Bill Kurelic February 1998 Posts February 23, 1998 The Buckeyes are off to a great start for their recruiting class for this coming season, having landed verbal commitments from three of the top 10 prospects in the state of Ohio. In fact, running back Kelton Lindsay from Lebanon High School I consider to be the top prospect in the state of Ohio for this coming season. Defensive back Curtis Crosby from Columbus Eastmoor is an outstanding cover corner, and both of those prospects I have in the top 5 in the state of Ohio for the coming season. The Buckeyes third verbal commitment is strong safety Mike Doss from Canton McKinley High School. Doss is a 6-0 tall, 190 pounder who made 97 tackles and had 7 interceptions as a sophomore, and then as a junior had 100 tackles and 5 interceptions. Doss will be a strong safety at Ohio State. He has a 2.5 GPA and a 17 on the ACT. Curtis Crosby (5 -11, 175, 4.4) from Columbus Eastmoor High School rushed for over 1,500 yards, scored 16 touchdowns, and picked off two passes as a junior. Crosby will be a cornerback at Ohio State, and I consider him to be the top prospect in central-Ohio this coming season. Kelton Lindsay (6-1, 190, 4.4) from Lebanon rushed for 2194 yards as a junior, averaging 8.9 yards per carry and scored 41 times as he led Lebanon to a 12 -1 record and to the state semi-finals in Division II. In addition to those three prospects, the Buckeyes have a great shot at landing linebacker Fred Pagac Jr, who has also been offered a scholarship. Pagac (6-2, 220, 4.6) from Dublin Coffman High School is the son of Ohio State defensive coordinator Fred Pagac Sr. Fred Jr. played some on the Dublin Scioto varsity as a freshman, and started for Scioto as a sophomore. He then transferred to Dublin Coffman for his junior season. Pagac broke his leg as a sophomore so even though he was a starter at Scioto, he only started a few games. This season as a junior at Coffman he made 114 tackles and had 2 interceptions. Pagac has been offered a scholarship by Ohio State and others. Another prospect in the state of Ohio the Buckeyes have offered a scholarship to is running back Jesse Kline (6-2, 210, 4.5) from Upper Arlington High School. Kline started on the varsity as a sophomore, and this season as a junior rushed for 2310 yards, averaged 7.8 yards per carry, and scored 33 times as he led Upper Arlington to a 12 -1 record. Jesse Kline told me that Ohio State has offered him a scholarship and he is highly considering the Buckeyes, but that he is looking at a number of other Big Ten Schools as well, including Penn State and Michigan. Yet another prospect the Buckeyes have already offered a scholarship to is running back Richard Hall (5 -11, 190, 4.5) from Cincinnati Wyoming High School. Hall rushed for 2200 yards as a sophomore and 2300 yards as a junior, scoring 32 times and averaging 11 yards per carry. Richard Hall tells me that Ohio State and Michigan are his top two choices, but is also looking at Penn State, Michigan State, Nebraska and Indiana. Richard Hall made an unofficial visit this past Sunday to Michigan for the Wolverines' recruiting day, as Michigan had a number of outstanding prospects tour their facilities and watch the Michigan/Indiana basketball game. Hall said that Lloyd Carr was out of town so Michigan did not officially offer him a scholarship, but a Michigan assistant told him that they definitely want him. Richard Hall says that he is now (sometime soon) going to make an unofficial visit to Ohio State. Hall says that after making the unofficial visit to Ohio State, he might make a commitment to Ohio State or Michigan. The one he does say is that he wants to pick his school before the beginning of his senior season. A number of other prospects that the Buckeyes are recruiting also made unofficial visits to Michigan on Sunday. They include offensive lineman Adrien Clarke (6-5, 305, 5.2) from Shaker Heights High School. Clarke also was not officially offered a scholarship by Michigan, but his high school coach at Shaker Heights told Adrien that Michigan is prepared to offer a scholarship. Clarke told me on Sunday night that he might be leaning a little bit to Michigan, but also likes Ohio State, Michigan State and Nebraska. Michigan State has offered Adrien Clarke a scholarship. Clarke's teammate, running back Derrick Tatum (6-0, 190, 4.4) also went to Michigan for an unofficial visit on Sunday. Derrick Tatum has previously been to Michigan State for an unofficial visit, and says that the Spartans are his leader at this point. Some other prospects that the Buckeyes are interested in that were at Michigan on Sunday were wide receiver Anthony Floyd (5-10, 170, 4.45) from Youngstown Chany, offensive lineman Matt Zahn (6-7, 330, 5.4) from St. Henry High School, defensive back Deryck Toles (6-0, 200, 4.5) from Warren Harding High School, linebacker Carl Diggs (6-2, 220, 4.65) from Warren Harding High School, linebacker/running back B. J. Askew (6-3, 205, 4.55) from Cincinnati Colrain High School, linebacker Larry van der Oord (6-2, 220, 4.7) from Cleveland St. Ignatious High School, and defensive back/running back Joe Gonzalez (6-1, 190, 4.5) from Cleveland St. Ignatious High School. The Buckeyes are interested in all of those players though they have not offered any of them a scholarship. One player that Ohio State has offered a scholarship to who was also at Michigan on Sunday is linebacker T.J. Duckett (6-3, 240, 4.55) from Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School in Michigan. Duckett will be one of the country's top linebackers this season. He is the younger brother of former Michigan State running back Tico Duckett. T.J. Duckett told me Sunday night that his top five are Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Northwestern. Duckett said his top three, in no particular order, all tied for the lead, are Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State, and all three schools have offered him as scholarship. Duckett made 140 tackles, had two interceptions, and three sacks as a junior, and also playing quarterback rushed for 1060 yards and passed for another 920. Duckett said that even though the Wolverines offered him a scholarship, he won't decide anything for a little while. At this point he wants to make either an unofficial or official visit to Ohio State. February 6, 1998 On national signing day the Buckeyes signed 13 players, and they actually have a 14th player in this class, linebacker James Cotton, who had already signed with Ohio State and is already enrolled and going to classes. Quarterback Steve Bellisari (6-3, 210, 4.5) of Boca Raton, Florida is one of the big catches in this recruiting class. He picked Ohio State over Notre Dame and Florida State. Bellisari threw for 891 yards last year and accounted for 16 touchdowns, nine passing and seven rushing. He had 55 tackles, three interceptions, and six blocked kicks on defense. Bellisari is a left-handed quarterback that is a fine all-around athlete. He might end up red-shirting next season, but he says he is going to Ohio State to compete and play as soon as possible. If that is next season, he says that is a bonus. Fullback Jamar Martin (6-1, 235, 4.55) of Canton McKinley High School is an outstanding power back. His forte is blocking, though he is capable of running the ball as well. He helped lead Canton McKinley to and undefeated season, including the Division I state championship. Jamar Martin picked Ohio State over Michigan State. Running back Jonathan Wells (6-2, 225, 4.5) is certainly one of the countries finest tailback prospects. Wells picked Ohio State over North Carolina and Auburn. He rushed for a little over 1,000 yards this season, despite very rarely playing in the 4th quarter because his team had built such large leads. Wells is an Eddie George type back in terms of both size and speed, and in fact their running styles are also very similar. Offensive lineman Scott Kuhnhein (6-6,285, 5.0) from Fort Thomas Highlands High School in Kentucky is one of the finest offensive linemen in this part of the country. He has been a two year two-way starter, but will be an offensive lineman for the Buckeyes. He picked Ohio State over Notre Dame and Kentucky who both offered scholarships as well. Kuhnhein had been to Ohio State's football camp this summer, as well as one of the Buckeyes' home football games, and he had Ohio State as his leader all along. The other offensive lineman in this class is LeCharles Bentley (6-3, 265, 4.8) from Cleveland St. Ignatious. Bentley originally committed to Michigan State, then de-committed and committed to Indiana, and finally settled on the Buckeyes, in large part because he wanted to go to a winner and compete for the Big Ten and national titles. Bentley played offensive tackle for St. Ignatious but will play center for Ohio State. Bentley has great feet and runs extremely well for a lineman. The defensive side of the ball is the strength of this class, particularly the defensive line. Kenny Peterson (6-5, 250, 4.8) from Canton McKinley High School was a force in the McKinley drive to the Division I state championship. He has a chance, providing he qualifies academically, to see playing time as a true freshman. He also has the potential to be an All-American and perhaps play in the NFL some day. Kenny Peterson was the first player to commit to the Buckeyes, doing so last February. Defensive end Julius Yeast (6-5, 250, 4.8) did not get as much notoriety as the other super defensive end at Harrisburg High School, Dennis Johnson, but Julius Yeast is an outstanding prospect in his own right. Yeast combines great size with the potential to get even bigger, speed, and all-around athleticism. He is the prototype defensive end prospect. Yeast made official visits to Ohio State, Florida State, Kentucky and Tennessee before narrowing things down to Ohio State and Tennessee and ultimately signing with the Buckeyes. He had been offered a scholarship by all four schools. Inside at defensive tackle, Ryan Pickett (6-3, 290, 5.0) is a Blue-Chip prospect the Buckeyes signed on Wednesday. Pickett is without question one of the top defensive linemen in the country, and if he qualifies academically, he is going to get strong consideration for playing time as a true freshman. Pickett runs extremely well, has great lateral quickness, and plays his best against the toughest competition. Pickett picked Ohio State over Florida State and Tennessee who also offered scholarships. He had offers from many other schools across the country as well. The other defensive tackle the Buckeyes signed is Mike Collins (6-5, 290, 4.8) from Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. Collins originally signed with Ohio State last season when he came out of Newark High School, but he did not qualify academically. Now he has the added bonus of a a year's maturity and year's playing time at Fork Union Military Academy. Collins should qualify academically, and should get the opportunity to see playing time as a true freshman next season at Ohio State. The one player that had previously signed with Ohio State is linebacker James Cotton (6-4, 245, 4.6) from City College of San Francisco in California. Cotton was an inside linebacker this season at City College of San Francisco, but in all likelihood will move to outside linebacker at Ohio State. Cotton's only other official visit was to Florida State, but being from Cleveland, Ohio originally, he always wanted to become a Buckeye. Cotton was not heavily recruited coming out of Glenville High School as a defensive back, but he has grown and made himself into a true major college prospect. In the defensive backfield, the Buckeyes signed four players, headed by Nate Clements (6-0, 175, 4.4) from Shaker Heights High School. Clements is a true cover corner who is also an outstanding return man. Clements has a legitimate chance to find playing time as a front line backup or as an extra defensive back. He had an outstanding season for Shaker Heights, which raised him up among the top players in the state of Ohio. Clements chose Ohio State over Michigan State. Derek Ross (6-1, 190, 4.5) form Rock Hill Northwestern High School in South Carolina was one of the top prospects coming out of South Carolina this season. Ross played primarily quarterback his senior season, but will be a defensive back at Ohio State. Derek Ross will play on the corner, and providing he makes the adjustment quickly, he may have a shot playing time as a true freshman, as he is a very talented all-around athlete. His only year of playing primarily cornerback was as a sophomore, and he intercepted 10 passes that year. The Buckeyes also signed two safety prospects in Willie Grant and Donnie Nickey. Willie Grant (6-2, 180, 4.5) from New Philadelphia High School was a quarterback/defensive back this season but will definitely play on defense for Ohio State. Grant has excellent size and is an outstanding hitter. Buckeye defensive coordinator Fred Pagac is particularly high on Willie Grant. Willie had scholarship offers from Michigan State and Indiana, and also had an official visit offer from Michigan, but chose the Buckeyes early on. And finally, Donnie Nickey (6-3, 200, 4.5) out of Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City gained over 1400 yards and received most of his notoriety as a running back, but will be a safety at Ohio State. He is already being compared to former Ohio State great Rob Kelley. Donnie Nickey originally committed to Ohio University, but always wanted to go to Ohio State, and when the Buckeyes' offer came, it was an easy decision for him to commit and eventually sign with the Buckeyes. As far as these 14 players go overall, it is a group deep in talent, though not deep in quantity. Since Ohio State had only 14 scholarships to give, it was going to be very, very difficult for Ohio State to have a top five or even a top ten ranking nationally. The Buckeyes did take advantage of the 14 scholarships. As many of six or seven of the players in this class are legitimate Blue-Chip prospects that have a chance to see some playing time as true freshmen. As far as the Buckeyes' ranking in the Big Ten, I rank this class number three in the Big Ten. Michigan won the conference recruiting derby, with Penn State finishing second. The Nitanny Lions landed on national signing day linebacker Shamar Finney, which was the one disappointment of the day for Ohio State, as they learned that Shamar Finney had picked Penn State. After Michigan and Penn State, I have Ohio State at number three, followed by Michigan State at number four, Purdue at number five, Wisconsin at number six, Iowa at number 7, Minnesota at number 8, Illinois at number 9, Northwestern at number 10, and Indiana at number 11. Nationally, this class is going to settle in somewhere between number 12 and number 15, though I have not as yet completed my national rankings. It looks like overall, the class is going to be in good shape academically, however there are a couple of players that still need to do some work. Ryan Pickett is close to qualifying and should make it. Mike Collins is awaiting word from the clearing house, buthe too should make it. Kenny Peterson will need to accomplish the most to qualify academically. Derek Ross also is going to be close on qualifying. He needs to raise his test score. Willie Grant and Nate Clements will also be close, but should definitely make it. Bill Kurelic's Big Ten Class Ratings.
2/2/98 11:55 AM On the other hand, defensive lineman Ryan Pickett made his official visit to Tennessee and came back a very solid commitment to the Buckeyes. Pickett of course had committed to Ohio State long ago, but, there is always some reason for concern when a player takes a visit elsewhere. However, Pickett told me on Sunday night that he will sign with Ohio State on national signing day, despite Tennessee trying virtually everything to change his mind, including telling him that it was 10 degrees in Columbus this weekend and that he would not like it at Ohio State in the cold. I talked with "Blue-Chip" linebacker Shamar Finney on Saturday, and he told me he has a 2:00 press conference scheduled for Wednesday afternoon to announce his decision. Finney said he will not be narrowing things down, or at least announcing that any schools have been eliminated. He simply said on Wednesday afternoon, national signing day, that he would announce his decision, which he says is still between Ohio State, Florida State, Florida and Penn State. The Buckeyes hosted two players for official visits this past weekend. One was offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley, who committed to Ohio State last Thursday. The other was offensive lineman Ivan Douglas (6-7, 300, 5.2) from Cleveland Benedictine. Ivan Douglas has made official visits to Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana, Cincinnati, and West Virginia. The big question mark with Ivan Douglas is academics. At this point, he is unlikely to qualify, however Ohio State is very interested in him coming as a prop, a preferred walk-on, or even placing him at Fork Union Military Academy. Ivan Douglas originally committed to Michigan State but after visiting Ohio State, Douglas told me on Sunday that he is now torn between Ohio State and Michigan State. Douglas says it is about 50-50 between the two schools, and he could make a decision any time between now an national signing day. Linebacker Jashon Sykes at this point is not announcing a final decision. There have been rumors and reports that Sykes has committed to Colorado, however he is not confirming that at this point. Sykes is likely to end up at Colorado, but a public announcement has not yet been made so the Buckeyes remain in contact. Running back Ja'mar Toombs visited Texas A &M, and now says his decision is down to Texas A & M, and Florida State. With the Buckeyes almost filled up on scholarships, and having landed a commitment from Jonathan Wells, it is very doubtful that Ohio State could fit Ja'mar Toombs into this class anyway. |