Updated: Thursday, February 4, 2010
Symbolically, on the day Head Coach Jim Tressel closed the book on 2009, he opened one for 2010, welcoming 18 new players on national signing day. But the Buckeyes’ recruiting class may be noted as much for who they didn’t get as for who they did.
Tressel came up just short of landing one of the country’s top-rated offensive lineman. Seantrel Henderson of Cretin-Derham Hall High School in Minnesota signed a letter of intent to play at Southern Cal. The Buckeyes finished second.
Landing Henderson would have been a boost. As it was, Ohio State ranked 20th to 25th by most recruiting services.
It also didn’t help that Cincinnati St. Xavier lineman Matt James turned to Notre Dame instead. James followed former Bearcat Head Coach Brian Kelly to South Bend, Ind.
“When you decide to go after good guys, there’s going to be great competition and timing involved,” Tressel said. “It’s about ‘What do you have available and what does it look like position-wise and how soon does it look like I’ll play?’ At the end of the day, the thing you don’t want to have happen is someone picking you and they feel like they made a mistake or it wasn’t the right place for them.”
The Buckeyes had hoped to sign at least two offensive linemen. They ended up with just one — Andrew Norwell, a 6-foot-6, 255-pound piece of granite who committed to OSU a long time ago. His letter of intent was among the first to arrive Wednesday morning.
Norwell’s senior season at Cincinnati Anderson ended early because of a broken leg. Tressel said doctors have cleared him to start lifting.
Verlon Reed of Marion-Franklin landed in Columbus after being told he could try to play quarterback. Considered a college cornerback by some, Reed was a phenomenal at QB for Marion-Franklin, though his passing skills need work.
Reportedly, Reed (6-1, 185) was inspired by Troy Smith’s development at Ohio State.
“We’re going to move Verlon around a whole bunch to see where he fits,” said assistant coach Paul Haynes, who recruited Reed. “Where ever he fits, we’re going to keep him.”
Ohio State also signed QB Taylor Graham, the son of former Buckeye and NFL QB Kent Graham.
Tressel isn’t worried about a backlog at quarterback.
“Who knows where (Reed) is going to end up playing?” Tressel said. “In four or five years, these guys here ... the games are going to change.
“In 2002, I don’t think one person raised their hand and said, ‘I think Troy Smith will win the Heisman.’”
In all, the Buckeyes offered 27 scholarships, none to Stark County players for the second year in a row.
However, McKinley junior defensive end Steve Miller already has verbally committed to the Buckeyes. The last player from Stark County to sign with Ohio State was Canton South cornerback Devon Torrence in 2007.
Tressel did not back off a recruit who was diagnosed with a heart condition after OSU first offered him. Pennsylvania running back Chad Hagan has Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, which causes an abnormal rhythm.
“Once we commit to a guy, we’re going to see him through the good and bad,” Tressel said. “I think he’ll be fine from all the things we’re getting.”
Of the 18 recruits, Tressel anticipates about nine will play as freshmen.
Tressel never referred to 2010 as season to contend for a national championship. His brother, running backs coach Dick Tressel, mentioned it once.
“Doc’s (meeting) room is well stocked,” the head coach said. “We’ll see if he can coach ’em up.”
Fork Union pipeline
Two players from Fork Union Military Academy in Bremo Bluff, Va., signed with Ohio State on Wednesday: running back Carlos Hyde and linebacker Jamel Turner. Both could see action soon.
Head Coach Jim Tressel seemed pleased with the maturity of both prep school players. Typically, a non-academic qualifier in high school will enroll at a prep school to improved his grade-point average.
“Jamel Turner gained the most at Fork Union,” Tressel said. “Carlos would concur with this. This is a tremendous experience for any kid. If you ever talk to (former Buckeye running back and Heisman Trophy winner) Eddie George, it was a turning point in his life.”
Turner told Tressel that he didn’t enjoy reading before he enrolled at Fork Union.
“He went to Fork Union, and all of a sudden he has a tremendous appreciation for reading,” Tressel said. “He would rather read a book now than watch a movie. I asked him why, and he said, ‘When you read a book, you create the characters in your mind. In a movie, they create the character for you.’ ”
According to Tressel, Hyde plans to show the rest of the recruiting class how to fold bed sheets and shine shoes military style.
Receiver coup
The Buckeyes inked three wide receivers and could have a diamond in the rough in
6-foot-6 Tyrone Williams from East Cleveland Shaw High School.
The other two receivers are James Louis from Florida and Corey Brown from Pennsylvania.
Leftover scholarships
Since Ohio State could have signed a class of 20, Tressel now has two extra scholarships in his back pocket.
Typically, he rewards walk-on players with partial or full scholarships.
He estimated at least 30 walk-ons have been rewarded with some kind of scholarship in the last nine seasons. Devin Barclay, reportedly, will be put on scholarship after filling in at kicker late last season.
Getting kicks
Drew Basil is expected to enroll for spring classes. The Chillicothe kicker and punter has not yet determined which of those two positions he’ll try to play.
Tressel seems to like Basil’s strong leg. Ohio State tends to favor strong-legged kickers with touchback ability as opposed to guys with loft who kickoffs inside the 5.
Deep at RB
Hyde and Rob Smith both are running backs who signed Wednesday. Smith is something of a high school legend in Indiana, and the Buckeyes already are deep at running back with Brandon Saine, Boom Herron, Jordan Hall and Jaamal Berry.
“Not only do you need tailbacks on Saturdays ... your defense needs to face them in practice,” Tressel said. “Then a week later, you get an ankle (injury), and we’re back to running the Wildcat.”
Buckeyes
• Terrelle Pryor’s knee injury that hampered him last season is healing. Tressel said it would not need surgery.
• Jim Bollman, who recruited J.T. Moore of Boardman, said: “He played in the tough Federal League in Northeast Ohio.”
• Linebackers coach Luke Fickell said if any of the offensive recruits can’t get on the field, he will be more than happy to find a spot on defense for them. “We have an open policy on defense,” Fickell joked.
Ohio State’s recruiting class
The following 18 high school seniors signed national letters of intent Wednesday to play football at Ohio State:
Name, high school Pos Ht Wt
Darryl Baldwin, Solon DE 6-7 265
Drew Basil, Chillicothe K 6-0 180
Corey Brown, Cardinal O’Hara, Pa. WR 5-11 170
Christian Bryant, Glenville DB 5-10 175
David Durham, Charlotte Christian OLB 6-3 226
Taylor Graham, Wheaton (Ill.) North QB 6-4 211
Chad Hagan, Canon-Mcmillan, Pa. DB 6-0 207
Johnathan Hankins, Southeastern, Mich. DT 6-3 310
Carlos Hyde, Fork Union Military RB 6-0 225
James Louis, Atlantic, Fla. WR 5-11 180
Scott McVey, St. Ignatius LB 6-1 217
J.T. Moore, Boardman DE 6-3 230
Andrew Norwell, Cin. Anderson OT 6-6 255
Verlon Reed, Marion-Franklin DB 6-1 185
Bradley Roby, Peachtree Ridge, Ga. DB 6-1 171
Roderick Smith, Paul Harding, Ind. RB 6-2 216
Jamel Turner, Fork Union Military OLB 6-2 205
Tyrone Williams, Shaw WR 6-5 185
