Bill Kurelic
December 2002 Posts
12/24/02
The Buckeyes' recruiting machine continues to roll as Ohio State
continues to add to their verbal commitment list and they have done
so in a big way.
DB Donte Whitner from Cleveland Glennville, one of the country's
top cover cornerback prospects has made a commitment to Ohio State.
The 5-11, 175 pound Whitner picked Ohio State over USC, Michigan,
Notre Dame and Miami of Florida, all of which offered a scholarship.
Whitner had an outstanding senior season. He made 60 tackles, picked
off three passes, and on offense had nine receiving touchdown. He
also added four touchdowns as a kick returner for a grand total
of 17 scores. Whitner will be a cornerback for Ohio State even thought
he played corner, safety and wide receiver in high school.
The good news doesn't stop there as Whitner's teammate, Darius
Hiley, a super all-around athlete also has announced a commitment
to Ohio State. He is a 6-1, 180 pounder and chose OSU over Miami,
Michigan, and Wisconsin as well as USC. Hiley says that he really
just likes what OSU has to offer and he has committed to the Buckeyes.
He too will play in the secondary even though he has played not
only in the secondary but also at quarterback and wide receiver.
In the case of Whitner, there is even more good news. Whitner is
an outstanding student and may end up enrolling at Ohio State in
January. He has applied for admissions at Ohio State for January
and if it goes through, which seems likely at this point, then he
will be able to go through spring practice at OSU which certainly
would be a big advantage.
Yet another prospect who has committed to Ohio State is DL Brandon
Maupin. Maupin, from West Chester Lakota West High School is
a 6-6, 270 pounder who committed to Ohio State over Pitt and Boston
College. Maupin could play either defensive tackle or defensive
end for the Buckeyes and he could also be a fine offensive lineman
as well, but he has been recruited as a defensive lineman.
There still is some confusion over the status of OL Kenyon Bufford,
so I spoke to him once again this week. Bufford said that he left
a voice mail message with OSU recruiting coordinator Bill Conley
that he wanted to commit to the Buckeyes, that was a little while
back, but he has not heard from Coach Conley since. He said that
Coach Conley had not actually offered him a scholarship though he
mentioned that his dad indicated that Ohio State had offered. Also
Bufford said that he does not have a scholarship offer in writting
from the Buckeyes and he added that Coach Tressel has not offered
him a scholarship. Simply, if OSU eventually offers a scholarship
the Bufford would almost immediately accept, but to this point the
Buckeyes have not offered him a scholarship. Bufford says that as
of right now he does not have an official visit scheduled to Ohio
State though he will make an official visit to Auburn in January.
OL Andrew Bain has committed to Miami. Bain was going to
make an official visit to Ohio State in January but it has been
known for quite some time that he has been leaning toward Miami.
He made an official visit to the 'Canes last weekend and committed
to them. Also DL Conrad Bolster from Washington D.C. who has made
an official visit to OSU visited Maryland last weekend and has committed
to the Terps.
Linebacker/defensive end Shawn Crable also visited Miami
last weekend but did not commit to the Hurricanes. Crable now has
visited Miami, USC and Michigan, and will visit Pitt and Ohio State
in January.
Moe Dampier 6-5, 275 pounder is one of the Midwest's most
talented line prospects. Dampier is certainly a very good offensive
lineman but he says he is really being recruited more as a nose
guard or defense tackle of defensive end. He has already visited
Illinois and will visit Oklahoma. He has Tennessee January 17 and
Miami January 24. He says he is looking at OSU and Purdue for his
other visit. Dampier said he has spoken with both Coach Tressel
and Coach Tucker and said that OSU would like him to make an official
visit and he is considering making that visit.
DE Doug Van Dyke, who at one point was going to make an
official visit to OSU, has committed to Purdue over Michigan.
Three Buckeye coaches paid a visit to DB Ira Guilford last
week. The 5-11, 185 pounder from Hoboken is one of the country's
top safety prospects. Guilford also had a super season at running
back, rushing for close to 2,000 yards. He has made an official
visit to Penn State and has a visit scheduled to Ohio State January
10. He will visit Syracuse January 14, Notre Dame January 17 and
Rutgers January 24. All five schools have offered him a scholarship.
He was visited by Jim Mark Snyder, Tim Spencer and Mel Tucker at
his house. Guilford says that OSU is still his top choice with Penn
State still second.
There's a new name in the recruiting mix for Ohio State. Craig
Davis is a 6-2, 185 pound wide receiver from New Orleans Walker
High School in Louisiana. Davis helped lead his team to the state
championship game. He caught 82 passes and scored 16 times this
season. He is being recruited by Mel Tucker. He is looking at Miami,
Florida, LSU, Tennessee and Colorado. All but Miami have offered
a scholarship. Davis also says he is interested in Ohio State and
he is trying to set up a visit with the Buckeyes. He said he became
interested in OSU from watching the Buckeyes on television this
season.
12/18/02
The Buckeyes have landed their eighth verbal commitment, and it
comes from one of the country's top defensive back prospects.
Ashton Youboty, from Klein, Texas, a 6-1, 185 pounder with 4.45
40 speed has committed to Ohio State over Penn State. Youboty tells
me that he narrowed his choices down to Ohio State and Penn State,
and basically he thought about it and felt that Ohio State was the
best place. He likes the OSU quarter system rather than the semester
system. He says football-wise, Ohio State is recruiting more DBs
which is important to him, and he said he was happy with his official
visit to Ohio State, he liked the environment. He was hosted on
his visit by Santonio Holmes. Youboty said he believes he will be
a cornerback rather than a safety at Ohio State. Youboty was offered
a scholarship by both OSU and Penn State. Youboty says he is planning
on enrolling at Ohio State in January. He has enough credits to
graduate from high school this month. He says he wants to be able
to go through spring practice.
One Ohioan that won't be playing his college football for the Buckeyes
is Adam Greassle, the fine kicker and punter from Dublin
Coffman High School. He has verbally committed to Pitt. The Buckeyes
had shown interest in him coming to Ohio State though they did not
offer him a scholarship. With the shortage of scholarships available
this year the Buckeyes simply could not offer him a scholarship.
There have been rumors circulating that offensive lineman Kenyon
Bufford has committed to Ohio State, but the rumors are not
accurate. The 6-6, 355 pounder is certainly very interested in going
to Ohio State, but as he told me, he has not committed to anyone,
even though Ohio State is his favorite. The Buckeyes have not even
visited him recently and have not officially offered him a scholarship.
If they were to officially offer him a scholarship I certainly believe
he would commit to OSU, but to this point that has not happened
and he has not scheduled an official visit to Ohio State. He has
one visit scheduled to Auburn on January 17. He thinks OSU will
be sometime after that.
Last weekend was an official visit weekend for the Buckeyes. Linebacker
Reggie Smith seems set to commit to Ohio State following
his visit last weekend, though he is going to make an official visit
to Virginia this coming weekend. Smith had a great visit with Ohio
State this past weekend and I feel pretty confident that he will
end up signing with the Buckeyes. He is the number one linebacker
in the state of Ohio.
Speaking of linebackers, Tavaress Gooden from Florida made
an official visit to Ohio State this past weekend and it went well.
He is saying that Ohio State and Miami are tied for his top spot.
Kyle Thornton, an offensive lineman from Texas, says that
Ohio State and Texas are tied for his top spot after his official
visit to Ohio State last weekend and defensive tackle Conrad Bolston
from Washington D.C. St. Johns High School says that his top three,
in no particular order, are Maryland, Ohio State and Boston College
after his official visit to Ohio State this past weekend.
DB Chase Anastasio from Virginia, who as of last Thursday
was considering not even visiting OSU last weekend, had a great
visit. He and his family were very impressed. Now it is a very close
race between Ohio State, Notre Dame, Virginia and Virginia Tech
for his services.
The other player to make an official visit to OSU this past weekend
is defensive back Tony Gonzales who has already committed
to OSU.
DE Doug Van Dyke from Marshall, Michigan will not make his
official visit to OSU January 10. He has decided to choose between
Michigan and Purdue and will likely announce his choice on Thursday.
DB Dareus Hiley from Cleveland Glennville High School is
making an official visit to Wisconsin this week, but the Buckeyes
remain his top choice. He will visit Miami December 20 but it will
take some doing to take Hiley away from Ohio State.
DT David Paterson and TE Louis Irizary, both of whom
have committed to OSU, made official visits to Florida last weekend,
but both remain committed to the Buckeyes.
DL Brandon Maupin from West Chester Lakota West High School
made an official visit to Pitt last weekend but says he still likes
OSU best. I tend to thing the Buckeyes are going to eventually land
the 6-6, 270 pounder as well.
DB Donte Whitner visited Notre Dame this past weekend and
will visit Miami this coming weekend along with Dareus Hiley, then
Whitner will make an announcement on his college choice a day or
so after his visit to Miami.
DE Shawn Crable visited Michigan this past weekend and has
also visited USC. Crable plans to visit Miami this coming weekend
and will visit Pitt and Ohio State in January. The Buckeyes are
January 17 so the Buckeyes will have the last shot at Crable. He
will make that visit along with his teammate Devon Jordan who has
already committed to OSU. DB Prescott Burgess also visited
Michigan last weekend.
DT Conrad Bolston from Washington D.C, a 6-4, 265 pounder
made his visit to OSU this past weekend and was hosted by Marcus
Green. Bolston came away very impressed, saying he loved it at Ohio
State. He said he liked the people and the coaches and the team
is very close. He has now visited Boston College and Ohio State
and will visit Maryland this coming weekend and Penn State January
17 and maybe Florida. He says it is down to those five and all five
have offered. He said that OSU, Maryland and Boston College are
all pretty even at the top of his list right now.
WR Jesse Holley from New Jersey is one of the top athletes
on the east coast. He seemed close to commiting to Virginia but
after a visit from Jim Tressel, he now says that he won't make a
decision until he at least visits Ohio State. He has already made
visits to Virginia and Michigan State. He is also looking at North
Carolina as well as OSU. He will visit OSU January 11. All the schools
on his list have offered him a scholarship. He says Virginia and
Ohio State are his top two.
12/06/02
The Buckeyes have landed another verbal commitment, and, it is
the first offensive lineman in this recruiting class for Ohio State.
Kirk Barton from Massillon Perry High School, a 6-6, 275
pounder had committed to Ohio State.
Barton, who has excellent feet and speed, runs from 4.8 to 4.9
in the 40. Barton played tight end and defensive end this year but
was basically was an extra tackle as Massillon Perry has a run-oriented
offense. Barton will be an offensive tackle at OSU. Barton has an
excellent frame and certainly has room to grow. I see him as a player
who will probably redshirt in his first season at Ohio State, but
as a player who has excellent potential. He had scholarship offers
from Pitt, Northwestern and others, but when Jim Tressel called
a couple of days ago and offered Barton a scholarship he talked
things over with his mother and coach and has now committed to Ohio
State. Barton said that he canceled his visit to Northwestern this
weekend so that he can make his official visit to Ohio State.
Barton has always been a bit Ohio State fan, even when he moved
to Florida for a little while. He wore a Pepe Pearson jersey even
though everyone else was wearing Miami jerseys. Barton is also good
friends with OSU commitment Kurt Lukens, and said it just seemed
the right place to go.
12/05/02
As I told you in my last update here, the Buckeyes chances of landing
defensive lineman David Patterson have been quite good. Patterson
has now made it official and announced that he has committed to
the Buckeyes. Patterson had actually selected the Buckeyes earlier
this week, but not announced it publicly until yesterday. The 6-3,
260 pounder from Warrensville Heights High School is one of the
country's top defensive tackle prospects. Certainly this is a huge
catch for Ohio State as Patterson is not only highly regarded in
the state of Ohio, he is my number three overall prospect in the
Buckeye state, but simply he is a tremendous talent that had scholarship
offers from schools from coast to coast. Ohio State, Miami of Florida,
Michigan, Florida, Boston College and the list goes on and on of
those who offered David Patterson a scholarship. He had an outstanding
senior season making over 100 tackles and had 17 sacks. Patterson
becomes OSU' sixth verbal commitment.
Defensive back Donte Whitner made an official visit this
past weekend to USC and said that he liked the visit with the Trojans,
but I still feel that the Buckeyes are in pretty good shape with
Donte Whitner. He expressed some concern about the distance from
home at USC and certainly the Buckeyes have as good a shot or better
shot than anyone of landing Donte Whitner. Whitner and his teammate
Darius Hiley will be making an official visit to Michigan
this weekend. The Buckeyes right now are also in good shape with
Darius Hiley.
The Buckeyes continue their pursuit of QB/Athlete Michael Bush
from Louisville Male High School in Kentucky. Bush is going to play
for the state championship this weekend and then will begin to schedule
his official visits. He says that Ohio State will likely be his
first visit. Bush is also looking at Oklahoma, Tennessee, Wake Forest
and Auburn as well as Louisville. All have offered a scholarship.
Bush said that he thinks that Coach Heacock will be visiting with
him at his home this week and that Coach Tressel will be making
a home visit with him on December 11. The 6-4, 225 pounder has led
his team to a 14-0 record.
Offensive lineman Joel Holler from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
made an official visit to Virginia Tech last weekend and liked it
quite a bit. He has now visited Ohio State and Virginia Tech and
says he is not sure which one he likes better. He is still planning
to visit Penn State this coming weekend, Miami December 13 and now
says he will probably visit Pitt after Miami. All of those schools
have offered him a scholarship. He says he does not have a favorite
at this time.
Defensive back Ashton Youboty from Texas was going to make
an official visit to Tennessee last weekend but did not. Youboty
decided to cancel that visit saying that he wants to play in the
Big Ten and his decision is down to Ohio State and Penn State. Youboty
says he will decide between those two schools sometime before Christmas.
Right now he says the two schools are even.
The upcoming weekend is an official visit weekend and players the
Buckeyes are recruiting will be visiting elsewhere as well as at
Ohio State. Offensive lineman Sam Baker from California,
Defensive end Ray Edwards from Ohioan and TE Louis Irizzary
who has committed to Ohio State are all scheduled to make an official
visit to Ohio State this weekend. That list will probably grow by
time this Friday gets here.
November
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