Bill Kurelic's March Posts

March 24, 1999
It's a very, very good year for line talent in the state of Ohio. In fact the Buckeyes have already offered a scholarship to five in-state linemen, and of course already have a commitment from one, Larry Kinnard. Others the Buckeyes have offered a scholarship to include Michael Munoz, Antonio Hall, Alex Stepanovich, and Sam Ruhe, and don't be surprised if Alphonso Townsend is also soon offered a scholarship by Ohio State.

Alphonso Townsend (6'6 275 5.1) from Lima Senior started at both defensive end and offensive guard as a junior, but would prefer to play on defense in college. He made 80 tackles this past season, including 15 for losses and 6 sacks. Townsend has a 2.5 GPA and is also a starter on the varsity basketball team. He tells me that OHIO STATE and FLORIDA STATE are his two favorite schools, but also says he is interested in MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN STATE, and INDIANA.

As good as OL Michael Munoz is, my current top prospect in the state of Ohio is Antonio Hall. Hall (6'5 300 5.1), from Canton McKinley High School, starts at both offensive guard and defensive tackle, but would prefer to play on defense in college. He made 91 tackles including 3 sacks this past season. Hall has excellent size, very good feet, and moves well. He has a 3.1 GPA. Hall has been offered a scholarship by OHIO STATE, MICHIGAN, and PENN STATE, and names those three as well as FLORIDA STATE as the four main schools he is interested in.

March 23, 1999
TE Eric Arling (6'5 230 4.7) from Cincinnati St. Xavier (OH) is an interesting prospect with plenty of potential. He went out for football for the first time as a junior and caught close to 20 passes and scored twice. Eric has good size and is a fine all-around athlete. He is also a fine OF and 1st baseman in baseball, and could play either sport in college. He has a 2.7 GPA . Eric tells me, "OHIO STATE, NOTRE DAME, BOSTON COLLEGE, and GEORGIA TECH are the schools I'm most interested in right now."

Speaking of tight ends, Jared Mazzetta (6'5 235 4.75) from Hunterdon Central in New Jersey is one of the finest in the East. He caught 27 passes this past season and scored three times. Jared also starts at defensive end and made 69 tackles including 6 sacks. He has a 3.0 GPA. Jared tells me, "PENN STATE, FLORIDA, OHIO STATE, MICHIGAN, and RUTGERS are some schools I like. But I don't know about any favorite right now."

DE/LB Dan Stephens (6'3 255 4.75) from Wheeling Linsly is one of the top prospects in the state of West Virginia. He has started at inside linebacker since his sophomore season, and could play linebacker or defensive end in college. Stephens made 78 tackles this past season including 8 sacks. He has a 3.8 GPA. Stephens tells me, "OHIO STATE, MICHIGAN, ALABAMA, UCLA, NEBRASKA, WASHINGTON, PENN STATE, and WEST VIRGINIA are the major schools I'm looking at. Ohio State and Michigan are probably my two favorites, but I like Penn State a lot to. I went to Ohio State's football camp last summer and I might go there again this summer."

March 22, 1999
Lonnie Simmons (6'5 260 5.0) from Columbus Northland (OH) has good size, pretty good feet, and runs well for a big guy. He started on the varsity as a sophomore, and started at both offensive tackle and defensive end this past season. Simmons could play on either side of the ball in college. He has a 2.3 GPA. Simmons is interested in OHIO STATE, NOTRE DAME, PURDUE, MICHIGAN, UCLA, FLORIDA, WASHINGTON, and STANFORD. He is receiving mail from all of those schools. Simmons might go to football camps at both Ohio State and Michigan this summer.

RB Tyjuan Hagler (6'1 190 4.5) from Kankakee Bishop McNamara (IL) started at running back as a sophomore before moving to outside linebacker this past season. He will move back to running back as a senior, and will play that position in college. Hagler will be one of the top prospects in the greater Chicago area this coming season. He has a 2.6 GPA. Hagler tells me, "OHIO STATE has always been my favorite. I really liked watching Eddie George when he was there. Some other schools I'm interested in are PURDUE, ILLINOIS, NORTHWESTERN, COLORADO, and MICHIGAN STATE."

March 18th
QB Brock Berlin (6'2 200 4.7) from Shreveport Evangel Christian (LA) will be one of the country's top prospects this season. Berlin threw for 4656 yards as a sophomore and 4865 this past season. He completed 68% of his passes as a junior and connected for 54 touchdowns. Berlin is a dropback type quarterback who knows how to evade the rush when needed. He has a 3.8 GPA. Berlin tells me, "I'd say FLORIDA, LSU, FLORIDA STATE, UCLA, TENNESSEE, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA TECH, MICHIGAN, and OHIO STATE are some of the schools I'm looking at. But I'm pretty wide-open. I'd say I'll look at NOTRE DAME and some others too. I might be going to Florida's football camp this summer."

OL Kevin Glinski (6'5 300 5.1) from Garfield Heights (OH) played some as a sophomore before becoming a full-time starter this past season at offensive tackle. Glinski will likely move to offensive guard in college. He has a 2.5 GPA. Glinski told me MICHIGAN STATE, OHIO STATE, NOTRE DAME, and BOWLING GREEN are the main schools he is looking at right now.

Brian Burns (6'3 220 4.55) from Independence (OH) played both running back and linebacker this past season. He will likely be a linebacker in college. Burns rushed for close to 1600 yards this past season and was outstanding from is outside linebacker spot as well. He has a 2.4 GPA. Burns tells me, "I like OHIO STATE, MICHIGAN STATE, and MICHIGAN, and then I'm looking at BOWLING GREEN some too. I'll probably go to Ohio State's, Michigan State's, and Bowling Green's camps this summer."

March 17th.
WR/DB Jaime Cooper (6'3 180 4.5) from Cincinnati Purcell-Marian (OH) started at wide receiver as sophomore and wide receiver and free safety this past season. Cooper made 60 tackles and caught 15 passes despite missing two games due to a concusion. He could play on either side of the ball in college but prefers offense. Cooper has a 2.8 GPA. He tells me, "OHIO STATE and MICHIGAN are my two favorite schools, but I like MICHIGAN STATE and BOSTON COLLEGE too." Cooper plans to go to Ohio State's football camp this summer and perhaps Michigan's.

RB Duane Griffin (6'0 205 4.5) from Warrensville Heights High (OH)
rushed for over 1300 yards as a sophomore, and just under 1000 this past season despite missing quite a bit of playing time with a deep thigh bruise. He has a 2.3 GPA. Griffin has been to the Ohio State Football Camp the past few summers, and will go again this summer. He is very interested in the Buckeyes.

LB/FB James Kinney (6'2 210 4.5) from Kankakee, Illinois will be a three-year varsity starter at both linebacker and fullback. He could play on either side of the ball in college, but defense might be the best bet. Kinney made 82 tackles this past season, rushed for 1100 yards, averaged 10 yards per carry, and scored 12 times. He has a 3.0 GPA. Kinney names ILLINOIS, PURDUE, OHIO STATE, and MISSOURI as schools he is interested in.

March 16th
It's a good year for offensive line talent in the state of Ohio, and Dan Mooney (6'5 270 5.0) from Cleveland St.Ignatius will be one of the best in the Buckeye state. Mooney plays offensive tackle, predominantly on the left side. Mooney has good size and runs very well. His sister is a scholarship basketball player at Virginia. Mooney tells me, " I liked VIRGINIA a lot, but I also like DUKE, OHIO STATE, NOTRE DAME, and MICHIGAN. All of those schools have been showing interested in me." Mooney has a 3.9 GPA.

Another fine offensive line prospect from the state of Ohio that is interested in the Buckeyes is Brian Woychik (6'5 275 5.2) from Youngstown Cardinal Mooney. Woychik has been a varsity starter at offensive tackle since his sophomore season. He is also a standout track athlete, having thrown the shot 51', and the disc 120'. Woychik tells me, " I really like OHIO STATE, that's the one I like the most. I'll be going back to their football camp this summer. Some other schools I'm interested in are PITT, MARYLAND, NORTHWESTERN, STANFORD, and BOWLING GREEN."

OL Richard Pope (6'5 270 4.9) from Evanston, will be one of the top prospects in the state of Illinois this coming season. Pope, who bench presses 285 pounds, is also one of the top track athlete's in the state of Illinois. He has thrown the shot 52' and the disc 130'. Pope has a 2.6 GPA. He tells me, "I like ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN, OHIO STATE, BOSTON COLLEGE, MINNESOTA, and IOWA. But I don't have a favorite yet."

March 12th
LB Karlton Neal (6'4 240 4.6) from Chicago Marist High in Illinois will be one of the top prospects in the greater Chicago area this coming season. Neal has been varsity starter on both sides of the line of scrimmage since his freshman season. As a junior he made over 100 tackles. Neal has a 3.2 GPA. He tells me, "MICHIGAN, OHIO STATE, BOSTON COLLEGE, ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN STATE, NORTHWESTERN, NOTRE DAME, and PURDUE are the schools I'm looking at right now. But Michigan and Ohio State are the main ones really. I like both of them a lot."

RB/LB Terry Pogue (6'2 220 4.5) from Dayton Colonel White High in Ohio played some on the varsity as a freshman. This past season he started at both running back an inside linebacker, and could play either position in college. Pogue rushed for 1317 yards this past season, averaged 9.7 per carry, and scored 17 times. On the other side of the ball he made 53 tackles. Pogue has a 2.3 GPA. He tells me OHIO STATE, PENN STATE, MICHIGAN, and NEBRASKA are his favorite schools. Pogue says, "I went to Ohio State's junior recruiting day a few weeks ago, and I'm going to Ohio State's camp this summer."

March 11th
OL/DE Mike Corliss (6'6 260 5.0) from Lake Zurich, Illinois registered 7 sacks last season. He has a 3.6 GPA. Corliss also throws the shot in track. He previously lived in Columbus, Ohio and names the Buckeyes as one of his top choices. Corliss likes OHIO STATE, NOTRE DAME, NORTHWESTERN, BOSTON COLLEGE, and TCU.

QB Adam Drill (6'4 205 4.85) from Eden Prairie High School will be one of the top prospects in the state of Minnesota this coming season. He is a drop back and sprint-out type quarterback who completed 67 of 118 passes for 1240 yards this past season. Drill connected for 14 touchdowns with six interceptions. He has a 3.4 GPA. Drill names OHIO STATE, MINNESOTA, and PURDUE as three schools he is interested in.

March 10th
I spoke again last night to one of the nation's premier TE prospects, Eric
Knott (6'4 235 4.55) from Detroit Henry Ford High in Michigan. Knott caught 24 passes this past season. This super athlete also starts in basketball. Knott told me, "I'm still leaning maybe a little to TENNESSEE, but I still like MICHIGAN, FLORIDA STATE, MICHIGAN STATE, NORTH CAROLINA, and MINNESOTA too. They all offered me a scholarship, but I want to weigh my options. I'm looking at OHIO STATE, TEXAS, KENTUCKY, and NOTRE DAME now too. They all say I have a scholarship too."

OL William Whitticker (6'7 300 5.2) from Marion, Indiana will be one of the better prospects in the Hoosier state this year. He benches 300 pounds and has a 3.0 GPA. Whitticker told me last night, "I don't really have a favorite yet, but PURDUE has my major, I want to be a pilot. I like MICHIGAN STATE, MICHIGAN, and SYRACUSE too. Michigan State offered me a scholarship. INDIANA, OHIO STATE, NORTH CAROLINA, and NOTRE DAME are some other schools I like."

March 9th.
The Buckeyes have landed their first verbal commitment for their
1999-2000 recruiting class! OL Larry Kinnard (6'7 290 5.1) from Alliance has chosen OHIO STATE. Kinnard starts at offensive left tackle and defensive tackle, but will be an offensive lineman at Ohio State. He will be one of the Top 10 prospects in the state of Ohio this season. The Buckeyes called Kinnard's high school coach on Friday and said they were ready to offer Kinnard a scholarship. Kinnard was told of the news early Friday afternoon, thought about things over the weekend, and committed to Ohio State on Monday. He told me, "Ohio State is the best option I could think of. The education is good and the amount of players they send to the NFL is awesome. The distance from home is not bad either. It was a toss-up for second between MICHIGAN and INDIANA."

FB Dustin Picciotti (6'3 235 4.55) from Doylestown Central Bucks West High in Pennsylvania will be one of the top prospects in the Big Ten region this season. Picciotti rushed for close to 2000 yards this past season, averaged 7.2 per carry, and scored 41 times. He told me, "I've got some offers, but I think I need to make some visits. PENN STATE and MICHIGAN have offered me a scholarship, and I hear from SYRACUSE, BOSTON COLLEGE, NOTRE DAME, and OHIO STATE a lot too. I'm not really sure about things right now."

March 8th
RB Walter Reyes (5'11 200 4.35) from Youngstown Struthers High in Ohio made an unofficial visit to OHIO STATE this past weekend. Reyes participated in the All-Ohio Elite Track Meet in Columbus and then visited OSU. At the meet he set a record with a time of 6.37 in the 55 meters. On Saturday Reyes met with Coach Pagac and Coach Spencer at the Woody Hayes Facility and toured campus. Reyes told me, "They didn't offer me a scholarship, but they said they are real interested. They want me to go down for a practice on April 17th and meet the players. I'm excited about it." Reyes rushed for 1450 yards this season and scored 22 times. He did that despite playing in only 8 games (he missed a couple of games with a separated shoulder). Reyes said his favorite schools are OHIO STATE, PENN STATE, INDIANA, NOTRE DAME, TEXAS, FLORIDA STATE, and UCLA. Penn State and Indiana have offered a scholarship.

WR Jeremy Battier (6'5 200 4.6) from Detroit Country Day in Michigan caught 50 passes last season, averaged 15.6 per grab, and scored 8 times. He also averages 13 points and 8 rebounds a game in basketball and is being recruited in that sport too. However Jeremy told me, "I'll probably play just football in college." Jeremy has a 3.2 GPA. His brother Shane Battier plays forward for the Duke basketball team. Jeremy told me, "OHIO STATE, KENTUCKY, DUKE, MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN STATE, STANFORD, and NOTRE DAME, those are the main ones I'm looking at. I might go to Michigan's football camp this summer."

March 4th
RB Walter Reyes (5'11 200 4.35) from Youngstown Struthers High in Ohio rushed for 1450 yards this season and scored 22 times. He did that despite playing in only 8 games (he missed a couple of games with a separated shoulder). Reyes, who ran a 10.5 100 meters in track as a sophomore, currently tells me his favorite schools are PENN STATE, INDIANA, OHIO STATE, NOTRE DAME, TEXAS, FLORIDA STATE, and UCLA. The first two have offered. Reyes plans to make an unofficial visit to Ohio State this weekend.

OL/DL Alex Stepanovich (6'5 275 5.0) from Berea, Ohio has been a varsity starter since his freshman season. He made 68 tackles this year including 14 sacks. Stepanovich has a 3.0 GPA. He tells me, "OHIO STATE, MICHIGAN, and MICHIGAN STATE have offered me a scholarship. Those three and NEBRASKA are pretty much my top four, but right now I don't have a favorite. I'd like to make a decision early, but it's not that important if I don't."

LB Marco Cooper (6'2 230 4.55) from Detroit Cass Tech High in Michigan has been a varsity starter since his freshman season. He made 114 tackles this year. Cooper has a 2.8 GPA. He tells me, "I'm looking at OHIO STATE, MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN STATE, PURDUE, INDIANA, NORTHWESTERN, PENN STATE, and MINNESOTA. Ohio State, Purdue, and Penn State are the only ones that haven't offered me a scholarship yet."

March 3rd
WR Chuck Rogers (6'4 185 4.4) from Saginaw is my preseason top prospect in the state of Michigan. He caught 33 passes this past season for 721 yards, averaged 21.8 per grab, and scored 11 times. Rogers, who has a 2.9 GPA, is also a very good basketball prospect who averages 14 points and 12 rebounds per game. However he told me, "I'm going to play just football in college. I'm looking at FLORIDA STATE, MICHIGAN, TENNESSEE, FLORIDA, NOTRE DAME, MICHIGAN STATE, PENN STATE, and OHIO STATE. All of them except Notre Dame and Ohio State have already offered me a scholarship. But I don't have a favorite right now. I'll probably decide by around September or October. I went to Michigan's camp last summer and I plan to go to Michigan State's this summer."

Rogers' teammate, DB Jeremiah McLaurin (6'1 180 4.5), picked off 6
passes and made close to 35 tackles from his cornerback spot this past season. He has a 3.2 GPA and averages 12 points per game in basketball. McLaurin told me, "MICHIGAN STATE, FLORIDA STATE, OHIO STATE, and MICHIGAN are some schools I like. I don't think I could say who my favorite would be."

March 2nd
A player that the Buckeyes had offered a scholarship to has committed elsewhere. WR/DB Markus Curry (6'0 185 4.35) from Harper Woods
Bishop Gallagher High in Michigan, has committed to MICHIGAN. Curry
was looking at OHIO STATE, FLORIDA STATE, and KENTUCKY among others before choosing the Wolverines. He had narrowed things down to Michigan and Ohio State. Markus' brother Julius is on the Michigan football team, and his other brother Ray played for Toledo this year and may be selected in the NFL draft next month.

On the other hand, keep in mind the name of DB/QB Dominique Sims (6'2 195 4.4) from Minneapolis DeLaSalle High in Minnesota. Sims will be one of the top prospects in the Midwest this season and the preseason number one prospect in Minnesota. Sims made close to 50 tackles and picked off 7 passes this year while also throwing for 1200 yards and rushing for another 900. He also returned 3 punts for scores. Sims has a 4.2 GPA and ranks number two in his class. He also started for the state champion DeLaSalle basketball team as a sophomore and may help his team to another state championship this season. However Sims will go the football route in college. Sims is looking at OHIO STATE, NOTRE DAME, FLORIDA STATE, MINNESOTA, USC, STANFORD, UCLA, MICHIGAN, and COLORADO. Minnesota and Colorado have already offered a scholarship. Sims went to Notre Dame's football camp last summer, but will go to the Buckeyes' camp this summer. In fact he spends time almost every summer in Columbus. Sims has family in Columbus and is very interested in the Buckeyes.

Dominique Sims' teammate, Derreck Robinson (6'5 260 485), might be the top line prospect in Minnesota. Robinson has started on both sides of the line since his sophomore season and has a 3.3 GPA. Robinson will likely be a DE in college. He has been offered a scholarship by MINNESOTA and NORTHWESTERN, and is looking at those two as well as OHIO STATE, NOTRE DAME, STANFORD, and UCLA.

March 1, 1999
DL Ellery Moore (6'2 255 4.9) from Massillon Washington High in Ohio has committed to PENN STATE. Moore had previously told me he was looking at the Nittany Lions, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO STATE,
MICHIGAN, and GEORGIA. Penn State was the only one of that group
that had offered Moore a scholarship at the time of his commitment to Penn State. He had attended the Buckeyes' junior recruiting day February 20th.

OL David Baas (6'6 300 5.1) from Sarasota Riverview High in Florida will be one of the top blockers in the Sunshine State this season. Baas, who has a 3.0 GPA, tells me, "I've kinda been looking at FLORIDA, OHIO STATE, TENNESSEE, MICHIGAN, NOTRE DAME, and NEBRASKA. I don't know if I have a favorite, but I've always sort of liked the Gators."

OL Ike Ndukwe (6'6 305 5.2) from Dublin Coffman High in Ohio will be one of central-Ohio's top blockers this season. He has started at strong-side offensive tackle since his sophomore season. Ndukwe tells me, "I like NOTRE DAME, OHIO STATE, MICHIGAN, PENN STATE, and MICHIGAN STATE. I'm going to try and go to Michigan's, Ohio State's, and Notre Dame's camps this summer."

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