Bill Kurelic
December 2001 Posts
December 20, 2001
There is bad news to get out of the way. DL Kwaekou Robinson
from Brooklyn Poly Prep has committed to Virginia over Ohio State.
He made official visits to OSU, Va. and Maryland but committed
to Va. According to his high school coach Dino Mangiro, Kwaekou
just felt that Va. offered the total package. He said the Robinson's
mother felt that Va. had a better academic package and he felt
an obligation to make his mom happy and go with what she felt
was the best academic school.
LB Mike D'Andrea from Avon Lake, 6-3, 230, has not yet
made a decision but that could come very soon. I checked with
the D'Andreas again last night and spoke with Mike's brother,
Doug, and he indicated that Mike has not yet made a decision.
Mike's father is out of town on business so certainly it's going
to wait until at least until his father's return. As to how an
announcement is going to take place, that has yet to be determined.
Mike is deciding between OSU, Nebraska and Michigan. I tend to
think it's going to come down to either OSU or Nebraska. D'Andrea
has said that he will likely have a decision before Christmas
and it could still come yet this week.
DB JoJo Walker from Carrolton Creek View H.S. in Texas,
is a player the Bucks would love to land. Walker is definitely
considering OSU. Walker has made official visits to Wisconsin
and Maryland and will visit Purdue Jan. 11 and OSU Jan. 18. All
four schools have offered a scholarship. Walker said last night
that he doesn't think he will visit Toledo. He said that right
now Purdue, Maryland and OSU are his top choices and all are about
even. He also added that he doesn't see himself making a decision
until he visits both Purdue and OSU.
OL Jim Martin from Indiana committed to B.C. Also, as
I previously told you, OL Anthony Wollschlager from Florida
committed to Miami. OL Kyle Ralph from Cincinnati St. Xavier
is still interested in OSU but he said that his interest has gone
down some because he feels that OSU's interest in him has decreased.
Ralph was going to visit OSU unofficially on Saturday but did
not. He said it was partly because of family related issues but
he also said it was partly because of what he thought was a drop
in interest by OSU. He has visited Illinois and he will visit
Pitt Jan. 4 and N. Carolina Jan. 11 as well as Florida Jan. 25.
He said is still interested in OSU some but his top four are Illinois,
Pitt, N. Carolina and Florida.
With that in mind the Bucks' effort to land another OL in this
recruiting class mainly center on Derek Morris from N.
Carolina, Davin Joseph from Florida and possibly Maxim
Giles from Florida as well as Jeff Edwards from Georgia.
If OSU could land one of those players along with the four they
already have, it would be very good for the Bucks. It would not
be surprising to see Morris' decision come down to either Tennessee
or OSU while Joseph has been saying that OSU and Michigan State
are his favorites with the Spartans having the lead. Keep in mind
that he already has visited MSU and has not yet visited OSU. He
does plan a visit to OSU in January.
WR Jason Avant who the Bucks' had offered has committed
to Michigan. That's not a big surprise as he has had UM as a leader
for some time.
FB David Herron who was Maruice Clarett's main blocker
this year at Warren Harding visited MSU this weekend. He did not
commit but he seems very likely to do so. In fact the 6-2, 235
FB may commit very soon. OSU has shown interest but has not offered.
LB John Kerr from Cleveland St. Ignatius visited Toledo
this weekend. He did not commit. In fact, he said he probably
wouldn't go there because he wants to go to a bigger school and
plans to visit Penn State Jan. 4. He said the OSU has really not
contacting him that much any more. He said he knows where he stands
with OSU and he is really not looking at the Bucks any more.
DL Eric Fritz, who the Buckeyes had shown some interest
in, has committed to Pitt. Fritz had been considering the Bucks
and they had offered him a scholarship long ago.
The Bucks are still very much in the running for WR Richard
Washington from Ft. Myers, FL. In fact OSU head coach Jim
Tressel visited with Washington at his home last week and according
to Ft. Myers OL coach Don Weekly, the visit went very well. Washington
though did not commit to Tressel. According to Weekly, Washington
was very upbeat about it afterwards. He has made official visits
to OSU and Georgia. He is going to visit Florida State, Florida
and Tennessee after the holidays. He is no longer considering
Georgia. He is down to OSU, Florida, FSU and Tennessee.
WR Devon Aramoshouta from Miami Springs, FL is very much
still looking at OSU. He told me that OSU and Auburn remain his
top two choices. He's already made official visits to OSU, Auburn
and Michigan State and plans to visit N. Carolina State Jan. 11
and Florida Jan. 18. He said that he might give a very slight
edge to Auburn over OSU but he said it's really too close. He
said OSU's Bill Conley was at his school last week.
December 7, 2001
The Buckeyes are set for a big recruiting weekend starting today,
as many OSU verbal commitments will make their official visits
to Ohio State this weekend. There are also some outstanding talents
that haven't made a decision yet scheduled to visit the Buckeyes
this weekend as well.
One of them is LB Brian Andrews from Lima Senior H.S. Andrews,
6-6, 225, tells me he is going to be leaving Saturday morning
for his official visit to Ohio State. Andrews said that OSU continues
to hold the lead. He said it's a pretty big lead and he said that
Oklahoma is no longer second and that he has crossed OU off his
list. He says that Miami is now number two with Michigan State
still in the running. All three have offered a scholarship. Andrews
told me he doubts that he will make a decision this weekend but
you never know with him making his OSU visit this weekend and
the Bucks holding a big lead.
Also visiting OSU this weekend is LB Bobby Carpenter from
Lancaster, OH. Carpenter has had the Buckeyes as one of his top
choices for some time.
Another LB scheduled to visit OSU this weekend is Buster Davis
from Florida. Davis has been saying that Ohio State and Nebraska
have been fluctuating back and forth at the top of his list.
DL Kwaekou Robinson from Brooklyn Poly Prep in New York,
6-4, 315, who has already made an official visit to OSU as well
as one to Virginia, won't be making an official visit anywhere
this weekend but he does have Maryland scheduled next weekend
Dec. 14. Robinson says also he will visit Miami sometime in January
unless he would make a decision beforehand. Robinson told me that
coaches from all four schools, OSU, Virginia, Miami and Maryland
have been there to visit this week. He said LB Coach Mark Snyder
represented Ohio State. Robinson said OSU is still on top with
Va. still second. He said that OSU's lead, as he put it, "is
a nice lead." Robinson said he is waiting for his test scores
but he said that his test score has nothing to do with the school
that he will choose.
The Buckeyes also continue their pursuit of Quinn Pitcock the
standout DL from Piqua, OH. Pitcock had been scheduled to visit
Notre Dame this weekend but with the firing of Bob Davie that
visit has been cancelled. Pitcock told me that he is not certain
whether he will reschedule the ND visit or not. Pitcock still
has three official visits scheduled, Penn State Jan. 11, Duke
Jan. 18 and Florida Jan. 25. He said that the Bucks continue to
be his leader with Penn State still running number two.
OL Kyle Ralph from Cincinnati St. Xavier H.S. might make
two visits to Ohio State. Ralph, 6-5, 280, who originally committed
to Vanderbilt but de-committed when Coach Woody Widenhofer resigned,
is going to visit Illinois as scheduled this weekend. He is going
to visit OSU Dec. 15 on an unofficial visit. Ralph will be in
Columbus for the Blue Chip banquet at the Touchdown Club of Columbus
at noon on Saturday. He will then meet the Ohio State coaches
and tour the campus. Ralph said that if he needs to, he will then
schedule an official visit to OSU and he said that the odds are
that he would do that. Ralph also has Carolina scheduled for Jan.
11 and Florida would probably be scheduled for Jan. 18. He said
those four schools are still his top four and that all four have
offered a scholarship. He said that all four are pretty much even.
He said that Boston College, South Carolina and Pitt are the other
three schools still in the running. He said that OSU's Jim Bollman
called a couple of nights ago but he wasn't home. Ralph said that
in all likelihood he would take those four visits before making
a decision.
A couple of weeks ago, DB/RB John Scott from Zanesville,
OH, 6-0, 185, said that he had talked to OSU defensive coordinator
Mark Dantonio about a possible official visit to OSU. Even though
Scott has committed to W.Va., he told me that he is not going
to visit W.Va. this weekend. He is going to take the ACT instead
but he might make an unofficial visit to W.Va. for dinner on Saturday
night. He will reschedule his official visit to Morgantown most
likely for some time in January. Said that he is not going to
look at OSU because "the Buckeyes have too much depth."
While still committed to W.Va. there is a possibility he could
visit Minnesota and/or Ga. Tech which have both offered a scholarship.
OL Derek Morris from South Carolina has returned from his
unofficial visit to OSU and it went very well. Morris made another
unofficial visit to OSU last summer and he subsequently made an
official visit to OSU during the season and followed that up with
an unofficial visit this week. Morris' father is a sports agent
and he was in Ohio on business so Derek Jr. came with him so he
could stop at OSU and check out the Buckeyes once again. Morris
said that he just wanted to talk to the coaches and see the school
again. He said that he loved it at Ohio State. He said the he
talked with Coach Tressel, Coach Bollman and strength coach Al
Johnson. They talked about playing time and he said that the Buckeyes
indicated that he would have a chance to start as a freshman if
he selects Ohio State. Morris said starting, as a freshman is
a goal of his. He said that he doesn't have a ranking for the
schools he is considering but he said that OSU is definitely in
the running. He has made official visits to OSU as well as Georgia.
He plans to visit Tennessee Jan. 11 and Florida Jan. 18. He said
that his fifth visit would likely be to either North Carolina,
N.C. State or Miami. Morris said that he is also impressed with
the fact that OSU is going to be getting a new weight room. He
said that it will be the number one weight room in the country
and will be done in a year-and-a-half.
The Buckeyes had been recruiting TE Mel Bryant from Indiana's
Muncie Central H.S. but Bryant committed to Illinois. Bryant,
6-6, 215, visited the Illini over the weekend and committed. I
asked Bryant if there was any chance he would make any other visits
and he said no. He has already cancelled Indiana for this weekend
and said the he would not visit OSU, MSU or Auburn. He said that
all those schools had offered him a scholarship but he will sign
with Illinois.
OSU is interested in LB Matt Vogley who had an outstanding
senior season for Cincinnati St. Xavier H.S. Vogley, 6-2, 225,
4.7 40, helped lead his team to a 13-0 record before the Bombers
lost to Cleveland St. Ignatius in the state championship game.
He made well over 100 tackles, had six interceptions and seven
sacks. He told me that he has been talking to Pitt, Boston College,
Miami of Ohio, OSU and Illinois. He said that all those schools
have either called him or stopped at his school. He said that
OSU's Jim Heacock called last week. Vogley said that Pitt has
offered a scholarship and that he does not have a favorite. He
mentioned that coaches from Pitt, Miami and B.C. would be visiting
this week.
Among the official visits to OSU this weekend are LBs Buster Davis
from Florida and Bobby Carpenter from Ohio. They are two of the
country's top LB prospects and both have been offered a scholarship
by OSU. Those two will be surrounded by prospects that have already
verbally committed to Ohio State this weekend. Among those are
RB Maurice Clarett, OL Doug Datish, OL T.J. Downing,
LB A.J. Hawk, DE Mike Kudla, OL Nick Mangold,
DE Joel Penton, DE Jay Richardson, DB Michael
Roberts and QB Justin Zwick. It is also possible that
TE R.J. Coleman could make his official visit to OSU this
weekend as well.
December 3, 2001
The Buckeyes have hosted six prospects on official visits this
weekend, one of which is still on his official visit to Ohio State.
Quinn Pitcock, the outstanding defensive lineman from
Piqua says Ohio State now has a bigger lead than before, but he
did not commit to the Buckeyes. Pitcock says that Penn State is
still number two on his list. He still has visits scheduled with
Notre Dame, Penn State, Duke and Florida.
WR Devon Aramoshouta from Miami Springs High School in
Florida has already made official visits to Michigan State and
Auburn, an will visit North Carolina State now scheduled for January
11 and Florida January 18. He said that his decision is really
down to four schools. He has eliminated Michigan State. He visited
OSU this weekend and now says that Ohio State has pulled into
a tie for first place on his list with Auburn.
George Cooper, the tight end from Westerville North High
School, had a good visit with the Buckeyes but didn't commit.
He is planning to visit Pitt December 7 and has Georgia Tech January
18. He may not visit Tennessee or Arizona State,and he might ultimately
simply decide between Ohio State, Pitt and Georgia Tech. He does
not have a leader at this point.
LB Mike D'Andrea (6-3, 230) from Avon Lake High School
in Ohio visited Ohio State Thursday and Friday and came away very
impressed, though he did not commit. He was accompanied by both
of his parents on his visit. He has already visited Notre Dame
and will visit Michigan December 7 and Nebraska December 14. He
still professes no leader at this point.
Also visiting the Buckeyes this weekend was defensive back
E.J. Underwood from Hamilton, Ohio. He of course committed
to Ohio State long ago.
The other prospect visiting Ohio State this weekend, OL Jeff
Edwards from Atlanta, Georgia is still on his official visit
to Ohio State. His is a Saturday, Sunday, Monday visit.
Speaking of players returning from visits on Monday, LB Bobby
Carpenter from Lancaster, Ohio is currently on an official
visit to North Carolina. It is also a Saturday, Sunday, Monday
visit. He is due back sometime on Monday and I will speaking with
him as well. He has an official visit scheduled to Ohio State
for the weekend of December 7.
TE Zack Zwilling from Missouri had been scheduled to visit
OSU this weekend, but did not do so. His visit will be rescheduled.
There was a rumor going around last week that OLB Brian Andrews
from Lima Senior High School had qualified academically and had
committed to Ohio State. Part of that rumor is true, as Andrews
got back a test score and he has raised his ACT to an 18. He also
received a 3.4 GPA for last term, so he certainly is looking good
academically. In fact, if he continues to do as well in school
as he has been, then he will qualify academically, so everything
is looking very positive on that front for Brian Andrews. However,
the rumors of him committing to Ohio State are not true. Andrews
told me last night that he hasn't officially scheduled an visits.
He says, though, that he is supposed to go down to Ohio State
for a visit sometime in December, and he said he definitely would
be visiting the Buckeyes. Andrews said he is also looking at Miami,
Michigan State and Purdue, but not Oklahoma or Tennessee any longer.
Andrews said that the Buckeyes were at his school on Wednesday
and are supposed to be in touch to let him know exactly when they
will be back next week. He said that Purdue and Michigan State
are also supposed to make a trip to Lima to visit. Andrews did
say that Ohio State is pretty much his favorite, so certainly
this is all very encouraging news.
I spoke recently with QB Troy Smith from Cleveland Glenville
High School. He told me that his official visit to Michigan State
was "OK." He said that he liked the atmosphere there
and, as he put it, it was cool. He said the Spartans offered him
a scholarship again but he did not commit. Smith has now visited
West Virginia, but won't visit Indiana December 7. Now he will
visit Toledo that weekend instead. He said he will also visit
Ohio State in January and that Iowa has been at his school and
he might visit there. He says Indiana is not off his list, he
just doesn't know right now about a visit there. All the schools
on his list have offered him a scholarship. Smith says Ohio State
and West Virginia are his two favorites.
In Florida, WR Shawn Tucker (6-1, 172) from Parkland Stoneman
Douglas High School says the Buckeyes are still one of his co-leaders.
He helped lead his team to a 12-2 record by catching 38 passes
and scoring nine times. Tucker was going to visit Rutgers December
7, but because of an all-star game will wait until December 14
to visit there. After that he will visit Wake Forest January 4,
North Carolina State January 11, Ohio State January 18 and South
Florida January 25. He says there is a chance he could visit Auburn
rather than South Florida. If he does that, he will visit Auburn
January 18 and move Ohio State back to January 25. All the schools
have offered a scholarship. He says that North Carolina State
and Ohio State remain his top two choices.
The Buckeyes would love to land a commitment from RB DeShaun
Wynn from Cincinnati, but that may be difficult. Wynn has
now scheduled four official visits. He will visit Indiana this
weekend, Alabama December 7, Florida January 11 and West Virginia
January 18. According to his coach, the fifth visit will likely
be from Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa or Purdue. All those schools
have offered a scholarship and according to his coach, Wynn does
not currently have a favorite. He also said the Wynn will take
all five official visits before making a decision.
DE Baraka Atkins, 6-5, 250, from Sarasota Booker
High School in Florida had an outstanding season season. He registered
21 sacks. He has already made an official visit to Michigan State
and will visit LSU this weekend. Atkins said that he believes
he will visit Ohio State as well and Florida and Miami. His decision
is down to those five schools, all five of which have offered
a scholarship. Atkins said he's not going to say he has a favorite
right now.
Bill
Kurelic October and November 2001 Posts