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We saw several new offers this weekend. I am thrilled by the offers to lineman Chase Farris and to tight end Nick Vannet. Those offers were preceded by an offer to guard Chris Carter from Cleveland JFK.

Carter makes the second offer to an instate guard. There is an old adage. I would call it an eternal adage. Tackles can play guard but guards can't play tackle. We saw a solid guard in Jim Cordle look lost at tackle. I would always recruit tackles. The least agile and athletic move down to guard. If I recruit an inside player he would have to be a player I see as a center like Mike Brewster. I think the Buckeyes have gone after more athletic kids in recent years.
I have not been a fan of Walker. Here is the thing with him. I don't expect to see him kick stepping out and stoning a quick end. What bothers me is he should be destroying people and he doesn't. I watched his former teammate Marcus Hall knock people around like they were bowling pins and he was not as big as Walker. Carter is much more to my liking. He does knock people around. Both run well for their size. I would say Carter runs awfully well. I don't not see the agility and athleticism that it takes for either to be college tackles. I think the decision to offer Aundrey Walker and the offer to Chris Carter is about filling the most pressing needs with players born to play those positions. I have referred to low hanging fruit in the state. That has something to do with these offers. Get the most pressing needs filled with players you know will be Buckeyes then try to get some elite players. It is okay to recruit guards. Not like there is anything wrong with it. I think you increase your pool by recruiting tackles, no question the more important position, and at the same time end up with more athletic guards in the end. This is a case where the guards are there and they are needed. Take them.


The other offers I could not be happier about. Farris a player who is relatively new to me. I could not be more impressed with him. He is a natural wide body with the wingspan you want in a left tackle but is quick enough and athletic enough that he will start out at strong side end, probably settles in at the three-technique tackle spot but could end up being a great left tackle. This is how you do it, Buckeye fans. This is move down principle the way it should be done. Get a natural wide body like this kid, ideally with the long arms you want in a left tackle which Farris has, start him out at the highest speed position you believe he can play, and just let him find his most natural spot. None of the kids in the class looks like an LT except Brad Carrico and maybe Farris. This is how you recruit bigs. Great offer by the Buckeyes and the chances he is not a Buckeye are slim to none, and slim is out of town.

Here is film of this outstanding big:
http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=2684&name=Staxxx

I was talking to Mark Porter about what the class was missing on as far as talent is concerned. This is an amazing bad class for backs. I don't know if we will see an Ohio back offered by Big Ten schools. I don't recall that ever happening, but I digress. Another position the class is short on is tight end. The focus has been on Strongsvilles Ray Hamilton. He is a really nice player but I question the listed size of 6-5 225. Looks more like 6-3 215 or so to me. He looks more like an H-back type. We need a block first tight end here.
Run the ball and go down the field to the receivers. That is our offense. Tight end is not going to ever be a focal point. Notice the offenses players like Ben Koyack want. The tight end can be the primary on so many pass plays in the offenses where fans see the tight end catching a lot of footballs. That is never going to happen here. The tight end is always going to be a chain mover and a checkdown receiver in this offense. We will never take advantage of an elite tight end prospect. Not like what fans want to see. That would mean changing our pass offense. It does not mean a tight end cannot be successful in this offense. He is never going to catch 50 balls. What he does after making what catches he gets is up to him. Mark threw out the name Darion Bryant. I mentioned that I liked Nick Vannett better than either one of them. The next day we see an offer to Vannett. This is what our offense needs. It is very simple. Look what he does on the second play in this film. He also shows he can catch the ball quite well and can run with it afterward.

http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=3236&name=nickvannett

This is just what the Buckeyes need, a homegrown kid who is a good enough receiver to get offers from tight end friendly passing offenses but is a top drawer blocker.

Here is film of Chris Carter if you have not seen it:
http://scoutingohio.com/index.php/view-profile.html?task=userProfile&user=1982&name=cbcj92