The Fourth Wiseman has had the opportunity to watch almost every single freshman perform thus far at camp---so he chimed in with his thoughts on most of them...
"Now keep in mind if I don't mention someone its either that they weren't practicing for whatever reason the days I was there or I haven't seen them enough to draw an educated opinion....
this class has tested in bigger, faster, stronger and smarter than any class in Ohio State school history---its just a silly consortium of talented kids---almost stupid good---so I will start at the top and work my way down..
AJ Alexander--just a physical specimen. Came to camp in tremendous shape and has the look of an OSU football player. Great hand strength, but needs to work more on mastering the art of using his hands to get better releases off the line of scrimmage. A willing but uneven blocker right now. Very likeable and coachable kid--solid get for sure as there is so much physical talent here
Jerome Baker--rangy kid--classic
lay the pass and run" type of player--almost a hybrid. Surprisingly strong and plays better than he looks on film. Quick to the ball and arrives with bad intentions. Has a tendency to try and line up the big shot a little more often than I'd like, but OSU is very high on the young man
Branden Bowen---Just a massive human being. One of the biggest I've seen move around out there. Once he locks up on a defensive tackle then its game over. Super strong--but needs some conditioning work. The guy you want "first off the bus" as he just looks the part.. Will play this year for sure.
Matt Burrell---love him with the new haircut. Probably the least polished of the four incoming Olinmen in my opinion---but also the most physical. Loves to line up and dominate guys off the ball, and plays with great hand position and has great punch. Has been moved around to four different spots on the line and has played well at each of them.
Joe Burrow--classic QB in an era of dual threat guys. Tested off the chart in football IQ during early camp, and has just gone on to blow away the staff with his knowledge of the playbook and the OSU offense. Also, seems to understand the OSU defense as well, which is something you dont see out of freshman very often. Has been uneven during fall camp, as the closing speed of the defensive backs is just so much faster than he saw in high school--but this is to be expected.
Nick Connor---throwback linebacker. See ball---get ball type of kid. Looks you in the eye all the time--does his job and does it well. Was concerned early in camp about his speed, but he plays faster during the scrimmages, and always seems to be around the ball. Won't wow you with his measurables, but will always show up at game time. Great kid as well
Kevin Feder---hard to describe how big this young man is. Plays a little high(for obvious reasons) but once he figures it out, I'm just not sure how people are going to get around him, Massive arm span--great bend--great strength. Very new to the position so he is learning on the fly, but his learning curve will be massively steep---and you can't teach that size. Love this one. LOVE him
Torrance Gibson--Saw him in high school and though he was best pure athlete that I had seen in a very long time. Nothing I see changes my mind right now. ELITE wide receiver. Throw out all the names----he is THAT guy. Big, tall, great hands, glides around the field, makes guys miss---he is the total package. Could he play QB at Ohio State? for sure he could Will he? Nope---All American wide out watch
Eric Glover-Williams---Kid is in great shape. Can almost leap off the practice field and is surprisingly strong for someone so tall. Very strong and has the ability to lock up even the stronger players on the field with his hand strength. Has tested very well---and OSU is intrigued about the idea of playing him on either side of the ball, on special teams and in the return game
KJ Hill---"thrill Hill" is just so fun to watch. Explodes off the line of scrimmage. Does all the little things correctly and plays very very fast. Catches the ball in traffic as well as can go up and grab the deep shot. A student of the game as well and plays with a high football IQ... There was a reason that I thought he would lose his stripe early---and he did. Could see early playing time, as this is a guy that is just too talented to stay around five years
Justin Hilliard--understands angles, and how to pursue the ball. Plays very fast and just crushes people when he gets there. The guy that is probably the biggest reason Perry is seeing more action at DE. Came into camp in tremendous shape and has the look of an impact freshman. Think Kwon last season. Will absolutely play this year on running downs, as his pass coverage skills still need improving. VERY good player
Robert Landers---I just love the way this kid plays. Low to the ground with fantastic leverage. Gets under guys' pads and just drives them back. Probably has caused more forced fumbles than any other defensive lineman in camp as he is always around the ball. Still raw and learning--but once he figures it out will be super impactful. High football IQ and he tested at #1 for incoming defensive players on knowledge of the OSU scheme
Mike Weber--Hard to not love what he brings to the table at running back. Quick, smart and plays hard every down in practice. Very good vision and runs low to the ground with great body lean. Unfortunate injury has set him back, but he will not be off the field for long--as OSU has plans to throw him right into the game plan upon his return....
more to come
"Now keep in mind if I don't mention someone its either that they weren't practicing for whatever reason the days I was there or I haven't seen them enough to draw an educated opinion....
this class has tested in bigger, faster, stronger and smarter than any class in Ohio State school history---its just a silly consortium of talented kids---almost stupid good---so I will start at the top and work my way down..
AJ Alexander--just a physical specimen. Came to camp in tremendous shape and has the look of an OSU football player. Great hand strength, but needs to work more on mastering the art of using his hands to get better releases off the line of scrimmage. A willing but uneven blocker right now. Very likeable and coachable kid--solid get for sure as there is so much physical talent here
Jerome Baker--rangy kid--classic
lay the pass and run" type of player--almost a hybrid. Surprisingly strong and plays better than he looks on film. Quick to the ball and arrives with bad intentions. Has a tendency to try and line up the big shot a little more often than I'd like, but OSU is very high on the young manBranden Bowen---Just a massive human being. One of the biggest I've seen move around out there. Once he locks up on a defensive tackle then its game over. Super strong--but needs some conditioning work. The guy you want "first off the bus" as he just looks the part.. Will play this year for sure.
Matt Burrell---love him with the new haircut. Probably the least polished of the four incoming Olinmen in my opinion---but also the most physical. Loves to line up and dominate guys off the ball, and plays with great hand position and has great punch. Has been moved around to four different spots on the line and has played well at each of them.
Joe Burrow--classic QB in an era of dual threat guys. Tested off the chart in football IQ during early camp, and has just gone on to blow away the staff with his knowledge of the playbook and the OSU offense. Also, seems to understand the OSU defense as well, which is something you dont see out of freshman very often. Has been uneven during fall camp, as the closing speed of the defensive backs is just so much faster than he saw in high school--but this is to be expected.
Nick Connor---throwback linebacker. See ball---get ball type of kid. Looks you in the eye all the time--does his job and does it well. Was concerned early in camp about his speed, but he plays faster during the scrimmages, and always seems to be around the ball. Won't wow you with his measurables, but will always show up at game time. Great kid as well
Kevin Feder---hard to describe how big this young man is. Plays a little high(for obvious reasons) but once he figures it out, I'm just not sure how people are going to get around him, Massive arm span--great bend--great strength. Very new to the position so he is learning on the fly, but his learning curve will be massively steep---and you can't teach that size. Love this one. LOVE him
Torrance Gibson--Saw him in high school and though he was best pure athlete that I had seen in a very long time. Nothing I see changes my mind right now. ELITE wide receiver. Throw out all the names----he is THAT guy. Big, tall, great hands, glides around the field, makes guys miss---he is the total package. Could he play QB at Ohio State? for sure he could Will he? Nope---All American wide out watch
Eric Glover-Williams---Kid is in great shape. Can almost leap off the practice field and is surprisingly strong for someone so tall. Very strong and has the ability to lock up even the stronger players on the field with his hand strength. Has tested very well---and OSU is intrigued about the idea of playing him on either side of the ball, on special teams and in the return game
KJ Hill---"thrill Hill" is just so fun to watch. Explodes off the line of scrimmage. Does all the little things correctly and plays very very fast. Catches the ball in traffic as well as can go up and grab the deep shot. A student of the game as well and plays with a high football IQ... There was a reason that I thought he would lose his stripe early---and he did. Could see early playing time, as this is a guy that is just too talented to stay around five years
Justin Hilliard--understands angles, and how to pursue the ball. Plays very fast and just crushes people when he gets there. The guy that is probably the biggest reason Perry is seeing more action at DE. Came into camp in tremendous shape and has the look of an impact freshman. Think Kwon last season. Will absolutely play this year on running downs, as his pass coverage skills still need improving. VERY good player
Robert Landers---I just love the way this kid plays. Low to the ground with fantastic leverage. Gets under guys' pads and just drives them back. Probably has caused more forced fumbles than any other defensive lineman in camp as he is always around the ball. Still raw and learning--but once he figures it out will be super impactful. High football IQ and he tested at #1 for incoming defensive players on knowledge of the OSU scheme
Mike Weber--Hard to not love what he brings to the table at running back. Quick, smart and plays hard every down in practice. Very good vision and runs low to the ground with great body lean. Unfortunate injury has set him back, but he will not be off the field for long--as OSU has plans to throw him right into the game plan upon his return....
more to come
