The stars are in alignment…for the great class of 2007. Just like we overestimated the (now decimated) Class of 2003, everyone seems to have underestimated the Class of 2007. Yes, the average “stars per player” were high. But we have come to find out that the “average stars per class” are even higher!
Already performing at a high level are superstar-in-waiting (and meniscus-healing) Brandon Saine, plus two-deep freshmen receivers (Sanzenbacher and Washington) plus special teams phenoms Brian Rolle and Devon Torrence PLUS “starting” defensive end Cameron Heyward and nickel two-deep Eugene Clifford PLUS early enrollees James Scott and Donnie Evege. That’s nine out of a class of 15 that are already contributing meaningfully in their freshman year. Hey – most SEC teams don’t even academically qualify nine of fifteen in their first season!
And what about the rest of the class? Almost as exciting. The coaches are doing everything they can not to play Boom Herron, to save him for his own highlight time. Evan Blankenship (the only O-lineman taken) was getting rave reviews before he went down with an injury. Solomon Thomas is bulking up to become our defensive end of the future. Rocco Pentello and Jermale Hines (yes, he will be eligible…) have the earmarks of great special teams’ players, at the very least. And Nate Oliver? He was the first kid taken in this class and is projected to be a special safety.
Well, that’s 15 of 15 and I say that deserves something – at least - between four and five stars…
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Recruits worth talking about…Has there ever been a recruiting season that has been a) So good and b) Over with so early. Well, “over” might be a stretch. But with 11 commits already in, the entire universe seems to be down to 14-15 or so possibilities – and we are barely in September!
Now, universes expand and contract, as we are reminded. But here’s your basic “Who’s Who” of whose left:
1) Terrelle Pryor – QB
2) Michael Floyd – WR
3) Cordale Scott – WR/DB
4) Lamaar Thomas – WR/RB
5) Josh Jenkins * - OL
6) Zebrie Sanders - OL
7) Willie Mobley - DL
8) Justin Thompson ** - DL
9) Quinton Coples - DL
10) Shayne Hale - LB
11) Etienne Sabino - LB
12) DJ Woods * - DB
13) Isaiah Pead - DB
14) Orhian Johnson - Ath
*Jenkins is committed to West Virginia and Woods is committed to Nebraska.
** Thompson is a Juco transfer (or will be)
Narrowing it even further, I say we end up with Pryor, Scott, Thomas, Jenkins, Mobley, Hale and Woods. Hey – there could be as many as three guys already committed somewhere else that comes over to the Good Guys.
That would give OSU seven more and make for a class of 18, which will eventually fit (after a few NFL defections). It also might be the best 18-man class in OSU history with half of them being Top 100 national players! And a heckuva follow-up to the best 15-man class (see above Bullet) that the school has ever experienced…