| 26 July 2010
I am sure I will be doing this again once the class is full but right now I want to rank the players in the Buckeyes 2011 recruiting class as it stands right now.
First things first. This is the kind of class where being one of the last third of the rankings does not mean a player is a throwback. Most years there are players that might be reaches but this year I can only think of one player that falls into the potential reach zone. That is prett remarkable. That when I go down this class of 17 as it currently stands that I only see one player that I want to say that I would like to have that scholarship still in the bank or that I wonder why another player was not offered instead. I don't care where this class is rated. This is the kind of recruiting class that you build championships with. It is so strong up front. If we all are here 100 years from now that is one thing that will never change about football. You win championships in the trenches. Ask Jeremiah Masoli. You can find him in between jail stints if you really want to.
1 - Braxton Miller, QB, Huber Hts. Wayne - After the season I had just watched Cardale Jones grow up on the football field. He was my #1 player in the class at the time. A couple of months later I saw Millers junior film that Mark Porter put together. I had not seen anything from him all year while I watched four Glenville games. I was dazzled by what I saw from Miller. I think he is the best quarterback in the country and so much better than Terrelle Pryor as a passer at the same time in their development that it is not even close. Miller may be a better pure passer right now heading into his senior year of high school than Pryor is heading into his junior year of college. Yes, I said that.
2 - Kenny Hayes - DE, Toledo Whitmer - There is not alot to not like about Hayes. He has all the tools you are looking for in a defensive end. He has the great body,length and the reach that is so important to edge players. He has the get off and the motor. He plays with a serious does of nasty. Watch how this kid fills out. That will tell the tale on him as far as wether he is a weak side player or a strong side player. That is why he is ranked higher than Miller. He could play either end, or could grow into a three-technique.
3 - Steve Miller, DE, Canton McKinley. Did you see that? It was Steve Miller running by the left tackle. Get used to it. You will see it alot. Miller belongs in the discussion for second best best pass rusher in the class after Jadeveon Clowney, who is the best DE prospect I have ever seen. He is outstanding at keeping clean and just as impressive at getting off blocks if the offensive lineman gets his hands on him. Runs great. Just as relentless as Hayes. Miller is more technically advanced than Hayes. Miller is just not a big. He doesn't have the frame of Hayes. That is the only reason Hayes is ranked higher.
4 - Michael Bennett - DT, Centerville. Mark has him #1 in the state on his list so I expect everyone thought he would be a spot or two higher on this list after watching Bennett be so dominating on his film. He is just not ideal sized. I think Bennett has the chance to be one of the special ones who overcomes his lack of ideal size for the position. He is very athletic and so explosive. Talk about get off. Notice how often first contact takes place on the opponents side of the line of scrimmage and the punch that he gets. Blockers that take Bennett on probably feel like they have just gone 12 rounds with Mike Tyson because of how often they have had their heads snapped back.
5 - Chase Farris, Athlete, Elyria - If Bennett being number four was not your first suprise I am sure this one is. I was watching a film of Farris a couple of months ago. It is film I have never seen before. I can't remember where I saw it but I made notes on it. He was using rip moves and swim moves. It showed him stacking against the run and being very physical. It showed him chasing all over the field. As highly as he is rated I think he is underrated.
6 - Joel Hale - DT, Indiana - I will never forget seeing his film then learning that his measurables were confirmed at an independent event. 6-4 290 and runs like Hale just doesn't happen very often. Seeing him in t-shirt and shorts, you just can't believe he is that size without a tape measure and a scale. Overcoming level of competition is going to be the biggest obstacle for Hale. That Florida would come to Indiana to offer a defensive linemen speaks volumes. The Buckeyes stole one here.
7 - Jeremy Cash, S, Florida. Florida is just loaded with top safeties this year so Cash is getting overlooked. Four of Rivals top ten safeties in the country are from Florida this year. This is a big time kid. The only way Cash is not a big time safety here is because he grows into a big time Star. He finds the ball quickly and arrives in a bad mood. Love this player.
8 - Brian Bobek, C, Illinois. Talk about being overlooked. Brian Bobek is arguably the best center in the country. He is quick off the snap and very strong. He has good feet and is a very intelligent kid. He is smart and football smart. I think toughness and intelligence are the most underrated aspects of the recruiting process. Centers are responsible for line calls. They have to understand the play call like a quarterback to set the line. The one offensive line position we have been really good with is center. Bobek will make take the reins from Brewster and ww will not miss a beat. Good weightman in track too. Always a good indicator of explosion and athleticism when a lineman is a top weightman.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
