While Ohio State missed out on the country’s top two quarterbacks, the 2009 recruiting class is looking pretty good. With only a couple of spots left to fill, Scout.com ranks the Buckeye class as top in the nation by nearly 800 points. The Columbus Dispatch is reporting this morning that offensive lineman Marcus Hall out of Cleveland Glendale says Ohio State is his number one pick and that he will make an ann0uncement Monday. The Dispatch added however, that Hall is heading to Knoxville today and that he tends to favor the last school visited.
The Dispatch is also reporting that wide receiver Marlon Brown out of Harding Academy in Memphis, Tenn., one of the top five pics in the nation, is also considering Ohio State along with a handful of SEC schools.
The Buckeyes lost out earlier in the week to two top ranked quarterbacks (Tajh Boyd, Hampton, VA and Austin Bouchur of Kettering, OH). While it would be good to have yet another top ranked quarterback waiting in the wings, who can blame them. Barring an injury to Pryor, they won’t see the playing field for at least two years. You have to think that playing time played a factor in at least Boucher’s decision to go to Miami University. I wouldn’t give up on Boucher yet though. If he were to transfer later, he won’t be the first to start their college football career at Miami U. Then again, there’s a former Miami U grad playing in the NFL’s big show this weekend.
Next year should be yet another strong season for the Buckeyes. I like Boom Herron’s speed, add a couple more pounds and he should replace Wells without difficulty. The offensive line was more than a little concerning last year but hopefully a more experienced line combined with three strong recruits should bring them into shape. The Buckeyes also landed some strong recievers to bring down Pryors developing arm.
So here we go again. There is almost no question the Buckeyes will be in the hunt for the national title once again this year. Yes, we will hear the cries that they don’t belong after losing to Texas but face it, if a ref had called a certain fourth-down call differently, there wouldn’t have been enough evidence to overturn it and Colt McCoy would have been singing a different song (as opposed to the there’s not a team that can beat us garbage).
You can see the complete class of 2009 to date here (Dispatch) or on Scout.com with rankings.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t know if I would call Boucher a top ranked QB at all.
we buckeye fans put on our rose-colored glasses but it would be better i we were more honest with ourselves. Austin Boucher won’t likely play earlier at Miami easier as they have 4 QBs ahead of him including 2 more highly rated (and top ohio) coming out of college (rising redshirt freshman Zac Dysert & redshirt sophomore Clay Belton) and rising senior and sometimes starter Daniel Raudebagh. boucher isn’t likely to star for at least 2 years there anyway. He made the choice based on the academics, the Business School, playing with his brother and frankly the MAC has produced as many NFL QBs in the past 15 or more years as the B10.
Thanks for the input Eric. I agree and wasn’t serious about a transfer from Miami. As I said, there’s a Findlay H.S./Miami grad playing this week in his second superbowl.
Roethlisberger had to wait his turn at Miami and it worked out for him.
And yes, as my sisters, both Miami grads are quick to remind me, Miami has a good academic program.
I also think you make a good point about quarterbacks and the Big Ten.
I wonder though if Pryor helps or hurts the quarterback recruiting. At first thought I would think it hurts but at the same time, if you can keep up and learn his style of play, I would think that as Pryor develops, it will be well suited to the NFL.
I see your points Annapolis. In a strange way, that nobody is mentioning, Boucher might have had a better chance of playing earlier at OSU than at Miami – fewer to jump over and God forbid, if Pryor is hurt or leaves after soph. (unlikely) – unless playing-time unhappy Miami QBs transfer. He’s not the 1st Miami QB to turn down OSU or B10 offers – BB, Dysert (Michigan State), Belton (Purdue I think). it will be interesting to see the QB comp. with new QB Coach Morris Watts who has been around. The Buckeyes will have no problem reloading at QB next year or with a transfer.
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I found this cool site by james laurinaitis, with his dad “Animal” check it out imatopprospect.com
You have a great resource here for college football analysis and opinion, even if slanted with a very heavy Ohio State bias