Posts by: Thunder

Recruiting Snapshot: Ohio State

Demario McCall

2016 Team Ranking: #1. They have two 5-stars, twelve 4-stars, and four 3-stars committed.

Cream of the 2016 Crop: Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas defensive end Nick Bosa, the brother of OSU junior end Joey Bosa, is a 5-star, the #1 strongside end, and #6 overall. He’s 6’4″, 265 lbs. and plays a lot like his brother.  Staying in the pass rush department, the Buckeyes have a 5-star commitment in Columbus (OH) Gahanna Lincoln defensive end Jonathan Cooper, who is the #2 weakside end and #25 overall. I also really like the speedy Demario McCall, who is the #2 all-purpose back and #49 overall. The Buckeyes lost 3-star QB Tristen Wallace to Oregon this past weekend, but they might be picking up the services of Potomac (MD) Bullis’s Dwayne Haskins, a Maryland commit who took an official to Columbus a few days ago. Haskins is the #6 pro-style QB and #67 overall.

Hit the jump for an updated on OSU’s 2017 class.

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Keep an Eye On: Potential in-state offers for 2016, Offense

Detroit (MI) King RB Martell Pettaway

With Michigan suffering a few decommitments in the 2016 class, I think it’s about time that we start considering some potential offers within the state of Michigan. When Michigan misses out on big-time national prospects, they often look closer to home for players that could potentially commit or flip to the Wolverines. So here I will examine some options within the state who could fill some holes in Michigan’s class.

QUARTERBACK
Top option: The obvious first choice in the state would probably be Saline (MI) Saline QB Joshua Jackson (3-star, #15 DT QB, #496 overall). Jackson has decent size at 6’2″ and 200 lbs., and he is a good all-around athlete, though not dynamic in any phase of the game. He did not transfer out of Ann Arbor (MI) Huron on good terms, and he did not get a stranglehold on the QB job at Saline until his senior year. Also, his father is long-time Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson, who was not retained by Jim Harbaugh last winter. Jackson is supposed to enroll early at Virginia Tech in January, but the coaching situation in Blacksburg has left his plans slightly up in the air. This would be a long shot to happen for several reasons.
Other options: Lansing (MI) Catholic Central’s Tony Poljan is a 6’6″, 235 lb. prospect who was previously committed to Minnesota. I think he will probably end up playing tight end or defensive end in college, but he does have designs on being a QB.

Hit the jump for the rest of the look at offensive players.

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Poll: Who should have won the 2015 Heisman Trophy?

Alabama running back Derrick Henry won the Heisman on Saturday night, but who do you think was the most outstanding college football player this past season?

Jeremiah Holloman, Wolverine

Covington (GA) Newton WR Jeremiah Holloman

Covington (GA) Newton wide receiver Jeremiah “J.J.” Holloman committed to Michigan on Sunday. He chose the Wolverines over offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Vanderbilt, among others.

Holloman is a 6’3″, 195 lb. prospect. He claims a 4.5 forty, a 40″ vertical, a 255 lb. bench press, and a a 460 lb. squat.

RATINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 3-star WR
Scout: 3-star WR
247 Sports: Unranked

Hit the jump for the rest of the commitment post.

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Nate Johnson, Wolverine

Thompson’s Station (TN) Independence WR Nate Johnson

Thompson’s Station (TN) Independence wide receiver Nate Johnson committed to Michigan on Saturday during an official visit to Ann Arbor. He was offered just a few days ago, but the former Purdue commit chose the Wolverines over offers from Miami, Northwestern, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, among others.

Johnson is 5’11”, 175 lbs. and claims a 4.47 forty. He also claims a 4.05 shuttle. As a senior in 2015, he caught 87 passes for 1,713 yards and 27 touchdowns. When he was a junior in 2014, he caught 62 passes for 1,290 yards and 17 scores.

RATINGS
ESPN: 3-star, 72 grade, #170 WR
Rivals: 3-star, #98 WR
Scout: Unranked
247 Sports: 4-star, 92 grade, #40 WR, #241 overall

Hit the jump for the rest of the commitment post.

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