Welcome back for another edition of “A-Deck” at BuckeyeGrove.com, where I’ll bring you thoughts, what I’m hearing, inside scoop, tidbits, and more for Ohio State recruiting and team coverage, every Wednesday.
In last week’s A-Deck, we recapped a big Ohio State recruiting weekend and caught up with a recent in-state offer to see where the Buckeyes stand in his recruitment.
This week, we bring you some great insights from the head coach of two Ohio State commits, some recruiting quick hitters, and more on another new in-state offer.
ST. JOE’S PREP HEAD COACH ON OHIO STATE RECRUITING SUCCESS, FUTURE BUCKEYES
We spoke with St. Joe’s Prep (Philly) head coach Tim Roken earlier this week about what Marvin Harrison Jr. will bring to Ohio State on and off the field.
In addition to those great quotes in the story linked above, we had some other gems from Roken, who also coaches Kyle McCord, regarding the two future Buckeyes and Ohio State in general:
On the type of work ethic McCord and Harrison Jr. show: “They both know they’re not complete players just yet and they both have a great head on their shoulders. It’s not an ego thing with them, it’s just about how they can get better. They’re both perfectionists too, in that if a ball hits the ground or the timing was a little off, they’ll ask for another rep. If they can’t get it then, they’ll find time after practice or during a defensive period where they can work on those things. When your best players are your hardest workers, that’s a good thing to have. It sets a great example for the young men in our program to be able to witness and see how those guys work.”
On what McCord has improved on since last year: “I think Kyle has become more of a vocal leader. Last year, it was shown through his work ethic, but this year, being that vocal guy, and having that much more confidence in the system and himself and this program, he’s done a great job of rising to the occasion. From a technique standpoint, he continues to find ways to get better every day.”
On McCord being able to compete at Ohio State for the job on day one: “There’s not too many guys at his level that can throw it like he does. I’ve been blessed to be a part of the Army All-American Game for a while now, going back to 2010 when I started with them and wasn’t coaching here. Even when I started coaching, I stayed involved with that game a little bit for the next few years. Seeing the type of young men they’ve had down there, and the success they’ve had at other levels, you see the ball comes off a guy’s fingers a certain way. I remember the first time watching Kyle and saying ‘yep, that’s what it looks like’. For his age, you don’t find too many guys who have the accuracy and power behind it. On top of that he’s got a really good football mind and IQ, a great head on his shoulders overall. He’s a young man of great character and very respectful. There’s been a lot of coaches who have walked in here the last year or two who have told me ‘he could play for us right now’. There’s no doubt he’s got what it takes. He understands he’s going to have to go in and compete. He’s not hesitating at all knowing that. We try to breed these guys on competition and wanting that, respecting their competitor, because it’s only going to make them better. He’s very coachable. He’s going to go in there and work his tail off every day. He’ll be the first one there and the last one to leave. He knows how to handle his business on and off the field.”
On what McCord needs to improve on: “He just needs to continue to get better every day. I don’t know if I can pinpoint anything specifically. It’s just finding ways to become more accurate on his deep balls. Getting a greater command of the offense, at the line of scrimmage. Obviously it’s his second year in, so he’s more comfortable, but having another whole year to just find ways to get better within the offense and as an individual, it will prepare him well before he gets to Ohio State.”
On why Ohio State has been successful recruiting his players: “Coach [Ryan] Day, I’ve known him for a little while now, since he was at Boston College as wide receivers coach, then his brief stints down here with Temple and with the Eagles, he’s always stayed in touch over the years. When he got an opportunity with Ohio State, it was kind of crazy, because we’ve had a couple of conversations as we’re both going through our first stint as a head coach, taking over for two very successful predecessors before us. He was one of the first people to reach out to me when I got the job. We talked for a little while after that. Our programs didn’t always see eye-to-eye in the past, but he was able to settle that. I know he’s about doing things the right way and about the kids. He’s made Kyle [McCord] and Marvin [Harrison] a priority from the beginning. They’ve lived up to their word. They’ve done a great job of building relationships with the young man and their families, which is a huge piece of what the guys look for when they’re selecting a school.”
RECRUITING QUICK HITTERS
· Many have been asking if Ohio State will get back in on Jaylan Knighton now that he has decommitted from Florida State. In doing some digging into this one, while the player has indicated to us that he certainly would be open to continuing dialogue with the Buckeyes and even making an unofficial visit back to campus this year, multiple sources on the OSU side of things seem to think it is not likely that the Scarlet and Gray pursue this heavily. As Marc touched on in Skull Session, while the door was not completely closed by any source I spoke to, but it seems that for reasons outside of the talented back’s play, this one is not going to happen as things currently stand.
· As far as running back recruiting goes, I still have Miyan Williams as the most likely player in the class for the position, and a visit is supposed to happen for the Penn State game in late November. It’s no slam dunk here, though, as Williams is a bit of a different cat, and isn’t just dropping Iowa State with word of an Ohio State offer--the Buckeyes are going to have to work for this one. Jahmyr Gibbs is expected on campus this weekend and that will tell us a lot about where things stand. That is supposed to be an unofficial, so if OSU is a major player coming out of the trip, an official in mid-December, or possibly for the PSU game, would be a great sign. The longer Georgia stays out of this, the better for Ohio State. I still think Gibbs is likely to stay in the South, but with no UGA in the mix and Alabama not ready to take him just yet (see: Evans, Zach as a factor for both parties), this could play into OSU’s hands well. Finally, Bijan Robinson is a name to keep an eye on and there is definitely contact there with the Buckeyes, but I have this one still as “doubtful”. The staff will keep plugging though, and if Robinson does back off of a Texas pledge, it will definitely be “game on”.
· Also in Skull Session was mention of new 2020 quarterback offered in Jayden DeLaura. I just wanted to chime in and say that Ohio State definitely is a fan of the Hawaiian’s skill set and this is not only a contingency plan if the Buckeyes don’t get CJ Stroud. It seems that the Wazzu commit is willing to take a bit of time before signing his letter of intent (February vs. December), which could help Ohio State figure out how the puzzle pieces fit in. I still like the Scarlet and Gray for Stroud, but in the case that things don’t work out that way, expect them to go all in for DeLaura. I would say Stroud is choice number one for OSU, but they really like DeLaura and want to make sure they’re putting in the effort to possibly land him if that’s how things shake out.
· RE: Stroud, I expect an official visit to Ohio State in mid-December. Originally word was that it could happen for the Penn State game, but bringing him in for mid-December allows for the staff’s full attention on him, and has solid timing for a strong close right before the Early Signing Period. Stroud does intend to sign and enroll early to whatever school he chooses. This is not a slam dunk for the Buckeyes, but I do like their positioning right now, although it should be interesting to see what happens with the USC head coaching job, and how newer players like UCLA, Georgia, and Michigan fall into the mix.
· Finally, I wanted to touch on 2021 receiver Troy Stellato. I have a great source down in South Florida with ties to his high school and they are echoing all the buzz out there that, as of today, Ohio State is in the driver’s seat. As Marc mentioned, there are a couple of likely visits coming up, which could certainly shake things up, but I would expect some clarity rather quickly. There’s a chance Stellato could return to Ohio State for the Penn State game, in which case, I would think the deal is sealed on that trip, and an announcement for the Buckeyes could come shortly after. Even if the Florida-native doesn’t make that trip, if OSU is still the school in his mind coming off possible Alabama and Clemson trips, I think he could verbal in the near future then as well. Bottom line is space is running out at wide receiver fast, and if Stellato wants in, he knows a move needs to be made sooner versus later.
TSHABOLA LANDS HIS OFFER
Earlier this week, we spoke to Lakota West 2022 offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola about landing his first offer, from Ohio State. Al Washington is leading the charge here, and extended the offer after coming by the school during the bye week.
While Tshabola says he’s going to take his time with the process, we think it will be very hard for anyone to beat Ohio State here. If you read the quotes in the story linked above, that’s pretty obvious, but in talking with the young man off the record, I’m even more confident in that statement.
Ohio State normally doesn’t offer a kid this early if they aren’t pretty sure, so I don’t expect things to change on this one, but if they do, that would be the only way I see Tshabola ending up elsewhere. I think he’ll take his time and enjoy the process for a bit, as he’s only a sophomore, but I think sometime during his junior year he could end up in the commitment column for Ohio State.
In last week’s A-Deck, we recapped a big Ohio State recruiting weekend and caught up with a recent in-state offer to see where the Buckeyes stand in his recruitment.
This week, we bring you some great insights from the head coach of two Ohio State commits, some recruiting quick hitters, and more on another new in-state offer.
ST. JOE’S PREP HEAD COACH ON OHIO STATE RECRUITING SUCCESS, FUTURE BUCKEYES
We spoke with St. Joe’s Prep (Philly) head coach Tim Roken earlier this week about what Marvin Harrison Jr. will bring to Ohio State on and off the field.
In addition to those great quotes in the story linked above, we had some other gems from Roken, who also coaches Kyle McCord, regarding the two future Buckeyes and Ohio State in general:
On the type of work ethic McCord and Harrison Jr. show: “They both know they’re not complete players just yet and they both have a great head on their shoulders. It’s not an ego thing with them, it’s just about how they can get better. They’re both perfectionists too, in that if a ball hits the ground or the timing was a little off, they’ll ask for another rep. If they can’t get it then, they’ll find time after practice or during a defensive period where they can work on those things. When your best players are your hardest workers, that’s a good thing to have. It sets a great example for the young men in our program to be able to witness and see how those guys work.”
On what McCord has improved on since last year: “I think Kyle has become more of a vocal leader. Last year, it was shown through his work ethic, but this year, being that vocal guy, and having that much more confidence in the system and himself and this program, he’s done a great job of rising to the occasion. From a technique standpoint, he continues to find ways to get better every day.”
On McCord being able to compete at Ohio State for the job on day one: “There’s not too many guys at his level that can throw it like he does. I’ve been blessed to be a part of the Army All-American Game for a while now, going back to 2010 when I started with them and wasn’t coaching here. Even when I started coaching, I stayed involved with that game a little bit for the next few years. Seeing the type of young men they’ve had down there, and the success they’ve had at other levels, you see the ball comes off a guy’s fingers a certain way. I remember the first time watching Kyle and saying ‘yep, that’s what it looks like’. For his age, you don’t find too many guys who have the accuracy and power behind it. On top of that he’s got a really good football mind and IQ, a great head on his shoulders overall. He’s a young man of great character and very respectful. There’s been a lot of coaches who have walked in here the last year or two who have told me ‘he could play for us right now’. There’s no doubt he’s got what it takes. He understands he’s going to have to go in and compete. He’s not hesitating at all knowing that. We try to breed these guys on competition and wanting that, respecting their competitor, because it’s only going to make them better. He’s very coachable. He’s going to go in there and work his tail off every day. He’ll be the first one there and the last one to leave. He knows how to handle his business on and off the field.”
On what McCord needs to improve on: “He just needs to continue to get better every day. I don’t know if I can pinpoint anything specifically. It’s just finding ways to become more accurate on his deep balls. Getting a greater command of the offense, at the line of scrimmage. Obviously it’s his second year in, so he’s more comfortable, but having another whole year to just find ways to get better within the offense and as an individual, it will prepare him well before he gets to Ohio State.”
On why Ohio State has been successful recruiting his players: “Coach [Ryan] Day, I’ve known him for a little while now, since he was at Boston College as wide receivers coach, then his brief stints down here with Temple and with the Eagles, he’s always stayed in touch over the years. When he got an opportunity with Ohio State, it was kind of crazy, because we’ve had a couple of conversations as we’re both going through our first stint as a head coach, taking over for two very successful predecessors before us. He was one of the first people to reach out to me when I got the job. We talked for a little while after that. Our programs didn’t always see eye-to-eye in the past, but he was able to settle that. I know he’s about doing things the right way and about the kids. He’s made Kyle [McCord] and Marvin [Harrison] a priority from the beginning. They’ve lived up to their word. They’ve done a great job of building relationships with the young man and their families, which is a huge piece of what the guys look for when they’re selecting a school.”
RECRUITING QUICK HITTERS
· Many have been asking if Ohio State will get back in on Jaylan Knighton now that he has decommitted from Florida State. In doing some digging into this one, while the player has indicated to us that he certainly would be open to continuing dialogue with the Buckeyes and even making an unofficial visit back to campus this year, multiple sources on the OSU side of things seem to think it is not likely that the Scarlet and Gray pursue this heavily. As Marc touched on in Skull Session, while the door was not completely closed by any source I spoke to, but it seems that for reasons outside of the talented back’s play, this one is not going to happen as things currently stand.
· As far as running back recruiting goes, I still have Miyan Williams as the most likely player in the class for the position, and a visit is supposed to happen for the Penn State game in late November. It’s no slam dunk here, though, as Williams is a bit of a different cat, and isn’t just dropping Iowa State with word of an Ohio State offer--the Buckeyes are going to have to work for this one. Jahmyr Gibbs is expected on campus this weekend and that will tell us a lot about where things stand. That is supposed to be an unofficial, so if OSU is a major player coming out of the trip, an official in mid-December, or possibly for the PSU game, would be a great sign. The longer Georgia stays out of this, the better for Ohio State. I still think Gibbs is likely to stay in the South, but with no UGA in the mix and Alabama not ready to take him just yet (see: Evans, Zach as a factor for both parties), this could play into OSU’s hands well. Finally, Bijan Robinson is a name to keep an eye on and there is definitely contact there with the Buckeyes, but I have this one still as “doubtful”. The staff will keep plugging though, and if Robinson does back off of a Texas pledge, it will definitely be “game on”.
· Also in Skull Session was mention of new 2020 quarterback offered in Jayden DeLaura. I just wanted to chime in and say that Ohio State definitely is a fan of the Hawaiian’s skill set and this is not only a contingency plan if the Buckeyes don’t get CJ Stroud. It seems that the Wazzu commit is willing to take a bit of time before signing his letter of intent (February vs. December), which could help Ohio State figure out how the puzzle pieces fit in. I still like the Scarlet and Gray for Stroud, but in the case that things don’t work out that way, expect them to go all in for DeLaura. I would say Stroud is choice number one for OSU, but they really like DeLaura and want to make sure they’re putting in the effort to possibly land him if that’s how things shake out.
· RE: Stroud, I expect an official visit to Ohio State in mid-December. Originally word was that it could happen for the Penn State game, but bringing him in for mid-December allows for the staff’s full attention on him, and has solid timing for a strong close right before the Early Signing Period. Stroud does intend to sign and enroll early to whatever school he chooses. This is not a slam dunk for the Buckeyes, but I do like their positioning right now, although it should be interesting to see what happens with the USC head coaching job, and how newer players like UCLA, Georgia, and Michigan fall into the mix.
· Finally, I wanted to touch on 2021 receiver Troy Stellato. I have a great source down in South Florida with ties to his high school and they are echoing all the buzz out there that, as of today, Ohio State is in the driver’s seat. As Marc mentioned, there are a couple of likely visits coming up, which could certainly shake things up, but I would expect some clarity rather quickly. There’s a chance Stellato could return to Ohio State for the Penn State game, in which case, I would think the deal is sealed on that trip, and an announcement for the Buckeyes could come shortly after. Even if the Florida-native doesn’t make that trip, if OSU is still the school in his mind coming off possible Alabama and Clemson trips, I think he could verbal in the near future then as well. Bottom line is space is running out at wide receiver fast, and if Stellato wants in, he knows a move needs to be made sooner versus later.
TSHABOLA LANDS HIS OFFER
Earlier this week, we spoke to Lakota West 2022 offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola about landing his first offer, from Ohio State. Al Washington is leading the charge here, and extended the offer after coming by the school during the bye week.
While Tshabola says he’s going to take his time with the process, we think it will be very hard for anyone to beat Ohio State here. If you read the quotes in the story linked above, that’s pretty obvious, but in talking with the young man off the record, I’m even more confident in that statement.
Ohio State normally doesn’t offer a kid this early if they aren’t pretty sure, so I don’t expect things to change on this one, but if they do, that would be the only way I see Tshabola ending up elsewhere. I think he’ll take his time and enjoy the process for a bit, as he’s only a sophomore, but I think sometime during his junior year he could end up in the commitment column for Ohio State.
