2007 Ohio State Buckeye Football signings

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Football
2007 Signing List
By The-Ozone Staff

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	40	Hometown
Evan Blankenship	OL	6-3	300	5.1	Monaca, PA
Named to the Harrisburg Patriot-News “Platinum 33” team as a senior … rated the No. 18 prospect in Pennsylvania … first team all-conference … bench presses 340 pounds and squats 500 … owns a grade point average of 3.0 … plans on becoming a business major … aggressive interior lineman … three-year varsity starter … also played basketball and ran track in high school … expected to play guard or center for the Buckeyes … helped lead Center Area H.S. to the second round of the Class AA playoffs … committed to Ohio State in July … Personal: Born April 17, 1989 … son of Paula Blankenship … has a sister, Abby (14).
Eugene Clifford	DB	6-2	190	4.5	Cincinnati, OH
Parade All-American … Ohio’s 2006 Division I Defensive Player of the Year … rated as the No. 3 recruit overall in Ohio and No. 25 in the nation … rated as the No. 3 overall prospect in the Midwest … recorded two interceptions in the 2007 Army All-American Bowl … collected 130 tackles and had four interceptions his senior season when he helped lead Colerain to a 15-0 record and the state championship … totaled 147 tackles and six interceptions as a junior while earning second team All-Ohio honors … possesses tremendous closing speed … squats 500 pounds, runs a 4.45 40-yard dash and has a 33-inch vertical jump … also a standout basketball player in high school … Personal: Born Jan. 29, 1988 … son of Eugene Clifford and Veronica Staley … has five siblings … hopes to study business at Ohio State … enjoys music and video games … is a cousin of Pittsburgh Steeler Deuce Staley … joins former Colerain players Connor Smith and Tyler Moeller at Ohio State.
Donnie Evege	CB	5-11	185	4.4	Huber Heights, OH
Ranked as the seventh-best prospect in Ohio and 16th best cornerback prospect in the nation … clocked at 4.31 in the 40-yard dash … plans to enroll at Ohio State in the spring … racked up 42 tackles his senior season … rushed for 527 yards and nine touchdowns and totaled 300 yards receiving as a junior … is a member of the National Honor Society and holds a 3.5 GPA … played varsity since mid-way through his freshman year … also ran track in school … lists speed and versatility as his greatest assets … helped lead Wayne to a berth in the 2006 Div. I regional quarterfinals … Personal: Born April 7, 1988 … son of Donnie and Chrissy Evege … has a sister, Briana (15) … hopes to own his own business someday … enjoys spending time with family, reading and lifting weights … father played baseball at Central State University … from the same school that produced Ohio State standout Will Allen.
Daniel (Boom) Herron	RB	5-10	200	4.55	Warren, OH
Ranked as the No. 7 recruit in Ohio and the No. 27 running back in the nation … first-team All-Ohio as a senior … timed at 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash … led Harding to a 9-4 record and a berth in the regional semi-finals as a senior … totaled for 1,434 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior … rushed for over 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior, earning all-conference, all-district and honorable mention All-Ohio honors … ran for 900 yards as a sophomore … possesses great versatility and strength … squats 550 pounds and has a 37-inch vertical jump … was the fifth prospect in this class to commit to the Buckeyes … is a tough between-the-tackles runner … Personal: Born March 21, 1989 … son of David Sr. and Brenda Herron … has a brother, David Jr., and a sister, Christina … brother played football at Michigan State … plans to major in communication … enjoys spending time with family, playing video games, eating and working out … Nickname is “Boom."
Cameron Heyward	DT	6-6	262	5.1	Suwanee, GA
Named the 2006 Georgia Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year … rated as the No. 15 prospect overall in Georgia and as high as the nation’s No. 20 defensive tackle … totaled over 100 tackles and 16 sacks as a senior … benches 335-pounds and squats 510 … ranked as the seventh-best player in Georgia and the 13th best defensive tackle in the nation … owns a 3.2 GPA … an outstanding basketball player, who plans to play the latter at Ohio State … Personal: Born May 6, 1989 … son of former NFL running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward and Charlotte Heyward-Blackwell … stepfather Cory Blackwell played at Wisconsin.
Jermale Hines	LB/DB	6-2	210	4.6	Cleveland, OH
Rated as the No. 16 outside linebacker prospect in the nation and the No. 6 overall recruit in the state … started at quarterback and linebacker for Glenville his junior year … team’s defensive MVP as a sophomore, junior and senior … ran for 800 yards as a senior and threw for 750 and nine touchdowns … first-team all-district as a senior … has explosive speed and a nose for the football … recorded 97 tackles as a junior along with eight sacks and four interceptions … honorable mention all-state as a senior … a candidate for Ohio’s Mr. Football at the beginning of the 2006 season … participated in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl … runs a 4.5 40-yard dash … rushed for 1,000 yards as a sophomore … plans to major in sports medicine … Personal: Born Nov. 11, 1987 … son of Bobby and April Hines … has five siblings … coached by Ted Ginn Sr. at Glenville … his sports hero is former OSU wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. … enjoys video games, music and being involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes … an uncle, Joseph Hines, played on Penn State’s 1983 national championship team.
Nate Oliver	S	6-0	195	4.55	Lakewood, OH
Rated as the No. 11 safety prospect in America and the No. 5 recruit overall in Ohio … totaled 80 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three interceptions, four sacks, six pass break-ups and four fumble recoveries as a senior and led St Edwards to the regional semi-finals … 2006 first-team All-Ohio … 70 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles earned him All-Ohio honors as a junior … runs a 4.55 40-yard dash … three-year varsity starter … his class lost only three games in high school … versatile athlete who excels in run support … one of the first in 2007 class to commit to the Buckeyes … named MVP of the second annual Kirk Herbstreit Classic … rejoins former St. Edwards teammate Alex Boone at Ohio State … Personal: Born Sept. 25, 1988 … son of Nathaniel Oliver Sr. and Darlene Gibson … has six siblings … hopes to major in finance or business management … enjoys basketball and baseball … is a cousin of current Buckeye Thaddeus Gibson … cousin Jahmal Brown started at safety for Bowling Green as a freshman last season.
Rocco Pentello	S	6-0	195	4.42	Westerville, OH
Two-time All-Ohio and three-time all-league and all-district … played safety and quarterback for Westerville South … totaled 6,400 yards passing and 77 touchdowns in his career to go along with 3,100 yards rushing and 39 more touchdowns … in seven games as a senior, was 78-for-120 passing for 1,120 yards, rushed for over 1,000 yards and was also the team’s leading tackler before an injury ended his season … battled through a hamstring injury as a junior to earn all-conference, all-district and all-state honors … threw for 1,700 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior while rushing for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns … runs a 3.85 shuttle and a 4.4 40-yard dash … passed for more than 2,000 yards as a sophomore … has a 3.5 GPA … has excellent footwork and body control … helped Westerville South reach the 2006 Div. I regional semifinals … committed to the Buckeyes in Dec. 2006 … Personal: Born Nov. 23, 1988 … son of Rocky and Angela Pentello … siblings include Brittni (20), Tiffany (11) and Nickey (1) … would like to get into coaching (his father was his head coach in high school) … first-cousin, Rocky, was a record-setting quarterback at Capital University in Columbus … enjoys playing the guitar and video games.
Brian Rolle	LB	5-11	205	4.6	Immokalee, FL
Rated as the No. 6 weakside linebacker prospect in the nation and the No. 12 prospect overall in Florida … twice named all-state and is the only two-time winner of the Naples Daily News Broxson Trophy, which is given to the best football player in South Lee and Collier counties … finished his senior season with 125 tackles to go along with 902 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns from the fullback position … voted 2005 Defensive Player of the Year in his area … key contributor on Immokalee’s 2004 Class 2A state championship team … has an explosive first step and runs a 4.6 40-yard dash … named to the Florida Athletic Coaches Association North/South All-Star game … anchored a defense that set school records for fewest points allowed (36) and most shutouts (six) in a season … collected 158 tackles as a junior to go along with 548 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on 70 carries … two-time team captain … Personal: Born Nov. 20, 1988 … son of Arthur and Sandra Glenn … has five siblings … relative of Arizona Cardinal Antrel Rolle … brother William played football at Illinois State … enjoys running, playing video games and weightlifting.
Brandon Saine	RB	6-1	205	4.4	Piqua, OH
Ohio’s 2006 Mr. Football after rushing for 1,895 yards and 27 touchdowns on 259 carries and totaling 412 yards on 30 pass receptions as a senior … Parade All-American … runs a 4.35 40-yard dash … rated as the No. 2 overall prospect in Ohio … garnered all-state, all-conference and conference player of the year honors as a junior and a senior … ranked as high as the No. 11 running back prospect in the nation … rushed for 240 yards on 30 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead Piqua to the 2006 Division II state championship … OSU coaches like his combination of break-away speed and power … is the reigning 100- and 400-meter Div. I state track champion … competed in the first-annual Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, helping lead the East squad to a 24-18 victory … owns a 3.3 GPA … committed to Ohio State in May 2006 … Personal: Born Dec. 14, 1988 … son of Wendi Croft … has two siblings.
Dane Sanzenbacher	WR	6-0	185	4.5	Toledo, OH
Ranked as the No. 13 overall prospect in Ohio … finished his senior season with 61 receptions for 1,079 yards and 11 touchdowns … in seven career playoff games, he recorded 40 receptions for 842 yards and nine touchdowns in addition to 40 solo tackles and eight interceptions … helped guide Toledo Central Catholic to the 2005 State Championship with two touchdown receptions … grabbed 65 receptions for 16 touchdowns as a junior and was named first-team all-state … picked off 11 interceptions as a junior … owns a 3.3 GPA … has great decision making skills and has plays his best in big games … also spent time at quarterback and defensive back … committed to Ohio State in July 2006 … all-state in the 400-meter dash … Personal: Born Oct. 13, 1988 … son of Lee and Marianne Sanzenbacher … lists winning the 2005 state championship as his greatest sports thrill.
James Scott	CB	5-11	170	4.45	Daytona Beach, FL
Two-time second-team All-Florida … ranked as the No. 10 cornerback in the nation and the No. 11 overall recruit in Florida … one of the top defensive back prospects in the state of Florida … finished senior season with 59 tackles, two interceptions, four tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries … recorded 62 tackles along with four interceptions and four special teams touchdowns as a junior … runs a 4.59 40-yard dash … is a sure-tackler and known for being a hard-hitter … Personal: Born Nov. 30, 1988 … son of Kenneth Scott and Sharon Williams … has three siblings, Shondra (23), Kenny (22) and Jon (15).
Solomon Thomas	DE	6-6	235	4.7	West Chester, Ohio
Rated as the No. 9 recruit overall in Ohio … runs a 4.7 40-yard dash … had 58 tackles, including 30 solos, as a senior … 13 of his tackles were behind the line of scrimmage to go along with seven sacks, nine pass break-ups and one forced fumble … is the first Lakota West player to be elected captain as a junior and senior … All-Southwest Ohio as a senior … first-team all-conference and second-team all-district as a junior … Personal: Son of Lewis Thomas … siblings include Lewis (20) and Jasmine (16) … enjoys reading and lifting weights.
Devon Torrence	DB	6-1	190	4.4	Canton, OH
Rated as the No. 12 defensive back prospect in the nation and the No. 4 overall recruit in Ohio … runs a 4.4 40-yard dash … scored 48 touchdowns and amassed more than 3,000 all-purpose yards during his prep career … recorded 99 tackles on defense and rushed for 639 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense as a junior … first-team all-conference as a sophomore, junior and senior … received All-Ohio honors as a junior … spent time at running back, wide receiver and safety in high school … has a 36-inch vertical jump … is known for being a sure-tackler … lists Ohio State as his dream school … committed to Ohio State in Sept. 2006 … Personal: Born May 8, 1989 … son of Joe Waters and Wanda Perrin … has four siblings … would like to someday be a movie producer.
Taurian Washington	WR	6-0	180	4.5	Orchard Lake, MI
Rated as the No. 8 overall recruit in Michigan and the twenty-third best receiver nationally … runs a 4.5 40-yard dash … has a 3.0 GPA … totaled 30 receptions for 500 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior when he missed time because of injury … caught 40 passes for 893 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior … was the defensive player of the year on his basketball team … won the state championship in track with the 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay teams … joins former St. Mary’s teammate Aaron Gant at Ohio State … Personal: Born Dec. 17, 1988 … son of Elaine Washington and Al Williams … has three siblings, Tevin (13), Taylor (4) and Trevon (3).

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