Most don’t until college. This is a back reading plays down the field. He sees where the daylight is after the the initial hole. Stoyanoff is a very tough physical runner. Coach Jacques says 1500 of his 3200 yards came after first contact. I could see him becoming a fullback in time. He is already a very good blocker. He is hearing from a who’s who of college football right now with junior days scheduled at Ohio State, Notre Dame and Iowa with mail coming from Miami of Florida, North Carolina and Boston College.
88. ** Andrew Phalen 6-5 270 OL Lakota Westhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/andrew_Phalen_Lakota_west.htmThere were two things that immediately got my attention when I first saw Phalen. This is a really big kid. He played at about 250 last year, is up to about 270 now but still looks like he needs a sandwich. The other thing was he has that nasty streak that I like to see in an offensive lineman. As plays were going if anyone was within reach he was going to hit him. Standing around the pile with Andrew Phalen around was just asking to get hit. He played both tackle spots and some at right guard. He projects as a guard in college. He is raw but he has a great frame and the right mindset. A lot of schools have taken notice. He was a bowl practice invitee to Ohio State. He attended junior days at Michigan and Cincinnati and was invited to Tennessee, Illinois and Pitt.
89. ** Eric Magnacca 5-10 172 WR Massillon Perryhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Eric_Magnacca_Massillon_Perry.htmIt boils down to one thing with Eric Magnacca. Speed. This kid has another level of speed. He has a 4.3 forty and the best thing about it is he has explosive speed. He does not need to get cranked up. He is at top speed in a couple of steps. Because of his size the thinking is he will be a cornerback at the next level but his coach, John Miller, thinks he will be an offensive player. I do too. He is a high school running back but he shows really good hands catching balls out of the backfield. I think he could make a good college receiver. Magnacca is getting mail from Ohio State, Florida State, Penn State, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana,Akron and Ball State. He attended several junior days. He was an invitee to the Ohio State-Michigan and Florida State-Florida games last season. He rushed for 1,332 yard on 197 carries, that is 6.6 yards a carry, and scored 15 touchdowns. More importantly he averaged 10 yards per catch out of the backfield and 24.5 yard per return on kickoffs. Those are the numbers that are going to be most important to his college options.
90. ** Doug Reynolds 6-2 190 S/QB Cincinnati Colerainhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Doug_Reynolds_Cincinnati_Colerain.htmI first noticed Doug Reynolds in the Kirk Herbstreit Challenge. I was not used to a Colerain quarterback being this effective as a passer. He did not throw a lot but he showed a good arm and was effective when he threw the ball. I think Reynolds is such a fine athlete that he is going to be a safety at the next level. He has excellent size for a safety. There are some that disagree with me. They think he has what it takes to be a quarterback in college. With a summer to prepare in camps and combines, and another football season to hone his skills he could very well end up as a college quarterback. Coach Combs has moved on to the college ranks. I have not heard about a replacement as yet but another coach could come in and decide to open up the offense. Reynolds could be the beneficiary.
91. ** Marc Stevens 6-6 295 OL Lexingtonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Marc_Stevens_Lexington.htmBuckeye legend Woody Hayes was a firm believer in big. He said he could do a lot of things to make them better but he could not make them bigger. He would have loved Marc Stevens. It seems we are seeing more really big kids that are not carrying excess weight every year. Stevens is one of those kids. There is not going to be any dieting in the future of this 300 lb kid. I see a raw prospect that will only get better as he gets in the weightroom. He plays hard all the time and he works hard. He plays both guard and tackle at the high school level but I see a guard in college. He has an offer from Akron. He was a bowl game practice invitee to Ohio State. He was in attendance for the Ohio State-Bowling Green game by invitation. Michigan has been showing interest. He is also getting strong interest from Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Louisville and Vanderbilt. He has been down to Lousiville for a game and to Vanderbilt for a junior day.
92. ** Chris Crockett 5-10 185 RB Columbus Academyhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Chris_Crockett_Columbus_Academy.htmOne of the best all-around athletes in the state of Ohio. Crockett has been a football starter since he was a freshman. Last year as a junior he racked up over 2900 yards rushing, averaging an eye popping 10 yards a carry, with 37 touchdowns. He had 60 tackles and 3 interceptions as a defensive back. He is averaging over 20 points a game in basketball and had a 44 point effort in a game late in the season. While he prefers basketball he is getting more attention for football with Notre Dame, Penn State and Iowa showing solid early interest. If he runs well this spring and summer the interest level is going to pick up even more. This is a back with great vision and very quick feet. If he were a little bigger he would be another twenty spots higher in this ranking. If he plays football in college his size might dictate a move to cornerback.
93. ** Nathan Cope 5-11 185 S/RB Warren Howlandhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Nathan_Cope_Howland.htmCope is a good high school running back with quick feet and an explosive reckless and physical style of running but I think that he will be a fine safety at the college level. He has some impressive measurables with a 4.56 forty at the Penn State camp last May. He had a 4.21 shuttle at that same camp, and added a 33” vertical. On the season he had 93 carries for 536 yards. He showed he can be effective catching the ball out of the backfield with ten receptions. He scored six times. On defense he had ten passes defended and racked up three interceptions. Cope showed good coverage skills and was aggressive at coming up and playing the run, and he is an excellent tackler. I think when he is focused on playing just one position he will become that much better a player.
94. ** Tyler Amendola 5-11 185 RB Youngstown Boardmanhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Tyler_Amendola_Boardman.htmIf only he was a little bigger. We hear that so often in recruiting. If Amendola were just a little bigger we would see the top schools in the region coming after him. He is not small but he does not have the size most are looking for in a back.He has one of the more impressive films I have seen this year. Some of his runs look like he is doing a slalom course in skiing. He is like a boxer in his ability to avoid contact in small spaces. He can change direction at speed and explodes into holes with reckless abandon. I do not have a forty time for him but his football speed cannot be questioned. This is a very athletic kid but I am not aware of him playing defense and I did not see the ball thrown to him but he would do himself a service by camping this summer wherever he can and getting in the defensive backfield group or with the receivers. I did not see him on defense at all and there were only a couple of clips of him catching the football. He seemed comfortable. Football is first and foremost about speed. This kid can really run.
95. ** Jeremy Ebert 6-0 170 Ath Hilliard Darbyhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Jeremy_Ebert_Hilliard_Darby.htmI like this Ohio quarterback class. There are several underrated players that I think could help themselves with good summers throwing the ball. There are also a number of high school quarterbacks that will set themselves up with good summers showing as athletes. Jeremy Ebert is one of them. He could end up being a good defensive back but I like him as an offensive player. He is very elusive with the ball in his hands and can get to top speed in just a couple of steps. Darby head coach Paul Jenne says Ebert will run a 4.4. At least one major conference school sees him as a quarterback. There are several throws on his film where he puts the ball 60 yards down the field. He passed for more than 1100 yards and seven touchdowns, and rushed for better than 1000 yards and seven more touchdowns. He was invited to a couple of Ohio State games. Northwestern, Indiana and Miami of Ohio are also showing interest.
96. ** Justin Hemm 6-0 180 Ath Piquahttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Justin_Hemm_Piqua.htmI had a number of opportunities to watch Piqua last year. It was a star studded lineup. Brandon Saine and Phil Collier gave defenses fits. While everyone was keying on them this smart athletic kid was left with room to run and he took advantage of it. Hemm was the starting quarterback. I don’t know if he has the arm to be a college quarterback but he has the athleticism to be a college player either at wide receiver or in the defensive backfield. The first thing you think about with an athletic quarterback is defensive back but this kid is wicked quick and highly elusive. I think I would want him to have the ball in his hands as much as possible. If he goes to camps and drill as a receiver or defensive back I think he will be the next player coming out of the Bill Nees Piqua program who will be having a press conference on national signing day.
97. ** Duran Robinson 6-2 195 SS/LB Fremont Rosshttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Duran_Robinson_Freemont_Ross.htmRobinson is a high school linebacker but I think the jury is still out on whether he will be a linebacker or a safety at the next level. We are seeing the evolution of the strong safety position as more college and pro teams want a safety that is big enough to play at the line of scrimmage but has good enough cover skills. A college coach told me this about coverage recently, “There are four types of cover guys at both LB and DB, and this rings very true for teams that like to employ mostly zone coverages. You have route jumpers, route squeezers, backfield watchers, and grass killers. The first two, route jumpers and squeezers, make plays and win you championships. The second group, backfield watchers and grass killers, get you exposed. Backfield watchers and grass killers tend to more or less cover air, never looking up routes or understanding anticipation or zone reads.” Robinson shows he is a route jumper/route squeezer, stepping in and making interceptions and knocking down passes. He seems so comfortable in zone. He runs great and is highly athletic. Great blitzer. Robinson is a running back on offense but will be a defensive player in college. He is another reason for college recruiters to get up to northwest Ohio a bit more.
98. ** Craig Brooks 6-2 215 DE/LB Girardhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Craig_Brooks_Girard.htmRelentless is the one word that best describes Craig Brooks. He has a motor that just won’t quit. I wonder how many tackles he has made in his career simply because he would not give up on a play. He plays defensive end in high school. 6-2 215 is more linebacker sized but I was surprised to see those numbers. He is a big 6-2 215. I thought he would be bigger just looking at him out there on the field. He has long arms. He does a really good job of getting off blocks and has an uncanny ability to beat double teams. How he runs this summer is going to say a lot about who is going to come in on him. If he shows linebacker speed there will be a completely different offer list for Craig Brooks.
99. ** Jordan Graham 6-1 250 DL/OL Canfieldhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/JordanGraham_2008.htmI can give it to you in one line with Jordan Graham. He is an explosive, athletic, disruptive force that the big boys will not come in on because he lacks size. Graham is an excellent offensive lineman. He comes off the ball with a punch, always knocking back his assigned target and he has more pancake blocks pound for pound than anyone. Now that I have built him up as an offensive lineman I will say that I think he is a defensive player. He is off the ball with such quickness that he is often by the offensive linemen before they know the ball is snapped. He is very disruptive. It is not simply a matter of disrupting the play. Graham can run. He regularly runs down backs once he is in the backfield. A couple of inches taller and I think Graham would be getting Big Ten offers.
100. ** Keith Herring 5-11 200 TB Massillon Washingtonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/KJ_Herring_Massillon.htmHerring is the Rodney Dangerfield of the class of 2008. He can’t get any respect. Mostly that comes from having so much talent around him. Last year he had top Ten athlete Brian Gamble in front of him to share carries with and top Ten junior to be Justin Turner behind him. He just never got enough carries and to really step into the spotlight. Herring rushed for 546 yards and seven touchdowns despite the crowded backfield. That is better than 7 yards a carry. He has the best speed of the talented trio of backs at Massillon last year with a sub 4.4 forty. He is a well put together kid. He is effective between the tackles and in space. He is a brutally efficient runner. There is no wasted movement. He gets in the hole and out of the hole. Once he sees daylight he has the speed to take it the distance. I suspect his speed and solid size are going to boost his stock this summer at camp but having the chance at more carries next fall is what is going to fill his mailbox with offers.
101. ** Andrew Radakoivich 6-5 275 OL Steubenvillehttp://www.scoutingoh.com/Andrew_Radakovich_Steubenville.htmZack Collaros was one of the most effective football players in Ohio high school football history. No skill player is going to have the career he had without some help up front. The junior video of Radakoivich is not going to present an accurate picture. He shows really good feet and good form along with some tenacity but what is not on there is the size and the genetics. He has grown about 3 inches since the season ended. His dad is 6-6 and was a college basketball player. Upside is one of the words you always hear when recruiting is the subject. There is plenty of upside here. In the Steubenville system he will have had excellent coaching and he has some experience as a pass blocker. He is likely going to need to show that new body and what he can do with on the field next season before the offers start coming in but come next January this is a name that I think everyone will be hearing and he will be much higher on this list. One thing that stood out to me is he never stopped running. Not on one play on the entire film.
102. ** Steve Schott 6-1 165 K Massillon Washingtonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Steve_Schott_Massillion.htmI have never had a top 100 kicker. Not that I can remember at least. Now this year I have two. Both have been so good it is hard to ignore. Look at these numbers. Steve Schott is 23 of 34 on field goals in his first three years. He is 133 of 140 on PATs. He has accounted for 202 total points, 44 from the state record with a year to go. Last year he was 3 for 3 on FG's over 40 yards with his longest in a game being 47 yards. His longest in practice is 60 yards. I know that is practice but kickers just don’t often get opportunities to try kicks from that distance. It shows he has the leg to get it there. He has been contacted by over 50 D-1 schools so far including UCLA, Ohio St., Penn St., Notre Dame, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Boston Coll., LSU, Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, Duke, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Washington State and Duke, which he visited recently.He has had unofficial visits to Ohio State, Pittsburgh, and Duke so far. Steve will be doing kicking camps at Ball State, Ohio State, Kentucky,Bowling Green, Penn State and Pittsburgh. One thing that I really like is he has a 4.8 forty. When the kicker is the last line of defense it is nice to have someone back there that at least has a shot ay making the tackle.
103. ** Marquis Powell 6-5 185 WR Hamiltonhttp://www.scoutingoh.com/marquis_powell_hamilton.htmThis is one of the real diamonds in the rough for the class of 2008. Last season was his first as a football player. He had been a basketball player before. That he was hurt in week six so he does not have a years worth of development under his belt. He showed hands and a feel for the game. So many basketball player first kids that come over to play football show the hands. He naturally catches the ball with his hands not his body. Coach Place says he is back, committed to football and running very well. Powell is an outstanding blocker. He plays physical in general. He takes on defenders after the catch and never seems to go down on first contact. He has a very tight end style of game. In fact, I think he likely makes his mark as a tight end. He has the frame to grow into one.
104. ** Joe Madsen 6-4 270 OL Chardonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Joe_Madsen_Chardon.htmWhat a powerhouse Madsen is. He has impressive weightroom numbers with a 365 bench press, a 405 parallel squat and a 275 power clean but I really did not need to see those numbers to come to that conclusion. Hall of Fame basketball player Bill Russell said basketball was a contact sport, while football was a collision sport. Joe Madsen brings that point home. He is like a human bowling pin knocking defensive players all over the field. I saw him score two pancake blocks on one play. On another he shows the nasty streak I want to see in a lineman. He knocks a defender down who gets right back up. The whistle hasn’t blown so he knocks him down again. He is quick enough to get into the second level to make blocks. He does not look the part but has a 4.9 forty. Madsen is also a very disruptive defensive tackle. He has a non-stop motor. He had 5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. Chardon coach Bob Francis drops him back in zone coverage. This is not a body beautiful athlete but he is one good looking football player. Likely a guard at the next level.
105. ** Matt Greiser 6-5 305 OL Columbus Wattersonhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Matt_Grieser_Bishop_Watterson.htmGreiser is a big framed kid that is just now coming into his own. He stepped into the starting lineup for the first time as a junior. I have seen him up close. The size is legitimate. He is a high school tackle but I think he projects as a guard at the next level. The camp and combine circuit could be a revelation for him. If he does well there I am sure that there are going to be plenty of eyes on him early next season. That he is just now getting into the starting lineup says he is still raw but he played well enough to catch my eye. Michigan and Michigan State took notice. He has been to games at Michigan and attended Ohio State camp last summer. Someone that has a good situation on the offensive line could do themselves a favor taking a late bloomer like Greiser and letting him mature a bit.
106. ** Nick Scott 6-5 265 OL BedfordFilm NeededFeet and frame are the bedrock things that you look at when evaluating offensive linemen. You want a big frame to add weight on and they need to be agile. I hear from fans all the time about a local boy that is big and strong. Every college coach in America knows they can make anybody bigger and stronger. They want a frame to hang the weight on and the feet to carry it well. Nick Scott gets high marks in both categories. He looks like an athlete with his V-shaped body at 265 lbs and recently ran a 4.8 shuttle. He is a late bloomer just breaking into the starting lineup as a junior. He is athletic enough to get spot duty as a defensive end. He impressed at his first combine this year at the National High School All-Star Combine in Cleveland. He was an invitee to two Ohio State games last year and is a cousin of Buckeye defensive end Jay Richardson.
107. ** Sean McCarthy 6-3 265 OL Toledo St. Francis DeSaleshttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Sean_McCarthy_St_Francis_DeSale.htmMcCarthy is one of the more effective offensive linemen in Ohio, and one of the most versatile. He played all over the offensive line for DeSales. Mostly he played right tackle. I think he will be a guard at the next level. He has good feet and once he locks a defender up he is out of the play. He shows good athleticism as long time coach Dick Cromwell has no qualms about sending him out to make second level blocks. He was in attendance at two Ohio State games by invitation of the Buckeye staff, including the Michigan game. He was not a camp attendee at any of the big camps last year due to other commitments but will camp this year. Size is going to be a factor. He needs to add weight. He has the frame and it is always my thinking that it is better to have a player that needs to add weight than it is one who needs to lose weight.
108. ** Zach Brown 6-2 285 OG Canal WinchesterNO FILM - INJURED in 2006I think everyone has a wait and see attitude about Zach Brown. It all depends on how well Zack Brown comes back from a season ending knee injury. He was showing well at camps and combines before the injury. He is tough physical kid that is going to get looks at defensive tackle as well as guard. I think he is a little better on defense right now but his size may push him to the offensive side of the ball. The injury may force him to prove it is sound with a few solid games next season before he sees the offers come rolling in. He is still hearing from a who’s who of college football with Notre Dame, Iowa, Purdue, Wisconsin, Duke, Florida State, Boston College, Connecticut and Akron leading the way.
109. **** Harold Coats 6-3 315 OL Youngstown Ursulinehttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Harold_Coats_Ursuline.htmTalk about coming out of nowhere. I had never heard the name Harold Coats until January. He was nowhere on the radar. Lineman come along slowly. Harold Coats is the proof. He is playing left tackle in high school. That height seems to dictate a move to guard but he has the wingspan of a much taller player. He has the feet to play tackle. No lineman in Ohio comes off the ball like Coats. He really brings it. His punch is something to see. He takes his man out of the play right away in most instances simple by blowing them back off the snap. He has good technique and really stays with it. He plays the game with the kind of nasty that is often the difference between a really good lineman and a really great one. He is just now coming into his own so you have to be excited about his upside. He has his weight under control. This is a 290 lb kid that is supposed to weigh 290 lbs. Ursuline is loaded so this under the radar talent will not stay under the radar for long. Where he ends up in college is going to depend on the needs of the schools he chooses. It is not often that I find myself not being able to project a lineman as an inside player or a tackle but Coats has tools that make him a potential player anywhere along the offensive line. Grades are going to be the issue here. With his academics in order Coats is a top 20 player and he would have a who’s who of college football powerhouses on his offer list.
110. *** Chaz King 6-1 205 LB Cincinnati Winton Woodshttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Chaz_King_Cincinnati_Winton_Woods.htmIf you are a coach reading this write the name down. If you are a fan and go to high school games, write the name down. I have been talking about this linebacker class for some time. The names for long time subscribers are now etched in your memory. This is another one to add to that list. This is the best linebacker nobody has been talking about. He hits like a player fifty pounds heavier. He can run and he has a nose for the ball that is second to none. He does not have to take a back seat to any linebacker in this class. He is a lot like Dewey Elliott from last year. He is athletic enough to be an outside linebacker and physical enough to play inside. I think he is in inside player. He is one of those kids that will add plenty of weight in time. It is up to Chaz whether he is a college player or not. He needs to get his nose in the books. He still has a shot at making it. He is fifty or sixty spots higher if he were a sure qualifier.
111. **** Anthony Oden 6-8 280 Ath Dayton Dunbarhttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Anthony_Oden_Dayton_Dunbar.htmOhio High is about the best college prospects not the best high school players. They are not one in the same. Most great college prospects are great high school players but recruiting, the focus of this magazine, is about what they are going to be not what they are now. Part of being a great college prospect is about grades so we do consider that element. That is why you see Anthony Oden at this spot in the top 100. If he had his academics in order he would be a top 30 player at the very least. He is an exceptional big athlete. At 6-8 280 he is so athletic that he plays tight end on offense. He looks like former Steeler tight end Eric Green. He is that big and that athletic. Where he plays in college will be determined later. I know one high school coach that thinks he could be a defensive end. I think he will be a defensive tackle or move over and be an offensive tackle. He is the brother of Buckeye superstar basketball center Greg Oden.
112. **** Darren Youngberg 6-2 190 S Clayton Nothmonthttp://www.scoutingohio.com/Darren_Youngberg_Clayton_Northmont.htmI remember coach Schneider telling me right after Kurt Coleman committed to Ohio State that he had another that would be the same kind of athlete. After seeing Colemans video I wrote that off as a coach that just loves his kids. Coleman was the real deal. Now that I have seen Youngberg it is obvious that coach was not just being the biggest fan of all his kids. Youngberg is special. Dan McCarthy is the only defensive back in the class that is better than Youngberg. They are both about the same size and offer versatility because they are both comfortable at the line of scrimmage but have top drawer cover skills so they can play either strong safety or free safety. Youngberg has such range. On one play he is up close to the line of scrimmage facing a tight formation with only one wide receiver. The offense uses play action to draw everyone up that much more. Youngberg sees it and has the speed to get back and knock the ball down. When the ball is in the air he attacks it like it is being thrown to him. He is probably going to have to go the prep school route but this is one of the best athletes in the state of Ohio. I have to have him in the top 100. If he were sure to play college football next year he would be in the top 25.
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